The Big Easy II: Community Spirit in the Lower Ninth Ward
New Orleans is back - there can be no doubt about it. Everywhere construction is taking place, restoring the city to its former glory following the destruction of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. As we explored in our first article, most visitors will focus on the traditional tourist areas around the French Quarter and Canal Street in Downtown New Orleans. Even in those key neighborhoods, we argued, alternative visitor experiences are possible and highly rewarding. Yet given the impact of destruction by Katrina almost 6 years ago and the enormous community response since then, hardly any neighborhood visit in New Orleans could be more sobering yet uplifting and enriching than to the Lower Ninth Ward. For that reason we would like to take a closer look at a day out in the ward not involving "sighseeing" or tourist activities but rather charity work, community spirit and being part of grassroots movements in the neighborhood.
The Lower Ninth Ward, historically plantation land closest geographically to the mouth of the Mississippi River, has traditionally always been among New Orleans' poorest and most challenged neighborhoods. It comprises the districts of Lower Nine and Holy Cross, both administrative voting districts since the 19th century. It was here that destruction from Hurricane Katrina in 2005 was the worst. Not only did incessant storm winds and downpours ravage the area, but a barge hit a nearby protective levy, some argue it happened on purpose, with the swollen surge of water freely pouring into what has always been at -10 ft. among the lowest-lying neighborhoods of New Orleans. The devastation was complete and deadly. Many residents died as a result of the sudden, unexpected flood waters, while others saught refuge on their roof tops but saw slow only slow responses in emergency and rescue aid from official sources. Even at this critical stage, it was the local residents of the Lower Ninth Ward, who took matters into their own hands by going around by boat rescuing up to 500 mostly elderly victims trapped in the attics of their houses threatened by ever-rising flood waters. Even the highest point in the Lower Ninth registered a water level of almost 1 meter. Nothing and nobody here escaped the destruction of Katrina and subsequent flooding.
Once the flood waters susided, the true scope of devastation became obvious with 100% of the houses destroyed. In December 2005 volunteers began gutting the first houses. By January 2006 the Lower Ninth Ward remained the only district of New Orleans where former residents were not allowed yet to return to live, as basic utilities and services had not been restored yet. The neighborhood also remained under curfews for 6 more months following the hurricane. Since then, local residents have increasingly turned disillusioned with official responses to the devastation and started taking matters into their own hands. Among the more publicized efforts, in late 2007 the Make It Right Project under the help of actor Brad Pitt helped build 150 subsidized sustainable, earth-friendly homes in the area. By early 2008, the non-profit home builder Build Now helped rebuild numerous neighborhood homes & bring families back. Yet nowhere has the exodus of local residents been greater than here with only 20% of the previous inhabitants returning, which brings the current population to only 1300 for an area covering 2 x 1.5 miles. For that reason, many more grassroots organizations have poured in trying to help rebuild this part of New Orleans, among them lowernine.org, which we turned to for our own contribution to the community spirit of the Lower Ninth Ward.
Lowernine.org (see their website) is a grassroots movement that helps rebuild the neighborhood by concerted community efforts in several areas of the Lower Ninth Ward, including gutting, minor demolition, gardening, painting and blight management. The latter involves creating charts for each of the streets in the area, recording the current state for each of the properties by street number. Often the street numbers had to be painted onto the street, as divisions between properties could no longer be seen following the destruction, making real estate transactions for this neighborhood a highly divisive and often disputed affair. Where property divisions are clear, however, property may then be categorized as "inhabited" or "deserted", in "good" "medium" or "poor" state, with the lawn "overgrown" or "cut" and the property for residential or commercial use. Blight management may thus help statistics for the area in rebuilding efforts.
By carrying out charity work as part of lowernine.org, the community response by locals was overwhelming and heart-warming, with residents approaching us to thank us for our contributions. During our day of outreach in the Lower Ninth, we also talked to representatives of yet another grassroots movement, OUR SCHOOL AT BLAIR GROCERIES, dedicated to sustainable and environmentally stable farming and community building. Their regular Growing Power Workshops are an important tool in helping empower and educate locals and particularly future generations in creating communities in tune with the environment. As their mission statement on their website (schoolatblairgrocery.blogspot.com) points out: "CREATING A RESOURCE RICH SAFE SPACE FOR YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. WE ENVISION A COMMUNITY WHERE EMPOWERED YOUTH ENGAGE IN REFLECTIVE PRACTICE WITH OTHERS TO ACTUALIZE EFFECTIVE, REPLICABLE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE BASED LOCAL SOLUTIONS TO GLOBAL CHALLENGES." They also have a Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/OSBGNOLA with regular updates on their community-based workshops and rebuilding efforts.
Work in the Lower Ninth Ward is far from over and the community spirit of locals and volunteers alike is what truly moves New Orleans forward and will create a better community. The sense of community here may only be comparable to that of New York City following 9/11, but feels more long-lasting and sustained here. For that reason, I cannot wait to return to further contribute to rebuilding not just houses and homes, but what is poised to become a unique experiment of a sustainable, critically reflective urban community.
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