New Staff

Since Adrian McGrath completed his two year stint as a Literacy AmeriCorps member, there have been no entries to this blog. Adrian was the creator, writer, and editor of the blog. His absence is greatly felt!

As a newly regrouped staff, we will continue to communicate with you through this medium - maybe not as colorfully or frequently as the previous writer!!

In early August, Sr. Bonita Sniegowski began teaching at SVdPALC. Sister came to New Orleans two years ago with three other members of her community to teach at St. Leo the Great Elementary School. Besides her experience as teacher and administrator in traditional Catholic schools, Sr. Bonita brings experience in adult education. Her quiet, affirming manner with our participants is an added gift to this program.

Becky Kleive is a member of our first St. Joseph Worker endeavor. This is a new ministry of the Congregation of St. Joseph, enabling four young college graduates to engage in some service to the community and experience community living.

Becky graduated in May from St. Olaf College in Minnesota with a double major: Women's Studies and Environmental Studies. Her youthful enthusiasm and willing spirit are welcomed in this center.

My Final Blog Entry: Miss Kitty and the Parting Glass

(Read about the life story of Miss Kitty on this blog at this post:

http://svdpalc.blogspot.com/2008/08/remember-katrina-miss-kitty-post.html

If it does not click, then just copy and paste the link into the browswer. Miss Kitty's photo was taken by my sister, Marci.)

I can not list all of the people who have helped me over these past two years to "get things done." (That's our motto for Literacy AmeriCorps, by the way.) You know who you are, and you know that I appreciate GREATLY eveything that you have done to help.

Instead, as a symbol for US ALL who followed, wrote for, or read this blog (and you have helped us get 7816 hits on the blog since Feb. 2008 until today) -- the nuns, the students, our friends in Literacy AmeriCorps (in New Orleans and in Pittsburgh and elsewhere in the USA), at the Boggs Literacy Center and with the Literacy Alliance of Greater New Orleans, our friends who were at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station and McMurdo Station in Antarctica with the US Antarctic Program, my friends in Chatham, VA and in other states in the USA, my family and friends, and friends of SVDP-ALC, and me -- the story of Miss Kitty is a true tale of New Orleans.

She was a down-and-out alley cat from Bucktown (a part of Greater New Orleans), who was rescued by my sister Marci and her husband Chris. From there she went on to Chatham, VA where I became well acquainted with her in my Katrina Exile. She became the Queen of a Mardi Gras parade and the Princess of a St. Patrick's Day parade (just read her amazing cat story). She becamse a sort of folk-hero to the students at SVDP-ALC.

In fact, Doretha, one of our students, adored Miss Kitty so much that she asked for a print out of her photo to keep. She was writing an essay about Miss Kitty but had to leave school due to illness. But you can read about Doretha's gumbo receipe on this blog, which I emailed to the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, by the way. http://svdpalc.blogspot.com/2008/07/miss-dorethas-world-famous-new-orleans.html

Miss Kitty was certainly a fighter and never gave up until she was overwhelmed by a cat illness from old age.

So, really we can -- and we did-- learn from Miss Kitty. When ever I watch students scroll down on our school blog, they invariably stop and say, "Oh, look at the cat!" And then start reading.

So, Miss Kitty has became a force for literacy education, right here in Old New Orleans.

I will be leaving now. But you can always find me online at my new blog about New Orleans history at http://www.oldnolajournal.blogspot.com/ I plan to use this blog for many purposes among which is a tool for educating students about fundamental facts, and fun facts, about New Orleans. Also, simply reading it is a good way to practice literacy skills. And the stories may be used as prompts for student essay writing.

Finally, the Parting Glass.

At a traditional Irish music session or ceili, just before everyone leaves, one last song is played. This song is called The Parting Glass. So, here it is. For you all. Goodbye.

--Adrian

The Parting Glass

O, all the money that ere I spent,

I spent it in good company.

And all the harm that I ever did,

Alas, it was to none but me.

And all I've done from want of wit,

To memory now,

I can't recall.

So, fill to me the parting glass,

Good night,

And Joy be with you all...

Farewell Party and Red (Read) Beans and Rice (Writes)

Here are a few photos for the farewell party SVDP-ALC had for me. (Naturally, the nuns still taught school on that day as well as set aside some time for a party. I finished up some paperwork for AmeriCorps, as I recall.)

In the photo we see the poster of positive things the students did to improve their lives and their community since Hurricane Katrina. (Jennie and Ruby made the poster, but I took most of the photos ... And ALL of the photos came right from this blog, so you can scroll down and read all about these cool things we did over the past two years.)

Then we see a photo of Sr. Kathleen helping Sr. Silvia. We see a photo of lots of great foods. We had fried catfish, red beans and rice, bread pudding, real French bread, deviled eggs, little meatballs, and lots more, and soft drinks. The students and the nuns supplied all the goodies.

Then we see a photo of Sr. Lory next to a statue of St. Joseph. (Both Sr. Lory and Sr. Kathleen are with the Congregation of Sr. Joseph.)

Finally, we see Ruby and me. Ruby, as you recall from our blog, does lots of wonderful writing and portrayed Sojourner Truth in our International Women's Day event at SVDP-ALC. The other students gave me a farewell card with their comments about me on it (it was all good, yes! thank you), Jennie wrote a wonderful message, and spoke it at the party. (She also has public speaking experience with her many poems and essays published and her report on Sacagewea for Internationa Women's Day) ...

But what about that statue Ruby and I are holding which she gave me??

Well, that is a New Orleans chef with a cooked plate of red beans and rice. She gave it to me for the school in honor of my work with our new Literacy AmeriCorps student magazine called Read Beans and Writes which you can find online at www.literacygno.org , the website for Literacy AmeriCorps New Orleans and the Literacy Alliance of Greater New Orleans.

Wow! what a great award! Over the past many months our students at SVDP-ALC have cooked up a kitchen-full of essays, poems, short plays, and original food recipes to help fill both of our issues of Read Beans and Writes, together with student writers from the other adult education programs in New Orleans. Plus, many of our students had published writings in the student writing section of AmeriWord magazine, the newsletter for Literacy AmeriCorps, and of course for our blog -- which you are reading right now. Also, two of our students had essays published in the Change Agent magazine from Boston, Massachusetts about Hurricane Katrina. (In fact, Jennie had two essays published there.)

So, we did a lot of student writing at St. Vincent de Paul -- ALC over these past two years.

Thanks again, everyone

--Adrian

My Certificates, Time to Brag

Well, everyone, it has been a great two years! We got a lot of things done, So, now it is time to show off. (You will just have to indulge me for a few moments.)

So, here are copies of the wonderful certificates I have accumulated over the past two years with Literacy AmeriCorps New Orleans and with St. Vincent de Paul -- ALC.

In the photos we see the original certificate given to me from SVDP-ALC for the year 2007 -08 (signed by Sr. Lory herself!) and my AmeriCorps certificate for 2007-08.

Then we see my certificate of completion for Literacy AmeriCorps for 2008 -09, an Old NOLA Award given to me by Sarah for being the Corps historian (this is greatly appreciated !!), and a large, framed certificate from SVDP-ALC from Sr. Lory and Sr. Kathleen (which is wondeful ! and will go on display my bookshelf).

My thanks to everyone.

-- Adrian

Student Writing: Ruby Sterling

(Here is more student writing from our school. This time it deals with International Women's day.)

Sojourner Truth
By Ruby Sterling

In celebration of International Women’s Day, I am honored to present Sojouner Truth. This woman ... was a driven force that could not be extinguished, no matter the odds, with a deep-rooted love for all.

Sojouner Truth

Her given name was Isabella ‘Bamfree’ Hardenbergh born in Ulster County, New York about 1797 lived until 1883. Honesty, hard work, and prayer were engraved in her character. Her faith led her to become a preacher. She decided to change her name to Sojouner which means ‘to travel’ and Truth because to her this is what God’s gospel is. People came from miles around, different cities and states just to hear her message of hope. She worked along with abolitionist Frederick Douglas and Elizabeth Stanton. Even President Abraham Lincoln invited her to the White House. He presented a special book to her, even autographed it for her. It became one of her proudest moments in her time. She devoted the rest of her life to fighting for women’s rights.

Still Watching for Tropical Storm Ana

Well, we are feeling a bit better today after learning that the Tropical Storm Ana might not be coming our way. But, stay tuned and watch the reports at www.nhc.noaa.gov. Thanks!

Tropical Storm Ana: My "Peaceful" Farewell

Well, folks, I had hoped to have a peaceful and reflective farewell to the SVDP-ALC blog as I finish my role as blog manager on this Tuesday.

BUT ...

This is New Orleans. So, now we have a new tropical storm and soon-to-be hurricane to deal with. It is Ana. As you can see from the NOAA chart, it looks like we will be soon in the "cone of uncertainty."

Somehow since Katrina, I have always felt like I lived in the "cone of uncertainty." Of that, yes, I am certain -- certain uncertainty.

What will happen now? Who knows? You can keep an eye on the storm by going to www.nhc.noaa.gov and check for Ana. (Maybe our friends in McMurdo, Antarctica are watching this now via satellite?)

What a way to finish up my two years of post-Katrina Literacy AmeriCorps! Last year was Hurricane Gustav and Ike, and now comes Ana. Sometimes I just don't know what to say anymore...

--Adrian

"The Long and Winding Road" Nears Its End

Well, folks, it's almost over now -- my two years of Literacy AmeriCorps at St. Vincent de Paul - ALC are almost done. I am happy to have done this, and sad that it will all be over soon. I will be posting my stories until Tuesday the 18th of August. Then, that's it. I will only write for this blog as a guest writer after that.

George Harrison said it best: "All things must pass. None of life's strings can last. So, I must be on my way and face another day."

Above are photos -- taken by Sr. Lory herself! -- of my bicycle and me with my bicycle. I have driven this wonderful piece of eco-technology now for two years from Lakeview, through City Park, across Bayou St. John, down De Saix Blvd., and into Gentilly to our school. Yes, it was the long and winding road.

The coldest day I rode my bike was in January of 2008; it was 19 degrees F with a windchill much lower. I actually saw ice on the side of the street in New Orleans near Tad Gormley Stadium in City Park. The hottest days were in June of this year with many weeks of extreme heat -- especially when I was on special assignment to Incarnate Word Catholic Charities in Carrollton. Then the temperatures were well over 100 degrees F.

I prefer the cold, even 19 degress, to the heat.

We did a lot of great things this year, and we did a lot of wonderful things last year too.

Thank you for following this blog. Please continue to do so in the future.

-- Adrian

SVDP-ALC Welcomes Our 2 New Teachers!

We now have two new teachers at SVDP-ALC -- Sr. Bonita and Becky. You will be hearing much more about them and from them on this blog soon. Our Literacy AmeriCorps member, Adrian, will be ending his second and final year of service at SVDP-ALC and with AmeriCorps. (Only two one year terms are allowed with Literacy AmeriCorps under their rules.) It has been a great two years, and we will let you know more about Adrian's next steps as time goes by. So, stay tuned to this blog.
Thank you for continuing to follow our blog!

Antarctica History: Roald Amundsen

To help our students and blog readers better understand our pen pal program with the USAP, I have written a few short articles on Antarctic explorers. One of the most important explorers was Roald Amundsen from Norway, who explored both the North and South Poles. He used a very precise, even scientific, approach towards exploration. Nothing was left to chance; everything was carefully planned.

His greatest achievement was being the first human being to reach the South Pole, along with his crew. With a team of four men, 52 dogs, and four sleds, Amundsen reached the South Pole in December of 1911. As proof that he achieved this, he left a small tent and a Norwegian flag and a hand-written note. Several weeks later, the British crew under Robert Falcon Scott found the tent. Amundsen's tent is depicted in the picture above which was sent to us by our pen pal in the USAP, John Miller, via email. The painting was done to commerate the 60th anniversay of the discovery by Amundsen. It was donated to the Americans at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station by Finn Ronne, the explorer and husband of Erika Ronne, who was the first American woman on an Antarctic expedition. See the story below about Erika.

Our USAP pen pal John Miller spent a night in a replica of this Amundsen tent, which Scott also used when he reached the Pole. We held a student writing contest about this several months ago, and it is described on this blog, scroll down.

Roald Amundsen died mysteriously while flying in an airplane on a rescue mission near the Arctic (not Antarctic). His plane went down and was never found.

(One photo is of Amundsen on a sea voyage to the Arctic. The painting is of Amundsen at the South Pole sent to us from John Miller, USAP. The Amundsen ship photo is in public domain from Wikimedia Commons. The painting is courtesy of our friends at the USAP. The other photo was sent to me by John Miller, USAP. It is of Amundsen and his crew near their tent at the South Pole in 1911. It is the basis for the commemorative painting.)

-- Adrian

Antarctica History: Ernest Shackleton

To help our students and blog readers better appreciate our pen pal program with the US Antarctic Program, which has been going on now for two years, I am adding a few stories about the history of Antarctic exploration. The following story is about my favorite Antarctic explorer -- other than our present pen pals, of course-- whose name is Ernest Shackleton.

Shackleton was born in county Kildare, Ireland and became a sailor. He was a junior member of an early expedition by Robert Falcon Scott, but he longed to lead his own expedition to the South Pole. After the Norwegian Roald Amundsen and his crew became the first men to reach the Pole, followed by Scott and his crew who all later perished on the return trek, Shackleton knew he needed a different challenge. After giving many lecture tours about his earlier expedition to Antarctica, he decided to become the first to lead an expedition across the entire continent. This became the expic adventure of the ship Endurance.

The plan was to have half of his men come from one side of Antarctica on the Weddell Sea, and the other half from the other side on the Ross Sea. Then they would set supply depots as they moved and crossed Antarctica.

However, Shackleton's ship, the Endurance, became trapped in the ice in the Weddell Sea and was crushed. Shakleton had to lead his men and some sled dogs, and whatever salvaged supplies he had, to safety. Against incredible odds, in extreme cold, in the open Antarctic wilderness, and with very little food and supplies, Shackleton managed to save his crew. Part of his adventures included sailing in a lifeboat called the James Caird with part of his crew across frozen seas from Elephant Island to South Georgia Island, getting help, and then going back to save the rest of his crew who stayed behind. Shackleton did not lose a single man in his crew. His greatness was that even though his original goal -- to cross Antarctica -- was a total failure, he found a new and far more meaningful goal, that of saving the lives of his crew.

(Photos: The boat is the James Caird, a life boat from the Endurance which Shackleton used in his attempt to save his crew. The photo was taken by the ship's photographer, Frank Hurley. The poster is a copy of an advertisement for a lecture tour of Shackleton's before his Endurance Expedition. The map is of Antarctica from the US Government, CIA maps. All of the photos are in public domain from Wikimedia Commons. )

-- Adrian

Antarctica History: Robert Falcon Scott

(Note: In order to better appreciate our pen pal program with the US Antarctic Program, I am writing a few stories about the history of Antarctic exploration. )

Robert Falcon Scott is one of the most famous names associated with Antarctica. He was a British naval officer who led two expeditions to the continent. His most famous undertaking, however, ended in tragedy. His sad tale occurred on the second expedition in 1911-12 (see map) called the Terra Nova Expedition.

He and a party of five reached the South Pole only to discover that the Norwegians under Roald Amundsen had just recently reached there as well, making the Norwegians the first men to reach the South Pole. On his return back from the Pole, Scott's team ran into extreme difficulties with the cold weather and with a lack of food. Scott and his men died in Antarctica on this return trip from starvation and extreme cold, and their remains were later discoverd by a search team several months later.

Scott, however, became a legendary and romantic figure in Britain because of his Terra Nova Expedition and his tragic death.

(In the photos we see Scott in his hut near what is now the US base called McMurdo Station. We see Scott (2nd from the right) and his crew at the South Pole. And we see a map of the expedition. All of the photos are from Wikimedia Commons and in public domain.)

--Adrian

Antarctica History: Edith Ronne

Here is a significant story to consider in light of our pen pal program with Antarctica through the US Antarctic Program. In June of this year Edith Ronne died at the age of 89. She was sometimes referred to as "Antarctica's First Lady." Edith was the first American woman to ever be an active part of a US Antarctic expedition. This occurred during the 1940's. She was the wife of Finn Ronne, a famous explorer. (The first woman from any country to travel to Antarctica -- that we know of -- was Caroline Mikkelson, a Norwegian, who went there in 1935.)

