Chew On This:

  75% of all twitter postings are created by 5% of the twitter population.  But to really make this morsel of trivia appealing, check out David McCandles visualization of Twitter use, Truth About Twitter.  Visualizations run the gamut, from pretentious to prescient.  But it's usually worth a look.  Information is Beautiful is a great website for it

Other interesting news feeds:

• Switching to Efficient and Clean Energy Systems - 
• Can be presented as remarkably straightforward (visualization of surface area of solar power to power the world).
• Or remarkably complex - The Atlantic Monthly's study on California energy policy. 
  

 

Humpbacks in New Orleans

"Children of Camp Ace and AP Tureaud marvel at Humpback Whales."

Dear Friends & Family,

This is a potential headline for our story of a trunk-full of supplies, collected in a week-long drive down the eastern seaboard. Many thank yous to everyone who took the time to root through their closets and open their wallets in order to give.

Although I initially said the supplies would go to one school, it became clear upon arrival there needed to be a more equitable distribution. The two locations, small and large, both needed more materials as their resources were low:

• Pastor Bruce Davenport runs a variety of programs in connection with his church St. John's #5 Baptist Church (http://faithlikejesus.org/) . The programs include a Computer Training Center, Slow Learner Training Program, and a GED certification program. Running on sweat and energy, Pastor Bruce and his congregation have been operating out of trailers and makeshift homes to restore the classrooms to proper standards.
  
• AP Tureaud (k-8th) of the 7th ward which has an class size range of 25-30 students. All the essential subjects are taught (unfortunately there is little money for gym and music). School secretary Newlyn Walker was ecstatic at seeing the gallons of glue, backpacks, pens, pencils, soaps, markers, etc

The donation effort was truly a testament of what even a small amount of will and effort can yield. See for yourself:

• Binders: 16
• Packs of Markers: 11 (packs of 10+)
• Packs of Pencils: 12 (packs of 12+)
• Packs of Pens: 10 (packs of 15+)
• Colored Pencils: 6 (packs of 10+)
• Crayons: 2 ( of 64), 16 (of 24)
• Erasers: 2
• Glue Sticks: 3 packs
  
• Glue: 1 gallon, 10 standard size
• Educational Books: 47 books from Encyclopedias, Novels, Mathbooks, etc.
• Whales in the Wild DVD: 10 dvd's ..... http://www.inthewildproductions.com
  
• Miscellaneous Creative Arts supplies
• Notebooks: 35
• Lined Paper: 7 packs of 100
• Construction Paper: 3 packs
• Computer Paper: 2 packs (500 pages)
• Sidewalk Chalk: 1 box
• Rulers: 6
• Soap: 9 bars
• Shirts: 3
• Toothbrushes: 5
• Dry Erase Markers: 3 packs
  
• Highlighters 4 packs of 6
  
• Scotch Tape: 5 rolls
• Backpacks: 3
• Folders: 35
  

As for the checks they will be deposited this week into Neighborhoods Planning Networks (NPN) Account and then used to purchase Office Depot gift cards of the allocated value. Please check out our website at http://neighborhoodsplanning.com. We are currently in the process of updating and re-organizing our website. For now, you can access the original design with regular updates.

Once again thank you to everyone. Stop by often to make comments on the blog, suggest topics, and say hello.

Best Wishes,

-Gill Benedek

The Little Red School

Dozens of little children, mostly black, sip on their milk boxes in a hushed buzz of excitement. It's lunchtime at McDonogh 15 and the kids are starving. To my left is New Orleans Councilwoman Cynthia Hedge-Morrell, former principal of the school, and today a planner for the upcoming 75th Anniversary commemoration.

"I've got to say Gary I'm impressed. But when I was here there was such a nice dance hall. I got the French Quarter's Preservation Council to twist the arm of the school board so we could add the wing without changing the exterior," the Councilwoman remarks.



There are six of us helping to organize the kick-off celebration for McDonogh's 75th school year and no one is taking the matter lightly. With misty eyes and a forlorn look Lucianne Carmichael drifts through corridors and around rooms as if she were never Principal of the famous "Little Red School" for over ten years. "How long has it been since you've been in the building," I ask. Lucianne smiles and says "Well, not since I left as principal in 1985. This is the first time I felt it was safe for us to re-unite." Puzzled by the raw emotion bubbling beneath her expression, I chose not to press the issue.

McDonogh 15's legacy is one of community involvment and artistic expression, proven in part by its star-studded alumni: the Marsalis family, Trombone Shorty and all other manner of regional celebrity. A week and a half into my stay in New Orleans and I'm taking a tour with politicians, notable alums and three ex-principals who transformed McDonogh 15 into the most renowned public school in the entire city. No wonder there was an akward pause as current principal Gary Robichaux introduced me to a staff member, "And this is Gill, well he's not a principal but he's here to help."

