Inspiration Project: Rebuilding in New Orleans

Diana Pedersen was one of the six participants selected for our first annual Inspiration Project. Diana and her daughters spent part of their summer working with Youth Rebuilding New Orleans to help reclaim some of the many homes that remain abandoned 14 years after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city. Read Diana’s first-hand account of this Inspiration Project Update below.

 

Above: Diana Pedersen and her family in New Orleans' Jackson Square.

I am a senior conflicts attorney and I have worked at the firm for five years. My inspiration project was inspired by my life experiences. When I was a child I lived in Hialeah, Florida, located in South Florida. In 1992, Hurricane Andrew hit Florida and it was one of the most destructive hurricanes in U.S. history. The category 5 hurricane caused immense damage to property in South Florida and Louisiana and it killed 26 people. Around 600,000 homes and other buildings were damaged. This natural disaster caused more than 150,000 people to be homeless. 

We were blessed that our home was only minimally damaged but we lost all of our trees in our community. My grandfather’s home, located in a different suburb, was flattened and completely destroyed. Thankfully, my grandfather was not in the home during the storm and my family was safe. I remember how our community and all of Florida came together to rebuild. 

Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana in August 2005. This storm reminded me of Hurricane Andrew with its unbelievable damage to the buildings and devastation to the people in Louisiana. An estimated 1,200 people died as a direct result of the storm, many from flood waters. The storm caused about $108 billion in property damage, making it one of the costliest storms on record. Thousands were evacuated and homeless. The damage is still present today, with many homes and buildings needing repair. 

My inspiration project was to help an organization run by students, teachers and construction professionals who are still rebuilding homes that were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. My daughters, Julia and Sophia, are a little older than I was when Hurricane Andrew hit Florida. I wanted them to see that even today there is damage from Katrina, and I wanted them to experience how a community comes together to rebuild. 

Now, 14 years later, there are still many homes in New Orleans that have been damaged and abandoned. Youth Rebuilding New Orleans takes those homes and rebuilds them with the help of student volunteers. Once completed, they sell these homes to teachers who are dedicated to helping children and the community. The group has rebuilt many homes since Hurricane Katrina and they serve their community with other construction and beautification projects. There is a housing shortage in New Orleans, and large price disparity between the price of homes and household income. Through this organization, teachers are given an opportunity to have a home at an affordable price. 

While we were in New Orleans we helped paint the exterior and interior of a home on St. Ann Street in the St. John neighborhood. We stained the home’s fence and helped with a bathroom project. We did all this work in the 95-degree New Orleans heat. I was very impressed with the staff who trained the volunteers, and their dedication to making their community a better place. My girls learned how hard construction work is and appreciated how other children are giving their time to help others rebuild their lives. 

We had never visited New Orleans before so we were excited to experience its culture. We took time to talk to its citizens, learn about its history, walk in the streets, enjoy street jazz music, walk by musical parades and bond over the delicious food. The people of New Orleans are special, resilient, welcoming and kind. We are eager to go back someday and see how the home is completed and how the neighborhood is restored. Without SeyfarthLife we would not have this unique and fulfilling opportunity. We are very thankful for all that we have and try in our small ways to give back. 

After my trip in July, Tropical Storm Barry hit Louisiana and New Orleans. There was flooding up to seven feet in certain areas. I know that Youth Rebuilding New Orleans will be there to assist those with home and property damage, but they may need more assistance and donations to help rebuild.