Help NOLA Artist Raven after Hurricane Ida!

* UPDATE 9/3/2021: Help me recoup groceries that had to be discarded & inevitable delays for everyone in the Greater New Orleans area due to power outages from Hurricane Ida!

These uncertain times become more uncertain each passing day.

 

I'll be honest: Louisiana is NOT OKAY RIGHT NOW *My Chemical Romance voice* As much as I relish the benefits of creating for a living and attempting to thrive pursuing something that truly fills me with life, I am left in a torrid spiral of creating vs. the thought of will it sale? And presently, I'm on the latter part.

 

Pre-Covid, the French Quarter ALONE made something like, 11-13% of our state revenue. Why are gig workers, musicians, creatives, entertainers, food vendors, rideshare drivers, artisans, farmers, chefs, hospitality workers and the like expected to just accept any old position when businesses aren't even hiring or are permanently closed? Most positions are not even industry or career related to the individual! It's not fair to be thrust from a life of a boisterous trumpet player to something new that may even require additional unpaid training if you're not experienced.

 

The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance & supplemental $300 payments were cut abruptly-YES, as the new school year began for families AND as LIVE EVENTS like Jazz Fest & The FQ Festival continue to be cancelled. Even smaller scale events are being postponed and/or cancelled. Sales are down or non-existent for the vast majority of the New Orleans area.

 

Of course, cancellations of mass live events in the midst of a fourth wave of Covid during a global pandemic needs to be done. I mean, Louisiana has no available hospital beds for adults, children and they want us to deter not using ambulance services because they are short-staffed & over worked.

 

But for a fleeting moment, people thought we were going to be okay only to be thrust full force in economic despair and uncertainty. To be frank, this city really never even fully recovered from Katrina-how are we to survive if the government continues to snatch the livelihoods of their constituents for granted. The gig workers have nothing to fall back on and the lively city the world knows New Orleans is STAGNANT. Our questions go on answered...

 

Somehow, still need to make ends meet.

 

As a creative, I relied on those funds to keep my head above water as my partner tries to find another place of employment as a staple 20+ year entertainer and musician.

...

 

[And frankly, I'm afraid...my utmost fear is financial insecurity.]

 

So, if you're thinking about grabbing an art print, bespoke pet or people portraits, resumé or CV design assistance, custom stickers for your brand or project, what have you--now is the time to reach out to me. My schedule is available and I'm open to even financing bespoke and custom requests, otherwise please donate what you can through this GoFundMe endeavor so that I can concentrate on what I love without the anxiety of rent and bills looming ahead.

 

This is also a link to my art shoppe & IG: @bird_burger if you would like to watch me work.

*

Realistically, this amount would tie me, my partner & beloved furbaby, Madame E. Beauregard over for the remainder of 2021 for necessities like:

• rent (yes, the landlord continues to still charge full rent, while simultaneously using my unit to his investors so he can sell the property)

• my website subscription ($30/month), e-commerce postal subscription ($18/mo) & Adobe CC subscription ($11/mo) | ink for my printer: $50/cartridge pair of black & CMYK

• making groceries (includes Beauregard's food, about $120-$160 per week) 

• utilities like Internet & electricity ($130/month & $250 month respectively)

• rideshare so my partner can get to and from band practice; I don't own a personal vehicle (NOLA-->Metairie)

• cell phone restoration (at the moment, my phone is off) so I can talk to my relatives in Shreveport who don't use social media, text messaging nor email ($100/month)

• emergencies should any arise

**Please note, with the exception of surrounding neighborhood local businesses (including Circle Grocery) we have not ventured outside our home since March 2020. We were both fully vaccinated back in the spring of 2021. My partner is an older, Black male (AARP member lol) with immune compromised existing conditions. The last thing I want is him getting hospitalized.**

 

Thank you for letting me vent and I'll keep saying it, I appreciate everyone who has encouraged me along the way.

 

=^v^=

Raven Jones in The Crescent City