some new orleans rebuilding information - make it
information on new orleans, community groups re-building etc. , design/build mexico participant mark tirkpak, some interestin work going on.
lucy begg - did some work with neighborhood stories, etc. visit her here http://www.mappinglucy.blogspot.com for more information.
also visit http://virtualhana.blogspot.com for some interesting work from london/alabama.
email from mark tirkpak.
Hi all!I just got back from a week-long volunteer trip in New Orleans with a few other students - namely, Sam Schonzeit & Megan Clark. It was a chance to connect with some UTSOA alum (including CRP grad Ellen Wilmer) and to learn a little bit more about some of the non-profit work that is taking place in the city - along with contributing some "sweat equity."We were housed during our stay by The Green Project - www.thegreenproject.org- in simple but very decent (ac, kitchen access, bathrooms & showers) accommodations. The majority of our volunteer work in NO consisted of assisting the Green Project's recently formed de-construction crew with a "skim" - removing architecturally important elements from a house slated for demolition. The skim was performed at the request of the homeowner, and we primarily removed moulding and window units and salvaged major utilities - including second floor window ac units and large kitchen appliances.Unfortunately, we weren't able to assist with a true de-construction - but we got the sense that not many organizations in town are doing de-con or even skim work; this includes the local Habitat for Humanity. However, I heard on returning that Common Ground - www.commongroundrelief.org has been doing de-con in the lower 9th.The de-con crew that we worked with consisted of 3 young men trained by the Rebuilding Center of Portland, OR - http://www.rebuildingcenter.org/and their work has been supplemented by www.mercycorps.orgAs an FYI, the crew mentioned that they tend to salvage an overabundancy of window sills and oak wood flooring. This might be useful to consider in furniture and/or other design from re-claimed NO materials. The Green Project itself started in the mid-1990's as a neighborhood paint recycler. It grew to become a recycling center, office space for various non-profits (including the LA "bucket brigade" - featured in the movie "Blue Vinyl"), a "re-store," a recycle for the arts program, and now a garden center and de-construction crew.The Green Project welcomes volunteers - and is currently seeking assistance with its garden center and de-construction work. Please contact their volunteer coordinator for details.While working with the Green Project, we also attempted to create a shade structure for their rooftop ac unit, to try to help them lower their energy costs. Their acting warehouse manager was excited by the concept, and he plans to work with the prototype that we created from donated items to develop a more permanent (and organizational board-approved) shade structure.In addition, during our last few days in New Orleans, we had the chance to volunteer with Citybuild - www.citybuild.org - a new organization attempting to serve as a clearinghouse for all the various architectural and planning programs hoping to do hands-on work in New Orleans. Recent UTSOA grad Sarah Gamble is helping to facilitate this organization as an AmeriCorps VISTA member. Through work with Citybuild, we had the chance to assist briefly with a project in the 9th ward - in partnership with K-State (Manhattan, KS), and with a community garden project in the 7th ward - in partnership with the Porch Cultural Organization - http://neworleansnetwork.org/?q=node/950One of the founders of Citybuild, Dan Etheridge - also has expertise in bio-remediation, and would be a good contact for landscape architecture students or faculty members interested in projects in NO or other storm-hit areas.We also had the chance for touring and enjoying the city. We spent an afternoon exploring the inner city on bicycle - including the riverwalk and visiting the non-profit Plan B - the New Orleans Community Bike Projecthttp://planb.bikeproject.org/In addition, we planted some crepe myrtle trees in the historical 7th ward, with the co-director of the Neighborhood Story Project - http://www.neighborhoodstoryproject.org/about.htmlThis could be an interesting project for CRPers to follow up with - esp. students interested in the intersections of youth development and community development The French Quarter was incredibly lively, and we had the chance to enjoy beignets and latte at Cafe du Monde before catching the Rebirth Brass Band for a blistering evening set- an apt ending to an incredible week.Many "thank-you's" to all of our hosts. It took about 10 hrs each way and $100 in gas RT to make the trip (thank you, Honda civic!) . Housing was provided at no charge in exchange for our volunteering, but I made a donation of foodstuffs and cooking utensils and appliances for the kitchen to off-set our utility costs. I'm considering making an additional contribution to www.nativeenergy.com to off-set the environmental costs of our 1100 mile drive.Our hosts wanted to make sure that we got the word out that they are interested in supporting a plethora of UT and/or UT-related New Orleans efforts - faculty, student, and "other." If you need help connecting with any of the organizations listed above, please feel free to contact me.I'm personally interested in helping to organize similar week-long experiences for Katrina evacuees - and/or getting more evacuees involved in the rebuilding process (and re-connecting with the city) - potentially beginning next Spring. It is a great place to visit and lend a hand. Hope you continue to have a great summer!Mark Tirpak(512) 380-1051 - skype: mark.tirpak (you can reach me at this number on the road and while I'm in Brazil).PS - I would love to hear more about the work that various UTSOA courses and studios completed this semester related to New Orleans - and/or what's planned for the summer and fall. Could you share what was accomplished / what's on the horizon via the next Enews?
lucy begg - did some work with neighborhood stories, etc. visit her here http://www.mappinglucy.blogspot.com for more information.
also visit http://virtualhana.blogspot.com for some interesting work from london/alabama.
email from mark tirkpak.
