Winding Down Day Two

After a blazing night of karaoke from the ASBer's, I have in front of me 25 participants playing pictionary. They sang their hearts out and let loose ... From "I want to dance with somebody" to Pretty Woman songs...

Four days ago, none of them knew each other.

Now they are connected.

Sunburned. Exhausted. Excited. All of them looking forward to the rest of the week's service projects. After Saturday, many of them may never see each other again ... at least in person.

It's different now: Many of the bonds formed here will last longer in digital life than they would have otherwise. People link up and share stories now in ways that were totally unrealistic even five years ago. It's hard to imagine what a volunteer center would be like without internet, video-blogs, myspace pages, facebook groups after this experience. Before my arrival, it was hard to imagine such a thing at all.

This is the connected generation, and I'm lucky to be a part of it.

Many will leave here changed. Many will return home to do more volunteer work. Some will share the story and get others passionate about giving back.

It will be easier--I hope. Because now, loved ones, families, friends, frat brothers and sorority sisters ... all of them can follow us in real time. See how we're making a difference in Southwest Louisiana and get that fire burning through the stories, images and the amazing time we are having here.

So keep following along ... in real time ... and watch these incredible people flex there service muscles to make great things happen this week.

See how the picture unfolds.

Still Breath Taking after one Week

It's been a week since ASB 2007 and "The Michigan Crew" can't stop talking about it. Throughout the week, the other individuals that embarked upon ASB, including myself, have reflected upon the amazing experience. Many people have continued to ask us how our trip was and we find that we can't put it into words. Even as we continue to approach many interviews by the media, it is still difficult to explain the nature of this experience.

Much love goes out to United Way for being so organized during this event. They made sure that every team was leaving the Volunteer Housing Center at 8 a.m. every morning on their way to their project site. As an individual it made you respect the event a lot because United Way was giving their best so you had to do the same. Then each team worked on different projects, so when we came back to the Volunteer Housing Center, each group had a different experience to share. Also at the end of the volunteer day, all the students were able to mingle together and get to know each other and their different lives.

This is what made this experience such a great event. From the dedication of United Way, the passion of all the students to commit to a good cause, and to the self gratification at the end, to realize that you've benefited a community after a natural disaster, makes ASB 2007 great on so many levels. Again I'm happy I was apart of it and I look forward to establishing something in my own community. Thank you to United Way and all the participants. God Bless!

Week 4 Team Leaders Arrive!!! ...finally

Welcome Back ... For the First Time

I've got my blogging shoes on: I'm ready to go.

This is my first time in Louisiana, first time in Lake Charles, first time serving with MTV/United Way ASB.

But it's familiar.

I recognize the energy, the logistical challenges, the passion on people's faces. The unknown. The yearning to contribute.

I recognize the AmeriCorps *NCCC teams and their signature grey t-shirts (I served Western Region Class VII ... a remarkable 6 years ago). I recognize Alternative Spring Break. I recognize United Way mobilizing multiple partners and people to make it happen.

I'm excited for the next ten days -- the intense conversation, reflecting on our role as volunteers and how to make a difference. Excited to get my hands dirty and to get to work. Excited to make the experience as valuable as possible for participants. Excited to have them go home and take on volunteerism in their own communities. Excited to get things done.

Bridging Passion to Action

That's my motto this week.

Bradford Frost

Angela Walker ASB 2007 Reflection

My Team on the first day at our site minus myself and Kawthar.

The Michigan Team on the first day.

The Michigan Team doing Karaoke. Yep I am actually up there dancing and singing.

My amazing team on the last day at our site. After we had weathered proofed the entire house, added the wood on the front of the house, started the roof, and added supports to the kitchen.

The worlds best ASB Team Leaders and my new friends!!!!

Its hard to put into words the impact that Alternative Spring Break 2007 had on me personally, professionally and emotionally. When I arrived in Lake Charles I never would have imagined what I was in for. The days were long, filled with hard work, enthusiasm and positive energy. The people I met were amazing and supportive. Support was important during this week because seeing the devastation to Louisiana was a very emotional and impactful experience. Throughout the week I found myself reaching out for a hug or kind word from people who were strangers only days before.

I was shocked by the end of the week the bond that I had formed, not only with my fellow team leaders, but also with my ASB group and our Michigan participants. The enthusiasm that our Michigan participants have for United Way from this single experience is wonderful. I am not only excited about the opportunity that ASB has given our Michigan team, but also the opportunities that ASB has given me, both personally and professionally. I am thankful to United Way of America, UWSEM and Patricia McCann, my director, who gave me this opportunity to go to Louisiana where I found a new energy around volunteering. I would also like to thank Kira Putt, my co-team leader, for her support during the entire experience at ASB.

ASB is something I will never forget. Its amazing to me how one week can truly change the way in which you view the world and your role in it. ASB showed each one of us the power we have when we come together as a group to give back to our local and national communities. I encourage each one of you who reads this blog to think about how you can give of your time through volunteering to positively impact your community!!!

Reflection Kira Putt

I have been home for 5 days and I still think about Lake Charles, LA at least 10 times a day. I will admit that that was one of the longest weeks of my life. Not only was I worn out physically but emotionally as well. But, it was one the most powerful weeks I have ever had the privilege of being a part of. First I want to say thank you to Angela who was my rock for the week. I also want say how proud I am to be part of an organization that sees the value in what a small group can accomplish and make an impression is what we all did in Lake Charles, LA and in Detroit, MI. I will forever remember all the participants from Southeastern MI and all over the country and all of the amazing team leaders from all over the country. Over laughter, tears, anger, karaoke, and community projects we all came into ASB as strangers and left with family and friends. Thank you to all of you for making a difference.

Overall Reflection: Kawthar Ali

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. --Margaret Mead

Alternative Spring Break 2007 in Lake Charles, Louisiana was an experience of a lifetime. I have been trying to find ways to express my feelings about the trip since day one. No words can ever explain how I felt when I saw the devastation caused by Hurricane Rita or when I began rebuilding. I was getting chocked up and ready to cry every single day, but I felt like I needed to be strong for the victims. I was ready to make a change in the community.

I met my team members on the second day of the trip. We came to be known as "The Pretenders." We were assigned to work on a Habitat for Humanity home in Lake Charles. We worked on putting large wooden blocks, plastic wrap, and insulation all around the house.

Throughout this process, we used hammers and millions of nails for everything to stay together. My favorite part of this project was when Vince, the site supervisor, taught me how to use a power saw. I was in charge of making the outline of the windows and using a power saw to cut them. It took a lot of time and precision but according to Vince, I did a great job.

On the last day, we were able to build the frame of the roof. This was a hard task but with team work and good communication, we were able to get it done. Marla, the house owner, was greatly appreciative and happy with our progress. We presented her with a “Welcome” mat and a picture of the team for her new home.

We also has another project to work on during the rainy days. Habitat for Humanity purchased a new and larger warehouse to be their new home. Equipments and tools were scattered all around the city, which made it hard for Habitat to get work done efficiently. There are over 10 offices in the building and a very large warehouse for storage. The only thing is that it was very dirty and filled with trash. We spent one of the days cleaning the rooms and bathrooms throughout the building. We moved garbage, furniture, and other stuff. I personally enjoyed being outside so Vince asked me to clean the backyard. I moved lumber, tables, and washed the driveway. After all the cleaning was done, the team began painting and vacuuming the offices.

