Greening Festival

Greening Festival

Greening Festival

Project Description

Team Greening Festival wants to reduce the amount of waste created at Festival International and be part of catalyzing a styrofoam-free Lafayette!  The ultimate goal of this project is to put Festival International on the road to becoming a “zero waste” event. The first step is replacing styrofoam serviceware items (i.e. plates, bowls, and clamshells) used by Festival vendors with compostable versions made out of bagasse, a byproduct of sugarcane mills.

We’re bringing out the FIL Geaux Green logo by putting Festival International (and eventually other local festivals) on the road to becoming a “zero waste” event!  Anyone who has spent any time at Festival International (isn’t that all of us?) knows that most of the food is served on styrofoam plates or containers. But did you know that styrofoam never goes away and that these food containers can neither be recycled nor recovered in any existing system? We bet you definitely didn’t know that there are compostable equivalents to all the styrofoam plates, bowls, and clamshells used today. In fact, one such plant-based item is made from sugar cane bagasse, a byproduct of sugarcane mills that we have an abundance of here in South Louisiana.

Depending on the product (plate, bowl, clamshell, etc), the cost difference between styrofoam and bagasse can range from nothing to fifty cents. We know this can be a significant ask of vendors, particularly those not used to this idea of “zero waste”. We will work with Festival International vendors to help them source materials, and, where it might be a barrier, use 24HCP funding to cover a portion of the difference in cost.

This effort will be paired with a fully-backed Festival International marketing effort promoting FIL’s move away from styrofoam. Vendors who elect to participate will be designated in the FIL app and at their vendor booths with the FIL Geaux Green logo.

Future Plan:

The beauty of plant based materials comes full circle if you are able to capture them once Festival-goers have finished eating. These materials, along with any food residue and leftovers, can be sent to compost at a right-sized and managed facility. When managed properly and mixed with other organic material, oxygen, and water; all of this plant-based waste will break back down into healthy, rich soil!  It is very important that no other materials get mixed in though, so we would start with collection in select areas only (i.e. Parc San Souci) and follow Louisiana Football’s model of hand sorting compost after each event to make sure that no other waste materials end up in the compost pile. This work would be completed by volunteers similar to the volunteers who handle recycling at Festival Acadien.

Project Details

Team Leader: Monica Rowand
Funded Date: November 9, 2019
Funding Amount: $3,000
Location: Lafayette, LA

Pitch

Progress

(% completed since funding)

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Dear Community Letters

Project Updates

Greening Festival Update #5

Greening Festival Update #5

Dear Community, Did you enjoy this year's Virtual Festival? What about a Festival favorite drink or menu item on a patio or from the comfort of your home? As you know, our project meant to eliminate the use of styrofoam at Festival International de Louisiane and...

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Greening Festival Update #4

Greening Festival Update #4

Dear Community, As you all know, Festival International looked a lot different last year, altering the plans for our original project. The same will be true for Festival International 2021. The Festival released their plans for this year's event in January. The...

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Greening Festival Update #3

Greening Festival Update #3

Dear Community. WE DID IT!!!!  We had the first ever ZERO-WASTE FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL! (Too soon?) Like all of you, we were disappointed when we couldn’t celebrate our favorite festival in person. We would like to give a huge shout-out to Scott Feehan and his team...

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Greening Festival Update #2

Greening Festival Update #2

Dear Community, The response to our project has been truly overwhelming these last couple months. The outpouring of support and encouragement from you still comes daily as our plans continue to develop and come to fruition. A few weeks ago we posted a poll via the...

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Greening Festival Update #1

Greening Festival Update #1

Dear Community, Is it a marketing miracle or meant-to-be that the first day of Festival International de Louisiane 2020 is Earth Day? That’s right, mark your calendars for April 22-26, 2020 and a Festival International experience with a slightly green-er hue! As a...

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Musical Instrument Library

Musical Instrument Library

M.I.Brary: Musical Instrument Library

Project Description

Team”M.I.Brary” was funded $5,000 during the 24 Hour Citizen Project in 2017 to build a musical instrument library. According to project creator, Ryan Cazares, a”M.I.Brary” is a place where musicians or prospective musicians can check out various musical instruments, much like they can a book at a traditional library. This project speaks to the heart of musicians, and prospective musicians who want to try an instrument without the up front cost burden of purchasing it.

The MIBrary will help address a few problems with connecting musicians with instruments:

1.) Musicians will not be faced with the financial burden of renting or purchasing an instrument.
2.) Musicians who want to try an instrument will not have to commit to it should they end up not enjoying the chosen instrument.
3.) Recording artists who may want to sample a particular instrument will have easy access to several instruments while in the recording process.

It is our hope that providing musicians and prospective musicians with the ability to check out instruments will help sustain Lafayette’s musical culture and create musicians who may have never had access to musical instruments.

