I live in Wyoming and was visiting family in Milwaukee during the summer and stopped at a church that I used to play organ for. When I was there one of the members told me about Katrina Corps and that they were planning on going the first week of August (mind you she told me in July). I jumped at the opportunity, especially being a music teacher. New Orleans is the birthplace of the only American Art form. I plan on returning to New Orleans next summer for probably longer than the 1 week. It was a life altering experience.
We were told to go out and meet the people and to talk to them; I never expected to meet the people I did. And then to hear their stories was mind blowing. Talking to “Box” who is Fats Domino’s drummer, to talk to Miss Antoinette K-Doe; to talk to Guitar Slim Jr. whose father is a legend, to talk to Chucky C. To here what these leaders of jazz went through and yet how they continue to keep going gives me nothing but inspiration. As corny as it sounds, I benefited for more by going there than what I could ever give back. The dorm was not that great obviously, but all you do is sleep there so it personally didn’t bother me (and it was better than a gym floor). To all volunteers I say go to Bourbon street, talk to the musicians. Talk to the waiters and waitresses, talk to the voodoo priestess’. The group I was with went to “Naw’Lins Flava” twice. Yes the food was fantastic, but talking to Bruce the waiter and Chef Joy the owner made me realize just how incredible the city is. “Voluntourism” is my new favorite word.
I’m telling about my experience to all my co-workers in Carbon County Wyoming, and some are already wanting to go next year. Wyoming is a small state so word travels very fast amongst teachers throughout the state, so hopefully we will have more than just my name on that map for Wyoming.
In our area, we have some very well to do companies in the fields of oil, natural gas, and coal. If you have information I could give to these companies, I know they would probably donate money. Locally we have Devon (world’s largest oil exploration company) and Sinclair.
Thank you for your group and all that you do!!!
Tim Handle