The Community Built Association (CBA) Convenes in New Orleans, May 5-8

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 5, 2010

The Community Built Association (CBA) Convenes in New Orleans, May 5-8
Community Built hands-on workshops will create outside musical instruments and murals for a local school and community group

WHAT: CBA’s 20^th Anniversary Conference

WHERE: Renaissance Arts Hotel, with workshops at the Lower 9^th Ward Village and Langston Hughes Academy

WHEN: May 5-8, 2010

DETAILS:
The CBA’s 20^th Anniversary Conference: Transforming Communities through Collective Action will take place May 5-8, in New Orleans. The Renaissance Arts Hotel, The Lower 9^th Ward Village and Langston Hughes Academy will host the conference’s various activities and volunteer opportunities. Community builders from 14 different states are attending the conference to share their community building experiences and to learn from their colleagues.

Representatives from 18 local non-profits and educational institutions will be presenting programs on the good work they have accomplished post-Katrina, building communities through the collaborative community built process. These groups are comprised of New Orleans finest architects, artists, designers, organizers, volunteers and inspired youth.

Four hands-on workshops will result in tangible projects that are going to be given as gifts to local neighborhood organizations, The Lower 9th Ward Village and the Langston Hughes Academy Lower School. A community mural, mosaic, outdoor musical instruments and a design for the school yard will be facilitated by nationally-recognized professionals over the course of three days.

The CBA is a non-profit organization involved in all aspects of the community built field. The organization was formed in 1989 to provide a network for professionals and interested community members, and to offer information, education and training to its members and the general public. The CBA is committed to promoting the development of the community built process as a professional practice and to educating members and the public at large.

WEBSITE: www.communitybuilt.org

MAJOR EVENTS:

• Wed, May 5: Welcome Reception, Renaissance Arts Hotel, Patrons III, 6 p.m.
• Thurs, May 6: Morning Plenary Session: “Celebrating Good Work in New Orleans” featuring D. Banfield, Crescent City Art Project; Colleen Morgan, Bayou Rebirth; and Cathy Puett, HandsOn New Orleans, Renaissance Arts Hotel, Patrons III, 9-10:30 a.m.
• Thurs, Friday and Saturday, May 6-8: Hands-on Workshops, Lower 9^th Ward Village, 1001 Charbonnet Street, 2-5 p.m.
• Thursday, May 6: “Nature & Play” Presentations & Panel Discussion, Renaissance Arts Hotel, Patrons III, 2-5pm
• Friday, May 7: “Communnity Based Architecture” Presentations & Panel Discussion, Renaissance Arts Hotel, Patrons III, 2-5pm
• Sat, May 8: Green Schoolyard Design Workshop, Langston Hughes Academy, 3519 Trafalgar St, 2-5 p.m.

EXHIBIT HALL: Renaissance Arts Hotel
Thurs, May 6-Sat, May 8
8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Sherri Warner Hunter, CBA Board President, 931-389-9649 (cell), sherriartstudio@aol.com

New Orleans CVB: Tara Letort, 504-566-5048, tletort@neworleanscvb.com; Kelly Schulz, 504-421-0962, kschulz@neworleanscvb.com

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