Volunteers on the Coast

[intheflow]

I had a group of 90 Unitarian Universalist youth and adults descend upon the Coast last week. It was a crazy experience, very jammed packed with experiences both good and bad. But here are some shots of some of the good things.

I gave a tour of the decimated Coast, but had us stop to talk with my friend Rob under the 500 year old Friendship Oak. Rob has been trying to get some live oak preservation going, because they were weakened by Katrina (natural) but they're being destroyed by the cleanup and rebuilding process.



There's a church not far from this tree that we also stopped to walk through.



At the end of the tour, we went to talk to my friend Derrick who runs a grass roots non-profit that's working on cultural preservation, housing, and environmental sustainability issues here on the Coast. I love this shot because he's cracking himself up telling an anecdotal tale.



Here he is in a more somber part of the narrative. It was the end of a long day, but Derrick is such a compelling speaker who really knows his stuff, most of the audience was in rapt attention.



The next day, some of the youth worked on building Derrick's temporary office, in an old garage that was crushed from a tree falling on it during Katrina. His office is currently in the ramshackle house in the background, which was built by his grandfather. You can see his mother's FEMA trailer behind the volunteer on the left-hand side of the shot. I love this shot because the volunteers are mugging with Eddie, the volunteer camp construction manager.



This is my favorite photo of the 24-hour shoot. Meet Fast Eddie:

[F.Gordon]

1. You could probably easily write a book

... and include some amazing photos. :P

A question? One of our customers was with an advance team of the EPA when Katrina hit. "They" apparently knew what was going to happen. :eyes: He rattled off some statistics that were very sobering. Basically the story he tells is that the recovery... the rebuilding... will take decades if it happens at all.

You're an Angel... what you are doing down there ..... words can't describe...
:hug:

[intheflow]

4. I'm sure I could spew a book...

onto tape for someone else to transcribe. I can talk about my experiences for hours, but whenever I sit down to write anything, I get stuck, stuck, stuck. I guess if a book every comes of it, it'll have to be a photographic retrospective. :)

And an angel? C'mon, F.G.! You've met me. You know I'm not exactly angelic. :evilgrin:

[F.Gordon]

9. I have a limited vocabulary

:dunce:

Cynical Humanitarian??

Reality Based Woman Dealing with an Unreal World??

:shrug:

Get thy self a cheap little pocket recorder from Radio Shack (are they still in business??). Record your stories and thoughts and stuff. Then find someone who can help you transcribe and edit for you. Help ya' out. Quite often your photos will "speak" by themselves. Will need no narrative.

I'm sorry. What were we talking about? Angels or sumtin'. Can't remember. :crazy:

[CC]

2. Another vote for the book.

Great shots and well if not a book I do hope you are keeping a journal. I know you get depressed with how much still needs to be done, but remember you are one of those special people working at getting them done. I would say working much harder than *blivet but that doesn't take much and I know you are giving it more than he could imagine. Keep taking pics and telling us what you see. I know I send links to your pics to everyone I can think of and know a few other send them on too.
:hug:
The never will get caught up with posting replies to the group CC even if she
does at least look.

[intheflow]

5. No journal.

But I do keep all kind of records like front section of Sun-Herald and every email I've received and sent about community organizing. I've kept records like this my whole life, but I've rarely ever taken the time to go back and review anything and eventually it all gets thrown away. Katrina is probably such a significant event in my life that I'll carry this memorabilia through the rest of my life. When I die, my son will have to shovel through all the pages--which he will do, fastidiously and fascinated, because he's a historian and genealogist. It's not much of a legacy to leave my son, but he'll enjoy it. :)

[blueraven95]

3. These are awesome

I love the book idea.

Some of my friends joined the group of churchs who went down last week to help rebuild. I understand they were in a small town about an hour away from New Orleans. We saw some of thier pictures on New Years - very emotional stuff.

[intheflow]

6. An hour from New Orleans?

Were they in Mississippi or Louisiana? I hear west of New Orleans is just as trashed because of Rita. I haven't made it over there yet, it's too emotionally gruelling just driving from Biloxi to New Orleans. I mean, how many miles of destruction can one travel knowing you only have to drive it again on the way back home again? *sigh*

[electricmonk]

7. My Mom's going down there in a few weeks

She's going with a group from various churches here. She'll be in Lucedale Mississippi.

[Blue_In_AK]

8. Great shots as usual, ITF.

I love what you're doing down there.

[HeeBGBz]

10. Inny, you have such an interesting life

We live in the same area, but my existance is so bland compared to yours. Where do you find the energy? You are doing so much good. Thank you for that.

I've got to change jobs in about two months. A disruption to my rut puts me in a tizzy.

I look forward to your photos and stories. You really should write a book.

[uppityperson]

11. Nice pictures, keep posting please.

I am glad you guys are there and hoping the best for this next yr. Hi to utbs too (amd Bear)