Rebuilding New Orleans with Hands, Hope, and Healing
A Resource Handbook for Immersion & Service Groups

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section One: WHAT SHOULD I PREPARE FOR?

1.1 Health and Safety Concerns
1.2 Educating Yourself
1.3 From the Developed World into the Developing One
1.4 What to Pack
1.5 How to Set-Up an Immersion/Service Trip 

Section Two: PRE-KATRINA SOCIETAL REALITY

2.1 A Word on the Pastoral Circle: Taking Service to the Next Level
2.2 Reports, Papers, and Articles about Pre-Katrina New Orleans

Section Three: POST-KATRINA OUTLOOK

Section Four: REFLECTIONS AND PRAYERS

Section Five: I’M BACK ON CAMPUS… WHAT NOW?  

5.1 Keep Donating
5.2 Spread the Word
5.3 Hold Your Congressional Representatives Accountable
5.4 Pray and Keep in Touch
5.5 Taking it Local—Experience, Reflection, Action

SECTION ONE: WHAT SHOULD I PREPARE FOR?

I. Health and Safety Concerns

1.1  MOLD
 
You can be exposed to mold both indoors and outdoors, through inhaling or ingesting it through the mouth and into the lungs, or simply by skin contact.

• You should always wear respirator masks when working inside houses.
• Wear long protective shirts, long pants, and work boots. 
• Bandanas are a good idea when doing outside clean-up.

1.2  ASTHMA
 
If you have moderate or severe asthma or are immuno-suppressed due to being sick or recovering from a sickness, you should consider waiting to volunteer in New Orleans, as there are high numbers of contaminants and mold in the air. 

• You may experience hay-fever like symptoms—including red, irritated eyes, itchy eyes, wheezing, sneezing and runny nose—and for those with asthma, more intense breathing problems while working.   
• Check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website (www.cdc.gov) for up-to-date information.

1.3  WATER

• Do NOT drink the water unless told it is safe to do so.  Bring large jugs of water with you or be prepared to buy bottled water/jugs down in New Orleans.

1.4  VACCINATIONS

• Adults should get a booster dose of tetanus-diphtheria toxoid (Td) if you have not had a booster dose within the last 10 years.
• Children and adolescents 11-18 years should receive the new pertussis-containing Tdap rather than Td if this is available.

1.5  FIRST AID

• Bring with you a fully-packed first aid kit to address minor wounds, cuts, scrapes, etc. 
• In a city without infrastructure, there are two functioning hospitals, but they are not reliable.  Be sure to take all necessary safety precautions.

II. Educating Yourself

New Orleans is not your typical city.  Hurricane Katrina was not your typical hurricane.  It is important to have some background information about New Orleans’ history and culture prior to your trip.  It is also good to have some general information about the hurricane, why the levees broke, how many homes were destroyed, people were displaced, etc.  A good website that has everything from the Times-Picayune (the city’s newspaper) to the history of Mardi Gras can be found at: www.nola.com 

**These following quick facts are from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Orleans . . .

• New Orleans was founded by the French in 1718 because it was close to a Native American portage and trading post, and it was a rare piece of higher ground close to the Mississippi River that flooded its banks frequently.

• The Spanish took control in 1763, and then Napoleon regained control of New Orleans from 1801 to 1803, before ceding it to the US in the Louisiana Purchase. 

• Many Haitians fled to the city after a revolution and ensuing war there. 

• It was the biggest entry port for incoming African slaves, but also the city with the most freed slaves/former slaves in the United States up to the Civil War.

• New Orleans is nicknamed The Crescent City because of the bend in the river where the city was settled.  It is also nicknamed The Big Easy, since the city is known for its slower pace of life, as the birthplace of jazz, and for its truly unique culture.

• “Until the early 20th century, construction was largely limited to the slightly higher ground along old natural river levees and bayous, since much of the rest of the land was swampy and subject to frequent flooding. In the 1910s engineer and inventor A. Baldwin Wood enacted his ambitious plan to drain the city, including large pumps of his own design which are still used. All rain water must be pumped up to the canals which drain into Lake Pontchartrain.”

• In 1965, Hurricane Betsy also severely damaged New Orleans at a time when its population was the highest (804,108 inhabitants, compared with 521,197 inhabitants in 2005 pre-Katrina New Orleans).  The infamous Lower Ninth Ward, a mostly poor, African-American sector of the city, was also severely flooded, like in Katrina.

• Unlike many cities in the US, according to the 2000 Census New Orleans’ racial makeup was 67% African-American, 28% white, and just 3% Latino. 

• But poverty was/is rampant, with 23.7% of families, 40.3% of adolescents under age 18, and 19.3% of persons age 65 or older living below the poverty line.  Average per capita income for New Orleans was $17,258.  The US per capita income was $40,100.

