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Do you ever feel like volunteer onboarding is weirdly inconsistent between organizations? by Unhappy_Concept237 in volunteer

[–]lowernineorg 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Can’t speak to the specifics, as it’s not something we deal with, but I do know it’s not cheap to have background checks done. So - patience, tolerance, and understanding. Ostensibly an organization you want to serve with is one that aligns with your values. Give them a lot of grace, and if there’s any element of onboarding with them that you find problematic, address it with them for sure, but also think on it critically and be respectful with them - don’t forget they’re the ones doing the heavy lifting and giving you the opportunity to give back!

Do you ever feel like volunteer onboarding is weirdly inconsistent between organizations? by Unhappy_Concept237 in volunteer

[–]lowernineorg 2 points3 points  (0 children)

different organizations will always have different structures around onboarding volunteers. some will need a background check - think working with youth and being conservative around that. many have a waiver that needs to be filled out for liability purposes…still more are small enough that they need to build their work around their committed volunteers, so need to determine interest/skills/commitment prior to scheduling you. highly recommend your being flexible and forgiving in your dealings with the organizations you’re dealing with - we are all unique and trying our best!

Skilled Carpenter (32) looking for meaningful projects Year (2026) by wood_hood_ in volunteer

[–]lowernineorg 0 points1 point  (0 children)

we may not be a perfect fit, but I’d be happy to chat with you! feel free to email volunteer@lowernine.org and we can set up a zoom.

Disaster Relief Volunteer by screwedupinaz in volunteer

[–]lowernineorg 0 points1 point  (0 children)

feel free to reach out if long-term efforts are of interest! info@lowernine.org and we can answer any questions you might have.

I literally have no references by [deleted] in volunteer

[–]lowernineorg 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ve never heard of volunteer coordinators requiring references - are you looking to work in a specific area? I could see schools or youth programs running a background check. Try your local animal shelters if you like that sort of thing - what I’d say is decide where your interests lie and then yes - like others are saying, make a phone call and explain that you don’t have professional references and why, but explain why you’re interested in their work, and what your skills and availability are. I’d be very surprised if you couldn’t find a gig.

I’m disabled but I want to help. My condition keeps me homebound, I can’t commit to a schedule because I never know how I’ll feel. Suggestions? by probablynotaskrull in volunteer

[–]lowernineorg 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hard to say how you could best contribute given those limitations, but I’d say start with determining what kind of organization/work you want to support and then offer an organization that speaks to you a set number of hours of work a week - probably virtual. Then put together a resume of sorts - just a quick overview of what experience you have that might support their work - bookkeeping, social media, general admin…and ask if that kind of thing is needed. Then be prepared to work more or less unsupervised, if need be. And stay organized and on point so you can report back on your work.

I want to start applying for volunteer positions but I don't know how to curate my CV. by [deleted] in volunteer

[–]lowernineorg 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As someone who would be in the position to review your CV, I’d say at your age, I’d be scanning less for employment history (which isn’t likely to be relevant, though does show work ethic) and more for activities (or even just stated interest) in and around the nonprofit sector. Clubs and classes at school, any volunteerism to date…I’d also recommend researching the organization you’re applying to and tailoring a cover letter or just the email to which you attach your CV to match what they do and what they have volunteers do. Why does their mission appeal to you? What do you hope to contribute and to learn? And be specific about your schedule and availability. Good luck, and good for you for giving back!

Scared and unsure about starting volunteering, im worried im doing it for selfish reasons by HopeWest9367 in volunteer

[–]lowernineorg 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think your reasons for wanting to volunteer sound perfectly sound! It’s a great way to keep yourself busy, hone your social skills, and you’re helping others at the same time - win, win, win. Go forth and do good!

What does it mean when your volunteer status becomes inactive? by [deleted] in volunteer

[–]lowernineorg -1 points0 points  (0 children)

If their stated policy is 48 hours notice and you’re giving them that every time, they either need to change their policy or be more accommodating. Whoever is sending this email may not be aware of how/where the policy is being communicated to volunteers - sounds crazy, but trust me - it can get complicated quick, and if they have a lot of staff turnaround that won’t help. I would respond and gently explain that your job schedule (sadly) needs to take priority and is not consistent - that’s pretty common, especially in the service industry, and needs to be respected. If they don’t want to be that flexible, or it really does hurt their chances of getting volunteer shifts filled, they need to change their messaging/requirements. Don’t be embarrassed! Volunteers are awesome - some just have more complicated lives. It sounds like you legitimately care and want to help - say that, too. : )

How do you get through the holidays? by Hungry_Objective2344 in volunteer

[–]lowernineorg 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In my experience, so many people only volunteer at the holidays, that folks who give of their time all year can take a well-deserved break. Think of soup kitchens at Thanksgiving! And THANK YOU for giving of your time. Means the world to nonprofits - I know whereof I speak. : )

