Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Impact Louisiana's Rural Poor
SMHA: A Passion for Justice
Since it was founded in 1969, Southern Mutual Help Association (SMHA) has helped people develop strong, healthy, prosperous rural communities in Louisiana. Our special focus is with distressed rural communities whose livelihoods are interdependent with our land and waters. We work primarily with agricultural and pervasively poor communities, women and people of color. We help build rural communities through people's growth in their own empowerment and the just management of resources.SMHA's foundation was — and still is — our strong commitment to ending poverty and a passion for justice.
Recent SMHA News
IBERIABANK Gives First of Annual $25,000 GiftClick here for full story
Home Dedicated in Creole
Click here for full story
Rural Recovery 3 Year Report Features Original Art by Local Artist
Click here for full story
Click here for full list of recent news items from SMHA
Teche Ridge: Affordable Housing, Traditional Neighborhood Design
SMHA's $150 million Teche Ridge development is designed to change the face of affordable housing in the Acadiana region of Louisiana by integrating affordable units among market-rate units in such a way that the affordable homes are indistinguishable from the homes surrounding them.
Click here to visit the Teche Ridge web site.
Philanthropy After the Hurricanes
SMHA's President, Executive Director and Co-Founder Lorna Bourg was a featured speaker at the recent PRI Makers Network Conference in New Orleans, titled "After the Hurricanes: Reflections on Philanthropic Capital at Work."
The PRI Makers Network is an association of foundations and other social investors interested in maximizing their philanthropic resources through strategic investments -- including program-related investments (PRI) -- in their mission areas. The second national PRI Conference took place at the Loews New Orleans Hotel January 29-31, 2008. More than 200 foundation staff and trustees were on hand. Participants hailed from large and small foundations from around the country, and represented some of the most innovative thinkers in philanthropy today. Conferees were able to participate in learning tours exposing them to ways in which resources are being reinvested in their city.
Click to view video of PRI Conference 2008: After the Hurricanes on FORA.tv
In an interview on the Kasey Kowars Show about his book, Pegasus Descending, best-selling author James Lee Burke said contributions to SMHA go "directly to help the poorest of the poor and the people most affected by the storm." Listen to a 2.5-minute excerpt from Burke's interview with Kasey Kowars - click here for WMA or click here for MP3. For the complete interview about Burke's latest book, go to www.kaseykowars.com.)
SMHA's Programs
Southern Mutual Help's work is clustered in two broad areas: Building Rural Communities and Life Quality. Although listed as separate program areas, SMHA's work is holistic and interrelated. Programs and initiatives are intertwined, building upon, supporting, and reinforcing each other. All are programs designed to help people help themselves and provide on-ramps to the economic mainstream.Click here to learn more about SMHA's programs
Contact Us
Southern Mutual Help Association, Inc.3602 Old Jeanerette Road
New Iberia, LA 70563
337-367-3277
FAX: 337-367-3279
Email: smha@southernmutualhelp.org
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