MUSIC ROYALTY
Davell Crawford brings along his fabulous, forever friends to his set in Jazz Fest’s Gospel Tent
BY GERALDINE WYCKOFF Contributing writer
Davell Crawford is no stranger to wowing a crowd in the Jazz and Heritage Festival’s always-powerful Gospel Tent.
Then again, the brilliantly versatile keyboardist, vocalist, choir director, composer and arranger known internationally as the Piano Prince of New Orleans, has performed on most of the festival’s prosceniums, save perhaps the Fais Do-Do Stage and a few others. Crawford, 50, has appeared at Jazz Fest some 25 times.
He first ventured onto the Fair Grounds as a featured artist at age 15 in a tribute with his late grandfather, the great James “Sugar Boy” Crawford of “Jock-A-Mo” fame, on the Gentilly Stage, which then, like
Happy
“Believe it or not, of all the performance venues (at Jazz Fest) over the years, I performed at most of them except the Gospel Tent. I laughed when I got the call from Davell and said, ‘You know, I don’t really come from a gospel background. I come from early rhythm and blues and jazz. I don’t do gospel, but I can, and I would love to participate.’”
WANDA ROUZAN longtime friend of Davell Crawford
now often featured rhythm and blues favorites.
Then Crawford, who was already a minister of music for the St. Francis
de Sales Church Choir, would soon make his debut appearance in the Gospel Tent, again with Sugar Boy at his side, to direct the Davell Crawford Family & Friends Mass Choir No. 2. Crawford’s Mass Choir No. 1 originated in Lafayette, his “second home” as a youth.
Crawford’s return to the Gospel tent
4 p.m. May 3 will feature special appearances by his “fabulous friends,” noted vocalists Cyril Neville, Cyril’s niece, Charmaine Neville and Wanda Rouzan, all of whom he’s been close with since childhood and has worked with on occasion.
The three New Orleanians stand renowned in their own musical spheres rhythm and blues, funk, jazz, reggae and beyond. None, however, could
See CRAWFORD, page 2G
In south Louisiana, sharing space with wildlife is part of everyday life. From squirrels darting across yards to the occasional opossum, raccoon or bird nesting nearby, these encounters are common yet often misunderstood. One of the biggest misconceptions? That every wild animal we see needs our help. However most wildlife is doing exactly what it’s supposed to do. Healthy wild animals generally avoid people and pets, and the best thing we can do in most situations is to give them space.
Observing the animal and determining who to contact for help are key considerations when deciding whether it’s time to step in or leave well enough alone.
Observe before acting
Seeing a wild animal up close can be alarming, but proximity alone doesn’t mean there’s a problem. Wildlife may pass through our yards, rest briefly or forage during the day without being in distress. I see wild rabbits, owls, hawks and squirrels in my yard all the time. Intervention is only necessary when:
n The animal is clearly injured (bleeding, limping or unable to move).
n A pet has caught it.
n It is a baby confirmed to be orphaned.
When in doubt, pause and watch from a safe distance. A few minutes of observation can prevent unnecessary — and sometimes harmful — interference.
ä See WILDLIFE, page 2G
Traci
Howerton
ANIMAL RESCUE
STAFF PHOTO BY HILARY SCHEINUK
A young opossum emerges from a den.
STAFF FILE PHOTO BY SCOTT THRELKELD
Davell Crawford performs during a tribute to Dave Bartholomew and Fats Domino on the Acura Stage during the 50th
annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival at the Fairgrounds in New Orleans in 2019
Children gather around as a bucket of water is released on a pile of dirt during Mud Fest at the Louisiana Children’s
FAIRS & FESTIVALS THE REAL PORCH FEST: The 16th post-Jazz Fest street party will be held at 1563 N. White St., the corner of Ponce De Leon and North White. Live performances will take place at 6:30 p.m April 25-26, May 2-3. The free outdoor concerts invite attendees to bring chairs and tips for the bands.
