Loyola President the Rev. Kevin Wm. Wildes, S.J., Ph.D., has joined the board of Friends of New Orleans. He is part of an esteemed group of members that includes noted author John M. Barry, political consultant James Carville, President and CEO of The Aspen Institute Walter Isaacson, actor John Larroquette, and author and filmmaker Mike Tidwell.

Friends of New Orleans is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan, membership organization that has formed to provide a means for people to support and get involved in the region’s recovery efforts. Linking communities in the devastated areas to individuals who want to help, the organization supports resources for New Orleans and surrounding areas and encourages people to take part in the rebuilding effort. In order for the city to come back strong, the organization is dedicated to tackling issues such as the restoration of coastal wetlands, gas and oil revenues of Louisiana’s continental shelf, and government assistance to rebuild Louisiana’s devastated communities. As the group approaches the issues and challenges that lie ahead, Wildes is vocal about the importance of the social and intellectual capital garnered by institutions of higher education in the recovery process. In an essay posted on the organization's website entitled, “New Orleans: An Intellectual City,” he shares how colleges and universities help to shape and advance an understanding of the city’s culture of diversity. To read the essay, please visit http://www.friendsofneworleans.org/challenges/.

For more information of Friends of New Orleans and how to join, visit http://www.friendsofneworleans.org/.

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