This month is the ten year anniversary of hurricane Katrina. All my memories of New Orleans come to the forefront and today I pay homage to the grand adventure that was Blog Tour NOLA.I still think about this visit to New Orleans and what a full rich experience it was, encompassing so much more than design.
In 2013 I had the exciting opportunity to meet this special city in a most comprehensive and in depth way thanks to the innovative design resource Modenus. I also had the pleasure of meeting and touring with some super talented design pros who remain my friends.
KBIS was held in NOLA that year and was a key part of the agenda however, thanks to our sponsors, we also saw, tasted (culinary heaven), touched and felt the culture of New Orleans. As I read and hear about the Katrina aftermath today, I am reminded of our visit to the Lower Ninth Ward and the realization that in the bleakest of times there is hope.
Art documents culture and artists have found beauty and expression in the midst of destruction. This morning I was touched by this story of creativity that has blossomed in the Crescent City. You can listen to it on NPR. It mentions the Ogden Museum of Southern Art which we also visited!
One of my favorite NOLA moments was on Frenchmen Street where we popped into The Spotted Cat and roamed neighboring Frenchmen Street Art Market.
The day we visited the Lower Ninth, St. Paul's Homecoming Center, World Vision and KBIS united to tell the world through this press event that recovery was still in process and despite the fact that so much more needed to be done there was hope and progress. 
Today I proudly display the photo (below) by New Orleans photographer Andy Levine in my home. It was taken by him in the aftermath of Katrina. Thank you Modenus for the lasting gift of this special blog tour I was honored to be a part of. If you'd like to go back and see what I wrote of my experiences, including the culinary treats, in 2013 it starts here. 
Also, I must say , if you like Houzz you will love the new Modenus. It's a straight up honest design resource that facilitates connections between designers and homeowners as well as being a beautiful source of inspiration. Check it out! PS I got through this whole post without mentioning BEIGNETS once! Oooops.
Your Chance to Make a Difference
http://vimeo.com/64400893Last month I told you about the continuing recovery efforts eight years after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. This is what's transpired since my post. Modenus, has launched a campaign to get the word out. We'll be having a live Twitter chat tomorrow, Thursday, May 9 from 4-5pm EST. Please join, get involved, donate and help these people out. #blogtourNOLA will get you to the right place on Twitter. Funds raised during the Twitter chat will be dedicated exclusively to Joe and the St Paul’s Homecoming Center. Below is an excerpt of the story. Above is a video taken on the day of our visit to the Gentilly neighborhood of Joe and Gloria Robert. You can find more on the Modenus website here.Joe and Gloria Robert of New Orleans were newlyweds looking forward to a bright future together when Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in August 2005.Residing in their new house for just one month before Katrina slammed the city, the couple lost everything when the levee behind their house was destroyed - one of 53 levees in the city breached by the storm surge – and canal water swallowed the home. The Roberts evacuated the city, staying with various friends and relatives. When the flood waters receded weeks later, Joe and Gloria moved into a pop-up camper in their driveway for a while, but they’ve also been staying with Joe’s daughter from a previous marriage.Nearly eight years later, Joe and Gloria’s house is still uninhabitable. While a new house has been framed out, the building lacks essentials including electrical, drywall, flooring and plumbing. Because Joe is a contractor by trade, he has the skills to work on his house, but he has generously donated much of his free time to volunteering with St. Paul’s Homecoming Center helping to rebuild other people’s houses.Joe works on his home little by little, but is often derailed by setbacks such as having his house broken into and his tools stolen. Even though Joe was forced to save up until he could replenish his tool supply, he has not lost his faith in humanity.Fortunately, Joe and Gloria received some good news recently when Storehouse of World Vision selected the couple and their house for a rehab project. A few weeks ago Storehouse joined forces with the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and St. Paul’s Homecoming Center to help rehab kitchens and baths in three houses as a lead-in to NKBA’s Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) held April 19-21 in New Orleans.While Storehouse and NKBA partners have donated materials, appliances and labor for a new kitchen and bath in the Robert’s house, the rest of the unfinished home still needs lots of TLC.PLEASE GIVE NOWAbout Storehouse of World VisionWorld Vision’s Storehouse network is comprised of six warehouses across the U.S. that receive corporate donations of new, top-quality goods made available to local community partners for distribution. Goods that are distributed include building materials, school supplies, personal care items, and clothing to over 2.2 million people in low-income communities annually. About the National Kitchen & Bath AssociationNow celebrating its 50th Anniversary, the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) is a not-for-profit trade association that owns the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS®). With nearly 60,000 members, the NKBA has educated and led the kitchen and bath industry since the association’s founding in 1963. The mission of the NKBA is to enhance member success and excellence, promote professionalism and ethical business practices, and provide leadership and direction for the kitchen and bath industry worldwide. For more information, visit the NKBA Press Room orcall 1-800-THE-NKBA (843-6522). KBIS and NKBA are registered trademarks of the National Kitchen and Bath Association.
World Vision Teams with KBIS and St. Paul's in Continuing Katrina Recovery Efforts
I always like to discover the "backstory", what lies beneath the surface. When I discovered that a visit to neighborhoods ravaged by Hurricane Katrina was on the Modenus Blog Tour agenda, I was curious to see what it's like now and to meet a few of those who have survived both the tragedy of loss and it's aftermath. For many residents the loss has not ended. There were stories of theft and fraudulent contractors that just add insult to injury.
Our first stop was to the Bono Family Residence on Pasteur Blvd in the neighborhood of Gentilly, a tree lined working class neighborhood where once there were no empty lots. The Bono home was victim to 13 feet of water. They are receiving a new kitchen and bath courtesy of a collaboration between World Vision Storehouse, KBIS2013 and St. Paul's Homecoming Center. It's nice to see the kitchen and bath industry I belong to being a part of this project. 
It was here that we learned about a wonderful organization by the name of World Vision. It's a Christian humanitarian organization working with communities to fight poverty. The Storehouse of World Vision is a network of six warehouses that supply donated goods including building materials, personal care items, clothes and even school supplies. They partner with local organizations, in this case St. Paul's Homecoming Center, to distribute the goods and get the work done with the help of volunteers. Connie Uddo (an ex-tennis pro!) is the director and she is passionate about what she does. She cuts to the chase and at the same time cuts through the red tape to get the job done. "Tell us your story and we will help", she says.
30,000 homes were destroyed in Gentilly, a one hundred year old neighborhood of middle class and elderly residents. To date they are about 62% recovered with the help of 60,000 volunteers. FEMA has done much and continues to work in the area but more is needed. If you'd like to make a donation, click here for more info.
Next up: What's going on at Brad Pitt's Make It Right Foundation and how Cosentino is helping.