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8 Days, 7 Nights in LA HEAT...

Posted by a volunteer who participated in our July volunteer trip in New Orleans.

Well since we lacked internet all week and didn’t get to write about each day as it happened I’m going to take it upon myself to summarize the trip.  And because I’m hardly going to make the effort to write a novella (or even a novelette for that matter) here is 8 days in NOLA in digest form.

 

* Note to readers: this is entirely based on my personal experience and week old memories (as I wrote down very little during the week)…I just call it as I see it.

 

Day 1:

a) People aren’t lying, New Orleans is actually hot, hot, and more hot…in fact some may call it La Heat…with a lot of humidity mixed in

b) The Bywater church (our abode for the week) comes complete with cockroaches and mosquito friends

c) When someone says 1 block over, 7 blocks up…it really means 3 blocks over and 14 blocks up…i.e. Walgreens is NOT that close to the Bywater

d) The drunk guy we passed on the way to the Walgreens does not want Lee to walk him home…everyone else however, he’s open to

e) Don’t mess with NOPD

f) Don’t let other people order stuff for you…it’ll cost you…

g) Ask for “tap” water…bottled water costs $2…not to mention creates waste

h) It may be only 7pm in Seattle, but the next thing you know it’ll be 3am on Bourbon

Street

…ah, good times

i) Somebody has a man crush on Obama...that's B.A. Barack to you

j) Only one key among 9 people = lame

 

Day 2:

a) New Orleans functions on Italian time (i.e. 9am means 1pm-ish)...it's Sunday...church say amen”

b) Food does taste better in the South…especially when it’s home cooked…mmm ham and mashed potatoes…thanks to Brother Jones and Sister Joanna.

c) Wandering the French Quarter and, for some, a trip to Wal-Mart with Ray

d) mmm…beignets…a lot (if I could underline that twice I would) of powdered sugar

e) Tammy likes Zydeco music and can play a mean washboard

f) We adopt Ali (from San Francisco) into our Seattle Works group…she does not know the awesomeness she is in for...that is awesomeness spelled F-U-N

g) At dinner, Ray is impressed that I can fit the large turkey sandwich into my mouth as well as eat the entire thing…as he should be, I’m impressive like that

h) Orientation to Katrina Corps IS better when done down by the river

 

Day 3:

a) Going for a run at 7am is not early enough…it’s already la HOT

b) Work at Colton Middle School = painting next to the trim with a stiff brush (might as well have been using a tough depressor…).  It’s hard to see the progress when tasks are detail oriented.

c) Recycling in New Orleans is a rarity...the environmentalist in me died just a smidge each time I had to throw a plastic bottle into the trash

d) Bayou Tour…alligators are cute, and they like marshmallows

e) The group finally splits, but don’t worry, it was only for a few hours…there were no rumbles between gangs a la West Side Story…some people wanted dinner first, others wanted a shower first…in Lee’s case, he wanted a shower first and then two dinners

f) People give strange directions in New Orleans…and by strange I mean the really, really long way…in the end though we discovered some pretty awesome sights (e.g. Jesus statue...it was a lot more exciting than it sounds) and stores by going the long way

 

Day 4:

a) The bugs are eating me (us) up!!!  The label may say apply only once a day, but apparently that’s only if you want to get eaten up…Eleni disregarded that warning and now sweats Deet

b) Ali and I trade jobs.  Tearing up flooring is much better than painting.  In fact, I actually liked tearing up flooring! (…all 6 hours of it.)  However, I did not appreciate the flooring flying everywhere…shockingly enough, getting hit by a 6” x 6” piece of press board does hurt and causes blood to flow…I heart Neosporin

c) IMAX Hurricane on the Bayou…instead of just blaming the levee break and talking conspiracy theory let’s actually look at the human impact on the environment and how decreasing wetlands means less natural protection from hurricanes…think about it…there’s a bigger picture out there…and it’s called the IMAX

d) Spaghetti and meatballs in mushroom sauce a la Brother Jones…damn good garlic bread!

e) Zydeco music and blackened alligator…the gater was pretty tasty

 

Day 5:

a) And then there were only 2…more tearing up flooring…my ass was actually a little sore from the day before

b) Lower 9^th Ward tour given by Marshall...the statistics were a bit skewed (thanks to Sarah for actually trying to present the flip side), but the reality is there are plenty of empty lots now and still many homes and buildings that remain untouched since Katrina

c) It is a chilling experience to be standing in an attic of a gutted home and know that the water line is above your head

d) Spicy fried chicken provided by Brother Jones and Co is some of the best friend chicken ever!

e) Ms. Antoinette and the Mother-in-Law Lounge is a trip…one that all should go on

f) Army with harmony…karaoke, karaoke, karaoke…hilarious…rahrrr!

