2023 was a monumental year for Thrive New Orleans. Our organization’s work resonated not only on a local level but also a national level. As we aim to “Do More in 2024”, we wanted to first reflect on the past before we ascend into the future.
Please enjoy our recap of 2023 and we thank each and every one of you for your allyship, support, and partnership.
Thrive Green Small Business
Growing and Sustaining Businesses
Thrive’s Green Business Academy cohort focused on individual business owners who are currently working in green maintenance or individual businesses who are interested in transitioning into the Stormwater Management and Green Infrastructure space. Throughout the cohort, the program provided back office operations assistance as well as hands-on training in green infrastructure/stormwater maintenance.
Helping Small Businesses thrive
Thrive Green provided technical assistance and served as a prime contractor on several projects allowing us to provide subcontracts and technical assistance to onramp our green businesses. We also were able to debundle city contracts in partnership with Propeller so that small businesses in the city could participate in the bidding process.
New Orleans Entrepreneurship Week
Thrive Green had a successful New Orleans Entrepreneurship Week In Your Neighborhood where partners came out to support the organization’s endeavors in the Stormwater Management and Green Infrastructure space.
As part of NOEW, Thrive hosted The Water Challenge 2023, held in conjunction with Propeller. The challenge was part of a key investment into blue-green infrastructure and coastal restoration in Louisiana, providing pathways to contracts and business expansion opportunities for local small businesses in the water economy, and a stage to work together to tackle the critical water challenges faced by our region.
The entrepreneur showcase featured presentations by eight BIPOC, growth-oriented entrepreneurs whose businesses focus on innovation in the coastal and green infrastructure industries and had a standing room only crowd!
Students in Action
Students from Howard University came to New Orleans to partner with Thrive and Carver Senior High School to assist in cleaning storm drains. Over 50 students from Howard teamed with over 100 Carver students in the cleaning of the catch basins and removal of litter from the Desire neighborhood. The Howard students were part of a service learning program at Howard University that develops community leaders and this was their first time taking their efforts to New Orleans.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THRIVE GREEN SMALL BUSINESS AND APPLY NOW
Thrive Works Green
Path to Success
Thrive Works Green Workforce Development Program celebrated 3 graduations to celebrate Green Infrastructure-focused certification earned by 36 participants in 2023! ThriveWorks Green equips the BIPOC community in developing climate solutions for New Orleans. The program also serves to close the critical skills gap between the growing demand for green workers and a local trained workforce.
Greenifying New Orleans
Thrive Works Green partnership with Parks and Parkways of New Orleans flourished during our Plant Care Programming at Greenhouse #5 on P&P grounds.
National Disaster Resilience
Thrive Works Green’s NDR Cohorts completed their training in green landscape techniques, including bioswales, permeable pavers, rain gardens, heavy equipment, National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), OSHA 10 (Occupational Safety and Health Act), and native plant species.
Jackie Robinson Trailblazers
Thrive New Orleans Executive Director Chuck Morse and New Orleans City Councilmember Eugene Green presented seven special Jackie Robinson inspired Thrive jerseys to trailblazers who are blazing a path and advancing new systems for a more sustainable future and resilient economy.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THRIVE’S WORKFORCE AND APPLY NOW
Thrive 9th Ward
Thrive 9th Ward served over 3000 kids in 2023!
Thrive 9th Ward is a constant support pillar in the lives of young children in the neighborhood that grows with them as they become teenagers and adults, encouraging them to take pride in our shared roots. Many of the programs and events Thrive 9th Ward held for children in 2023 included summer camp, dance camp, basketball league, Trunk or Treat, cooking camp, football games, coat giveaway, Christmas Toy Drive, and much, much more!
Thrive Ninth Ward Director Honored
Oscar Brown received the Hope Hero Award at Giving Hope Foundation’s 2023 Hope Gala in honor of his relentless work every day to make an impact in our city through Thrive 9th Ward.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THRIVE 9TH WARD
Thrive Cares
Mobile Grocery Pop Up
Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas asked Twitter users what was the perfect nonprofit to host a mobile grocery pop up with and the consensus was clear: Thrive New Orleans! The mobile grocery store popped up at Thrive Ninth Ward, in partnership JPMorgan Chase, to make groceries available to the Florida/Desire community and over 150 families were served!
Clothes Giveaways
Thrive New Orleans gave out clothes to the community all throughout the year including partnering with was Coats For Kids during the holidays to provide students coasts for the winter season.
Thrive Initiatives
Good Jobs, Great Cities:
Thrive was selected by the City of New Orleans to serve as the convener for green workforce development. Executive Director Chuck Morse serves on the leadership team for the newly established Good Jobs, Great Cities initiative.
Mardi Gras Catch Basins and Street Clean Up
Krewe du Thrive partnered with JOB1 and the Department of Sanitation at the City of New Orleans to keep our catch basins clean and our water flowing. Over 100 people worked behind each parade to remove the massive amount of trash, and Thrive was proud to be a part of this important work to maintain our resilient city.
Green-ifying Chick-Fil-A
Thrive New Orleans helped green-ifiy the newly opened Chick-Fil-A in New Orleans Mid City to help combat flooding!
SEE MORE OF OUR STORIES FROM 2023
In the News
Here are just a few of the media stories that showcased the impact of Thrive in 2023:
Thrive joins New Orleans Business Alliance on WWLTV to discuss Advancing Cities initiative
Thrive’s Executive Director Chuck Morse joined Angela Shiloh-Cryer of New Orleans Business Alliance on WWL-TV to discuss JPMorgan Chase’s investment in the development of a green workforce in the City of New Orleans. Thrive serves as a workforce trainer with NOLA BA administering the $5 million grant funding through the Advancing Cities initiative. Watch the segment.
WWLTV spotlighted how Thrive New Orleans changes the lives of youth in the Lower Ninth Ward.
Members of the WWLTV Team presented Thrive New Orleans with a check for $6,000 to continue to make our community a better place to live, work and play! Watch the story.
Thrive featured nationally on NBC News
Thrive New Orleans was featured on NBC News where national correspondent Angie Lassman highlighted our organization and spoke to Executive Director Chuck Morse about how Thrive is working to better protect New Orleans from weather events due to climate change and helping to prepare our communities for hurricanes and natural disasters. Watch the feature.
Impact In Action
Thrive New Orleans is determined to leave an impact all across the city. Click the map to see where Thrive has been so far!
Help us to make more impact in 2024
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