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.
