{"id":12355,"date":"2014-02-07T12:12:33","date_gmt":"2014-02-07T18:12:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/?p=12355"},"modified":"2014-02-11T04:45:13","modified_gmt":"2014-02-11T10:45:13","slug":"ncjw-honors-scott-marjorie-cowen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/ncjw-honors-scott-marjorie-cowen\/","title":{"rendered":"NCJW honors Scott, Marjorie Cowen"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>By KAREN LOZINSKI, <em>Special to the CCJN<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) held its annual Hannah G. Solomon Award luncheon Monday, Feb. 3, honoring retiring Tulane president Scott Cowen and his wife Marjorie for their commitment to the public good and the city of New Orleans. The annual event was held in the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton Riverside Hotel.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_12356\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/11Cowens_HGSolomon.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12356\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-12356 lazyload\" title=\"11Cowens_HGSolomon\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/11Cowens_HGSolomon-300x212.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"212\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/11Cowens_HGSolomon-300x212.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/11Cowens_HGSolomon-1024x724.jpg 1024w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/212;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12356\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-12356\" title=\"11Cowens_HGSolomon\" src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/11Cowens_HGSolomon-300x212.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"212\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/11Cowens_HGSolomon-300x212.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/11Cowens_HGSolomon-1024x724.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-12356\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Scott and Marjorie Cowen, right, accept the Hannah G. Solomon Award from event chair Shellye Farber (Photo by Karen Lozinski).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The Cowens join a long list of previous Hannah G. Solomon Award recipients with extensive track records in community activism and service as well as civic leadership. The award is named for the NCJW\u2019s founder and has been bestowed 46 times since its inception in 1966.<\/p>\n<p>An early social activist, Solomon is remembered for her work in helping enact child labor laws, instituting child welfare programs as well as for improving housing, education, and health care for the poor.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHannah Solomon possessed all the characteristics I so admire: vision, courage, resilience, grit, and an unwavering commitment to make a difference in the world doing so,\u201d Cowen stated during his acceptance speech.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHannah Solomon and those who followed her epitomize \u2018transformative leadership\u2019 \u2013 something so needed in the world, but well represented in the NCJW,\u201d he averred.<\/p>\n<p>Marjorie Cowen has provided steadfast support for her husband, who acknowledged she is \u201cthe power behind the throne, both personally and professionally,\u201d in his acceptance speech. Mrs. Cowen has served on the boards of the Jewish Federation of New Orleans, Touro Synagogue, the New Orleans Museum of Art, and the NCJW.<\/p>\n<p>Scott Cowen is the fourteenth president of Tulane University, and is both the Seymour S. Goodman Memorial Professor of Business in Tulane\u2019s A.B. Freeman School of Business and Professor of Economics in the School of Liberal Arts.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_12358\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/08Marjorie-Cowen.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12358\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-12358 lazyload\" title=\"08Marjorie Cowen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/08Marjorie-Cowen-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/08Marjorie-Cowen-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/08Marjorie-Cowen-1024x680.jpg 1024w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/199;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12358\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-12358\" title=\"08Marjorie Cowen\" src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/08Marjorie-Cowen-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/08Marjorie-Cowen-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/08Marjorie-Cowen-1024x680.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-12358\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Scott Cowen listens as his wife Marjorie accepts the Hannah G. Solomon Award. (Photo by Karen Lozinski)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Cowen was charged with rebuilding the public school system of New Orleans after the disastrous effects of Hurricane Katrina via his appointment to the Bring New Orleans Back Commission. He is the co-founder of the Fleur-de-lis Ambassadors Program, which served to showcase New Orleans\u2019 renewed vitality and viability after the storm.<\/p>\n<p>NCJW President, June Leopold, opened the festivities and spoke with great enthusiasm of the progress and accomplishments of the organization, past and present, including H.I.P.P.Y (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters), Head Start, the FOX 8 Defenders, and domestic violence services. Leopold mentioned upcoming initiatives of the NCJW that focus on \u201cemerging leaders, based on advocacy, [as] upcoming leadership is big part of sharing our knowledge.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rabbi emeritus David Goldstein of Touro Synagogue delivered the invocation, lauding the Cowens, saying they \u201chave ennobled and beautified our community with their generosity, wisdom and love.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In addition, New Orleans Councilmember-at-large Jackie Clarkson was on hand to congratulate the Cowens personally and present them with a city proclamation acknowledging their honor. She praised the Cowens for their post-Katrina efforts to get New Orleans back on its feet, calling them \u201cbeacons of hope and beacons of light.\u201d She stated how fitting it is the NCJW chose to honor both Cowens with the award.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_12359\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/13Clarkson_Cowens_challah.