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Chaquidra Martin is able to put her daughter, Laila Young, in a good pre-kindergarten program with money she has saved on housing costs since mov- A newsletter for the staff of Habitat for Humanity International • March 19, 2010 ing into her Habitat home in .

HabichatsteffAn HAcker The resilient triumph Hope and joy abound among Habitat families on the U.S. Gulf Coast

By Teresa K. Weaver

NEW ORLEANS, —Since joining Habitat for Humanity Inter- national in 2007, photographer Ezra Millstein and I have made more than a dozen reporting trips to the U.S. Gulf Coast. The family that runs Desporte & Sons Seafood in Biloxi, Mississippi, knows to start frying up extra oysters whenever they see our big blue Habitat Nissan Titan pull into the parking lot. I know this part of the country fairly well, having grown up in the life that evolves South and spent a lot of time traveling New chaplain Dianne Hall through Mississippi and Louisiana. has shared in Habitat’s journey Seeing it from a fresh perspective— through the eyes of Habitat—has only deepened my appreciation of how By Susan Stevenson demonstrates more than the theory of unique these people of the Gulf are. servant leadership; it shows an ongoing Their resilience and joie de vivre are If you do not know the new chaplain, willingness to serve God with a com- mythic. Going back to see some of the Dianne Hall, then you need to meet mitment that has grown and changed same families over the course of three this living lesson in Habitat for Human- as she and Habitat have changed. She years—seeing how much can change ity’s past and future. has felt the joy as well as the pain, sac- in such a short time—has helped us Hall’s life and the growth of Habitat rifice and everyday frustrations of the really grasp how Habitat fits into that seem parallel. She has been closely as- work of Habitat as she raised a family dynamic of hope and recovery. sociated with the ministry since 1982, and faced her husband’s death. Laila Young was 3 when we first when she and her late husband, Tom, She calls hers a life that evolves: One met her and her mother, Chaquidra exponentially grew the Habitat full- step leads to the next and then the next. Martin, in 2008. They were living in an time staff of four—“with Clive (Rainey) “Everything I have done has led me apartment owned by a relative in a cor- overseas”—by arriving in Americus. to this place where I am today,” she says. ner of New Orleans’ Upper Ninth Ward It’s not so much that her life Her promotion to chaplain evolved from that looked like a bombed-out war depended on Habitat, but more that a decision four years ago to work for zone, even three years after Hurricane Habitat has depended on her. Her path Habitat and take on three years of study Katrina rolled through.