 

Day 6:

a) More tearing up flooring with a little pulling up of nails and staples…finally done with room #1!

b) 6 people tearing up flooring in a room #2 (instead of only 2…Sarah was awesome to work with!) makes the process go a whole lot faster

c) Not going to lie…a dust pan makes for a nice cushion when sitting on a floor covered in staples

d) mmm…West African food

e) Experiencing Preservation Hall IS actually experiencing Preservation Hall a la the 1960s…no air conditioning, small space, good music…just close your eyes and you are there

 

Day 7:

a) A broom makes for an even nicer cushion when sitting on a floor covered in staples

b) It’s somewhat unfulfilling to not be able to finish pulling up the floors in room #2 (we were soooo close to being done) because it’s decided that it’s Friday and therefore only a half day of work

c) Nawlins Flava…mmm…fried chicken and mac & cheese…although, pretty sure it was Velveeta…and who could forget our server (and magician) Ramone…dot.com…not going to lie…he was pretty cute

d) Listening to reggae in the French Quarter

e) Burning the candle at both ends = making it an early night by Friday

 

Day 8:

a) That’s a whole lot of grits!  But once again, another good meal provided by Brother Jones and family

b) Go Fish!  Lee does not know how to protect his cards from a 6-year-old...that’s just sad

c) Last minute souvenir shopping…Rebecca’s leadership/herding skills kick in…someone needs to get the woman some bright orange flags or something

d) Goodbye to Tara, Ali, Ray, and Marshall…good people, good times…

 

There you have it, done and done…8 days, 7 nights in LA HEAT. 

 

- Stephanie

Real Gulf Coast details

Posted by a volunteer who participated in our July volunteer trip in New Orleans.

The government has contributed over $33 billion to Gulf Coast recovery for individual assistance (including $7.6 billion for IHP, $2.3 billion for rental assistance for over 720,000 households, $436 million for home repairs for over 185,000 homes, $344 million for over 34,000 households to assist them towards the purchase of replacement housing), public assistance (including nfrastructure - $8.3 billion, schools alone - $1.325 billion) and mitigation; with the Education Department allocating $45 million to help open or reopen Louisiana charter schools.  RSD and Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) FEMA Public Assistance grant funding is making it possible for the RSD and OPSB to repair and rebuild schools in New Orleans.  The Colton School reopened shortly after Hurricane Katrina; however decreased attendance compounded by years of deferred maintenance issues led to its closing after the 2007 school year .  CANO (Creative Arts New Orleans) has worked with the RSD (New Orleans Recovery School District) to plan for a community-based educational alliance at the school, with the first enrollment of high-school students to take place in fall 2010.  $87,841.39 was obligated by FEMA to the State for Colton School and as of 4/08, only $4,977 was drawn down by School District from the State for the school.

Prior to Hurricane Katrina, 59% of the households in the Lower Ninth Ware were owner-occupied, in contrast to 47% of the Orleans Parish and 68% of Louisiana State.  However, as a result of low investment due to homeowners financial constraints, many of these homes were in poor physical condition which made them extremely susceptible to damage.  Construction of the majority of the homes occurred in the 1950s (62% were built in the 1950s or earlier and 83% were built in the 1960s or earlier). The median home value of the Lower Ninth Ward was significantly lower than that of the Parish at $52,420 versus $88,100, a reflection of the depreciation in home values from lack of upkeep and investment.  Pre-Katrina, the Lower Ninth was also characterized by a high vacancy rate.  Of the 5,600 housing units in the Lower Ninth, 14% or 781 units were unoccupied.  These homes were often abandoned as a result of dilapidation and unsafe living conditions and contributed to the blighted image of the neighborhood.

Katrina Corps is a volunteer organization that was formed in December 2006; however they do not have their own federal 501(c)(3) charitable organization designation.  As such, they are operating under Pangaea Quest, Inc. to take advantage of the tax deductible status of their umbrella Pangaea Quest, Inc.

Cited from the US Census Bureau, FEMA, Prospect New Orleans, AllBusiness, NOLA Public Schools

New Orleans in July

Posted by a volunteer who participated in our July volunteer trip in New Orleans.

You do not know what hot is until you swing a hammer with all your might for an hour in 90 degree heat and 60 percent humidity.  A person would have to be out of their mind to do this on their dime, for no pay, and with no hope of success.

We came down practically strangers to each other.  We joined a rag-tag operation that didn’t have money for shiny vans with logos, t-shirts, or swag.  We were refurbishing a three-story, 111 year-old school; a project that has no budget, no resources, and a deadline to be done by September when school starts.

