NEW ORLEANS - They're trying to stop the brain drain using some tasty food and good wine. A group called 504Ward is an organization developed to get political, civic, and business leaders to host young entrepreneurs at their homes.
403880The entrepreneurs sign up and show up to discuss their concerns about the city, and discuss why they should stay.
Bob and Brenda Brown brought out their most powerful weapons for their dinner. Among them: Chicken Picatta.
"It is wonderful. They are going to love it," Brown said.
Bob knows the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.
"[Brenda's] very modest, and she is an incredible cook," Bob Brown said.
Now he hopes it will work on young entrepreneurs as well to convince them New Orleans is a great home.
"Well, you're inviting all of these bright 30-somethings, and some of them are New Orleanians, but most of them were not," Bob Brown said.
Brenda Brown manages four federal student programs at UNO, and Bob Brown is a businessman who heads the New Orleans Business Council.
And Thursday night, they're opening their Uptown home to eight perfect strangers.
"You want them to have a great experience. You want to be an appropriate host, because the idea is that they'll love this place enough," Bob Brown said.
The 504Ward sign sits outside their house, signaling they are one of 47 homes that have signed up to host hundreds of young entrepreneurs for dinner. The group provided him a guide on questions to pose at the dinner table, like "if I were mayor I would..."
He sets the table for eight of them and waits for the first ring at the door - Amanda Smithson, associate director Save the Children, originally from New York.
Next, Mary Chastain, director of learning at Langston Hughes, and John Richie from Shreveport, who owns his own scrub brush productions.
Once inside the new faces start to get acquainted over a common bond.
"I'm here because it's great to meet people who are in New Orleans, and we're all here for a reason," said Amy Mafhouc.
Lara Yarusso just started working for Dickie Brennan's in human resources.
"We partner with the Recovery School District, so we focus on the high school dropout rate, which can get really difficult ot talk about a lot," Yarusso said. "And I found that with this group it's all positive.
"This makes us feel real, real good, you have to know, so thanks for coming," Bob Brown said. "But what we want you to do though is to stay for 30 years."
Well, at least he's honest.
Bob Brown hopes, like with him, even if they're not New Orleanians by birth, they will be by commitment
You can go to if you want to be on the dine-out list. A 504Ward representative will contact you.
You can also sign up to be a host for young entrepreneurs.