Edith's main task was the provide a written historical narrative of the expedition; she had a history degree from George Washington University.
The Ronne Ice Shelf -- which is on the direct opposite side of the continent from the Ross Ice Shelf where our USAP pen pal is-- was named after her by her husband, Finn.
In the photo above --taken by the US Navy and in public domain -- we see her carrying a sign at the South Pole in 1971. "SWG" stands for Society of Women Geographers. She and a Canadian woman named Jennie Darlington were the first women to "winter-over" in Antarctica in 1947-48. "Winter-over's" are people who stay in Antarctica during their "winter," which is our summer.
--Adrian

Studying World War 2: Ira Hayes, USMC

For our final story this year in our series at SVDP-ALC called "Studying World War ll," we will take note of the life and tragic death of a heroic US Marine named Ira Hayes. He was one of the men who fought their way up Mt. Suribachi on Iwo Jima and raised the American flag there. This brought him international fame. But Ira Hayes never wanted that fame. Instead, he always remembered his friends and comrades in the Marine Corps who died on Iwo Jima. Over 5000 US Marines died there -- the greatest loss of Marines in any battle in their history. But the Marines took Iwo Jima and killed or captured all of the 20,000 Japanese combatants on the island. After the photo of the flag raising made him and four other Marines and a US Navy Corpsman famous, Ira met President Truman and even appeared briefly (as himself) in the John Wayne film "The Sands of Iwo Jima."

Ira Hayes participated in these public appearances mainly to help sell war bonds or to benefit the US government and military, but always he felt severe emotional pain over what he experienced in the war and the loss of his friends in combat.

After the war Corporal Ira Hayes suffered from alcoholism and PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) or what was then called "battle fatigue." He was arrested many times for public drunkenness. Because he was a Native American (Pima), many bigots made racial slurs against him. (Incidently, many American Indians served proudly and honorably in the US Marine Corps in WW2, some as "code talkers" speaking in their native Indian language to fool the Japanese.)

Ira Hayes never adjusted well to life after the war and died as a result of alcoholism and PTSD. One day he was discovered face down in a muddy ditch on a farm near his home on the Gila River Indian Reservation in Arizona. Allegedly, he had been drinking heavily the night before and collapsed and died of exposure to the outdoor elements. He was 32 years old.

Ira Hayes -- like the other Marines he served with -- were true American heroes and deserve the admiration of our country. Ira's story is so tragic but important too. It teaches us about the problems of PTSD and the mental harm war and other traumas (like hurricanes) can cause. It shows us that alcoholism is a disease which requires proper medical treatment. And lastly, it shows us how evil and unjust prejudice is -- when even a true American hero could be shunned and insulted, despite his profound patriotist and self-sacrifice, simply because he was an American Indian or Native American. We should always remember this proud Marine when we study World War ll. Ira Hayes was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

(The photos are in the public domain from Wikimedia Commons of Iwo Jima and Ira Hayes in his USMC uniform. The photo of the flag raising on Mt. Suribachi is, of course, the famous photo by Joe Rosenthal which is used here under the "Fair Use" doctrine for educational and non-profit purposes -- from Wikipedia.com. In Rosenthal's photo, Ira Hayes is the Marine at the far left.)

--Adrian

Our Small Group Class -- A Discussion about Writing

Here is a photo Sr. Kathleen took of our small group class. In this session we were discussing the topic of writing. We were reviewing our recent publication of the student magazine Read Beans and Writes and talking about what new essays, short plays, or poems the students would write.

Although one-on-one tutoring is the bulk of our ABE/GED/ESL teaching, small group classes are a very good way to develop student interest and exchange ideas.

In the photo from left to right are Valerie, Jennie, Eliria, Ruby, Roderick, and me (Adrian).

--Adrian

Antarctic Photography - John Miller at McMurdo

Our pen pal at McMurdo Station in Antarctica, John Miller, sent us these two spectacular photographs he took recently near the Pegasus airfield near McMurdo. The top photo shows the strange orange sky in Antarctica. John pointed out that he had never seen a sky so orange anywhere else on Earth.

The next photo is of Mount Erebus, a volcanic mountain near McMurdo Station. We can see the lights of McMurdo in the foreground. McMurdo is a small "town" -- really a collection of USAP huts and buildings -- on Ross Island on the Ross Ice Shelf. The station houses the scientists and support staff who live in Antarctica. McMurdo is also the chief source of supply for the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, about 800 miles inland. John was at South Pole last year, and you can read about that experience elsewhere on this blog.

-- Adrian

A Letter From Billy Edwards, SVDP-ALC Volunteer Teacher

Our good friend and volunteer teacher at SVDP-ALC, Billy Edwards of Tau House in New Orleans, is at his family's farm up north for the summer. He sent us an email with photos about his life, and it reveals that philosophy and spirituality can exist even while doing farm chores.

Below are some thoughts from Billy. Thanks for the words and photos, Billy.

Billy operates a spiritual center in New Orleans called Tau House. See www.tauhouseneworleans.blogspot.com/

"I was able to take the attached photo of me just when I had finished bailing hay this past week. Making hay is some of the hardest work we do here. But, for me at least, it is among the most rewarding. When I'm riding the tractor up and down all those rows I find myself thinking of, and praying for, many of the people I know including everyone at the adult learning center. You wouldn't ordinarily think of time on the tractor as prayer time but it is for me. I'm always amazed how God made all this stuff around me, and how the sun, the earth, water, soil, combine, react, grow, to produce the things we really need. Farming is the one industry without which none of the others could exist. Who cares if you can build a computer if you have nothing to eat?
My dogs sometime ride in the cab of the tractor with me - one of the pictures shows them (I hope it's not too dark). We raise Belgian Draft Horses. They're big like Clydesdales, twice the size of an average horse.

Billy

Our New GED Graduate -- Carlen Foster

Here's some great news !

We just found out that our student Carlen Foster just passed his GED exams, so he will now receive his high school equivalency diploma, signed and sealed by the state of Louisiana.

This is really wonderful. Here he is in the photo with Sr. Lory (left) and Sr. Kathleen.

As you may recall Carlen wrote a very moving essay recently for our blog about his belief in Jesus.

Carlen visited our school today and he will be a part of the GED graduation ceremony which (we expect) will occur at Loyola next Spring. Congratulations!
Adrian

(Below is a re-printing of Carlen's article.)

Knowing Jesus Christ
By Carlen M. Foster

Being raised by my grandmother, she tried her hardest to instill in me the importance of knowing Jesus Christ. I never understood why she would force me to join her church every Sunday morning. Also, I didn't believe that having a relationship with Jesus was as important as it is. As I grew older there were a number of situations that took place in my life which made me realize how wrong I was.

In October of 2007, I was indicted on a number of federal drug charges. I was facing up to five years in prison for these offenses. I began attending church every Sunday while out on bond. One year after being arrested, I joined the church I was attending and decided to be baptized again. I had received my date on which I was to be sentenced for the charges I was accused of. It just so happened to fall on my birthday. At that point, I began to pray and ask Jesus to bring me through my tough times and asked that I receive a sentence with no prison time included.

Well, my prayers were answered; and my faith grew stronger.

On December 14, 2008, I gave my life to Jesus. I was baptized and was determined to never lose sight of the One who was there for me when ever I called on Him. That very night I was involved in a home invasion in which my family and a close friend of mine life was in danger.
I called on Jesus and once again, He showed His power.

I have only Jesus to thank for not only myself still being alive today but also my family and close friend as well.

It took me a long time to know and understand why my grandmother would force me to church on Sunday as an adolescent, but I now have the answer and the understanding.

Flower Power, Part 2

Brought to you by popular demand are more photos of Sr. Kathleen's flower garden. People are really interested in this story of this flower garden. So, here are some close-ups of the flowers and photos with the students and the nuns.

--Adrian

Flower Power! Sr. Kathleen's Garden

Well, we just returned from summer break and, low and behold, Sr. Kathleen's garden has grown. We now have real flowers!

I think they are called zinnias, but I'm not sure.

If you like the garden, send us your comments.

The weather has been terribly hot and dry in New Orleans for the past few weeks, so this has been a problem. But today it rained and cooled off a bit.

So, let's hope that the flowers like the change of weather. (Note: In the photo above we see Sr. Kathleen and her flowers.)

--Adrian

Life at McMurdo, Antarctica -- John Miller, USAP

Here are more photos recently sent to us from our pen pal, John Miller, who is with the US Antarctic Program at McMurdo Station. In the top two photos, we see John (in the red hat) attending a trauma simulation. In these trainings USAP members learn various aspects of First Aid as it applies to the dangers of Antarctica. In the next photo we see John in the freezing weather working on the hot water line. (John's expertise is electricity, and you can just imagine how essential that is in the extreme weather there.)

In the final photos we see an "A Frame" house that is (was) near McMurdo Station. It recently had a fire, and you can see what happened. Fire is a very serious problem in Antarctica. USAP members provide their own volunteer fire department and their own emergency rescue teams from themselves.

Antarctica is a dangerous place.

-- Adrian

More Photos from our Student Awards Day

Here are a few more photos from our Awards Day event. We see Lance Williams, our new GED graduate and Sr. Lory; Jennie and Eliria; Edward with Sr. Lory; and Perry with Sr. Lory.

Congratulations to all of our students, teachers, and staff for making this a great year in education!

--Adrian

Photos From our Spring/Summer Student Awards Ceremony

Here are a few photos from our Spring/Summer Student Awards Ceremony we held a few weeks ago. (Currently, our school is on break; but we will be back in early July.) In the photos we see our volunteer teacher, Mrs. Marlene Wilson, getting an award from Sr. Kathleen. We see me giving awards for academic improvement to Perry and to Linda. (Linda was also recognized for her excellent work with the International Women's Day presentation at SVDP-ALC. Perry was recognized for writing an article for Read Beans and Writes magazine.) Then we see photos of Sr. Lory and Sr. Kathleen. We hold our awards ceremony twice per year. Students are recognized for improvements in academics and also for participating in special programs -- such as student writing.

--Adrian

The SVDP-ALC Award Goes to... John Miller

Soon I will be posting the photos from the Spring 2009 SVDP-ALC student awards ceremony which occurred a couple of weeks ago at our school. Twice per year we have an awards day to recognize student academic accomplishments.

But today I am posting avery special award which was given out at the student ceremony, but which does not go to a student. It goes to our "long-distance" volunteer teacher John Miller who is in Antarctica. (See the scan of his certificate which I will mail to his home in the USA shortly.)

For more than a year now John Miller, USAP, has been an outstanding teacher, writer, photographer, pen pal, and friend to our school, our students, teachers, and staff. He has consistently gone above and beyond the call of duty and has been an inspiration to us all.

We all at our school look forward to each and every email from John from Antarctica. He always has something interesting, informative, and enlightening to say. We have all learned so much from him.

Once again, we thank you, John, for all you have done for our St. Vincent de Paul-ALC school, for Literacy AmeriCorps, and for adult literacy education in New Orleans.

Note: In the photos above we see a scene from last year when John was in the Amundsen-Scott tent at South Pole Station. Also we see where he is now at McMurdo Station on the Ross Ice Shelf . The certificate of appreciation has our school name on it and is signed by the director of our school, Sr. Kathleen Bahlinger, Congregation of St. Joseph nuns, and signed by me as the program director for our Antarctica-New Orleans Pen Pal Program. The certificate will be safely waiting at John's home address in the USA after I mail it soon.

-- Adrian

Blue Berry Baby -- Gibson Helps at AmeriCorps Unity Event

In the continuing adventures of our littlest volunteer, Gibson Fischer, this time we find Gibson in rural Mississippi helping our Literacy AmeriCorps group at a Unity Event. We went to Mississippi, near Poplarville, to pick blueberries. (Unity events help our Corps to work as a team.) Later we visited with Rachel Nicolosi (Gibson's Fabulous Aunt Rachel) of the Literacy Alliance GNO and her husband Jim for lunch and a discussion with Abram Himelstein of the Neighborhood Story Project -- http://www.neighborhoodstoryproject.org/ . Abram explained how he began the project after his experience in AmeriCorps. Today the NSP is very popular and produces a series of books by and about people in New Orleans including "Coming Out the Door for the 9th Ward" which was used with One Book One New Orleans in 2007-08. Abram also discussed how we could use our AmeriCorps experiences to create similar programs ourselves or on topics that interest us.

But the highlight of the day was, as ever, the assistance rendered to us by Gibson as he encouraged us to pick blueberries, and he even picked a few himself (see the photos). Gibson wore a sun hat, and his mom Sarah put lots of sunscreen on him. So, he had a good time.

In the top photo we see Gibson being held by our AmeriCorps member Molly; his mom and dad are in the background. Next, we see him being held by Sarah with Gibson's Fabulous Aunt Rachel in the background picking blueberries. (She's an expert at this, by the way.) Then, we see Gibson picking berries; and then Sarah with Gibson. Next, we see Gibson putting picked berries into the bucket where we saved the berries. (We also ate them as we went along.) Then, we see Gibson standing up. Finally, we see Gibson relaxing with his mom and dad after a very productive morning.

Another fine job, Gibson!

We had quite a large crew today: Molly, Miraim, Kereem, Sarah, Owyn, Gibson, Abram, Jim, and Rachel and myself.

By the way, I took these photos with my new camera. I hope this new camera will be an improvement.

-- Adrian

D-Day: June 6, 1944 -- SVDP Remembers WW2

In our continual study of World War ll at SVDP-ALC, we recognize the importance of the day in history. Today is the 65th anniversary of D-Day, the Invasion of Normandy. On this day in 1944 Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower led all the Allied forces in Europe in one of the most daring undertakings in human history. Starting on the eve of D-Day, June 5, US and British paratroopers landed in France as a prelude to the full-scale amphibious invasion on June 6.

Opposing Eisenhower (and his subordinates, Omar Bradley and Bernard Montgomery) were the German gemerals von Rundstedt and Erwin Rommel. Adolf Hitler himself even entered directly into the chain of command during this battle.

The Allies attacked at five beaches -- Gold, Juno, and Sword for the British and Canadians; and Utah and Omaha for the Americans. Although all of the beaches saw terrible fighting, the worst beach for the Allies was clearly Omaha which was right in the middle of the invasion site and was heavily defended by the Germans.

After many losses, the American forces moved inland, uniting the five Allied beaches and creating a foothold in Europe. The Nazi "Atlantic Wall" had been breached. From this point on the war would continue for many months in Europe, but Hitler's days were now numbered.

In the photos above we see Gen Eisenhower (IKE) speaking with members of the 101st Airborne Division in England on June 5, 1944 just minutes before they would go into combat -- parachuting behind enemy lines. In the other photo we see a LCVP (Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel), better known as a Higgins Boat, conducted by the US Coast Guard as it lands men from the US Army's 1st Division on Ohama Beach on D-Day. Omaha was the deadliest of all the landing beaches, and it is almost certain that many of the men seen in this photograph did not survive the day -- a day which the German general Erwin Rommel called "The Longest Day." Rommel, a brilliant military tactician, knew that he had to stop the Allies on the beaches or lose the battle, and even the war. He tried, but failed to do so. He was outmaneuvered by Gen. Eisenhower and overwhelmed by Allied air and naval superiority. But in reality what won the battle for the Allies was the bravery and determination of the ordinary footsoldier, the infantryman. Despite a multitude of dangers -- rough seas, cannon fire, land mines, machine gun fire, and German military skill and discipline -- the Allies -- and especially the Americans at Omaha-- did the impossible.

Winthin a year Adolf Hitler would be dead and the war, in Europe at least, would be over.

(Note: The two photos are from wikipedia commons and in public domain.)

--Adrian

Sr. Kathleen's Garden Keeps Growing

Sr. Kathleen's flower garden is really starting to grow.

See all the green plants now.

Soon we will see flowers!

Green is Groovy !!

Scott Base, Antarctica -- New Zealand Base Near McMurdo

John Miller, our USAP pen pal, visited the base run by New Zealnad which is near the American base called McMurdo. The New Zealand Base is called Scott Base (not to be confused with the American base called Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station we learned so much about last year). John was invited to dinner by his 26 New Zealand friends, and he sent us some groovy photos. How nice to have good neighbors even in Antarctica!