SHORTY FEST: The annual music show will feature performances by Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue and Cimafunk & La Tribu, with special guests Tarriona “Tank” Ball (Tank & The Bangas), Big Freedia, Jelly Joseph and JoJo Hermann (Widespread Panic), plus students from the Trombone Shorty Foundation and Primera Linea. The event starts at 8 p.m April 27 at Tipitina’s, 501 Napoleon Ave. Tickets start at $122.70 via TicketWeb. Before the indoor celebration, a free outdoor Cultural Block Party will be held at 5 p.m. and feature performances by brass bands, high school marching bands and Mardi Gras Indians, food trucks, a familyfriendly kids’ area, plus a silent auction and VIP access tent on the neutral ground. https://tipitinas.com.
VOL CAJUN FESTIVAL: Visitation of Our Lady Catholic Church will hold its annual festival with live music April 24-25 at 3520 Ames Blvd. in Marrero. Hours are 6-11 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday. https://vol.org/ cajunfest
WEGO FEST: The city of Westwego will hold a festival April 24-26 at the Westwego Farmers Market, 484 Sala Ave. in Westwego It will feature live music, food vendors, craft vendors, kids’ activities, a petting zoo and inflatables. https://www.visitwestwego. com/events?id=51205527
RIVERBEND LAGNIAPPE: The free street festival and block party will take place from noon-8 p.m. April 29 at 8300 Oak St. The event includes four music stages, an arts and crafts market and food vendors. VIP packages available for sale. www.riverbendlagniappe.com/eventdetails/riverbend-lagniappe.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
ZOO-TO-DO FOR KIDS: Tickets are on sale for the April 24 event at the Audubon Zoo, 6500 Magazine St. The evening includes arcade games, giant inflatables, live entertainment, crafts and games, snacks and the celebration of the return of the Gottesman Family Endangered Species Carousel to Audubon Zoo. Tickets are $35 for the 6 p.m. start, and early-admit
CRAWFORD
Continued from page 1G
be considered gospel singers; though being natives of this spiritual city, they have been touched by it and thus their music.
“Davell and I go from far back. As a youngster, he was such a character He was a firecracker. He was always loving,” Rouzan, a rhythm and blues and jazz vocalist, said.
All have also played regularly at Jazz Fest through the decades, though very, very sparsely, if ever in the Gospel Tent. All three are also, as always, featured on their own sets.
“Believe it or not, of all the performance venues (at Jazz Fest) over the years I performed at most of them except the Gospel Tent,” Rouzan said. “I laughed when I got the call from Davell and said, ‘You know I don’t really come from a gospel background. I come from early rhythm and blues and jazz. I don’t do gospel, but I can, and I would love to participate.’
Glorifying God through music
Crawford grew up in two churches in New Orleans and two churches in Lafayette. He was just 10 years old when he accompanied the choir on the organ or piano at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church. As a youngster, he carefully observed the ace B-3 organ player at the Missionary Baptist Church Fellowship, whose instrument was perched high so he could watch the organist’s feet, complete with high heels, touch the pedals to provide the bass notes He remembers that her right hand played the melody and her left hand directed the choir, “It
tickets for a 5 p.m. start are available for $50. https:// audubonnatureinstitute.org/ kids-zoo-to-do.
EARTH DAY: Longue Vue House and Gardens, 7 Bamboo Road, will offer free admission to its gardens to Louisiana residents for selfguided tours from 8 a.m.5 p.m. April 22. Discounted house tours will be available, starting at $15. Registration is available online. https:// longuevue.com/event/earthday/
MARTIN MARINO DANCE CHALLENGE: Fifth-grade students from Jefferson Parish schools will present a night of swing, waltz, salsa and tango starting at 6 p.m. April 22 at the Pontchartrain Center, 4545 Williams Blvd in Kenner. More than 400 students from 19 schools will compete in the 19th annual event for the best couples in each dance and top teams. This program is free and open to the public. www. jpschools.org/.