** Wikipedia.org has a very thorough entry on New Orleans, with links to many other aspects of the city and its past history, food, culture, unique neighborhoods, and other things. 

III. From the Developed World into the Developing One

It is important to know that much has changed in New Orleans since the onslaught of Hurricane Katrina.  Even though New Orleans is located in the United States, the damage was so extensive and the infrastructure so battered, that many typical services and conveniences simply do not exist. 

• 75% of New Orleans was flooded after Katrina, and as of February 2006, just 28% of the population living there before the hurricane has returned (The Brookings Institute’s Metropolitan Policy Program).

• A Brown University sociologist, John R. Logan, has suggested that as many as 50% of whites and 80% of blacks who relocated away from New Orleans during the hurricane and its aftermath may relocate permanently, significantly decreasing the population of New Orleans and its cultural diversity (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/new_orleans).

In light of this, here are several tips about what sorts of things to pack when you come and some general “heads-ups”:

• Many parts of the city still do not have electricity.  In many parts of the city it is profoundly quiet and dark at night where there are neither people nor electricity.

• Exchange cell phone numbers with everyone in your group and distribute the list to each vehicle before you leave.  Cell phone reception is still spotty. 

• Many convenience stores, hardware stores, supermarkets, and other businesses are not yet open.  Try to bring down as many of the supplies as you can. 

The people of New Orleans are the epitome of what it means to have “Southern Hospitality.”  Most are easy-going, friendly, and will want to give you things in return for your services.  These people have suffered almost complete loss, but still desire to give back.  Whether you are offered bottled water or a meal or some toiletries when you arrive at the place you will sleep at, accept it gratefully and cherish the opportunity for cooperation. Seek to form relationships that are reciprocal, not just one-sided.

IV. What to Pack

Many of the people you will be serving have lost everything, and have been forced to live very simple lives, while trying to regain what has been lost (their house, their job, family members).  In light of this, pack lightly as a powerful sign of living in a spirit of true simplicity and solidarity with the people you will be walking with on your journey.  Luxuries can often distance us from others instead of engaging the community, sharing of ourselves and our talents, and listening to stories of devastation and of hope. 

V. How to Set Up an Immersion/Service Trip

When you first think about going down to New Orleans, you may be wondering exactly who are the people you should be talking to.  If you are struggling with this part, this section can help you start thinking about exactly where you see yourself going with the project and who to coordinate with down in New Orleans. 

WHO TO CONTACT 

Decide what volunteer organization you want to work with in New Orleans.  You may have some contacts of family or friends living down there and they would be your main contacts.  If you are taking down larger groups, there are several options for people you can contact:

• New Orleans Province of the Society of Jesus
  —http://www.norprov.org
  —Contact Pastoral Associate for Relief Ministries, Jocelyn Sideco:
     Phone: 504.377.8425
     E-mail: noprovsj@norprov.org

• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New Orleans
  —http://www.catholiccharities-no.org 
  —Contact the Director of Volunteers, Denise Chetta:
     Phone: 504.371.7747
     E-mail: dchetta@archdiocese-no.org

• New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity
  —http://www.habitat-nola.org
  —Contact the Volunteer Coordinator:
     Phone: 504.861.2077
     E-mail: volunteer@habitat-nola.org

• U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu’s Volunteering Page
  —http://landrieu.senate.gov/volunteer/no.cfm
  —This is part of Senator Landrieu’s Official Web Site.  It has many good  
  resources for people looking to volunteer as an individual or group, for
  both long-term and short-term experiences.

Remember to give these people extra time to get back to you.  Some of these volunteer coordinators are operating out of temporary offices and others are short-staffed and over-worked.  Patience is key.  A delayed response does not mean that they do not care about you, but that they are very busy trying to organize groups.  The coordinators are doing everything they can to respond as efficiently as possible.  Stay in contact with these people and use the information in the previous section to begin preparing for the logistics of the trip. 

HOW TO FINANCE THE TRIP 

If you need to fundraise, let your creative energy flow and do not feel hesitant about asking people for donations (like water or tools or gloves) or money (to help pay for gas or vehicle rental or food).  If you are a student group at a high school or university, ask your student government for financial support.  If you are going as part of a church group, ask your pastor to take up a second collection for your trip.  These are pretty typical things to do, but get creative! 

Have some fun while you fundraise: Maybe even throw in a Mardi Gras themed party or have a pot luck with traditional New Orleans Cajun foods, like jambalaya, gumbo, red beans and rice, po’ boys, catfish, or café au lait and beignets.  You could even make an online Wishlist through Target or The Home Depot and have people donate supplies the next time they are in a store or online.