It was nuts.

But on the first day, we all grabbed hammers and brushes and started doing what we could, with what we had.  And it was hot, insanely hot.

And at night we lamented our fate, laughed instead of cried, and got to making lemonade out of the hill of lemons we found.  The food tasted better.  The drinks were more refreshing.  You looked across the table and saw someone who knew your pain and was laughing with you.

It was New Orleans!  And we mixed our sweat with her soil, fed our blood to her mosquitos, and hopefully drank so much that those little leech-bastards flew right into the path of an oncoming bus.

But I digress.

In the lower 9^th Ward, we saw a rural-looking area of sparse houses and fields of waist-high grass.  This used to be a dense neighborhood of shotgun houses, packed like sardines.  This neighborhood had the highest homeownership rate in the USA – over half – and for many, these houses were the only bastion they had against destitution and ruin.

It’s gone now.  The neighborhood where families had lived for generations without ever leaving New Orleans has been destroyed.  When the waters crested at 26 feet in the wake of the Katrina floods, anything less than two stories was submerged.  Houses floated up off their foundations, were crushed by currents, or just so damaged that the only way to rebuild was to gut them to the studs and start over.

I heard a cabbie in the French Quarter calling the citizens of the 9^th Ward ‘lazy’, citing that “after Hurricane Betsy there was 8 feet of water in the 9^th Ward, and that the people stayed, worked together, and were nearly back to normal in three months.”

People don’t leave New Orleans.  Betsy was 40 years ago.  The ‘lazy’ people he was talking about are the same ones that rebuilt the city in 1965 too.

But the people who lived here have been scattered across the country.  There are no neighbors to “work together” with.  The insurance companies will not be paying for replacement homes.

The neighbors then, have to come from somewhere else.

 

“I don’t know if you know this, but July is STILL SUMMER in Louisiana.”  This was the most common reaction I got when I told people I was headed down to work with Katrina Corp in New Orleans.  And, unfortunately, what they imagined was pretty much the way it was.

But what they didn’t get to see was that it also allowed the best in people to come out.  Katrina Corp basically consists of two guys that came down from Michigan and dedicated their lives to helping heal the grieving city of New Orleans.  They get room, board, and $100/week.  They handle groups of a single volunteer, on up to 300.  If FEMA or Habitat or some other big name outfit gets stuck or can’t do something, Ray and Marshall jump into the breach.  And if nobody shows up to volunteer (like because it is the middle of July) no work gets done.

As a volunteer you get to see where your money is being spent: there’s the van, there’s the coolers and tools, and there’s the two guys that have been working on this school before you showed up and will be working on it after you leave.  Ray and Marshall are the epitome of volunteering and service; and for one ridiculously hot week in July, so were we.

When I look back on what we did without budget or t-shirts or fancy photo ops; but with only our backs, our hands, and our teamwork and desire, I have to believe in the impossible.  I was there and watched it happen.

To Alli, Ariel, Eleni, Karianne, Lee, Rebecca, Sarah, Stephanie, and Tammy:  You gave a damn and made a difference.  Thank you and it was an honor to serve beside you.  You are all heroes in my eyes.

To the rest, 'impossible' is still out there, but it's not so sure of itself now.  Come down in October!

 

Rian Booker, July 14, 2008

An experience I will never forget...

Posted by a volunteer who participated in our July volunteer trip in New Orleans.

The trip to New Orleans last week was amazing in so many ways. Good friends, good food, good fun and a great organization; much beyond what my expectations were.

 

This was my second time to New Orleans. The first time was last April when I had travelled down to work with Habitat for Humanity. While Habitat was a great organization to work with, and I have volunteered with them in the past and will continue to in the future, I was saddened that I had not been made fully aware of all of the issues still surrounding Katrina. I am so grateful that we were able to work with Katrina Corps. Even though they are all volunteer and have only two “staff”, they are small, mighty and passionate, which made it one heck of a lot easier to get through the work days with 95 plus degree heat!

 

I had my first REAL tour of the lower 9^th ward this week. I had a spot driving tour the last time, and was able to see damage from a car. This time, I realized, this is real. I was both emotionally overwhelmed and numb at the same time because I kept thinking to myself, there is no way this is real. No way. Some things in New Orleans look like they did almost three years ago. Three years. Marshall took us into a house that he had gutted. He told us about when he gutted the upper bedroom. He noticed that two little girls shared the room, most likely sisters. All of their belongings including clothes, pictures, awards, posters, all gone due to the flooding. Not only that, but all of the memories that were created in that home came to an abrupt halt due to such a terrible tragedy. We then went to a church that was still in the condition it was the day that the water subsided. You could tell it had been ready for Sunday service. Music stands and silk flowers were out, but in extreme disarray. A thick layer of sludge covered everything, just as it had almost three years ago. I wondered where all of the members of the church had gone. What was their experience? Where are they now?