We had the opportunity to meet some of the big workers for Habitat and they discussed some of their work with us. It was interesting to help the agency that helps rebuild homes in the community. I was really glad that I was able to take part in getting the new Habitat for Humanity warehouse ready for business. I know that their work will be more efficient with this new home.
I know that I only stayed at the Volunteer Center for a week but I felt at "home" from the beginning. Everyone was so welcoming and understanding. I did not feel out of place even though I was among strangers in an unfamiliar place. There was a strong connection between the participants and everyone from United Way. We woke up every morning and went through our days in an effort to accomplish the same goal. It brought us all close together and definitely enriched the experience. I loved being around people with positive energy who shared the same passion as me. This is made it hard for me to leave on Saturday because I wasn't ready to leave "home" yet. I wasn't ready to leave my ASB Family and say goodbye. I told myself that I will be back for more rebuilding and visiting soon :)

My experience in Louisiana opened my eyes to many things. I realized what I wanted to do with my life—give service to others on a full time basis. The people taught me to become a positive person and be strong. I am thankful for the friends I made and the individuals I met because they gave me hope. We shared tears, laughter, and memories. I feel like a new person eager to continue my service because of this experience. I thank United Way for Southeastern Michigan for giving me this opportunity. I hope that one day I will be able to fully express how this experience has changed my life for the better. To Adam, Terry, Kristen, Natalie, Ryan, and Randy—thank you! I couldn't have done it without you guys so thank you, thank you, thank you! Go forth and spread the light! :)

Love,
Special K

Words Can't even Say Thankyou (Adam Harris)

Over this past week I've enjoyed an experience that I will never forget and to all the people involved, I would like to say thank you. To United Way of America, I would like to say thanks for setting up an opportunity for young individuals in college to show themselves on a national stage doing volunteer work in the community. To United Way of Southwest Louisiana, I want to thank you for housing all the volunteers from all over the entire country and showing great hospitality to everyone. Also to United Way of Southeastern Michigan, I must thank all the people who worked very hard to make sure that Michigan was represented by ten great individuals. My life has been changed and because of this event I can go back to my community and volunteer from this experience.

Other people that I want to thank are the individuals from The University of Michigan-Dearborn whom made this opportunity run smoothly. Randy who works in the Student Activities Office, worked side by side with Angela at United Way of Southeastern Michigan on getting all the volunteers on board. We received emails and phone calls everyday to make sure we were updated with information on what was going on prior to our experience. Also to Regine Williams, who informed me about this event and insisted that I take apart of it, I want to say thank you and thank you again.

Lastly, I want to thank the community of people behind me supporting me on this event. To my friends and family that stayed in touch with me while I endured this great experience, I say thank you. To Kawthar, Ryan, Terry, Natalie, Kristen and Randy for being a family to me during this entire trip to the Gulf Coast, I want to say thank you. For your kind generosity and friendship that you displayed to me during my first flight and experience in Louisiana, you are individuals in which I know will be very successful in life. Continue to keep your head high because your destination is influenced by your determination. To everyone else whom feels left out of this blog, I appreciate you following my experience and reading my blogs. I love you and God Bless you all.

Again Thank You All!

Emotions Begin to Run (Adam Harris)

Today was the last official day of Alternative Spring Break 2007. Even though everyone is scheduled to fly out and return to our homes tomorrow, our work is done today. I found my energy level to be medium level today because I was excited about the week of experience but sadden that today could be the last time that I might see Rocky and her two sons. Also all the participants of the event will be missed and I pray that everyone has a safe trip home.

What an experience! All around I feel I've become a better individual and citizen in society. From the tour of Louisiana, to the dormitory experience at the volunteer housing center and the opportunity to help another person, I feel that I've evolved into a better human being. At the end of the event you walk away feeling high in self-esteem and value to society. You begin to realize that you have taken time out to think about other people whom might be less fortunate than yourself.

As I look back upon ASB 2007, I am thankful to all the people and sponsors that made this event possible. First, I must thank United Way of Southeastern Michigan, United Way of America and United Way of Southwest Louisiana. Other sponsors such as FedEx, EB Games, and Nike, made this experience one memory that will not be forgotten. Also I must give thanks to Randy, a faculty member at the University of Michigan-Dearborn that made it easier for the students to participate and to Kawthar that arranged the airline flights and trips to and from the airport. Lastly, I must thank my family which has supported me every step of the way. I kept in touch throughout the week and they have done the same. I love you all.

As lunchtime hit, everyone went out to eat except for me, a couple of the girls and Rocky. Rocky could tell I wasn't in full spirit so she asked me what bothered me. I told her that it began to hit me that today was the last day of ASB and that I will miss the boys and the entire experience. She understood my feelings and told me to call home. I listened and called my mom. When Rocky talked to her, she told her about my down spirit and how it displayed upon my actions. Mom told me that this is apart of life. When you involve yourself in experiences such as this you get attached really quickly and become saddened at the end. The truth is that this wont be the end but the beginning of the evolution process. The beginning of a long-term relationship in which I've attached myself as a family member of Rocky and her family. The beginning of having a mentor responsibility that David and Gabriel can call me at anytime about anything. Lastly, the beginning of doing big things and having big dreams that nothing is to hard or impossible to achieve. I feel blessed and delighted that I was chosen for this event.

So as we left, I prayed that Rocky and her family would continue to receive help restoring their home. I prayed that David and Gabriel would not be sucked up into the world winds of life that oppress people all over the world. I also asked that God bless the entire state of Louisiana and all the victims of hurricane Katrina and Rita. So may God Bless you and keep you in the good times as well as the bad.

The Last Day

The last few days have been amazing! It is Friday, and we are counting down to the closing ceremonies. I never would have imagined that people with such different backgrounds, personalities, and hometowns could become such close friends. At the start of this trip I was worried that I had made the wrong decision about my choice to join United Way on ASB, but I can gladly say that in no way do I regret my decision, and you can expect to see me back next year.
On Wednesday, we finished Ms. Veras house and got to go home a bit early because it was too late in the day to start another project.

Yesterday, we had a very interesting day. We began work on a house which had massive water damage. Although I had heard stories of people being taken advantage of after the storm, I had the unfortunate experience of witnessing it first hand. The home we were assigned belonged to a 65 year old woman who just recently had knee surgery, and was a semi-famous blues singer in her prime. During hurricane Rita, her roof sustained massive damage, but her insurance company gave her money to have it fixed. It is sad that there are people in this world that would take advantage of those who have nothing, but that is exactly what the roofers she hired did. They were paid to complete the job, but did not do so in full. As a result, she was unable to afford a new roof, and her house leaked for the following 18 months. These leaks caused mold and water damage that far surpassed the damage of the hurricane. We did all we could to help her, but due to the discovery of black mold in her roof, we were only able to put tarps on her roof to prevent further damage.

Today has been one of the most enjoyable days that I have had in a long time. My group had the privilage of playing with the dogs and cats at the local animal shelter. I spent the majority of my day running around in the dog park with cream, brown, and black labs, as well as a golden retriever. We all got nice and muddied up all morning, and got a good washdown in the afternoon. Due to the large number of displaced animals, the animal shelters have been forced to put down animals rather quickly due to capacity issues.

I am sure that I am going to have a ton to say tomorrow about all the wonderful people that I have met here after my 6 hour drive home tonight. I am not looking forward to the closing ceremonies tonight, and I am going to miss all of you. If you are ever in north Texas, make sure to let me know because you are always welcome!

Almost Done

ALMOST DONE---->
----->BEFORE

Team Frog has been busy and I havn't had much time to blog. This week we had the opportunity to meet with two different elderly woman who needed exterior work done to their house. We had the priveledge to work on their houses and hear their stories from the hurricane. Above is Ms. Kershaw's home. Today we will finish this home by doing a brown accent color on the railings and shutters. She was an amazing woman to help. She told of the damage to her house from the hurricane and was able to show us the water mark about 3ft high on her door where the water had previously flooded her home. She was extremely appreciative of the work that was done, and made the group lunch on one of our workdays. This experience has been rewarding for the work we have done as well as the stories we had the priveledge to listen to.

