Dominican Sisters of Peace sustain neighborhood hub in New Orleans’ Gert Town for 13 years

# What happened For 13 years the Dominican Sisters of Peace have run the Peace Center in New Orleans' Gert Town. The center occupies a former neighborhood grocery store closed after Hurricane Katrina. Sisters converted the first floor into community space and live in an apartment upstairs.

# Why the center started Congregational leaders wanted a stronger sister presence in New Orleans, but had no fixed program at first. Sisters canvassed the neighborhood and asked residents what they needed. That local listening shaped the center's services and how the sisters approached community life.

# How the sisters built trust Sisters Pat Thomas, Suzanne Brauer and Ceal Warner embedded themselves in local life. They attended neighborhood crime‑prevention meetings run by the police and visited Sunday services at each of six Baptist churches to meet people and introduce themselves. Residents were cautious at first — especially around white sisters arriving in a predominantly Black neighborhood — but steady presence and participation changed perceptions.

# Programs and who they serve The Peace Center focuses on two age groups: children and seniors.

• Children: The center runs afterschool programs during the school year and active programming in the summer. After experimenting with its own day camps in early years, staff shifted to sponsoring neighborhood kids to attend outside camps (art, athletics, sports journalism programs offered by local colleges). The center also hosts "after camp" activities and field trips.

• Seniors: About 35 seniors attend center activities. The most popular offering is twice‑monthly bingo, which functions as a social gathering that combats isolation. One longtime attendee, Mabel Harris Thomas ("Miss Mabel"), turned 100 this May and remains an active center regular.

Outcomes include academic progress and retention in the program: the center had its first college graduate two years ago, and a child who began attending at age 6 is now a junior in high school.

# Neighborhood context Gert Town has concentrated economic challenges. Roughly one-third of residents live in poverty. Nearly three out of four renters spend more than 30% of their income on rent. The neighborhood's average annual household income is just under $46,000, substantially below the U.S. average cited in the reporting.

presence. The sisters combined listening, local partnership (churches, neighborhood meetings, colleges) and flexible programming that adapted as other providers entered the space. Rather than duplicate available camps, they redirected resources to broaden children's experiences by sponsoring attendance at specialized programs.

# What to watch next The story highlights steady, small‑scale community work rather than large institutional change: maintaining funding, adapting programs to shifting neighborhood needs, and sustaining relationships across generations will determine the center's next phase.