Earthly matters

Brad Pitt, an outspoken critic of the plight of displaced residents in New Orleans, moved to the city following Hurricane Katrina with the intention of helping to rebuild it.

He began by convening experts, displaced residents and community leaders of the hard hit Lower 9th Ward in order to develop sustainable opportunities for the community. In August 2006, he sponsored an architecture contest along with Global Green to generate sustainable housing options.

With that project under construction, Pitt was inspired to take his effort one step further. He assembled a powerful group of global collaborators and developed an ambitious plan of building 150 sustainable homes. Along with Steve Bing, a well known philanthropist, they each committed $5 million to get the project underway.

Pitt named the project Make it Right and in December, the construction site was plotted with “pink tents” which serve as both a visual of the promise of homes that will be constructed for the community as well as a message that residents have not been forgotten. “The words of one elderly man who is determined to return to New Orleans led to the name of our organization; he asked us, directly simply and profoundly, to help make it right. So that's what we're doing. We're going to help to make it right with 150 sustainable, affordable houses - houses that stand out for their design both aesthetically and structurally, so that these people can live in beautiful safe structures that respect their spirit and provide a good quality of life.”

For more information or to donate to this landmark project check out www.makeitrightnola.org