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- Origin: Originally from the Mid-Atlantic, Kip visited New Orleans with a group of twelve friends for Southern Decadence in 2008. Little did they know that the City was to also be visited by Hurricane Gustav. It was a proper initiation and trial by fire. The City ordered a mandatory evacuation and all of his friends got out, but Kip got stuck and left behind.
- Bit by the Bug: Having been stranded in New Orleans during the mandatory evacuation of Hurricane Gustav, Kip had the chance to indulge in all the flavors of the Big Easy. Gustav ended up missing the City, affording him the opportunity to experience all it had to offer, without the immense crowds. That little bit of time was all it took; Kip knew that relocating to The City That Care Forgot was his endgame. Needless to say, he was bit by the proverbial bug.
- Marigny Love: After studying and exploring the intricate communities of New Orleans for a decade, Kip ultimately fell in love with Faubourg Marigny and knew this is where he would end up settling and establishing roots. He finally purchased a home in the heart of Faubourg Marigny on Elysian Fields Avenue in 2018. Ironically—or perhaps it was fate—it was in Faubourg Marigny that Kip stayed during his initial visit in 2008.
- FMIA Involvement: During his ten-year courtship, Kip sought out a way to support his future neighborhood from 1,100 miles away. He directed his United Way workplace giving campaign contributions to be dispersed as donations to Faubourg Marigny Improvement Association (FMIA). Kip then joined the publishing team of the former Les Amis monthly FMIA paper newsletter, first as the Advertising Manager, and later also the Layout & Design Coordinator. He eventually became a member of the FMIA Board of Directors, eager to lend his years of expertise in nonprofit effectiveness and community engagement.
- Affirmations: Kip acknowledges and is grateful for the groundwork laid by the founders and past leadership of FMIA. He appreciates the rich history, architecture, character, food, music, vibrancy, and all that is synonymous with the Crescent City. Kip is thankful and honored to be able to be part of celebrating the diverse fabrics of historic Faubourg Marigny while charting the course for future growth and expansion of FMIA as the premier neighborhood association in New Orleans, focusing on preservation, beautification, and adaptive reuse.
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