Day Six- Tearing up the Floor (Adam Harris)

Energy was on my side today. I woke up from a good nights rest and was eager to get on site for work. We finished the last couple pieces of sheet rock and the next assignment was to tear up the floor for reconstruction. The two women on the right are ladies that I must give credit to.

Chauncie and Jen Jen can really work and they become energy to make sure that you are doing your job. As you can see by their smiles, they are very passionate and enjoying every moment of this experience.

Today we got down and dirty. We finished the sheet rock around the kitchen, then we started to demolish the floor. Tearing up the floor outside the kitchen was harder than I thought. Layers and layers of wood had been laid down over the years and all of it needed to come up. During the day we experienced a scary moment, one of the ladies fell through the floor while standing on a soft spot. However we barely noticed it because it happened so fast and then she immediately jumped back up. She began laughing about the whole thing but I took the matter very seriously. Good thing there is no basement.

After we got done, it was almost time to leave. We sat down and had a chat with Rocky. She told me that she wanted to introduce me to her niece and then she showed me a picture of her. She is a very beautiful girl and she has graduated from school already. We also talked about our day tomorrow and she told us that she will miss each and everyone of us. As she broke into tears, I gave her a hug and told her that she has my number and that she can call me at anytime.

So as this week comes to a closure, I'm sure it will be very hard to leave behind me a family that I've made. Rocky from day one has opened her home to me and the crew and I love her for it. I will miss David and Gabriel because I see very bright futures ahead of them. I just pray that God continues to shelter there family with love and grace and they continue their strength in the Lord. God Bless you all.

"Building" Experiences of a Lifetime

Hello to everyone reading this back home or in other parts of the country who interested in our experiences here in Lake Charles!

It's been awhile since I've had a chance to write, so I'm excited to update all of you on myself and my team's progress so far this week. Our team - the Seals or "Sloppy Caulkers" - have been working on a Habitat For Humanity worksite all week where two brand-new homes are being built for Hurricane Rita survivors.

The house shells were completely finished when we arrived on site on Monday and it's been our job to complete the interior installations and perfections in order for the families to move in. It's been a blast. My team is fantastic and I couldn't ask for a better bunch of people to work with. You name it, we have it on our team - people from Texas, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Mississippi, California, Michigan and New York. Everyone gets along great and the best part is that we all work well together while having fun at the same time.

My job, along with John (Jersey) and Renee (Zona), for the most of the week was to install all the moldings in both houses. Whether it was measuring and cutting for doors or floors, we have mastered it. I have become a beast with the nail gun and our system of cutting and installing is second to none :) Clad with tape measures, pencils and our other trusty tools, we have outfitted both houses.

In addition to that, I have been able to grout a bathroom floor and install cabinets in both kitchens. All this knowledge I never had before should come in handy down the road when I have my own place. Need to find a stud in the wall? I've got you covered. Want help caulking and installing folding doors? I'll be there.

But most importantly, the people we are helping seem exteremly appreciative and are just plain awesome. The other day, one of the eventual owners, Shellie, stopped by with her daughter, Brittany. While we were woring, Brittany proceeded to the back room and smiled, shouting, "This is going to be my room!" The moment was priceless and helped all of us to make a connection between our hard work and Rita victims' lives. Shellie has never owned a home before, as her apartment was destroyed by Rita. Habitat allows her and others like her to purchase newly-built homes for around $60,000.

The houses are almost complete, save for some flooring to be put down and a little spot painting. Our site manager, Chester, has been helping us all week and does a great job managing the group while letting us do our jobs without interruption. Again, the trip has been amazing so far, an expericence I'll surely never forget. With so many friendly people and the opportunity to help others in need, my intentions for returning next year are growing by the day.

Take care and talk to you all soon!

KPLC-TV Lake Charles/Lafayette, Louisiana: Hurricane Rita Video/DVD - An Alternative Spring Break

An Alternative Spring Break

March 14, 2007

Reported by: Britney Glaser

There are no bikinis hanging on the clotheslines at the Southwest Louisiana Volunteer Center in Moss Bluff...and the dorm rooms don't quite have a beach front view. But, that does not matter to the more than 300 volunteers that are choosing to spend their Spring Break in Southwest Louisiana. Shaunna Ruben of New Jersey says, "Who would want to go to Miami when you can come down to Louisiana and do projects like this?"

Forget soaking up the sun on a sandy beach for these Spring Breakers. "We're actually doing some removal and reconstruction of Camp Wi-Ta-Wentin," says Charlie Birchmeier, a volunteer from Michigan.

These volunteers are soaking in the Louisiana humidity and experiencing nature's destruction first-hand. Emma O'Brien is a volunteer with Americorps out of Sacramento, California. She says, "People really wanted to come down and see for themselves and see the difference they can make."

The program that these volunteers are taking part in is called "Alternative Spring Break" and it is headed up by United Way support. Stephen McMahon, Project Manager with Alternative Spring Break, says, "Across the Gulf Coast, there are needs and we're engaging young people not only locally, but from around the country."

In 2006, United Way of America in a partnership with thinkMTV created "Storm Corps," which brough close to 100 volunteers to the Gulf Coast for recovery efforts. Chauncie Burton of New York City was one of those participants. After Burton saw the difference she could make for the hurricane-affected Gulf Coast residents, she joined the Alternative Spring Break program for a second year. "Even though it happened a while ago," says Burton, "there's still the repercussions of it and people are still struggling and still trying to get by. They still need our help and support and appreciation from wherever we are."

These Spring Breakers are working on a total of 15 sites ranging from construction in Cameron Parish to debris removal in Moss Bluff. Kathy Williams with United Way SWLA says, "Oh, it's been great. They are so energetic and just ready to do anything. They're even coming in with projects and they have their own ideas of things to do."

At Camp Wi-Ta-Wentin in Calcasieu Parish, the damage left by Rita is still visible. Wayne Bebe with Campfire USA says the storm's damages have been tough to deal with, but this group of volunteers is making a huge impact on the future of the grounds. "They're so amazingly committed," says Bebe, "It's just unbelievable. So, it will be like 1,600 manhours that these guys have donated, in lieu of going somewhere like Miami Beach or Cancun."

Many of the volunteers have never been to Louisiana before, and they say seeing the devastation from the storm first-hand has truly been an eye-opening experience.

The group of Spring Breakers here this week will head out on Friday...but then a new group will head in for the following week to continue working on the project sites!

Day Five - A Talk with David (Adam Harris)

It was another day at work for the crew and it was a success. The sheet rock around the kitchen was being put up real fast and everyone was determined to finish the kitchen and the second room. As everyone worked very hard, a news reporter from the local area came to report on our work and experience. The reporter decided to interview Rocky (the home owner) and her two children. David and Gabriel are two young boys who I know I will miss when this entire experience is over.

After the interview, Gabe and David began to act up and become extremely playful. When it was time to clean up, Rocky used this time to embarrass her two boys in front of the entire team. At first the team didn't quite understand why but later I had to explain to them the reason for this. In the African American community, if you embarrass your parent or act out in front of a group of people, you better expect to receive the equal and opposite treatment. Rocky began to explain that our crew is friends of hers and to disrespect her in front of her friends is the worst treatment and humiliation to give her. After the conversation I took David outside and explained to him why his mother was so hard on him.