 

Our work was very rewarding. We were refurbishing a school that had been hit by Hurricane Katrina itself (wind and rain mostly) and received minimal flooding compared to other places. Like many schools, the building has set vacant since the storm. It will be rented to various arts related non-profits for art classes to be held. We did a variety of tasks like ripping up flooring, removing nails, painting the theater (many of us learned how to work a 30 extension paint pole pretty good J), spraying for mold and assembling desks. The school is set to open in September- I am jealous of the team going down in October- you’ll get to see the final product!

One thing about Katrina Corps was that they gave us the WHOLE New Orleans experience. They felt, and I agree, that in order to fully understand what was lost, you must understand the full culture. And boy, did we get it! From swamp tours with a true southerner, to listening to local bands on Frenchman, to visiting bars for the locals and everything in between, we got to see how vibrant New Orleans really is!

 

I couldn’t have had such a great experience without all of my team mates. This group was the best set of people that a girl would ever want to spend 24 hours a day for 7 days with J Big arm pumps goes out to all of you!!

 

Rebecca :)

Gulf Coast Reflections...

Posted by a volunteer who participated in our July volunteer trip in New Orleans.

If you want to volunteer in an atmosphere that is a combination of a middle school field trip and a college spring break trip, then this program is up your alley.  I would encourage any participants not interested in the daily afternoon/evening drinking on Bourbon Street (and behaviors that follow heavy drinking) to feel free to break from the group to make their own cultural experience of New Orleans, particularly related to jazz, local art and exploration of the neighborhoods.  The Gulf Coast trip partnering with Katrina Corps is an unusual experience.  The work can be hard and satisfying if you make the conscious decision to opt for tasks that keep you busy and there is plenty to do; however the work days were abbreviated by the personal vacation motives of a vocal volunteer who dictated all activities of the group.  Also, the tasks are not always related to hurricane damage (as opposed to long term neglect by the owners) and the business practices by Katrina Corps are atypical for a LTRO.  Only a two man operation, Katrina Corps is quite unorganized (e.g. leaving the team waiting for over 4 hours one day) and not the most effective communicators. The construction quality is amateur (temporary “band aid” fixes as opposed to long term reconstruction) and not the most effective use of resources (e.g. gutting homes that the homeowners have still not made plans a year later to rebuild, thus accruing more damage from neglect). While their intentions mean well and are based upon the emotions of their personal experiences, both staff members have limited knowledge of disaster response and recovery phases which is solely based upon their personal experiences after relocating to New Orleans post-Katrina. As such, take their comments with a grain of salt as many of the “statistics” that they site are grossly inaccurate and they present their personal opinions as fact, particularly when it comes to the disaster response and recovery phases, their unrealistic expectations of the governmental “obligation to return each citizen to pre-disaster state” and their presentation of the residents as victims (as opposed to empowering them).  Ironically, there is no involvement from community residents/volunteers in the projects this past week, which alludes that they do not have the engagement from the community and as thus reinforcing the victimization role as opposed to empowering recovery. If you are truly interested in a disaster response and the particulars of Katrina, I would encourage one’s own research independent of Katrina Corp’s statements. While the experience is a fun mixture of half partying and half community service that can appeal to some participants, it is truly unlike the usual and well established LTROs involved in disaster recovery and future participants should take this into consideration when deciding if this is an opportunity they would like to partake.

Day 1 in New Orleans

Posted by a volunteer who participated in our July volunteer trip in New Orleans.

Guess we are all going to have our own separate posts since we all have our own perspectives on this trip. 8 of us caught the 7am flight yesterday to get here (well ... it was almost seven but all eight made it). We sat around the waiting area in separate groups since most of us had met at most once and didn't necessarily know who the others were. "Wonder if that person over there with a pillow is on the trip with us". :) The flight was uneventful if you discount the mediocre food in the Dallas aiport ... but we were hungry. Some were already getting the weekend off to the right festive start with an all liquid lunch. Despite the seriousness of what Katrina had done and the situation that still existed, everyone had a fun attitude which is really the way it should be. You have to enjoy this kinda stuff.

When we got in, Marshall picked us up in the "Gold Van" with Sarah, our ninth team member and took us to the Bywater Church of Christ. Its a very non-descript looking warehouse but they have done a really nice job with it and the upstairs with our beds was cool and clean and inviting. We got settled and then took a walk to Walgreens. It is really hot and humid here ... reminds me of growing up just outside DC ... and picked up some supplies. Then we kept on wandering down to the French Quarter. The area is really beautiful. Even with all of the destruction that has happened some places have been restored and even the areas that still have damage, you can feel "New Orleans" around it. Makes you really want to help get everthing back so more people can keep coming home.