The photos John sent show a mixture of old and new things. The old Scott Base goes back to IGY which was the International Geophysical Year of 1957. In the photos, an old building and its interior are from that period. A newer base exists now and, as you see, has nicely well-lit meeting rooms (John's New Zealand friends are at the table), a library (notice the book that's named Antarctica), and bunks. It also has a lounge with a window that overlooks the Ross Ice Shelf towards McMurdo.

--Adrian

Below are comments that John emailed to us from McMurdo:

"I had the pleasure of being invited to dinner by my Kiwi friends from Scott base last Wednesday evening.

Afterwards I was given a brief tour of their base and its history dating back to the first IGY in 1957. I have included some pictures here ... They have a really nice lounge that looks out over the Ross ice shelf, and down to the original base built in 1957, in part by Sir Edmund Hillary...who was the Leader of the 1957 over-wintering party at the base.

. It is very much the same as it was back in 57', with a plethora of old pictures and artifacts from those early years. While much smaller than our Mcmurdo, Scott base has many of the same amenities including a bar, store, sauna, vehicle maintenance facility, library, movie room, computer room, and dorm style living quarters. Altogether, a very cozy place to spend the winter for the 26 Kiwi's doing so this year.

One of the many events that some dare to do here is the Polar Plunge. This is where a hole is cut in the sea ice and people warm up in the sauna, then run out and jump in to the Ross sea through the ice. Typically done at sunset, midwinter, and sunrise, with the air temp usually below zero, and the water temp around 20'. I understand it is quite a shock..
... ... ...

We still have a couple hours of daylight here in the afternoon, and will be totally dark in a couple of weeks. Auroras have been spotted in the early morning hours, but you need to get away from the town lights for the best view. One of my goals this winter is to get some aurora shots of my own either from Observation hill, out on the ice shelf, or from the castle rock area, if I can get someone to go with me.

Well, that's it for now, keep those emails coming ...

Take care,

John

"On the Ice" at McMurdo -- Photos of John Miller

(Here are two more stunning photos sent to us from Antarctica by our pen pal John Miller.
--Adrian)

Pegasus Crash, 1970 -- McMurdo, Antarctica

(John Miller recently visited the site where a US plane crashed in Antarctica many years ago. Here are some of his photos and what he wrote to us about it.
--Adrian)

Date: Friday, March 20, 2009, 4:02 AM A quick note to show everyone some pictures of the Pegasus crash site which we visited this evening. Weather was calm and the sunset was spectacular. Pictures really do not tell the story of just how beautiful this place really is.

John

"In October 1970, a C-121J super constellation called "Pegasus" crashed into an airfield near Mcmurdo. A storm had blown in from the south, as they're known to do, and completely eliminated visibility. The flight had already passed PSR (point of safe return), therefore lacked fuel to turn around and was left with no choice but to 'put the girl down.' After circling the runway for hours without getting a visual, they caught a quick glimpse on the last pass and set 'er down, sliding into a heavy snowdrift caused by the storm and spinned the connie around while flinging off a couple propellers, a couple engines, and the entire right wing. Nobody died."

Our Student Questions to Antarctica

Recently a few of our students had questions about life in Antarctica. Here are some of the student questions and answers from our pen pal John Miller, USAP, at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. In the photos we see John inside the McMurdo Station at work -- with electricity-- and outside "on the Ice." (Note: John was also in Afghanistan working with the US government recently and discusses that too. )
--Adrian

Dwana: "I am a Christian pastor in training and I know that you once did religious services at South Pole. I think it is very important for people to know about God. I would like to bless you and your family and the people who work with you, who are your family now until you return home. God Bless and keep you safe."

John:

Dwana, I am blessed to be able to offer a church service here at Mcmurdo as well, and having a number of people attend from our base and Scott base as well. I am looking forward to our Easter service next week, even if it will be dark. I'm praying for a full house for that service and the opportunity to share the true meaning of Easter with everyone, and offering the Lord's supper as well.

Thank you for your blessing and please remember my wife especially. She works so hard to keep our household running, feeding the kids, and working at a full time job as well. Truly I am, as Proverbs 18:22 says "He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord".

Take care and fight the good fight!

John

Eliria:
"Do you have people who live out there besides yourselves, like the Eskimoes? Did you name the penguin in the picture? How do you all stay dry? Do you wash clothes there? Do you go fishing? We had a great International Women's Day educational gathering at school, and I talked about Education of Women in Afgahanistan. I heard about your visit to Afghanistan. Can you tell me more about it? What was it like for women's rights there when you were in Afghanistan? Thank you. I wish you well."

Eliria, well there are only us visitors here on the continent, no indigenous people. The Maori migrated to the islands of New Zealand about 1000 years ago and not much further south. This is a very harsh continent with little wildlife for sustenance, no soil for growing crops, which would be impossible anyway because of the cold temperatures, and sea ice that may, or may not, break up during the summer months. Ross bay is literally teeming with life, but is also covered with many feet of ice, even in the summer months. Whales, seals, and penguin, are found here in abundance during the summer, but one would have to venture out onto the ice, which can become very unstable, to hunt them. Even the native birds, like the Skua, Antarctic Turn, or Snow Petrel, leave for the winter.

I really wish I could go fishing here but the ice is too thick, and it is not allowed under the current Antarctica treaty.

I was in Afghanistan for about six weeks back in 2005, while working as a government contractor on a base just south of Kabul. I met quite a few local Afghans who were really no different from me aside from their being Muslim. They lived under some of the worst conditions in the world and never complained. I was honored that, the day before I left, they asked me to share a meal with them. They have so little compared to us and yet they wanted to share with me.

I only saw women when we traveled to Kabul, or other camps, which was very dangerous at the time. Most women wore western style clothes but did cover their faces with a veil of one kind or another. I was told by one of the locals that only the wives of the Taliban fighters would wear a burka, and they were few and far between.

Thank you for your interest and questions,
John

Jennie:
"I am sorry that you had to leave your family so soon, to return to Antarctica. We were looking forward to you to visit our school one day. But I'm happy to hear from you again via the internet. I wish you well. Be safe"

Hello Jennie, I'm trying to put together a vacation for me and my family, that would include a stopover in New Orleans, some time next December. I look forward to the day when I can visit your school and meet everyone and share more about my time at the South Pole and here at Mcmurdo.

I do miss my family terribly, but work is work, and there was precious little of it in Nevada. I don't think I could do this if my kids were not all teenagers, or in college. But, this does give me the opportunity to experience a part of the world I could not afford to see otherwise, and has brought me new friends from all over the United States.

Thank you so much for your concern,

John

The Frozen House -- McMurdo, Antarctica

Here are two more spectacular photos sent to us from McMurdo Station, Antarctica by our pen pal in the USAP, John Miller. As John told us via email, this small hut in Antarctica had its windows broken in a storm, and it rapidly filled up with snow and ice. John dropped by later on to see what happened. That's him taking a break on the frozen sofa.
In the next photo we see what the visibility conditions are like in the Antarctic winter -- it's basically zero. Again, thanks, John, for the fantastic photos! I showed these to our students and teachers today at school, and they were amazed.
--Adrian

Below are John's own words in his email:

"Here are a few pictures of what this place looks like after two weeks of snow falling and 80mph winds. All told we received around 6 feet of snow ... Some places are scoured clean, while others have 10 foot drifts.

One of the buildings had a couple of windows broken out from blowing debris and which allowed snow to fill up the room making for some very interesting photos. Visibility at times was worse than zero....

Take care and enjoy the sunshine you have,

John"

Watch the Garden Grow

Inch by inch, row by row, Sr. Kathleen makes the garden grow...

Here are the latest photos of our flower garden in progress. In the photo are Sr. Kathleen and SVDP students.

--Adrian

GED Graduation Photos, Loyola University

Here are two snapshots I took at the GED ceremony today. Top photo, Rachel Nicolosi of the Literacy Alliance GNO speaking to the audience and graduates; bottom photo, GED graduates in caps and gowns. What a day it was !!

--Adrian

SVDP-ALC Graduates at the GED Ceremony at Loyola

Here are some photos I took of our own SVDP-ALC graduates today. It was exciting to see our three SVDP-ALC GED graduates getting their diplomas today at Roussel Hall at Loyola University. The three were (in top photo, L to R) Terrell Brumfield, Lance Williams, and Jor'dan Watson. You can see them here in the white caps and gowns.

In the next photo you can see two of our grads with Sr. Lory.

It was a great day that represented a lot of hard work and study. Congratulations to our graduates from all of us at SVDP-ALC !

--Adrian

Our RB&W Photographer, Miriam McGinn: GED Graduation

Here are a few photos I took of Miriam McGinn, the Photography and Art Editor for our new Literacy AmeriCorps student magazine called Read Beans and Writes (RB&W). Miriam came to SVDP-ALC a week ago and took some wonderful photos for RB&W including the fantastic pictures of the red beans logo and poster. She also took photos of the student posters for International Women's Day which we hope to use at a future event at Loyola.

But today the tables were turned as I got a few snapshots of Miriam herself as she practiced her art of photography. She was our Literacy AmeriCorps photographer at the Second Regional GED Graduation today held at Roussel Hall at Loyola Universiity.

GED graduates from around Greater New Orleans received their diplomas including four from our St. Vincent de Paul - ALC (see story above). Our thanks again to Miriam for visiting our school and taking all those great photos!

(See the photos Miriam took of our RB&W logo, Jennie's bean poster, and three of the International Women's Day posters, at left on this post. They look great!)

--Adrian

Student Writing: Carlen M. Foster

(Here is a very powerful and moving essay by a new student of ours at St. Vincent de Paul- ALC. Carlen discusses his earlier years, his struggles, and his redemption to a better way of life.
Adrian)

Knowing Jesus Christ
By Carlen M. Foster

Being raised by my grandmother, she tried her hardest to instill in me the importance of knowing Jesus Christ. I never understood why she would force me to join her church every Sunday morning. Also, I didn't believe that having a relationship with Jesus was as important as it is. As I grew older there were a number of situations that took place in my life which made me realize how wrong I was.

In October of 2007, I was indicted on a number of federal drug charges. I was facing up to five years in prison for these offenses. I began attending church every Sunday while out on bond. One year after being arrested, I joined the church I was attending and decided to be baptized again. I had received my date on which I was to be sentenced for the charges I was accused of. It just so happened to fall on my birthday. At that point, I began to pray and ask Jesus to bring me through my tough times and asked that I receive a sentence with no prison time included.

Well, my prayers were answered; and my faith grew stronger.

On December 14, 2008, I gave my life to Jesus. I was baptized and was determined to never lose sight of the One who was there for me when ever I called on Him. That very night I was involved in a home invasion in which my family and a close friend of mine life was in danger.
I called on Jesus and once again, He showed His power.

I have only Jesus to thank for not only myself still being alive today but also my family and close friend as well.

It took me a long time to know and understand why my grandmother would force me to church on Sunday as an adolescent, but I now have the answer and the understanding.

Green Jobs and Hazel's Blog

There is some really good information about Green Jobs on Hazel Parker's blog. Hazel has been the literacy education coach for Literacy AmeriCorps New Orleans this past year.
(See www.hazelsliteracylagniappe.blogspot.com/2009/04/literacy-lagniappe-tip-16-green-jobs.html)

Here is some of what Hazel said:
" I thought it would be appropriate to post some information about green jobs and adult learners. A few weeks ago, NIFL's Special Topics Discussion List addressed green jobs and basic skills. In response to a question about green jobs, the following resource was mentioned - Environmental Defense Fund's Green Jobs Guidebook, http://www.edf.org/article.cfm or http://www.greenforall.org/resources/green-jobs-guidebook. This guidebook provides the experience, training and skills needed for specific green jobs. Inform your learners about green jobs and let them know there are many possibilities for green collar jobs."

For more info on this and other literacy education topics, see Hazel's blog at www.hazelsliteracylagniappe.blogspot.com/

This information about Green Jobs should be helpful for our school now that Sr.Kathleen has begun the new project of growing a school garden.

(Note: The photo is of Hazel from her blog.)

Sr. Kathleen Grows a Garden at School

Sr. Kathleen is now growing a flower garden at school. Last week she brought in the large pot holden -- which is an old bath tub, but we don't call it that anymore -- and added some soil. Today she and two volunteer students planted some seeds and watered them down. You can see the packet of seeds in the photo. I think they are daisies; but I don't know much about flowers, so they could be cabbages or tulips for all I know.

I will, however, dutifully follow this story as our plants grow overtime; and I'll take photos. Yes, come watch the flowers grow, right here on this blog!

-- Adrian

200 Blog Posts, 5000 Hits, and a Strange Coincidence

We have reached another milestone on our blog. Last week we reached 5000 hits on our site. (We have a hit counter on the lower left-hand side of the blog which indicates everytime someone visits our site. This has happened 5000 times since we started back in February 2008.) Also, we reached the one year anniversary of our pen pal program with the US Antarctic Program (USAP) last week on April, 26. John Miller of the USAP continues to write to our school from Antarctica; and we write to him.

Finally, today we have reached the next milestone -- post number 200. I have written 200 posts (or stories) for this blog since we started. Some of these posts have student writings and some have guest-written articles.

Since this is a milestone, I have re-published here two posts -- one is the shortest post I have ever done for this blog and the other is the longest. The shortest is of our "Littlest Literacy AmeriCorps Volunteer," Gibson Fischer. The longest is of the "Socrates of Loyola University," Professor Fred Swaim.

It is fitting that these two people, who never had the chance to meet each other, should be side by side here because it is through this blog and Literacy AmeriCorps, SVDP-ALC, and Loyola that we discover by the oddest coincidence that they actually almost met each other (or had the chance to meet) ... and their relatives actually do know each other. This is one more strange coincidence I have encountered since Hurricane Katrina.

Here's how they are related: Gibson's mother, Sarah, is the program co-ordinator or director of Literacy AmeriCorps (LAC) New Orleans. It is through LAC that I am at SVDP-ALC teaching. Sarah's former Irish dance teacher, from years ago, is my sister MaryAnn McGrath Swaim. I played Irish music for Mary Ann's dance group. Mary Ann's husband is Fred Swaim, the "Socrates of Loyola." Fred passed six months after Hurricane Katrina from post-polio syndrome and contributing complications arising from evacuations from Katrina and later Hurricane Rita. Had he continued to teach at Loyola Law School (he taught Admiralty, Maritime Personal Injury, and Successions), he would have almost certainly met Sarah's husband, Owyn, who is finishing up his (Juris Doctor) law degree at Loyola now. Mary Ann and I also graduated from Loyola Law some years ago. And Sarah's office is at Loyola.

So, oddly enough, these two people -- Gibson and Fred -- have met, but only on this blog -- even though their families knew each other but did not realize it until I came to Literacy AmeriCorps and SVDP-ALC two years ago and created this blog.

So, if you are a follower of this blog, please take a look at these two stories below one more time with this new, coincidental perspective in mind.
I am re-printing the articles exactly as they appeared before -- our shortest story and our longest story.
It is a small post-Katrina world.
--Adrian

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Literacy AmeriCorps New Orleans Goes to Pittsburgh

Gibson

Gibson in action in Pittsburgh.

Posted by Adrian McGrath at 2:21 PM 0 comments

Friday, September 19, 2008

Remember Katrina: Fred Swaim, The Socrates of Loyola University

(Below is another in our SVDP-ALC blog series on "Remember: Hurricane Katrina." As you recall this series was interrupted by the appearance of Hurricane Gustav near August 29th this year, Katrina's anniversary, and then again by Hurricane Ike. We will, however, continue with more Katrina stories and more Katrina people until our story is told.
-- Adrian)





"For sudden the worst turns the best to the brave."
From Prospice by Robert Browning

It was Ernest Shackleton who was fond of this quote (above) from Browning's poem about death and life and courage -- Prospice (pronounced from the Latin as pro-spee'--kay, meaning looking forward). Shackleton was a man who should feel right at home on this blog. He was the Anglo-Irish Antarctic explorer who tried to cross the frozen continent via the South Pole. He became shipwrecked with his crew when his famous ship, "The Endurance", got stuck in the ice at the Weddell Sea. "The Endurance" was finally crushed and sunk in the shifting ice of Antarctica. Shackleton, however, did not desert his crew or give up hope. He abandoned his original goal of being the first to transverse Antarctica via the Pole for a much higher purpose: to save the very lives of his crew and himself. He used Browning's poem and that very line (above) to inspire his crew and keep them alive. The "worst" situation had fallen to them. But "the best" would occur suddenly as they shifted their goals in life from vainglorious glory to sheer survival and self-sacrifice to save their own lives and the lives of each other in the crew. Shackleton did eventually save every man in his crew in an incredible adventure -- by sailing in nearly frozen seas with some of his crew in a wooden life boat to get help and return for the rest of his crew.