Project Details

Team Leader Ryan Cazares
Funded Date July 29, 2017
Location: Lafayette, LA

 Pitch

 Progress

(% completed since funding)

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Dear Community Letters

Project Update

 

MIBRARY Final Update

MIBRARY Final Update

Dear Community, We did it! Lafayette Community M.I.Brary launched on Monday, July 2, 2018. 19 musical instruments are housed at the Clifton Chenier Center branch of the Lafayette Public Library. Within days of the launch, nearly all instruments were...

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MIBRARY Update #3

MIBRARY Update #3

Dear Community, The Lafayette Community M.I.Brary is set to launch on June 27, 2018 with a preview day at Clifton Chenier Center in Lafayette from 5-7PM. Check out the Facebook event here. Lafayette will soon thereafter be able to check instruments out...

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MIBRARY Update #2

MIBRARY Update #2

Dear Community, Since our last update, Team MIBrary has made tremendous progress. We have an official location: the Downtown Lafayette Public Library! Our launch date is forthcoming, but we anticipate late spring or early summer 2018. To date, Team MIBrary...

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Krewe de Canailles

Krewe de Canailles

Krewe De Canailles

Project Description

Team”Krewe des Canailles ” was funded $5,000 during the 24 Hour Citizen Project in 2017 to create a yearly Mardi Gras walking parade that is open to the public. The parade is completely man-powered, focusing on the creativity of each of the krewe’s members. Project creator, Rodney Hess, says “We want to Make Mardi Gras Great Again.”

We want to Make Mardi Gras Great Again. We’re a group of Carnival Crusaders leading the revolution against the out-of-touch ruling class. It’s time to overthrow the kings and queens of old and put Mardi Gras back into the hands of the people. Krewe des Canailles is a walking parade composed of individual krewes. Any group of people can pull together to create a krewe. The only rules are your floats have to be man-powered and your throws handmade and eco-friendly. No plastic beads at this parade.

We want to move away from the tired, poorly-constructed Spiderman floats and create a real community of creative Carnival-lovers.

Project Details

Team Leader Rodney Hess
Funded Date July 29, 2017
Location: Lafayette, LA

Pitch

Progress

(% completed since funding)

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Dear Community Letters

Project Updates

Krewe De Canailles Final Update

Krewe De Canailles Final Update

Dear Community, Well, we did it. Mission accomplished. The first Krewe de Canailles parade went off (mostly) without a hitch! It was a great time for both the krewes and the crowds. We received a ton of positive feedback including from downtown businesses, one of...

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Krewe De Canailles Update #2

Krewe De Canailles Update #2

Dear Community, Mardi Gras is almost upon us, which means Krewe de Canailles is about to pop off. We've made a ton of new headway since the last update. We still haven't received our 501(c)7 status approval so we've reach out to TRAIL to act as our fiscal agents....

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Krewe De Canailles Update #1

Krewe De Canailles Update #1

Dear Community, We’re completely on track to occupy the space left from the cancellation of kickoff parade this past year. Krewe de Canailles will now serve as THE Mardi Gras kickoff parade in Lafayette – and we’re bringing it back to downtown! The very talented Burt...

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Pop-up Theatre

Pop-up Theatre

Pop-Up Kids Theatre

Project Description

Team “Pop Up Theatre”was funded $2,000 during the 24 Hour Citizen Project in 2017 to create a pop-up children’s theatre for ages 6-12. The concept is modeled after the ole “Spanky and Our Gang” plays. Each performance will be completed within a 3-hour timeframe including set and costume design, rehearsal and performance. Most of the plays will include stories and nursery rhymes that the children are familiar with to encourage participation.

A group of volunteers from Disney first started this concept in Orlando, Florida. It was called The Black Swan Theatre. We created a script, made the costumes, set design, practiced and performed all in 3 hours.  We had at least 6-9 adult volunteers along with 8-10 kids that regularly participated. I am looking to bring this theatre concept to Lafayette, Louisiana. I will need a group of volunteers that will work closely with the children to bring this to life. We will perform each play at several parks around the area to reach children in their neighborhoods and make it easily accessible to the parents or guardians that provide transportation. It is mandatory that the guardian will stay for the whole 3 hours to encourage participation and create an audience for the play. This is a summer program and will run for 6 weeks starting in the month of June. A new show will be performed every Saturday starting at 9am and ending at 12pm with refreshments for the actors and viewers. It will be a free, fun and engaging summer program.

Involving children in theatre and drama at an early age builds confidence and self-esteem. I want to concentrate on 6-12 year old at-risk children but also make it open to anyone that is interested in the Lafayette and surrounding areas. This project involves the whole family from performing to being part of the audience. Not everyone has a chance to participate in the arts at this level and I want to give them this opportunity to explore and learn about the world of theatre. This program encourages fun, learning and play-acting in one free event. The time constraints of doing a play from start to finish in 3 hours increases participation every week. I understand that it is hard for some families to commit to a theatre program that lasts over several weeks or months like most of them, but this concept makes it easy and accessible all in one Saturday morning.

