A letter from Lauren Anderson of Neighborhood Housing Services on the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

Good afternoon,

I think that the good and the bad aspect of today is that we were too busy with meetings to participate in any of the anniversary events. Actually, I think that it was a good thing for two reasons: looking back is so very depressing, but looking forward is encouraging. So I have spent the day in meetings, mostly focused on new ventures that will help to rebuild our communities.

The most important change in our city since the storm is one that cannot be measured, cannot be captured by the media, but is felt by those of us who live here. We are a very different people since the storm. We are a very different community. The most exciting aspect of NHS's work since the storm is that the funding that you have provided has helped us connect with the community and feel that we are providing staff support to real grassroots efforts. Because we met with members of the Porch last night and again this morning, let me use them to illustrate the
point.

The members of the Porch live in the Seventh Ward, a historically African-American community, that was in large part built by free people of color. It is a community that is noted for its craftsmen (bricklayers, plasterers, etc) and culture (musicians, Mardi Gras Indians and Social Aide and Pleasure Clubs). For the last several decades, it has been in decline.

Today, it is a diverse community, with long-term residents and newcomers. There is a mix of ethnicity and income. And this diversity is reflected not only in the membership, but also on the governing council. But beyond, what is apparent visually is the feeling of mutual respect, commitment, and love for one another and the community.

The Porch began at the Re-Inhabiting NOLA conference held at Tulane University in December. A couple of residents who attended the conference were inspired. (Coincidently, it was also where I first met Shana Sassoon, who is now one of our community builders.) The residents began meeting weekly in January. NHS was invited to join their conversations and they quickly decided that they wanted to partner with us to use our experience to develop their capacity. Their mission is to use culture as a basis for community building within their neighborhood.

Initially Shana worked closely with them. Later, as our staff capacity grew, Troi Bechet and two AmeriCorps members began working with them. I have never seen a group of residents meet more frequently. For months they met once a week. We negotiated an MOU with them that has NHS serve as their fiscal agent. Troi is working closely with them to develop their organizational capacity and leadership skills. Although I meet with them infrequently, after our meetings in the last 24 hours I particularly have witnessed such tremendous personal growth that it fills me up. It is like watching a student learn and grow, it fills you with pride.

There is a moment from a meeting earlier this spring that I will never forget. A. P. Tureaud was a leader in the community. There is a school named for him. His son who now lives in the northeast came to a meeting and observed. At the end of the meeting he spoke, with tears running down his face, and said that this was the first time that he had hope for this community.

They have been active. With the help of the School of Architecture at Kansas University, they have erected community bulletin boards around the neighborhood. They have two community gardens and have planted more than 30 trees. They had a second line and community barbeque in the spring and are planning a major gala for this fall. They have created a unique governance structure: a five-member council that is non-hierarchical. The council meets twice a month and the full membership meets twice a month on alternating weeks.

In June, NHS -- using funding from NeighborWorks America -- bought a building in the neighborhood that will be a community and cultural center. NHS will also use it as for satellite offices. The residents are cleaning the building out now and we expect that it will be in use by mid-fall. Although it appears ambitious, I have no doubt that most of these ideas will be realized.

But for your support, NHS would not have had the means to be involved with the Porch. Prior to your funding, NHS did not have a paid staff position for community building, although it has always been part of our mission. In fact, our board reaffirmed this mission at our strategic planning retreat just last summer. But the board became fiscally conservative and required a source of revenue to support this work. You made this possible. Prior to the storm, I did all of the community outreach and although I love it, it is impossible to balance the time demands with my other work priorities.

The work that we are doing downtown with the Porch is also happening uptown in the Freret neighborhood in a slightly different context. Neighbors United is a 30-year-old neighborhood association that has taken on new life since the storm. A year ago, they met once a quarter and averaged 30 people at a meeting. Today, they meet monthly, have active sub-committees and attendance at meetings is about 80 people. Shana and an AmeriCorps member are supporting their work as well as the emerging business association.

You are helping NHS make a difference in our neighborhoods at a time when people are most interested in civic engagement. Thank you for your support of our efforts.