AND… here is a perfect example.

“30 Oregonians with a wealth of compassion, community service experience and technical expertise, will show the nation what the Gulf Coast disaster looks like from inside the Gulf. We will shine a sustained light on what our neighbors need to survive and what the environment needs to recover.”

Yes, a group of folks from Portland and it’s surrounding universe are headed to New Orleans! (No offense to beautiful Portland and our friends doing wonderful things out there, this just happens to be where this group is coming from.) In any case, these folks are coming here to do 6 days of visits to Gulf Coast communities which:

“…will culminate in the production of a graphic travelogue of what we saw, learned and felt. Our experiences will be represented through the arts of drawing, writing, filming and making music. The images and voices we capture will be engaging, powerful and influential. And, most importantly our final documentation will contain a roadmap for individual action to minimize a second occurrence of this type of catastrophe. The proceeds from the sale of our book, and any other money raised, will be contributed to Gulf Coast and national efforts to educate children about this catastrophe and how we can do the best possible job of cleaning up after ourselves, plus prevent this from ever happening again.“

Also, they are trying to raise $60,000. You can donate on their website. But no, the money isn’t for the Gulf… it’s to finance their trip. So that they can come to the Gulf, visit as “caring neighbors arriving to help,” spend 6 days capturing images and voices, and then put them in their book.

Hmmm.

I showed this to my graduate students earlier today in class. In the words of one of the students: “I’m not even from the Gulf Coast and this insults ME.”

Check out their website. What do you think?


Here are are some lessons that these undoubtedly very nice, wealthy-with-compassion-Oregonians should have considered:

• The disaster is not about you! No, really. I’m not kidding.
• Please travel to share technical expertise where you are invited to share technical expertise.
• If you want to “show the nation” what is happening in the Gulf Coast, then work locally to build partnerships with Gulf Coast organizations, and find places within your communities to make those voices heard. There are plenty of organizations, plenty of stories, plenty experiences — all existing without your collection, reorganization, and authority.
• We also have artists. Many artists. Who have and can continue to creatively express the experiences of this region in a multitude of forms. We even have spaces to support them. They are very much able to “shine the light” on these communities, and would probably be interested in collaboration and partnership on projects.
• Taking other people’s stories to publish in your book takes advantage of people who are suffering in a very unique and powerful catastrophe. Particularly when mischievously veiled within the scope of a “local gathering to break bread.”
• Six days to “experience” the Gulf is tourism. You’re tourists. Good news — this is a fantastic place to be a tourist. Enjoy the area, tell your loved ones, friends, your contacts on your social networking sites about your experiences visiting this area. Just please don’t position yourself in a place of authority based on 6 days of tours.
• If you want to contribute to Gulf Coast communities through service, then contact organizations and let them find ways to use your skills.

These folks are coming here with an agenda that is their own, focused on their own needs, their own desires. This does not help a situation, it only makes it more difficult.

—

(Hat tip to local bloggers, who found and shared the website.)

The CCC is 6.6 miles winding through beautiful New Orleans, from Jackson Square to City Park — with special New Orleans touches.

Like costumes.

With inspiration from “Heathers,” here are Emmy and me.  Afterwards, she took me to a Remington party.

Here’s our Gym Teacher, Coach Chrissie.

Allie is adorable.

Coach Chrissie warms us up.

Group photo taken by random race person who focused on Muriel’s.

The crowd of 30,000 or so.  We were back, waaaaay back, from Jackson Square.

Coach Chrissie was on us to keep sharp.

Finally!  The start line!  We ended up reaching it about 8:30 minutes after the gun shot.

The Hornet mascot was out right before the starting line, hooray crowd.

Others were in costume, too.

I managed to get them from the front, too.  This is one of 3 I took of them… and the only one in focus.  I’m learning that it’s hard to take a picture while bouncing.

I put away the camera after this and focused on the road.  I tried, but failed, to get pictures of the Jello-Shot group.  They run through the crowd pulling coolers full of Jello Shooters and hand them out among the racers.  Their shirts?  Front: “Jello Shots” Back: “It’s not like you’re gonna win.”

