February 12, 2025 – The National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC) is excited to share our newest report – Pathways to Prosperity: Louisiana – with our partner The Data Center in New Orleans.

Since 2020, our data experts have conducted extensive research on the lasting impacts and ongoing recovery of the pandemic. Beginning in 2024, we pivoted to research the impacts of increasingly frequent extreme weather events. This Louisiana-focused report builds on NCoC’s data infrastructure and advocacy network developed for our Civic Health Index work, and leverages our team’s previous impact with The New Orleans Index which informed many public and private decisions and actions post-Katrina.

Natural disasters often exacerbate pre-existing inequities – and the same goes with the COVID-19 pandemic. Our research in pandemic recovery first started with the entire nation – which led us to further focus on the most heavily impacted region – the American South. After several reports, our team narrowed our research to the state most heavily impacted – Louisiana.

On the heels of the Super Bowl and the upcoming Mardi Gras celebration, this report offers a sobering look at some of the significant challenges facing the state of Louisiana:

  • Every Louisiana parish has experienced at least 13 disaster declarations since 2020 — four times more than the national average. All total, Louisiana has had over 900 FEMA disaster declarations since 2020.
  • In 2023, Louisiana had 42 pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000 live births — more than twice as high as the national rate of 19.
  • Over 220,000 Louisiana households have no internet — not even a cellular data plan. A disproportionate share (19 percent) of these homes are in rural parishes.
  • Since 2021, the number of extreme heat days in Louisiana has nearly doubled. Heat-related deaths jumped from 15 in 2020 to 88 in 2023.

Pathways to Prosperity: Louisiana provides the most up-to-date data on climate impacts, adaptation efforts, and opportunities to strengthen resilience and sow prosperity statewide.

This report can help guide policies, community engagement, and strategic investment – particularly in the state of Louisiana.

Access all the helpful data here [LINK]. We would love your feedback on this new direction, and recommendations for future indicators to explore what would be helpful to your work. Please feel free to reply here and share your thoughts and questions with our team at p2p@ncoc.org.