February 9, 2016
Dear “Rebuild NOLA” Participants,
We are excited to welcome you to our first Network Summer Service Project being offered
through the Duchesne House June 28-July 3, 2014 in New Orleans, LA. Your reflection essays
gave us a glimpse of your motivation for applying to this project and certainly make us eager to
meet you.
We have a full program of 14 young women who will be entering 11th or 12th grade. We will
be staying at Duchesne House which is a volunteer house run by several RSCJ in New Orleans.
https://www.facebook.com/DuchesneHouse . They host high school and college volunteer
groups throughout the year. They are thrilled you are going to experience a program that they
have shared with dozens of groups. Duchesne House has two bunk rooms where you will be
sleeping. In addition to myself and Sr. Anne Byrne RSCJ who lives at Duchesne House, there
will be three chaperones from our Network schools.
As you plan your trip to New Orleans, please consider the following.
Travel
Plan on arriving at the New Orleans Airport (MSY) on Saturday June 28th between 12pm and
3pm. Departure flights should be scheduled on Thursday July 3rd between 11am and 2pm.
Once your flights are booked, please forward me a copy of your itinerary so I can begin
coordinating transportation. We will be meeting you inside of the airport as you arrive. Go
ahead and make me a contact in your phone so we can communicate on your arrival.
Sue Heidel (504) 416-2807.
What to Bring
You will be doing house-building work. Please bring the following,
*Heavy duty work clothes - jeans or long pants and at least one long-sleeved shirt; other work
shirts and shorts – bring items you wouldn’t mind getting dirty and possibly getting paint on
*Solid work shoes or boots. No sandals/sneakers on the job – a sturdy hiking boot would be
great. Also bring a pair of walking shoes/sandals for the evening.
*clothes to relax in around the house and modest clothes appropriate for a casual meal in the
French Quarter and Mass on Sunday
*bathing suit
*a journal; toiletries; towel, face cloth; pillow, sleeping bag for your bed
*water bottle
*baseball cap and/or bandana
*small amount of money if you think you may want to buy a souvenir in the French Quarter
*we also ask that you bring something to share from your school – items that you will exchange
with one another. Please avoid anything costing more than $15 – a coffee mug, t-shirt, magnet
etc. If this is a hardship, please let me know.
4521 Saint Charles Avenue • New Orleans, Louisiana 70115-4831 • (504) 891-1943 • www.ashrosary.org
Please do not bring any expensive jewelry. Personal electronics will not be used during our week
together.
Other Information
As with all of our Network Summer Service Programs this summer, you will not be using your
cell phones during the week. We will be collecting your phones after your arrival. Of course,
you will notify your parents when you arrive and will be sharing your experience through social
media as a group.
The agency that we work with requires paperwork to be completed prior to beginning our
assignment. Attached is the waiver and required information from St. Bernard project. You may
also check out their website. www.stbernardproject.org
Here are some suggested books and films related to Katrina and the environmental concerns of
south Louisiana.
•
One Dead in the Attic by Chris Rose (Fascinating account of the days immediately after
Katrina and Rita – also a quick read!)
•
Code Blue; a Katrina Physician’s Memoir by Richard Deichmann, MD (Recounts the
deplorable conditions in Baptist Memorial Hospital during the flooding and the heroism of
doctors, nurses and others – also a fast read!)
•
Bayou Farewell by Mike Tidwell (Amazing story of the author’s discovery of the beauty
of the disappearing wetlands South of NO. It focuses on the connection between this
environmental disaster and the devastating surge that destroyed so much of our city.)
•
Trouble the Water , a Katrina documentary that tells the story of a young couple stranded
in the Lower Ninth Ward; a story of courage and ingenuity, love and generosity. It also
documents the response on the part of others to those in need – some that make you proud to be
an American; some that make you ashamed.
•
When the Levees Broke, by Spike Lee. This is a moving account with often graphic
footage of the hurricane and flooding. Numerous interviews throw light on the Katrina disaster
from a variety of perspectives.
•
Father Greg Boyle, Tattoos on the Heart, speaks on Kinship (1/6 video clips)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xZP56a56M
Please share my contact information with your parents and tell them not to hesitate to contact me
with any questions. I will pass on more information as the project nears. If you have anything
your are curious or concerned about, send me an email and I will be happy to help.
Take good care,
Sue Heidel
sheidel@ashrosary.org
Religion Teacher/Outreach Coordinator
504-416-2807 cell