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I am the volunteer coordinator for St. Rose Outreach and Recovery, where a team from Mile High Youth Corps has been working and living for the past month. I just wanted to write to let you know how wonderful the group has been. In the past we have had a few issues with some of our previous NASCC teams, and so we actually were a little worried about the arrival of the
We will miss the entire team and all their contributions - as I mentioned, we are very sad they are leaving and do wish they could stay. Thanks so much for putting this team together. They are welcome to come back at any time!
Best,
Volunteer Coordinator
After getting to know the Mile High Youth Corps over the past month, I want to say thank you for sending them to us down here at St. Rose Outreach and Recovery in Bay St. Louis. Over the past month, they've done everything we've asked of them and more. No matter what the project, whether it is painting walls, scraping floors, or installing cabinets, they've worked diligently and without complaint. Around the St. Augustine Retreat Center
I've been here on the Coast for over 15 months helping restore my hometown and helping coordinate the 2000 volunteers that have worked with St. Rose. The Mile High Youth Corps stands out among all those groups. Their upbeat presence breathed new life for our long term volunteers (myself included) and that presence will be missed. Each member stood out in his or her own way to improve this life here, whether it was helping load furniture at 8 in the evening, plan a retreat center wide capture the flag game or calling us for basketball games. Thank you so much for sending them to us.
Thanks once again for sending the Mile High Youth Corps to us. In many ways, they embody our ideal volunteers: committed, hard working and easily satisfied. This group understands the meaning of service, that the needs of the residents come first and the needs of volunteers come second. It's that spirit of service that makes my job as site director a pleasure. I wish them the best and would love to host another Mile High Youth Corps team again.
Sincerely,
Beau Saccoccia
Site Director
St. Rose Outreach and Recovery
I've been here on the Coast for over 15 months helping restore my hometown and helping coordinate the 2000 volunteers that have worked with St. Rose. The Mile High Youth Corps stands out among all those groups. Their upbeat presence breathed new life for our long term volunteers (myself included) and that presence will be missed. Each member stood out in his or her own way to improve this life here, whether it was helping load furniture at 8 in the evening, plan a retreat center wide capture the flag game or calling us for basketball games. Thank you so much for sending them to us.
Thanks once again for sending the Mile High Youth Corps to us. In many ways, they embody our ideal volunteers: committed, hard working and easily satisfied. This group understands the meaning of service, that the needs of the residents come first and the needs of volunteers come second. It's that spirit of service that makes my job as site director a pleasure. I wish them the best and would love to host another Mile High Youth Corps team again.
Sincerely,
Beau Saccoccia
Site Director
Ok, so I am sure some of you have heard, but just incase you haven't, we play a lot of Basketball.
Our first day here we got straight served by the West Seneca Crew - but now, after a month of hard work and training it's time for some pay back.
Every day after working 8 or 9 hours here in the gulf, we have been hitting the courts in preparation for tonight's rematch.
I know all you folks at home wish you could be here to cheer us on to victory - but we will make sure you all get updates on the score!
(hope you enjoyed the silly post - this is what I do when I need a break from the mountain of exit paperwork I am knocking out)
When I initially came down to the Gulf Coast, I was unprepared for the devastation that I would face. Some places have not changed since the day after Katrina. I had heard that everything moves a bit slower in the South, but this was a bit out of control. I am a naturally impatient person so the culture clash was soon in coming. I came here with the idea that I would teach others about how things should be done. Conservation of resources, 50 hour work weeks, 20 minute lunches, and making the job and its completion your number one priority at all times. I came with the intention to teach; instead I was taught and this is what I learned.
I learned why things move slower in the South. It is because people value conversations, and people care about people. I mean truly care. Ordering in a restaurant often turned into a ten minute experience. It was not that the people did not want to serve me, it was because they wanted to know about me. "Where I was from? Who I was with?, What was I doing?" Question after question. Often times I would come to the end of the conversation and find that I had forgotten what I wanted. I quickly found out that it is always best to ask for a reccomendation. They would know what's good, right.