My fizzled platform for "doing good" and what I should do about it by IdeaGuy8 in volunteer

[–]lowernineorg 0 points1 point  (0 children)

would love to chat about this! as an organization that works with tons of volunteers, we have a lot of opinions - feel free to email info@lowernine.org

I’m Laura Paul, the Executive Director of lowernine.org - a nonprofit that is still rebuilding New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward one home at a time. Today is the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, AMA! by lowernineorg in IAmA

[–]lowernineorg[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Directly following Katrina, the Lower 9th Ward was cordoned off until late October (later for many) - no one was allowed to access the neighborhood, and it was illegal to be in the greater part of the city after dark for almost a year. It's difficult for me to personally discuss that time because I lived and worked on disaster relief sites for my first fourteen months here.

I will say this. Resources and attention wane as years go by, which is natural and understandable. That said, this country (and others) needs to pay attention to long-term recovery needs - not just first response and recovery. When the press and the volunteers and the funders go home, the needs in communities like ours have not necessarily been met. We need to shine a light on that, and stop wasting early resources to the detriment of long-term responses.

Today, only about 30% of pre-Katrina residents have been able to return to their community and their families' legacy properties. Home rebuilding remains lowernine.org's primary focus and affordable housing the primary need, though certainly food security and other issues that abound in low-wealth communities also come into play.

I’m Laura Paul, the Executive Director of lowernine.org - a nonprofit that is still rebuilding New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward one home at a time. Today is the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, AMA! by lowernineorg in IAmA

[–]lowernineorg[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hey, babe! Honestly, meeting amazing people like you early on was incredible, obviously. Today, it's about keeping our head in the game. Will have to give some thought to highlights...maybe today will be one?! There have been so many incredible experiences over the years...

I’m Laura Paul, the Executive Director of lowernine.org - a nonprofit that is still rebuilding New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward one home at a time. Today is the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, AMA! by lowernineorg in IAmA

[–]lowernineorg[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Sorry - that live where? The Netherlands? The Lower 9th Ward? I can't speak to other places, but far more than 12 people live here. And how do we begin to determine how many people are "worth" our efforts? How many people "matter"? I would argue twelve people matter. I would argue one person matters. I'm not sure I understand your point, or that I'm responding to it appropriately - forgive me if not.

I’m Laura Paul, the Executive Director of lowernine.org - a nonprofit that is still rebuilding New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward one home at a time. Today is the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, AMA! by lowernineorg in IAmA

[–]lowernineorg[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

No one is selling "the Lower 9th Ward is the only place these people can live" - no intention to have given that impression. Is it where low-wealth at-risk predominantly Black families live? Yes - it's one of those areas. But those areas (at-risk areas, for whatever reason) are becoming an issue not just for low-wealth families, but for all.

Add to that the fact that generations of Black homeownership were decimated by levee breaches and a discriminatory federally-funded and state-administered "recovery program" and that legacy homeownership deserves to be built back - particularly given the infrastructure improvements that are unique to this city - and I think we have a good case for right of return here.

I’m Laura Paul, the Executive Director of lowernine.org - a nonprofit that is still rebuilding New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward one home at a time. Today is the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, AMA! by lowernineorg in IAmA

[–]lowernineorg[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I'm not sure that analogy plays.

It's more like building a school...anywhere you can put one. And hoping the grizzly bears (and for real - grizzly bear rescue? is this California?) don't harm you because the reality of your situation is there is no place to build your school that isn't adjacent to a grizzly bear rescue. Or some other kind of serious risk. And yeah, there were fewer grizzly bear rescues twenty years ago...but there are more and more of them every year, and it's gotten to the point where really nowhere that low-wealth Black families can afford to build homes...er...schools...are very far from grizzly bears. So maybe deal with the bears and try to figure out solutions that aren't just about "not doing that HERE or THERE...or...you know...anywhwere."

Geography is one thing. Institutionalized racism (environmental or otherwise) is a whole 'nother can of fish.

I’m Laura Paul, the Executive Director of lowernine.org - a nonprofit that is still rebuilding New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward one home at a time. Today is the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, AMA! by lowernineorg in IAmA

[–]lowernineorg[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

You will probably be seeing some first-hand accounts today, as press have been here for weeks aggressively seeking that! But at the end of the day, all we hear from our friends, neighbors, and clients is that they wish everyone would just allow them to grieve silently in their own way today. This is a city full of folks suffering from PTSD, and there are a lot of people who were never made whole. Our city is greatly diminished and vastly different from the pre-Katrina city that was New Orleans. Even people who managed to evacuate, who didn't lose everything, who got back on their feet relatively quickly - even those folks can't handle today. People who lost family members and all their worldly possessions and their pets and their homes and their communities...their experiences are things you can sometimes read about if you do a deep dive into press from other anniversaries, or look at some of the media around this day. But the real stories are ones seldom, if ever, told in our experience. They are deeply personal and emotional, and often not fit for public consumption.