Standing on the porch with the door closed, I remembered the ways in which I was brought up and the individuals whom made an impression upon my life. I shared with David what it's like to be a parent, living day to day in the conditions that he lives in. From the first day, I told David a quote from my child life that I remembered which was, "Success comes from the heart." This is a very simple quote but so rememberable and true in meaning. I explained that honoring his mother is not only a role in which he should adhere to but want to do because it is the only request and expectation to a child, given by God. I told him that if he wants to live a long time he will be respectful and honorable to his mother, and when you do this you become successful. I also told him that education is very important and learning about the fundamental principles of life will help him a great deal. Lastly, I told him to be good and be respectful to everyone, no matter what color or ethnicity they may be. When I was done I embraced him with a big hug and told him, "I love you." He had a big smile upon his face.

I felt it was my duty to step in the place of a big brother and share with him the respect and care that a child like myself gives to his community. I told him about my family and my life in which I love so dearly. When I explained to David that doing things from the heart will get you ahead in life, I told him that this is why I am here in Louisiana today because I love to help and give back. So until next time God Bless and continue praying.

Before and After on our site

Kitchen before:

Kitchen after:

Our House- Day One

Our House - Today

The impact of ASB

This week has been flying by. I can't even put into words what an amazing time and experience this has been. My team began working on a home yesterday for a woman who lived in Detroit. She grew up in LA and then moved to Detroit for 12 years and moved back to LA only 1 yr. before hurricane Rita. She lost her apartment during hurricane Rita and now she is in the process of getting a brand new home with 3 bedrooms. It's amazing to be able to be part of this process and it feels even more ironic that she once lived in Michigan the place that I call my home. It's amazing what a small world we live in and how much we can change one an others lives.

The day has been long and full of excitement so I just have a brief time to blog

Day Four: 2nd Day on Site

I don't even know where to start. So much learning, rebuilding, and bonding has happened that I feel a little overwhelmed. I wish y'all were all here to see it and experience it for yourself. It is a lot different from what I expected.

Team Pretenders started the day bright and early by arriving at the Habitat site at 7:30am! Two Americorps members, Emily and Emma, also joined our team. I like having them around because they are familiar with the area and answer all of our questions. When arriving at the site, we were met by Vince, our site supervisor, who has been working for Habitat since September. He is a resident of Lake Charles and enjoys doing his job. We began the workday by framing the house. This involved putting huge blocks of wood all around the house. We had to make sure that there were no gaps between the blocks and work really hard on nailing them. The process seems easy but it actually takes a lot of time and people. So I worked on putting the blocks up along with Molly, Brian, and Allison. The other team members began nailing the blocks to the house. I think we used thousands and thousands of nails for the block woods to stay up with the house.

After that, Vince taught me how to use a power saw! That was the highlight of my day :) I seriously did not think I was strong enough to operate a power saw but I was wrong. I was so good at it that Vince had me teach two of my other team members (Amanda and Brian) and supervise them. We used a power saw to make the outline of the windows on the wooden blocks. It was great! I took lots of pictures which I'll share with y'all soon :)

While working with the power saw, my other team members worked on putting plastic and insulation wrap all around the house. The Americorps members helped us with this project. All this work kept us busy throughout the day. We were surrounded by mud which made it hard for us to move around. My feet have never felt so heavy.

I almost forgot to mention that we met the house owner as well. She was a very nice lady and told us a little bit about herself. She was kind enough to buy the team a chocolate cake to show her appreciation for all of our hard work. It was cool having her around and the opportunity to talk to her.

As a team, we accomplished so much today. We put wooden blocks up, nailed like no other, used a power saw, put insulation wrap all around the house, and cleaned. It was amazing to take a step back and look at how much was done. It is a great feeling when I realized that I took a part in rebuilding a house for a deserving family.

More updates soon :)

Day Four- Second Day on Site (Adam Harris)

First and foremost I would like to thank everyone for their support and prayers during this week. I have been reading the comments from everyone and I miss you all. I will see you next week and God Bless.

Each day seems to get more interesting. Today started a little slow for my crew because we did not have the tools, neither the instructions from the inspector to do our job. Tools such as hammers and drills were needed to start putting up the sheet rock in the kitchen.

As we waited, I pulled out my mp3 player and played some classical R&B for the team. Everyone sat around and chatted with "Rocky" as the music played. Finally the inspector came and we got to work. With very limited space to work in everyone worked really well together and hard, to put the sheet rock up in the kitchen. The process was a little slow at the beginning but it picked up as everyone learned how to do the job.

I must give credit to the 13 ladies in my group because they work so hard and non stop. For myself, I try to be the energy behind the team by keeping everyone laughing and smiling at all times. My team leader Chauncie, has her boyfriend coming in town tomorrow and I have a challenge set up against him in basketball. I'm sure this will be fun.

Everyday it seems like the team gels more and more closer together. The bond that we have is becoming stronger because we realize how much each person loves to volunteer his/her time to their own community. This is our way of giving back and it helps build us individually as well as collectively. I'm so happy to be apart of this experience and it was all I expected it to be and more. God Bless you all!

Day two on the site

Yeah day 2!!!!! We went back to OD's house and almost finished the floor. We finished the kitchen paneling YEAH! Last of the painting, drywall, and taping. I am happy to almost finish. Bill from rebuilding together has been amazing as well as the non-profit Rebuilding Together has been great too. Tomorrow we are at both houses. I have been here for so long I am hating to go back home.

Long Past Due

For starters I would like to note that I have neglected these blogs a bit. I mean, who wants to read my thought on admissions and premonitions, prior to the experience of ASB anyways? To save hours of time for both you and myself, I'll instead fill you in with the spark notes of what would have been. Several weeks, if not months have gone by since my last notes regarding my expectations of this experience. In truth, as Spring Break crept closer, I felt as if I was missing out on one of my seemingly few college spring break experiences. The beast began to consume me further as my friends increasingly exhibited their excitement over their "normal" spring break plans of beaches and booze. The drive down to Southwest Louisiana was spent feeling lost as to my reasons behind why I chose to help in a place that devastation had long past.

My first night in Lake Charles my frustration only worsened. I didn't feel like I connected with anyone. Everyone seemed so different that I could see no hope in finding someone, anyone for that matter to connect with. On Sunday, there seemed hope that this storm of self pity would end. As we traveled on tour to various corners of the parish, I was shocked by the destruction that was still abundant. There was far more destroyed than repaired, and the only structures signifying that this was indeed our country of charity, was the repaired High School football fields. This structure signifies the community's unity, and showed me the first justification behind why this disaster prone region must be rebuilt. The culture and strength of these resilient people shows virtue that cannot be defeated by the loss of their homes.

Over the past two days, my team has been rebuilding the interior of a home in the local area. Ms. Vera, the home owner is one fortunate individual of only 120 people who are currently receiving storm aid in the parish. There are currently over 3,000 families in the limbo of applications and scams. Although I cannot empathize with her family's losses, and pray that I am never in a situation in which I can, it is evident how our presence has, and will forever change the lives of her family. My team of 10 of the most amazing volunteers from around the country have and will continue to change the lives of people like Ms. Vera's family over the next week, and I can't wait to elaborate further. ASB is a testiment to the goodness in people, it just took a while for it's message to effect me that way that it has.

Home Sweet Home

A little over a year ago the moving truck stopped in front of my new home. The first thought was, "This was ours. A place that everyday I would lay my head down with my husband." I had a feeling of pride that I have never sensed before.

Sunday we took a community tour of Cameron Parish. It was surreal. Homes were placed in the marsh like play figurines. Refrigerators, stoves, roofs and debris laid on the side of the highway.