The night was a "trip". This week clearly will not be dull. With dinner, everyone had a Hurricane, one of the two "famous" local drinks (along with the Handgrenade at the Tropical Isle ... don't worry ... that came later). Then we found a spot for some Jazz music at a bar that professed to be the first in the US to serve Jager. From there, another Jazz bar and then we somehow ended up at what had become just a basic dance club. I wasn't exactly feelin' it, but there was a sketchy dude tryin' to dance with the group (which is mostly women except for Rian and I) so what the heck. :) By the end of the night we had a ton of "great" pictures :) and I had learned that this group clearly liked to have fun, that Rebecca must be a staunch Obama supporter (or is now), and that catching a cab is surprisingly difficult (you call the cab company and give them a cross street and they ask for the name of a local establishment??? I gave them a cross street ... I don't get it). Eventually, at 3am we made it home and crashed. Already today, the stories are building, but I will wait for tomorrow.  Good start to trip. :) :)

Lee

The Summer 2008 New Orleans Team has arrived!!

Posted by a volunteer who participated in our July volunteer trip in New Orleans.

After settling into our "home" in the upstairs of an abandoned warehouse (turned local church in the Bywater region of the French Quarter), we headed uptown to our first historical visit to Walgrens (major quest for bug spray!) and 30 blocks later we arrive sweaty, tired and eager for our first Hurricane, some gumbo and hushpuppies.  It was uphill from there to loud jazz, wild clothes, lots of cleavage (not Seattle works - well, not at least in the bright neon), crowded streets, big ass beers, Hand Grenades (some nasty green drink) and many adventures to getting home.

While Ariel and I stood outside our pad banging on the door, our lovely gracious cabdriver and another passenger shared their stories, of moving out, of losing their homes, of the struggle of the Black educated male in the job market.  Giamco told us he had lived there for 23 years - "Will we vote for Obama?" he challenges us as we continue to pound and holler on the door to be let in.  Thus we all enjoy a banter about the hope which is what separates man from every other mammal - our indomitable hope for change.  They wait with us for 40 minutes and at 3 am we stumble upstairs - our friends have cab stories of their own and we all crash in bed.  The goal of morning jog set aside for a few more hours of sleep.,

Ready to meet our team debrief at 10 we are still waiting at noon, and are invited to join the church group downstairs for a bit of ham, sweet potatoes - some true Southern hospitality and delightful insight to the real spirit of hope and survival - the deep bass of Brother Jones - and his amazing capacity to bring people there too...

we have stumbled out finally to this internet blog opportunity - seeking a swamp tour and hiding from the 94 degrees (with the real feel of 111) and for the most part are at least enjoying the hell out of each other!

Tammy Small (writing this first blog because Rebecca promises to inspire you later!)

Nothing has changed, everything is different

 

Posted by a volunteer who participated in our January volunteer trip in New Orleans.

I've been through this before.  The re-entry phase, when everything feels all wrong, when you can't stop thinking about what you've just experienced, when you email the people you traveled with just to reassure yourself that this was real, this actually happened, the attempt to put into words for others something that you can't describe to yourself yet.  Only, I have to tell you, I've never experienced that after traveling to another American city.  Because here's the thing-- I'm not sure that New Orleans is part of this country.  Sure, there's the whole historical melange, the glorious cacophony of cultures, but mostly it's because surely our country wouldn't let this happen.  Wouldn't let a city drown (thanks, Army Corps of Engineers!) and then, two and a half years later, cede the recovery effort to the persistent dedication of volunteers.  Wouldn't give flood victims poisoned trailers to live in.  Wouldn't kick people living in tents out of the park in front of city hall and remove them to a highway overpass.  Wouldn't allow the agency charged with emergency management to so badly bollix the whole situation.  Wouldn't allow people to live in such desperate straits to begin with that recovery after a set back like a double-barreled hurricane / levee collapse is next to impossible.  Our country wouldn't do that, right? 

What I've learned:  the situation in New Orleans has everything to do with economics and power.  We weren't cleaning up damage from Hurricane Katrina so much as attempting to bolster children and senior citizens against grinding poverty and post traumatic stress disorder. 

I didn't notice the hollow looks in residents' eyes but I definitely saw it in the faces of the Hands On New Orleans coordinators and project leaders.  Life in the Big Easy is pretty hard for those who are taking on the rebuilding efforts.  I think idealism must fade pretty quickly. 

