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!
Friday, August 17, 2007
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
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.
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.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Ethnic Dinner (Come Say Hi) (RSVP Now!)
Join us at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 22 for the next LPCA dinner at
Bennachin Restaurant (African style), located at 1212 Royal Street in the French
Quarter.
Today (Friday, July 20) is the last day to RSVP!
We'll discuss the possibility of reviving our paticipation with Rebuilding Together: Christmas in October. Hopefully we can put together a volunteer team again.
The cost of the dinner is $15 per person and includes a soft drink. The
restaurant does not serve liquor but people may bring their own.
Please RSVP to Dinner Coordinator Sarah Harelson at sharelso@tulane.edu by
Friday, July 20 so that Sarah can give Bennachin an accurate count for food.
The new 2008 Peace Corps calendars will be on sale for $10 each. Hope to see
y'all there!
Note: near Royal and Gov. Nicholls 2 blocks inside the Quarter from Esplanade
Ave.
1212 Royal St
New Orleans, LA 70116
(504) 522-1230
Bennachin Restaurant (African style), located at 1212 Royal Street in the French
Quarter.
Today (Friday, July 20) is the last day to RSVP!
We'll discuss the possibility of reviving our paticipation with Rebuilding Together: Christmas in October. Hopefully we can put together a volunteer team again.
The cost of the dinner is $15 per person and includes a soft drink. The
restaurant does not serve liquor but people may bring their own.
Please RSVP to Dinner Coordinator Sarah Harelson at sharelso@tulane.edu by
Friday, July 20 so that Sarah can give Bennachin an accurate count for food.
The new 2008 Peace Corps calendars will be on sale for $10 each. Hope to see
y'all there!
Note: near Royal and Gov. Nicholls 2 blocks inside the Quarter from Esplanade
Ave.
1212 Royal St
New Orleans, LA 70116
(504) 522-1230
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Dear Fellow RPCVs:
My name is Brian Peterson and I was a PCV in Ukraine from 2003-2005. I
served as a TEFL volunteer in a secondary school in a small town in
eastern Ukraine. While there, I became familiar with an organization
called American Councils for International Education and one of the
programs it administers: the Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX).
About a year after returning home to the U.S., I found a job at American
Councils, working with their secondary school exchange programs. I now
work with placing students on three different competitive, merit-based,
exchange programs funded by the State Department.
- Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX) for students from the former
Soviet Union
- Youth Exchange and Study Program (YES) for students from Afghanistan
- American Serbia and Montenegro Leadership Exchange (A-SMYLE)
The students on these programs are selected for their high fluency in
English and their active involvement at school and in their comminties.
While in the U.S., they not only learn about American culture and
history and teach Americans about their own, but also gain an
understanding of important elements of a civil society, including the
rule of law, volunteerism, community service, and the involvement of
citizens in solving societal problems, while acquiring the values and
skills that will enable them to serve as agents for the transformation
of their home countries.
While in Ukraine, I had the opportunity to work at an English-language
summer camp in Mykolayiv and co-teach with FLEX alumni at the university
level. I was amazed at how committed these students (many only 18 or
19) were to improving their local communities. Several were, and
remain, actively involved in initiating, and working with, programs to
help such groups as orphans, orphans with disabilities, Ukrainians
suffereing from drug addiction, and helping to educate the general
population about HIV/AIDS.
I am contacting you because, as fellow RPCVs, I know that you are
interested in cultural exchange and probably you are acquainted with
like-minded folks. If you are interested in the possibility of hosting
an exchange student, or know people or groups in your community or
nationwide that might be interested, please pass on this message and
take a look at the attached information. I also ask that you consider
passing this message on to your Peace Corps country group.
Thank you for your commitment to cultural exchange and the belief that
we can change our world for the better.
The Third Goal: "Helping promote a better understanding of other
peoples on the part of Americans."
Warm regards,
Brian Peterson
RPCV Ukraine, '03-'05
Brian Peterson
Program Assistant - Inbound Secondary School Programs
American Councils for International Education
1776 Massachussetts Ave. N.W., Suite 700
Washington, D.C. 20036
Tel.: 202.833.7522
Fax: 202.833.7523
bpeterson@americancouncils.org
My name is Brian Peterson and I was a PCV in Ukraine from 2003-2005. I
served as a TEFL volunteer in a secondary school in a small town in
eastern Ukraine. While there, I became familiar with an organization
called American Councils for International Education and one of the
programs it administers: the Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX).
About a year after returning home to the U.S., I found a job at American
Councils, working with their secondary school exchange programs. I now
work with placing students on three different competitive, merit-based,
exchange programs funded by the State Department.
- Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX) for students from the former
Soviet Union
- Youth Exchange and Study Program (YES) for students from Afghanistan
- American Serbia and Montenegro Leadership Exchange (A-SMYLE)
The students on these programs are selected for their high fluency in
English and their active involvement at school and in their comminties.
While in the U.S., they not only learn about American culture and
history and teach Americans about their own, but also gain an
understanding of important elements of a civil society, including the
rule of law, volunteerism, community service, and the involvement of
citizens in solving societal problems, while acquiring the values and
skills that will enable them to serve as agents for the transformation
of their home countries.
While in Ukraine, I had the opportunity to work at an English-language
summer camp in Mykolayiv and co-teach with FLEX alumni at the university
level. I was amazed at how committed these students (many only 18 or
19) were to improving their local communities. Several were, and
remain, actively involved in initiating, and working with, programs to
help such groups as orphans, orphans with disabilities, Ukrainians
suffereing from drug addiction, and helping to educate the general
population about HIV/AIDS.
I am contacting you because, as fellow RPCVs, I know that you are
interested in cultural exchange and probably you are acquainted with
like-minded folks. If you are interested in the possibility of hosting
an exchange student, or know people or groups in your community or
nationwide that might be interested, please pass on this message and
take a look at the attached information. I also ask that you consider
passing this message on to your Peace Corps country group.
Thank you for your commitment to cultural exchange and the belief that
we can change our world for the better.
The Third Goal: "Helping promote a better understanding of other
peoples on the part of Americans."
Warm regards,
Brian Peterson
RPCV Ukraine, '03-'05
Brian Peterson
Program Assistant - Inbound Secondary School Programs
American Councils for International Education
1776 Massachussetts Ave. N.W., Suite 700
Washington, D.C. 20036
Tel.: 202.833.7522
Fax: 202.833.7523
bpeterson@americancouncils.org
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Bonne Arrivee!
Bienvenue au the Louisiana Peace Corps Association blog. This page will serve as a calendar, meeting place, information site and for other effects.
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