GUIDED ARCHITECTURE
TOUR: The Preservation Resource Center will host a Warehouse District/American Sector walking tour from 10 a.m. to noon on April 23 The tour includes Lafayette Square, the city’s secondoldest public park, and the American Sector, a residential area developed after the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. The tour starts and ends at the Preservation Resource Center, 923 Tchoupitoulas St. Tickets start at $30. https://prcno.org/event/ guided-architecture-tour-ofthe-warehouse-district-andamerican-sector-april-23/.
WOOD CHIP DISTRIBUTION: The city of New Orleans Department of Parks & Parkways will offer Orleans Parish residents free wood chips 8 a.m.-noon April 25 at 1 Green Parade Lane. The wood chips are generated from routine citywide treetrimming operations. Wood chips are available on a firstcome, first-served basis. Residents must bring their own loading supplies, including shovels, gloves, bags, containers and any other necessary equipment https://nola. gov/next/parks-parkways/ news/2026-04-13-city-ofnew-orleans-department-ofparks-parkways-announcesfinal-free-wood-chip-distrib/. FRIENDS OF THE CABILDO AMERICA 250 TOUR: The Friends of the Cabildo will lead a specialized two-hour walking tour in the French Quarter starting at 2 p.m. April 25 that explores the role New Orleans and Spanish Louisiana played in securing American independence.
The tour begins at the 1850 House Store, 523 St. Ann Street, at Jackson Square. Tickets are $30. https:// friendsofthecabildo.org/.
FESSY AWARDS: The eighth annual awards presented by the Krewe of FessHead that honor individuals who have made significant contributions to New Orleans music, whether through performance, preservation, education or innovation, will start at 7 p.m. April 28 at Jamnola, 940 Frenchmen St.
FESTIVAL BREEZE MAKERS:
Peoples Health will present speaker Nancy Agnelly, 1011 a.m., April 29, 10-11 a.m., in the Peoples Health Medicare Center Community Room, 3017 Veterans Blvd. in Metairie. The activity will be decorating fans. Supplies to decorate hand fans for the festival season will be provided. Admission is free and open to the public. Registration is required via phone at (800) 315-8782. http://peopleshealth.com/wellness.
THEATER & CONCERTS
“ZOMBIE PROM”: Brother Martin High School Dionysians (drama club) will present the 1950s-set rockand-roll musical April 23-25 at the campus auditorium, 4401 Elysian Fields Ave., New Orleans. Curtain is at 7 p.m. for evening shows and 2 p.m. for the matinee. Reserved tickets are $20. General admission is $15. please brothermartin.com/drama.
THREADHEAD THURSDAY:
The 16th annual free concert by J and The Causeways and Dave Jordan’s Almost Acoustic featuring Rurik Nunan and Max Sanders will be staged 7-10 p.m. April 23 at The Broadside, 600 N. Broad St. There is no admission charge, but RSVPs can be made via SimpleTix. https:// broadsidenola.com/events/.
OGDEN AFTER HOURS JAZZ
SERIES: In celebration of “Herman Leonard: Images of Jazz,” the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, 925 Camp St., will feature a performance by New Orleans trumpeter, vocalist and composer Aurélien Barnes at 6-8 p.m. April 29. The event includes live music, a cash bar, afterhours gallery access and a kids’ art activity table. Tickets are $15 for adults and $7 for children. Members are free. https://ogdenmuseum. org/event/ogden-afterhours-30/.
BAYOU RENDAZEVOUS:
The inaugural music fest benefiting the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic will be held at 2:30 p.m. April 27-28 at The Broadside, 600 N. Broad St. 10 bands will perform on
would sound like thunder.”
Crawford’s first encounter with the pipe organ was at Werlein’s Music store, then located in a mall where his grandmother would shop.
“I had watched musicians play pipe organ before, but everyone was floored that I knew what the stops meant, how the pedals worked. I was about eight,” he said. Crawford was baptized Catholic and christened Baptist, though through the decades he has participated in various worship services, including Pentecostal, Episcopal, Church of God in Christ and, as he sincerely offers, “Just about any religion that glorifies God ” Crawford’s career in secular music has been equally varied with heavy doses of New Orleans R&B, jazz, blues, funk and more. He also studied classical music, which often beautifully splashes into his mix Crawford, looking back at his time performing, said he is forever grateful to the late George Wein for supporting his career and bringing him to festivals around the world
“Growing up with the festival and in the public eye had an indelible mark on my career and legacy,
two stages. Tickets start at $54.28. https://broadsidenola.com/events/.
