Displaced New Orleans' Residents Opportunities to Reinvent Themselves

[McGyver]

As many of you have observed in media coverage, there has been a tremendous outpouring of federal and private funds to assist those displaced by Hurricane Katrina. I identify three (3) phases: 1) Acute response and rescue (nearly complete); 2) Interim management of displaced and affected residents (up to 3 mo); and 3) Long term rebuilding and reintroduction of the displaced populace into society (up to 3 years).

In this discussion, I am most interested in #3 - regarding reintroduction and "reinventing" of those most severely affected by the disaster. The plight of the poor in New Orleans can be summed up in a quote from a Black woman displaced by the disaster:

"I had nothing before Katrina hit, and now I have less."

Clearly her sentiments reflect the dismal living conditions that the poor and many Blacks faced in the region. My perspective of their plight today, however, is that their outlook may have never looked better!

Opportunities of a lifetime for work and self-improvement may come out of this disaster. Displaced residents with no home or job will likely be provided unprescendented opportunities not seen since the great depression, with extensive federal and private works and educational resources. The solution, however, is not how MUCH money is spent on the disaster, rather, WHAT new training and opportunities for work become available. Those most affected will have the opportunity of a lifetime to "reinvent themselves."

Katrina victims will need to reassess their lives and choose where they want to be with their lives. Resources should be prentiful for 1 to 3 years - and they need guidance and structure on how to best utilize these opportunities. This way - we're not simply throwing around money, we're investing in our people, which will pay dividends down the road.

When reinventing oneself - one must believe there are no barriers, no limits - only those one chooses to impose and adopt!

I hope viewers won't dismiss this as some kind of "liberal proposal," rather, view it as a sensable solution to a serious and lonstanding problem - brought to the forefront by Hurricane Katrina.

I'd appreciate other's thoughts and suggestions on the above.

[Dark Mind]

I fully agree that the people will be given opportunities. I don't think that they will be "unprecedented" though . While they have fallen victim to a life altering catastrophe, our government will probably try to provide just the bare minimum that they think they will be able to get away with while trying to stay on friendly terms with the American people. Employers in the nearby areas are probably already preparing themselves for an onslaught of hopeful employees, and with such a diverse and plentiful group to choose from they will probably seek only the best (Highly trained, most knowledgable, most experienced, etc.). Employers will be just as ruthless as our own government, they are both in it to make money after all. They are also both going to try to come out of it in the best light possible...

Welcome to commercialism ...

[Buffy]

The Wall Street Journal had facinating article on 9/8 entitled "Old-Line Families Escape Worst of Flood And Plot the Future" which quoted one of the rich folk who escaped town, James Reiss saying that the place has to be made, uh, "better": "Those who want to see this city rebuilt want to see it done in a completely different way: demographically, geographically and politically.....I'm not just speaking for myself here. The way we've been living is not going to happen again, or we're out." As the WSJ explains, "the new city must be very different ... with better services and fewer poor people." I wonder which people are not going to be invited back....

Cheers,
Buffy

[Dark Mind]

Oh, oh. Choose me! I know. ...I think.

Is it these people? :
"I had nothing before Katrina hit, and now I have less."

That's really messed up, but since I don't think they'll be checking to make sure you RSVP'd before you can enter again that it will be much of a problem .

[Buffy]

Its of course quite likely that even with the mortgage relief thats being voted in, that many poor folks will lose their property outright which will get gobbled up by speculators, and the rest of the "poor areas" will get grabbed through eminent domain actions, which the courts have been increasingly approving even if the result is that the government just hands it over to private developers for a song. I suspect that NO will look *nothing* like it does now, and the vast majority of the old ghetto parts of the city will be outright leveled, and rapidly gentrified....it will give new meaning to the concept "urban renewal"....

Cheers,
Buffy

[Dark Mind]

There's a possibilty I hadn't thought about and a bit of information I hadn't known .

I guess they are going to need that RSVP after all...

[McGyver]

First, we need to point out that most of the homes in the affected flood area will likely be leveled to the ground, and tons of soil removed - and may happen before residents can reclaim any more personal belongings - as such are contaminated.

Second, I was down in NO in April with family and friends, and became upset over the living conditions of the local poor and Blacks. I elected NOT to donate my money to the wealthy Catholic church down in the French Quarter, and instead, held on to a handful of singles to give to locals who were performing novelty tricks, dance, etc. After giving a few dollars to a young Black kid, I was nearly mobbed by a few adults for the remaining cash in my hand. One gentleman seemed in so much desperation - as if he were a starving animal, and I then lectured a few in my group HOW NO could allow people to live in such desperate conditions. I was told the typical response, "They've got opportunities." I continued my lecturing on philanthropy and concern for human rights. I'm not sure if I got through. But now I believe what I observed and spoke of happened for a reason, and perhaps even a little prophecy.

For fun in California, and in the spirit of continuing my musical pursuits, I am active in "drum circles" and musical percussion. There is corroborative research to support rhythm and drum circles' role in mental health and wellness. I also had to "reinvent myself" 13 years ago after a brain injury and 5 surgeries, and music became a great resource and outlet leading to much of what I've accomplished today. Adversity strengthened my resolve and faith, and creating and responding to music certainly expanded my cognitive skills and well being.

Today, when I play the "djembe" (African drum) in front of large crowds - I often become the focus of interest to listeners, where Black and Latino listeners turn estatic. Their eyes light up, bringing smiles and dancing, and cell phone calls too. Some even ask to play. I remain surprised at how few know the djembe comes from Africa, and dates back more than 1500 years.

So I propose that those of us in music and drumming put on a large coordinated drum circle for displaced residents. Drum and percussion intruments and facilitators could be brought in from companies such as Remo (www.remo.com) and others, and hurricane victims would have the chance to play and express themselves through rhythm. It could be coordinated simultaneously through satelite TV from various locations and broadcast on network TV. You haven't heard music until you've heard the orchestral play of coordinated percussion. It's one of the oldest forms of non-verbal communication. Arthur Hull, of Santa Cruz, CA, is one of the founding fathers of modern drum circles, and remains a well known facilitator today.

[McGyver]

Bush's Presidential address this evening seemed to suggest that New Orleans could, as I envisioned, receive (Rosevelt) type of jobs relief which I wrote about earier in this thread. News coverage today state that 75% of the re-building effort would come from outside of the state of Louisiana, and that angered area business people.

Can anyone veriify the rebuilding sources?

I also wrote on environmental and health safety concerns facing New Orleans on the Earth Science section of this forum. You may want to refer to this thread.

[Tormod]

Originally Posted by McGyver

For fun in California, and in the spirit of continuing my musical pursuits, I am active in "drum circles" and musical percussion.

<shameless plug>
Hey McGyver, did you notice my Musicians for Katrina Relief CD project thread? We still need a few preorders before we can start pressing CDs.
</shameless plug>

[McGyver]

Tormod:

Thanks for the music CD link. I will look into this tomorrow.