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New Orleans Initiative - CIPA-NOLA

CIPA-New Orleans Professional Partnership

CIPA is excited to announce the CIPA-New Orleans Professional Partnership, a new student initiative that gives fellows hands-on consulting experience in the New Orleans rebuilding process.

In March 2008 six CIPA fellows spent their Spring Break in New Orleans rebuilding homes damaged by Hurricane Katrina.  Because they were so moved by the experience, several of these fellows chose to extend their commitment to the area.  They created the CIPA-New Orleans Professional Partnership, or CIPA-NOLA, as a way to connect public administration graduate students with nonprofit organizations in the area.  CIPA-NOLA has five components; fellows are free to participate in any or all of them.

  • Nonprofits in New Orleans are often filling the void of the lack of services provided by government in the area.  CIPA fellows will partner will these nonprofits to engage in capacity building activities through the spring semester of the Public Service Exchange course.  Students will produce a report outlining recommendations for these organizations to improve their operations.

  • Fellows can serve on the annual Spring Break Trip, a chance for fellows to experience New Orleans by participating in hands-on construction work.

  • Cornell faculty and Ithaca community members who are connected to the New Orleans rebuilding process will be invited to speak in the New Orleans Discussion Group, a fall series of lunches that will connect fellows with experienced individuals to discuss the rebuilding process.  

  • A summer internship for fellows intent on extending their work in the area (with the possibility for pro-bono supplementary funding from CIPA).

  • Fellows may also complete their thesis/professional report requirement on a New Orleans-related issue.

Fellows interested in participating in CIPA-NOLA or learning more about its programs may contact the project leaders.  Inquiries can be sent to cipanola@cornell.edu or to an individual project leader.  Their contact information is:

Sara Rudow - sar227@cornell.edu
Nadine Skinner - nas67@cornell.edu
 Justin Villere - jmv85@cornell.edu

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