Oct 14 2009
Continuing its efforts to rebuild New Orleans and provide housing for displaced families of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, There's No Place Like Home National (TNPLHN) and Trinity Christian Community (TCC) awarded new homes to two families in the Hollygrove neighborhood located in the 17th Ward of New Orleans on Friday, October 2nd.
There's No Place Like Home National is a program of the Jeanie C. Linders Fund and is supported by the international hit show, "Menopause The Musical." TNPLHN has committed to building 12 homes in the Hollygrove neighborhood, and to date, the program has successfully provided five homes in this area. This unique and integral program is compromised of theatre members, student builders, community volunteers and the homeowners -- each with their own special role in bringing a community back to life.
Since 2001, "Menopause The Musical" has been seen by millions of women in 14 countries around the world. The idea of the musical was to breakdown barriers of the taboo stages of a woman's life and to celebrate every stage of life. As the successful musical grew, the writer and producer, Jeanie Linders, realized that she had the ability to make an even more positive impact in the lives of women. Thus, she founded the Jeanie C. Linders Fund (JCLF). When Hurricanes Katrina and Rita ravished the Gulf Coast, Ms. Linders knew that with the fund-raising power and awareness of "Menopause The Musical," the Foundation could make a substantial and positive impact on people who were affected by the devastation.
After visiting several wards in the New Orleans area, the JCLF team was moved by the determination of the Hollygrove residents in the 17th Ward, most of whom were displaced from their homes. The Hollygrove people were determined to go back to their neighborhood and make it a better and safer area. Together with Trinity Christian Community, JCLF developed the Hope Rope project for people to join and work toward restoring their sense of home or neighborhood. The participants of the Hope Rope project are asked to use their skills and volunteer their time to help the community, whether it is by tutoring students or tending the community garden, and each participant is screened to ensure sustainability for each house that is given. "Women are the spirit of the household. The houses we're building are for those who need a hand up instead of a hand out. This program is making a tremendous difference in the lives of these women and their families," stated Jeanie Linders.
The program participant pays for the foundation of the house (roughly $15,000 to $20,000) and There's No Place Like Home National pays for the construction of the house. Technical trade students who are apprentices in general contracting build the houses. Each house that is built is roughly 1,100 sq. ft. and is either a 3/2 or a 2/2.
The cast and crew of "Menopause The Musical" support this project with their dedicated fund-raising after each show across the country. "Being a part of the There's No Place Like Home National program is a life-changing experience," said Marc Carmen, Production Stage Manager for "Menopause The Musical." "Providing safe and secure homes to displaced women and their families is the greatest motivation for us to tour and perform."
The outlook of the Hollygrove neighborhood is bright. The heart of the people is strong. "Hollygrove is a community on the rise. The formerly unsafe, undereducated, decaying neighborhood now boasts a revitalization envied by many. And the people did it themselves," said Kevin Brown, Executive Director of TCC. With the help of organizations such as the Jeanie C. Linders Fund, Trinity Christian Community and "Menopause The Musical," the people of Hollygrove will have a sense of home and prosperity.
Source: There's No Place Like Home National (TNPLHN)