Project Details

Team Leader Danielle Moroux
Funded Date July 29, 2017
Location: Lafayette, LA

Pitch

 Progress

(% completed since funding)

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Dear Community Letters

Project Updates
(Final Update Pending)

Pop Up Theatre Update #3

Pop Up Theatre Update #3

Dear Community, Here is the update for our Pop Up Kids Theatre for June 2018. Since partnering with the New Hope Development Center, I have been able to reach the target audience and bring this new type of theater as part of their summer program. They have...

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Pop Up Theatre Update #2

Pop Up Theatre Update #2

Dear Community, I am pleased to present this update for Pop-Up Kids Theater, a theatrical program for at-risk children ages 6-12 in the Lafayette area. The Facebook page is created, published and now active under the name PopUp Kids Theater. After some consideration,...

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Pop Up Theatre Update #1

Pop Up Theatre Update #1

Dear Community, As you may recall, I am the team leader for the Pop-Up Kids Theater, a theatrical program for at-risk children ages 6-12 in the Lafayette area. Things for this project are moving along despite my teammate, Shannon Miller, who has moved out of the area....

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Safe Pass Underpass

Safe Pass Underpass

S.P.U.P: Safe Pass Under Pass

Project Description

Team ‘Safe Pass Underpass’ was funded $5,000 during the 24 Hour Citizen Project in 2016 to install lighting under an overpass that is part of an essential bike path (Mickey’s Loop). Project Leader, Mark DeClouet, will tell you that cyclist avoid the area because it’s no longer “invitable.” While lighting on the surface may seemingly lack significance, Mark will tell you that his project is about bringing the community together through accessibility to different areas of town.

In 2015, the Lafayette City Parish Council adopted a resolution to create an 8-mile continuous bike path running through the heart of the city of Lafayette known as Mickey’s Loop, connecting existing and planned paths that were completed in 2016. Mickey’s Loop was created to honor the memory of Mickey Shunick, an avid cyclist who lost her life tragically in 2012. Mickey’s Loop provides unprecedented neighborhood connectivity across Lafayette neighborhoods including the UL Lafayette, Saint Streets, Greenbriar/Brentwood, Lafayette Central Park, Girard Park, Oil Center and the Downtown area. One portion of this loop connects pedestrian and bike traffic between the Oil Center/Girard Park area and West Bayou/Lafayette Central Park neighborhoods at the intersection of South College and West Bayou Parkway. This connection is made via an underpass on South College, next to Coulee Mine, a major tributary to Bayou Vermilion. Currently, the Coulee Mine underpass is not well lit, does not project an element of safety and is generally not well known as a connection point in the community. Our project proposes to enhance this connectivity, increase community and individual safety along the loop, and increase awareness of the environment and natural resources related to our community and the Bayou Vermilion.

How will we do this? We are proposing to:

  1. Implement environmentally friendly lighting that enhances the safety of this critical connection point on Mickey’s Loop for both pedestrians and bicyclists.
  2. Improve the functionality of the underpass for bicyclists and pedestrians with redesigned handrail and bike channel features to make it easier for cyclists to bring their bikes up the stairs, while providing safety elements for pedestrians.
  3. Add concave mirrors on both entrance points at the underpass to create visibility for cross traffic and for users to see what else may lie ahead.
  4. Add a number of beautification elements to the underpass, including a Project Front Yard inspired art project/sculpture on the underside of the Coulee Mine underpass. This would be analogous to the Freemont troll, a public sculpture in the Freemont neighborhood of Seattle, Washington which turned an underpass into a tourist destination. Additional aesthetic elements would be added that make the area more welcoming to tourists, pedestrians and bicyclists.

 

Project Details

Team Leader Mark Declouet
Funded Date July 23, 2016
Location: Lafayette, LA

Progress

(% completed since funding)

%

Dear Community Letters

Project Updates

SPUP Update #6

SPUP Update #6

Dear Community, It has been a long while since we last spoke, and while it may seem like not much has happened, we finally have some good news. Both DOTD and the city have approved the final stage of our project, and we are now are coordinating with LAND for...

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SPUP Update #5

SPUP Update #5

Dear Community, A lot has happened since we last spoke. You may recall that we had been communicating with local government and DOTD for permission to access/improve the roadway, LAND architecture for vegetative enhancement and LUS for lighting. We can proudly say...

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SPUP Update #4

SPUP Update #4

Dear community, The Safe-Pass-Under-Pass (SPUP) now has a estimated completion date of June 1, 2018, and now that we understand (and are completing) the processes for changing up roadway that is managed by the state. We're working with LAND Architecture on...

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SPUP Update #3

SPUP Update #3

Dear Community, To those supporters (and backers) who have been patiently been awaiting movement on SPUP (the new acronym for Safe Pass Under Pass), thank you for your patience. Our goal to bring the best design possible while maximizing the funds provided is paying...

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