On March 25th and April 6th, Architect John C. Williams organized volunteers from across the city of New Orleans to support the New Orleans Police Department through a novel approach – beautifying the district stations to which they report daily. Williams’ Blue Crew encouraged the community to support police officers and boost morale by sprucing up the spaces from which they operate. Efforts included painting, sanding, replacing ceiling tiles, making light repairs, and landscaping the NOPD 1st, 3rd, 6th, and 8th District Stations.
John C. Williams, who has 35 years of experience in preservation, renovation, new constructions, and community service, created the Blue Crew volunteer effort to support police retention in the City of New Orleans. Williams’ team at Williams Architects had already power washed three of the districts’ exteriors in anticipation of being “paint-ready” for the morning of the event. Supplies such as ladders, paint buckets, PPE, and drop cloths had also been delivered in anticipation of a massive turnout of volunteers.
More than 200 student volunteers committed from Xavier University of Louisiana (for the 3/25 event) and Tulane Center for Public Service (for the 4/6 event) to complete the repairs across the four locations. No experience was needed but volunteers were asked to register the morning of the event.
The outpouring of support for the event included sponsorship and in-kind donations from Latrobe’s on Royal, Rouses Markets, Café Beignet, Rebuilding Together, Sheraton Hotel, Home Depot, and First Horizons. The New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation (NOPJF) was the fiduciary agent and asked anyone wishing to donate to call or donate to the “General Operating Fund” on the NOPJF.org/donate webpage.
LOCATIONS:
District 1 – 501 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA
District 3 – 4650 Paris Ave, New Orleans, LA
District 6 – 1930 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, New Orleans, LA
District 8 – 334 Royal St, New Orleans, LA
VOLUNTEER CONTACT: John C. Williams / Williams Architects / jcwilliams@williamsarchitects.com / 504.566.0888
DONATION CONTACT: Melanie Talia / New Orleans Police & Justice Foundation / melanie@nopjf.org / 504.558.9944
NEWS COVERAGE:
NOLA.COM/Times-Picayune (March 24th)
NOLA.COM/Times-Picayune (April 6th)