I did sneak in one more photo, of the prisoners… who were chained together.

So we got through those 6.6 miles in under 2 hours.  I felt fine, except my feet, which developed hot spots by mile 3.  I realized later that I wore old regular cotton socks on the morning of the race because I’d not done laundry to wash my good moisture/wicking socks.  I’m certain that this made a difference; I know better then to wear crappy socks on a hot day.  Still, I felt fine after some airing out and moleskin application.

We all had lunch at Felini’s after — where Paul, Will, and Kate joined us.  We found out that the team raised over $5000 for Abeona House!

Thank you to everyone who supported me in this!  It was a great experience and a wonderful morning!

If you know me well, I suspect you may have just fallen out of your chair. I apologize. Let me clarify: I’ve been training for a 10K which will happen in 10 days.

If you’ve known me for a few years, you’ll not be surprised at why I’m doing this. I’m signed up for the Crescent City Classic, a run/walk through the streets of New Orleans, to support Abeona House — the much-loved non-profit Reggio Emilia-inspired early childhood education center that my husband, Paul, and I helped open almost 4 years ago.

When our childcare center did not open after Katrina-related damages and weeks of closure forced it to fold, together, with other working parents, we founded a pre-school.  Opening in September 2006, Abeona House was the first new school to open after Katrina.

I tried to go through my old blog posts and find some to mention here to show how special Abeona is — not only to us, and not only to all of the families, teachers, and children within — but to the community around it.

I had volumes to choose from… you could start at the beginning and read some of the logistics of opening and sustaining.  Like about that darn ramp we had to build (written by Paul) or when we finally got the 501c3 or the day we got the sign or teacher appreciation or about walks to the levee.

You could find the letter that we put in our holiday cards in 2007 or the article in the local paper.  You could see how we came together in tragedy.  And then how excited we were when Starbucks employees flew in from Seattle to lead a hand.

You could watch the fun in the kids’ exploration of Oak Street through tricks-or-treats or a visiting a senior center or riding the streetcar to the zoo.  You could see how Abeona teaches kids to give back.  And sets the example.

You could laugh at pictures from our first annual Krewe of Abeona Mardi Gras parade down Oak Street — or the second annual parade when our son was king.

You could go elsewhere, too.  Founding families wrote about their experiences here and here.  (Both are wonderfully written.)  A new family writes about Abeona here.

But no matter where you learn about our school, I hope that you’ll support us.

I’m asking everyone I know for $5.

I’m at about $300 right now in my fundraising (enough to send a teacher to a professional development training!) and I’d like to see this grow.  It’s as easy as can be… just visit the Abeona House website and click on the “donate” button.  Sure, we’d love you to give whatever you can, but I know times are tight so I’m asking for 5.

Abeona House is a wonderful organization worthy of donation — but even so, I consider your donations to be equally supportive of me, personally.

If you do, please let me know so that I can send a personal thank-you.  (You can make a note that it’s to support me — Holly — in the Reggio Run when you donate online!)  THANK YOU!!

VISIT ABEONA HOUSE HERE.

You think it’s not for you, this Mardi Gras thing.  Maybe you don’t see yourself as much of a drinker.  Maybe you’re a little put-off by the whole girls-gone-wild thing; you weren’t the type to want to do Spring Break in South Beach even when you were in college.  So you figure that Mardi Gras isn’t for you.  And also?  That city?  New Orleans?  Well, you saw the pictures and heard the stories and it’s a mess.  You can’t figure out why people would even want to live there, let alone visit.

You’ve thought at least some of those things, I feel certain.  I fully admit that until I moved here, I thought THE VERY SAME THING.  Actually, both Paul and I did.  And now we can say that we were very wrong.

New Orleans is an absolutely fantastic place to be, especially during Carnival season — and especially for families.  As an example, here is our family, enjoying parades this past Sunday morning.  Music, laughter, conversation, floats, horses, football, dancers, prizes, and of course, beads.

