Burnell's Internet Café
A local grocery business in a community still struggling to recover from Hurricane Katrina seeks to create an area on its property where people of all ages in the community can come to take advantage of free internet access, enabling them to complete tasks and school assignments in a safe, congregational space.
Why It Matters
Besides the local library, there is no place that residents of the predominantly black Lower Ninth Ward – children and adults alike – can access free internet. Nor are there many places for children to congregate in a safe space.
The Impact
Burnell says establishing an internet cafe is a “win-win” for the community. The population of the Lower Ninth Ward dropped significantly after Katrina, and today it is only 37% of what it was in 2000. Every one of these households, Burnell says, would benefit from this space. More broadly, investment in the community shows that it can “get back to something.”
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