On the flip side of the coin, I learned that everyone here has a story to tell. You just have to stop and listen. I learned more about some people in fifteen minutes, than I knew about folks I had known my whole life. Coming from a fast paced, commuter, consumer, cash driven world, it was refreshing to stop and listen. It was equally wonderful to be asked how my day was, and know that the person asking really wanted to know how I felt.
I learned that a person is judged by the way he treats others. Not on his possessions, education, or position. I was judged strictly based upon the fact that I had come here to help. Folks could care less about the kind of car I drive, the degrees I had, or how many zero's are in my paycheck. When everything is taken from you in a storm, who you are is defined by whom you love.
The communities are the real deal here. They are a family and everyone helps out. I saw this expressed everyday at lunch in Pearlington. The five of us would show up, covered in dust, and be welcomed in to the feast that had been prepared. I watched Atheists eat with Presbyterians; Mennonites with Baptists; and all colors of the racial rainbow rubbing elbows in line for fried catfish. All of us eating together, sharing stories and laughs, as the amazing people of the church would bring in dish after dish. With open arms we were welcomed and loved. All because we took the time to serve and to listen. My hope is that I could do the same in Colorado.
I also learned that there is still work to be done here. People will need a helping hand for many years to come. It is starting to return to a better place already. Every morning the sun rises on the ocean and every night it sets on that same ocean. I was changed in many ways while I was down here, and I owe a large debt the beautiful people I met here in MS or across the way in LA. Maybe it was Ms. Jonnie B. whose house we tried so hard to finish; or George who we met in NOLA right after the tornadoes whose home had been destroyed, but his smile never quit. Maybe it was all the people who would stop and shake my hand and say thank you. Or it was the other volunteers who served along side me. Maybe it was the way that people listened when I spoke and hugged me when they wanted to. Maybe it was the 4 little puppies we took to an animal shelter or our neighbor Dewit who would let us use his water and electricity so we could work late. Everyone taught me more than they will ever know and I pray that someday I can repay the debt. It will be nice to know that even after I return home, the same sun that rises and sets for me, is rising and setting for my new family here.
"I came here to teach & I was taught.
I came here to help & my soul was healed
I came here knowing who I am & left knowing who I wanted to become
I came here with a head full of ideas & I left with a heart full of stories"
-bl
I learned why things move slower in the South. It is because people value conversations, and people care about people. I mean truly care. Ordering in a restaurant often turned into a ten minute experience. It was not that the people did not want to serve me, it was because they wanted to know about me. "Where I was from? Who I was with?, What was I doing?" Question after question. Often times I would come to the end of the conversation and find that I had forgotten what I wanted. I quickly found out that it is always best to ask for a reccomendation. They would know what's good, right.
On the flip side of the coin, I learned that everyone here has a story to tell. You just have to stop and listen. I learned more about some people in fifteen minutes, than I knew about folks I had known my whole life. Coming from a fast paced, commuter, consumer, cash driven world, it was refreshing to stop and listen. It was equally wonderful to be asked how my day was, and know that the person asking really wanted to know how I felt.
I learned that a person is judged by the way he treats others. Not on his possessions, education, or position. I was judged strictly based upon the fact that I had come here to help. Folks could care less about the kind of car I drive, the degrees I had, or how many zero's are in my paycheck. When everything is taken from you in a storm, who you are is defined by whom you love.
The communities are the real deal here. They are a family and everyone helps out. I saw this expressed everyday at lunch in Pearlington. The five of us would show up, covered in dust, and be welcomed in to the feast that had been prepared. I watched Atheists eat with Presbyterians; Mennonites with Baptists; and all colors of the racial rainbow rubbing elbows in line for fried catfish. All of us eating together, sharing stories and laughs, as the amazing people of the church would bring in dish after dish. With open arms we were welcomed and loved. All because we took the time to serve and to listen. My hope is that I could do the same in Colorado.