I'm 32.  My own idealism was tempered by reality long ago, in a different conflict (because yes, New Orleans is a conflict zone).  What I have now is anger on a low simmer and a determination to do what I can where I am, to look for the places where people are weary and find a way to help make the load easier to bear.  I've started looking for tutoring opportunities and our group is already talking about coordinating a project with Seattle Public Schools like the one we worked on at Carver Elementary (in addition to watching "When the Levees Broke" and going to Mardi Gras in Fremont on Saturday night-- it's not ALL work!).  And, yes, I know what it means to miss New Orleans.  There is much more to do there.  But the work that needs to be done includes the work of justice and equity and that is an issue no matter where you are.  Even here in Seattle.  Let's just not wait until we have a disaster of epic proportions to see the fault lines in our systems and safety nets before we take action to make our community stronger.  Don't sit there, sipping your microbrew, planning your ski trip or complaining about your commute to the Eastside.  Do something.  Volunteer.

Susanna

I did it all for a t-shirt

Posted by a volunteer who participated in our January volunteer trip in New Orleans.

I’ve been down in New Orleans this past week with 15 other Seattle Works folks (Patrick, Noelle, Susanna, Megan, Chris, Blake, Nora, Erin, Beth, Trisha, Kelsey, Michelle, Kristin, Laura and Gillian – with all of whom I feel I now share a special bond), and have joked several times “I just volunteer for the t-shirts.” While this has usually been my attempt at levity to try and keep the group loose and in good spirits, I now feel there is actual meaning to my statement.

I’m not one that always boasts about my volunteer activities; those close to me know I volunteer with Seattle Works regularly, that I am happy to discuss what we do, and I have even recruited some people to come join Team Works. However, I typically only wear my Seattle Works t-shirts on project days, or as lounge-around-the-house-wear; somewhat intentionally, as I have viewed my volunteerism as the very personal relationship between helping people in need and the feeling of satisfaction that I garner by helping to build a better community.

I guess what I didn’t expect from my New Orleans trip was the profound spiritual and emotional impact it would have on me. For all the city has been through, I am amazed at how resilient and friendly the local population has been: waiters and bar tenders, the principal of the elementary school in which we were working, the residents of the damaged homes still living in FEMA trailers, the congregation of a neighboring gospel church, and just passers-by on the street. Southern hospitality is not a myth, at least not in New Orleans.

Perhaps the most enlightening experience was when Shelton “Shakes” Alexander, a national poet who lived through Katrina (and is interviewed in When the Levies Broke) came to the volunteer house, shared his experience, recited several of his poems, and answered questions about the city’s recovery. Erin asked him pointedly “what more can we do to help?” Shelton answered simply “exactly what you are doing, being here.” Shelton then said it wasn’t so much the tasks we were performing; painting in schools, helping rebuilding homes, caring for animals in a shelter, etc., but rather the spirit that volunteers bring, that someone cares and is willing to help. Erin then asked “what can we do when we get back home?” Shelton responded, “Tell people about your experiences here, the destruction that is still evident, and how much more needs to be done. Hopefully, more volunteers will keep coming.”

The next day, I ventured off on my only solo excursion of the entire trip to the National World War II (D-Day) Museum. New Orleans was the production center of the Higgins boats, the beach landing craft like those seen in the movie Saving Private Ryan; of the 14,000 vessels in the U.S. Navy during the war, 8,800 were built in New Orleans, thus a good site for the museum. After viewing the exhibits, which were amazing, I ventured into the gift shop to buy, ironically, a t-shirt. The shop keeper asked “what is Seattle Works?” and I realized I was wearing my Team Works shirt, probably since it was the only thing clean on our last day! After explaining it was a volunteer community involvement organization, I mentioned that 16 of us were down here doing work to help with the Katrina recovery, and the shop keeper was really impressed and thankful for our group.

As my new friend Blake has mentioned several times during the trip, “I like interesting t-shirts, they are great conversation starters.” I couldn’t agree more. I plan on wearing my new purple Hands On New Orleans t-shirt with pride, and on collecting more volunteer t-shirts in hopes that they will all be great conversation starters and I can better pass along the kind of work being done by volunteers and how much more work is out there to be done for ours and other communities.

I really did do it all for a t-shirt.

Bryan Fiedor

Looking back at transformation...

Posted by a volunteer who participated in our January volunteer trip in New Orleans.

So I'm down here at HONO and getting ready to leave (actually I'm all ready but we leave in about 3.5 hours so I'm working on not getting any sleep it seems) and I'm looking back. At transformation. I just read through everything everyone has posted up until now and it's great. It helps me remember all the good work we've been doing down here. You know, that stuff we do in between having a lot of fun and checking out the city.

