News
Do You Know What It Means…
Jul 11 2006
The consequential year of 2005 has meant many things to those of us in New Orleans. It has brought many changes to our home and to a small non-profit organization called the Urban Conservancy. It is with greatly mixed emotions that I announce my departure from the Urban Conservancy. I am leaving my work with the organization to pursue studies full-time as a candidate in the Acton MBA program in Austin, TX. I am eager to explore the next adventure in Social Entrepreneurship and hope my work leads me back home someday.
In many ways, it is a great time to leave. The Urban Conservancy’s successful partnership with University of Missouri/Kansas City has given the organization a much-needed boost. You will be seeing and hearing more in coming months.
At the same time, being a founder of an organization means it is never easy to let go of something you helped give birth to. But the organization’s leadership is stronger than ever and I am proud to be associated with such a talented and committed team. My dear friend, partner in crime and co-founder Geoff Coats remains at the helm and Dana Eness is a dynamo of activity on Stay Local! along with an advisory board of crack community leaders.
As hard as it is to leave the UC, it is even harder to leave New Orleans. Nearly all of my friends and most of my life’s work is there. The Urban Conservancy would not exist if not for this place - our work has always been a love letter to the city. I spent 15 deeply formative years in its steamy, mysterious and occasionally maddening embrace. A better writer than me wrote that the oft-quoted term “Big Easy” had long been a misnomer for the city and it should finally be shed once and for all, post-storm. Life in New Orleans has never been easy. Anyone who has lived there has made tradeoffs to be a part of it, even more so today.
Yet, its gravity is powerful. It is truly unlike any place on earth; words can’t begin to describe all of the ways it changed my life. The place and the people in it are in my thoughts always.
Edward Melendez
Principal and Co-Founder
The Urban Conservancy
2001-2006
Real wealth consists in things of utility and beauty, in things that help to create strong, beautiful bodies and surroundings inspiring to live in.
-Emma Goldman
Saddened as we are by Ed’s leaving the Urban Conservancy, we know that this allows he and Cassie and Santiago to begin a new chapter in their lives. As I told Ed, his acceptance into the Acton program is the best crappy news I’ve gotten in quite a while. That pretty much sums it up. The Urban Conservancy would not exist were it not for Ed’s tireless commitment to build an organization capable of articulating the needs of the community. With our future work, we will try and honor the love and labor Ed devoted to creating the UC. We wish you all the best.
Filed under: Editorials
Replies
Sara Diamond said:
Hey, I just wanted to say congratulations. I went to Tulane and was turned on to the Urban Conservancy when the whole Wal-Mart Scandal was going on. I still get the newsletters even though I now reside in Austin. It is a great way to stay connected to a place I will always think of as home. But Austin is great! I love it here. Please let me know if you have any questions about moving or the town. Good luck!
sara
Jul 11 2006
8:20 AM
Wendy King said:
Ed,
I’m so sorry you’re leaving!!! Best wishes in Austin, and please stay in touch with us. Visits to NO will always be welcome, of course! I hope, as you’ve stated in your resignation letter, that, upon finishing your MBA, you’ll be able to return here, and work, either back with UC or with one of the other nonprofits that will be springing up over the next few years.
Jul 11 2006
9:17 AM
Sara Hernandez said:
Congratulations Ed! I am so happy for your family and you as you enter this new chapter in your life. Austin is a very lucky city to have you as one of its citizens. Thank you for your contributions to my own professional development. You have left a mark on me, as I am sure you have on many others.
All the best,
Sara Xayarath Hernández
Jul 11 2006
9:53 AM
Greg Thomas said:
From somewhere other than our uneasy home, I know what it means. Our lives are all far richer having been a part of New Orleans, and Austin’s a nice place to visit. Continued best of fortune to you and Cassie.
Jul 11 2006
1:01 PM
Liza Sherman said:
Good luck Ed. I am really sorry that you and Cassie are leaving, it is sad to see great people go. But hopefully you will be back! Good luck in the MBA program and have a great time living in Austin.
Your former PJs employee, Liza Sherman
Jul 11 2006
2:40 PM
Editor B said:
Parting is such sweet sorrow. Good luck in Austin, my man.
Jul 11 2006
3:44 PM
Wendi Berman said:
Ed, I know what it means—having to be elsewhere with all intentions of returning home—and wish you, Cassie, and Santiago the very best. I will be sure to put you in touch with a couple of great folks who have just moved to Austin themselves last week (for the PhD Library Sciences program there). Remind me, remind Geoff…I’ll do it. Take care.
Jul 11 2006
5:31 PM
Bishop Randall Mitchell-United Holy House of Prayer said:
Good Luck and best wishes on what should be an easy challenge after 15 years in New Orleans. Building anything into something meaningful in New Orleans qualifys you to conquer obstacles normal human beings would not dare attempt. Your next gig should be a piece of cake-a lil one at best. Ed you have been through the fire and have been found not wanting-may God bless and keep you and give you the days and time to make other worthwhile contributions to our collective humanity..
Jul 11 2006
11:10 PM
Barry Schlaile said:
You will be sorely missed. Horace Mann said “be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for human kind.” Your victories in New Orleans are legion. I’m sure they will continue to inspire where ever you go.
Jul 12 2006
10:14 PM
Rachelle Matherne said:
Ed,
I’m so sorry that you’re leaving NOLA. You are definitely one of the city’s assets. I wish you luck, and hope one day you can return home.
I am temporarily relocated myself and cannot wait to return home eventually.
Rachelle
Sep 13 2006
11:45 AM