This amazing story of Antarctica, among other things, inspired me to begin our school's pen pal program with the the U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP). In addition to geography lessons and other studies for basic education, Antarctica teaches us about struggle, death, and life.

But to us who read this blog, Antarctica is also linked now --oddly enough --to New Orleans and thus to Hurricane Katrina. In an unpredictable and seemingly impossible way, a set of characters have crossed paths right here on our blog. Shackleton's struggle -- and the very name of his ship "The Endurance" -- is relevant to our story of Katrina. We have seen on our blog other Katrina people -- the students from the St. Vincent de Paul - ALC school and their pen pals who are members of the USAP stationed at McMurdo and the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. You, dear reader, have read about Miss Kitty, the post-Katrina cat, who was a good friend of mine during my own Katrina "displacement. (See the post on Aug. 2nd.) You read about hurricanes and rumors of hurricanes besides Katrina like Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Gustav which drove all the citizens of New Orleans into evacuation, once again, from their wounded and vulnerable city. And you read about Hurricane Ike which just missed us last week and hit Houston instead and destroyed much of Galveston.

Now you will meet another Katrina person -- who was (and still is in spirit) the most outrageous of them all. (See his photo above.) He was a lawyer, but he did not act like a lawyer. He was a law professor, but he did not act like a law professor. He was the author of a book on law, but he did not act like the author of a book on law. He had a law degree from Tulane and a masters degree in law from U.C. Berkeley, but he certainly did not act like he was from Berkeley. (He went to De la Salle too and spent his youth in MidCity, a true New Orleanian.)

How did he act, you may ask? Well, he took Shakespeare's advice: All the world was his stage. He acted like he was Jimmy Cagney. He acted like he was Marlon Brando in "The Wild Bunch" (Question: "What are you rebelling against?" Answer: "What have you got?") He acted like Peter Falk in Columbo, a program he once watched religiously. He rode a motorcycle at one point while teaching law at Loyola Law School in New Orleans despite the fact that he suffered most of his life from polio.

He had a fast wit and would take jabs at people, but it was just in fun. He once ran --or attempted to run -- an ill-fated campaign for governor of Louisiana. After watching countless re-runs of "Raiders of the Lost Ark," he came to believe that he was Indiana Jones. But as evidence that he was not totally delusional, he quite sanely called himself instead merely "Louisiana Swaim."

"Louisiana Swaim for Governor!" Yes, I can still recall the rallying cry. Alas, that was the campaigm that never materialized, although his law students were ready to carry on with the campaign. He taught law at Loyola Law School for about 30 years, from the early 1970's until the hedious days of Hurricane Katrina.

Despite his deteriorating health -- again due to post-polio syndrome-- he tried to continue to teach. He never claimed to be like Socrates -- that was not one of his Walter Mitty roles on his stage of life. But, yes, I think he was like Socrates. (The wise man knows how much he does not know and challenges those who think they know everything.) While your basic Corporations or Real Estate Law professor would be aghast to show up in class wearing the wrong color tie or an inappropriate business suit, Fred -- I mean Louisiana Swaim-- would wear a Hawaiian Luau shirt. He might show up in winter time wearing his motorcycle jacket, who knows? (Again... Q: "What are you rebelling against? A: What have you got.)

But it was not all craziness. No. Mainly I remember the books. Lots and lots and lots of books. He had accumulated, well, it must have been in the thousands. He read all the time. And not just things that he taught like law, which, of course, he read. But subjects of every type, it seemed. Books on philosophy. Books on drama and movies and psychology. Books on history, especially on World War 2. Books on science fiction. (We, of course, ofter discussed the "truth" behind the Roswell Incident, you know, where the flying saucers crashed landed in New Mexico in 1947? Yep, he knew "the truth" about UFOs too.) He read books about the Kennedy Assassination and even got an autographed copy of Jim Garrison's book on the subject -- which he subsequently gave to me.


Fred had one wife and three children, one sister, and parents who pasted away many years ago. (I remember Fred's father once told me that he, the father, once sat on the Outlaw Jessee James' knee once when he was a child. I wonder if that was true?) Fred had acquired polio in the 1950's in New Orleans during what was a period of epidemic. But instead of letting this destroy himself, he found other goals in life. So, rather than crossing Antarctica via the South Pole (or the New Orleans equivalent of this), he concentrated on saving the only life he had and the equivalent of the lives of his crew, which were the people who came into his life, his family, his friends, and his students -- or at least helping them as best he could. And throughtout his life he continued to read. Lots and lots and lots of books.

I still recall seeing his room at his parents' house many years ago. He had his large bookshelf right next to his bed where he could reach books right off the shelf from a proper lying/reading position. I realized then this was a brilliant idea, and I have always tried to duplicate this in my life (although in post-Katrina living it has been a challenge.)

He liked boiled crabs, New Orleans seafood, beer, and above all my sister's homecooking. (My sister Mary Ann and Fred were married more than 30 years ago at Holy Name Church at Loyola University).

He was at one point my Admiralty professor. He was my-brother-in-law. And he was my friend.

The Hell that was Hurricane Katrina -- the nightmare that was the evacuation from both that storm and also Hurricane Rita -- eventually was too much. (He and my sister had to evacuate twice -- from New Orleans to Lafayette for Katrina, then from Lafayette to Mississippi to stay at the home of the parents of my brother-in-law Chris. (Chris had helped our family multiple times during and since Katrina. He also has helped our SVDP-ALC school on many occasions behind the scenes. It was Chris and Marci, my sister, who "owned" Miss Kitty by the way, the Katrina Cat who is mentioned in another Katrina story on this blog. See Aug. 2nd post.)

It is very difficult to remember those days of Hurricane Katrina without breaking down. What words can we use to describe the whole ordeal? Nightmare? Horror? Unbelievable? I just don't know anymore. You tell me.

Fred -- his real name was Frederick, by the way, but I never called him that-- passed several months after my mother passed who also went through Hurricane Katrina. He did not go without a fight, however. He once loved to follow boxing, and even punched a punching bag as a youth -- despite having polio... or maybe because of it?


People might not always be able to overcome the insurmountable, but some people still try. I recall my sister Mary Ann discussing how they watched and enjoyed a film about FDR with Kenneth Branagh, the Irish actor who also played -- oddly enough-- Ernest Shackleton in a biographical film. Franklin D. Roosevelt, of course, was stricken with polio. We who do not have that illness, or a similar sickness, cannot really understand what it does to people both physically and psychologically. But it is amazing what some people can accomplish despite these afflictions.

Fred, who was once an English literature major, was fond of the poems of Dylan Thomas. I will not tell you when it was the last time Fred heard this poem read out loud; but I will tell you that it was after Hurricane Katrina, and it had a special importance.

So, I will repeat that poem below. Please read it. Perhaps it will have a special meaning for your own life or the life of a loved one some day.


"Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night"
By Dylan Thomas


Do not go gentle into that good night
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning
they do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.


Fred did not go gentle into the night.
He was still outrageous and courageous to the end.
The worst turned the best to the brave.

And we will all meet again.
-- Adrian

Posted by Sr. Lory Schaff, CSJ at 4:09 PM 1 comments

Snowstorm at McMurdo -- John Miller's Photos from Antarctica

John Miller, our pen pal in Antarctica, just sent us these amazing photos from McMurdo, Antarctica right after a snow storm with 80 mph winds. The winds broke the windows of this small building and see what happened when the snow and extreme temperatures got in!

Life at McMurdo is no picnic. By the way, this week Jazz Fest starts in New Orleans. Maybe there should be a Jazz Fest at McMurdo too, but let's have it indoors. This could be a good way to escape the cold ... with hot Jazz!

--Adrian

Below is what John Miller wrote to us:

Here are a few pictures of what this place looks like after two weeks of snow falling and 80mph winds. All told we received around 6 feet of snow, although I have yet to figure out how the weather people actually come by that total because of the high winds. Some places are scoured clean, while others have 10 foot drifts.
One of the buildings had a couple of windows broken out from blowing debris and which allowed snow to fill up the room making for some very interesting photos. Visibility at times was worse than zero, and as you can see form the photo's of the bucket truck, not very good for most of the time. I wasn't working with the bucket truck at the time, but was outside quite a bit later on that night.

Take care and enjoy the sunshine you have,

John

Photos from the Pittsburgh Literacy Conference

Here are a few photos I took at the Pittsburgh Literacy AmeriCorps conference in early April in and around the city during our free time. (Except I did not take the one with me in it; Nick did.) Most of the time we were at seminars or at the service project at Highland Park, but I had some time on my own and took a few shots.

The top one is of nine from our group at the airport. Next is George Washington in his French and Indian War uniform. He was in a famous battle serving with British General Braddock near what became downtown Pittsburgh fighting the French and Indians. His experiences in that war helped him to beat the redcoats in the Revolutionary War. The other man in uniform is, of course, Franco Harris, running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers. These life-size statues are in the Pittsburgh airport.

The next photo looks like New Orleans; it is a riverboat on a river. But it is not a New Orleans boat and not the Mississippi River. It is a boat on the Monongahela River near our hotel.

The next fuzzy photo is of our group again at the airport ready to leave Pitttsburgh. We can even see half of Nick at the lefthand side, but Kim is missing in the photo, off to the right. The next photo is the little house at top of Mt. Washington where the gondola/incline goes. From that spot you can see the whole city. In the next photo the peach color building is our hotel on the Monongahela River. In the next photo are empty pizza boxes on the campus of the local University. We all had pizza after our service project in the snow at Highland Park. It was great! And don't worry, picked up after ourselves later and did not leave a mess.

The next two photos show some of Highland Park where we did our service project. As you can see, the hills are very steep. And there's lots of snow.

The last photo is where the Allegheney River meets the Monongahela, and they turn into the Ohio River which goes into the Mississippi and comes down to New Orleans. So, if we had a boat, we could get on it in Pittsburgh and wind up in the French Quarter in New Orleans. In the photo is also Heinz Stadium, which used to be Three Rivers Stadium.

-- Adrian

One Year Anniversary -- SVDP's Antarctica Pen Pal Program

We have reached a milestone at SVDP-ALC. It has been one full year since we began our pen pal program with the US Antarctic Program. On April 25, 2008 we received our first ever email from Antarctica; it came from John Miller who was then at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. (I mistakenly thought it was April 20, but it was April 25 or 26 depending on the different time zones between South Pole Station and New Orleans. The Pole is 17 hours ahead of us.) We then had the following members of the USAP email us at least one -- and many did multiple times: Leah Webster, Jason McDonald, Weeks Heist, Calee Allen (from Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station), and Shandra Cordovano, Lisa Welfare, and Sarah Krall (at McMurdo Station). By January of 2009, however, all of our pen pals had left "The Ice" and returned home to the USA. People can only stay in Antarctica for so long, of course.

However, John Miller, who was the first pen pal to write to us (see his photo above) continued to email us from the USA because of his dedication to the cause of education. We were extremely grateful for John's correspondence; he always had something amazing to say about Antarctica, education, and life in general. And he sent us wonderful photos from wherever he went.

But then John returned to "The Ice" just a few weeks ago. This time he is at McMurdo Station. He continues to this day to sent us great photos and some of the best writing I have ever seen. (His discussion last year about the death of Robert Falcon Scott was truly amazing. And everything he sends to us we discuss in our classes at school.)

So, the pen pal program continues here at SVDP-ALC thanks mainly to one man -- John Miller -- who has become, in effect, a long-distance teacher at our school.

On April 20, 2009 I wrote on our school chalkboard the great news of our one year anniversary of our pen pal program; see the photo I took of this above.

Thanks again, John

-- Adrian

Literacy AmeriCorps at Animal Rescue New Orleans

Literacy AmeriCorps went to ARNO -- Animal Rescue New Orleans -- to help them help some foresaken cats and dogs of Greater New Orleans. We helped kittens and cats, did some maintenance work, washed out cat and dog bowls, fixed cages, and more. (I became an expert in scooping out fresh kitty litter.)

ARNO, which is now in Harahan just outside the city limits, was created during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Right after the storm many cats and dogs were in dire condition across the city. Most were now homeless and could not get food or even drinking water, much less medical care and human love and companionship.

So, Animal Rescue New Orleans went around town saving abandoned cats and dogs.
After Katrina it was still necessary to help the animals, so ARNO is still badly needed today. ARNO takes great care of the cats and dogs and gives them proper food, water, medicine, and loving care until they are properly adopted.

To learn more about ARNO, read the story about our visit there in the March -April issue of AmeriWord by Laura Klein at http://www.literacygno.com/ ; go to the LAC publications section.

In the photos above are our Literacy AmeriCorps (LAC) members and an ARNO volunteer -- Lauren, Laura, Miriam, Kimberley, and myself (Adrian) -- plus Dawn who is with ARNO. The other volunteer is Andrew, who also helped us at Earth Fest in March -- readers of this blog may recall.

-- Adrian

Rhythmic Roots, Green Ability at Studio at Colton -- Literacy AmeriCorps

Here are a few photos from my Literacy AmeriCorps visit to Studio At Colton on North Rampart St. and Mandeville St. in the Faubourg Marigny, New Orleans. I was helping out at this event which has free music, food, and various informational booths for the community. The booths have many topics, from recycling to environmentalism to AmeriCorps NCCC outreach. Healthygulf.org was there too advocating gulf restoration.

I met there two members from a different AmeriCorps group called NCCC who help in post-Hurricane Katrina rebuilding. Constance Constanza Rampini who helped organize the event is standing next to the Rhythmic Roots sign. The amazing artworks are from a Mardi Gras parade and are housed at the Studio at Colton which is run by Sarah K. Hess, who is standing next to Smokey the Bear. She is with the Creative Alliance of New Orleans and is the Project Director. The Studio is housed in what was a public school pre-Katrina, but it was damaged in the storm. You can see the back wall of the building, and the event was held in the parking lot/yard. Today the building is used as a very progressive art studio which benefits the whole community.

That's me in the grey Literacy AmeriCorps shirt; sitting next to me is a member of AmeriCorps NCCC in a white shirt. It was a windy day, and we expected rain at any moment; but the weather turned out OK.

--Adrian

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Scenes from Antarctica: John Miller at McMurdo

Here are some stunning photos John Miller, USAP, sent to us from McMurdo Station, Antarctica.

The first is of a large cross near McMurdo. Next is a field of ice and snow -- this is a typical scene all across Antarctica. We saw lots of this last year from South Pole Station, less so at McMurdo where there is other terrain. Next is sunset at McMurdo. Remember, the sun will stay down for six months! Next is yet another cross at McMurdo. Finally, there is a construction going on near McMurdo.

Again, these are stunning photos from Antarctica. Our profound thanks again to John Miller, SVDP-ALC's loyal Antarctica pen pal who is, in effect, a long-distance volunteer teacher for our students and faculty alike. We have all learned so much from him!

-- Adrian

Below what John Miller wrote to us in his last letter from McMurdo Station, Antarctica:

Happy Easter from the bottom of the world! Just a quick note to say we are experiencing some real Antarctic weather here at Mcmurdo. The kind of stuff where it is dangerous just to go out side; with wind gusts around 70 mph, and blowing snow dropping visibility to zero. Buildings shake like a train is passing by and anything not nailed or tied down is blown around like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. I was hoping to have an Easter service today but obviously the weather changed that. Still, we were blessed with some amazing sunsets the last couple of days, and a full moon that looks larger than life out over the ice. My job has kept me outside for the last week and will continue to do so for another month or more. Tomorrow may be condition one which will mean working inside and not leaving the building except for an emergency. I've included a few pictures here of the sunset, moon, and work. Love to hear from everyone so write when you can. John

McMurdo -- John Miller Back in Antarctica

Here are three great photos of our Antarctica pen pal in the US Antarctic Program, John Miller, USAP.