CULINARY
EXPERIENCES
SAINTS DRAFT CRAWFISH
COOK-OFF: The New Orleans Saints and Cox Communications will hold a crawfish cook-off from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 25 at Ochsner Sports Performance Center, 5800 Airline Drive, Metairie. Teams will compete for best crawfish while fans sample, vote and watch live 2026 NFL Draft coverage. Honoring Autism Awareness Month, the event supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, includes participants from the Autism community, and donates to Magnolia Community Services. Tickets: $25 adults, $15 children 12 and under. www.NewOrleansSaints.com.
ZWANZE DAY: Cochon, 930 Tchoupitoulas St., will celebrate the Cantillon Zwanze 2026 tapping from 11 a.m.3 p.m. April 25. The event will include Belgian lambics, cochon de lait, Butcher charcuterie, assorted cheeses, Belgian-style sausages and fries. Tickets start at $180 via Resy. https://cochonrestaurant.com/.
POUR DECISIONS: FEST EDITION: The New Orleans Wine and Food Experience will host an evening of music and wine pairing at 5:30-7:30 p.m. April 28 at The Shop at the CAC, 900 Camp St. DJ PhatWhoDat will provide music to accompany Pacific Northwest wines and door prizes. Tickets start at $60. www nowfe.com/pour-decisions.
HAPPY MEAL EXPERIENCE: Longue Vue House and Gardens will host Fred Wesley at 5-7 p.m. April 28, celebrating the healing power of the whole food plant-based lifestyle. The menu will feature red beans and rice and desserts, all compliant with the evidence-based diet prescribed to reverse obesity heart disease and diabetes. Children eat free and can participate in a hands-on food prep activity with Natalie Guess, who will read from her children’s book, “The Biggest, The Oldest, The Strongest … All Eat Plants.” Each child participant will receive a free copy. Tickets are $50. Longue Vue is located at 7 Bamboo Road. https:// longuevue.com/event/happy-meal-experience/.
was a big, important thing for me to sing in churches. That’s where it all started in the church. Church was first.”
But for Cyril Neville, like Rouzan, the set with Crawford will mark the first time that he has lifted his voice in the Gospel Tent, though his “one love” attitude has always prevailed.
WILDLIFE
Continued from page 1G
Is it abandoned?
Spring and early summer bring an influx of young wildlife, and it’s easy to assume they’ve been abandoned. In many cases, that’s not true. Mothers often leave their babies alone while they search for food. Fledgling birds, fully feathered but not yet able to fly, are often found on the ground. This is a normal stage of development. Their parents are usually nearby, continuing to feed and watch over them.
Young squirrels or rabbits may also appear alone temporarily while their mother is away If the baby appears alert and uninjured, the best thing to do is leave it where it is and keep pets indoors until it moves on.
If necessary baby birds can be touched. The longstanding myth that a mother will reject her young because of human scent is not true.
When to help
There are times when intervention is appropriate. Seek help if the baby is visibly injured, cold or weak or if the mother has not returned after several hours.
Another reason to help is if the animal is in immediate danger My family recently discovered a baby rabbit that was not moving under our garbage cart by the road. Once we moved it to our grass away from the road, the rabbit immediately hopped into the bushes.
If a very young bird has fallen from its nest and can be safely returned, go ahead, as this gives it the best chance of survival. If that’s not possible, placing it in a nearby shrub or an elevated spot can help keep it safe while the mother continues caring for it.
