1. Service Trip to New Orleans February 27 –March 6, 2010 I have an idea 1. Get a team together 2. Go to New Orleans 3. Help rebuild homes Rev Kate Lore

2. Our team Leaders: Kate Lore and Gary Obermeyer

3. Introducing the Team: Len Laviolette Jack Kavanaugh

4. Helena Hessle Bryan Olson Debra Mikkelsen

5. Tom Lackaff Ann Zawaski Elisa Morales

6. Joel Finkelstein Priscilla Burns Stephen Pearce

7. These wonderful people joind our team Mother and son, Linda Devine and Zach Janda, Wenatchee, WA Pete and Kathy Wyckoff, Canton, NY Rev Frances Deverell with partner Ron Wilson Ottawa, Canada

8. The Center for Ethical Living and Social Justice Renewal (CELSJR) exists to contribute to the holistic rebirth of Greater New Orleans and the Gulf Coast Region through programs and services that promote social, racial and economic justice. The Center strives to empower, inform and help build a sustainable, equitable, and inclusive community. NENA utilizes an innovative resident-based approach to the comprehensive rebuilding of the Lower Ninth Ward, providing services and implementing sustainable programs in community outreach, case management, design and construction administration, home and school rebuilding, and economic development. NENA’s partners include The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) is a nonsectarian organization that promotes human rights and social justice worldwide.

9. Aboriginal Activists Group, 1970's Queensland

10. Quo Vadis Breaux, Executive Director for The Center for Ethical Living and Social Justice Renewal (CELSJR) Diva Chef JyaphiaCristos-Rodgers

11. Elisa Morales on kitchen duty

12. Work day 1 started at NENA Cliff Washington - Case Manager / Project Manager -NENA (CELSJR) Volunteer Coordinators Maggie Matlak and Dakota Moe

13. Work day 1 cont. Met with Miss Sheila, at who’s house we worked

14. Jack Helena Elisa

15. Steve Gary, Priscilla and Kathy scrubbing Tom Len

16. Painting – some managed to get a little face paint

17. Cleaning and painting doors, installing kitchen cabinets, and floor tiles

18. Pete, Ann, and Debra Pete and Cliff

19. Katrina – a reminder

20. The Ninth Ward or 9th Ward is a distinctive region of New Orleans, that is located in the easternmost downriver portion of the city. It is geographically the largest of the 17 wards of New Orleans. The Lower Ninth Ward flooded most catastrophically, with storm surge coming through two large breaches in the Industrial Canal flood protection system, creating violent currents that not only flooded buildings, but smashed them and displaced them from their foundations.

21. 4.5 years after Katrina, houses have still not been rebuilt!

23. Often we saw houses side by side, where on had been rebuilt and the other still need of rebuilding

24. Brad Pitt's vision for a green rebuild of the Lower Ninth Ward is being realized by Make It Right, an innovative organization using cutting-edge designs. http://www.makeitrightnola.org/

25. Shamiya and her friend selling home made pralines

27. Building a wheelchair ramp, designed by Bryan Olson

28. Debra was the team leader for the grouters.

29. Parts of the pews that were damaged during Katrina were being prepared to become sanctuary baseboards.

30. Steve and Tom building a closet… …with a helping hand from Ann

31. THE UU REV. MELANIE MOREL-ENSMINGER Marcie Brennan –was given 20 crates of tiles, and made the new floor, including a labyrinth, in the church sanctuary

32. Debriefing session

33. Jyaphia cooked wonderful Cajun dinners for us, and made sandwiches for our lunches… …and a special punch for Celebration night

34. Thursday Night’s entertainment Eric Paul, our Diva chef Jyaphia’s husband Quo Vadis Breaux and husband Raymond

35. Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans? We do, and we all want to go back.

36. Thank you, Kate Lore, and so many of our First Church friends/congregants, who made this service trip an unforgettable experience for those of us who were privileged to help rebuild New Orleans.