He sent us these while I was in Pittsburgh, and I finally got them up on the blog.

In the first photo he is at work with another man outside in extreme weather near McMurdo Station on Ross Island, the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica. I'm not sure what John is doing in this photo, but his expertise is with electricity. Last year when we were in constant email contact with, he was stationed at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station and was in charge of all the electricity for that base. As you can imagine, having electricity can be a matter of life or death in Antarctica.

In the next photo John is again in the field but in much better weather. Again, he is working with electricity And finally, in the last photo he is taking a break, lounging in a "sun chair" at McMurdo Station.

Ah, yes, that's the life for me -- relaxing in sunny Antarctica!

But it sure is different from New Orleans

-- Adrian

Pittsburgh: Remembering the Fallen Police Officers

I was hesitent to include this photo and story on our blog because it is so sad and does not seem to relate directly to our national literacy conference in Pittsburgh. But upon more reflection, I realize now that it does relate to just about everything we try to do in Literacy AmeriCorps. The facts of the story are better told elsewhere (see the Pittsburgh-Gazette www.post-gazette.com ). In short, three Pittsburgh police officers were shot and killed. These were mindless, senseless, and cruel murders in a city that rarely sees such crimes. The killings happened just before we arrived in town, and the funeral occurred while we were there. By sheer co-incidence a convention of police officers from around the country was happening at the same hotel where we stayed, and one of the bagpipe players for the funeral was actually practicing songs just outside the front door of the lobby. (I recognized him playing the old Irish songs"The Minstrel Boy" and "Danny Boy.") Oddly enough, our service project at Highland Park (see below) occurred a matter of yards from the police station where the three slain officers were stationed. The photo above is of that station. Ordinary citizens laid flowers, crosses, and signs saying "God Bless You" at the front doorstep. By accident I discovered this as I walked back to where our buses were and took a picture.

What we do at Literacy AmeriCorps is teach literacy -- how to read, write, and do basic math. Sometimes we help people get GED's or learn English as a foreign language or help with family literacy. But, hopefully, we do something else too. And that is to give people hope for a better future and a better way of life -- something better than leading a life of mindless, senseless, and cruel destruction.

So, in the end the deaths of these three police officers directly relates to what we do. We in AmeriCorps have a taste of what it is like to serve our community and country. These three police officers -- and their brother and sister officers and police, firefighters, and US military across the country-- know what it is like to take enormous risks everyday to protect ordinary American citizens -- even if those risks include death.

This is something we must never forget in our experience in Pittsburgh.

--Adrian

Literacy AmeriCorps New Orleans Goes to Pittsburgh

Well, here we are -- Literacy AmeriCorps New Orleans -- at the Pittsburgh airport ... at least most of us. (Actually, this is as we were departing Pittsburgh; I couldn't get my camera to work earlier. Good grief, I need a new camera!)

From left to right are Laura, Lauren, me (Adrian), Molly, Libby, Miriam, Caroline, and in the back Robert, and BJ. Nick was taking the photo, so we can't see him. Kenneth and Michel were elsewhere, so missed the photo-op. Also, I must apologize to Kimberly and Nick who were present for this photo-op but don't appear in the picture. (I took another photo too which didn't develop right.) With the aid of a bad camera, I somehow managed to accidently cut them out of the photos. Sorry about that, Kim and Nick.

Sarah and Gibson took a different flight. We were all smiling because we knew we "got things done." I'm smiling too; I just don't show it much.

-- Adrian

Focusing in on Pittsburgh -- Literacy AmeriCorps National Conference

I might not be able to get my camera to focus in right, but I think our AmeriCorps members did properly focus our attention over the past several days on learning new things at the many seminars and discussions at the national conference and helping out at the group service project at Highland Park.

Here are some photos from the event. The top photo is of Laura Klein who does editing and layout work for our New Orleans Literacy AmeriCorps magazine called AmeriWord, see more on AmeriWord at www.literacygno.org . (Laura also corrects all the spelling and grammar mistakes I make therein, folks, thank you...)

The group at the table are representative of the various discussions and seminars we had; this one is discussing ABE/GED education -- Adult Basic Education and high school diploma preparation. Kimberly Peterson from Pittsburgh is in the next photo. We had an interesting discussion about social justice and literacy; and we plan to stay in contact via email and blog.

In the next photo is the cutest baby in town ... Gibson Fischer from New Orleans (more about Mr. Gibson to come in this blog, scroll down).

In the next photo are Caroline and Miriam (left), both members of Literacy AmeriCorps New Orleans.

-- Adrian

Service Project at Highland Park, Pittsburgh -- Literacy AmeriCorps

In the photos are many members of Literacy AmeriCorps including, Molly, Lauren, Robert, myself (wearing the blue coat in the partly obstructed photograph, Robert took that shot),

Caroline, Elizabeth, Kenneth, and others.

In our service project at the Pittsburgh National Conference, our Literacy AmeriCorps group helped with the environment at the Highland Park doing various tasks. The group I was with helped to save tress from being attacked by wild animals -- rabbits and deer -- who nibble at the roots of young trees. To protect the tress and not hurt the animals in the process, we had to place mesh fencing around the trunks of the trees. To do this we had to climb the hill -- or as I called it, "the mountain." I tried to climb the hill/mountain, but the trail was too muddy from the wet snow for me -- with my limited sense of balance-- and I keep sliding down. It was becoming rather unsafe -- due to my back problems and limited physical ability -- so, mercifully, they gave me another job. Now I could just cut the mesh fences from a large roll of mesh, attach wood stakes to them, and give these to more agile and younger people to take up the hill. (You can see a photo I took of Robert cutting the mesh fence above; Robert is the tall fellow.) So, this worked out ok, although I am still very sore. But it was fun despite the obviously cold weather conditions -- see all that April snow in the photos! I did not get hurt. And it was for a very good cause. Hurrah! We got things done ! despite the snow and the mud.

Afterwards, we all had pizza for lunch. That made facing the cold all worthwhile too.

-- Adrian

Gibson

Gibson in action in Pittsburgh.

Gibson Goes to Pittsburgh

In the continuing adventures of Gibson, this time we find him winning the hearts -- and perhaps the minds too-- of everyone at the Literacy AmeriCorps National Conference in Pittsburgh. These are really nice photos of him -- despite being blurry. (Sorry, folks. I have a cheap camera, and I am not the world's finest photographer.)

The top two photos are, of course, of Sarah and Gibson. Sarah is helping Gibson with breakfast. The next two shots are of Gibson playing with a spoon. I think he makes a game of it. He drops spoons on the floor a lot, and the silly grown-ups nearby keep picking up the spoons. Yes, that's lots of fun. Sitting behind Sarah and Gibson are several members of Literacy AmeriCorps.

The last two photos are of Gibson with the National Director of Literacy AmeriCorps at GPLC -- Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council -- Elizabeth Rivera. As you can see, Elizabeth and Gibson are pals.

-- Adrian

Bridge Photos at the Literacy AmeriCorps National Conference in Pittsburgh

These are some photos I took around town during a free moment. Most of the time we were in seminars or at the service project saving trees at Highland Park, but when I got a chance, I took some photos. The photos of the bridges I took from the Incline; this is a gondola or lift that goes up the side of a very steep hill called Mt. Washington. I had a habit of calling ALL the terain in Pittsburgh which was not totally flat a "mountain" because in New Orleans everything is totally flat except for the highest point in town, which is about 8 feet high, "Monkey Hill" in the Audubon Park Zoo. The other photo, which I took from inside our van as we drove to Highland Park and the service project, is of the Heinz football stadium. I remember the days when the stadium there was called Three Rivers Stadium (where the Allegheny and Monongahela turn into the Ohio); this was where Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, and Lynn Swann used to play ball back in the 70's. I followed the Steelers because Bradshaw was from, of course, Louisiana.--Adrian

Volunteer Mary Ann McGrath Swaim Helps AmeriCorps at Earth Fest

We had a special volunteer helping our Literacy AmeriCorps (LAC) group help the public library at Earth Fest last weekend who has been well-known with at least two of us with LAC for a long, long time. She is Mary Ann McGrath Swaim. She is the former Irish dance teacher for the Coordinator of Literacy AmeriCorps Sarah Fischer, and she is my sister. (Mary Ann also taught Irish ceili dancing to Shannan Cvitanovic of the YES /YMCA Educational Services -- which is in the main library downtown. There used to be regular ceilis or dances at O'Flaherty's Irish Pub in the Quarter years ago; I used to play Irish music for them often.) Mary Ann came to help us with her son Billy Swaim (in the blue shirt) and his wife Tara (red and white blouse) and their two daughters, Claire and Sarah (with the pink cast on her arm). They had a great time helping AmeriCorps at Earth Fest.

Mary Ann has helped Literacy AmeriCorps, unbeknownst to most people, behind the scenes over the past two years by helping me immensely, together with my other sister Marci and her husband Chris Smith, and thereby making this very blog possible. Our thanks go forth once again!

If the name Swaim sounds familiar, it is because you may have read about Mary Ann's husband, Frederick "Louisiana " Swaim, The "Socrates of Loyola University" on this very blog during our "Remember Katrina" series at http://www.svdpalc.blogspot.com/2008/09/remember-katrina-fred-swaim-socrates-of.html

Fred was a professor of Admiralty Law at the Loyola Law School for about 30 years before he passed away after the onslaught of Hurricane Katrina just a matter of weeks after Mary Ann's (and my) mother, Isabella McGrath, also died following Katrina. For our family, like for so many others in this city of New Orleans, Katrina can never be forgotten. But one way to honor the memories of the dead is to help make our city a better place for the living and for the younger generation. We can do this in large ways or small, and a very good way to help is by volunteering at Earth Fest and supporting Literacy AmeriCorps. Mary Ann has done both.

-- Adrian

Literacy AmeriCorps Helps the Library At Earth Fest

Literacy AmeriCorps helped out at the NOPL library booth again this year handing out library information and information about the various free literacy programs offered by Literacy AmeriCorps and our work with the Literacy Alliance of Greater New Orleans.

In the photos are member Laura Klein and her friend and volunteer Andrew, members Lauren Pigeon and Bradley Narcisse, and Robert Taylor. Other members present were Kelly Medere and yours truly, Adrian, who is always behind the camera.

The penguin was the symbol at Earth Fest for the Library. The green creature is a Wetlands Watcher Alligator (not a dinosaur as one of our non-New Orleanian Literacy AmeriCorps members thought).

It was a beautiful day for a wonderful event. Thanks to all who came and helped!

--Adrian

Literacy AmeriCorps Goes to Earth Fest: Jefferson Parish Environmental Dept.

On Saturday and Sunday, March 21 and 22, several of our Literacy AmeriCorps members helped out at the booth for the New Orleans Public Library at Earth Fest at the Audubon Zoo. We handed out literature about the library, our literacy programs, and about the Literacy Alliance of Greater New Orleans.

Also at the fest I visited with the representative from the Jefferson Parish Environmental Department, Mr. Jason Smith. He was kind enough to take the time to describe to me the various works which the Environmental Dept. does to help prevent coastal erosion including the use of the famous Christmas trees. These donated trees are placed in holding pens which act as a barrier to protect the coast yet also allow in helpful sediment. Many volunteers help in this program. A model of this Christmas tree device was on display. Our thanks to Jason for giving us many maps and literature about the project and about other aspects of the environment which we can use in our Literacy AmeriCorps program. It is possible that Literacy AmeriCorps could partner with Jefferson Parish Environmental on a project in the future.

-- Adrian

Dr. Petrice Sams-Abiodun Visits SVDP-ALC

(In 1st photo, L - R, Adrian McGrath, Ruby Sterling, Dr. Petrice, Jennie Gorden, Eliria Knox, Linda Nelson.)

The director of the Lindy Boggs National Center for Community Literacy, Dr. Petrice Sams-Abiodun, PhD made a special visit to our school on Thursday to meet with the student members of our International Women's Day group.

The students were really excited about her coming, and they -- with the help of Sr. Kathleen and Sr. Lory -- really made it a great event by getting everything ready for the visit.

Dr. Sams-Abiodun -- who just likes to be called Petrice-- made a wonderfully warm and friendly speech to the students. Then on a more serious note, she spoke about the importance of adult education for both women and men and how this can help alleviate many of the social ills we face today in New Orleans such as poverty and crime. Then the four students from our International Women's Day group (two were unavoidably absent) presented their topics on Sacagawea, Women Pioneers, Joan of Arc, and Women's Education in Afghanistan.

Following this we had some refreshments and cakes which were supplied by Jennie and Sr. Kathleen.

It was a great day, and Petrice is hoping to meet again soon with the students ... but this time at her office at Loyola University at the Boggs Center.

We are all looking forward to that!

See more about the Lindy Boggs National Center for Community Literacy at http://www.boggslit.org/ and read about the other two related organizations also at the Boggs Center, the Literacy Alliance of Greater New Orleans and Literacy AmeriCorps, at www.literacygno.org.

--Adrian

McMurdo Station, Antarctica

Our penpal from Antarctica, John Miller, USAP, has sent us some photos from his new station in Antarctica. When we last saw John, after his brief visit back to the USA, he was at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. But now he is re-located to the McMurdo Station on the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica. It is actually on Ross Island, but the island is surrounded by ice. In the photos you will see John at the sign at McMurdo. Also, you will see a photo of a lone penguin molting (getting his feathers). All the other penguins left for the Antarctic winter, I was told. This lone one was a bit late, but he is leaving too. I'm not sure where they are going; we will have to ask John in our next email exchange. McMurdo is different from South Pole in many ways. McMurdo is a bit warmer but more windy and at a much lower altitude. It is easier to breath at McMudro, and there are more USAP members there and more buildings. But the South Pole is... well... the South Pole, the most remote and exotic place on Earth. But we are looking forward to learning about life at McMurdo.

Below are a few comments directly from John Miller in his latest correspondence with us:

Mcmurdo Station is ... located at sea level so it is much easier to breath here. Pole elevation is 9343 ft, and with the low barometric pressure caused by the extremely low humidity, the equivalent altitude is anywhere from 10,500 to 12,000 feet. Also a reason for the warmer temperatures (in a manner of speaking) here as well.
The cold here is exasperated by wind that blows pretty much 24/7. Typical wind speed is around 20-30 mph, with gusts that have been know to reach well over 100 mph. I believe the top wind speed recorded was around 150 mph. Those of you in New Orleans know all about that.
And the wind can really make working outside miserable. Not only do you have snow blowing around, there is also a fine/gritty volcanic dust that gets into everything, especially your eyes and mouth. At the pole you have snow; and more snow; and even more snow....
Did I mention the snow at the Pole?
Honestly, if I had a choice, I would rather work in -75 and little or no wind, than in -10 with 30 mph wind.
Most of the wild life that is here in the summer has departed for the winter, including our lone penguin that was molting at the time. Penguins cannot swim while molting so they pretty much just sit in one place for the duration. I'm glad this guy left when he did, otherwise he would not have been able to feed because of the lack of open water.
Even the Weddell seals have left the area, along with the Antarctic Skua, and Turn. Only thing here is us dummies. And we won't see another plane until the end of August.

St. Patrick's Day -- Lake Isle of Innisfree

(Here's a nice poem from 1893 for us all to reflect upon for St. Patrick's Day, March 17th, 2009. It is the same one I put up last year when our blog was just getting started. Hasn't the blog grown!! The photo is of W.B. Yeats from Wikipedia Commons. Adrian)

Lake Isle of Innisfree

By William Butler Yates

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,

And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;

Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey bee,

And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow

Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;

There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow;

And evenings full of the linnet's wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day

I hear the lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;

While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements gray,

I hear it in the deep heart's core.

International Women's Day at St Vincent de Paul - ALC

Ruby Sterling did an outstanding job opening our International Women's Day (IWD) event with a re-enactment of a speech made by Sojourner Truth, a Civil Rights activist from the 19th Century. Ruby learned the speech and made her own costume and gave a magnificant presentation. Later in the day Ruby spoke about women pioneers. What a great day it was, and I was happy to be the moderator for the event.