** The more hype you make, the more people will remember that the situation is still pretty grave and there is good reason to donate time, talents, and treasures to help in the recovery efforts. **    

2.1 A WORD ON THE PASTORAL CIRCLE: TAKING SERVICE TO THE NEXT LEVEL 

To understand the roots of a problem, it takes a combination of things—eyes to see the reality of a city stricken by institutionalized poverty and separated by race; ears to hear the stories of those living in the city who have been displaced or remained; hands to reach out to help rebuild, rethink, renew a city that is in need of justice. 

In the Ignatian spirituality and solidarity, we talk about faith that does justice, or simply “faithjustice”.  This is not a linear approach, but a cyclical approach to living.  We are always experiencing, reflecting, and doing—by acting we experience new things.  Then by reflecting on what the Good News of the Word of God tells us, we are called to act again, perhaps in new, deeper ways that will bring about a more just society—working to eliminate sinful social structures, respecting human dignity for all, and spreading the Gospel message of hope and solidarity with the poor.

This cycle—often called the Pastoral Circle or the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm—calls us to live more fully by accompanying the poor and marginalized in our society.  When we saw pictures and news footage of many people waiting to be rescued, sitting atop roofs or wading through dangerously filthy floodwater, our hearts were filled with compassion.  Many of us donated money, food, clothes, or toys.  Now we are planning to go to New Orleans to actually see the chaos and devastation firsthand, and to continue to serve.  But this compassion is nothing without justice.  What is justice?  We find justice rooted in the Bible, calling us to a radical departure from the individualism and consumerism of American culture that can close us off from our responsibilities as God’s people.

In the Old Testament, God commands the Israelites:

• to care for the orphan, widow, and foreigner (Dt. 10: 16-19);
• to forgive debts and give loans to the poor (Dt. 15:1-10);
• to not harvest the entire crop, but leave some grain in the field for the poor and the hungry (Dt. 24:19-21); and
• to not defraud a poor worker, whether immigrant or citizen (Dt. 24:14-15).
• In Isaiah 42:1-8, God has formed us for the victory of justice as a light to all.

In the New Testament, Jesus brings a renewed message of justice for the poor:

• The Story of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Lk. 16:19-31)
• The Beatitudes, lifting up the poor as blessed (Mt. 5:3-11)
• The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk. 10:25-37)

In Opting for the Poor: The Challenge for the 21st Century, Peter J. Henriot, SJ says:

Television has brought vivid images of domestic and global poverty into homes throughout North America.  But the television coverage of famine in Ethiopia or homelessness in [New Orleans] can be interrupted by pet food commercials or simply turned off by the dulled and frustrated viewer.  The reality of poverty goes relentlessly on, however.  And the response of the option for the poor becomes increasingly urgent.  The church is challenged severely by this option for the poor, in its identity and its mission.  The US bishops acknowledged this in a particularly strong statement in the Economic Pastoral: “A Christian cannot accept hunger, injustice, homelessness and insecurity in this country or anywhere in the world.  Christians must work to end them” (#27).Whichever way we may feel about the proper personal or political response to the problems of poverty, it is clear that the preferential option for the poor is central to the future of our church.  

So, we can see that we cannot just come to New Orleans without educating ourselves:

• What do God and the church say about where our priorities should lay in helping to rebuild New Orleans?
• Who actually are the poor?  What do they look like?  Where do they live?
• Where are socio-economic, political, and community structures of injustice occurring? 
• What historical trends have been occurring before Katrina made landfall?
• Why did different groups, institutions, and individuals respond as they did to the disaster?
• How did I contribute to the problems and the solutions?

Some other good resources about the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm:

• Mark Starkey. “Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm.”  Canisius College—Pymble, New South Wales, Australia.  Accessed at: http://loyola.jesuit.org.au/opif/ipp.html

• Hans Kolvenbach, SJ.  “Jesuit Education and Ignatian Pedagogy.”  Jesuit Distance Education Network of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities—Washington, DC.  Accessed at: http://www.ajcunet.edu/distanceeducation.aspx?bid=526  

2.2 REPORTS, PAPERS, AND ARTICLES ABOUT PRE-KATRINA NEW ORLEANS

The Brookings Institute—Metropolitan Policy Program:

Stunning Progress, Hidden Problems: The Dramatic Decline of Concentrated Poverty in the 1990s
By Paul A. Jargowsky; May 2003
http://www.brookings.edu/metro/publications/jargowskypoverty.htm 
There has been a large decrease in the population of high-poverty concentration areas in New Orleans.  In 1990 the average population in these areas was 165,751 and in 2000 only 108,419—a decrease of 57,332. This represents an 11.6% decrease in the concentrated poverty rate.

Back to Work in New Orleans
By Harry J. Holzer; October 2005
http://www.brookings.edu/metro/pubs/200510_backtowork.pdf
This article shows the difficulty the US Department of Labor was having getting young blacks into the workforce.  “Among young, black men in New Orleans aged 16-24 who were not enrolled in school, fully 40% were not even in the labor force in the year 2000—one of the worst rates of non-participation in the nation.”  

