Christmas in October, y'all

Rebuilding Together 2007 (Christmas In October)

Our Louisiana Peace Corps Association is again sponsoring a team to assist with
the volunteer efforts of Rebuilding Together: Christmas In October (RT-CIO).
RT-CIO is the local affiliate of the National Rebuilding Together Organization,
and also an important program of the Preservation Resource Center of New
Orleans. The goal of RT-CIO, created in 1988, is "a continuing volunteer effort
to improve the quality of life for low-income, elderly and/or disabled
homeowners through home repair and the revitalization of New Orleans
neighborhoods". Post-Katrina the program has taken on an expanded effort
continuing throughout the year. Their staff has grown to 25 full-time paid and
volunteer employees. Since 2005, 2500 volunteers from around the country have
worked on local projects rebuilding over 50 homes. However, they still needs
resources and volunteers from Louisiana familiar with local "situations".

The dates of the workday project will be on Saturday, October 6, 13, and 20 (if
needed) 2007 from 8:00-4:00 PM. Our 2007 volunteer house is located on 1741
Marigny St. in the Faubourg St. Roch neighborhood of New Orleans. Oscar and
Rosetta Francois are the homeowners of the property and both are retired. Mrs.
Francois suffered a stroke 14 years ago while her husband must deal daily with
Alzheimer's Disease. Their home had both severe flooding and wind damage from
Hurricane Katrina. Mrs. Francois began repairs herself painting the interior and
initiating work on the roof. Much work still remains to be completed. Our
workscope involves painting the total exterior of the house.

Our team will again share resources and expertise with volunteers from several
other teams, including the Tulane University School of Public Health and
Tropical Medicine and the USDA-SRRC Employee's Benefit Club

Email me if you wish to volunteer for this year's project. Participants may
volunteer for half or all day workdays, if so desired. Breakfast coffee and
donuts will be supplied. Pizzas and other food will be available for lunch
along with water and soft drinks. Food donations will be accepted. Besides
painters and scrapers, we need photographers (1-2), people (1-2) to assist with
check-in, and someone to monitor supplies for each workday. Volunteers must be
18 years of age or older. Look for more information in the coming weeks!

LaPCA's home base mourns

There is no Louisiana Peace Corps Association news, save that regarding the home of many of its RPCVs.
Bruce Ingber, longtime the mortar for LaPCA's organization, was personally touched recently by one of New Orleans all too frequent homicides. Bruce worked with both the victim and his father.
Here is the Times-Picayune's eloquent feature on the victim and his family.

http://www.nola.com/living/t-p/index.ssf?/base/living-8/1186898445248190.xml&coll=1

Here is the Times-Pic's initial story on Mayor Ray Nagin's foot-in-mouth incident shortly before the murder took place.

http://blog.nola.com/jeff_crouere/2007/08/oops_he_did_it_again_nagin_emb.html


I wanted to post this for the few who might not now about New Orleans' uneasy atmosphere.
I know that as a RPCV, I was not alone in having lived through trauma at my post, and that as a Katrina survivor, I was not alone in having lived through the trauma of that disaster.
Now, a new trauma is visited upon New Orleanians every week, some harder than others. I, as I imagine many others do, soldier on, and put an arm around others to help them when I can. It is almost always just a kind word, and sometimes it is just a continued vow to remember to try and make the world around me a better place.
So, for the few who read this, forget the Crescent City not, and reach out to support New Orleanians when you can because New Orleanians would surely do the same for you.