I hope so. But after my first week I realize that "helping out" can be wrapped up in board politics and residential issues tighter than the kudzu vines suffocating trees all along southern highways. Every organization, planning committee, political infrastracture and citizen group are so wary of the surrounding landmines that most of the actual work of improving New Orleans gets shelved as secondary. Yet I digress, there will be a future posting attempting to clarify the rebuilding process. This posting is about the future, the kids.

The hallways of McDonogh 15 are unlike any school I've seen. If ever there was a model of running a tight ship this is the place. As our tour took us to the third floor, two classrooms burst into boast wars:

Teacher 1: "When is the best math class in the world going to College."
Class 1: "We're going in 2011."
Teacher 2: "Who's the best math class and when are you going to college?"
Class 2: "Gold Team 7th grade is the best math class and we're going to college in 2012!!!"

The enthusiasm is overwhelming. In other classes children are squirming in their seats, hands flailing high in the air to be called. Hallway walls are plastered with giant crossword puzzles and inspirational messages ("Discipline, Desire and Dedication") which can be admired as you walk along the floor's purple line. In most schools there are always some straggelers around the hall sipping on the fountain to whitle away the day. Not here. Every child seemed involved and engaged.

Jonathan Bertsch, assistant principal and co-ordinator of the 75th Commemoration, narrates our tour with pride streaking across his eyes. "McDonogh along with the KIPP program has extra Saturday classes for those testing two grades below their level and extra hours. We try and use our money in the places which will put kids first. We include the students on what they want to learn so that they have fun at school." McDonogh 15 is known as an educational institution where all stakeholders are invited to submit their suggestions. Councilwoman Cynthia is adamant about this point, McDonogh's Philosophy: "It is about education. Bring all the kids, parents, teachers, and neighboring residents to chip in their two cents." Now, Gill Benedek a two week resident of New Orleans, gets to add his.

McDonogh 15 contains the magical elixir New Orleans will need to cure itself. Part old-fashioned work ethic, part collaborative learning. Sounds mushy. But I assure you, money will fall through cracks and promises left unfulfilled if these ideals are not practiced. Nothing is guaranteed so the neighborhoods, local businesses, city politicians and outside interests will need to collaborate. For now I see the potential for fantastic improvement, but only if everyone can carry their load. As Dwana Makeba, a worker and friend at New Orleans Housing Resource Center quipped on the school, "You have to set the bar high for the kids and let them reach it. It's okay if they get some discipline, maybe it will stick." The same goes for the people of New Orleans. Our visions must match our committements.

Welcome to 2 Cents for Nola

On August 29^th 2006, I found myself holding hands with ten other strangers on the lawn of the Provincetown Unitarian Universalist Meeting House. Exactly one year ago Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast. Standing in the rain some 1,600 miles away from corrugated cars, gutted homes, and homeless residents, I try to imagine what my first day in New Orleans will be like.

This September I am working at the Neighborhoods Planning Network(NPN). The organization’s mission is to create an inclusive and collaborative city-wide framework to empower neighborhood groups in rebuilding their communities. More succinctly, an organization whose purpose is to organize the neighborhoods in getting what they need. The website is still in its early stages yet I encourage you all to visit it: www.neighborhoodsplanning.com.

Before I leave for New Orleans, with my trusty compadre Matt Saldana riding shotgun, I am in the process of contacting the displaced Gulf residents living in Massachusetts. Ms. Barbara Abdur Rahim, from Children Services of Roxbury, is one of the chief handlers of the over 500 family cases that have relocated in Massachusetts. With her help I am attempting to connect with the displaced and offer the resources of NPN:

Compared to the 200,000+ people who have not returned to New Orleans it may be a drop in the bucket. Yet, I believe the lack of pro-active initiatives is what transformed Katrina from the worst natural disaster into the worst human disaster of our country’s history.

As this is my first entry into I will explain the purpose and objective of this blog. Today more than ever time is of the essence. With respect to news we often only have time for the first page of a newspaper article or a sensational report on national news. This blog is a resource for anyone who is interested in:

a.) The on-ground stories of New Orleans. From rebuilding to red beans &
rice, I hope to share with you a sliver of the personal side of life in New Orleans.

b.) Staying Informed. After visiting the Gulf Coast in March I came back and hurled my frustration around the dinner table. “Where was the news about the lack of progress,” I demanded. Perhaps near page A13 in the Globe or as an occasional 5 minute segment on T.V. Hopefully, my blog can keep the information in-depth & interesting. The Gulf Coast should never be out of sight and mind.

I am not a polished journalist and sometimes I may go way off on a tangent. Yet I hope that the spirit of what I say, not the semantics, convey the information (And I also hear Brian laughing from afar). Below is a piece I wrote which is my unscientific, totally personal opinion on a question being asked around the world.

Thanks for taking the time to stop by and read my entries. Please make comments or questions.