ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the history of people concentrated within wetlands of the Barataria-Terrebonne Estuarine System in coastal Louisiana, through the work and experiences of a locally based community organising non-profit. Within these systems, hurricanes, Mississippi River flooding, oil spills, and the rising waters of climate change exacerbate erosion, salt water intrusion, subsidence and eutrophication1 to contribute to unprecedented wetland loss, affecting every aspect of life for those who live in the area. The chapter examines the role of community organising practices in a diversely populated, widely spread and geographically threatened region. It describes local needs contrast with a range of priorities and disruptions, which shape the functions of the organisation while creating tensions and opportunities. The chapter evaluates the activities and functions of a local, community-based non-profit, illustrating how external forces simultaneously depend on the expertise of the organisation and its members while devaluing their contributions and underlying mission to the community it serves.