I also learned that there is still work to be done here. People will need a helping hand for many years to come. It is starting to return to a better place already. Every morning the sun rises on the ocean and every night it sets on that same ocean. I was changed in many ways while I was down here, and I owe a large debt the beautiful people I met here in MS or across the way in LA. Maybe it was Ms. Jonnie B. whose house we tried so hard to finish; or George who we met in NOLA right after the tornadoes whose home had been destroyed, but his smile never quit. Maybe it was all the people who would stop and shake my hand and say thank you. Or it was the other volunteers who served along side me. Maybe it was the way that people listened when I spoke and hugged me when they wanted to. Maybe it was the 4 little puppies we took to an animal shelter or our neighbor Dewit who would let us use his water and electricity so we could work late. Everyone taught me more than they will ever know and I pray that someday I can repay the debt. It will be nice to know that even after I return home, the same sun that rises and sets for me, is rising and setting for my new family here.
"I came here to teach & I was taught.
I came here to help & my soul was healed
I came here knowing who I am & left knowing who I wanted to become
I came here with a head full of ideas & I left with a heart full of stories"
-bl
- Mood:
impressed
Today all 10 of us got to work together in New Orleans. Our original plan was to participate in KABOOM!- which is huge group of volunteers building playgrounds at elementary schools. they had an awesome turnout today and we spent most of our morning building jungle gyms and picnic tables. Unfortunately for several of us there was a much bigger need screaming for help....as we watched homeowners once again pick up their lives, it was hard to justify a new playground as today's priority.
if you haven't heard, tornados ripped through New Orleans early this morning, around 3am. orginal radio coverage said "the roof of a hotel was ripped off and five trailers were flipped over." I'm not sure if a reporter was even out to the site before that broadcast, because it was obvious that the storm was much more destructive than that once we got to new orleans. ironically, one of the hardest hit areas was within a block of the KABOOM site, so we decided to help some of these people while we were there.
"Residents already down, kicked again by twisters." Tonight's news coverage got it more accurate. I met a family today who JUST finished putting their roof back together from Hurricane Katrina. they finished it LAST NIGHT, and 4 hours later it was ripped right off again by the twister. back to square one. we spent our whole afternoon going from house to house and removing roofs and trees and any other miscellaneous items the were tossed all over. some homes suffered minor damage, while others were completely leveled. it was definately heartbreaking, especially since these people have already lost SO much, but it was really rewarding for us to be there representing AmeriCorps and Mile High Youth Corps as almost immediate responders to the disaster. I think i was running on pure adrenaline for most of the day.....
well, sarah would like her computer back now so im going to go mingle.
but first- tonight's shout out goes to Nate-Dawg! Hope everything's goin well in denver. you would totally love it here- we miss you!
Happy Valentine's day to all my little lovebugs.
- Mood:indescribable
Props to Dana for setting us up with this livejournal! Fortunately for us (and unfortunately for all of you...) we have been sooo busy working hard and playing hard that it's tough to take a break from it all to update. BUT, i promise to log in a few times a week.....starting NOW!
It's been about a week and a half since we left the bitter cold and snowy Denver and began our funfilled roadtrip. I could write about some of the inside jokes and stories along the way, but honestly most of the "roadtrip memories" are largely based on delerium from being cooped up in the vans for 3 days straight- and those types of stories are generally not exciting to anyone else. I'll just say that this crew loves to eat- buffets especially- and requires frequent pee stops :)
We had a short, but nice stay in Kansas City, MO, and fun times in Memphis, TN...especially at the Civil Right Museum. it was nice to see some more of the country and awesome to know that we were traveling toward warmth. :) And, as a shout out to all the Energy Crew people- you should be psyched to know that SEVERAL of us took time out to notice CFLS, aerators, low-flow toilets, and shower heads in every establishment we entered- resteraunts, hotels, etc. Hope the new AmeriCorps crew is settling in and getting pumped.
Our living situation in Bay St Louis is pretty sweet. St Augustine hooks it up! All five of the girls share a room- which is surprisingly working out really well. While there are several other vacant rooms we could probably split up into, we all get along so well that we don't really need to. Plus, i dont think Liz would EVER make it to breakfast on time if the four of us weren't there to drag her out of bed every morning :)
We didn't waste any time getting our hands dirty in all the work that needs to be done. I was pretty shocked when i looked around at all the destruction- i guess i wasn't totally mentally prepared, and didn't realized that even after a year and a half things can still look as bad as they do. we took a short driving tour of our "neighborhood" along the beach when we got here, and I got pretty emotional as i saw homes that have been turned into a pile of sticks and toddler toys and people's clothes strewn all over the surrounding woods and trees.