-- Adrian

IWD: Speakers Billy Edwards and Sr. Kathleen

Billy Edwards of Tau House is a volunteer tutor at our school. He spoke on the topic of how language usage can be prejudicial against women, how certain words and phrases in our lexicon are inherently sexist and how we must recognize and overcome this. Sr. Kathleen Bahlinger, CSJ spoke of the life of Katherine Drexel who was the founder of Xavier University.

-- Adrian

IWD: The Audience and the Speakers

We had a good size crowd at our IWD event last Thursday, and we had a number of speakers. Here are a few photos. (You won't see any photos of me because I was taking the pictures!)

--Adrian

IWD: Jennie - Sacagawea

Jennie Gorden spoke about the life of Sacagawea, a Shoshone Indian woman who was a guide for the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Jennie did a lot of research and writing on this topic and made a great presentation about an important yet little known person in our history. Without the help of Sacagawea, it is doubtful that the expedition would have succeeded as well. Lewis and Clark were sent by President Thomas Jefferson to explore the vast Louisiana Territory which America had just acquired from France. Sacagawea became a hero in the women's suffrage movement and a role-model. Statues were eventually built to her. Jennie and Dwana helped create IWD at SVDP-ALC and deserve special recognition. (Note: On Jennie's artwork -- which she displayed at her presentation- are several photos, L-R, top down: Statue of Sacagawea, Sacagawea and her baby, Lewis and Clark Expidition on the river, Sacagawea Monument in S. Dakota, and her grave stone in Wyoming.)

--Adrian

Below is Jennie's speech in her own words:

Sacagawea
By Jennie Gorden

Welcome Everyone
My name is Jennie Gorden, I am a student at St Vincent de Paul-Adult Learning Center. Today my topic will be on a Shoshone Indian name Sacagawea who was born in Lemhi County, Idaho in 1788.

I was reading my language book and found the word Sacagawea..I was interested in learning more about her background and life.
Sacagawea was a Shoshone Indian woman who was born in 1788 in the city of Salmon in Lemhi County,Idaho.She was an Indian who was captured and sold to another tribe at the age of twelve. At the age of thirteen Sacagawea became the wife of a french trapper name Char-bon-no.Shortly after becoming his wife Sacagawea became pregnant with her first child then she join the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Sacagawea and her husband was asked to attend the expedition westward around 1804-1806.Sacagawea help Lewis and Clark obtain supplies and horses from other tribes. After learning of Sacagawea knowledge Lewis and Clark asked her to join because of her ability to speak different languages.
She was able to translate from and Indian language for the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

After joining the Expedition in November 1805, she became a valuable member who was traveling the Columbia River where they settle for the winter .The expedition voted to stay near the river what is known as the Astoria, Oregon

Sacagawea escorted the Expedition with her son Jean Baptiste on her back though the trip..Shortly Char-bon-no and Sacagawea entrusted they son to Clark care.
Later in 1810, Sacagawea gave birth to a baby girl named Lizette. In 1811,the fur dealer wrote saying that Sacagawea had become very ill and wished to revisit her Native County, again. In his journal he wrote that Sacagawea died in 1813, of a fever at the age of 25. .
In 1813, Char-bon-no, sign custody of his son over to Clark. The adoption was made final on August 11, 1813. Both of Sacagawea’s children were adopted by Clark.

Here is what I learned: I learned that Sacagawea was a Hero, Interpreter and a Peace Symbol for the Lewis and Clark Expedition that travel the Columbia River.

Sacagawea means Bird Woman and Sacajawea means Boat Launcher. International Women’s Day was the starting point of a century for women.. The story of ordinary women in 1920. The history of International Women’s Day was marked by women’s groups from around the world.
Sacagawea was a role model for those Women’s Rights Groups.

IWD: Dwana - Women's Suffrage (Right to Vote)

Dwana Taylor had a very fascinating discussion of the women's suffrage movement and the 19th Amendment. This was about the struggle for women to gain the right to vote in the USA. She also discussed a related suffrage movement in Britain with Emmeline Pankhurst. Dwana told us about how women activists were arrested, jailed, and forced-fed when on hunger strikes. It was an outstanding educational opportunity on an important subject. (Dwana and Jennie helped organize our IWD event at SVDP-ALC, and deserve our special recognition!)

-- Adrian

IWD: Ruby - Women Pioneers

Ruby Sterling had a magnificant presentation discussing several women who led the way for women's rights in the history of the USA including Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman. Ruby actually had two presentations today. She appeared at the start of the program "in character" as Sojourner Truth, making a speech, and even wearing a costume. Later Ruby spoke about the women pioneers. Great job, Ruby !!

-- Adrian






Here is Ruby's article in her own words:

Women Pioneers
By Ruby Sterling


In celebration of International Women’s Day I am honored to present Sojouner Truth, Mary Ellen Pleasant, Bridget “Biddy” Mason, and Harriet Ross Tubman. These women seemed to have had much in common as they prepared the way for us to follow. Yet, each stands on their own merit and determination, but one thing is for certain is that each were a driven force that could not be extinguished no matter the odds with a deep rooted love for all mankind.

Sojouner Truth

Her given name was Isabella ‘Bamfree’ Hardenbergh born in Ulster County, New York about 1797 lived until 1883. Honesty, hard work, and prayer were engraved in her character. Her faith led her to become a preacher. She decided to change her name to Sojouner which means ‘to travel’ and Truth because to her this is what God’s gospel is. People came from miles around, different cities and states just to hear her message of hope. She worked along with abolitionist Frederick Douglas and Elizabeth Stanton. Even President Abraham Lincoln invited her to the White House. He presented a special book to her, even autographed it for her. It became one of her proudest moments in her time. She devoted the rest of her life to fighting for women’s rights.


Mary Ellen Pleasant

She states that she was born on August 19,1814 in Philadelphia. She describes her mother as a free woman of color and her father as a wealthy planter. She adopted the Quakers faith and practices in the belief that all men are equal and that slavery must end. She fought for the rights of slaves to be free. She gave much of her wealth to the Underground Railroad and other abolitionist groups. She was gifted in accounting: she was taught to read and write. She was mulatto and told to never revile her race when she worked for an old Quaker merchant, Grandma Hussey’s General Store in Nantucket, Mass. In later years she did, however, reveal her race.

Bridget “Biddy” Mason

Born a slave in Hancock County, Miss. on Aug. 15, 1818 lived until 1891. Her parents not known, but records indicate that she was of mixed blood, black and three kind of Indian- Choctaw, Seminole, and Geegi. After a long jouney from Miss. to Utah in a wagon train caravan, she had many duties in addition to taking care of her children. Then she had to take another journey from Utah to California. While in California she filed a petition to Judge Benjamin Hayes that resulted in freedom papers for her and thirteen other slaves of Smith’s. This law suit set a precedent regarding the legal rights of black settlers in the American West. Biddy Mason became a nurse and midwife for Dr. John S. Griffen serving members of the Los Angeles, San Bernardio, San Diego, and Santa Barbara communities. She saved her wages of $2.50 a day to purchase her homestead at Spring Street. Ms. Mason was a founding member of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church of 1872.



Harriet Ross Tubman

Born in Bucktown, Maryland, in 1820 lived until 1913. Her mother was Harriet Green and father was Benjamin Ross. She was one of eleven children. It’s believed she was second to the youngest child. After escaping from slavery she wanted to help others obtain their freedom as well, so she decided to become a ‘conductor’ for the Underground Railroad. She became known to the people as “Moses”. It’s estimated that she led 300 slaves to freedom. She served in the Union Army in the Civil War as a scout, nurse, cook, and spy. She was never paid for service. She went on to work with Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony, renown abolitionists. Even President Lincoln gave recognition to her efforts of helping her people get their freedom.
These pioneers have inspired in me to have courage to never quit and to press toward my goals: to respect others, and to honor myself.

IWD: Sr. Silvia - Mother Teresa

Sr. Silvia Rodriguez gave an inspiring speech about the life of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Sr. Silvia is an ESL student (of English) at SVDP-ALC, but she is also a nurse and a Catholic nun with the Sisiters of the Servants of Mary. She took great interest researching and discussing the life of the famous Nobel Prize winner, Mother Teresa, who devoted her life to helping the "poorest of the poor."

--Adrian

IWD: Linda -Joan of Arc

Linda Nelson discussed the life of Joan of Arc and her connections to both France and New Orleans. Joan of Arc was a saint from France and came from the city of Orleans. New Orleans, as a result, also holds her in high esteem. Linda spoke of Joan's accomplishments and told us about the statue of Joan in Paris, France and in the French Quarter in New Orleans and of a Catholic Church named for Joan in the Riverbend on Burthe Street.

-- Adrian

IWD: Eliria - Women's Education in Afghanistan

Eliria Knox made a presentation about the present-day situation of women's education in Afghanistan. She spoke of the many difficulties and dangers women face in Afghanistan due to oppression by the Taliban. She discussed the life of Meena, a woman who was a martyr for the cause of women's rights in that country.
-- Adrian

Below is Eliria's speech in her own words:

Education of Women in Afghanistan
By Eliria Knox
Hello, everyone. My name is Eliria Knox. I am a student at St Vincent de Paul-Adult Learning Center.I will be speaking on the role of women in Afghanistan. I was very moved on learning the life of Meena and other women in the Muslim world.

Their fate, their worth – this was important to know. She did not only work on behalf of females but also males. She died so young but made a impact in her culture .She transcended throughout the world for her Muslim sisters and helped people to empower themselves.

She was the founder of (RAWA) Revolutionary Association of Women of Afghanistan . Still to this day her legacy touches the hearts of Muslims and non Muslims.

I can tell you about the horror and also about her amazing work. She worked so diligently for women to be able to be educated. They would discover their ability to help themselves and others in the community . There are women today who are inspired by Meena’s story.

What interests me most about Afghanistan women today is the mistreatment in society. Education is the key to stop mistreatment.

IWD: Sr. Lory's Closing Remarks and Reception

Sr. Lory Schaff, CSJ gave her closing remarks about IWD and discussed the life of one of her favorite women in history -- Mary, the Blessed Mother.

After this, we had a reception with various foods, cakes, and fruit juices. It was a wonderful day for learning and recognizing the importance of women's accomplishments to our world and also recognizing that much work still needs to be done worldwide for equal rights for women.

-- Adrian

Remember the Alamo: March 6, 1836

In our continuing observation of Irish-American Heritage Month at SVDP-ALC, we take you now back in time to the Republic of Texas to a small mission called The Alamo. (The photos from Wikipedia Commons are of an old map and a photo from the 1860's.) In the War for Texas Independence, 180 Texans and Americans held out for 13 days against the Mexican Army of Santa Anna of about 4,000 men plus Mexican cavalry and artillery units. Defending the Alamo were three noted leaders of Scotch-Irish descent -- Colonel William Travis, Jim Bowie, and Davy Crockett. (Several of Crockett's men were Irish as well.) Irish immigrants and Irish-Americans were also were a large part of a uniformed unit which came from New Orleans. They were called The New Orleans Greys (they wore grey and white uniforms). Most of the Alamo defenders did not wear actual uniforms except for the New Orleans Greys. The New Orleans Greys fought in almost every battle in the War for Texas Independence from Bexar, Pan Patricio, Coleto, and Goliad, to the Alamo. The few remaining, who were not at the Alamo, were later at the Battle of San Jacinto. They were bold and excellent fighters; but at the Alamo, they were greatly outnumbered.

All of the members of the New Orleans Greys who were at the Alamo died along with Travis, Bowie, and the legendary Davy Crockett. The Mexican Army lost about 500 men in the battle, killed our wounded. The Alamo fell on March 6, 1836. The 180 defenders who died there gave Sam Houston, the overall commander of the Texan military, time to train a new army for Texas which eventually defeated Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto and won independence for Texas. Eventually, Texas joined the United States. At San Jacinto Sam Houston rallied his men to victory with the war cry: "Remember the Alamo!"

An article about the Irish at the Alamo appears in "Irish Connections" magazine, see

http://www.irishconnectionsmag.com/archives/v5i2/alamo.htm The article lists 13 Alamo defenders who died as being born in Ireland. Their names are given as follows: Smith Bailey, Joseph M. Hawkins, James Nolan, Samuel Burns, William D. Jackson, Jackson C. Rusk, Andrew Duvalt, Edward McCafferty, Burke Tramell, Robert Evans, James McGee, William B. Ward, Robert McKinney. A good book about the Alamo is Volunteers in the Texas Revolution: The New Orleans Greys by Gary Brown. It discusses New Orleans' contribution to the Texas war and the Irish among the troops.

Although many Irish died at the Alamo, this was not the first time the Irish had fought for America (or Texas) and it was not the last, as we will see throughout Irish-American Heritage Month at the SVDP-ALC blog. Stay tuned...

REMEMBER THE ALAMO !!

Adrian

Irish American Heritage Month

(In the photo -- standing at right-- is a well-known Irish Catholic American named John F. Kennedy with the rest of his crew of the USS motor patrol boat, the PT 109, which saw combat in 1943 near Guadalcanal.)

By an act of the US Congress, March is Irish-American Heritage month. We will be covering on this blog many important and interesting stories about the Irish in America all month long. So stay tuned...

Adrian

Here is what it says about this at the official US Census website http://www.census.gov/:

Irish-American Heritage Month (March)and St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) 2006

Although not an official “federal” holiday in the United States, St. Patrick’s Day has a long history of being celebrated with parades and general goodwill for all things Irish. The day commemorates St. Patrick, believed to have died on March 17, who introduced Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century. Because many Americans celebrate their Irish lineage on St. Patrick’s Day, March was picked as Irish-American Heritage Month. The month was first proclaimed in 1995 by Congress. Each year, the U.S. president also issues an Irish-American Heritage Month proclamation.
Population Distribution 34.5 million Number of U.S. residents who claim Irish ancestry. This number is almost nine times the population of Ireland itself (4.1 million). Irish is the nation’s second most frequently reported ancestry, trailing only those of German ancestry. (The ancestry estimates exclude people living in group quarters.) (Source: American FactFinder and <http://www.cso.ie/releasespublications/documents/population/current/popmig.pdf>)

Happy Mardi Gras!

We have a lot of excellent academic activities planned at SVDP-ALC for the near future, but this weekend it is Carnival time in Old New Orleans. Here are a few photos I took at the start of the Endymion parade in Mid City. Only in New Orleans, folks...

HAPPY MARDI GRAS!!!

Adrian

IWD Preparations Continue

We are now just two weeks away from our big event at SVPD-ALC, our first ever observation of International Women's Day (IWD).

We have selected our six student speakers who are presently active researching and writing their topics...and preparing the speeches.

The six (plus their topics) are as follows: L-R Standing, Dwana (Women's Suffrage), Jennie (Sacagawea), Eliria (Women's Education in Afghanistan); L-R Seated, Ruby (Sojourner Truth), Sr. Silvia (Mother Teresa), Linda (Joan of Arc).

Billy Edwards, a volunteer at SVDP-ALC, will also come and speak; and we may have a guest speaker too. If you can't come, don't worry, you can read all about it right here on our blog. There will be full coverage! IWD at SVDP-ALC will be Thursday, March 5th.
--Adrian

Awards for the John Miller Writing Contest

John Miller, USAP sent us these wonderful large and mounted photos as awards for our first-ever writing contest here at St. Vincent de Paul-ALC. Several students wrote about life in a tent in Antarctica; this was based on John Miller's real life adventure of re-enacting life in a tent (over one night) in the exact replica of the Amundsen-Scott tent. The second place award went to Aaron Hawthorne; he received a photo of the replica tent. Aaron is a former member of Louisiana Green Corps which is a part of AmeriCorps. Jennie Gorden won the first place prize which is a photo of the large telescope at South Pole Station and the Aurora Australis (Southern Lights). It was presented to her by Sr. Kathleen.

Congratulations to all and thanks again to John Miller.

-- Adrian

Back to Antarctica: Pen Pal at McMurdo Soon

(John Miller, our USAP Antarctic pen pal and great friend of St. Vincent de Paul's, has sent us some wonderful photos as he prepares to return soon to "the Ice." He is going back to Antarctica, this time to McMurdo Station. As soon as he makes contact with us again, we will let you know right here on this blog. So stay tuned. In the meantime, see the great photos. One is of John's brief visit to Afghanistan, before Antarctica. He will discuss this later on with our school. Another photo is of John and his family --Joshua, Johnathon, Rachelle, and Denise, his wife. Another is of his two dogs Teddy, a chow, and Chloe. The dogs did not go to Antarctica, by the way. I was told that sled dogs are no longer used much on "the Ice." The other two photos are of South Pole, including the now famous "Amundsen-Scott tent" photo.