The Shape of the Curve: Household Income Distributions in U.S. Cities, 1979-1999
By Alan Berube and Thacher Tiffany; August 2004
http://www.brookings.edu/metro/pubs/20040803_income.htm
New Orleans ranked sixth in cities with the largest low-income shares in 1999 with 34.6% of households in this quintile.  New Orleans is a stressed city meaning that it has “at least twice as many households in the bottom two categories combined (lower-middle and middle-income) as in the top two categories combined (upper-middle and high-income).” 

The New Great Migration: Black Americans’ Return to the South, 1965-2000
By William H. Frey; May 2004
http://www.brookings.edu/metro/publications/20040524_frey.htm
Since 1965, blacks have continued to migrate out of Louisiana, despite a new trend of high black migration out of northern states and back into the southern states.  In the 1995-2000 period, Louisiana net loss of blacks due to migration was 18, 074 people.

Key Indicators of Entrenched Poverty (Pre-Katrina New Orleans Area)
Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program 2005
http://www.brookings.edu/metro/20050920_povertynumbers.pdf

Access to Cars in New Orleans
By Alan Berube (Brookings Institution) and Steven Raphael (UC-Berkeley)
http://www.brookings.edu/metro/20050915_katrinacarstables.pdf

Other Sources:

Crime and Economic Disparity in Pre-Katrina New Orleans
By Carson W. Maxwell; December 30, 2005
http://neworleans.indymedia.org/news/2005/12/6695.php
Some disturbing statistics here, including “the Orleans Parish Prison graduated more people with a General Equivalency Diploma (GED) than any other provider in the city.”

Google Earth’s Hurricane Katrina Imagery
http://earth.google.com/katrina.html
Some amazing before and after pictures of the New Orleans area to get a better idea of the
impact of the levee breaks.

Greater New Orleans Community Data Center—Pre-Katrina Information
http://www.gnocdc.org/
“We’ve got easy-to-use Census 2000 data for each neighborhood—including homeownership rate, poverty, occupations, and other demographics—as well as historical snapshots for each neighborhood, and Lower Ninth Ward residents’ explanations about the data for their neighborhood.”

Below you will find a list of executive summaries and links to other important articles, but this time about the post-Katrina outlook for New Orleans, the trends and statistics, and some of the major problems the city and its residents will be facing. 

Survey of Katrina Evacuees
The Washington Post, The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, and the Harvard School of Public Health.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/polls/katrina_poll091605.pdf
This survey of 680 randomly selected adult evacuees in Houston shelters was conducted September 10-12, 2005.  

Katrina Index: Tracking Variables of Post-Katrina Reconstruction
By Bruce Katz, Matt Fellowes, and Mia Mabanta of The Brookings Institution; February 2006.
http://www.brookings.edu/metro/pubs/200512_katrinaindex.htm
This is a report published monthly that sheds light on the most recent statistics regarding population, social services, unemployment and labor, and other general trends.  

Measuring Post-Katrina Progress—Katrina Issues and the Aftermath
The Brookings Institution—Metropolitan Policy Program
http://www.brookings.edu/metro/katrina.htm
This is the main Katrina site for the Katrina Index above.  It is very comprehensive, including sections on Re-Building the Gulf and Emergency Response (Housing Families Displaced by Katrina; Post-Katrina Housing Assistance; and Post-Katrina Recovery Update).   

Contractors in New Orleans Allowed to Violate Worker Safety Standards
Interfaith Worker Justice—Gulf Coast Commission on Reconstruction Equity; February 13, 2006
http://www.iwj.org/actnow/gccre/gccre_osha.html
The Department of Labor and OSHA have relaxed its safety standards and inspections, not forcing companies to comply with the basics such as “safety rules for worker training, protective equipment, and other safety measure, even while workers cleaned up hazardous and toxic materials in the Gulf Region.”  

Let King’s Legacy Inspire Renewal
From The New Orleans Times-Picayune; January 18, 2006
http://www.nola.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1137568110272460.xml?nola#continue
Musician and New Orleanian Wynton Marsalis spoke to students on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  He remarked: “Don't wish for someone else to do later what you can do now.”  

Goodbye, New Orleans: It’s Time We Stopped Pretending
By Mike Tidwell, Orion Magazine; December 2005
http://www.oriononline.org/pages/oo/sidebars/front/index_Tidwell.html
Important marshland that in the past has buffered New Orleans from huge tide surges of hurricanes is rapidly disappearing.  While politicians look to fix the human-made, structural flaws, like the levees, they are ignoring the real danger: the eroding natural environmental habitat that protects the inland areas.

