Gulf Coast Marketplace invites sponsors
Posted: November 11, 2011 Filed under: BayouResilience, disaster recovery, Gulf Coast Marketplace, Gulf Oil Spill, Handcrafted, Louisiana, Options for Independence | Tags: Gulf Coast Marketplace Leave a comment »
Louisiana folk artist "Dot-tee" Ratcliff
Launched just two months ago, over 40 artists have already signed-up to participate in the Gulf Coast Marketplace. This virtual festival and craft fair helps sell their hand-crafted products to a global market while promoting and celebrating Louisiana’s rich culture and heritage. Most importantly, it provides opportunity for economic growth and financial independence for households that have been faced with multiple challenges.
Please scroll through BayouResilience.com for background on some of the talented artists now featured on the site. Our goal is to have 100 participating by September 2012.
Louisiana-based Options for Independence, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit social service agency, continues to fund the initial start-up of this project as one of its six community recovery initiatives. The business model for future development of the Gulf Coast Marketplace relies on support from sponsors and partners that share our in our mission.
A $1,500 Individual Artist Sponsorship provides for initial inventory purchase as well as
Photo by Lisa Scott
equipment, supplies and tech support for the artist. Most importantly, it brings immediate income into the artist’s household and funding for their start-up and business development. Options is also seeking Major and Supporting sponsors from organizations that want to contribute to the long-term mission, development and marketing of this e-commerce solution for community recovery.
Wood base created from fallen tree by John Barrios
If you would like to participate as a sponsor and/or if you should know of a individuals or organizations that may be willing to assist us in the development of the Gulf Coast Marketplace, please contact me at, 504-875-3932 or jim@thegulfcoastmarketplace.org.
I would love to hear from you. – Jim Pittman
The mission of the Gulf Coast Marketplace is to contribute to community recovery by providing opportunities for economic growth and financial independence, especially for those impacted by disaster.
Fred Peer lends his first-hand perspective to assist artists impacted by disaster
Posted: October 24, 2011 Filed under: @gulfcoastmarket, disaster recovery, Fred Peer, Gulf Coast Marketplace, Gulf Oil Spill, Louisiana, N.O. Brew, Options for Independence, Uncategorized | Tags: Coffee, Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Fred Peer, Hurricane Katrina, Katrina, Louisiana, N.O. Brew, New Orleans, Peer Group, Whole Foods Market Leave a comment »
While evacuating with family and friends in Franklin, LA, Fred and his family watched the news helplessly as the 17th Street Canal breeched spilling into the Lakeview area of New Orleans. They soon learned that their home was submerged in 10 feet of floodwater, actually being able to see their house on the national news. Everything they could not take with them was lost. “While the BP spill might have been the catalyst to get the Gulf Coast Marketplace started, I think it’s an idea we’re going to see a lot more of in the coming years. As the world continues to become more globally focused, I believe that consumers are becoming increasingly ‘village conscious’, trying to make decisions that will benefit the areas closest to where they live. The Gulf Coast Marketplace allows consumers to make specific, locally-beneficial decisions that will in-turn help them to preserve much of what they love about the region in which they live. Additionally, the Gulf Coast Marketplace gives local artisans the opportunity to do something that big, mega corporations can’t do. They can give their products a face. And the face is their own. When you buy a product from the Gulf Coast Marketplace, you know you are making a one-to-one deal that directly benefits the person from whom you are buying it,” — Fred Peer, CEO, N.O. Brew
Help available for those still struggling after Gulf oil spill
Posted: October 18, 2011 Filed under: @gulfcoastmarket, BayouResilience, disaster recovery, Gulf Coast Marketplace, Gulf Oil Spill, Louisiana, Options for Independence | Tags: Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Oleans, Community Recovery, Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Disaster Recovery, Goodwork Network, Gulf Coast Marketplace, Gulf Coast of the United States, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf oil spill, Hurricane Katrina, Independence - Building, Louisiana, Louisiana Small Business Development Center, Louisiana Spirit, Louisiana Workforce Commission, LSBDC, Metro New Orleans Sourcelink Leave a comment »
The residual impact of the Gulf oil spill continues to bring a tremendous amount of stress and concern to many living and working in south Louisiana. Every Tuesday morning, crisis counselors from the Louisiana Spirit program tell me stories about the fishermen, shrimpers, restaurant owners, families and small businesses that struggle to make ends meet.