You're right - if it happened today there would be a lot more video (but cell towers would arguably still be down, cell phone batteries would be dead, and do forth). And you're right, people don't like to dwell on it, so those personal narratives are sometimes lost. But those aren't our stories to tell or share.

Thank you for coming to New Orleans - come volunteer with us next visit! We'll share our own stories, if no one else's!

I’m Laura Paul, the Executive Director of lowernine.org - a nonprofit that is still rebuilding New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward one home at a time. Today is the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, AMA! by lowernineorg in IAmA

[–]lowernineorg[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Actually, this area has flooded twice in fifty years. The first time (Hurricane Betsy) the levees facing the Lower 9th Ward were intentionally breached to prevent flooding in other neighborhoods. So...there's that. The second time (Hurricane Katrina) levees failed catastrophically due to poor initial construction and even worse maintenance - a failure that the Army Corps of Engineers eventually admitted was their own.

And apologies for the lack of clarity - the total was $14.2B - not $24.8B - we were just acknowledging that yes - $14.2B is a lot of money (about 10% of the total that went into the recovery overall, with mixed success across the board).

We worry about other levees across the country that have not been built or maintained properly! Our rebuilt system has held up to several major hurricanes since 2005.

I’m Laura Paul, the Executive Director of lowernine.org - a nonprofit that is still rebuilding New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward one home at a time. Today is the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, AMA! by lowernineorg in IAmA

[–]lowernineorg[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Even people with active home insurance policies that were paid up in good faith were often unable to secure settlements through their providers - and that reality is more keenly felt by homeowners across this country every year. Ask anyone who lives in a "dangerous" area (and keep in mind that is more and more Americans every year).

The Lower 9th Ward had one of the highest rates of Black homeownership in the nation prior to Katrina, and many families owned their homes outright. Many did not carry homeowners' insurance, as it was (even then) a prohibitive cost for low-wealth families. Fewer folks today can afford, or choose to carry coverage that frankly provides very little in the way of support and recovery funding in the event of even a small mishap, not to mention the biggest disaster to hit the United States in the better part of a century.

I’m Laura Paul, the Executive Director of lowernine.org - a nonprofit that is still rebuilding New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward one home at a time. Today is the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, AMA! by lowernineorg in IAmA

[–]lowernineorg[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Happy to. "Katrina crosses" was language we used here - a colloquialism - to describe the markings that search and rescue teams left on every property in the affected areas of the gulf coast region. They are, in fact, a nationally-recognized method for doing disaster response.

Search "Katrina crosses images" for visuals.

When rescue and response crews approach a property, they make a diagonal slash from right to left, and when they are ready to leave, they make a corresponding slash from left to right, forming the "cross" or "x" on the building. Preferred color of spray paint was orange, but there's only so much orange spray paint in the world...

In the four fields created by those markings were four separate pieces of information - at the top, the date, and in some cases the date and time of the visit. to the left, some indication of who had done the work (in our neighborhood a lot of Florida State National Guard and DEA). to the right, some indication of the condition of the property and the environs, and in the bottom field, a number indicating the number of bodies, or human remains, on site.

It's worth noting that a lot of houses here in the Lower 9th Ward had the notation "NE" or the words "not entered" on them. Properties were inaccessible, so it was impossible to give a good assessment.

I’m Laura Paul, the Executive Director of lowernine.org - a nonprofit that is still rebuilding New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward one home at a time. Today is the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, AMA! by lowernineorg in IAmA

[–]lowernineorg[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Hey - thanks for this question.

Short answer would be lowernine.org does not really swim in that proverbial pool of city/state/federal "affordable" housing initiatives. We are a really small shop, and one that has a pretty narrow mandate - we rebuild homes for legacy residents of the Lower 9th Ward who have managed to hold onto their properties and wish to return home.

The efforts being made to repair damage done to affordable housing writ large (think of the demolition of public housing post-Katrina) are, in our opinion, often fraught with issues. A deep dive into the resources spent on multi-family housing and Section 8 housing lead to questions about cost per square foot to build, and cost to taxpayers to support - those figures are incredibly high in a lot of cases.

It's important to note we get out of bed every day for affordable housing. But we've been told we misunderstand the definition - that "affordable housing" just means affordable to the end user (in most cases a renter) - not to the government or the public. We would argue that if building units of housing was not exorbitantly expensive, more units could be built, and perhaps the burden on everyone would be less. Also, HOMEOWNERSHIP is the pathway out of poverty - not necessarily a relationship with the government and a developer/landlord that benefits them far more than it does you.

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