Audubon Commission

Purpose: Serving as Centers of Community Engagement The Audubon Nature Institute operates nine living science museums and parks in New Orleans, through which it strives to offer educational, recreational, and cultural opportunities to all residents of the city. In 1999, Audubon undertook a major campaign to find ways to help underserved community members enjoy the benefits of these living science museums and parks. In the past five years, the community relations program has increased access among minority and financially disadvantaged members of the community in these key areas: facility visitation and use, education, business opportunities, and human resources. In an effort to extend its outreach to even more of the underserved population and to increase minority participation in its programs, Audubon is refining and augmenting the community relations program. This grant will enable Audubon to (1) establish a community advisory committee; (2) create a temporary project coordinator position; (3) conduct market research with minority groups; (4) document minority participation; (5) participate in minority-sponsored community events; (6) distribute information on the program; and (7) conduct a formal program evaluation.