Events begin this weekend ahead of the inauguration of New Orleans' next mayor.
Instead of having a big party for campaign donors, Helena Moreno is calling for public service. The events were initially scheduled for Saturday, but storms forced Moreno and her team to postpone her pre-inauguration events.
"I keep getting questions about, 'hey, what are the details for the inaugural ball?' Well, guess what? I'm not having one. I decided not to have an inaugural ball, and instead I wanted to have a community festival," Moreno said on her Instagram account. "We're going to have music and food at Lafayette Square . . . from noon to five."
Saturday's day community service has been moved to Monday, January 19, Martin Luther King Day. Moreno's team says it made that change "to align with service projects happening across the city.
"You can join into different community projects that morning in your council district," said Moreno.
Residents can click here to register to volunteer.
The mayor-elect said it will be just the beginning of efforts to make the city better.
"A lot of work ahead, but when we're all in for New Orleans, we can get it done," Moreno said.