Melia Subdivision Association supports and revitalizes the community and aims to equip young people with the knowledge to become homeowners. The New Orleans neighborhood association was created in 2007 in the wake of Hurricane Katrina: “It was founded by a group of dedicated neighbors to rebuild and help those who wanted to come back,” says Lavon Jackson, an active member of the organization and its former president. The association partners with a local church and school, organizing back-to-school supply giveaways, Thanksgiving baskets for families in need, toys for children at the holidays, as well as spearheading beautification efforts such as cleanups and dealing with empty and overgrown lots. It has also been liaising with the city about a persistent environmental issue in the neighborhood: the drainage system is prone to flooding the streets with sewage when it rains, with dire health and wellbeing implications for affected households. The group hosts monthly meetings for the neighborhood, where residents can raise any concerns and members distribute resources.
Melia Subdivision Association members. Source: Melia Subdivision Association
The association is based in a diverse area of New Orleans, with a mix of middle and working class households, which Jackson says the Black-led association reflects. The group, which generally has 15 to 20 members, has recently set its sights on establishing a program to support younger residents into homeownership. It is also aiming to find a new home for its Economic Development Center – a resource hub the association ran between 2021 to 2024 in a building provided rent-free by association members Benjamin and Vanessa Diggins. “If someone needed clothing or food, we could provide them with that service. It really helped the neighborhood come together,” Jackson explains. Looking ahead, the association plans to continue to foster community by developing its homeownership support scheme, representing the concerns of residents dealing with environmental health concerns, and relaunching its center, Jackson says. “We’re proud to say that we are a family and what affects one household, affects us all. We may be small in numbers, but we do get a lot done.”
Melia Subdivision Association members, including Lavon Jackson (right), organizing a Thanksgiving food giveaway. Source: Melia Subdivision Association