In his last letter John spoke of the certificate of appreciation and thank you letters we sent him from our students and teachers from our school thanking him for his correspondence. Sarah Fischer, the program co-ordinator of Literacy*AmeriCorps also sent John a letter of appreciation from AmeriCorps for all his work. John responded via email, and here below is some of what he had to say.

-- Adrian)

Hello Adrian and students! I can't tell you what an honor it was to receive your letter and certificate of appreciation. I am sincerely humbled by your recognition and will proudly display both letter and certificate in my office at home, as a center piece for my college diploma, and others, that I have received over the years. As hard as I worked to get my Bachelors degree from the University, Reno, Nevada, I must say your recognition means oh so much more to me.
So many people have asked me why I would go to the Pole? I always knew God had a reason. Just to be a small part of your education and, by example, encouraging you to learn, was the best reason of all. Each of you has the potential for greatness that knows no bounds. I believe, as with our newly elected President, that one day, one, or more of you, will achieve success beyond your wildest dreams. And whether here, or in the next life, I will smile and say "I knew it!".

...please extend my thanks to Mrs. Sarah Fischer for her recent letter...

John

Ireland: Geography Study at SVDP-ALC

At SVDP-ALC we have had a map reading/geography class for many months now, and it has been very educational and fun for the students. It has led to our unique pen pal program with the US Antarctic Program and our study of Antarctica. We have learned much about life at the two US bases there at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station and at McMurdo Station. While almost all of our USAP pen pals have left "the Ice," we are still in contact with our great friend of St. Vincent de Paul's at the USAP, John Miller. John will soon return to Antarctica and correspond with us from McMurdo. Much more news on this about John is coming soon!


We intend to continue our year of study in geography with a study of two more places outside of the USA, besides Antarctica. The first will be Ireland and then later this year, hopefully, South Africa. We will attempt to establish a pen pal program with adult learners in Ireland; but whether this works out or not, we will still have an indepth study of the geography, history, and culture of Ireland (and later South Africa). This learning process will enable students to study about other countries on their own as well later. We will be doing research from books, the internet, and possibly have guest writers for our blog on Irish topics, and have guest speakers to our school.
So stay tuned for this exciting educational adventure. We hope to begin our study in earnest by March 17th. (Note: The photo is of a map of Ireland by National Geographic used at our school.)
--Adrian

Preparing for International Women's Day (IWD)

Several of our SVDP-ALC students were so interested in the topic of International Women's Day (which is overseen by the United Nations) that they decided to do research on the topic of women's rights around the world and accomplishments in history by famous women. So, we are planning to observe IWD at SVDP-ALC with six student presentations and speeches on various topics, such as, the life of Joan of Arc, Mother Teresa, Sacagawea, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, the rights (or lack thereof) of women in Afghanistan and in Saudi Arabia, and the history of women's suffrage (right to vote) in America. We will cover much more on this story as we approach IWD which is March 8. At SVDP-ALC we will observe IWD on the Thursday before March 8. Our six student presenters will be Jennie, Dwana, Elyria, Ruby, Sr. Silvia, and Linda. Aaron and I will help out organizing the event. (See photos.) And there may be a guest speaker too. So, stay tuned...

-- Adrian

The Nuns Visit SVDP-ALC

About 20 nuns from the Presentation Sisters (PBVM, Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary) and a few Dominicans visited SVDP-ALC today and got a good look at our school. They got to see a bit about our pen pal program with Antarctica too and were quite interested in our plans to extend the pen pal program to a learning center in Ireland. (Some of the visiting nuns are actually from Ireland. Others are from distant lands including India.)

Sr. Lory also took the nuns on a tour of the school's "map room" which we use for geography classes, small group sessions, and for current events and history classes. Everyone had an enjoyable and educational time. We gave our visitors our blog address, and we hope to stay in contact. (Maybe they are reading this right now??)

-- Adrian

Black History Month Observed at SVDP-ALC

SVDP-ALC observed Black History Month this February with another excellent lecture by our own resident historian, Mr. Lawrence Keller. Mr. Keller spoke to our class last month about the Battle of the Bulge and World War 2 history, something he knows about first-hand from serving in the US Army in Europe during the war. This month he told our class about the history of the African American soldiers in US History, from the time of the American Revolutionary War with George Washington, to the Battle of New Orleans with Andrew Jackson, to the Civil War and more modern times. He also discussed the tragedy of slavery in American history and gave some insights into Louisiana history by telling the story of his own family's roots in Donaldsonville, Louisiana from last century. As usual, the students were spellbound by Mr. Keller's knowledge and passion for the subject of history. What a great learning experience it was!

-- Adrian

Guest Writer, John Miller: An Editorial on Education and Antarctica

(If you have been following this blog, you know we have had for many months a pen pal program between our school and members of the US Antarctic Program [USAP] at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station and McMurdo Station in Antarctica. USAP members stay in Antarctica only for a limited time due to the severe conditions, and all of our pen pals have now gone home from "the Ice." However, one of them is still our pen pal, communicating with us via email from his home in the USA. He will continue to tell us about his Antarctic experiences at the South Pole and share with us his love for learning. His name is John Miller. [See his photo from last year at South Pole Station.]

John has written to our students many, many times from the South Pole. Below is an editorial he completed for AmeriWord, the newsletter for Literacy*AmeriCorps New Orleans which we are re-printing on our blog. [See the January, 2009 issue of AmeriWord at http://www.literacygno.org/literacyamericorps/lac-publications/ameriword ] We will post much more from John later at this blog, so stay tuned. John's writings are always popular with our readers. Our thanks, John, for your continued and outstanding support for our school, for education, and for the Literacy*AmeriCorps pen pal program.

The South Pole Rules !!

-- Adrian)

Still Learning: An Editorial From Antarctica to New Orleans

By John Miller, USAP

When I stepped off of the Herc [aircraft] back in November of 2007, I had every expectation of being slammed with the mind and body numbing cold that is associated with the South Pole. I was pleasantly surprised that, even at -49, and a wind chill of around -80, I was comfortably warm, but very much in awe of the fact that I was finally in Antarctica, standing on the bottom of the world. And as summer turned to winter and the long darkness set in, temperatures dropped along with the sun, but my own morale stayed high, partly in fact to the opportunity I had gained in the summer, to correspond with students from the New Orleans area through the AmeriCorps Literacy project. I know the project was designed to encourage adults to improve their literacy skills; but as the pen pal program progressed over the course of the winter, I realized just how much they were helping me get through the winter, and how I looked forward to their emails and hearing from people, like myself, who love to learn, and want to improve their lives through education.

In my own life, I didn't come to realize the importance of education until many years after high school. For me, high school consisted of doing just enough to get by, never applying myself, or realizing just how much education could prepare me for the real world. At the time, I really didn't love learning; just didn't care, and saw no reason to continue my education. Years later, after returning to school at the University of Nevada, Reno, I began to acquire a thirst for knowledge, and to see that learning doesn't, or shouldn't, stop after high school, or even college; it is a life-long endeavor that enriches and fulfills not only our lives, but also the lives of those around us. So, as I sit at my desk writing this short editorial, and looking out at the geographic South Pole marker (how many people in the world can ever say that!), I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that education, a life time of learning, was my ticket here. That without the five years spent as an apprentice electrician, which included six hours per week of classroom instruction, and hour after hour of homework and studying; and then spending 8 years getting a Bachelors degree in Education, and at the same time being the sole support for my growing family (including my loving and understanding wife Denise, and our three children; Joshua, Rachelle, and my oldest, Jonathon, who is currently a sophomore at UNR); that this opportunity, which came to include corresponding with my new friends in New Orleans, would never have happened if not for education.

On my refrigerator back home, among the pictures, notes, and report cards, I have taped a small note written in Latin that says "Ancoro Imparo" meaning, "I AM STILL LEARNING" And I pray that I always will.

John Paul Miller

Electrical Foreman

Amundsen/Scott South Pole Station

Antarctica

SVDP-ALC Studies WW2: Lawrence Keller, Witness to War

In early January as part of our continuing study of World War ll history at our school, we had the honor of having as a guest speaker Mr. Lawrence Keller. At a very young 86 years old, Mr. Keller volunteers as our school carpenter -- he fixed the leg of a school desk and made a much-needed wooden door stop recently. He is also a retired Deacon in the Catholic Church, and he delivers a fine speech. But in 1944-45 he was Corporal Keller with a supply unit in the US Army stationed in Metz, France. In December of 1944 he and his unit helped supply General George S. Patton and the US Third Army as it raced towards the relief of the key town of Bastogne during the famous Battle of the Bulge. (See our December 25th blog post.) Later in the war Mr. Keller and his unit were involved with the guarding of captured Nazi soldiers including members of the dreaded SS, Hitler's elite Nazi troops.

Mr. Keller spoke to our class, and the students were totally fascinated by what he had to say. He told us about the Battle of the Bulge, the Allied invasion on D-Day at Normandy, and about life as a soldier during the war. He told us the brutal truth as he witnessed it during World War 2 of what he saw, and he spoke also about the Holocaust and the US Army's liberation of the concentration camps.

He was a witness to war, and our students will never forget what he told us.

--Adrian

SVDP-ALC Studies World War ll: Holocaust Remembrance Day, The US Army Liberates the Concentration Camps

January 27 is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. We at SVDP-ALC have been studying World War 2 history; we went on a field trip to the National World War ll/ D-Day Museum in New Orleans recently. We at SVDP-ALC recognize the historical importance of January 27 with the following three posts: 1. the US Army's liberation of Buchenwald and Dachau concentration camps, 2. informatiuon on Holocaust Memorial Day, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum http://www.ushmm.org/ and the Nuremberg Trials, and 3. a memorial letter by Pope John Paul ll recognizing the importance of January 27. (Also see "The Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Program" at http://www.un.org/holocaustremembrance/index.shtml )

It is hoped that as we struggle to educate our students about history and about World War ll, that people who know the truth about the Holocaust, or should know the truth, do not deny the truth. It was General Dwight D. Eisenhower himself who ordered, after the camps were liberated by the US Army, that German civilians be marched through the camps to see the countless dead prisoners who were murdered by the Nazis. In this way, no one could deny the truth of these enormous crimes againt humanity.

In some of the photos shown in this post, you will see US Army generals Omar Bradley, George Patton, and General Eisenhower as they tour a concentration camp to see the crimes and the evidence for themselves. In one photo they are shown how prisoneres were beaten and tortured, in another the gallows where prisoners were hanged to death. The photos are in public domain and were taken by the US Army. Also see http://www.eisenhowermemorial.org/ for photo credits. Most of the photos are of a place called Ohrdruf which was a sub-camp of Buchenwald Concentration Camp. The cross memorial photo is from Dachau. In the Holocaust 6 million Jews and 5 million non-Jews were murdered. After the war many Nazis were put on trial for their crimes, but some escaped.

--Adrian)

SVDP-ALC Studies WW2: International Holocaust Remembrance Day -- January 27

(The photo is of the Nuremberg Trials after World War ll. Seated are some of the most notorious leaders of Hitler's Third Reich including, in the front row, Hermann Goering and Rudolf Hess. Standing behind the Nazi defendants, guarding them, are US Army military police. At the trials, the horrible truth of the Nazi mass murders was revealed for the world to see. The photo is from Wikipedia Commons and in public domain.)

In our continued study of World War 2 here at SVDP-ALC (and recently our school went on a field trip to the D-Day Museum in New Orleans), we take note of the significance of January 27. This day is recognized as International Holocaust Remembrance Day which coincides with the day the Nazi extermination camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated by Russian troops. Auschwitz was the largest and most deadly of all the Nazi concentration camps.

Below is a quote from the website for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum http://www.ushmm.org/museum/exhibit/focus/ihrd/comment_post.php

"In 2005, the United Nations General Assembly designated January 27 as an annual international day of commemoration to honor the victims of the Nazi era. This date marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp. Every member nation of the U.N. has an obligation to honor the memory of Holocaust victims and develop educational programs as part of the resolve to help prevent future acts of genocide. The U.N. resolution rejects denial of the Holocaust, and condemns discrimination and violence based on religion or ethnicity."

For much more information about the Holocaust (or Shoah as it is also called), see the website for the USHMM at http://www.ushmm.org/ The museum is a co-operative work between the US government and private organizations.

In the Holocaust approximately 6 million Jews and 5 million persons other than Jews were murdered by the Nazis. After the war many of the Nazi leaders were put on trial for crimes against humanity at Nuremberg in Germany by the Allied powers. However, some of the leading Nazis escaped justice by committing suicide.

-- Adrian

SVDP-ALC Studies WW2: International Holocaust Remembrance Day, A letter by Pope John Paul ll

(At SVDP-ALC we are studying the history of World War ll. Recently, we took a field trip to the D-Day Museum/National WW2 Museum in New Orleans where we also learned more about the Holocaust. Here is a copy of the letter written by Pope John Paul ll on the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi extermination camp in Poland. The Nazis murdered about 6 million Jews and 5 million non-Jews in the Holocaust. Pope John Paul ll bears witness to that fact. Learn more about the Holocaust at the US Holocaust Museum at http://www.ushmm.org/ and at Yad Vashem http://www.yadvashem.org/, the Holocaust museum in Israel.
--Adrian)


ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIBERATIONOF THE PRISONERS OF THE AUSCHWITZ-BIRKENAU DEATH CAMP


Sixty years have passed since the liberation of the prisoners of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp. This anniversary calls us to ponder once again the drama which took place there, the final, tragic outcome of a programme of hatred. In these days we must remember the millions of persons who, through no fault of their own, were forced to endure inhuman suffering and extermination in the gas chambers and ovens. I bow my head before all those who experienced this manifestation of the mysterium iniquitatis.
When, as Pope, I visited the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp in 1979, I halted before the monuments dedicated to the victims. There were inscriptions in many languages: Polish, English, Bulgarian, Romani, Czech, Danish, French, Greek, Hebrew, Yiddish, Spanish, Flemish, Serbo-Croat, German, Norwegian, Russian, Romanian, Hungarian and Italian. All these languages spoke of the victims of Auschwitz: real, yet in many cases completely anonymous men, women and children. I stood somewhat longer before the inscription written in Hebrew. I said: “This inscription invites us to remember the people whose sons and daughters were doomed to total extermination. This people has its origin in Abraham, our father in faith (cf. Rom 4:11-12), as Paul of Tarsus has said. This, the very people that received from God the commandment, ‘You shall not kill,’ itself experienced in a special measure what killing means. No one is permitted to pass by this inscription with indifference.”
Today I repeat those words. No one is permitted to pass by the tragedy of the Shoah. That attempt at the systematic destruction of an entire people falls like a shadow on the history of Europe and the whole world; it is a crime which will for ever darken the history of humanity. May it serve, today and for the future, as a warning: there must be no yielding to ideologies which justify contempt for human dignity on the basis of race, colour, language or religion. I make this appeal to everyone, and particularly to those who would resort, in the name of religion, to acts of oppression and terrorism.
These reflections have remained with me, especially when, during the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, the Church celebrated the solemn penitential liturgy in Saint Peter’s, and I journeyed as a pilgrim to the Holy Places and went up to Jerusalem. In Yad Vashem – the memorial to the Shoah – and at the foot of the Western Wall of the Temple I prayed in silence, begging forgiveness and the conversion of hearts.
That day in 1979 I also remember stopping to reflect before two other inscriptions, written in Russian and in Romani. The history of the Soviet Union’s role in that war was complex, yet it must not be forgotten that in it the Russions had the highest number of those who tragically lost their lives. The Roma were also doomed to total extermination in Hitler’s plan. One cannot underestimate the sacrifice of life which was imposed on these, our brothers and sisters in the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp. For this reason, I insist once more that no one is permitted to pass by those inscriptions with indifference.
Finally I halted before the inscription written in Polish. There I recalled that the experience of Auschwitz represented “yet another stage in the centuries-old struggle of this nation, my nation, for its fundamental rights among the peoples of Europe. Yet another loud cry for the right to have a place of its own on the map of Europe. Yet another painful reckoning with the conscience of humanity”. The statement of this truth was nothing more or less than a call for historical justice for this nation, which had made such great sacrifices in the cause of Europe’s liberation from the infamous Nazi ideology, and which had been sold into slavery to another destructive ideology: that of Soviet Communism. Today I return to those words – without retracting them – in order to thank God that, through the persevering efforts of my countrymen, Poland has taken its proper place on the map of Europe. It is my hope that this tragic historical experience will prove to be a source of mutual spiritual enrichment for all Europeans.
During my visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau, I also said that one should halt before every one of the inscriptions. I myself did so, passing in prayerful meditation from one to the next, and commending to the Divine Mercy all the victims from all those nations which experienced the atrocities of the war. I also prayed that, through their intercession, the gift of peace would be granted to our world. I continue to pray unceasingly, trusting that everywhere, in the end, there will prevail respect for the dignity of the human person and for the right of every man and women to seek the truth in freedom, to follow the moral law, to discharge the duties imposed by justice and to lead a fully human life (Cf. JOHN XXIII, Encyclical Letter Pacem in Terris: AAS 55 [1963], 295-296).
In speaking of the victims of Auschwitz, I cannot fail to recall that, in the midst of that unspeakable concentration of evil, there were also heroic examples of commitment to good. Certainly there were many persons who were willing, in spiritual freedom, to endure suffering and to show love, not only for their fellow prisoners, but also for their tormentors. Many did so out of love for God and for man; others in the name of the highest spiritual values. Their attitude bore clear witness to a truth which is often expressed in the Bible: even though man is capable of evil, and at times boundless evil, evil itself will never have the last word. In the very abyss of suffering, love can triumph. The witness to this love shown in Auschwitz must never be forgotten. It must never cease to rouse consciences, to resolve conflicts, to inspire the building of peace.
Such, then, is the deepest meaning of this anniversary celebration. We remember the tragic sufferings of the victims not for the sake of reopening painful wounds or of stirring up sentiments of hatred and revenge, but rather in order to honour the dead, to acknowledge historical reality and above all to ensure that those terrible events will serve as a summons for the men and women of today to ever greater responsibility for our common history. Never again, in any part of the world, must others experience what was experienced by these men and women whom we have mourned for sixty years!
To those taking part in the anniversary celebrations I send my greetings, and upon all I invoke the blessings of Almighty God.
From the Vatican, 15 January 2005


