NOLA Green Roots Zoning problem

In my urban politics class yesterday we were talking about the number one thing a city has control over- land use. Favorable zoning and land use laws bring businesses into the city, which provide a tax base and jobs. New Orleans is currently working on revamping the zoning all over the city, and NOLA Green Roots might be in trouble. We have a compost center, and under the new zoning laws, unless the land is zoned industrial, we might not be able to have it anymore. Yesterday I wrote a letter to the city asking for consideration when changing the zoning laws as related to urban gardens and farms. I thought about the fact that if we were a business, paying big taxes and created jobs, that we would easily have the ear of someone important in the city. As a non-profit, who doesn't pay taxes and serves a virtually invisible population (low-income people), we might not get the attention we deserve. But I think in New Orleans right now there is a upsurge in awareness about social problems and all the non-profits have been acknowledged as a vital part of the city's rebuilding and renewal process. I have been so proud to be a part of the non-profit world for the last few years!

When Bad Things Happen to Good People

I've often talked about how working at the Hope Lodge keeps you grounded. As you meet all of these people, who are so resilient and are fighting for their lives, you realize how blessed you are to just be alive. I see them every day, but the ones that break my heart the most are the children. They come in each day after their treatment, and all I can think is that no one deserves to suffer through cancer, but for these children, cancer is almost all they've known for most of their lives. Today a little girl walked out of the elevator with her dad, with her mask over her mouth, and even through all that she goes through she was so excited to walk across the street to play on the levee. That little girl (and her parents) are stronger than I'll ever be. I know this is kind of a depressing thing to talk about, but that's all I could think about today during my service work. It's discouraging, and yet encouraging at the same time to keep me volunteering.

Night Out Against Crime

Today at Anna's Arts for my service learning, we set up a booth for this event at the corner of Rampart and Elysian Fields. The turn out was disappointingly small, but those who did show up were students of Anna's Arts and their relatives. We had a good time!

http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2011/07/in_new_orleans_area_at_least_n.html

Donor Relations

Elizabeth is right: raising money is REALLY important in non-profit work. The last time I was at NOLA Green Roots I helped draft donor letters. Thank you letters to donors, letters asking donors to give another donation, letters to businesses asking for donations of goods. It might not seem like this is rewarding like working with the client population might be, but in a weird way it is. I went to a development workshop once and the woman leading it said the main reason people support non-profits is to feel like they are part of something. Donor relations is very important therefore- you have to do a lot to make the donor feel like your non-profit is the right one, and then after they donate you have to maintain that relationship so they feel like they are a part of a good thing. The letters I wrote asking for donations were for a store NOLA Green Roots is trying to open up that will sell plants and homemade goods made by members from garden products (like herb infused olive oils yumm!). I agonized over those letters, to make just the right impression, to insure that our real message came across, and I really feel responsible for if the store can open or not. When I do see the store up and running one day, I can't imagine how proud I will feel!!!

Giving Hope

I learn something new every time I do my service work, and this is what I learned yesterday: At the Hope Lodge, and pretty much any place that does work for those in need, raising money is a huge deal. I've learned that you have to be a pretty creative person when you work at a nonprofit because you're always thinking about new fundraisers, ways to get the word out there, getting the people you help more encouraged, and so many other things. You are a man/woman of all trades, as opposed to doing one job each day. Every day is something new, and you never really know what is going to be demanded of you, but you have to be up for it and willing to give it your best whether you like it or not. For example, yesterday instead of visiting with the patients and doing my normal work I was asked to laminate a bunch of papers and tape them on signs for a the Walk for Life. Normally that job seems like it would be super boring, but because I knew what I was doing it for, and because the energy was so positive around me, it was pretty fun. When I was at the Hope Lodge yesterday the directors were all discussing how much their job keeps them grounded; it is a constant reminder to always be grateful for what you have, life can always be worse. There is always something to be thankful for, and there are always people who can use your gifts for something good.

CourtWatchers Observations

Over the past couple internships, and more so in this current service learning project, I have noticed something that has bugged me, and as this is a social justice class, don't just it's just what I've seen.

Male African American lawyers dress way better that Caucasian lawyers.

The actual order of "best dressed" goes
1. Black Male
2. White Female
3. Black Female
4. White Male

I first noticed this having seen an African-American's really friggin' nice 3 piece suit, and I thought to myself "Damn. I want to tell him that's a nice suit." Then I kind've backed up and was thought is it wrong to tell him that he's wearing a nice suit? I realized what I had said to myself originally was "Damn, that black dude's wearing a really nice suit." From that point on there was no coming back from being, maybe not racist, but definitely stereotyping.

I noticed it having seen all these white guys suits being rumpled or having tons of creases in them, and since the black lawyers stand together and the white lawyers tend to stand together, the difference was very apparent.

But, my compliment to the man would've come off racially to myself, having subconsciously led in with "that black dude's...." even though he would've never known, I felt like I couldn't say anything since I felt already "outted?"

Then I started thinking what might be the underlying implications of this?

The obvious answers came up:
1. White men assume that they will be taken seriously as opposed to blacks who feel they must have to "dress the part" in order to have the same respect.
2. White women are generally seen as "less strong willed" than Black women, so they have to dress to the look the part as well. Which leads White women to come in at #2 and Black women at #3.

So what do you think? Am I wrong? Am I a racist?
What I observed was definitely obvious, my fellow intern independently noticed the same thing.
Black guys wearing 3 piece pressed suits, white guys walking in with the same jacket they'd been wearing for the past 2 years without it being dry cleaned.

Claire Lavergne- Anna's Arts- week 10/3-10/9

Work at Anna's Arts is going well. I feel relieved and excited each time I finish a day of work there because it is fun and tiring, and I feel like its an accomplishment to have made it through another day. The kids are starting to all know my name and respect me more than at first. We had a new volunteer today and the kids just knew they were going to be able to get away with anything around her and walk all over her. It made me feel really good not to be the new teacher anymore. The more days you put in working with the kids, and the more you stand up to them and discipline them, the more they grow to respect you. I'm really glad I am beginning to figure that out because the kids are more well behaved around me now, and they know that I won't let them do whatever they want.