Approach with caution
An injured animal may allow people to approach more closely than usual, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe
to approach. Wild animals can bite or scratch when frightened or in pain, and some species may carry diseases such as rabies. Even small animals can cause serious injury
If containing an animal to prevent further harm, use a towel, box or other barrier Never use your bare hands. Keep the animal in a quiet, dark space and contact a professional as soon as possible. Make a call
Many people are surprised to learn that animal shelters typically do not handle wildlife cases unless there has been a bite or an immediate public safety concern.
For injured or orphaned wildlife, your best options for help are:
n Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries dispatch: (800) 442-2511
n LDWF’s local office: (504) 284-2023
n Silent Voices Wildlife Rehabilitation: (504) 7179767
A full list of licensed wildlife rehabilitators can be found on the LDWF website: www.wlf.louisiana.gov/ page/permitted-wildliferehabilitators. Not every wildlife encounter is a call to action, so knowing when to step in and when to observe from afar is important.
ARNO events
April 26: PetSmart Adoption Event, 6851 Veterans Blvd., Metairie, from noon to 4 p.m. Meet puppies and dogs from Animal Rescue New Orleans. All approved adopters will receive a coupon book from PetSmart and a new bed from ARNO. For more info, email adopt@animalrescueneworleans.org.
Traci D. Howerton is the volunteer manager for Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO), a nonprofit, volunteerbased, no-kill shelter For more information on ARNO, visit www animalrescueneworleans. org.
PET OF THE WEEK
and who and what I am and what I still have to offer,” Crawford said. “People still come, and they pack (the tent), man. That feeling alone in my home city, there is nothing like that.”
He added that he is indebted to Quint Davis for being a champion for what he stands for Bringing people together in the Gospel Tent
“Davell is so talented and spirited. He can get a group of people together and get them to do anything,” Charmaine Neville exclaimed. “He’s got that spirit. If he asks you to sing, it’s an honor to be on stage with him anywhere.”
Except for sitting in with a choir on occasion, this show marks the second time Charmaine, who’s made the rounds at various Fest stages, has appeared in the Gospel Tent. The first was in 1996, when she performed with the group The Lord’s Voices, which also featured Crawford. Gospel has always been a part of my life, whether it was the Catholic Church or Baptist Church. It didn’t matter,” Charmaine offers. “I grew up in so many different neighborhoods. You go to church, you were always going to church. It
“You don’t have to go too far within his music throughout his career, (to understand) that it’s all about love and human kindness,” Crawford said. “That’s who Cyril is. He knows how to give God the glory.”
In New Orleans, where music is a part of life, most musicians are particularly influenced by gospel music — it’s in the streets, it’s in the air While Rouzan was raised Catholic and sang in the choir, her contemporary music style later came to be influenced by gospel, with singers such as Juanita Brooks and Marva Wright.
“We are more alike than we are different,” Crawford said. “I think when people realize that it’s not hard to understand gospel music’s let’s call it spiritual music’s — influence in almost every kind of music.”
An audience in the Gospel Tent throughout the festival may also recognize that the musical influences go both ways — gospel music has also been influenced by popular music.
Crowd favorites like the Electrifying Crown Seekers often bring a country Western twang to a set. At the same time, many of the vocal quartets might look to the harmonies of early doowop artists for inspiration.
Contemporary rhythm and blues has certainly entered the gospel world, where its roots live, while moving it into the modern era.
PROVIDED PHOTO
Pippin is a 6-month-old, vivacious, courageous tabby kitten eagerly awaiting to dart off into a life filled with fun. He is very fond of other cats and would love a companion. Prepare for heart-melting kitten cuddle puddles, wrestling matches or toy-hunting sessions. To learn more, email adoptionteam@animalrescueneworleans.org or submit an application at https://animalrescueneworleans.org/ adoptfoster/.
STAFF FILE PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER
Davell Crawford joins the RAMS during a tribute to Raymond Myles in the Gospel Tent at the 50th annual Jazz Fest at the fairgrounds in New Orleans in 2019.
Earth Day, robots highlight upcoming events
BY JANE LEGROS Contributing writer
Earth Day is on April 22, and the New Orleans Public Library is celebrating at two library locations. Children ages 2-5 and their caregivers are invited to Central City, 2020 Jackson Ave., for a story hour and an earthwalk from 10:30 a.m. to noon with Teaching Responsible Earth Education, a nonprofit that works to inspire the next generation to appreciate and protect the natural world.