My first feeling was guilt because at the end of this week I will return and almost know for certain that I will have a home. It was overwhelming - I could feel the tears filling my eyes.

Returning to the volunteer center we were given the sites that our teams would be spending the next week and mine was Cameron Parish (a little under an hour from the volunteer center).

As we arrived to our site we were greeted by Brother Landrey and his wife, Bobby, who had lost their house from Rita. They bought their grandmother's house which was destroyed by only 50%, so they lived in a FEMA trailer for 6 months while rebuilding. The house is almost done and they are working to finish parts of the roof.

I was moved by the enthusiasm of my team to get down and dirty to help them. They worked through the rain and kept smiles on their faces. I was so proud to be part of this experience. It has truly been moving.

By the end of this week I hope that we will be able to help the Landrey's finally say "Home sweet home."

Day Three - First Day on Site (Adam Harris)

Check out my video!

Today was a great day. We woke up early this morning at 6:30 a.m. and had breakfast. Breakfast is for one hour because the United Way team leaders want us loaded in the vans at 8 a.m., leaving and headed toward the site.

My team name is "Da Bears" and for those back home I did not personally want this name but the ladies out ruled me. My thought of a team name was "The Saints" because that is the name of pro football team in New Orleans and the name brings positiveness. However, we met a lady today who was affected by Hurricane Rita. She welcomed us in opened arms and she was very happy that we chose her home to restore.

As we took a tour of her home it was very hard to realize that she is still living there. The floor had holes in it, there were cracked windows and conditions that most normal citizens wouldn't live in. I gave the lady a lot of credit and respect for being strong and stable. She did not allow herself to be a victim of the disaster but a survivor.

Today our task was to install fiber glass into the walls for insulation. The project went very quickly because most of the team was working. After we were done in the kitchen, we moved toward the back of the house were a lot of damage prevailed. The back of the house took more work and effort because there were some walls that needed to be torn down. When we demolished the walls, we then worked on removing the paneling that had no fiber glass between the inside and outside wood. This part was harder than expected because we had to work around the unstable windows that were sitting in the wall with little support. During the process we saw some type of lizard in the wall that made himself a home.

During the day we also got a chance to meet the two sons of the lady. The seven year old was very excited to have company but the four year was a little shy. I took the four year-old outside and had a race with him in the yard. He beat me every time but others would say he cheated. I also took a picture of him on the top of a stomp. He was excited and posed like a celebrity rapper.

Afterwards we had a photo shoot by MTV and the national United Way. I was personally interviewed by the national United Way and the video should be up pretty soon. However today was a great day because I got a chance to play basketball with some of the students. I did my thing and had fun. Well until I blog again be safe and God Bless.

(Sorry for the delayed blogs, the computers have been down at times).

Day one on the site

So day one on the site with the new team. We rocked it out hard. We got so much done. So the house we are at is Mrs. Gwendaline's home in Lake Charles. Her house has both hurricane and fire/smoke damage.

WOW we have a lot to do.

We were able to DEMO the Kitchen, Dinning Room, Ceiling, and Windows. After we cleaned out all the debris, we then started on prepping the studs for drywall. After all that we still did even more. We then supported the ceiling braces, rafter beams, and room divder between the kitchen and dining room. Mrs. Gwendaline was right beside us the entire time.

FedEx was nice enough to deliver our lunch. Another great start with Rebuilding Together. Our TEAM ROCKS!!!!!

Tomorrow we are back finishing the house from last week. Tomorrow we will be all be able to give him a home.

Westland Observer Article: Brandon and Kristen

This article is in the Westland Observer.

Article published Mar 11, 2007

2 Westland residents volunteer during Alternative Spring Break

Two Westland residents are among 14 metro Detroit volunteers who are giving at least a week of their time volunteering for United Way's Alternative Spring Break 2007.

Brandon Hannah and Kristen Lewis will be in Lake Charles, La., to help in the long-term recovery efforts to rebuild the Gulf Coast area still devastated by the 2005 hurricanes. United Way for Southeastern Michigan is taking the volunteers to Lake Charles, La., for one week -- March 10-17.

Alternative Spring Break is sponsored by FedEx and GameStop/EB Games. MTV is serving as the media partner, promoting the program and filming a documentary called "The Amazing Break," which will air the weekend of March 23.

Hannah, 24, of Westland, is a foster care case manager with Catholic Social Services. He received a degree in social work from Madonna University in 2005 and works closely with children. He and his wife are expecting their first child in July.

Hannah feels a special connection with those impacted by the hurricane's devastation, since he has family living in New Orleans and the Louisiana area.

"Everyone knows somebody who was affected by the hurricanes," said Hannah. "We cannot forget that this is a long-term project to help rebuild the lives of many who were displaced during the hurricane. I feel that everyone can help in some way and Alternative Spring Break is my opportunity to give back."

This is not the first time Hannah volunteered out of state. He volunteered in Morelia, Mexico, for two weeks while in college, working in a soup kitchen and providing play therapy at the local Children's Hospital.

"I would hope that if anything happened to me, someone would be there to help. I would like to do the same."

Lewis, 20, of Westland, is a sophomore at University of Michigan-Dearborn. She is excited to join Alternative Spring Break, saying she has always wanted to make a difference in someone's life.

"United Way is committing to making a difference and seeks out the best college students," she said. "Their dedication to helping others is what attracted me to the opportunity."

Lewis is studying political science and public relations and works as a cashier at Best Buy. In her spare time, she is the service coordinator for her sorority, Delta Phi Epsilon, and teaches catechism classes at St. Dunstan's Church in Garden City.

Some 300 college students from across the country will be participating in Alternative Spring Break during March. Its goal is to inspire young people to engage in community service during their spring vacations.

This year's volunteers will clear debris, restore local schools and nature trails, and repair some of the more than 1,700 homes that still have blue roofs, which are temporary FEMA tarps that prevent further damage. United Way of Southwest Louisiana will provide volunteer housing and project support.

"United Way's Alternative Spring Break is a great way to engage young people to make a lasting difference in our country," said Michael J. Brennan, president and CEO, United Way for Southeastern Michigan. "Families affected by the 2005 hurricanes are still recovering from the devastation. The progress that will be made by the collective action of these committed volunteers, and the lives they will touch through their efforts, is an amazing example of what can be done when we work together."

This is the second year for Alternative Spring Break. In 2006, United Way of America partnered with thinkMTV to create Storm Corps to help those directly affected by the 2005 hurricanes. Nearly 100 volunteers traveled to Biloxi, Miss., and Foley, Ala., to remove debris from yards, repair porches and roofs, tear out walls and rebuild a youth recreation center.

"I never knew I could learn to do so many things to help make abig difference," said Brian Sawyer, who participated in last year's efforts and will be returning this year as a team leader. "It was the greatest experience and the most inspiring of my life. I learned that anyone with determination and passionto make a difference can.

"This year I hope to gain the commitment of other young adults like me to come back motivated to build our own communities stronger."

"You don't have to go far to make a difference," Brennan said. "There are lots of opportunities to give back right here at home. What you get in return is the priceless gift of helping others."
To learn more about year-round volunteer opportunities, go online to www.uwsem.org/ and click on "Get Involved" or call United Way's 2-1-1.

[Source]

Day 2

not much sleep happened over the night. We had so much fun meeting new people we didn't get to bed until late....then we slept boy scout camp style in bunk beds! They put the big guy on the top bunk! To the left is the picture of our sleeping arrangements. It's a good laugh.. and it's been a lot of fun.