Wait.

Strike that.

The good work we're doing down here IS a LOT OF FUN and it's a great way to CHECK OUT THE CITY. Better than standing around on some cold street corner all day waiting for a parade and yelling for throws (down here they have made that a verb for the parades) that I don't really want anyway.

Still, transformations. I'm talking about the people. We got off to a rough start as a group, a moved meeting and no Spike Lee documentary. No follow-up meeting. Lots and lots of emails about going to see "The Breach" and finally someone saying "I'm going on this day, if you want to come great." Still, nobody knew everyone so it was a lot of an unknown quantity coming down here.

Its strange, because it feels like if you have dinner with someone, as we did before the play, then maybe you know them some, but now that we've spent a week together, I realize I had no idea who these "people" were. I remember getting to the airport, seeing everyone and, after getting some names, heading over for a nice morning beverage. I spent a great time being delayed on the runway talking to Gillian and after we landed in LAX for the layover we moved out as a pack to look for food. I'd forgotten about that. Entirely. Then I remembered tonight and I realized that the people at the time didn't have distinct enough personalities for me to particularly remember who I ate with. Now everyone stands out so distinctly.

I was really proud of myself when I could name everyone on the first day, but that's so basic, such a surface item. Now I'm looking back, at the people, and I realize that everyone I'm here with is a really great, dynamic, interesting person. Its different than the "usual world" I live in though because even when I know someone for a long while, I don't really know them in a lot of way. I've never shared a bathroom with them, I haven't listened to them snore (p.s. of the 4 guys, 3 of us snore, with the 23 total people in our room for the men, I count that there were 6 people snoring), I haven't brushed my teeth
alongside them, I haven't seen the way they pour milk on their breakfast. So many little details but things that you really start to see, and appreciate, when living with folks in tight quarters for a week. Which, at the end of the week, is still just a week. Not much time at all.

Transformation though, that's the theme. Even though I know everyone now and I can speak to something about them and we have approximately 168 hours of shared experiences (that's how many hours are in a week), I know we're different people than when we came here. Its easy to put yourself at a distance from what's going on outside your immediate work and, taking a leap, even one that only last a week, is an intense way to make things more real. As a group, and individuals, we've grown, we've transformed, we've tried to walk in someone else's shoes, and that's important to who we are. When you realize how many specific moments you can remember who make you who you are, there are precious few. As time goes on, I'll be able to pull on this to point out some of them.

Now, I'm going to get personal, because I do appreciate everyone here, and I want to be able to spell that out, so it's a personal thing, and not a general thing.

Noelle - Wow, it's crazy that I was your team captain so long ago. Now you're here, gung ho as always, and providing a really good focus and insight on the trip because of your experiences in the area, doing the work. Now a leader, I really appreciate that.

Patrick - The thing that sticks out in my mind, is that when I talked to you about taking a train to DC, you expressed that you thought it sounded like a great time, instead of the "that'll be fun for you" track everyone else gives me. Also, you've taught English abroad before, like I'm headed to soon, and it's good to know that it was good for you, it helps me stay excited the more I talk to people who share the notion.

Laura - Unfortunately I haven't been able to interact with you an awful lot but I've seen you take charge. I know that you got the first stud award for our group when you stepped up and helped everyone, including the organizers of the project, find their way to Sarah Reed for the children carnival. Now I was able to check out a bunch of pictures because you looked out there and found a good site for us to post photos on, and, I suspect, you posted most of the ones there right now. Also, since you let me use your sleeping bag its been much softer sleeping in my bunk. Better than the sheet under me before.

Michelle - I know that the other night we were talking and the bar got too loud so it was strange but I really appreciate the conversation. The way that I absorb and incorporate other viewpoints is by asking questions and trying to get your perspective and making that work with mine. I was able to do that and I really appreciate it. Plus, you stayed around with me while I finished my beer, which is really great, a nice thing to do.

Chris - For a few days, I wasn't sure if I was just getting on your nerves or what but I gradually got the vibe that you were cool with me, despite that fact that I was one of the snoring folk in your room. I also recall you mentioning, at Tully's, that your job had agreed to postpone a project that you are key in, while you came down here. It's great to see that and it's good to know that good people are willing to do that for others, its really self-less. In a trip with 12 girls and 4 guys I've appreciated that you're around to talk with while we walk to the streetcar or while eating dinner at Jack-eh-moz.

Beth - "I'm in science." Well I was able to listen in on your explaining what you do to someone else and "it's really important work." It was cool though because I remember reading about it and it sounds like very fascinating work. Also, you have an easy laugh and a bit of a laid back manner that's really pleasant to be around. Plus, your family is from Montana even if you aren't really, and we talked about Butte (I think we did?).

