Project: Katrina Hope…raise funds…raise walls…raise spirits

I tend to focus on the rebuilding efforts in which the volunteers are partaking, but our group today gave me a new view on the storm’s aftermath. We met up with the five students and one leader from North Central Texas College in St. Bernard Parish, where they are working this week to recruit for the Red Cross. Their work focused on the businesses that have rebuilt since Katrina; the Red Cross is attempting to highlight these businesses by including them in local brochures. I have thought so much about housing for the New Orleanians, but I failed to think critically about how the Mom and Pop crab shack would get business once so many of their customers had left. These students and the managers of these places opened my eyes (yet again) to the spirit of hope that resides within.

The NCTC group allowed us to tour the Ninth Ward with them after their work was complete, and this once outgoing and energetic crew became silent as they looked at the destruction that still remains for parts of the city. However, I recalled when I first viewed the homes in disrepair and the “X” that marked each home, and it inspired me to believe that the work I was doing could actually make a difference in another’s life…just as I hope this documentary can eventually do. This is the NCTC group (yet another awesome bunch):

Other highlights for the day included a tour by Jeff’s older brother, Brandon, of St. Louis Cathedral, which is the oldest Catholic Church in the US. We got the behind-the-scenes look at the church, even to the point of walking up creaky steps to the top of the bell tower at noon. Here’s a view from the choir loft:

Also, we got to go to a jazz bar downtown and listen to a band for a few hours–a good mental detox from a taxing, yet incredible, day.

Tomorrow, we have an exciting morning planned with Reed College from Portland, Ore. They are working with ACORN to paint and landscape a whole neighborhood, and the residents will all be there. The best part–they are cooking a traditional NOLA lunch for all of the volunteers! It will be a great experience to see them both interact, and Shannon and I will be there to capture every moment on film.

With hope,

Gretchen

Posted on March 19th, 2008 by Gretchen Wieland
Filed under: From Gretchen