PROVIDED PHOTO Earth Day events are planned at the Central City and Algiers branches.
The earthwalk is a fun, interactive experience in nature for families to get away from it all for about an hour and get to know familiar and unfamiliar things in a new way. Participants do not need supplies or gear, just curiosity and to follow a few simple rules:
n Plan to be there from the start of the walk to its finish.
n Adults and children need to fully participate and remain with the group; there are no observers.
n No phones or cameras allowed, as it’s a rare chance to disconnect from those types of distractions, and just be in the moment.
Registration is required Visit nolalibrary co/earth-day to sign up.
Algiers Regional, 3014 Holiday Drive, will host a documentary screening at 4:30 p m in honor of Earth Day The 2010 film “Earth Days” is a meditation on man’s complex relationship with nature and explains the history of eco-activism.
Robotics workshop
High school students from Jesuit Robotics will lead a workshop for tweens ages 9 to 12 at Robert E. Smith, 6301 Canal Blvd., 2-4 p.m. April 25. Attendees will learn how to design and program robots while creating a new and exciting city Space is limited. Visit nolalibrary.co/robotics to sign up for this workshop, or for the one at Mid-City Library, 4140 Canal St., next month.
Virtual author talk
Award-winning and bestselling author Miranda Cowley Heller will share an intimate journey through the life stages of a woman in her new poetry collection, “What the Deep Water Knows,” at 1 p.m April 22. Heller was raised in New York City and Cape Cod. Her debut novel, “The Paper Palace,” was a No 1 New York Times bestseller in the U.S., a Sunday Times bestseller in the UK, and was longlisted for the Women’s Prize. She has worked as a senior vice president and head of drama series at HBO, developing and overseeing such shows as “The Sopranos,” “Six Feet Under,” “The Wire,” “Deadwood,” and “Big Love,” among others. This is her first poetry collection Visit nolalibrary.co/miranda-heller to register and submit questions for the author Silk painting workshop
Teens and adults are invited to discover the role of silk art in preserving heritage and lived experience at “Threads of Memory,” a Vietnamese silk-painting demonstration and workshop. Artist Hue Phong will lead this class at Mid-City Library, 4140 Canal St., from 11 a.m. to noon April 25. Registration is required Visit nolalibrary co/silk-painting to sign up
This program is presented in partnership with Gulf Coast Asian Arts & Culture and is sponsored by the Friends of the New Orleans Public Library.
Jane LeGros is the director of marketing and communications for the New Orleans Public Library.
Stem Fest welcomes learners
Alicia
STAFF PHOTOS BY ENAN CHEDIAK
Anais Blackman, right, sticks her tongue out at the snake Butters, being held by Victoria Hernandez.
A group of kids
2pcSofaand
Life in the French Quarter, New Orleans’ Chinatown, more
Armand H. Bertin Sr talks about his new book “My Life in the Quarter — Mystery, Merriment and Memories” at 7 p.m. on April 29 at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie.
This event is free of charge and open to the public Bertin writes about being born and raised in the Quarter during the 1950s, where he says his passion for reading and writing was nurtured by his senior English teacher
The book includes stories about Ruthie the Duck Lady and her trained ducks, Richard Simmons the exercise guru, Angelo Brocato and his gelato, Cupid Doll Linda Brigette, Cosimo Matassa, who recorded legends such as Fats Domino, Father Thomas the Terminator, Dan the original neighborhood watch man, his landlord Henriette DeLille, legendary vampire Jacques St. Germain, Elvis and Morgus the Magnificent.
“If you have never visited the Quarter I am sure you have your own stories. If you have never visited, put it on your bucket list and live your own stories,” Bertin said.
New Orleans’ Chinatown
Historian Winston Ho will discuss New Orleans’ long-gone Chinatown at 7 p.m., Thursday, April 30, at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie.
