Allyson Neal, Communicator

I’m elated to announce that I was recently selected to participate in a project to promote my hometown, New Orleans, as a center of innovation (http://www.benolabound.com/). Since Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans’ doors have been opened wide allowing citizens from around the world to witness our struggles, challenges and pain. Most recently, New Orleans has developed a reputation for its high crime rate, which is claiming the lives of its young African American males.

To be a part of this project to re-shape New Orleans’ image is a great opportunity. As an author of books about New Orleans and a professional communicator in the digital media industry, I am an advocate of promoting all of the positive aspects of life in our City. Additionally, I believe that by highlighting New Orleans’ groundbreaking success in attracting innovative startup companies, we can not only re-shape the City’s image, but we can bring about fundamental changes.

New Orleans has been in need of economic diversification since the 1980s when the oil bust ravaged our City’s economy and left us with only one industry to lean on for support. And, while tourism is New Orleans’ greatest strength, the industry offers limited opportunities for career growth and personal economic prosperity. For centuries in New Orleans, the working poor have struggled with the lack of opportunities to advance themselves above the poverty line. And, as a result, many of New Orleans’ brightest and talented individuals, including myself, have left the City for better careers that provide fulfillment, compensation and recognition.

The beNOLAbound project is a promising start for talented people from all over the world to see New Orleans’ value beyond Bourbon Street. It’s also an opportunity to attract more innovative companies that can partner with our communities in their struggles to eradicate poverty, reduce crime and offer career opportunities that can provide a better standard of living for many of New Orleans residents. By building an industry that can diversify New Orleans’ business sector, bright and talented individuals of the future may not have to leave New Orleans to obtain a fulfilling career.

To learn more about the project, visit http://www.benolabound.com/.

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