Krewes of Okeanos, Mid-City, and Thoth.  Vantage on Magazine Street.

(This post is cross-posted.)

My 6-year old son and I picked out books from the library stand, where the organization supporting our city libraries sell gently used books for around $1.  He asked for Anne Rice’s The Witching Hour and I pointed him towards some Goosebumps stories to cut his teeth on first (both are still outside of his reading realm, though he still carries adult novels around and has at least two tucked in his bed at any moment — currently these are Adrienne Rich’s Dream of a Common Language and Flaubert’s Madame Bovary). I picked up books 1 and 2 of Pullman’s His Dark Materials series.  For this I am thankful.  Lyra rocks.

Walking around the booths, I came across an artist who reminded me of another artist.  Both artists are similar in age and used themes and materials in a similar manner, so I wondered if they came from similar backgrounds or training?  Turns out, no.

Lorriane Gendron is a Louisiana native.  Her work reflects it.  She characterizes herself as a folk artist and uses a themes from Louisiana life as her subjects.

The Mardi Gras dancers collection is wonderful: full of spirit and detail.  I love that Santa — no, Papa Noel — is holding an alligator.

My son liked the Cajun Nativity scene.  So much so that he took this picture of it.  I love the musician and bayou animal mix.





Another photo by The Boy, of a Mardi Gras rider.





Here is the artist, Lorraine Gendron.  She has a website, too, just in time for that holiday gift!  She added that you can just call her and she’ll make you what you want.  (Note: she also has a really great streetcar piece and works on commissions.)





My pictures reflected my love of Ms. Gendron’s tent, but there was so much more to see and do.  We saw several friends and ended up playing with the kids on the playground.  We shared snacks and took turns kid-watching and food-retrieving.

Finally, when we were sure we were going to get a good nap out of our two, we started the walk home. Lots more Louisiana-themed art was there to delight.  My son adored this painting and ordered that I take a picture of it.  He’s become partial to art involving seafood.

And maybe other kinds of sea things, too.  I blame The Little Mermaid.

My 3-year old daughter, however, was much more interested in land-dwelling creatures.  The conversation went like this: “Mommy, can we get that doggie?” “No, he has a family.” Mommy, can we take a picture of the doggie?” “Let’s ask…” Then after getting the alright, “It’s okay, we can take his picture.” “Mommy, NOW can we take the doggie?” And so on.
Something for everyone.

Palmer Park Art Market is held every last Saturday of the month (unless of rain, in which case, it may be Sunday) at Palmer Park on the corner of Carrollton and Claiborne.  There will be another special holiday art market in December (19th and 20th).


It’s free, full of open space, entertainment, food, and wonderful atmosphere to get on your Joie de Vivre!

The New Orleans Schweitzer Fellows Program, a program of The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship™ with partnership from the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI) provides service opportunities and support for aspiring health professionals who seek to help the underserved in New Orleans.  With the generous help of contributors, the New Orleans Schweitzer Fellows Program proudly announces its third year of uniting a diverse range of students, faculty, and community-based providers who share a commitment to public service.

In the spring of 2010, approximately 15 New Orleans Schweitzer Fellows will be selected from applications submitted by students in a diversity of fields, including but not limited to medicine, nursing, dentistry, public health, social work, psychology, pharmacy, education, physical therapy, law, nutrition, art therapy, dance/movement therapy, music, and acupuncture.  We seek Fellows from an array of disciplines to contribute to the health of our communities.

Fellowship projects include the following:

• a minimum of 200 hours of direct service through an existing community based organization in the New Orleans area;

• a supervisor, or Site Mentor, at the host organization and a Faculty Mentor at the student’s school;

• monthly progress reports on the Fellow’s project;

• a written report at the conclusion of the project, including recommendations for ways in which the most valuable aspects of the Fellow’s project and experiences can be replicated or sustained;
• professional development in skills related to working with underserved communities;

• an opportunity to be part of an interdisciplinary group of students committed to working in underserved communities.