A Failure of Initiative: Final Report of the Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina
U.S. House of Representatives; February 15, 2006
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/congress/index.html 
     
The Times-Picayune 2006 Mayoral Election Guide
http://www.nola.com/elections/ 
That’s right!  Despite less than half of the New Orleans’ population has not returned, the City of New Orleans will hold its Primary Election on April 22, 2006, and its General Election on May 20, 2006.  Check out all the latest in how the election will be run, who will get to vote, and who the candidates are for mayor.   

Hurricane Katrina: Social-Demographic Characteristics of Impacted Areas
Congressional Research Services (CRS) Report to Congress; November 4, 2005 
http://www.gnocdc.org/reports/crsrept.pdf

The Impact of Katrina: Race and Class in Storm-Damaged Neighborhoods
by John R. Logan, Professor at Brown University
http://www.s4.brown.edu/Katrina/report.pdf

Fights Between Texas, Louisiana Students Worsen
By The Associated Press, with Chris Duncan contributing; January 31, 2006
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Katrina-Congress.html
Cultural gaps between Katrina evacuees and Texas students continues to increase, as school fights, cafeteria riots, and arrests are occurring more frequently in middle and high schools there.  Principals and school officials are trying to establish peace- and community-building activities to bridge the cultural and social gap. 

Change is Mantra of Citizen Group
By Bruce Nolan of The Times-Picayune; February 12, 2006
http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-5/113973055622690.xml
The new Common Good Initiative hopes to end the racial tensions that have been part of the city’s past by bringing together city leaders, clergy, and non-profits groups. 

Prayer Modeled on Ignatian Themes from the Spiritual Exercises

Opening Song: Send Us Your Spirit, O God.

We see and consider the three persons of the Trinity, God our Creator, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, as they look lovingly upon our world.

We try to enter into the vision of our world as God sees it.

We see the destruction of this beautiful city, homes and churches and businesses filled with mold and debris, emptied of life.

We see the struggle that exists, the poverty, tiredness and despair of so many people.

We smell the dampness, mildew, and rot left by the floodwaters.

We hear the clanking of shovels and crowbars and the sounds of recovery – hammers, dump trucks, backhoes.  We also hear the intense quiet of school yards and darkened streets.

We feel the warmth of the New Orleans sun and the New Orleans people.

We see the governments of this city, state, and country, intended to build the common good, but often ineffective in meeting the people's basic human needs and leading them out of despair.

Within our vision are all the people of this city: men, women, children, and all the colors and shades of humanity.

Some are disabled, crippled. Some are strong and whole. Some are newborn, while others are old and diminishing.  Some are in suits, others in dirty work clothes

We see them all...those filled with tears, those overjoyed with happiness, those experiencing total alienation.

We see emptied communities and neighborhoods.

We see the exiled and homeless, some in the city, others scattered throughout the country

We envision within our hearts God's great love and compassion for all.

We imagine this love as it moves slowly, tenderly over the darkness of this city and its people.

Through this love the force of God's powerful Spirit is ignited.

It is time, time for God to act, to rescue us from our blindness and self destruction, to bring us to fulfillment.

God's plan, secret and mysterious, is about to be brought forth.

We stay with God's vision as we listen to the prophet Ezekiel (36:25-28)
I shall pour clean water over you, and you will be cleansed.
I shall cleanse you of all your defilement and all your idols.
I shall give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you.
I shall remove the heart of stone from your bodies and give you a heart of flesh instead.
I shall put my spirit in you and make you keep my laws and sincerely respect my observances.
You will live in the land which I gave your ancestors.
You shall be my people, and I will be your God.
— This is the Word of the LORD.

Spontaneous Prayers of the Faithful and Faith Sharing; Respond to these prayers:
"Draw us to compassion and solidarity."

Our Father

Closing Song: Let Us Build the City of God

The following are a few reflections on Catholic Social Teaching.  Sometimes, in the chaos after major disasters and transformations, we do not know who to listen to or where to turn.  Following the teachings of the Church, listening to the Gospel, and entering into community as humble servants can help us to understand where the priorities of rebuilding New Orleans should be placed. Use these passages from Papal Encyclicals, the Catechism, and the Bible to reflect on our role in the clean-up.  Where are we called to serve?  What will we change?

JUST WAGES: Who should get jobs in New Orleans first?  What implications does a just wage carry with it? 

Among the most important duties of employers, the principal one is to give all workers what is justly due them. Assuredly, to establish a rule of pay in accord with justice, many factors must be taken into account. But, in general, the rich and employers must remember that no laws, either human or divine, permit them for their own profit to oppress the needy and the wretched or to seek gain from another’s want. To defraud anyone of the wage due him or her is a great crime that calls down avenging wrath from Heaven: Behold, the wages of the laborers . . . which have been kept back by you unjustly, cry out: and their cry has entered into the ears of the Lord of Hosts (Jas 5:4).
Rerum Novarum, #20 

JUSTICE vs. CHARITY: What is the difference between the two?  How is love bound up with justice?  Imagine a New Orleans with no justice and little love.  Now picture the opposite.  Was both love and justice present in your work and experiences today?