We were also able to go on a trip and see the devastation from the hurricane....over a year later. Peoples houses were blown away and floated into a swamp area. The houses are still in tact, half sunk into the swamp area. It's hard to believe they would want to rebuild, especially with the chance this could happen again......but I am learning that there is a strong sense of community down here. It is definately more than I have seen back home. I'm looking forward to what tomorrow holds as we start our projects. I am on TEAM FROG! YAY! GO TEAM! Hopefully, there will be pictures to add soon!

Day Two: Kawthar Ali

The day started with breakfast, a community tour, orientation, dinner, and then some Cajun music. The community tour was given by an Americorps member and it took us by Cameron Parish, LA. Here are some of the things I learned...

• What happened in Cameron Parish is known as the Rita Amnesia. Hurricane Katrina got so much of the media that Rita was forgotten about.
• Everything is LA was effected by Rita. The people who evacuated and came back to not homes, the children with no schools, the dead trees, the dead animals, and the ones who were disorientated.
• 37 thousand heads of cows and horses needed to be burnt after the hurricane.
• So many alligators got disoriented due to the water that people here started to help bring them back. At one point, one can see many alligators just floating around--dead! This had an impact on the ecosystem.
• There are many trees but almost 60% of them are dead! No leaves, no green, just there.
• When going over the InterCoastal Bridge, you can see a few abandoned houses in the middle of the water that were brought there by the hurricane.
• There was a time known as "Look and Leave" where people were given time to take a boat to their house, mark it with an address, and then leave. This was for government reasons. One can still see some of these houses when driving--just marked, waiting to get rebuild.
• People did come back to lake Charles and Cameron Parish but def. not as many as there used to be.
• At one street, there used to be 47 houses and now there's only 5!
• The people came back to no homes, lost a loved one, and some had to re-bury a loved one. Due to LA being below sea level, they can't do anything underground so they bury their people on the ground in caskets made of concrete. The water was so strong that it washed away these concrete made caskets.
• All these events lead to depression. There are groups working on disaster relief and groups who help Louisianians get positive. The hurricanes' took lives of many people during and after.
• The volunteers help Louisianians to become positive and believe that people care about them. Our efforts are helping them psychologically and externally.

OK, I think that's all the notes I took today. I'll keep ya'll updated. Tomorrow we are working with Habitat for Humanity from 7-4am. I know I'll be tired but I'm looking forward to it! :) Until next time...(excuse my spelling and grammar mistakes--I'm not proof reading any of these blogs)

Long Day at ASB

Well today was ONE of those days. One of those days that seemed like it went on forever because of all that was packed into it. Today I was up at 6:00 am to get showered and grab some breakfast before we started another round of training and orientation, this morning we went through a session entitled United Way 101. We heard from one of the local United Way representatives and she gave us a TON of valuable information and data pertaining to the impact Hurricane Rita had on Southwest Louisiana.

Honestly there was so much going on it was hard to process. Our group of over 100 volunteers from all across America were joined by 12 journalists from different parts of the world. This visit was set-up by the U.S. State Department and will allow these young journalists the opportunity to tour parts of Southwest Louisiana with us and see with their own eyes areas that are still recovering from Hurricane Rita, and learn firsthand about the role of the United Way and other community agencies in long term recovery and community rebuilding. This diverse group represent print and electronic media outlets in Argentina, Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Nigeria, Brazil, Egypt, Nigeria, Turkey, Nepal, and Kazakhstan. They are taking in the experience like we are and plan on writing and sharing their experiences here with millions of readers back home and around the globe.

If that was not enough we had the film crew form MTV arrive last night as well. They are trying to be as un-intrusive as possible but it is still taking some getting use to, it can be difficult to carry on a normal and natural conversation without being distracted by the camera in your face. We went on a 2 1/2 hour tour of Cameron Parish in the southern most part of Southwest Louisiana. The Cameron area was literally devastated by Hurricane Rita and it was shocking to see how MUCH re-building and recovery still needs to take place.

Day Two in Louisiana (Adam Harris)

Wow! It is over 150 students here from all over the country. I have met people from New Jersey, Texas, Washington, New York, Ohio, Florida and Mississippi to name a few. Everyone is so down to earth and very eager to start helping the victims of Louisiana. We also found out today that journalists from all over the world will be writing articles on our experience. I personally got a chance to meet one of the journalist from Turkey. She told me that she is traveling all over the world and the United States doing stories. She shared with me her thoughts on the hurricanes and the post devastation of them.

Today we took a tour of the cities affected by Hurricane Rita. There was total devastation! For miles and miles we looked outside the fifteen passenger van, at land still flooded with water. We saw alligators on the banks of the road, houses destructed and floating in water, and trees turned over. I personally got choked up mentally because this is all we saw. I began to wonder why is it that more help from the government is not present. As we continued to ride, we saw many slabs of concrete with no structure on top. I began to pray and reflect upon the images I remembered in the media, when the hurricanes first hit. The tour was an eye opening experience and it just proves that there is much work that needs to be done.

Yesterday, we were assigned groups to be in that we will be working with for the duration of the break. I am one of two men in my group and the rest are women. Unfortunately there is two women to every man, so for those that can do the math it is approximately 100 females and 50 males in total (smiles). We did a lot of team bonding in our groups by telling the team about ourselves. My team leader is from Harlem, New York and she works in the marketing department for VIBE magazine. Her name is Chauncie and she is very funny. She is very energetic and excited about the opportunity. At the moment we don't know exactly what project we will be working on but we will find out early in the morning tomorrow.

After the tour everyone came back to the housing area to have dinner. We were fed meat loaf, salad, green beans, mash potatoes, and chicken. The food was great and the chef can really cook. Afterwards, we had a ASB dance that was put on by a local band. Everyone was instructed to go and participate. For those that want to hear about it I'll tell you personally later.

After the dance it was about time for everyone to go to bed. We have a tough day ahead of us and I am looking forward to working and doing manual labor. Keep praying for me and I will do the same. God Bless!

The Impact of Hurricane Rita and Amazing People

I've been attempting to blog all weekend but the days are quickly flying by. I spent Friday and Saturday meeting and bonding with my fellow team leaders and arranging for participants to get to camp. I am amazed at the wonderful people I am meeting from all over the United States. One of my fellow teams leaders is a retired firefighter from New York. He was present and working during September 11th. He told us Friday that he's come to LA to volunteer because he was moved by the volunteers that reached out to him and helped New York during a devastating time. I was struck by the message that was in his words... That each one of us has the ability to impact those around us if we simply give of our time, skills and compassion. That together we can make a difference!!!

This message carried over into today as we drove on a day tour to Cameron an area devastated by Hurricane Rita. It was unbelievable to see entire homes in the middle of water. We were told these homes would stay there indefinitely because they were unable to reach them. These homes had been carried in from the hurricane. We also saw dozens of roofs, stoves, flipped over trucks and various other items of debris along side the roads and surrounded by water. Blank concrete slabs were the only reminders of homes that used to line the road with beautiful brick homes. It was surreal to me when I saw metal structures crumpled together like a piece of paper. It is hard to put into word exactly what I saw. I realized at that moment that together as a team of ASBers we have the ability to help rebuild after hurricane Rita by giving our time this week. I am excited to start my day tomorrow with my very energetic and enthusiastic team from all over the country.

First Day (Brandon Hannah)

Where do I start?..........

I flew from Detroit to Memphis...then Memphis to Houston. The Houston plane was late...then the shuttle took almost 5 hours due to traffic problems. I literally spent most of my day in some form of transportation. It was a frustrating day.

Then it was all put into perspective when individuals that suffered from the hurricanes destruction came to speak to us about what their experiences were and how they "survived" the experience. They were truely amazing. They acknowledged their hard times but looked at themselves as a "survivor", not as a victim. This is when I truly knew my transportation problems were petty! This reminded me why I am down here!

