10 May 2016
NEW ORLEANS (May 10, 2016) – Today, Propeller announces the 10 semi-finalists who will compete at PitchNOLA: Living Well, presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, a pitch competition for New Orleanians to propose entrepreneurial solutions to New Orleans’ public health crisis.
PitchNOLA: Living Well will award a total of $10,000 in start-up funding to the top finalists, determined by a panel of judges including Dr. Corey Hebert, Asst. Professor at LSU and Tulane University Medical Center, Christy Ross, Program Director for Health Grants with Baptist Community Ministries, and Dr. Joseph Kanter, Medical Director of the New Orleans Health Department.
The competition will take place from 6:00–8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 25th, at the Propeller Incubator, 4035 Washington Avenue. Tickets are free and open to the public on Eventbrite. A suggested $5 donation will contribute to the “Audience Favorite Award.”
With Louisiana’s rankings for obesity, infant mortality, HIV, and the number of uninsured at among the worst in the nation, this year’s 10 competitors offer innovative ideas to reduce or eliminate health and wellness disparities for at-risk or underserved residents.
PitchNOLA 2016: Living Well semi-finalists:
Agrowtopia | Cultivating an edible utopia that provides affordable organic produce to Gert Town residents and surrounding farm-to-table businesses; while hosting seminars with partner organizations covering the topics of: local food education, personal growing practices, and eating healthy on a budget.
Bayou Baby Bites | A line of baby purees, using only locally sourced produce and free of all preservatives, added sugar and extras.
Food Waste Warriors | An innovative classroom program inspiring students to eat the healthiest options in the school lunchroom — boosting student health and student success while reducing the environmental consequences of food waste.
Garden on Mars | Empowering the Lower 9th community through the meaningful work of growing fresh food and flowers.
GeauxGirl Magazine | GeauxGirl – The magazine for New Orleans girls: Developed for and with New Orleans teen girls to inform, inspire, engage and empower.
Growing the Greenway | To advocate for and create community gardens along the Lafitte Greenway, which will improve health outcomes of local residents, strengthen neighborhood bonds, support environmental stewardship education, and foster economic growth in the Lafitte Corridor.
High Level Hearing | Increasing access to hearing health care for citizens of the Greater New Orleans area.
Project Peaceful Warriors | Teaching trauma informed yoga and mindfulness strategies to equip students and educators with the tools to cope and heal in order to maintain focus in the classroom and grow academically as well as personally.
Sankofa | Improving healthy food access in food insecure areas of New Orleans.
Sheaux Fresh Sustainable Foods | Increasing access to fresh produce year-round by providing value-added light processing of locally-grown fresh fruits and vegetables for distribution to New Orleans food retailers and institutions.
ABOUT PITCHNOLA: LIVING WELL
Now in its third year, PitchNOLA: Living Well 2016, is presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana and made possible by supporting sponsor IBERIABANK and event partners the Louisiana Public Health Institute, Tulane’s Prevention Research Center, Ochsner Health System, Market Umbrella and the Institute for Mental Hygiene.
Ventures mentioned in this post
High Level Hearing Technology
Lana Joseph
Areas of focus: Health
Friends of Lafitte Greenway: Growing the Greenway
Sophie Harris & Nellie Catzen
Areas of focus: Food