Our relationship to our neighbor is bound up with our relationship to God; our response to the love of God, saving us through Christ, is shown to be effective in his love and service of people.

Christian love of neighbor and justice cannot be separated. For love implies an absolute demand for justice, namely a recognition of the dignity and rights of one's neighbor. Justice attains its inner fullness only in love. Because every person is truly a visible image of the invisible God and a sibling of Christ, the Christian finds in every person God himself and God's absolute demand for justice and love.
Justice in the World, #34

THE DIMENSIONS OF JUSTICE: Which type(s) of justice is/are missing in New Orleans?  Which type(s) have you seen present?  How can you personally change the situation to bring about a New Orleans where all three are flourishing?

Biblical justice is the goal we strive for. ... These norms state the minimum levels of mutual care and respect that all persons owe to each other in an imperfect world. Catholic social teaching, like much philosophical reflection, distinguishes three dimensions of basic justice: commutative justice, distributive justice, and social justice.

Commutative justice calls for fundamental fairness in all agreements and exchanges between individuals or private social groups. ...

Distributive justice requires that the allocation of income, wealth, and power in society be evaluated in light of its effects on persons whose basic material needs are unmet. ...

Social justice implies that persons have an obligation to be active and productive participants in the life of society and that society has a duty to enable them to participate in this way.   
  Economic Justice for All, #68-71

UNCOMFORTABLE WITH BEING COMFORTABLE: Is it possible to live our lives as if Katrina never happened?  How many friends and family members do you know that have seemed to lose touch with Katrina?  How can you get them (and yourselves) to be uncomfortable with being comfortable?

No one may claim the name of Christian and be comfortable in the face of hunger, homelessness, insecurity, and injustice found in this country and the world.
  Economic Justice for All, #27

ORGANIZED SOCIAL RESPONSE: What has been the response to Katrina in the past month in the world in which you live?  At school?  At work?  At home?  At Church?  Are people still organizing like they did a month after Katrina?  Why or why not?  Why does it seem that society moves on so quickly to forget about the poor, oppressed, and marginalized?

Every citizen also has the responsibility to work to secure justice and human rights through an organized social response. In the words of Pius XI, "Charity will never be true charity unless it takes justice into account ... Let no one attempt with small gifts of charity to exempt himself from the great duties imposed by justice" [71]. The guaranteeing of basic justice for all is not an optional expression of largesse but an inescapable duty for the whole of society. 
Economic Justice for All, #120

Statement of Rev. Fred Kammer, S.J., Provincial of New Orleans Province of the Jesuits
September 23, 2005

My name is Father Fred Kammer, SJ, and I am a native of New Orleans.   From 1992 to 2001, I was the president of Catholic Charities USA.  In 2002, I became the provincial superior of the New Orleans Province of the Society of Jesus.  In this capacity I am responsible for the leadership of the 240 Jesuits in six states of the South and Southwest.  Sixty-five of those Jesuits, including me, live and work in New Orleans.  This includes forty Jesuits who lead and help staff Loyola University, Jesuit High School, Immaculate Conception and Holy Name parishes, and our provincial offices.  Twenty-five other Jesuits live in our retirement community on the West Bank.  In New Orleans we also sponsor the work of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, Boys Hope Girls Hope, the Tompson Center for service to the homeless poor, Café Reconcile for employment training and economic development, and Good Shepherd Nativity School for inner-city youth. 

In the past three weeks since Hurricane Katrina we have been amazed at the wonderful outpouring of generosity from people across the nation and around the world.  Jesuit high schools and universities all across the country have reached out to accept our New Orleans high school and university students into their ranks.  Jesuit communities and provinces have sent donations.  Generous friends have sent financial gifts and many have offered to come to our region to assist in relief efforts.  We are deeply grateful for this generosity as a sign of the common humanity which we all share and the faith that calls forth love for those in need. 

Hurricane Katrina was an unprecedented natural disaster.  But it also brought to light in stark contours the human disaster of poverty in our region.  One cannot consider the fact that 27.9% of New Orleanians lived in poverty or that 100,000 people did not have access to an automobile to flee this terrible storm without realizing that something was terribly wrong with our society.  This is all the more acutely true when we realize that in June 2002, the New Orleans Times Picayune had a three-day series of stories on what would happen to the city in the event of the storm that everyone has called “the big one” when a natural disaster encountered the human disaster of so much poverty for so many people.  Yet, little was done by any of us to change what inevitably happened. 

