Brad Pitt has been instrumental in the restructuring of New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina. He’s also been key in keeping media attention on the fact that there is still so much to be done. Just because the storm is over, it doesn’t mean the problems are over for New Orleans residents, who are still struggling to rebuild in the aftermath. Pitt has been orchestrating rebuilding efforts in New Orleans through his charity organization, Make it Right NOLA. After Hurricane Katrina, Pitt began by working with Global Green to sponsor an architecture competition aimed at generating ideas about how to rebuild 150 sustainable homes in New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward.

Today, Pitt appeared on The Today Show and talked to Ann Curry about his project – and laughed off rumors that New Orleans residents are pushing for Brad to run for mayor of the city.

Pitt said, “I’m running on the gay marriage, no religion, legalization and taxation of marijuana platform. I don’t have a chance.”

However, New Orleans residents don’t think the idea is so far fetched, even printing T-shirts that read “Brad Pitt for Mayor.”

A website dedicated to the Brad Pitt for Mayor campaign reads, “By bestowing the great office of Mayor of our city upon Mr. Pitt, we, the citizens, are afforded the opportunity to say thanks for the many wonderful things this gentleman has already done for us. What better way to show our heart-felt appreciation than to present to him the mayoral office, the patronage trough, the cornucopia of our great city, that which we hold so dear and is ours to bequeath?”

Brad Pitt met with President Barack Obama yesterday to discuss green rebuilding efforts in New Orleans through his charity organization, Make it Right NOLA. After Hurricane Katrina, Pitt began by working with Global Green to sponsor an architecture competition aimed at generating ideas about how to rebuild sustainably in New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward, which inspired Pitt’s successful project, Make It Right.

Pitt met with Obama, as well as Democratic congressional leaders including Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi.

“I just want to say thank you to the Speaker for opening up her doors for us to come in and discuss the rebuilding effort, the current rebuilding effort going on in New Orleans and how we can expand this idea of affordability and sustainability, because we think we have a model that works,” Pitt said.

Want to help Pitt build sustainable homes in New Oleans? You can go to the Make it Right website and click on the plans for the latest house. There, you can donate anything in the house – everything from shower heads to solar panels.

The 6th Annual Global Green Pre-Oscar Party is happening tomorrow and it promises to not only boast it’s usual fleet of green celebrities but will also seek to generate funds for the Global Green non-profit.

This year’s environmental cause is “Green Schools” and will look to put funding towards the improvement of student health and performance as well as green job creation and the advancement of smart climate solutions.

Last year’s Global Green Pre-Oscar Party raised nearly half a million dollars in donations that went towards the green rebuilding of New Orleans.

This year the usual green celebrities are expected to attend including: Marisa Tomei, Kate Bosworth, Leonardo DiCaprio, Orlando Bloom, Penelope Cruz and Rosario Dawson among others.

Sheryl Crow is slated to perform along with Gavin Rossdale and BlackCowboy.