Robert Verchick
Gauthier-St. Martin Eminent Scholar and Chair in Environmental Law, Loyola University New Orleans College of Law
Rob Verchick is one of the nation’s leading scholars in disaster and climate change law and a former EPA official in the Obama administration. He holds the Gauthier-St. Martin Eminent Scholar Chair in Environmental Law at Loyola University New Orleans. Rob is also a Senior Fellow in Disaster Resilience at Tulane University and the President of the Center for Progressive Reform, a nonprofit research and advocacy organization.
Rob has written more than 60 articles the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, Slate, and other publications and five books. He has taught as a visiting professor at Yale University, Peking University, and Aarhus University in Denmark. His podcast, Connect the Dots, focuses on tackling some of our biggest environmental and health challenges.
In 2009 and 2010, Rob served in the Obama administration as Deputy Associate Administrator for Policy at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In that role he helped develop climate change adaptation policy for the EPA and served on President Obama's Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force.
Why did you join the CPEX board?
I want to make a difference in the communities and the environment that I’ve grown to love since I moved to New Orleans in 2004. I’ve long believed that policy and planning are vital tools in building places that are healthy, prosperous, and just. I want to help harness the powers of policy and planning for the people I believe in.
Why is the work that CPEX does so important?
Think of any place that holds a special place in your heart—a city, a park, a friendly neighborhood. I guarantee someone worked to pull together the things you like about that place and to keep them balanced, healthy, and vital. Probably a lot of people did that work and continue to do that work, though you might not even know their names or faces. They imagined, they planned, and they helped organize their neighbors and pulled them together. That’s what CPEX does, drawing from the amazing talent and ideas from local residents who know these places best.
What CPEX project are you most proud of?
There are many amazing projects, but I’m particularly drawn to CPEX’s work on climate resilience, which is the area of my professional expertise. My family and I moved to New Orleans less than a year before Hurricane Katrina. After the storm, I decided that from then on the core of my research and teaching would be community resilience. That’s the work of my career and I’m grateful to now be learning from and contributing to CPEX’s own work in this area.
What changes would you like to see in your community in the next five years?
I want to see more communities learning to live wisely with the water that surrounds us, to protect workers and residents from increasing heatwaves, and to clean up the energy grid. A lot can happen in five years if we set smart goals and stay focused.
Andrea Hernandez-Gaudin, MPA
Outreach & Engagement Coordinator
As CPEX’s Outreach and Engagement Coordinator, Andrea plays a critical role in our Power Up initiative as well as other projects serving communities throughout the state. She is responsible for planning and executing public events, with a focus on ensuring that outreach, materials, and activities are informative, inclusive, and provide opportunities for meaningful engagement.
Andrea has a bachelor's of political science from the University of Louisiana Monroe and earned her master's of public administration from Louisiana State University. Andrea’s passion lies with the people, especially those who have been underserved. As a relationship builder, she loves to serve others by advocating for their voice in issues affecting their communities. As a Louisiana native, she hopes to leave her mark on improving the state so all residents can achieve their desired quality of life.
Fun fact: Andrea loves to host get-togethers at her home and serve her husband’s yummy dishes! She loves being outside, especially when camping with her pup Gloria!
HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED FOR CPEX?
I’ve been with CPEX for a little over a year now.
HOW DOES YOUR JOB FIT INTO THE CPEX MISSION?
My role fits into CPEX's mission through the people-centric work I do helping Louisiana communities be the best they can be.
WHAT DOES YOUR JOB ENTAIL?
My role at CPEX involves relationship-building with communities, stakeholders, and government entities to support local priorities through policy and planning efforts. I put together educational workshops and materials, stakeholder meetings, and an advisory committee for community benefits. I also provide additional support to the PowerUp team on planning for wind and solar energy development in Louisiana as needed.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB?
What I love most about my job is my team and how I learn from everyone's perspective about our work. My Community Benefits Agreement work intersects with everyone's expertise, so the collaborative environment is helpful.
WHAT IS THE BEST CAREER LESSON YOU’VE LEARNED SO FAR?
The best career lesson I've learned is that I am saving pdfs, I'm not saving lives. The work will get done.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO WHEN YOU AREN’T WORKING?
When I'm not working, I like to go dancing with my friends and hiking with my husband. We also love hosting in our home!
WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR WHAT PLANNING CAN ACCOMPLISH IN LOUISIANA?
My vision for what planning can accomplish in Louisiana is for communities to receive tangible community benefits from energy developments.
IF THERE WAS A NEWS STORY ABOUT YOU, WHAT WOULD BE THE HEADLINE?
Trailblazing First-Generation Latina Spearheads Transformative Policies and Programs for Latinx Communities Across Louisiana
THREE WORDS TO BEST DESCRIBE YOU:
Passionate, Inquisitive, and Warm.
Park(ing) Day
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Baton Rouge Park(ing) Day transformed downtown parking spaces into vibrant parklets. This event showcased the potential of our public spaces to prioritize community engagement, green space, and public enjoyment. Through creative temporary installations, we highlighted the value of public spaces, fostering a deeper connection between residents and their built environment.
PROJECT GOAL:
The goal of Park(ing) Day was to challenge the public's perception of the use of public space. We wanted people to ask themselves about the benefits one tiny spot (typically occupied by car) could offer to a community. Art, yoga, even just a shady place to rest--that parking spot could be so much more!
WHY IS THIS PROJECT SO IMPORTANT?
This project not only brought the community together for a day of fun, it demonstrated how much could be done with such little space. Twelve parking spots became twelve mini-parks with a variety of programming, attracting people throughout the city. We witnessed attendees express the desire for permanent mini-parks throughout their communities, and we helped them realize that it only takes a little space to have something wonderful!
WHAT WAS CPEX’S FAVORITE PART OF THIS PROJECT?
It's a tie! Leela Yoga hoted alternating classes and meditations in their parklet all day long, and it was wonderful to see the community take a break to enjoy their classes. Helix Community Schools used their parklet as showcase space for their cheerleading and robotics teams, demonstrating how local kids would benefit from more parks--no matter the size.
WHAT HAS CPEX LEARNED WHILE WORKING ON THIS PROJECT?
It doesn't take heaps of money or materials to change streets (or minds). It just requires passionate people coming together for a day to demonstrate what could happen in a 9"X18" spot.
Michael Sullivan, AIA
LRK Inc.
We extend our deepest gratitude to Michael Sullivan at LRK, one of our most dedicated and longstanding members of CPEX.
Sullivan has always been attracted to “culture heart” cities—places that resonate with people through architecture, food, music, city design, and much more. Grateful for the experience of growing up in a culture heart city, Sullivan dedicates his work to giving others the chance to experience that connection with their community. He believes that discovering a place’s “DNA” is critical before designing an effective space that fosters and connects peoples’ emotional and physical memories.
After Hurricane Katrina, Sullivan met CPEX staff during post-disaster recovery workshops and meetings. Both sides shared a commitment to assisting those impacted by the disaster. Thanks to the constant support of Sullivan and LRK, CPEX can continue its mission of enhancing the quality of life for Louisiana residents.
Thank you for being a 2024 member of CPEX!