Lucas Diaz is changing New Orleans from within. A longtime resident of the city, Diaz founded Puentes to serve as a voice for the often-overlooked Latino community. Puentes aims to build assets and create access to good jobs, quality education, safe streets, affordable housing, and economic opportunities for Latinos in the region.
Puentes is a founding member of the New Orleans Coalition on Open Governance, a developing collaboration of groups working to make the city’s government more transparent, responsive, and accountable. In this video, Diaz explains why open government has become a central part of his organization’s work.
In the five years since Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and the levees broke, residents have developed innovative approaches to tackling some of the city’s—and the nation’s—most persistent problems: criminal justice reform, unresponsive government, and racial and economic inequality. In recognition of these efforts, during the month of August the Open Society Blog shines a light on people and organizations in New Orleans bringing change from within one of the country’s most important cities.
2 Comments
Thank you for this look into the good work of Puentes. Our work intersects with Puentes' in the area of affordable housing and community organizing; critically important needs in this city we love. Puentes is truly a valuable asset.
As a New Orleanian, I was also pleased that you took the care to use the correct terminology for what happened in 2005 -- "since Hurricane Katrina hit and the levees broke," rather than the dangerously misleading "since Katrina" shorthand that many have adopted. While it may seem like a small detail, this shows that your interest here is based on a deeper understanding than many.
Thanks for your comment, Erin. As a New York resident, I can't claim anywhere close to a full understanding of New Orleans and the impacts of the events of August 2005. But I have come to understand from those I've worked with in New Orleans that August 29, 2005 marked the start of a man-made disaster. The levees shouldn't have broken. They did.
Thanks for reading the blog. And for your appreciation of Puentes' work.
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