Our original crew of 10 has been split into two groups during the work week, which obviously has its ups and downs. My crew works here in Bay St Louis, while the second crew has been traveling a little further to Waveland and Pearlington. I have actually been tossed between the mile high crew and the west seneca NY americorps a few times, depending on who needed my help more (i'm in high demand...what can i say?) I'm excited about that because i like change and it introduced me to new people and experiences.
With the Mile High crew, i've been working at Miss Annette's who is a sweet 80-something year old firecracker of a women. She's hilarious and in really good spirits despite all of her losses. Her house is shaping up nicely....we have mainly been working on painting her bedrooms and cleaning up her floors.
With the W Seneca crew, I've been working at Miss Paula's, who is also a really nice and willing to share many of her stories about the storm. My first day working at her house, she invited us into her FEMA trailer for lunch, where we grubbed on sandwhiches, lemon cake, and played with her adorable great- grand daughter. She talked about the storm and how despite all the evacuation warnings, she decided to stay in her home and try to wait it out. I got chills down my body when she said it sounded like an intruder was downstairs....but it was just the water irushing n her house. and the sound of footsteps and banging was just her refrigerator floating from room to room.....
there was definately no shortage of fun here on our first weekend! On saturday morning, several of us went to Ocean Springs, MS and ran a 5K. it was totally awesome and a huge accomplishment for non-long distance runners like myself, espcially since i didnt come in last. My time would have been about 30 seconds better, but right before the finish line i spotted a $20 bill on the ground and decided i had to pick it up (yes, thats a true story!) i knew i ran the race for a reason :)
Saturday night was "Second Saturday" which is just like First Friday in Denver. That was tons of fun and gave us a chance to get in with the locals. i even bought some art! On Sunday there was a Mardi Gras parade in Bay St Louis, which was pretty insane.
I realize this entry is long, but there is so much to say and i've neglected it for so long! I'm going to cut this one off here and start a new entry to cover today. Trust me, its worth its own entry!!
But first, I leave you with a quote from a fellow volunteer-
"it doesn't matter what your profession is. If you are willing to be down here, there is something for you to do."
It's been about a week and a half since we left the bitter cold and snowy Denver and began our funfilled roadtrip. I could write about some of the inside jokes and stories along the way, but honestly most of the "roadtrip memories" are largely based on delerium from being cooped up in the vans for 3 days straight- and those types of stories are generally not exciting to anyone else. I'll just say that this crew loves to eat- buffets especially- and requires frequent pee stops :)
We had a short, but nice stay in Kansas City, MO, and fun times in Memphis, TN...especially at the Civil Right Museum. it was nice to see some more of the country and awesome to know that we were traveling toward warmth. :) And, as a shout out to all the Energy Crew people- you should be psyched to know that SEVERAL of us took time out to notice CFLS, aerators, low-flow toilets, and shower heads in every establishment we entered- resteraunts, hotels, etc. Hope the new AmeriCorps crew is settling in and getting pumped.
Our living situation in Bay St Louis is pretty sweet. St Augustine hooks it up! All five of the girls share a room- which is surprisingly working out really well. While there are several other vacant rooms we could probably split up into, we all get along so well that we don't really need to. Plus, i dont think Liz would EVER make it to breakfast on time if the four of us weren't there to drag her out of bed every morning :)
We didn't waste any time getting our hands dirty in all the work that needs to be done. I was pretty shocked when i looked around at all the destruction- i guess i wasn't totally mentally prepared, and didn't realized that even after a year and a half things can still look as bad as they do. we took a short driving tour of our "neighborhood" along the beach when we got here, and I got pretty emotional as i saw homes that have been turned into a pile of sticks and toddler toys and people's clothes strewn all over the surrounding woods and trees.
Our original crew of 10 has been split into two groups during the work week, which obviously has its ups and downs. My crew works here in Bay St Louis, while the second crew has been traveling a little further to Waveland and Pearlington. I have actually been tossed between the mile high crew and the west seneca NY americorps a few times, depending on who needed my help more (i'm in high demand...what can i say?) I'm excited about that because i like change and it introduced me to new people and experiences.
