Guest Contributor

Colette Pichon Battle

Colette Pichon Battle is the Executive Director of Moving Forward Gulf Coast, Inc., a community led organization aimed at infusing community advocacy in the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast. Moving Forward matches volunteers directly to resident in need of support, supports coalition building through policy and legal analysis, assists indigent immigrant workers in maintaining legal status in the U.S. and provides programming requested by the community from alternative mental health to financial management classes. Moving Forward primary project for 2007 is a video advocacy series created specifically to inform residents of the Gulf Coast of their rights and promote civic engagement. Colette also serves as the Program Director for the Match Makers for Justice project which matches residents directly affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita with law student advocates from around the country to assist in maneuvering federal and state disaster recovery issues. In addition to the program focuses, Moving Forward partners with National organizations and provides community outreach for policy and practical dialogue around the issues vital to rebuilding including healthcare, city planning and immigrant’s rights. Moving Forward takes a regional approach to solution finding and spans its reach from Mobile to New Orleans.