Until next time!
Brandon Hannah

My First Day on the Ground (Adam Harris)

I'm on the ground and I am very thankful. The plane ride was great and I had a lot of fun. It was all I expected it to be for my first flight. As we landed in Houston, Texas we were greeted by a team of United Way members in the airport. Everyone checked in and received their bags. From the airport we took a van to Lake Charles, Louisiana. The trip took about two hours and we were delayed by a traffic jam. A lot of bounding took place between the "Michiganders" in the van.

As we arrived at the Volunteer housing, we were greeted by many members of United Way. Our photo was taken immediately as we exited the van. Actually if you check the national United Way web site you will see our pictures (we are in red t-shirts). We were given a tour of the place and photos of us were taken for every step we made (you began to feel like a celebrity). Now I am just enjoying the cool weather that Louisiana is providing for me. Thank you to everyone who sent out prayers for our safe flight down. I love you and I will see you soon. God Bless!

The Beginning: Ryan Schreiber

This is why, this is why, this is why I blog!

Our flight went relatively smooth today minus Kawthar and Terry clutching onto me when we took off and landed. But Adam and Kristen (our airplane virgins) did pretty well on their maiden voyage. Our van ride from Houston to Lake Charles was fun and Mike, our driver, is the man. We stopped at McDonald's AND managed to bypass 1/2 hour worth of traffic on the service drive.

Once we got here, Adam and I picked out our bunks and got our stuff situated after we filled out a bunch of paperwork and got a tour of the facilities. We're like the second group of students to arrive, so we have some free time - so Adam and I decided to fill it up by playing some basketball.

Anyways, dinner and meetings are tonight and more meetings and training tomorrow. I think there's even some games and group bonding activities. The weather is great and the people are awesome. Can't wait to get started working!

Ryan

The Beginning!

Wow, it's been a long day! The airplane ride was a little rough but I survived with the help of Ryan and Terry :) I think I was more scared than Kristen and Adam.

The ASB team was waiting for us when we landed in Houston. We began our three hour ride to Lake Charles. Mike, our driver, kept us entertained and fed. He was nice enough to make a stop at McDonald's and hit the road after. The shuttle ride was a great way for the six of us to get to know each other. I learned that Adam drank windshield wiper fluid when he was a kid, Terry doesn't have an appendix, Natalie has a bone removed from her right ear, Kristen shot archery for eight years, and Ryan won a contest for Macaulay Culkin look alike. We heard Ryan and Adam do some karaoke in the van. Also, Adam videotaped me screaming like crazy because I was over a bridge. Ask Adam why...it's kind of funny :)

We arrived at the Volunteer Housing and we were met with a plethora of paparazzi. We might just land a cover on People Magazine..lol ;). It was nice to see Angela and get settled in.

There's more to write about but I'm really tired. The people here are very nice and I can't wait to start working. I know that I haven't been away for a day yet but I already miss home. I'll keep ya'll updated....

ASB 2007 has begun!!!

Well I made it down here to Lake Charles Louisiana without too much of a hassle. We flew into the Lake Charles airport Thursday evening and only had to wait a couple of minutes before we were picked up by a member of the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC). After arriving at the Southwest Louisiana Volunteer Housing Center we were immediately greeted with what many would call good old Southern hospitality. Before we could even drop our travel bags we were offered red beans and crawfish. Hey did you know that they call crawfish "mud bugs" down here?? I found that out AFTER I had already eaten a few of them LOL.

Today the designated Team Leaders for this upcoming week all went through a pretty extensive orientation and training lead by staff from the United Way of America. We went over roles & responsibilities, the schedule for the week, and learned about the local area and it's unique culture. Of course we also spent a good deal of time learning about the ongoing impact of Hurricane Rita here in Southwest Louisiana. Rita has really impacted the local economy, an economy where oil and petrochemical plants are a major industry. In Lake Charles after Hurricane Rita hit 98% of oil and natural gas production were halted in the Gulf and the deep water port here in the region was temporarily closed. Between Hurricanes Katrina & Rita, 113 oil platforms were destroyed, and 58 pipelines were damaged. The Gulf of Mexico produces 2 million barrels of oil per day making up nearly one third of the total refining capacity in the country. All in all it looks like the cost of regional recovery following Hurricane Rita will exceed $10 Billion which will make it the third most expensive natural disaster in US history.

My Thoughts on Hurricane Katrina

I remember following the news everyday when New Orleans and other states were undergoing hurricanes. Every night I would pray for the individuals whom didn't leave their homes in time or wasn't able to leave to escape the tragic weather. Following the sources of media very closely, I couldn't begin to even image myself in such a position. Families lost their loved ones, their homes and valuables, and their entire community. The one story from the news that hit me the most was reported by Robin Roberts and her entire connection to the tragedy. I began to feel her hurt and pain, when I realized that this is a situation that people had no control over.
So it means alot to me to have this opportunity right before me. As we continue to battle problems all over the world, we are still fighting the battle of post Katrina. My heart goes out to every individual affected by the hurricane, that includes the families in direct affect and the families whom had to sympathize to the needs of their extended family. I hope that my individual effort can help put up a wall of comfort to let the individuals of Louisiana know that there are still people who care about them very much. God Bless all and I will be in Lake Charles tomorrow.

Greetings from LA

After a what feels like a long day of travel Angela and I have arrived in Lake Charles, LA. Both of us, feeling a little overwhelmed with the travel and flying, were greeted by our fellow team leaders and found a new home. Granted this is way different then home - it is more like sleep away camp. The spirit of the over all united reason for the trip quickly peels away the long day to the long week ahead of us.

The excitment that has been leading to this trip is extended as we wait for all of the participants from around the country. The excitement from the the first week is so powerful we feel energized just being around them. We also can't wait to get down and dirty. Believe me, pictures of proof will soon follow of Angela and I building houses.

But alas it is time for us to try and get some sleep before having to wake up at 6:00 tomorrow morning to help with breakfast. More from the LA camp, so stayed tune.

Greetings to All,
Kira and Angela

Most and Least Excited!

Ok...I know that i'm late with the post, but hey....I'm more stressed about the trip now then ever...so this should be an interesting blog! lol.

Most excited:
I am most excited to come down there and meet new people and start the building! I am excited to meet those who suffered the devastation and how we can help them

Least excited:
I am not excited to see what I forgot to pack.
I am not excited to sleep on a bunk bed.
I am not excited to hear all those who snore!
I am not exctied to leave my family.

The most excited....outweighs a week of everything else!
I look forward to seeing you all in a few days.!

First and second day on the site

So, the first day! It went really well. We got all our supplies a little late but we still got ahead of our day. We will be on the same house all week working with REBUILDING TOGETHER. We are doing everything in the house except the roof.

So, for the first day we ended up scraping the entire house to prep for paint, primed some, removed rotten boards, demoed the bathroom, scraped and cleaned all rooms, and a lot of kitchen work. We got all that done on day one - isn't it hot? lol Lots of sweat, bonding, and lot of laughs.

Day 2 on site. We ended up painting, caulking, replacing more side panels, putting the bathroom in and painting the entire house outside. What a win for us. We also primed the bedrooms too YEAH US!

So far it is going so good. And, oh yeah, it has been hot here. I will see you all soon. Team Purple Dipset ROCKS!!!!!!!

what am i most/least excited about?

i am excited to see louisiana and i am not excited about the plane ride becuase i cry when we hit turbulence....i am excited for weather that i can actually be out in and even bare my legs and arms while working outside.....

