Insights from the Inaugural Community Advisory Board Meetings
Pictured: Members of the New Orleans East and Lower Ninth Ward Community Advisory Board and LifeCity’s Liz Shephard and Emma De Leon
On December 3 and December 5, 2024, community members from New Orleans and Baton Rouge came together for the first meetings of the Community Advisory Boards (CABs), which seek to build long-term relationships between communities and industry in disinvested regions of Louisiana. The CABs are made up of local residents, leaders, and stakeholders who represent the interests and needs of their communities. Specifically, the New Orleans CAB represents the communities of the Lower Ninth Ward and New Orleans East, and the Baton Rouge CAB represents the communities of Scotlandville and South Baton Rouge.
Supported by a pollution prevention grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the CABs provide advice and feedback to industry on the impact of their activities on local communities, including pollution and quality of life factors. At the same time, they aim to provide local insights to industry to support workforce development and a stronger economy.
Both CABs discussed the need for new approaches to industry and community engagement. At the New Orleans East and Lower Ninth Ward CAB meeting, CAB members expressed concern about the environmental impacts of a grain terminal project that is being developed in the Lower Ninth Ward. They explained that a lack of transparency in decision making and clear communication with the community has led to skepticism about potential benefits of the grain terminal. They called for greater community engagement and long-term community involvement in industry projects to ensure that local residents have a voice in decisions that affect them.
Similarly, the Scotlandville and South Baton Rouge CAB members pointed out that historically, meetings that bring together community members and industry leaders resulted in little visible change to the community. However, unlike past initiatives, the CABs are focused on fostering partnerships with manufacturers who are committed to going beyond one-off consultations and are eager to engage with communities in a more meaningful, long-term way. Our Engagement Toolkit and Community Engagement Assessment provide assistance to manufacturers with these goals.
Both CABs also identified pressing community needs. The Scotlandville and South Baton Rouge CAB voiced practical needs, such as trash and recycling bins, green spaces for children to play in, and safer public areas. In New Orleans East and the Lower Ninth Ward, the CAB called for transparent decision-making and long-term engagement with industry. At the same time, the New Orleans East and Lower Ninth Ward CAB members emphasized the importance of building stronger community participation in organizing efforts, particularly among younger generations who will inherit these communities.
The inaugural meetings of the CABs are a step toward bridging the gap between industry and community, ensuring that both can work together toward a common goal: creating healthy, thriving communities.