Welcome to the new look of St. Charles Avenue magazine! Since the magazine was first printed in November 1995, it has gone through paper, size and editorial changes, but has never been fully redesigned – what better time to unveil a new look than at the start of a new year!

Inside, you will find a beautiful new layout (thanks to art director Tiffani Reding), more pictures of philanthropic events and added content, including the new “Student Activist” column.

Now for the fun! Please join us Thursday, January 8, 6-9 p.m. at the French Quarter Bar in the Ritz Carlton Hotel to celebrate! All of the proceeds from the $20 raffle tickets (you have to buy one ticket for entry) will go to the New Orleans Public Library Foundation.

To support us in this cause, Irvin Mayfield, chairman of the board of the New Orleans Public Library and vice chairman of the NOPL Foundation, not only graces our cover, but also will be playing at the party! He says that the NOPL will need $650 million in the next 20 years. Not only do our public libraries foster literacy in New Orleans’ citizens, many are housed in beautiful, historic buildings that are still in need of repair post-Hurricane Katrina. Mayfield also says that the number of New Orleanians who have library cards is much too small! To aid in this, there will be a table at the entrance of the event so you can obtain your library card, support the NOPL and enjoy drinks, hors d’oeuvres and the musical of Jeremy Davenport!

Also supporting literacy of New Orleanians and gracing our cover is Leah Engelhardt, president of the Junior League of New Orleans. Since 1924, JLNO has been involved in improving New Orleans through community projects. While too many to name in this space, some current projects include: Bloomin’ Deals Thrift Shop; Plate Project, in collaboration with KID smART; Kids in the Kitchen in partnership with the Southern Food and Beverage Museum; “Power Ties,” a career-awareness program for middle school students in partnership with New Orleans Outreach; and hands-on support for students and teachers of Samuel J. Green and Lafayette Academy Charter School. JLNO supports these projects with significant member volunteer hours and funding from proceeds of annual fundraiser, including three nationally heralded cookbooks, the JLNO Holiday Shopping Card and their two premier events, Cosmo on Canal and Kitchen Tour for Children’s Education.

The National Council of Jewish Women, the group of which Ina Davis, who also graces our cover, is president, works to combat illiteracy with several programs, including: BookParters, in partnership with Agenda for Children’s Child Care Working Group; HIPPY – Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters, a home-based education enrichment program; Young People’s Yoga Class, held at the New Orleans Public Library; Irma M. Isaacson Memorial Fund, providing college scholarships; Clara and Roy Schwartz Memorial Book Fund, funding textbooks for scholarship recipients; as well as coordinating and distributing books to schools and children of the Greater New Orleans area.

We at St. Charles Avenue would like to you for having supported us and the philanthropic efforts of New Orleanians.

Photograph by Greg Miles
Photographed at the Milton H. Latter Memorial Library.
Special thanks to the librarians of New Orleans for all of their hard work and especially to those working at the Latter Library during our shoot!

See you January 8!