About BNO / In the News

Following Hurricane Katrina’s landfall on 29 August 2005, Happy Johnson volunteered at the Washington D.C. National Guard Armory categorizing donated household materials for Gulf Coast citizens relocating to various shelters in our nation’s capital. Guided by that experience, Johnson went on to serve full-time with the K44 Disaster Relief Unit of the American Red Cross Chapter of Southeast Louisiana, driving and operating Emergency Response Vehicle #1081 for six weeks during the months of December 2005 and January 2006. He led a unit responsible for providing 600 meals per day to the residents living in the Ninth Ward, New Orleans East, and St. Bernard Parish.

At the conclusion of his service as a Hurricane Katrina First Responder, Johnson founded Blanket New Orleans, Inc. while a junior in college at Georgetown University. He and a small group of friends were inspired by the resolve of the people they met ready to rebuild and decided to dedicate themselves wholly to the recovery effort. The destruction of Katrina starkly reminded Johnson of what it meant to be displaced – especially when he continually encountered the dismal outlook of young children – because he was abused and displaced as a child while shuffling in and out of numerous foster care homes.

After graduating with a B.A. in International Relations and American History from Georgetown University in 2007, Johnson served a 1-year term as a National Service AmeriCorps Volunteer. Under this capacity, he led short-term volunteer teams in restoring the homes of senior citizens, concentrating primarily on hanging drywall, laying ceramic tile and painting homes.

At a time when the recovery of New Orleans began to fade from the public square, Happy Johnson helped spark national debate on 29 January 2007 by his display of civil disobedience, protesting for and demanding a comprehensive “White House Probe” regarding the Executive Branch’s inadequate response to Hurricane Katrina. Shouting “Stand Up For Justice” during a United States Senate Homeland Security Committee special hearing at the Louisiana Supreme Court Building, Johnson was removed by law enforcement. The committee chairman would later that day say: “It’s hard to come back to New Orleans more than a year after Katrina, without feeling that emotion.” In the following days, Johnson was called by and eventually met with United States Congressman John Lewis, a pioneer of the 1960s civil rights movement.

MESSAGE FROM JOHN LEWIS SUPPORTING BLANKET NEW ORLEANS

In preparation for Hurricane Gustav, Johnson joined the American Red Cross’ Evacuation Support Team, serving at the Jefferson Parish, LA evacuation command post and at The Coliseum shelter in Jackson, Mississippi. He and another volunteer co-founded GustavRelief.Org [a Blanket New Orleans, Inc. immediate response initiative] to help fill a gap for supplies of blankets and water that was needed throughout some parts of Mississippi and Louisiana.

On 2 October 2008 - The City Council of New Orleans presented Johnson, relatives and supporters in the council chambers with a proclamation that read: “This council recognizes the intense dedication and tireless efforts of Happy Johnson and Blanket New Orleans, Inc. to volunteerism, philanthropy and the rebuilding of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.”

Currently, Johnson is leading the construction of The Blanket New Orleans Green Service House - a residency fellowship program for young adults committed to public service in New Orleans. In order to support that program, Johnson and friends created an initiative called BikeKatrina.Org which re-traces the storm route from Pensacola, FLA to NOLA.

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Initially, the purpose of Blanket New Orleans was to help renew the spirit of the city’s people by providing warmth and comfort to those in need - in the form of blankets and other humanitarian supplies. Today, we are apart of the vanguard highlighting the continued need to place the social justice issue of ‘Katrina recovery’ at the forefront of our nation’s civic conscience. Thus, our social impact goals encompass a desire to:

  1. Partner with community organizers, local/statewide/national government officials and business leaders to serve as advocates for greater philanthropic, legislative and financial investment in New Orleans’ marginalized communities;
  2. Provide our team of volunteers with unique opportunities to conduct community-based research and engage returning residents in service-learning projects, recording and documenting the oral-history of Katrina survivors;

Coming Aug. 2009 - The BNO Green Service House


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VISION STATEMENT: The Blanket New Orleans Green Service House will serve as a three person home for young adults volunteering or working in the public service sector for 1 year. An adjacent cottage property will be occupied by the BNO House Leader and serve as office space. The BNO Green Service House will be remodeled with “green” or sustainable and environmentally sound construction material; we will also operate and maintain building practices that harness and conserve our natural resources. Our pledge is to use water and energy more efficiently to help reduce our negative impact on the environment.

Additionally, our house members agree to collaborate with neighbors to promote greater civic engagement in our Ninth Ward neighborhood of Musicians Village, planning community activities during the fourth weekend of every month.

MISSION STATEMENT: Establish Justice and engender civic progress through service and social-policy advocacy. The Blanket New Orleans Green Service House will fuse neighborhood volunteerism and civic engagement initiatives to meet the needs of our residents; our goal is to effectuate strategies that will achieve positive social impact.

IDENTITY STATEMENT: The BNO Green Service House is for undergraduate students and or young adults volunteering as community organizers and leading neighborhood civic engagement initiatives.

A total of three house members will share in a unique neighborhood immersion experience of not only working in the public service sector (i.e., community-based organizations and non-profit organizations), but also living in a community with the residents of Musicians Village while hosting monthly workshops and town-hall meetings on critical issues like: employment counseling, crime watch, health care and dental clinics, educational resources, home repair and environmental safety tips.

PURPOSE OF THE BLANKET NEW ORLEANS GREEN SERVICE HOUSE: Advance and promote civic engagement in Muscians Village; Develop neighborhood leaders through community-based research and action; Serve as a community resource and asset; Provide service-learning opportunities for young adults and at-risk youth; Support the collaboration of community-based organizations in marginalized communities

THE BLANKET NEW ORLEANS GREEN SERVICE HOUSE, located on North Johnson Street in the Muscians Village neighborhood, aims to collaborate with True Love Missionary Baptist Church, Neighborhood Partnership Network, Georgetown University BNO Chapter, American RedCross, Catholic Charities Operation Helping Hands, Rebuilding Together, LowerNine.Org, Habitat for Humanity, ACRON, Phoenix, Common Ground, Hands On, Tulane, Loyola, Xavier and Dillard Universities, and the University of New Orleans.

Contact: WeRebuild@BlanketNewOrleans.Org for more information.

IN THE NEWS

Blanket New Orleans Interview Videos:

BNO Continued…