Coming Together: The Family of New Orleans

As a child in New Orleans, I remember watching a commercial from Whitney Bank that ended with "Coming together - the family of New Orleans". This jingle rings in my head now that we have had our local, primary elections. If you're anything like me, you're ready to move past the divisive commercials and name-calling that seemed to dominate the season. As someone who grew up here, left for educational and professional opportunities, and chose to come back home to be close to family, build my business and give back to this community, I've learned something important: the true spirit of New Orleans has never been about who we voted for. It's about what we do when we show up for each other.

We have a unique magic that makes New Orleans unlike anywhere else in the world—when we find that we are more alike than we are different. The magic is found in our people.

What Makes Us, Us

In the coming months, we have so much to look forward to together. There are fall festivals celebrating neighborhoods across our city like Home Fest on Bayou Road, the Treme Festival and the Freret Street Festival. We can always count on a good meal from our favorite locally-owned restaurants and nonstop music from our talented artists.

Beyond the festivals, there are countless ways we come together that rarely make the headlines. HandsOn New Orleans connects volunteers with opportunities such as tree planting and gardening to beautify our environment. YouthForce NOLA empowers young people through workforce development and community engagement. Grace at the Greenlight serves our neighbors experiencing homelessness with dignity and compassion. These are the moments that define us—not our yard signs, but our willingness to pick up a shovel, mentor a student, fill a plate, or simply show up.

The Real Investment

I spend my days talking about real estate, property values, and market trends. But here's what I know: the best investment in New Orleans isn't measured in square footage or appreciation rates. It's measured in the local businesses we patronize, at second lines when we can celebrate life, in the way we check on each other after storms, in the strangers who become family over a shared meal.

Whether you're gathering around someone's kitchen table, volunteering with a youth group, or just stopping to chat with your neighbor on the porch, you're participating in what makes this city irreplaceable. That's the spirit of New Orleans—understanding how we can thrive despite our differences.

Moving Forward Together

So as we move forward, I invite you to remember what brought many of us back home or what keeps us here: the people. Not the politicians, but the person who holds the door, who shares their umbrella in a sudden rainstorm, who invites you to pull up a chair even when there's barely room.

This city has weathered storms, both literal and metaphorical. We've rebuilt. We've adapted. We've persevered. And we've done it together—not because we always agree, but because when it matters most, we show up for each other.

That's not just the spirit of New Orleans. That's the strength of it.

What are you looking forward to most this season? How do you plan to connect with your community? I'd love to hear your thoughts