The dedicated committee members of Visions for Friends
Jay Gershman, President, Retirement Visions LLC
Founder of Visions for Friends
Committee members
Jeffrey Cohen, President, ImageWorks LLC
John Kaufman, Partner of Wentworth, DeAngelis and Kaufman Insurance
Jeff A. Noposky
Keith Marvin, Retired Executive, Northeast Utilities
Mary Mercer, CMP and President, Mercer Marketing
Steve Rewenko, Chief Financial Officer, CWPM: Complete Waste Removal & Recycling Services
Geryl Rose, President, G2 Marketing Resources LLC
Debbie Shulansky, Teacher, Renbrook School
Dave Wolansky, educator and consultant, Capitol Region Education Council
Broadmoor Improvement Association
 The Broadmoor Improvement Association (BIA) is one of the oldest neighborhood associations in New Orleans. Established in 1930 as the Broadmoor Civic Improvement Association to address the needs of the developing Broadmoor neighborhood, it was incorporated in 1970 as the Broadmoor Improvement Association, Inc. to stop "blockbusting" in Broadmoor, a well-established, multi-racial/multi-ethnic community already living in harmony.
 Before Hurricane Katrina, the Broadmoor Improvement Association had worked continuously to improve the neighborhood. We reduced crime; we had secured the Rosa Keller Library; we had joined with Rebuild New Orleans to repair homes of our low-income elderly or handicapped; we had re-treed our neutral grounds and the MLK park area – all in constant effort to improve Broadmoor and maintain a high quality of life for it's residents.
 Since Katrina, the Broadmoor Improvement Association has become known as a "grassroots powerhouse". Broadmoor has built partnerships and was recognized at the 2006 Clinton Global Initiative. The BIA is here to address the needs of the residents by engaging the community and building consensus amoung residents as to their vision for a revitalized neighborhood that is "Better than Before". Broadmoor has become a model for for citizen-led recovery efforts.
The BIA exists for every resident of Broadmoor. Our neighborhood has a sense of awareness, unity, and pride.
Rebuilding Together New Orleans™
Rebuilding Together New Orleans™ (RTNO) is a local affiliate of the national nonprofit organization the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans (PRCNO). Rebuilding Together has restored and revitalized more than 100,000 homes over the past 19 years with all work done at no cost to the homeowner. Rebuilding Together utilizes predominantly volunteer labor allowing low-income families in communities across the country to live in a warm, safe environment with dignity.
RTNO believes that by reinvesting in and restoring the existing housing in the city, they can bring back homeowners displaced by Hurricane Katrina back to their former homes. This also creates a model for restoring and preserving New Orleans’ historic neighborhoods. RTNO’s home rehabilitation program targets the populations most affected by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans: the urban poor. A constant, stable, healthy living environment is provided to these families while building their equity and regaining financial independence.
Since Hurricane Katrina:
- RTNO has helped 48 low-income families return to their homes and have worked on over 80 projects.
- More than 2,100 volunteers from around the country have come to New Orleans to work on RTNO projects providing over 55,000 labor hours worth nearly $1.1 million in market value.
The relationship between these 3 fine organizations began when Harvard agreed to fund a project using their students for a Broadmoor redevelopment plan. Jay Gershman, President of Retirement Visions come up with a way to implement that plan and Visions for Friends was born. The committee members travel to New Orleans, find volunteers and help raise money for each project. Broadmoor opened on office in a chuch and purchased the house behind it. The house is now a dorm that can accomodate up to 100 people. Rebuilding Together helps to coordinate the construction and materials.
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