The Louisiana Spirit team provides case management, crisis counseling and outreach for those impacted by the disaster. Another important role that the crisis counselors play is to serve as “workforce liaisons” in the field, introducing people to programs and services that might help them to find jobs and bring additional income into households.
Options For Independence, working in partnership with the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) Office of Mental Health (OMH), provided crisis counseling and outreach services to people impacted by Hurricanes Lili and Isidore, Katrina and Rita, and Gustav and Ike. This crisis counseling recovery model became known as the “Louisiana Spirit” program, funded by FEMA and SAMHSA under the Stafford Act.
What is Louisiana Spirit?
Louisiana Spirit Coastal Recovery Counseling Program is a state-funded crisis counseling and stress management program for individuals, families and groups most affected by the Deep Water Horizon Oil Spill along the Louisiana Gulf Coast. Funding is directed from the Department of Health and Hospitals/Office of Behavioral Health to the local Human Services Authorities to Options for Independence. Louisiana Spirit was designed in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to provide short-term behavioral health interventions and help individuals return to their pre-disaster levels of functioning. Today, Louisiana Spirit is still providing these post-disaster services, but has evolved and adapted to meet the needs of the Deep Water Horizon Oil Spill Victims.
How are services delivered?
Through Options for Independence, Louisiana Spirit employs Licensed and Master’s level mental health professionals to provide both community-based and clinic-based counseling services. Louisiana Spirit also employs Resource Linkage Coordinators, Case Managers, and Workforce Liaisons. By subcontracting with our TRAC (Terrebonne Readiness and Assistance Coalition) and BISCO (Bayou Interfaith Shared Community Organizing) partners, Louisiana Spirit is also able to utilize the services of Community Liaisons. It is the goal of Louisiana Spirit to provide services that are easily accessible, readily available, and that fit the specific needs of each community.
Louisiana Spirit’s workforce liaisons try to match the needs of individuals with opportunities that match their needs. Here’s a list of a few of the programs and services that are working closely with Louisiana Spirit and the individuals and families in need of counseling, job placement, employment training and certification, small business development solutions:
- Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans - Visit www.ccano.org.
- Goodwork Network - primary provider of business development services for the small community-based businesses that support families and sustain communities. Call 504-309-2073. Visit www.goodworknetwork.org.
- Gulf Coast Marketplace– An online marketplace for hand-crafted items created by people living in the states bordering the Gulf of Mexico. The mission of the Gulf Coast Marketplace is to contribute to community recovery by providing opportunities for economic growth and financial independence to individuals and families, especially those impacted by disaster. Visit www.thegulfcoastmarketplace.org
- Louisiana Small Business Development Center (LSBDC) – Strive to empower entrepreneurs with the right tools,
technical assistance, and resources to start, grow, expand and succeed in their business ventures. Visit www.lsbdc.org - Louisiana Spirit – Call 985-873-8061
- Louisiana Workforce Commission (phone, web-link), (description of services) Visit www.laworks.net.
- Metro New Orleans Sourcelink – Connects business and entrepreneurs to a network of business building resources and services, call toll free 855-722-4113, www.bizsourceneworleans.com.
- Options for Independence – Building better communities, one person at a time, is not just a slogan, but the guiding principle at Options for Independence. Call 985-868-2620. Visit www.optionsforindependence.com.
Of course, this is not a complete list. There are many, many people and organizations providing help. As I learn about them, I will try to introduce them to you and those in need through BayouResilience.com. Please share this info with anyone that needs help.
If you or your organization provides assistance for individuals, families and small businesses impacted by the oil spill and other disasters, please provide information in the “comments” section below. I would love to hear from you.
Louisiana in his blood, Josh Garrett delivers a blues style that’s all his own
Posted: October 6, 2011 Filed under: @gulfcoastmarket, BayouResilience, Blues, Gulf Coast Marketplace, Gulf Oil Spill, Jim Pittman, Louisiana, Music, Options for Independence Leave a comment »“I was rejuvenated by moving back to Louisiana; I love it here so much. It’s my home. My family is here. My life is here. I think the music on the record reflects that,” says Josh Garrett on his website, www.joshgarrettmusic.com.“I feel like I’m at the beginning of my career. There’s a lot more for me to do, a lot more places to go, a lot more shows to play, and a lot more albums to record.”
