Will young professionals who settled after Katrina stay after Gustav?
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- August
- 31
As a monster Cat-3 or 4 hurricane races toward the Gulf Coast, new meaning can be found in this recent Times-Picayune story about 20-somethings who moved to New Orleans to help rebuild it after Hurricane Katrina.
Known as Young Urban Rebuilding Professionals, this idealistic and highly educated group is responsible for bringing vitality and optimism back to Katrina-torn New Orleans. They’ve been doing it by leading the restoration of social programs, schools, parks and streets.
(AP Photo/NOAA)
It’s unclear how many of them settled in the Big Easy, but it’s even more unclear if they’ll stay.
One said the lack of progress has tainted her hopefulness.
 ”The perpetual lack of city infrastructure has been the most frustrating part,” said Katie Mears, 27, who is still working as the Episcopal Diocese’s rebuilding coordinator. “It feels very Wild Westy, still, because you always think it’s going to get better but it doesn’t.”
As Gustav takes aim at the city, one has to wonder if young professionals’ enthusiasm can survive the destruction of another storm.
This entry was posted
on Sunday, August 31st, 2008 at 7:12 pm by Theresa Juva.
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