DC Guests in the area!

BISCO is proud to announce that Dr. Linda Birnbaum, Director of NIEHS (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences) was our guest on Feb. 23, 2011 in Montegut.  This  event  offered  Dr. Birnbaum the chance to hear from coastal residents about their environmental justice concerns. Approximately 50 people from diverse backgrounds were invited to participate and enjoyed an afternoon with Dr. Birnbaum and 15 members of her staff as well as Tulane University representatives who helped to organize the event.  Afterwards they were taken on a tour of the area by David Gauthe.  

A GULF COAST INTERFAITHPRAYER SERVICE

Hosted By BISCO Friday, July 30, 2010 7:00 p.m.

Houma/Terrebonne Civic Center located near the corner of Barrow Street and Highway 311 Houma, Louisiana

A TIME OF PRAYER AND REFLECTION FOR DIVINE INTERVENTION IN THE OIL DISASTER 

BISCO AND ENVIRONMENT AMERICA  hosted  a SPECIAL LOCAL MOVIE PREVIEW on Friday, November 19, 2010, at the Houma Shriner's Center, 200 Moffett Road on the Houma Air Base. The movie is 'HARMONY" and is inspired and narrated by HRH Charles, The Prince of Wales. It was partially filmed in Terrebonne Parish and promotes a new way of looking at our environment. Jambalaya was served.

for more information email to HarmonyInHouma@gmail.com. 

Produced by Balcony Films, check out their website:

http://www.theharmonymovie.com

http://vimeo.com/16441943

BISCO Listening Sessions

Over the last 10 months, BISCO has hosted 13 listening sessions with a total attendance of over 1,200 people.  For more information on these sessions please contact BISCO staff at the office number of 985-227-9042.

BISCO  Listening Session” held June 3, 2010, at First Baptist Church on Grand Isle, Louisiana

BISCO would like to thank everyone who helped to make our Grand Isle “Listening Session” such a wonderful success.   Since this oil drilling disaster began on April 20, 2010, BISCO has completed four listening sessions with community residents, including fishers, those in the affected industries, and their families.  These sessions have allowed as many as 1,000 community members to speak out about the effects of this disaster on their lives and communities.   Our listening sessions are designed to help answer questions and ease concerns, as well as search for possible solutions. We have been happy to bring in elected officials, governmental representatives from several state and federal agencies, as well as representatives from British Petroleum, to listen to the people of the bayou.   BISCO plans to continue hosting these “Listening Sessions” to help our communities develop a unified voice in their search for equity. 

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BISCO Leader, A.J. Gravois with Saints Quarterback Drew Brees in the East Wing of the White House on August 9, 2010, as the Saints were honored for winning Super Bowl 44. A.J. traveled to Washington for the event with his mom, Patty Whitney, and Oxfam America consultant, Rhonda Jackson, as well as Rev. Tyronne Edwards of Phoenix, LA

P  P  atty and AJ were invited to attend this prestigous ceremony because of the work that BISCO has been doing on the ground since the beginning of the oil disaster and prior to the disaster on coastal land loss being an environmental justice issue. Patty is BISCO's environmental advocate and plays a very important part in BISCO's Federal advocacy program.

On Monday, November 15, 2010, BISCO held a Thanksgiving Potluck Dinner at Moses Baptist Church on Canal Boulevard in Thibodaux as part of its regular monthly meeting for their Thibodaux BISCO Group. Special Guests for the evening included Mayor and Mrs. Charles Caillouet and several of their staff. BISCO wanted to offer special thanks to Mayor Caillouet and his staff for their working with BISCO for the past 12 years and their openness to listen to and address the concerns of BISCO Leaders. The meeting was a festive event, and those attending had a wonderful time. We offer thanks and best wishes to Mayor Caillouet and all of his staff. We also thank the congregation of Moses Baptist Church and their pastor, Rev. Lloyd Jones, for their gracious hospitality.

The BISCO Terrebonne Federated Group held their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, November 16, 2010, at Joy-Full Gospel Church on Park Avenue in Houma, through the gracious hospitality of Pastor Jean Williams and her welcoming Congregation. A festive potluck dinner, all of those attending had a wonderful time and enjoyed the good food and happy fellowship of our first meeting to be held at this church, and we hope to get to know Pastor Jean and her congregants more in the future! 

Census 2010

BISCO participated in the Census Count encouraging all of the community to participate. The Census count was very important to determine funding allocations for parishes and the state!  We  heard that out work was appreciated because of the large turnout from our area. One of the largest turnouts ever.