In addition to the service project, Fellows work in groups to organize public symposia on pertinent public health topics or community service outreach activities.  Fellows are required to attend monthly meetings, all symposia and service days, an introductory meeting on April 16^th, 2010, a weekend orientation May 22-23^rd, 2010, a mid-year retreat, and the annual Schweitzer Fellows Celebration Event in May 2011.

Students are welcome to submit proposals for an original project that reflects Dr. Schweitzer’s ethic of Reverence for Life or for the continuation of a project initiated by a previous Schweitzer Fellow.

Fellows receive a stipend of $2,500 (paid in three installments) both to underscore the seriousness of their work and to ensure that students who are already struggling financially are not discouraged from participating. Any student enrolled at least part-time for the 2010-2011 academic year in a graduate-level-degree-granting program in the New Orleans area is welcome to apply.   Applications are due via online submission by 5pm February 5^th, 2010.

Eligibility:

Prior to Applying: Interested students should investigate and reflect on the unmet health-related needs that exist in New Orleans and its communities and on the ways in which their own energies and talents might contribute, even in small ways, to ameliorating one or more of these problems. In proposing a project, keep in mind how your idea addresses those unmet health needs and might be of enduring value to the community. For guidance on national and local health priorities as established by Healthy People 2010, please visit: http://www.healthypeople.gov

Prospective applicants are encouraged to attend information sessions about the Schweitzer Fellowship at their Universities and visit the program website at: www.schweitzerfellowship.org

For more information, or to set up an information session at your school, please email SchweitzerNOLA@gmail.com or contact Holly Scheib, the New Orleans Schweitzer Program Director at 504-208-7368.

Based on this, showcasing 1 woman out of 5 sailors in this week’s feature is a very realistic sample from the U.S. Navy, where approximately 15% of active duty personnel is female.

Happy Navy Week, New Orleans!

Petty Officer Third Class Johanna M. Mudge

(Unfortunately, no photo was readily available for this officer.)

As an air traffic controller for the Navy, Petty Officer Mudge guides planes and helicopters to safety on the runway. A native of Belle Chasse, La., she’s proud to be helping celebrate Navy Week in her hometown of New Orleans from November 2-7. Here are some of her thoughts on being a Sailor and what Navy Week means to her:

Where it all began:

“ I joined the Navy to see the world.  I also felt the need to do my time and serve my country.  I’m proud of the United States of America.  We live in the best country there is!”

Most memorable experience in uniform:

“At the 2009 N’awlins air show a small boy approached me and we talked about planes and what his favorites were. Near the end of the conversation, I asked him if he wanted to meet the Blue Angels. I introduced him to pilot #7, and he lit up like a Christmas tree. This small moment made my 10-hour day enjoyable and worth it.”

Personal definition of “Navy Week”:

“For me, Navy Week is more than just a few days, it’s a 24/7 job. My Shipmates are like family to me, and I look out for them as if they were my own. Navy week is every week in that sense.”

For more information on Navy Week, and to learn about events where you can meet Sailors like Petty Officer Mudge, visit: www.navyweek.org/neworleans. You can also become a Navy Weeks fan on Facebook. Just search “Navy Weeks” or follow this link.

This post is cross listed.

Ensign Timothy Gressett

For Ensign Gressett, a graduate of Tulane University whose time as an undergrad was punctuated by Hurricane Katrina, serving on the USS New Orleans has a special meaning. For New Orleans Navy Week (November 2-7), he’s returning to the city where he spent so many years as a student and is thrilled to be participating in events throughout the week. As an auxiliaries officer on the ship, his days are focused on managing maintenance and repairs on anything that’s “hydraulic, mechanical, operates wire rope or is in the galley.” During New Orleans Navy Week, he’ll get to spend some well-earned time on dry land, reconnecting with the city and culture he loves. Here are some of his thoughts on what Navy Week in New Orleans means to him:

Where it all began:

“Both my father and my mother were in the Navy, as well as both my grandfathers, so it’s a big tradition to my family. I am the first to be commissioned as an Officer on both sides.”

