RicRACK NOLA - Sewing, Sustainability & Community with Jena Housman, Shel Roumillat & Julie Lodato

New Orleans has always been a city that creates. RicRACK makes sure that creativity never goes to waste. On Episode 70 of the Only Good Vibes News Network, host Leroy "Whistle Monsta" Mitchell sits down with Jena Housman (Board Treasurer), Shel Roumillat (Creative Reuse Store Manager), and Julie Lodato (Project Management & Marketing) from RicRACK — a New Orleans-based 501(c)3 nonprofit that's been transforming textile waste into opportunity for 15 years. Founded by costume designer and wardrobe veteran Allison Parker, RicRACK was born out of a simple but powerful idea: connect the mountains of donated fabric and clothing from Louisiana's booming film and television industry with a mission to teach the city how to sew. The result is one of New Orleans' most unique nonprofits — part creative reuse shop, part community sewing studio, part sustainability movement. In this episode: RicRACK's new home at 321 Burgundy Street in the French Quarter and their expanded sewing studio The Earth Day Remakers Market — featuring 17+ vendors transforming reclaimed materials into new creations The Designer Reuse Challenge — New Orleans' top designers given mystery ribbon donations and challenged to create something extraordinary Give NOLA Day — May 5th (Early giving starts April 28th!) and why your donation makes a difference Classes for ages 8 and up: Sewing 101, corset making, kite making, bucket hats, crochet, embroidery and more Last year RicRACK taught 470 youth and adults — and they're just getting started How to donate fabric, clothing, and even sewing machines Subscribe for weekly inspiring interviews, community stories, and positive news. ricRACK: https://www.ricracknola.com/  @ricRACK  Whistle Monsta: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/badasswhistla/# Website - https://www.whistlemonsta.com/ Intro/Outro Music: "Greatest Place on Earth" Performed by: Ivan Neville, Trombone Shorty, Ben Jaffe, Charlie Gabriel, and Whistle Monsta *Used by permission  @ivanneville   @TromboneShorty  Thank you to our sponsors: NOLA Motorsports https://nolamotor.com/ Scandalous Chocolates https://www.scandalouschocolates.com/ Frenchy Live https://www.frenchylive.com Trenasse https://trenasse.com/   NewOrleans, NOLA, Sustainability, RicRACKNOLA, GiveNOLADay, NOLANonprofit, TextileRecycling, LearnToSew, SewingCommunity, CreativeReuse, OnlyGoodVibesNewsNetwork, WhistleMonsta