“Under the bridge” is almost never a place anyone chooses to go. Instead, “under the bridge” seems to be a place that you may end up.
But the Claiborne Corridor Cultural Innovation District is seeking to change that. This organization is hoping to revitalize the 25-block corridor of Claiborne Avenue beneath the I-10 expressway from Canal Street to Elysian Fields Avenue. They want to make that area under the bridge a place that draws people for cultural events and support both the community’s culture bearers and entrepreneurs.
According to their website, the CID’s goal is “to catalyze commerce ‘under the bridge’ and the broader neighborhood, leading to opportunities for Black people to thrive again in what was once the epicenter of small business and commerce for African Americans in the City.”
One of the ways the group is taking steps to reach its goal is by hosting festivals and events, like their Labor Day weekend neighborhood festival, “A Labor of Love: We Deserve It!” The 3-day-long festival included popular local DJs Lil Jodeci and DJ Raj Smoove, performers Mia X and Fiend, various food vendors and chefs. The festival’s focus was on “health, wealth, wellness and eliminating the disparities that result in our communities’ 10- to 25-year differences in life expectancy.”
For more information about the CCCID, visit their website at https://cidnola.com.