Most memorable experience in uniform:

“I distinctly remember riding into San Diego harbor in a small inflated boat – with the wind and sea spray in my hair and the sun on my face – following an arduous three-week underway training period. That was a great feeling of satisfaction.”

Best thing about New Orleans:

“The best thing about going to school in New Orleans is the culture. New Orleans is one of the most colorful – literally, colorful – cities I’ve ever been to. I’ll walk down the street and see a house painted purple. It’s like someone gave a child a coloring book and said, ‘Have at it!’”

Personal definition of “Navy Week”:

“Navy Week is an opportunity to show a little bit of what the Navy does to non-Navy folks. It’s a pleasure to be a part of this event.”

For more information on Navy Week, and to learn about events where you can meet Sailors like Ensign Gressett, visit: www.navyweek.org/neworleans. You can also become a Navy Weeks fan on Facebook. Just search “Navy Weeks” or follow this link.

If it’s on the deck of the USS New Orleans, Seaman Dejoie, a New Orleans native, has it covered. As a Deck Seaman he maintains equipment, operates a crane to lower small boats into the water and hoists stores and supplies onto the ship. He joined the Navy to travel, but he’s very glad to be coming home to New Orleans, where he will take part in Navy Week from November 2-7. Here are some of his thoughts on his military career and his hometown.

Where it all began:

“I have wanted to join the military since I was a small child. I chose the Navy for the travel experience and better quality of military life.”

Most memorable experience in uniform:

“In December of 2008 I traveled to New Orleans on leave to visit family for the Christmas holiday. While visiting, I went to my old elementary school in uniform and talked to the kids there about the Navy.”

What Navy Week means to me:

“I am always proud to be a U.S. Navy Sailor, but to go back to the place I am from and get a chance to represent the Navy and the USS New Orleans is a huge honor for me. I believe it will be one of my proudest moments.

For more information on Navy Week, and to learn about events where you can meet Sailors like Seaman Dejoie, visit: www.navyweek.org/neworleans. You can also become a fan of Navy Weeks on Facebook. Just search “Navy Weeks” or follow this link.

–

This post is cross-listed.

It’s Navy Week in New Orleans. Who knew? I didn’t, until a representative from the U.S. Navy sent me an email. Here’s an excerpt:

I’m writing on behalf of the U.S. Navy about Navy Weeks. As you may know, Navy Weeks are events hosted by Sailors in cities across the country as a way to spread the word about what the Navy does and to thank communities for their support. After reading some of your blog posts that mention growing up in a Navy family, I thought you might be interested in learning more about the upcoming New Orleans Navy Week, which will take place from November 2-7, 2009

The New Orleans Navy Week events, including Navy Band performances and Blue Angels F/A-18 Flight Simulator, will give the public a personal look at the men and women of the Navy serving throughout the world in different roles. The involvement of Sailors will also be a major part of the week, including quite a few from the crew of the USS New Orleans. More about New Orleans Navy Week can be found here.

 

As part of the week’s events, a Joint Color Guard and 25 Sailors will unfurl the American Flat in the New Orleans Saints Military Appreciation game on tonight’s football game (Saints vs. Falcons).

See, I told you cheering for the Saints was patriotic! Go Navy! Beat Atlanta! Or something like that.

Here is my take on Navy Week and why I think it’s worth talking about. I’ve not hid that I am from a military family, tend to run extremely left, and have pursued intellectual professions. Sometimes, folks confuse these things, thinking that one can’t be liberal and supportive of the military. Intellectuals (to my great frustration) tend to either ignore the military as some sort of unwashed mass or look down upon them as uneducated brutes. But here is the reality: serving in the United States armed forces is one of the most honorable things a person can do. Those who give the themselves and their families to duties that ask more than many of us (me included) can even imagine often do so for reasons based within the class, race, and socio-economic distinctions that divide and subdivide our country. It’s important to talk about the sacrifices of service men and women — and the sacrifices of their families — so that we can be clear that taking care of those who give that much is a national priority. It hasn’t always been, even by the most conservative of governments.