Nora - Well you let me sleep on your couch so we could share a cab (with Kelsey!) and save some cash. I feel like I still owe one of you for my part of the cab fare, is that right?!? Aside from Noelle you were the one I knew before coming down here and it's been nice having you around. It was very reassuring to come with people I knew and it's been great you have around to give me a hug and ask how I am. Plus, when you headed to the dirty coast store you picked up the shirt I asked you for which is great because I think it's a hilarious shirt.

Trish - Hey! We live near each other! I'm actually hoping it works out we both ride the bus from the airport tomorrow because I really like riding the bus and I haven't had a chance to talk with you due to different projects and night plans. Even though I haven't felt like I've interacted with you much, a really nice smile goes a long way when you're sore and tired. Plus, you live near me! I don't actually know anyone else that lives near me these days. Thanks.

Kristin - Well I missed my last chance at a night cap playing mad libs and drinking "grape juice." Sorry about that. However, you were able to share your experiences about when you were down here before, right after, and every little insight helps. Plus, we bowled together at Ms. May's, and you beat me, but it was a lot of fun. Thanks for being ready and enthusiastic to head out and hang out.

Gillian - Apart from the people I knew before the trip you were the one that I met the first. I really appreciated chatting with you on the plane. Because of that I was also more ready to head out in the cab with you and I'm really glad because the first parade, Crewe de Viewe, was a lot of fun and now I'm safer than before (I think you know what I'm talking about)! You went into the work with a lot of good energy and it was good to have that around.

Megan - No, no, I'm over here! Yeah, thanks to your coaching on the "wrong shoulder tap" technique I feel like I'm much better equipped now than ever before! I remember practicing it then trying to find a good situation to test my new skills on you before finding the right moment and making you look the other way. Now that I write about it, pretty silly, but I had fun. Plus, I feel like we were able to share some little exchanges that were really pleasant. Finally, wear that new jacket.

Kelsey - Well you shared a cab with me. That's pretty awesome. For some reason I feel like we didn't work on any projects together, which makes me sad. Still, you're the last part of what I've been referring to as the "trio" lately to help me keep track of folks. Some kind of a comedy trio and I hear that working on a project with you was hilarious, maybe on the next trip eh?

Susanna - High Five! Chugga-chugga, chugga-chugga, chugga-chugga, choo CHOOO! Yeah, that's us, what some (Bryan) might call too much team bonding, I think it was great! Plus, now I know what gregarious means! You went to the museum early and had some great details to contribute about the parades and things. That was really nice because its the random stuff that keeps it interesting and entertaining.

Bryan - Conversations we wouldn't have. Plenty of them and heading out with you to the French Quarter was the first time I wasn't with a girl or alone. It was really cool to hang out with you, get your perspective on things, share some random opinions and observations about the group and enjoy some food. Even if the mac and cheese was underwhelming.  Plus, you do a lot of great work with Seattle Works and share that "let's see how much we can do and how fast we can do it" attitude when moving things like huge piles of gravel or bags on concrete in a wheelbarrow.

Erin - UPTOWN GIRL! Yeah, you're my uptown girl and even though everyone seems to know more of the song than we did, that's ok, because we still kick ass. There's that something about your personality that made it a lot of fun when you were around. Plus you totally took charge in the kitchen last (Friday) night and made some great food. Thanks for singing with me even if you didn't work on your lyrics. We'll do the other 35 verses some other time.

Every time I heard about someone's day, I felt like it sounded like I wish I was there. Sharing the experience with you, from Church, to Heading to the High School, to the initial Streetcar Adventures, to everything in between. Unfortunately I couldn't be everywhere doing everything but down here was where I wanted to be.

My summary is, I think we all know about ourselves, and we've had a great time learning it, even the times when we've wanted to, or have cried, it's been good. Character is an amazing thing and you all have a ton of it.

Plus the days went like this -
Monday - wow, it's only Monday, seems like it's been longer.
Tuesday - ugh, this is way harder work than I normally do, can I take a whole week of this? Is it really only Tuesday?
Wednesday - What? It's already Wednesday? What do you mean we only have two more days left, there's still so much to do!
Thursday - rain? No, no, no, we're from Seattle and we're not ready to let rain stop us! Oh...you mean painting in the rain means the rain runs? Dang, I wish we were able to get some work done (and a bunch of us said "we'll paint indoors! we're still going to do something!).
Friday - wow, we got the color around here up, the flowers planted, it looks a lot nicer, are we really done though? It's already been a week of projects? No, we don't want to go home yet!

Thanks.

- Blake Statham