journal.melendez.org

Thinking Outside the Big Box The recent uptick in big-box projects and proposals in the Crescent City, fueled by tax subsidies and other costly giveaways, has left owners of smaller home-grown businesses in related industries gritting their teeth and bracing for hard times. They might not have a champion in City Hall, but an Emmy Award-winning journalist is working to shine a light on their situation with his documentary film-in-progress, "Independent America: Rising from the Ruins." The final feature-length documentary is scheduled to be ready for national broadcast by early fall. Dig It

Film Preview: Rising from Ruins "Independent America filmmaker takes to the road again in search for the story behind the recovery of New Orleans in “Independent America: Rising From Ruins” Independent film director and Emmy Award-winning journalist, Hanson Hosein, leaves behind his pregnant wife and travel partner in Seattle as he takes to the regional roads for a 3,000 mile journey to investigate how Mom and Pop businesses are doing in post-Katrina New Orleans." Powerful stuff from people I'm proud to know. dig it

A Blast from the Past A found a stack of these while cleaning out some clutter the other day. I am so proud that the organization is alive and well and in great hands.