Thank you so much to everyone who participated…their time, energy, and
products for this doozie of an episode. It was the most massive effort
ever and it was just amazing the group that came together to pull it all off.
The house and the church both turned out so, so great. The families and
members of the church will benefit from your contributions hopefully for
many generations.

Learn more here: http://www.extremeneworleans.com/

If you catch the episode, look for KC volunteers in the blue shirts!

I am a preschool director who recently had one week off in June prior to the start of our summer program. Since my life tends to be very hectic as a single mom with a full-time career, I often look for places to go on my vacation that are relaxing so I can de-stress from the school year. However, having had a year filled with much drama, I decided to look for something different as I felt the need to bring some perspective back into my life and I thought volunteering might be the way to do this. I came across your organization through volunteermatch.com and decided the opportunity that was presented to help schools in New Orleans get ready for returning students was particularly interesting to me and would allow me to give back to the educational community. The age range of volunteers also allowed me to bring my teenage son along as well and offered him the opportunity to connect with people outside of his life in San Francisco and put in some community service hours for high school credits.
(more…)

I know it sounds cliché, but the smells and sounds are what I remember most. There is so much about New Orleans that, from a glance, I did not like: the drinking, the partying, the smoking, the strip bars. But somehow things that mattered more to me showed themselves: Jazz clubs, Art, Tattoos, Southern drawls, Humid sticky, sweatiness, Kind folk, Volunteers, Genuine Hearts, Southern cuisine, Music, and more music. A Groove that was contagious.
(more…)

I live in Wyoming and was visiting family in Milwaukee during the summer and stopped at a church that I used to play organ for. When I was there one of the members told me about Katrina Corps and that they were planning on going the first week of August (mind you she told me in July). I jumped at the opportunity, especially being a music teacher. New Orleans is the birthplace of the only American Artform. I plan on returning to New Orleans next summer for probably longer than the 1 week. It was a life altering experience.
(more…)

I was a Katrina Corps volunteer from August 12th to August 18th. Being a Chicago public school teacher, who teaches a similar demographic population to those in the New Orleans Schools, I have become very aware of the lack of coverage of issues impacting race and class in America. While I have viewed many newscasts and documentaries with subjects as Katrina, the Lower Ninth Ward, and the rebuilding of New Orleans, I felt a need to get firsthand experience and a need to get “off of my behind” and do something. (more…)

Today I have watched numerous shows and read various articles about New Orleans. There is still so much to do and I would like to come back and help. As a teacher, I will be sharing the facts and emotions with staff and students. Hopefully, they will be called to action materially and by building a connection with students and teachers from the affected schools. Relationships between the students could have positive outcomes. Good luck and please let us know how the situation progresses and what the needs are currently.

Carol (teacher, Milwaukee)

It’s been a while since I was down in N.O. with you, gutting houses over Spring Break. In the months since that memorable week, life at school and abroad as been as busy as can be. I never forgot, however, the sights that I saw and the stories that I heard while in New Orleans.
(more…)

We are now officially recognized as a public charity and all donations to Katrina Corps are tax-deductible - including program fees! This is very important as we have been courting many individuals and organizations to support our mission. With 501 (c) (3) status in hand, many more opportunities are now available to us and more importantly to the people of New Orleans.

Thank you all for supporting and believing in the mission of Katrina Corps!

I hope that this blog finds you all well and happy. We’re currently in week 4 of our summer session, and it’s been eye opening. My transition from a volunteer in March, to now being Volunteer Coordinator has been extremely cool. It’s a lot of fun to be able to see Katrina Corps from two different perspectives. It’s neat to be able to recollect my experience as a volunteer, and then apply that to my job. The time down here seems to fly by, although New Orleans still retains its laid back, southern style of living.

The coolest thing for me has been, by far, meeting new volunteers each week. I’m constantly surprised by the attitudes of our volunteers. It is invigorating to be around people who are so cause-oriented. Despite being from different areas all over the country, and even world, we are all united by the single cause of bringing New Orleans back to where it was pre-Katrina. The interaction between volunteers is great as well. I like to watch volunteers who seemingly have nothing in common, sit around and talk for hours. It’s extremely gratifying to be down here, and I think I can speak for the entire crew down here, when I say that the Volunteers are really why we wake up early each morning.
(more…)

We did manage to get out and show the volunteers some of NOLA /Jazz / local food / good and bad neighborhoods.

It was a good week here and hope you all had one too.

Hope you can get some time to come down to NOLA and help out this summer.

Iver

We are seeking 3-D artists who would like to sell their work and
help with the recovery efforts in New Orleans. 10% of
all sales will go to Katrina Corps (www.katrinacorps.org).

If accepted, we require a $40 fee for show costs. Please
send 5 jpeg files, your artist statement and bio, or a link to your
website to cremerglass@yahoo.com by JUNE 29th, 2007.

http://glass-girl.com/index.htm

» Overview: Bringing Back New Orleans Schools

» Positive Outlook Aids New Orleans School Recovery

» Teachers Wanted as New Orleans Students Return

» For One New Orleans School, an Uncertain Future

Note: Links to all parts of the series as well as related stories exist on each of the pages linked to here.

» “Demolish or Save”

» PASTOREK NAMES PAUL VALLAS SUPERINTENDENT OF RSD

A Times-Picayune article discussing the new superintendent:

»New Orleans lands “top tier” school superintendent

New York Times article discussing the new superintendent:

» Prominent Education Reformer to Lead New Orleans Schools