“I appreciate that the Gulf Coast Marketplace is providing a platform for Louisiana artists to introduce their stories and products to a larger audience,” said Josh Garrett in a recent interview. “I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such a wonderful project”.
Chris Billiot’s self-published inspiration, “And Heaven Stood Silent…”, now available on the Gulf Coast Marketplace
Posted: September 28, 2011 Filed under: @gulfcoastmarket, @jfpitt3, And Heaven Stood Silent..., BayouResilience, Books, Chris Billiot, Gulf Coast Marketplace, Gulf Oil Spill, Hans Geist, Jim Pittman, Louisiana, Options for Independence Leave a comment »- Illustrations by Hans Geist -
by Jim Pittman, @gulfcoastmarket
A Native American, Christopher Billiot grew up hunting and fishing in the swamps and bayous of Dulac and Bourg, Louisiana. 
He is a captain on inshore and offshore vessels servicing the Gulf oil industry.
The concept of Chris’ book, “And Heaven Stood Silent…”, came to him 10 years ago at around two-in-the-morning while navigating through South Louisiana’s inland waterways. He had a feeling his story was compelling but figured that moments of such divine inspiration were common to many. So, he scribbled notes on a piece of paper and stored the story in the back of his mind. A year later, a man that Chris calls “Rev” entered his life.
Rev is a truck driver, a church pastor and a radio host in the Baton Rouge area. He and his radio show minister to a dozen or so parishes in Louisiana. Upon learning about Rev’s broadcast, Chris thought it would be an excellent platform to present his story. So, Chris told Rev about the concept and his inspiration. While listening to Chris tell “And Heaven Stood Silent…”, a stunned Rev hardly blinked an eye and stared directly through him. It was then that Chris realized the impact of his powerful story and, with Rev’s encouragement, decided to share it with the world.
“It was a bitter cold December night. The wind howled through the trees as the Artic air blew with the fierceness of a hurricane. Storm clouds gathered on the horizon as the forces of good and evil were about to collide. I could hear the howling of a lone wolf and the hooting of a wise owl as they warned both man and beast alike about the creatures that were on the move this bitter cold evening. While mortal man slept, totally oblivious to the warnings and movements of the creatures not of the realm of man, one person was called upon to witness and to intercede in the drama about to unfold; a drama unknown to mortal man, but one forever logged in the annuals of the highest courts of the heavenly realms…. The inevitable was about to take place…. All of Heaven Stood Silent… The fate of mankind was about to be sealed as the left side of the scale started to reach its lowest extreme. In who’s favor would the scales of justice tip?”
Like many of the businesses in South Louisiana, Chris’s company was directly impacted by the Gulf oil spill. As a result, he became more actively involved with community ministry work through Grand Caillou Baptist Church. The challenges presented by the Gulf oil spill disaster gave Chris an opportunity to help others while he worked on writing, promoting and attempting to publish his new book.
For several years Chris has shopped “And Heaven Stood Silent…”, hoping a publishing company would show interest — but no such luck. Chris pooled his limited resources and publish the book himself, hoping to grab the interest of a publisher at a later date. The Gulf Coast Marketplace, “the e-commerce solution for community recovery” now provides an opportunity for a self-published author, like Chris Billiot, to share his inspiration with the world.
Purchase a copy of “And Heaven Stood Silent…” by visiting Chris’ page on the Gulf Coast Marketplace.
About the illustrator:
Illustrations throughout “And Heaven Stood Silent…” were done by Hans Geist, another talented Louisiana artist featured on the Gulf Coast Marketplace.
Hans Geist is a South Louisiana artist who graduated from high school in 1994, enrolled at Nicholls State University, and received a Bachelor of Art degree in 2000. Although his studies were in graphic design, his real passion is for painting and illustration. Starting his own business as a free lance artist, Hans states “After only three years, God blessed me with Imagine This, a large studio-gallery located in the heart of downtown Houma, Louisiana. God has finally brought me to a place that I am free to express my artwork at age 27 in awesome ways. I thank the Lord daily for the abilities, gifts, and visions the He entrusts in me, for rescuing me, and for giving me a new life.” Geist considers his work as a south Louisiana artist both a blessing and an adventure, is honored to work with Author Chris Billiot on this book, and looks forward to working on more Billiot books in the future.
The mission of the Gulf Coast Marketplace is to contribute to community recovery by providing opportunities for economic growth and financial independence to individuals and families, especially those impacted by disaster.
