A FEW WORDS about US Following Katrina in October 2005, Bring It On Home (BIOH) was created to provide jobs for musicians. With the help of several businesses and numerous contributions from individuals, BIOH was able to provide jobs for over 200 musicians. In April 2006, the impromptu organization produced the first Rent Party - a term established during the Depression of the 1920s and 30s, where people held house parties, providing music and home cooking, for a price, in order to pay their bills. After Katrina, it seemed a fitting way to describe the improvisation needed to create jobs for musicians struggling to find a way home. At this event, the Maryland Jazz Band of Cologne Germany brought with them a large group of jazz fans, many of them visiting New Orleans for the first time. Now, five years later, Bring It On Home, has morphed into a new organization, the Cultural Alliance of the Americas (CAOTA). The first event of the new organization was Rent Party 2008, one of several great events showcasing the influence of the many cultures that make up Louisiana's rich legacy. Rent Party took place in March 2008 in Abita Springs, LA with a program that included Gospel, Bluegrass, Cajun, Jazz,, R&B, and Latin music - all a part of our gumbo heritage. In April 2009, CAOTA, in conjunction with the St. Tammany Art Association and Ecos Latinos, sponsored two school visits at local elementary schools, that brought together local jazz and visiting musicians from Brazil, for approximately 1400 students and teachers. Then as a continuation of that program, in July 2009, our Habanera Jazz concert, held in Covington, LA showcased the music of Honduras and New Orleans with musicians from Honduras and Louisiana. Prior to the concert, a reception was held that provided authentic Honduran food, such as tamales wrapped in banana leaves and New Orleans' gumbo and bread pudding. The concert was a smashing success with concert-goers commenting that it was one of the best entertainment and cultural experiences they had ever had. We are now working on new projects for 2010, which include our monthly movie night , our March 6th , Jimmie Rodgers Tribute Concert, and the July 9th Creole Roots concert, a night of jazz and zydeco. Please visit our "Events " page for more info on all upcoming programs. **************************************** Cultural Alliance of the Americas is registered in the State of Louisiana as a non-profit organization and is in the process of filing for 501(c)3 tax exempt status.