NEW ORLEANS – Arc of Greater New Orleans (ArcGNO) is hosting a grand opening of its new Arc Uptown Center Thursday, May 25, at 1771 Nashville Ave., from 4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
The center was transformed from a children’s learning center to a community center for adult participants in Arc programs, reps said. City officials, community leaders, Arc neighbors and friends are invited to tour the center and learn more about the different programs and activities Arc is involved in.
Guests will be entertained with live music by Katheryn Rose Wood and Elliot Slater. Wood is a multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter covering genres of RnB, pop, and Americana/folk. Slater is a local guitarist known for performing rock and funk music. InterAct NOLA, Arc’s theatre troupe, will also perform some songs from their musical anti-bullying campaign, “Spread the Word to End the Word,” alluding to the “R” word, retarded.
In addition, artist Troy Guilbeaux of Guilbeaux Gallery will be leading a live art mural during the opening. He, along with several Arc participants, will finish a large New Orleans cityscape mural Guilbeaux created for the center.
ArcGNO has been family to several thousand-area residents since 1953 when it was established by parents of children with intellectual disabilities and delays, such as Down syndrome and autism, reps said. Currently serving almost 600 individuals and families in Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard and St. Tammany parishes, ArcGNO’s mission is to empower individuals living with disabilities so that they can reside in the community with a maximum level of independence.
ArcGNO offers family service coordination, respite, personal care, supported employment, day habilitation and supported living assistance as a means of securing for all people with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to develop, function and live to their fullest potential.
