I have an idea

Service Trip to New Orleans February 27 –March 6, 2010

Rev Kate Lore

1. Get a team together

2. Go to New Orleans

3. Help rebuild homes

Our team Leaders: Kate Lore and Gary Obermeyer

Len Laviolette

Jack Kavanaugh

Introducing the Team:

Helena Hessle

Bryan Olson

Debra Mikkelsen

Tom Lackaff Ann Zawaski Elisa Morales

Priscilla Burns Stephen Pearce

Joel Finkelstein

Mother and son,Linda Devine and Zach Janda,Wenatchee, WA

Pete and Kathy Wyckoff, Canton, NY

Rev Frances Deverell with partner Ron WilsonOttawa, Canada

These wonderful people joind our team

The Center for Ethical Living and Social Justice Renewal (CELSJR) exists to contribute to the holistic rebirth of Greater New Orleans and the Gulf Coast Region through programs and services that promote social, racial and economic justice. The Center strives to empower, inform and help build a sustainable, equitable, and inclusive community.

NENA utilizes an innovative resident-based approach to the comprehensive rebuilding of the Lower Ninth Ward, providing services and implementing sustainable programs in community outreach, case management, design and construction administration, home and school rebuilding, and economic development.

NENA’s partners include The Unitarian Universalist Service CommitteeThe Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) is a nonsectarian organization that promotes human rights and social justice worldwide.

Aboriginal Activists Group, 1970's Queensland

Quo Vadis Breaux, Executive Director for The Center for Ethical Living and Social Justice Renewal (CELSJR)

Diva Chef Jyaphia Cristos-Rodgers

Elisa Morales on kitchen duty

Work day 1 started at NENA

Cliff Washington - Case Manager / Project Manager -NENA

(CELSJR) Volunteer Coordinators Maggie Matlak and Dakota Moe

Work day 1 cont.

Met with Miss Sheila, at who’s house we worked

Helena

Jack

Elisa

Steve Gary, Priscilla and Kathy scrubbing

LenTom

Painting – some managed toget a little face paint

Cleaning and painting doors, installing kitchen cabinets, and floor tiles

Pete, Ann,and Debra

Pete and Cliff

Katrina – a reminder

The Ninth Ward or 9th Ward is a distinctive region of New Orleans, that is located in the easternmost downriver portion of the city. It is geographically the largest of the 17 wards of New Orleans.

The Lower Ninth Ward flooded most catastrophically, with storm surge coming through two large breaches in the Industrial Canal flood protection system, creating violent currents that not only flooded buildings, but smashed them and displaced them from their foundations.

4.5 years after Katrina, houses have still not been rebuilt!

Often we saw houses side by side, where on had been rebuilt and the other still need of rebuilding

Brad Pitt's vision for a green rebuild of the Lower Ninth Ward is being realized by Make It Right, an innovative organization using cutting-edge designs. http://www.makeitrightnola.org/

Shamiya and her friend selling home made pralines

Building a wheelchair ramp, designed by Bryan Olson

Debra was the team leaderfor the grouters.

Parts of the pews that were damaged duringKatrina were being prepared to becomesanctuary baseboards.

Steve and Tom building a closet…

…with a helping hand from Ann

THE UU REV. MELANIE MOREL-ENSMINGER

Marcie Brennan –was given 20 crates of tiles, and made the new floor, including a labyrinth, in the church sanctuary

Debriefing session

Jyaphia cooked wonderful Cajun dinners for us, and made sandwiches for our lunches…

…and a special punch forCelebration night

Thursday Night’s entertainment Eric Paul, our Diva chef Jyaphia’s husband

Quo Vadis Breaux and husband Raymond

Do you know what it means to missNew Orleans?We do, and we all want to go back.

Thank you, Kate Lore, and so many of our First Church

friends/congregants, who made this service trip an unforgettable experience for

those of us who were privileged to help rebuild

New Orleans.