Instead our nation continued twenty-five years of spending priorities that have ignored the declining state of our infrastructure—including flood control and levees—in the interest of exorbitant tax cuts, unwise defense spending, and other special interests.   During this time it seems that our political leaders were so concerned about their own interests and views that they ignored the very basic needs of the poor.  The images of those left behind by Hurricane Katrina cannot be ignored.  So what do we need to do now as a region and as a nation? 

In the short-term, besides the wonderful generosity of individuals, churches, and others, dislocated families need the support of municipalities, states, and the federal government to get through the coming weeks, months, and even years.  They specifically need to be able to meet basic family survival needs through expanded Unemployment Insurance, Disaster Unemployment Insurance, Food Stamps, WIC, subsidized housing for poor families and elderly people, and Medicaid. 

For the longer term, we should remember the statement of the U.S. bishops in their 1986 pastoral letter Economic Justice for All that the first line of defense against poverty is a decent job paying a decent family wage.  Across the world New Orleans has been known as a wonderful place for tourists to visit—a place for delicious food, great music, and a good time.  The underside of a city whose primary business is tourism is that the jobs of so many of its people are minimum wage jobs washing dishes, making beds, cleaning hotel rooms, and waiting tables.  It is well known that the U.S. minimum wage is not enough to raise a family out of poverty.  And so tens of thousands of the people of our region lived in poverty, as do tens of millions all over the country.  When you mix poverty with hurricanes, the combination is deadly.  As the Catholic bishops stated last week:  In the aftermath of the storm, people not only lost their homes, they lost their work and their ability to support their families.  Recovery requires more than food, water, and a place to live, but also a chance to make a contribution, to have decent work, wages, and working conditions. 

To make decent jobs with decent pay a reality for the New Orleans of the next six months and the next six years, we need the political will and the legal assurance that people doing the rebuilding:

• Are paid a living wage and not just a minimum wage for the work they do.
• Are people from the New Orleans and Gulf Coast region, rather than workers brought in from other parts of the country.
• Are provided the job training and retraining to help them—especially the young—to access the thousands of jobs that will be needed to rebuild our city and the region.  

There are already many different governmental, corporate, and community entities planning for how to rebuild the areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina.   I believe there is a particular role for the faith-based community in insuring that this reconstruction is done in a way that insures that the poorest families are included in the recovery of their own communities.  I urge leaders of churches, synagogues, mosques, and other faith communities to join together to see that the demands of justice are not overlooked as the areas and lives impacted by the storm begin to rebuild. 

There is much else that will need to be done to heal the wounds of the natural and human disasters which we have watched unfold in the past three weeks.  We will need to insure that schools teach, that those in political office serve their communities before all other interests, that reconstruction resources are targeted to the common good and to those most in need, and that all of us recognize the lingering chasm that racism has created in our nation and respond to it in ways that reach across all the divisions that separate us. 

In the midst of the horror of these weeks, we have seen great generosity and heroism in service to people in need.  Now, we will need the same courage and generosity for the years of rebuilding that lie ahead.

Post-Article Reflection:

• Since the time of this letter, written in September 2005, what do we need to do now as a region and a nation?  Have priorities changed? 
• What does the Church tell us?  What does the government tell us?  What do business owners tell us?  What do the people you are serving here tell you? 
• Do different groups have different priorities?  How do we reconcile the differences? 
• Who is really listening to the victims of pre- and post-Katrina poverty?

So you are back on campus, and you may be wondering, what now?  What does all this pain and suffering, joy and gratitude, hope and love, injustice and violence mean?  Can I do anything to keep it from occurring?  Here are some tips:

TIP ONE: KEEP DONATING

There are so many ways to donate financially to really improve the lives and ministries of the people along the Gulf Coast.  These are just a few to consider.

• The Fr. Pedro Arrupe Fund, The Jesuits of the New Orleans Province

This fund will support the storm-related needs of the New Orleans Province and its apostolates— e.g., the rebuilding of Immaculate Conception Rectory, the Province offices, and Jesuit High New Orleans—so that we can continue to serve our communities. Some of these places suffered losses in the millions of dollars.

• The St. Peter Claver Fund, The Jesuits of the New Orleans Province

This fund is directed to services to the poor and homeless in their post-hurricane needs through such affiliated apostolates as the Tompson Homeless Shelter, Good Shepherd Nativity School, the Thensted Center, and Café Reconcile. You can help the Jesuits help others by supporting these works. In years to come, these ministries will continue to be providing hope for the poor — so that they may rebuild their lives with dignity.

