NY2NO

The New York 2 New Orleans Coalition

About Us

    The New York 2 New Orleans Coalition (NY2NO) is a youth-led, consensus-based organization made to create a network of young people who are interested in organizing and mobilizing across New York City. NY2NO works in solidarity with those most affected by the social, racial, and economic inequalities in both New York and New Orleans. Through this, the youth breaks down barriers and works together to combat racism and classism and move towards an egalitarian society.

    Although many NY2NO organizers went on their first trips down to New Orleans with their schools, the students realized that they wanted to create a coalition separate and free from the usual administrative power of adults and that brought together youth from across New York City. Following this demand NY2NO was formed as a student organization under which trips to New Orleans could be organized. Now it has become a network of New York City High School students interested in organizing and mobilizing around the parallel struggles of New Orleans and their own communities. 

    Whether it be in an organizational meeting or in a debrief, NY2NO operates through consensus decision-making, in order to eliminate a minority of people who will be displeased by a majority rule decision. This also encourages groups thinking and feeling together in a free space called the People's Circle. NY2NO believes that by using consensus they are creating a model of participatory democracy and focusing on the constant forward process of the entire group. In order to ensure that decisions are made by consensus, a member of the People's Circle takes on the role of facilitator to mediate the emotions, decisions and progress of the discussions. When a decision cannot be made because a group or individual within the circle feels strongly enough to not stand aside on the issue, the decision is discussed further until a consensus can be reached.

Current Projects

  • Organizing Trips: Bring groups to work in solidarity with the people of New Orleans; participate in community organizing, rebuilding, yardwork and any other work that may be mandated by the residents of New Orleans

  • Spreading awareness: Share our knowledge about what happened in New Orleans from first hand accounts to as many people as possible & mobilize other students to take action

  • Networking: Partner with other organizations combatting social, economic and racial injustice in communities across the United States

  • Fundraising: Through a wide variety of fundraisers, we raise money that is used to donate to the organizations that we work with in New Orleans and provide financial aid in order to ensure we have a diverse group of young people on our trips

Accomplishments

Fundraising: Over the past year we have had many different types of fundraisers, from stoop sales to jazz festivals. Many of these events have been planned by group members from our trips, as we strongly believe in a collective effort to make our trips stronger. Over this time, we have raised over $20,000, which has allowed us to purchase and maintain our school bus, make donations to the organizations that we work with in New Orleans, as well as provide financial aid for everyone who has needed it.

New Orleans Trips: Since last summer we have organized 13 New Orleans brigades, bringing over 300 high school students back to New York with organizing skills and a drive to keep working. Students have gutted homes, taken part in rebuilding, chopped down countless yards, and taken part in the community organizing mandated by the Survivor's Council.

Presentations: In doing outreach for our trips and trying to raise awareness, we have made presentations at about 20 schools across New York City.