A community based grassroots organization moves toward capacity building, strategic development and long-term commitment

As residents of St. Bernard Parish continue to deal with losses from Hurricane Katrina, they are also struggling to rebuild the social networks that were disrupted or washed away. It has become clear that rebuilding communities will require more than resettling residents. Returned residents may find themselves alone in their neighborhoods as they are the first to return. This feeling of isolation as well as a loss of focus when the overwhelming task of reconstruction is complete suggests a need for community-building activities and/or spaces to promote social networking and community involvement (i.e., social capital). The social science and medical literature is replete with demonstrations of the positive effect of social relationships on health in both preventive and curative contexts. The St. Bernard Project (SBP) was founded with the primary mission of rebuilding homes in the Parish. However, having become keenly aware of additional needs of their clients, the leadership of SBP aimed at developing a comprehensive community development program to address issues related to stress, depression, and resettlement into the community. Strategic development of such a program required significant formative research to ensure an appropriate focus on the community's felt needs while remaining within the capabilities of the SBP and the scope of its mission. A partnership between Tulane SPH and the SBP created the opportunity for both organizations to extend their reach by working with a new community in the case of the former, and building capacity, ensure long term commitment in service the community for the latter.