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New Orleans Musicians Gets Homeownership Opportunities

Section: Business

Michele Burton-Oatis

New Orleans music, in the daytime is the sounds of handclaps to the beats of the drums, it is the intoxicating notes that streams from the tubas, trumpets and saxophones as people buck jump down the streets. At night you can sit in a cozy neighborhood joint and relax with friend as famous musicians play your favorite compositions. This is New Orleans and this is why I returned home.

Like most of my fellow New Orleans citizens, I am still attempting to put back the pieces Katrina left behind. I’m constantly thinking about where the next piece fits and when or if I will need to do this all over again next Hurricane season. Yet, among the many things that bonds me to my city, the music is the one thing that sooths me and erases and doubts’ I may have had about returning and repairing.

Musicians sacrifice a lot for the love of their art. Most are underpaid, under recognized and undervalued. Some spend weeks or months abroad to earn a living just to live in the city they love. However, the living hasn’t been ease. Some of our Musicians lost their instruments in the storm and most have lost their homes. A few organizations have taken notice of the housing needs of our musical artist and developed programs to assist our prized citizens during this difficult time.

The Musician’s Village conceived by New Orleans natives Harry Connick, Jr. and Branford Marsalis and through a partnership with Habitat for Humanity have build home for the Musician to obtain ownership.

Read More. http://www.wwltv.com/topstories/stories/wwl032409cbvillage.6af9c954.html

Other resources for Musicians:

New Orleans Musicians Clinic http://www.neworleansmusiciansclinic.org/
To schedule an appointment, please call (504) 412-1366.
For more information about NOMC, please call (504) 415-3514.

American Federation of Musicians, Local 174-496 http://www.neworleansmusicians.org/

Neighborhood Housing Services of New Orleans http://www.nhsnola.org/

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