With the Mile High crew, i've been working at Miss Annette's who is a sweet 80-something year old firecracker of a women. She's hilarious and in really good spirits despite all of her losses. Her house is shaping up nicely....we have mainly been working on painting her bedrooms and cleaning up her floors.
With the W Seneca crew, I've been working at Miss Paula's, who is also a really nice and willing to share many of her stories about the storm. My first day working at her house, she invited us into her FEMA trailer for lunch, where we grubbed on sandwhiches, lemon cake, and played with her adorable great- grand daughter. She talked about the storm and how despite all the evacuation warnings, she decided to stay in her home and try to wait it out. I got chills down my body when she said it sounded like an intruder was downstairs....but it was just the water irushing n her house. and the sound of footsteps and banging was just her refrigerator floating from room to room.....
there was definately no shortage of fun here on our first weekend! On saturday morning, several of us went to Ocean Springs, MS and ran a 5K. it was totally awesome and a huge accomplishment for non-long distance runners like myself, espcially since i didnt come in last. My time would have been about 30 seconds better, but right before the finish line i spotted a $20 bill on the ground and decided i had to pick it up (yes, thats a true story!) i knew i ran the race for a reason :)
Saturday night was "Second Saturday" which is just like First Friday in Denver. That was tons of fun and gave us a chance to get in with the locals. i even bought some art! On Sunday there was a Mardi Gras parade in Bay St Louis, which was pretty insane.
I realize this entry is long, but there is so much to say and i've neglected it for so long! I'm going to cut this one off here and start a new entry to cover today. Trust me, its worth its own entry!!
But first, I leave you with a quote from a fellow volunteer-
"it doesn't matter what your profession is. If you are willing to be down here, there is something for you to do."
- Mood: excited
It's week two and we have already done so much! We are split into two crews for most work days and my crew has been working in Pearlington, Louisiana which is about 30 miles away from Bay St. Louis. Pearlington is where the eye of the hurricane hit and the community was totally devastated. We are building a house for Ms. Johnnie (many of the older women in the community go by Ms. ______). She is a super amazing woman who cooks lunch every single workday for all the volunteers in Pearlington. They have been serving this lunch every workday for like a year and a half, it is pretty inspiring their commitment to rebuilding. We have been mudding and taping drywall for the past week and we are getting close to finishing the whole house. Mudding and taping is semi-skilled labor and we have had a little learning hump but we are on our way to becoming solid drywallers. We get to eat lunch everyday with Ms. Johnnie and all the other volunteers in Pearlington and there is a pretty awesome rope swing hanging on a tree outside of Ms. Johnnie's house so we have had plenty of fun with all the work we have been doing. This last weekend we got a chance to meet some of the community at Second Saturday, a community gathering in coffee shops and art galleries near the retreat center where we are staying. Some of us also ran a 5K race in a nearby city on Saturday morning. There are nightly jogs on the beach and basketball games to keep people busy and I don't imagine that we will run out of things to do in our freetime before we leave.
- Mood: excited
Here are our first days of work and a killer sunrise!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29705689@N
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29705689@N
Here are some pictures of the devastation around Bay Saint Louis.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29705689@N
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29705689@N
After three days of traveling we have arrived at Bay Saint Louis. I am sitting at a small, personable, coffee shop in the heart of the old part of town. As I write, the whole shop is talking recovery. At every table, at some point in the conversation, talk has turned to houses, property, civic plans, skepticism, and hope.
Our group has a great trip down to the gulf. Our main highlights included Kansas City's food ( great Mediterranean meal!), Memphis blues, and the National Civil Rights Museum.
Here is a link to our pictures on www.flickr.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29705689@N
Our group has a great trip down to the gulf. Our main highlights included Kansas City's food ( great Mediterranean meal!), Memphis blues, and the National Civil Rights Museum.
Here is a link to our pictures on www.flickr.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29705689@N
- Mood:
hopeful
The crew will be posting to this journal with photos of their projects througout the next four weeks!
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milehighyouth- Mile High Youth Corps