• The American Red Cross (www.redcross.org) In response to the devastation caused by recent disasters, retail stores, banks and internet sites nationwide are showing their support of American Red Cross disaster relief efforts by making it easy for their customers to pitch in. Through the "Your Help Counts" customer donation program, customers at participating locations can conveniently make cash donations, during their everyday errands, in support of those affected by disasters to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund or International Response Fund. You can view the list online at the website: www.redcross.org/sponsors/yhc.html

• Catholic Charities USA (www.catholiccharitiesusa.org) is an organization dedicated to providing services and financial support in the Catholic Community.  They have a specialized page that explains more about their Hurricane Katrina response which can be accessed at: http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/news/HurricaneRelief05.cfm

TIP TWO: SPREAD THE WORD

It is really important when you get back to your campus, high school, church, or community, to take the time to share:

• your thoughts and reflections,
• your discussions and activities,
• and your pictures and mementos. 

Have some fun while you give presentations, do community awareness campaigns, write editorials, or  fundraise: Maybe even throw in a Mardi Gras themed party or have a pot luck with traditional New Orleans Cajun foods, like jambalaya, gumbo, red beans and rice, po’ boys, catfish, or café au lait and beignets. 

You could even make an online Wishlist through Target or The Home Depot and have people donate supplies the next time they are in one of those stores or online.

The more hype you make, the more people will remember that the situation is still pretty grave and there is good reason to donate time, talents, and treasures to help in the recovery efforts.

TIP THREE: HOLD YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES ACCOUNTABLE

These are some of the bills related to Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts that are still pending in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives. 

You can continually update yourself by accessing the most up-to-date information through the Library of Congress’ Search Engine found at: thomas.loc.gov   Just type in the bill number (i.e. H.R.3894, S.2088, etc.) and the information will appear.  Here is a sampling of bills to pay attention to:

• H.R.1461 — Federal Housing Finance Reform Act of 2005 
• Goal: To reform the regulation of certain housing-related Government-sponsored enterprises, and for other purposes.  Includes provision targeting affordable housing funds to areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
• Last Major Action: Referred to Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on 31 October 2005

• H.R.4514 — Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Recovery Homesteading Act of 2005
• Goal: To assist low-income families, displaced from their residences in the States of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi as a result of Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita, by establishing within H.U.D. a homesteading initiative that offers displaced low-income families the opportunity to purchase a home owned by the Federal Government, and for other purposes.
• Last Major Action: Referred to House Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity on 10 January 2006

• S.2172 — Hurricane Katrina Response Act of 2005
• Goal: To provide for response to Hurricane Katrina by establishing a Louisiana Recovery Corporation, providing for housing and community rebuilding, and for other purposes.
• Last Major Action: Referred to Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on 21 December 2005

There have also been several bills that were passed and written into law.  These are referred to as Public Laws (P.L.s), but also have the original bill number when it was introduced into the House and/or Senate.  These include:

• P.L. 109-73 / H.R.3768 — Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act of 2005

• P.L. 109-135 / H.R. 4440 — Gulf Opportunity Zone Act of 2005

• P.L. 109-148 / H.R. 2863 — Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2005  (Division B of bill contains $29bn in emergency supplemental appropriations relating to Katrina.)

To learn about what some interest groups have to say about the proposed bills and enacted laws go to:

• NETWORK: A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
  “Responding to Hurricane Katrina.”
  http://www.networklobby.org/issues/katrina_budget1.htm

• National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy
  “Katrina: Congress’ Piecemeal Response—A review of Post-Katrina legislative responses.”
  http://www.ncrp.org/katrina-congress_piecemeal_response.asp

• National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders
  “More than 50 bills Introduced in Congress to Assist Hurricane Victims.”
  http://www.naahl.org/jsps/news/whats_new_detail.jsp?nid=9973

TIP FOUR: PRAY AND KEEP IN TOUCH

When you get back, praying in all its forms can help you to always be mindful of the blessings you each have received and to ask God for fortitude in the challenging months ahead.  Also, remember the victims and the survivors of Hurricane Katrina when prayer intentions are verbalized in a group meeting, at church, etc.  It will make people who have not thought about the situation in New Orleans mindful again and more prayers will continue to flow.

Keep in touch with the people you have met down in New Orleans, and keep your promises to them if you made any—they may be depending on you.  Everyone needs support and encouragement: from the residents you work with on clean-up to the people who are helping coordinate your service/immersion experience. 

Also keep in touch with those in your group.  They can help you to readjust when you get back home.  Have a post-service reflection and gathering to process the trip and to start awareness planning.  Your trip companions will be your support network.

TIP FIVE: TAKING IT LOCAL—EXPERIENCE, REFLECTION, ACTION

Many residents of New Orleans want those who live in other cities to think about how their city could be affected by a severe natural disaster like Hurricane Katrina.  Who would be left behind?  Where in the city would people go for shelter?  Continue the Pastoral Circle, applying it to your own community.  Once you are back, try hooking up with a local service agency to begin volunteering at home too.  Once you understand the unjust structures in place in your own city you can be better work to change them.  Remember: Experience.  Reflect.  Act.