To give others a hint of what it is like to be a part of the service, each day this week I am going to post short interviews with various Navy Servicemen and Servicewomen. The interviews come from the Navy (full disclosure) and feature individuals who are part of this week’s celebrations in New Orleans. It’s hard to describe what being a part of a Military family is like without experiencing it first hand, but maybe reading a few profiles will help. To that end, I give you:

Petty Officer First Class Tomas Davila

Petty Officer First Class is a “plank owner” of the USS New Orleans, meaning he was a part of the ship’s crew even before the vessel was officially commissioned. This strong affinity for the ship extends to its namesake, the city of New Orleans. Davila called the city home for a short time while serving in the Navy and ever since has had a fondness for the place he calls the “Queen of the South.” He currently manages 13 technicians onboard the USS New Orleans but will get a break from troubleshooting computers and repairing navigation system on November 2-7, when he takes part in Navy Week. Here are some of his thoughts on Navy service and New Orleans:

Connection to New Orleans:

“I had the opportunity to live in New Orleans for a short time while at the pre-commissioning detachment. While there, I was amazed at the city’s charm and the hospitable nature of her people. I consider New Orleans as the Queen of the South and will always keep her close to my heart.”

Most memorable experience in uniform:

“The day I came home after my tour in Iraq; the sounds of my mother’s tears and my father’s joy will always stick with me. That day my dad, a Vietnam veteran, told me how proud he was of me and opened up for the first time about his times in the Army. Our relationship has only grown stronger since.”

What Navy Week means to me:

“Navy Week is a great opportunity for me to show others what it means to be in the Navy. To demonstrate how our core values – honor, courage and commitment – are not solely military terms but life values for anyone. Additionally, these events give communities a chance to see firsthand what we do and allow Sailors to express our appreciation for their support.”

For more information on Navy Week, and to learn about events where you can meet Sailors like Petty Officer First Class Davila, visit: www.navyweek.org/neworleans. You can also become a fan of Navy Weeks on Facebook. Just search “Navy Weeks” or follow this link.

This post cross-listed.

Partners for Healthy Babies, the source for the right information on prenatal and child healthcare, is hosting a “Baby Fair” on Saturday, October 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Esplanade Mall in Kenner.

You can enter to win fabulous baby prizes while connecting with community resources that can help you make healthy choices for you and your baby.

Free immunizations and car seat safety demonstrations; clowns, face painting and a visit from “Sammy the Stork” for the little ones.

For information call 1-800-251-BABY (2229) or visit online at www.1800251BABY.org Some restrictions apply. Partners for Healthy Babies is a project of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals.

Media Contact:

Ann Wills, Keating Magee

504.299.7168

He spoke compelling at today’s Rising Tide, poignantly describing the how New Orleans lost the media battle regarding the city’s story of Katrina, the Flood, and recovery. He’s absolutely right, of course. Read any article about New Orleans’ recovery and go to the comments; they are ripe with misinformation, sweeping falsehoods, and complete hatred towards this city and the people within it. The reason it’s important for the people of New Orleans to continue to tell the story is because, somehow, the facts are still not understood: that this city was destroyed in a man-made disaster, a Flood that occurred when a Federally-funded agency failed to perform as it had been designed to perform because it was never built correctly. And I can’t believe we still have to say this, again, but FOR THE LOVE, this city is NOT below sea level! Can we move on now, please?

(See some video of Shearer’s speech here.)

–

A last minute cancellation resulted in my being a member of the Health in New Orleans panel (versus its moderator) — along with two well-known, established mental health professionals. One is consistently named a Top Female Achiever in the City for her well-respected work with the police mental health crisis unit; the other, a psychiatrist and medical director for a large local non-profit. I was an out-of-left-field addition to this group… I don’t have one primary affiliation with one organization, my scientific perspective is a bit different (public health), and I’ve spent nearly 4 years volunteering and researching how clients and health promoters navigate the waters of New Orleans social systems.