Terry

Day three and CAJUN we are

So today was AMAZING!!!! We got up and watched and learned about what it was like through RITA. We then loaded up in the vans to start our three hour tour. lol Oh yeah, I also got to write the tour.

It was powerful to get to see what has happened and what was still there and to do 17 months after the storm. In the middle of the tour we stopped at the local high school; which is still in many pieces. The american red cross provided lunch and their story about Katrina and Rita. We had lunch out of the ERV Emergency Response Vehicle. WOW, what an amazing group of volunteers!

After our lunch and tour we ended up doing some United Way 101 and Group Team Building... team "Purple Dipset" rocks!!! Dinner was yummy, walmart for some group goddies then, oh yeah, an amazing time dancing my rear off with some awesome live rocking CAJUN music.

So bed soon. We start work tomorrow with REBUILDING TOGETHER. Can't wait to see all you MI people soon.

Most and Least Excited: Ryan Schreiber

What I'm most excited about: Helping to rebuild homes and lives, connecting with a community I know little about, meeting new people (especially my team members), taking lots of pictures, wearing some sweet work gear with Randy and RELAYING OUR GROUP'S EXPERIENCES to the UM-Dearborn community through daily Michigan Journal coverage and video blogs

What I'm least excited about: Seeing the plight of the people we are helping, a long bus ride from Houston to Lake Charles, bunk beds, lack of adequate electricity and limited computer access :(

Day Two Update from Lake Charles

So our housing is actually pretty good. I like it and so will you, I hope! lol

Today was another long long day for me. I started to leave for IAH at 845 this morning to pick a few things up, then a 3 hour drive to Houston. After being at IAH for 8 hours, we started on the way back for another 3 hour tour. It was long lol.

I was so excited every time I got to see more team members. What a team. Week 1 rocks.

I am tired... time for bed and more work for tomorrow. I miss you all.

Most exciting and least exciting!

Well, I am most excited about the experience in general. The warm weather...the feeling of helping those who need it most...the people I will meet. It's a completely new and exciting experience for me and I can't wait to take it in!

What I'm least excited about? Honestly, the airplane trip and the bugs, haha. I'm scared about the airplane ride, since it's my first one (which I'm sure everyone has figured out by now.) And the creepy crawling things down there, like roaches? Ewww. But I'll live, and it's totally worth it! :)

What I'm most excited about and what I'm least excited about

I think I am most excited about getting a much deserved break from this Michigan winter :). Besides the possibility of experiencing temperatures between 65-70 degrees I am also really excited for the UM-Dearborn students who were selected to participate as Storm Corps members this year. For me the daily conversations I have with Ryan, Kawthar, Adam, Natalie, Kristen, and Theresa have rekindled a sense of joy and excitement inside that often dissipates once a person graduates and leaves college. I am excited to be joining over 100 volunteers from all over the U.S., we will all be heading to Lake Charles, LA to help re-build homes but more importantly help re-build lives.

Least exciting: Well bunking with over 100 people in fairly tight living quarters might not make for the most pleasant experience....but something tells me it is going to be worth it. Having limited access to a computer is going to SUCK!!! I am terrified to see how many emails will be sitting in my Inbox when I get back from this trip. Besides those two very small things I can honestly say the positives from this trip will no doubt outweigh any minor inconveniences we might experience while we are down there.

Day one down and many more great ones to go!

So day one here for me in Lake Charles. I was picked up at 1 0'clock by 2 van loads of Team Leaders. I was so excited to see everyone.

From the airport we atarted our Tour of the area. Wow what a sight to see after 17 months and still a lot to do down here.

After a 3 hour tour and a walmart trip to get some goodies for signs, team builders, and items for reflection, I finally made it here around 6pm then dinner, meetings, and more stuff to fix. It is now 11pm and I still have not unpacked. I am so excited to see everyone.

Tomorrow morning I will be driving to Houston to pick up people at 10am. A three hour drive to Houston and, with storms up north, it cold be a long day of travel. The other TL I am driving with is LeeAnna who is from NYC. She is awesome. Yeah for bonding time driving.

Our "HOME" is actually good. One day down with many more great days to go.

My Expectations - Ryan Schreiber

My expectations for this trip are much like those of my fellow volunteers - the ability to help others and the rewarding experience of being able to help those in need. I cannot wait to get down to the coast. I've spent a countless amount of time in Randy Dillard's office over the past couple of weeks just chatting about what will happen and the excitement we all have bound up inside.

I saw a clip about Storm Corps on the local news tonight and everything that is mentioned just makes me want to get there faster. Unfortunately, I can't get to Louisiana until next Saturday, but I have met some of my team members online through Facebook and am excited to get to know them better in person.

Only 7 more days...

What I'm Most and Least Excited About: Adam Harris

We are officially one week away and the momentum of excitement continues to build. Each day I find myself talking more and more to my colleagues that are joining me on this trip. Randy, who is a faculty member at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, is really trying to keep his cool because he leaves on Wednesday the 7th. I am really excited and can't wait.

On the other hand I am least excited about missing an entire week of school. This week has been very strange because I have been on campus everyday studying even though this week was our Spring Break. Also I will be missing my mom and family who I love so dearly. To my nieces; Alicia and Amber I will miss their smiling and beautiful faces in the morning and evening. Lastly, to all my professors and associates who are mentors and friends to me, I will miss them as well. However, I will stay strong and I will survive.

Brian Sawyer and ASB Highlighted on Channel 7 News!

Brian Sawyer and Patricia McCann of UWSEM were interviewed by Bill Spencer yesterday. Channel 7 will be highlighting Brian, Patricia and ASB 2007 in their 5 o'clock news today!

Away I go: Brian Sawyer

So it is 5:45am I am on my way to Lake Charles! I can't wait to be down there in 70 degree weather and Make a difference. See u all soon!

Brian

My expectations of the trip: Randy Dillard

This is a good question. What do I expect from this trip?? I expect to be inspired, I expect to leave Lake Charles better than what it was before we showed up as a team, I expect to meet people from ALL over America, I expect to have one of the best times of my life!

My reaction when I found out I was accepted to ASB: Randy Dillard

When I found out I was accepted to participate in the upcoming Alternative Spring Break program I initially had a couple of different emotions run through me. I was relieved that our university would have a chance to participate in a Alternative Spring Break program this year. Developing and implementing a ASB project for UM-Dearborn students was something we had discussed in great detail but to plan something of this size was just not going to be feasible for my department. So when I got the call from Angela Walker asking if my university would be interested in partnering with the United Way for Southeastern Michigan and the Think MTV foundation I was extremely happy because I knew the students participating would be in very good hands.

After a couple of days passed and after the news had sunk in a bit I found myself being both nervous and excited. Nervous because I would be away from my desk for over a week during a very busy time here at the office yet I could not contain my excitement because I would be getting the chance to be involved with a massive Alternative Spring Break experience, something I was unable to do while I was still attending college. As the days grow nearer I can tell you that all of my feelings have been supplanted by a sense of genuine gratitude for being one of the few selected to represent Southeastern Michigan in this once in a lifetime experience.

23 hours and counting: Brian Sawyer

So I am sitting here at 6am about to leave for the office, when I think in less than 24 hours I will be on a plane to experience for the SECOND time, "The Greatest Time of my LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so excited, scared, nervous, but also ready to rebuild the South. I will get to experience true southern hospitality, families that didn't even have a stove to cook, but wouldn't let us leave on an empty stomach.

Wow, 24 hours to go.

I will give you all the low-down on what else to pack or not pack or even what to bring me lol. I can't to get started and see everyone there. SEE YOU ALL SOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!