Today we completed pouring cement for the sidewalk and driveway, Cassandre and Winnie installed soffit, and we dug holes for posts for chain link fence. The sun is brutal but the work is rewarding!

We arrived safely in New Orleans, collected from the airport by the decade loyal Berklee cab driver Mo, and delivered to the French Quarter. We took the opportunity to wonder around and explore the mixed majesty that is the area around Bourbon Street — glorious old architecture that has survived the test of time, coupled with sadly diminished buildings in desperate need of help. 

The paint-peeled shutters and crumbling buildings on every street present a spectacle of beauty in their own right, and yet are a reminder of why we have traveled over 1500 miles to lend our hands in rebuilding this amazing keystone in American Art and History. The anticipation of what comes next is palpable, as we wait to find how Habitat for Humanity can benefit from the humble but willing hands of out Gracenotes team. 

Tomorrow, we get the privilege of exploring the Big Easy further, to gain a deeper appreciation of the great American town that we break ground in Wednesday morning. 

Jordan Lockaby, Project Manager for the Dean of Admissions, writes from Berklee’s Gracenotes trip in New Orleans.

One week after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast with winds up to 175 miles per hour President Barack Obama addressed our horrified nation.

“In the coming weeks, as the images of the immediate crisis fade and this chamber becomes consumed with other matters, we will be hearing a lot about lessons learned and steps to be taken… Once we stabilize the situation, this country will face an enormous challenge in providing stability for displaced families over the months and years that it will take to rebuild.”

This autumn marks ten years since the hurricane took almost 2,000 lives, and there is still work to be done to repair New Orleans.

Read More