“Inspiration, Move Me Brightly”: Why the Coast Still Needs Us—and Why We Still Believe
Why we need your support today for Give NOLA Day...take action now!
“The thrill is gone,” reads the opening line of this year’s Gulf South Index from The Ehrhardt Group, echoing the uncertainty many of us feel. But beneath that current weariness lies something else: Resilience. Pride. A need to connect with something tangible amidst the chaos. In fact, 83% of people in the Gulf South say they’re still proud to be American—even if only 22% feel better off financially than they did two years ago.
That’s the paradox of our moment. In my work with PosiGen, our consumer insights research would tell one that every day the two most important things people wake up thinking about are their job stability and the economy. Full stop. People are skeptical of promises—but they still trust the work they can see. That’s why the work we do at the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL) matters more than ever. As we collectively absorb the news that the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion permit has been rescinded, we must resist the urge to see this as a final chapter. It’s simply a turning point—and a call to reframe the future of coastal restoration through partnership, not polarization.
I have served on the Executive Board of Directors for CRCL which is rooted in Coastal Louisiana. For 37 years, CRCL has continued to help guide the restoration of our coast through the policy work we have championed, plans we have helped mold and outreach to help residents adapt to our changing world. The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and as Chair of the Development Committee, I am asking for your support and for you to take action today.
Still wondering what “Give NOLA Day” is? GiveNOLA Day is a 24-hour event hosted by the Greater New Orleans Foundation to inspire people to give generously to nonprofits making our region stronger, creating a thriving community for all. That’s today!
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A Coast That Still Works—But Only If We Do
It’s given our coast is a place of paradoxes. We export culture and shrimp in the same breath. We fuel the nation and feed our families from the same bayous. And today, we are asked to do something very hard: to lead forward without abandoning the people who brought us here.
The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana “CRCL” is not a single-issue nonprofit. We are a strategic coalition of scientists, policy advocates, fishermen, oystermen, shrimpers students, engineers, landowners, volunteers and local residents. Our work is grounded in the principle that restoration and industry must coexist—that we can build a coast that works for nature and people alike. When 56% of Gulf South residents say they’re more afraid of misinformation than censorship, it’s clear: we need to return to what’s real, what’s local, and what we’ve earned. At CRCL our mission is clear.
Why Stronger Partnership and Increasing Advocacy Are Our Best Paths Forward
The need for large-scale diversions has not changed even if the political landscape has shifted. The science behind sediment diversions is real. But so are the lives affected by changing salinity, disrupted fisheries, and distrust. So let’s look ahead—together – to advance anything and everything we can do now, without delay. Let’s urgently scale up the tools we know work:
Beneficial use of dredge material to rebuild marsh and infrastructure
Naturally formed sediment diversions like Neptune Pass
Building living shorelines and oyster reefs to buffer surge and nurture habitat
Policies that elevate Traditional Ecological Knowledge (Insert CRCL science based knowledge)
Community co-design processes that include seafood harvesters, landowners, and tribal voices
This is not the end of ambitious restoration. It’s the moment we evolve toward inclusive, adaptive, and collaborative solutions. CRCL is already leading that transition—with results.
Even at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival our team was out there helping recycle oyster shells from the food vendors.
A Few Reasons to Believe in CRCL’s Mission and Give on NOLA Day
What We’ve Done
Recycled 15 million pounds of oyster shell since 2014 to build reefs that protect the coast
Planted over 1 million native trees and grasses
Hosted 40+ volunteer events last year alone
Launched Future Coastal Leaders to educate the next generation
Recently founded the Coastal Leadership Institute in 2024
We host and play a leadership role in policy forums like the State of the Coast Conference
What We Stand For
Science-based planning
Coastal restoration as economic development
Restoration projects that benefit whole regions, not just isolated zones
A working coast where industry, ecology, and culture thrive together
Amplifying the voices of shrimpers, oyster farmers, and Indigenous communities
Where We’re Going
We plan to continue to expand to Southwest and South Central Louisiana
Bridging restoration work with advocacy through data and storytelling
Strengthening our advocacy capacity at the state and federal level
Growing an unrestricted donor base to reduce reliance on federal grants
GiveNOLA Day: We Need You—Now
This May 6th, your support is more than a donation. It’s a declaration that Louisiana’s coast deserves a future.
Give now at GiveNOLA.org/CRCL_1988 »
Your gift helps:
Restore wetlands that protect homes from hurricanes
Create job opportunities rooted in stewardship like our Americorps staff who have had their federal funding cut
Equip youth and community members to lead
Ensure coastal voices are heard in Baton Rouge and D.C.
Build real, measurable progress—on the ground and in the water
Don't wait. Give today. Share the link. Tell your story. This is how we hold the line—and move it forward.
Reminder: Connection Wins
According to the Gulf South Index, local news is still the most trusted source of information—by a wide margin. Trust is hyperlocal. And so is change. CRCL succeeds not because of volume but because of connection. We show up. We listen. We build. And our partners—from chefs to shrimpers to students—are right there with us. Thanks for reading this today and thank you in advance, we will be grateful for your support.