Ho says that the first significant migration of Chinese into Louisiana took place during Reconstruction, between 1867 and 1871, when planters imported hundreds of Cantonese contract laborers from Cuba, California, and directly from China as a low-cost replacement for slave labor By the mid-1870s, nearly all of these laborers had abandoned the plantations and migrated to Southern cities, especially New Orleans, in search of higher pay and better working conditions. The laborers became factory workers, laborers on
levee and railroad construction projects fishermen, grocers, and, especially, laundry workers By the 1880s, these merchants had developed a small Chinatown on the 1100 block of Tulane Avenue, between Elk Place and South Rampart Street. The historic Chinese Presbyterian Mission of New Orleans was located a few blocks to the north on South Liberty Street. Though much smaller than the Chinatowns of the West Coast or the industrial cities of the north, New Orleans Chinatown was home to several dry-goods groceries, import/export companies, apothecaries, restaurants, laundries, and the meeting halls of several Chinese associations. Winston Ho is an independent historian and published writer, specializing in modern China and Chinese American history in New Orleans. He is employed as a public historian at The Historic New Orleans Collection. He has taught Chinese at the Academy of Chinese Studies in New Orleans and at St. Mary’s Dominican High School in New Orleans. He is the son of Taiwanese parents and is a native of New Orleans.
Author event focuses on ‘Journey of Healing’
Author Danyelle Bridges talks about her new book, “From Pain to Purpose: A Journey of Healing and Transformation,” 7 p.m April 28, at the Jane O’Brien Chatelain West Bank Regional Library, 2751 Manhattan Blvd., Harvey Bridges said “From Pain to Purpose” is an invitation to rise from the ashes, embrace your story, and step boldly into the life God has designed for you.
“Your scars don’t define you. They refine you,” she said. Bridges is an author, faith-driven leadership strategist and educator who helps leaders transform pain into purpose and pressure into clarity With more than two decades of experience in education, leadership development, and community impact, her work sits at the intersection of faith, emotional intelligence and sustainable leadership.
As the founder of Ingenuity Consultants LLC and Divine Angels Outreach Ministry, Bridges equips leaders, educators and organizations to lead with wisdom, resilience and divine alignment without burnout or performance-driven striving. Her teaching emphasizes stewardship, spiritual maturity and
leadership capacity rooted in order rather than exhaustion.
Painful childhoods
Ernest Ellender, PhD, will discuss his new book titled “This Is How We Heal from Painful Childhoods” at 7 p.m., Monday, May 4, at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie. Ellender said painful childhoods naturally lead to many sticky obstacles to adult success, ranging from distrust of others to self-sabotaging thoughts and behaviors. During prolonged periods of chronic family stress, intergenerational trauma, a young brain creates deeply ingrained physical and mental habits to survive childhood. Childhood and family struggles leave a series of confusing obstacles to navigate along the path to adult health, connectivity and happiness. Ellender has worked with intergenerational trauma survivors in various roles since the 1990s. During that time, he earned a doctorate in clinical psychology He developed his 20-rule curriculum, which his clients have used to reduce chaos in their lives, build competence in addressing challenging obstacles, and achieve their personal and relationship
goals.
Ellender worked in psychology life coaching and martial arts for more than 25 years before writing his first book, “This Is How We Heal From Painful Childhoods.” He says his advanced martial arts training (BJJ black belt), combined with his doctorate in clinical psychology, produces an empowering skills-building curriculum that he delivered to clients in south Louisiana.
Genealogy
Gwen Kelley, a librarian who specializes in genealogy, will lead a series of classes at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie. The next session on “Genetic Genealogy” occurs 2:30 p.m. April 22. The next lecture, which occurs 2:30 p.m. April 29, will focus on “Genealogical Proof Standard.”
Music
The New Orleans Trombone Choir performs at 7 p.m. April 2 at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie.
Chris Smith is manager of adult programming at the Jefferson Parish Public Library
PHOTOS
Few artifacts of New Orleans’ Chinatown remain.
