Buy-in Case Study:

Water Wise Gulf South in New Orleans, LA

How Water Wise Gulf South in New Orleans, LA Elevated Community Knowledge by Empowering Residents to Become Neighborhood Champions

Region	Southeast	Principle	Partner + Demonstrate
City	New Orleans, LA	Best Practice	Find, foster, and elevate champions
Population	370,000

“ When they marry the expertise of their community with newly learned information about green infrastructure, they become a champion for advancing green infrastructure in their neighborhoods in a way that truly serves their communities.”

–Water Wise Gulf South

Project Description

Water Wise Gulf South includes formalized partnerships with local community-based organizations. Together, they train residents in neighborhoods experiencing chronic flooding challenges to become Water Wise Neighborhood Champions., Neighborhood Champions help implement green infrastructure projects and advocate for the implementation of community-driven infrastructure projects. Between 2016–2024, 175 community members have become Water Wise Neighborhood Champions, and they have envisioned over 120 green infrastructure projects in their communities.

Photo at right: Water Wise Neighborhood Champions attend green infrastructure tours to help them learn about design and plant selection, and to visualize projects that they want to see implemented in their own neighborhoods.

Best Practices in Action

The Water Wise Gulf South model is founded on the premise that residents have a rich knowledge of their own communities. Therefore, residents need to be in the driver’s seat when advancing green infrastructure in their communities. By formalizing partnerships with community-based organizations and training residents as Water Wise Neighborhood Champions, the project ensures that those who know the community best are leading the efforts. These champions are empowered to envision and advocate for green infrastructure solutions tailored to their neighborhoods’ specific needs, fostering a sense of ownership and trust. This grassroots approach not only amplifies local voices but also builds sustained community support for long-term change.

Key Learnings

Community-led solutions

Empowering residents to lead green infrastructure efforts ensures that projects are deeply rooted in local knowledge, making them more effective and relevant to the community’s needs.

Sustained impact through partnerships

Formalized partnerships with local organizations ensure ongoing support, amplifying the reach and sustainability of community-driven initiatives.

Building local capacity

Training residents as Neighborhood Champions not only enhances their skills but also fosters long-term community engagement and stewardship of green infrastructure projects.

Other Recommendations

Implement demonstration projects.
Build diverse coalitions that help broaden your reach.
Organize site visits.

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