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12359\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-12359 lazyload\" title=\"13Clarkson_Cowens_challah\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/13Clarkson_Cowens_challah-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/13Clarkson_Cowens_challah-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/13Clarkson_Cowens_challah-1024x680.jpg 1024w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/199;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12359\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-12359\" title=\"13Clarkson_Cowens_challah\" src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/13Clarkson_Cowens_challah-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/13Clarkson_Cowens_challah-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/13Clarkson_Cowens_challah-1024x680.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-12359\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">New Orleans City Councilmember-at-large Jackie Clarkson speaks about the Cowens at the NCJW luncheon. (Photo by Karen Lozinski)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cOn behalf of women\u2019s health and safety, [the Cowens] are first in line. They are first in line to help others,\u201d Clarkson said. \u201cYou mean the world to me; don\u2019t stop what you do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Event chairwoman Shellye Farber presented the Cowens with the award, a bust of Solomon inscribed with the Cowens\u2019 names and the year, after a loving recitation of many of their achievements.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am honored to be in the company of a group of people who have dedicated their lives to bettering the lives of others,\u201d Marjorie Cowen said, addressing the attendees. \u201cI am honored and humbled to be counted among the list of incredibly talented people around the country who have devoted their energy, their vitality, and, when possible, their resources to make the world a better place.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>After his wife\u2019s acceptance speech, Cowen also communicated his gratitude for the accolade bestowed on them by the NCJW.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is particularly special to me because I share this award with my wife and join an extraordinary group of people who have received this award in the past,\u201d he said. \u201cOf course, I couldn\u2019t help but notice that I am one of just a few men to receive this prestigious award. I must admit this give me a little added pleasure,\u201d he declared to a host of smiles and approving laughter.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/01Goldsteins_MCowen_Leopold.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-12360 lazyload\" title=\"01Goldsteins_Farber_Leopold\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/01Goldsteins_MCowen_Leopold-300x195.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"195\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/01Goldsteins_MCowen_Leopold-300x195.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/01Goldsteins_MCowen_Leopold-1024x668.jpg 1024w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/195;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-12360\" title=\"01Goldsteins_Farber_Leopold\" src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/01Goldsteins_MCowen_Leopold-300x195.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"195\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/01Goldsteins_MCowen_Leopold-300x195.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/01Goldsteins_MCowen_Leopold-1024x668.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a>\u201cIn many ways, NCJW\u2019s focus and accomplishments have been a driving force that have guided the remarkable recovery of New Orleans since Katrina,\u201d he continued. \u201cBut our work is not yet done. No communities can thrive without a deep commitment to children, families, and social justice. Your organization has led the way in these areas for over a century and will continue to do so for decades to come.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cowen\u2019s retirement as Tulane University president begins effective July 1. His replacement, University of Pennsylvania Law School dean Michael Fitts, was announced the next day, Tuesday, Feb. 4.<\/p>\n<p>Farber expressed concern at the luncheon that the Cowens might not elect to remain a vital part of the community in New Orleans once his term expires.<\/p>\n<p>Cowen\u2019s next book, <em>The Inevitable City: The Resurgence of New Orleans and the Future of Urban America<\/em><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">, comes out in June. He put Farber\u2019s fears to rest with a simple assurance, by which both he and his wife have maintained stood since moving here in 1998.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u201cMargie and I pledge to stand with you shoulder-to-shoulder to continue your work so that New Orleans can become a model of how to build sustainable, healthy, and just communities,\u201d he concluded. \u201cThis is why we have decided New Orleans will be our home residence after I step down as president. We believe in New Orleans <em>and<\/em> New Orleanians.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>To view additional photos from the event:<\/p>\n<p>ngg_shortcode_0_placeholder<\/p>\n<div style=\"padding-bottom:20px; padding-top:10px;\" class=\"hupso-share-buttons\"><!-- Hupso Share Buttons - https:\/\/www.hupso.com\/share\/ --><a class=\"hupso_toolbar\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hupso.com\/share\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/buttons\/share-medium.png\" style=\"border:0px; padding-top: 5px; float:left;\" alt=\"Share Button\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/buttons\/share-medium.png\" style=\"border:0px; padding-top: 5px; float:left;\" alt=\"Share Button\"\/><\/noscript><\/a><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var hupso_services_t=new Array(\"Twitter\",\"Facebook\",\"Google Plus\",\"Pinterest\",\"Linkedin\",\"Tumblr\",\"Email\");var hupso_background_t=\"#EAF4FF\";var hupso_border_t=\"#66CCFF\";var hupso_toolbar_size_t=\"medium\";var hupso_image_folder_url = \"\";var hupso_url_t=\"\";var hupso_title_t=\"NCJW%20honors%20Scott%2C%20Marjorie%20Cowen\";<\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/js\/share_toolbar.js\"><\/script><!-- Hupso Share Buttons --><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":12356,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12355"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12355"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12355\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12442,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12355\/revisions\/12442"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12356"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12355"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12355"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12355"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}