First Day in NOLA

By Jounee Rodney

As I listened to Jeanette (founder of Garden on Mars) and Burnell (store owner of Burnell’s grocery store) speak about the vision they had for the Lower 9th Ward, it opened my eyes to the reality that one person really can make a difference. Jeanette has five gardens that she regulates on her own with the help of volunteers from different schools. She wants to build a market and have an area where others can learn how to grow their own food. She does all her best to give back and strengthen the Lower 9th Ward. Unfortunately, due to protection laws she, nor anyone in the community, can grow and sell produce on their own land unless it’s five acres. This protection law prevents the community from thriving, but luckily Janet is determined to make a change.

Burnell grew up in New Orleans and came back after Hurricane Katrina. He noticed that the community didn’t have a grocery store nearby, so he created one. After he saw a guy searching for a laundromat, he added a room to his grocery store to create a laundromat. He continues to build in the community and he is also in the process of building a café specifically for providing internet to the local area. Before I left, I took a picture with him.

To see two persistent and determined black people working to rebuild a tarnished community is such an inspiration to me as a black woman. It’s so nice to see other black folks really taking care of their own people and other people in need. I know they will continue to influence people like me and even THE WORLD!!! I enjoyed learning and working beside them. I can’t wait to see how they change the Lower 9th Ward in the future.