Before summarizing my recent volunteer experience in New Orleans, fate would have it that i would have an opportunity to listen to Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley, our new pastor in late December. Reverend Wesley and his family recently returned from a week-long trip to Johannesburg, South Africa and used the sermon before Xmas to summarize their experience. Dr. Wesley was amazed at the spirit of the South African residents, despite the fact that many were impoverished, jobless, suffering from starvation or some form of disease. They continue to believe vehemently in God's "will" and appreciate the blessings of life and though many are without, as he stated, the "glamour and glitz," they remain deeply thankful for what they have. After his voyage to the great continent, Dr. Wesley suggested that when you travel to an area like South Africa, where more than 40% of citizens are living below the poverty line, you come to understand what the word poverty truly means. You begin to appreciate what you have even more -- in fact, he stated, "what makes the miracle of God noteworthy is the normality of the miracle, not the glamour" -- miracles such as food and shelter; employment; waking up everyday and being disease-free.
I found a lot of similarities in Dr. Wesley's trip and my recent volunteer experience in New Orleans. In the work and subsequent interviews and conversations with residents affected by Hurricane Katrina, I found that many were poor in terms of finances, but rich in spirituality and love. Their hope may have diminished by the practical experiences of life, but recognizing and appreciating God's blessings allowed them to open up their hearts and homes (and in some instances, barber shops) to talk candidly with me about their experience pre and post Hurricane Katrina.
The Volunteer Experience
Having previously volunteered for Habitat for Humanity in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans, I decided to work with another organization, which offered a more direct and instant impact on citizens affected by Katrina. Green Light New Orleans is an organization that replaces light bulbs with energy efficient bulbs in the homes of low and fixed income residents. Since its formation in 2006, Green Light New Orleans has installed over 125,000 CFL light bulbs saving the community 5.5 million dollars and relieving the planet of 55 million pounds of CO2. Given a bike, map and a bag filled with CFL light bulbs, appointments were scheduled for me throughout Wards 9 and 17, two of the hardest hit areas in New Orleans. The first day of appointments were in Ward 17 and allowed me to meet Mrs. Rosemary Hunter, a senior citizen who requested 30 light bulbs for her house. Mrs. Hunter moved to Lakeland, Florida before the hurricane and recently moved back, only to have her husband suffer a major stroke 5 months upon their return. Though Mrs. Hunter and her family have suffered major losses, she found a way to appreciate the small gift of an Obama/Biden button I was wearing. Since my trip, we've managed to keep in touch and i've found that writing and calling brightens her day despite the constant reminder of struggle. Between my Ward 17 assignments, i also took time to visit a local barber shop, where i met Jerard a.k.a. Sole, who was very vocal in expressing his frustrations on the state of New Orleans, more specifically the predominantly African American communities, which have been left without vital resources and any trace of recovery. One quote from Jerard that has remained with me is when he stated: “What else can be done to me that hasn’t already been done? Look around you man – there is nothing here and it seems as if no one is trying to do anything about it.” The following day, appointments were scheduled in Ward 9, the hardest hit and an area that remains tremendously deprived economically. One of the assignments took me to the Andrews' House, where i talked at length with Mr. Andrews a former national guardsman. He told a story of sending his family to Texas before the hurricane, while he stayed behind, ultimately facing several feet of water in his house and for days after, watching dead bodies float down the street, with snakes and alligators and all types of debris. I asked Mr. Andrews what made him stay back – and he referenced having emotional ties to his house and community and a stubbornness that prevented him from leaving the city he grew up.
The State of New Orleans Today
Less than 4 years later, devastation in these predominately African American Wards is very prevalent and severely unaddressed. Crime is at an all-time high and many residents remain displaced, unable to come back to the communities they called home. The Lower 9th Ward has had little investment made in it despite being the most damaged by Katrina. Prior to Katrina, it was full of homes, churches, children playing, and families, but now is filled with vacant lots overgrown with weeds, or empty houses with missing doors, and broken or boarded windows located only yards away from FEMA trailers or the few occupied homes which have been renovated or rebuilt. Despite the substantive issues that afflict New Orleans and its citizens, I was amazed at the resolve many still continue to have. Hope may be immeasurable, but the inability to measure doesn’t preclude a number of residents from having it – not hope in a politician, or any of the levels of government that ultimately failed these citizens – but there is a determination that things will change because they cannot get any worse. And until things change for the better, these residents will continue to exude the spirituality and love that has allowed them to keep “hope” alive.
A Call to Service
Standing among the millions on the Washington Mall, Inauguration Day, I listened to President Obama deliver an empowering address which focused on a number of things, including a plea to give back to those less fortunate and to reinvest in our communities. Like many of you, that address reinforced my call to service and reinvigorated my desire to help address the issues in New Orleans and the broader issue of poverty.
Today I ask my friends and family to stand firm with me in helping address poverty by making a personal contribution to Green Light New Orleans. After speaking at length with the Executive Director, they are in need of financial contributions to help continue to provide energy efficient light bulbs to low and fixed income residents. Like anything in life, there is such a thing as being too successful –and Green Light’s program has been that. Currently, there are 3000 low income residents of New Orleans on the waiting list for these energy efficient bulbs, which will save thousands of dollars over the lifetime of the light bulb. As I plan to spend my upcoming March birthday in New Orleans doing volunteer work, what a great gift it would be to me if you could make a donation that I can take and present to the Executive Director on your behalf. I recognize these are tough economic times, but remember, even $5 donations put Barack Obama in the White House. If you are interested in learning more about Green Light New Orleans please visit: http://www.greenlightneworleans.org/. If you are interested in making a financial contribution, please mail a check payable to: Green Light New Orleans and mail to my address below by March 14, 2008. For those of you unable to contribute, I’m certain that you’ve been inspired to give back in other ways. I thank you all for your kind words and continued support.
James Ingram
32 8th Street NE Apt B
Washington, DC 20002
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