JOHN PAUL II

How to Learn and Analyze: Sr. Lory's 4 Questions for Inauguration Day

To help the students organize their thoughts about the Inauguration Day, Sr. Lory used a teaching tool which involves asking four questions. She wrote them on the green poster boad pictured above. (In the second photo, partly showing the sign, is student Jennie Gorden and Sr. Lory.)

The four questions are: 1. What information do you gather about the news (of the inauguration) from your five senses, e.g. see , hear, touch, etc.?

2. How do you feel (emotionally) about the news event?

3. What meaning does the event have for you or to society?

4. What decisions will you make about this event; what will you do about it?

These questions could apply to any event that occurs in the news or for a story from history. Why don't you try it at your school or in your own life and see?

-- Adrian

Civics Lesson: Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009

(The photos are of SVDP-ALC students and staff at Inauguration Day.) At our school last week we observed an international TV news event which occurs once every four years in the USA and which sets our country apart from many other lands around the global -- the orderly and peaceful transfer of power in government based on the will of the people after an election. It was Inaugration Day. Sr. Lory asked the students to write down some of their comments about this event; they did, and we posted 10 of the comments here. The students were asked not to write down their names, just comments. This was a lesson for us all on how well our government works, without regard to one's personal views of politics or party affiliation. From the time of General George Washington until George W. Bush and Barack Obama, we can be thankful that in the USA we have always had presidential elections followed by Inauguration Days.

--Adrian)

Student Comments from SVDP-ALC:

1. This means to me that if you work hard at anything, it is possible. It gives me a lot of inspiration. I can see history in the making!

2. How do I feel this day? The feeling is super. In my opinion I think America needed a change.

3. I feel like it's a wonderful day that God has done it this time in history. It's about time. We the People are one, like God has made us. We are blessed we are here to see this in history.

4. Today is a day I thought I would never see happen in my lifetime... This is God's doing

5. I feel that having a black president will help this country be a better one for ALL people that are in this country.

6. I feel that the spirits of all our ancestors are smiling.

7. How do I feel about today, is that it's good... but I can't see what it's going to do for us, meaning me and my family...

8. Today means to me no more excuses, anything is possibe, anything can be accomplished...

9. I feel that today is a very special day for Barack Obama and his family. He is the first black to become President of the United States.

10. How do I feel about this day? Truly Blessed to witness God's mercy and grace... God Bless America!!

Student Writing: Comments by Aaron Hawthorne on usalearns.org

(Aaron Hawthorne is a student at SVDP-ALC who is presntly using the new computer program at http://www.usalearns.org/ to improve his English vocabulary. Aaron is now a regular contributing writer for our school blog. His next essay will be about his recent trip on a cruise ship in the Gulf of Mexico. Aaron is in the photo receiving a certificate for academic improvement at a recent school awards program. Next to him is his volunteer tutor, Dr. Kathy Dunlap, MD.

--Adrian)

Comments on usalearns.org

By Aaron Hawthorne

I learn new words on the computer at the website of the US learning center --www.usalearns.org . I like learning new words. It's good to know because it helps me.

Student Writing: Dwana Taylor, "Most Impressive at the D-Day Museum"

(Here is more student writing. This is an essay by Dwana Taylor, a student at SVDP-ALC, about what impressed her most on our school field trip to the National World War ll, D-Day Museum, in New Orleans a few weeks ago. In the photo Dwana is receiving an academic award from Sr. Kathleen.

-- Adrian)

Most Impressed by the National World War ll/D-Day Museum

By Dwana Taylor

I was most impressed with the museum because it explains what our history was all about. The museum shows what happened and how it happened. It also shows the things we didn't know before.

It's amazing how big the U-Boats really are. I also liked the short movies. They showed how it really went. We learned about the women and how they labored while our men were fighting in the service. It was wonderful how the soldiers have it all together. It's amazing.

I would love to go back to the museum. It was a moment back in history that will never be forgotten. All our kids will find out how it was once in history.

I thank God and St. Vincent de Paul -ALC for letting us be a part of this. I've learned a lot.

Student Writing: "Why I Love to Play Billiards" By Edward Brown

(This essay is by a new student writer named Edward Brown. In the photo, you can see him receiving an award for academic achievement from Sr. Kathleen during our Winter Awards Ceremony.

--Adrian)

Why I Love to Play Billiards

By Edward Brown

I love billiards because it is a challenge to me. (Pool and billiards are the same thing.) Pool is part of my income. It helps me to relax my mind, and I love to compete. My level of competition is very intense during [billiards] competitions.

I have played in tournaments around the United States. I won a few, but lost [some] of them. Competing is a lot of fun, but winning is better.

So, these are some of the reasons why I love billiards.

RUBARB and Liz Lichtman, AmeriCorps Member 2007-8

The now well-established connection between RUBARB in the 9th Ward and Literacy*AmeriCorps New Orleans was originally created by one of our AmeriCorps members in 2007-08. Her name is Liz Lichtman. (See her photo from our AmeriCorps retreat in 2007; she's climbing an Alpine obstacle.) Liz, who is originally from New York and came to New Orleans right after Hurricane Katrina, is one of the most interesting people you will ever meet. (She once toured Cambodia by bicycle.)She is always positive and is always trying to make the world we live in a better place. She served in the Peace Corps, and I had the privilege of serving in AmeriCorps with her last year (2007-08).

Although she accomplished many things last year with AmeriCorps, including teaching literacy skills at NOPLAY, one of the things she is most remembered for is her work with RUBARB. Read all about her original project from 2007-08 in AmeriWord, the official newsletter for Literacy*AmeriCorps New Orleans at this link: http://www.literacygno.org/images/americorps/ameriword/february08.pdf

I have many times told our class at SVDP-ALC about RUBARB and the great opportunities they provide there. It is because of Liz, primarily, that AmeriCorps became aware of this volunteer bicycle "shop" and the service it provides to the community which is still recovering from Hurricane Katrina. (In fact, in a sense, it is because of Liz that you are now reading about RUBARB on this very blog.) Thanks again, Liz!

-- Adrian

Student Writing -- Marcelle Krivjanick, Sweet Potato Pie Recipe

(Here is another example of our student writing. Today we have a great recipe created by SVDP-ALC student Marcelle Krivjanick for homemade sweet potato pie. This should be really nice for Mardi Gras Season which will come soon here in New Orleans! Marcelle [see photo] is a new student writer here at SVDP-ALC.
-- Adrian)

Cameron’s Homemade Sweet Potato Pie
By Marcelle Krivjanick

Ingredients

1. Two 8" pie shells
2. One can of cream (evaporated milk)
3. Six large sweet potatoes (fresh, not canned)
4. Nutmeg (one teaspoon)
5. Butter (half of a stick)
6. Vanilla extract (teaspoon)
7. Sugar or sugar substitute (about one cup, to taste)
8. Eggs (four)
9. Cinnamon (one or two tablespoons)
10. Baking powder (teaspoon)

How to Cook

OK, peel the potatoes and boil until tender. Drain all water and mash them. (I like to use an electric mixer to make the potatoes creamy. If you don’t have a mixer, use a potato masher until creamy.)
Add one to one and half cups of sugar to taste. Add about one teaspoon of nutmeg. Add one to two tablespoons of cinnamon and about 3 or 4 eggs. Then add ½ can of cream and ½ of a stick of soft butter.
Add one teaspoon of vanilla extract.

Mix all of the ingredients until it is nice and creamy. And last, add one teaspoon of baking powder. Mix well.

Let the pie shells get to room temperature. Add the mix to the pie shells, and let them bake for 30 to 45 minutes at 375 degrees until the pie shells are golden brown around the edges.
Then, it is done. Let it cool for half an hour to an hour. Now enjoy!

RUBARB? What is RUBARB?

Here and below are many photographs and a few stories from our Literacy*AmeriCorps service project with RUBARB in the 9th Ward in New Orleans this past Saturday.

What is RUBARB, and who are the people in these photos? Well, read on and find out...

-- Adrian

Literacy*AmeriCorps Goes To RUBARB -- Sights and Signs

On Saturday, January 10th our Literacy*AmeriCorps group visited RUBARB in the 9th Ward in New Orleans. Here are a few photos of the site and the interesting sights and signs we saw.

Read all about our trip to RUBARB (and what the word stands for) in the five short stories below with pictures.

-- Adrian

P.S. "Be Nice or Leave."

RUBARB and Literacy*AmeriCorps in the 9th Ward

Here are some photos from Saturday's Literacy*AmeriCorps service project at RUBARB (Rusted Up Beyond All Recognition Bikes) in the 9th Ward in New Orleans. We were helping this volunteer bicycle "shop" to repair children's bikes that were ruined in Hurricane Katrina. Some of our Literacy*AmeriCorps members present at either RUBARB or the RUBARB marketplace event included Molly, Kim, Laura, Miriam, Lauren, BJ, Libby, myself, Gibson (our 5 month old, honorary AmeriCorps volunteer) and his dad Owyn and, of course, Sarah. Read all about it in the several RUBARB stories on January 11.

--Adrian

RUBARB, Literacy*AmeriCorps at the Sankofa Market in the Lower Nine

After touring the RUBARB "shop," our AmeriCorps group helped out at the Sankofa Market in the Lower 9th Ward. RUBARB showed children there how to do basic bike repairs. The photos also include our youngest volunteer member of Literacy*AmeriCorps, Gibson Fischer. At the wise old age of five months, he is helping Literacy*AmeriCorps "get things done!" Holding Gibson is his dad, Owyn. Gibson's mother, Sarah, just out of camera range in the photos, is the director of Literacy*AmeriCorps New Orleans.

--Adrian

Literacy*AmeriCorps Goes to RUBARB in the Lower 9th Ward

Our AmeriCorps group toured the shop and later on worked on repairing or "stripping down" some old bikes. ("Stripping a bike" means to take it apart piece by piece for spare parts.) We were joined by two staff volunteer personnel at RUBARB, Carl Prey who is originally from Canada and Lani Bemak who is from Massachusetts. Many volunteer staff members joined RUBARB after seeing the damage done to the 9th Ward from Katrina.

-- Adrian

More on RUBARB -- St. Mary of the Angels Catholic Church in the Lower 9

All of these photos, except one, are of St. Mary of the Angels Church Convent/Community Center in the 9th Ward. The shot of the tin shed is RUBARB, across the street from the Convent /Community Center and on the parking lot for the church itself. The school is nearby but still ruined from Katrina. Note the visible signs of Hurricane Katrina still on the convent walls -- the brown lines running horizontally are the water lines where the flood water settled, although it may have been even higher before settling. Also see the peculiar "X" or "O" mark on the wall. This is a Katrina rescue sign. Signs like these were spray painted on each and every house and building in New Orleans after Katrina by rescue crews. The signs are codes for the dates the buildings were searched, who searched them, and what the rescue crews found. Sometimes the crews found nothing or no one. Sometimes they found dead human bodies or dead pet animals. Almost always they found tremendous physical destruction. As you can see, New Orleans is a long way from full recovery since Katrina.

-- Adrian

RUBARB -- LiteracyAmeriCorps Helps Rebuild 9th Ward Bicycles

Our Literacy*AmeriCorps group helped out at RUBARB (Rusted up Bikes..) in the 9th Ward on Saturday, yesterday. Several of our members toured the bike "shop," participated at a neighborhood farmers' market in the Lower 9th Ward where RUBARB had a display, and then returned to the RUBARB shop to help repair some children's bikes.

RUBARB was created after Hurricane Katrina to help fix up bikes for adults and children that were ruined in the flood. It is not a "business" per se but a volunteer group that exists on donations and new volunteer work. The "shop" is in a tin shed located on the parking lot for St. Mary of the Angels Catholic Church in the 9th Ward. The convent and the school for St. Mary's were ruined in the flood, but the church is still operational. RUBARB provides a very needed service for the 9th Ward community that is still recovering from Hurricane Katrina. People donate spare parts or used or even partly ruined bikes, and RUBARB repairs them. Children can get a free bike by participating in "earn-a-bike", a program wherein they volunteer some time at the shop where they can also learn basic bike safety and bike repair skills. Bikes, repairs, and bike parts are also "for sale" for a small donation to the shop.

(The photos above include a "Christmas tree" made from used bike parts, some hand-painted signs, the outside of the shop, and some of our AmeriCorps members -- Lauren, Miriam, and Laura. For more information, visit http://www.rubarbike.org/

--Adrian

Battle of New Orleans: Gen. Andrew Jackson Defeats the British

Today, January 8th, is the anniversary of the famous Battle of New Orleans. Back in 1815 General Andrew Jackson led a motley crew of US soldiers, Kentucky and Tennessee militia volunteers, Free Men of Color from New Orleans, Choctaw Indians, Creole gentlemen volunteers, and the legendary Baratarian pirates under Jean Lafitte, the buccaneer and privateer, to victory against a huge well-trained force of British Regulars.

The British army under Gen. Pakenham was soundly defeated about 4 miles below the old city of New Orleans (which was then really just the Vieux Carre' a.k.a. the French Quarter) in Chalmette. The British army had assembled from many stations world-wide to capture the key port of New Orleans in this famous War of 1812 battle.

Gen. Jackson wisely placed his army on the British path to the city between a cypress swamp and the Mississippi River denying the British room to maneuver. The redcoats launched a frontal assault on a foggy morning and were destroyed by musket and rifle fire and the deadly cannon fire precisely aimed by Lafitte's pirates. More fighting occurred accross the river on the West Bank; but with the British defeat in Chalmette, the Americans under Jackson won a stunning victory. (The artwork is from public domain from "commons wikipedia" depicting the battle at the American rampart in Chalmette.)

We discussed the battle today in our school and noted the contributions made also by the Ursuline nuns from New Orleans who in 1815 acted as nurses for the wounded American soldiers in the battle.

--Adrian