In July 2006, accompanied by my friend Cliff who grew up in New Orleans, I embarked on a photographic expedition to cover the city a year after the devastating storms of 2005. Hurricane Katrina and the resulting catastrophic levee failures resulted in countless deaths and destruction totally more than $100,000,000,000 (that's $100 billion) in damage. Whole neighborhoods were wiped away as the city's poorest residents were left to fend for themselves.

A year later the devastation was still visible. At times I was overwhelmed by the scope. There wasn't a parish not touched by the storm. While my overall experience was positive, I am still struck by how much has yet to be done.





Song: "Hide and Seek" by Imogen Heap

To learn more about how you can help the city of New Orleans and its residents, visit the following websites:

"Mama D" Dyan French on MSNBC - Watch the video! You'll recognize her from mine.
Common Ground Relief - Solidarity, not charity
New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund
Unity of Greater New Orleans - formerly Unity for the Homeless

Labels: America, Help the Homeless, Hurricane Katrina, Justin Schuck, Justin Schuck Photography, New Orleans, Photo, United We Stand, Video, Volunteer

This Thanksgiving it would be easy for me to find reasons to be unappreciative. 2008 has proved as difficult and emotionally heart wrenching as the previous three years, but I am reminded of the gift of family. Tragedy seems to strike just before significantly happy or celebratory events, ruining the idea of happiness. Although it is hard, I try my best to keep happy.

My family has seen death every six months for too many years, sometimes in twos and threes. On the bright side of life, we are presented with another opportunity to commune, share memories and eat to our heart's content. I look at my young cousin and I feel her sadness for the loss of her mom and her apprehension at moving halfway across the globe to live with her father. However, the tender moments we share as a family will carry her in good stead as she grows to be the beautiful woman her mom envisioned.

This is the second Thanksgiving without my father, and it is especially hard since my brother can't join us in our family celebration. My other aunts, uncles and cousins are spread across the country, but separated in distance only. Friends, the extended family with whom we choose to share our lives, are equally spread out, but all are united across these distances by love.

Today I am thankful for my family, my friends, the birds, the trees, the rocks and the seas. Every new day the vacuum left by those who departed this world too early grows smaller. I am thankful that we are all blessed to have shared our lives with such extraordinary people. On Thanksgiving, we reunite with the grateful selves we tend to forget the remaining days of the year.

I am thankful for our brave soldiers, diplomats and others who serve the cause of our country in more harmful territories. I am especially thankful for my health and that I saved room for tonight's non-traditional feast of ribeyes and New York strips.

Unlike in years previous, I was unable to participate in this year's Help the Homeless Walkathon, but I encourage everyone to support my beneficiary organization, the Central Union Mission. The work performed by these caring volunteers brings stability and hope to so many. I long for the day where no one who wants food goes hungry and no one who seeks shelter is turned away. If you have spare clothes, jackets or change, please give what you can. If you have nothing to donate, consider donating your time. Homelessness affects over 300,00 Americans, many of whom are chronically homeless; and that number is growing at rates not seen since the Great Depression.

I am thankful that today there is love and forgiveness left in the world to help us greet tomorrow, regardless of the tragedy or blessing we may receive.

As the brilliant crew of Monty Python remind us:

"Life's a piece of shit,
When you look at it.
Life's a laugh and death's a joke it's true.
You'll see it's all a show.
Keep 'em laughing as you go.
Just remember that the last laugh is on you.
And...

Always look on the bright side of life.
Always look on the right side of life."

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Labels: Charity, Family, Help the Homeless, Holidays, Justin Schuck, Thanksgiving

The Help the Homeless Walkathon was a resounding success! We far exceeded our goal of raising $500 for team Justin Schuck by raising $860 in online and offline donations.

I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for their thoughtful donations, especially Shane King, Marti Cullen, Barbara and Bob Salvucci, Keith Richburg, Carl Tugberk, Ilissa Suss and Marisa Sellinger-Fisher. I also want to thanks Mariana Reynolds and Christina Hee for joining my team and helping me raise money, and Mabel and Michael Reynolds for walking with us on Saturday.

Our beneficiary organization, the Central Union Mission, received hundreds of dollars from various organizations and individuals, but I am pleased to say that team Justin Schuck was the most successful single team. And while that is all fine and dandy, next year I want to raise more than double that amount. They do terrific work with men in DC and provide a safe stable environment that helps the men help themselves with job and skills training among other things. Bottom line: it's a great cause and we are going to raise more money, walk with a larger team and continue doing the work that serves the greater good.

Labels: Charity, Help the Homeless, Justin Schuck, Volunteer