In August 1914, Erneset Shackelton placed an advertisement in a London newspaper for his polar Antarctic expedition.  It read:

“Men (and Women) wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success.”

Almost a century later, a small advertising agency in New Orleans, Trumpet used the same advert to attract over 3,000 applicants after Hurricane Katrina destroyed the city.  I was lucky enough to be one of the few selected to come down and help rebuild New Orleans through the creativity.  I spent a year in New Orleans working at Trumpet, volunteering for different organizations, launching All Day Buffet, and re-branding the city of New Orleans.  It was one of the most fulfilling years of my entire life.

Besides the great culture, Creole/Cajun food, crawfish boils, brass bands like Rebirth and Soul Rebels, relaxed lifestyle, Mardi Gras, Jazzfest, New Orleans Saints, Chris Paul, Lil Wayne, Po’ Boys, Bourbon Street, Halloween, The Fly, LSU fans, and Voodoo Fest (I can seriously go on forever); there was one thing that trumped everything - the hundreds of young professionals moving INTO New Orleans.  Most cities were dealing with a brain drain.  New Orleans had a brain gain.  A luxury problem if you ask me.  It was so inspiring to see that everyone in New Orleans wanted to change the world and help rebuild New Orleans.  Austin attracts musicians.  New Orleans attracts social innovators.

I made a lot of great friends such as John Alford.  Harvard graduate.  Echoing Green Fellow and CEO of NOLA180.  His mission is to turnaround failing public schools and turn a 80% dropout rate to a 90% college graduation rate.  I met Nathan Rothstein.  Founder of NOLA YURP.  His mission  is to build a support and resource network to connect, retain and attract young professionals from diverse backgrounds for a sustainable New Orleans.  And I met Lauren Baum who works at Idea Village who nurtures the innovative and entrepreneurial culture alive in New Orleans.  These were a handful of people I met in the short time I spent in New Orleans.  There are more that arrive in the city everyday ready to tackle some of the biggest social problems.  In fact, USA TODAY just wrote an article about the influx of talent into New Orleans.  Just reading that article put the biggest smile on my face : )

I believe that within 5 years, New Orleans will be the epicenter of social innovation.  It’s the one place where the slate is wiped clean for positive change.  There’s no other place in the world I would have been at that point in my life.  And to be honest, I’ll be the happiest person alive if I can live in New York and New Orleans.  I realized that it’s the small things in life that make the biggest difference and it’s one of the most important lessons I learned.  Le Bon Temps Roule!

Cross-posted at AWEARNESS: The Kenneth Cole Blog and to see 100 of the most innovative people, projects, and organizations in New Orleans, visit NOLA 100