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A key initiative of IBIS Partners, the Gulf Coast Equity Coalition Fund will serve as the vehicle to spark new energy in regional stakeholders fueled by a coalition of resources and relationships from the private, public, government, foundations and the international marketplace.
The Gulf Coast, a vibrant coastal tourist attraction and home for millions of residents in love with their beautiful Gulf of Mexico, is now one of the most threatened regional communities on the planet. Many residents of the Gulf Coast states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida live in disadvantaged, poor urban and rural communities. Predominantly Latino and African American, they often live with the reality of gross disparities in socio-economic quality of life. Issues related to education, economics, health, housing, environment, and technology require immediate attention.
The events of hurricane Katrina and the BP oil spill have only served to exacerbate an already poverty ridden environment. This lethal one-two punch combination has further widened the gap between the rich and the poor and threatens to cripple the Gulf Coast.
Looking to local and state governments to impact these issues, a malaise of dependency has descended on a majority of community stakeholders and, thus, these communities are systematically underserved in the overall allocation of public and private resources. This neglect and deprivation prevents these areas from realizing their potential as livable and economically viable communities and threatens the health, safety, and economic security of residents. While globalization has brought world communities closer than ever today, the Gulf Coast’s disadvantaged communities have not participated in the economic benefits of this phenomenon. Something must be done to reverse course.
Now is the time to develop a responsive mechanism to engage these residents in resolving the issues of environmental disasters and ongoing poverty alleviation. An organized broad based public/private partnership that addresses the problems and implements solutions is long overdue. Thus, IBIS Partners and the Gulf Coast Equity Coalition Fund propose to assist the Gulf Coast Region to achieve equity in its quality of life, and its capacity to achieve it through a coalition of a diverse and engaged grassroots governance structure. We commit to invest and breathe new life into a supportive ecosystem for sustainable asset building and wealth creation. |
