Experiences in NOLA

It was great to be back in NOLA! It has been three years since the last time I was here and I can certainly say that a lot of visible changes have been made throughout the city. While this is great to see, it is not nearly enough. The improvements made in the last three years since I have been here are great, but the city is still in shambles and the work is not even close to finished. Countless homes are still abandoned and the poorest areas of the city still need a lot of help.

To the average tourist and unaware visitor, NOLA may look like it was never hit by a storm, many homes in the area of St. Charles Street and Gentilly Blvd, the French Quarter, etc are beautiful. But if you take a drive through mid city (where we stayed) and especially the lower 9th ward, the devastation is still visible. Entire blocks of homes have disappeared and countless number of homes are abandoned. It really upsets me to know that a city that was once so beautiful and rich in culture and history is being allowed to sit in destruction. We need to get the word out more about the problems that still exist in New Orleans. The city needs help to restore its beauty because the people who live there and have come back to rebuild deserve it.

During the week I worked on a mural. While this wasn't a traditional rebuilding project, it was a project that brought beauty to the city. The mural was about anti-violence and it was designed by students from a near by community center. I think that little projects like a church mural can help to liven up the culture and life that once flourished in NOLA. And finally, I hope that the work we do as Bonners, both in NOLA and Trenton, inspires others to get out and do a little bit to help those that need it most.

The trip was a great success and I can't wait to go back to New Orleans in the future!