NGO Funding Request


The recipient entity's full legal name:  Sankofa Community Development Corporation

The recipient entity's physical address:
           5200 Dauphine Street
New Orleans LA 70117


The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           5200 Dauphine Street
New Orleans LA 70117


Type of Entity (for instance, a nonprofit corporation):  Non-Profit Corporation

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          

The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  1054

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $9,000,000

What type of request is this?  Capital Outlay Appropriation

Is this entity in good standing with the Secretary of State?  Yes

Provide the name of each member of the recipient entity's governing board and officers:
           Christine Thomas: Board Secretary: 200 Derbigny Street
Gretna, Louisiana 70053
Melissa Duplantier: 1605 Charlton Drive New Orleans, LA 70122
Rashida Ferdinand: ex-officio/Executive Director of Sankofa CDC:
5200 Dauphine Street New Orleans LA 70117
Stepahnie Marshall: Board President:3529 Mimosa Court NOLA 70131
Terrance Taylor: Board Treasurer, 2600 A.P Tureaud Ave NOLA 70117
Dawn Davis: 1707 Tennessee St, New Orleans LA 70117
Molly Hegarty 2831 Ponce de Leon St NOLA 70119
Melissa Lee: 1417 Bordeaux Street NOLA 70115


Provide a summary of the project or program:
           The Sankofa Wetland Park and Nature Trail is a green infrastructure project located at 6401 Florida Ave in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans Louisiana on Florida Ave between Delery and Tennessee Streets. The project will improve drainage systems and increase the ability of water runoff storage in the Lower Ninth Ward. Its goals are tol: 1) capitalize on the role of wetlands in reducing land subsidence, improving water quality, and storing stormwater overflow; 2) foster ecological innovation with public participation and collaboration; and 3) support community-centered environmental education activities and programming for youth and adults.
In addition, the benefits of this project is its ability to mitigate flooding during hurricane periods, increase hurricane protection in the area during heavy rainfall, by creating an assimilated wetland environment with the planting of cypress and tupelo trees, low wetland areas to store water, and inclusion of herbaceous vegetation.
This Project will work to eliminate blight and to spark revitalization along the Florida Avenue Corridor, between Dubriell and Tennessee Streets, by blending sustainable community development with environmental resiliency efforts.
Sankofa has already completed a two-acre pilot, which demonstrates the Project’s viability. Seen as a model for community-driven resiliency planning, the Pilot has been well-received by the philanthropic community, and there is interest in the supporting an expansion along the site’s remaining 38 acres. When completed, the Project will provide recreational space for walking, jogging, canoeing, and other physical activities.


What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,300,000
          Professional Services. . . $1,500,000
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $1,000,000
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $2,000,000
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $1,500,000
          Operating Services. . . . $1,500,000
          Other Charges. . . . . . . $200,000

Does your organization have any outstanding audit issues or findings?  No

If 'Yes' is your organization working with the appropriate governmental agencies to resolve those issues or findings?
          

What is the entity's public purpose, sought to be achieved through the use of state monies?
          The public purpose of this project is to stimulate economic development opportunities in Lower Ninth Ward, and develop a potential blueprint for neighborhood development within a green infrastructure model. Through the development of blighted & undeveloped land, the project will create a wellness space that welcomes community use. to create a health and wellness space that hosts youth education opportunities.
This project is community -driven, and follows residents’ concerns to build capacity and revitalize their neighborhood. Through educational programs, the project will increase environmental literacy in youth who attend school in the area. External visitors’ literacy and skills of sustainability features in water and environmental awareness will be observed. The Lower Ninth Ward, as well as many other parts of New Orleans, is highly vulnerable to flooding during hurricane seasons. This project will provide a model for green infrastructure development to reduce stormwater overflow, improve water quality, and increase climate resiliency through the planting of cypress and tupelo trees, as well as native plants in the bioswales and park area.


What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          Environmental purpose: The wetlands create a habitat for plants and provide shelter and food for butterflies, birds and other wildlife. Trees cool down the environment, clean the air and absorb stormwater runoff. The groundwater is then recharged, which reduces the effects of land subsidence, which occurs when the clay soils typically found in New Orleans become dry and shrink. Improved conservation, hazard mitigation, and community investment are being addressed to contribute to improvement of the the built environment and economic development in the area.
Green Infrastructure- drainage and water quality improvement
Education purposes:
The entity will include a youth service learning and environmental education initiative and provides lower income African Americans and other residents more opportunities to experience and enjoy nature in their own neighborhood.
4) Health and Recreation:
By developing blighted, vacant land in their community into a park area, Sankofa is addressing barriers such as transportation, financial resources, and time that prevent residents from accessing and enjoying the benefits of being in natural outdoor environments. The project will increase access to larger areas of green space and a long trail for walks, jogs, social gatherings, meditation and other activities known to promote good health and support the management of chronic diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes among community members.


What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           5 years

If any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official is an officer, director, trustee, or employee of the recipient entity who receives compensation or holds any ownership interest therein:
     (a) If an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of the official and the office held by such person:
                
    
     (b) If an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of such person; the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related; and the nature of the relationship:
                

     (c) The percentage of the official's or immediate family member's ownership interest in the recipient entity, if any:
                

     (d) The position, if any, held by the official or immediate family member in the recipient entity:
                 

If the recipient entity has a contract with any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official or with the state or any political subdivision of the state:
(a) If the contract is with an elected or appointed state official, provide the name and address of the official and the office held by such person: 
               

(b) If the contract is with an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official:
          Provide the name and address of such person:
              

          Provide the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related:
               

          What is the nature of the relationship? 

(c) If the contract is with the state or a political subdivision of the state, provide the name and address of the state entity or political subdivision of the state:
                

(d) The nature of the contract, including a description of the goods or services provided or to be provided pursuant to the contract:
               


Contact Information
name:  Rashida Ferdinand 
                                       address:  5200 Dauphine Street
New Orleans LA 70117

                                       phone:  5048729214
                                       fax: 
                                       e-mail:  info@sankofanola.org
                                       relationship to entity:  Executive Director