Hi all!I just got back from a week-long volunteer trip in New Orleans with a few other students - namely, Sam Schonzeit & Megan Clark. It was a chance to connect with some UTSOA alum (including CRP grad Ellen Wilmer) and to learn a little bit more about some of the non-profit work that is taking place in the city - along with contributing some "sweat equity."We were housed during our stay by The Green Project - www.thegreenproject.org- in simple but very decent (ac, kitchen access, bathrooms & showers) accommodations. The majority of our volunteer work in NO consisted of assisting the Green Project's recently formed de-construction crew with a "skim" - removing architecturally important elements from a house slated for demolition. The skim was performed at the request of the homeowner, and we primarily removed moulding and window units and salvaged major utilities - including second floor window ac units and large kitchen appliances.Unfortunately, we weren't able to assist with a true de-construction - but we got the sense that not many organizations in town are doing de-con or even skim work; this includes the local Habitat for Humanity. However, I heard on returning that Common Ground - www.commongroundrelief.org has been doing de-con in the lower 9th.The de-con crew that we worked with consisted of 3 young men trained by the Rebuilding Center of Portland, OR - http://www.rebuildingcenter.org/and their work has been supplemented by www.mercycorps.orgAs an FYI, the crew mentioned that they tend to salvage an overabundancy of window sills and oak wood flooring. This might be useful to consider in furniture and/or other design from re-claimed NO materials. The Green Project itself started in the mid-1990's as a neighborhood paint recycler. It grew to become a recycling center, office space for various non-profits (including the LA "bucket brigade" - featured in the movie "Blue Vinyl"), a "re-store," a recycle for the arts program, and now a garden center and de-construction crew.The Green Project welcomes volunteers - and is currently seeking assistance with its garden center and de-construction work. Please contact their volunteer coordinator for details.While working with the Green Project, we also attempted to create a shade structure for their rooftop ac unit, to try to help them lower their energy costs. Their acting warehouse manager was excited by the concept, and he plans to work with the prototype that we created from donated items to develop a more permanent (and organizational board-approved) shade structure.In addition, during our last few days in New Orleans, we had the chance to volunteer with Citybuild - www.citybuild.org - a new organization attempting to serve as a clearinghouse for all the various architectural and planning programs hoping to do hands-on work in New Orleans. Recent UTSOA grad Sarah Gamble is helping to facilitate this organization as an AmeriCorps VISTA member. Through work with Citybuild, we had the chance to assist briefly with a project in the 9th ward - in partnership with K-State (Manhattan, KS), and with a community garden project in the 7th ward - in partnership with the Porch Cultural Organization - http://neworleansnetwork.org/?q=node/950One of the founders of Citybuild, Dan Etheridge - also has expertise in bio-remediation, and would be a good contact for landscape architecture students or faculty members interested in projects in NO or other storm-hit areas.We also had the chance for touring and enjoying the city. We spent an afternoon exploring the inner city on bicycle - including the riverwalk and visiting the non-profit Plan B - the New Orleans Community Bike Projecthttp://planb.bikeproject.org/In addition, we planted some crepe myrtle trees in the historical 7th ward, with the co-director of the Neighborhood Story Project - http://www.neighborhoodstoryproject.org/about.htmlThis could be an interesting project for CRPers to follow up with - esp. students interested in the intersections of youth development and community development The French Quarter was incredibly lively, and we had the chance to enjoy beignets and latte at Cafe du Monde before catching the Rebirth Brass Band for a blistering evening set- an apt ending to an incredible week.Many "thank-you's" to all of our hosts. It took about 10 hrs each way and $100 in gas RT to make the trip (thank you, Honda civic!) . Housing was provided at no charge in exchange for our volunteering, but I made a donation of foodstuffs and cooking utensils and appliances for the kitchen to off-set our utility costs. I'm considering making an additional contribution to www.nativeenergy.com to off-set the environmental costs of our 1100 mile drive.Our hosts wanted to make sure that we got the word out that they are interested in supporting a plethora of UT and/or UT-related New Orleans efforts - faculty, student, and "other." If you need help connecting with any of the organizations listed above, please feel free to contact me.I'm personally interested in helping to organize similar week-long experiences for Katrina evacuees - and/or getting more evacuees involved in the rebuilding process (and re-connecting with the city) - potentially beginning next Spring. It is a great place to visit and lend a hand. Hope you continue to have a great summer!Mark Tirpak(512) 380-1051 - skype: mark.tirpak (you can reach me at this number on the road and while I'm in Brazil).PS - I would love to hear more about the work that various UTSOA courses and studios completed this semester related to New Orleans - and/or what's planned for the summer and fall. Could you share what was accomplished / what's on the horizon via the next Enews?
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