I wasn’t intimidated by the other panelists, but I definitely wanted to take the conversation to other places that I didn’t feel it was going (or maybe could not go). Instead of sticking to questions and topics that had been pre-arranged, the my fellow panelists opened the talk to the floor to do a large Q&A. What followed were a lot of discussions about local services, which I don’t find particularly useful in this type of venue: the panel wasn’t envisioned as a laundry list of mental health services for a reason, because people tend to not remember those sorts of specifics. (If you want to list services or achievements or whatever, bring a resource guide and pass out copies.) Panels, I feel, should build on that sort of available information. A more productive conversation may be one that discusses how we can supplement existing programs. As an example: what can be done to better support families to care for their loved ones transferred to facilities an hour or more away with the closure of NOAH? Or maybe a discussion of the sorts of a strategies we all can use to handle our own stress and mental illness outside of seeking professional providers? In my thought, the power of a group like RT is when you excite the room — after all, these are folks who write and read and write some more — so I think it’s important to try and throw out big issues. Let people get charged up and see what types of good actions come out.

I did try to throw in a few cents — pointing out that health is so much more than access, more than doctors and medicines. We are resource-poor in New Orleans, without a doubt, but focusing on access and getting more providers and opening more clinics and getting more people health insurance is ultimately a disservice to the people of New Orleans. I’m not saying these things aren’t important. I’m saying that in the end, these are not the factors that create healthy lives. What does create healthy people are the more difficult, more sensitive, more POLITICAL realities of our lives. Our physical living environments (FEMA trailers, polluted properties, abandoned structures, proximity to blighted areas), our work environments (are we respected? do we have benefits and fair pay? do we feel useful?), our school environments (are our children eating healthy lunches? are they learning? do they have pride in who they are?), our streets (can we exercise without fearing for our safety? are children safe walking home?), and our neighborhoods (can we buy affordable healthy foods close to our home? is there a clinic nearby to see a doctor for non-emergencies? can we get a medicine when we need it?) All of these factors contribute to our health: they create stress, they weigh on our hearts and minds, and when not addressed in comprehensive ways, they make us sick.

And, since the feeling of having no control over your life is a key part of mental illness, (as mentioned by a panelist) perhaps involvement in some of the issues above on a community level would help individuals find more purpose and agency in their lives. Just a thought.

But that’s not all.

And here is where I am embarrassed. My one note, the one thing I most wanted to discuss, maybe even the most important thing to discuss within the context of health and New Orleans, did not get mentioned. I didn’t know where to put it in without sounding like the crazy loon in the armchair throwing off the conversation… so I waited for a question from the audience that would let me bring it up. Unfortunately, it didn’t come. So I didn’t say anything about the issue of race and class… and neither did anybody else.

Which is a shame because we cannot consider the scope of health challenges of any kind within our city — access, stress, mental health, behavioral concerns, nutrition, whatever health issue one can think of — without discussing race and class. Race and class shape any health experience regardless of the location. But in New Orleans, it is a paramount issue. For one, before 2005, New Orleans was the only city in the country that had a defined two-tier system with separate and (un)equal medical facilities for the haves and have-nots. What has not returned post-Flood are those services for the have-nots. So what isn’t being said is that the reason these services aren’t here, or are being taken away, is because they are for a population that many do not want here in the first place. The rest of us work away at putting money and resources into community clinics (whose funding is not indefinite) and outreach and signing individuals up for public services — but how effective can we be in the long run if we never take a step back and look at the big picture?

In the panel that preceded ours, John Slade mentioned that the movement to re-open Charity Hospital was gaining support because Uptown whites were having to wait longer in medical facilities for treatment and were unhappy with the current desegregation of the system. Although flip, I think his comment speaks to an important truth… at the heart of our health concerns about access, treatment, and who gets care are long-held ideas about race and class. Until we address those base realities and histories with honesty, I’m not sure we can build a solidly healthy community — no matter how many top-of-the-line medical facilities we open.

(Note: cross-posted at coldspaghetti)