continued on page 2 continued on page 3 1 Habichat — March 19, 2010 Hall the street,” Habitat for Humanity. Education of Young Children accredita- “Tom and I took the high school tion through the National Academy of continued from page 1 students on a mission trip. We dug Early Childhood Programs. footings for houses,” she said, and “We tried to give children a real to become an ordained Episcopal deacon. Tom was impressed. After bringing love of learning. My goal was that none She says that as chaplain, “I want students on a few more mission trips of our students would grow up to be to be present with people in the good and starting the 13th Habitat affiliate in Habitat homeowners,” she said. times, the hard times and the in- Pickens County, S.C., the couple made In July 2008, Habitat stopped running between times. I feel a real need to let the move to Habitat—a very different the school, but it still exists in Americus people know other people at Habitat organization from the one a new em- and has a waiting list for students. care about them and their families.” ployee might find Dianne - But her journey and her passion for at HFHI in 2010. ishes many success the people of Habitat really start with a “We really de- stories from her passion for her own family. pended on volun- A book that helped students. One is Her father was the associational min- teers. Most would Dianne Hall’s journey: about the son of ister for 90 Baptist churches in Raleigh, give us a year or at “Mere Christianity” by C.S. a nurse who was N.C. Her mother worked part time at a least three months. Lewis. “It helped me think a single mother. Baptist bookstore, but was always home We wouldn’t have through questions like: Are “He got so excited when Dianne, her twin brother, David, existed without these doctrines true? Is holi- about reading that and her late sister, Virginia, came home. them,” she said. ness here? Does my conscience when he went “My father was very much for the “We were a real move me toward this? So often home his grand- underdog,“ Dianne said. “He taught us family. We grew a we fail to practice ourselves mother wanted to to always try to be there for people, to garden together. the kind of behavior we expect learn to read, too. always provide for people in need. He We had potluck from others. We have all kinds So he taught her,” made it clear we needed to make the the day before pay- of excuses. But Christ calls us Dianne said. world a better place.” day. No one would to love as he has loved, and we “I ran into the The Baptist tradition brought her have had enough must figure out for ourselves mom and her son, to Mars Hill College, a private Baptist food without it.” how to do it.” now six-foot-plus. school near Asheville, N.C. When she Dianne worked He had just gradu- arrived, the student body president, Tom for First Baptist in ated from law Hall, came to greet her freshman class. Americus, running school. His mom “I liked him the first time I saw him, a mother’s-day-out program to add to told me she had had to struggle so and he must have felt the same way about resources for her three children: Robert, much that without Educare his success me,” she said. “Within a week we were Chris and Erin. But some local families wouldn’t have been possible.” dating, and it became clear to everyone refused to let their children play with In caring for her students, she says, “I that it would last for a long, long time.” the children of Habitat staff because the began to move into a pastoral role.” That So Dianne and Tom juggled a long- fledgling ministry was not nearly as well- led her to her studies and her new job distance romance after he graduated and received as it is today. with Habitat. Dianne became assistant went to seminary at Andover Newton So when Habitat needed a school chaplain at HFHI after the school was Theological School in Massachusetts. for children of parents who were train- divested. She became HFHI chap- The summer after Dianne graduated, ing for international work, Dianne lain this month after former chaplain the couple married. Tom took a job with became the director of Educare. Rendell Day left to pastor a church in Earl Street Baptist in Greenville, S.C., Educare served about 140 chil- Kathmandu, Nepal. and Dianne taught high school science dren from 6 weeks to 12 years old. Its She also works as a deacon at St. and home economics. students were the children of Habitat Paul Episcopal Church in Albany. Later Tom moved to First Baptist in employees or homeowners or were And, of course, she keeps track of her Clemson, S.C. The couple led an annual children at risk in the community. five grandchildren. trip for high school students at the Through Habitat, Dianne and her “I wake up in the morning excited church, and Tom wanted to give them staff of more than 20 created an edu- to go to work,” she said. “It’s a wonder- something more than a middle-class cational experience that won national ful feeling.” experience. So they called Koinonia. recognition. Educare was named a Koinonia couldn’t take them, but “they “Center of Distinction” in and Susan Stevenson is director of program suggested this new organization down received National Association for the communications.

2 Habichat — March 19, 2010 Jason Honore and porch looking out at your neighbors.” his wife, Krystle, lost everything but About half an hour away, in Slidell, a few days’ worth three new homeowners are spending of clothes when de- a Sunday afternoon around a long, stroyed their home handcrafted table that Ralph Stanley, in New Orleans’ 71, salvaged from the ruins of his New Ninth Ward.The hardest part of the Orleans home after Katrina. months and years Now a widower, Stanley, a retired that followed was sending their daugh- outdoor advertising man who plays ter, Dominiece, then

ezrA mIllsteIn electric guitar and rides a tomato-red only 5, to live with motorcycle, is surrounded by children. her grandmother in Baton Rouge. Next-door neighbor Carla Campo has three children: Nate, 11; Ryan, 9; and Angel, who turns 5 in a week. And across Gulf house and put Laila in a good pre- the street, Jason Honore and his wife, kindergarten program, but also to look Krystle, are raising three of their own: continued from page 1 ahead for the first time in a long time. Dominiece, 10; Jason, 8; and Jalen, 4. After she lost so much to Hurricane All three families have nightmare Two years later, the family is hap- Katrina only five years ago, such peace stories of what happened to them dur- pily settled in a spiffy house built in of mind is not something Martin—or ing the storm, but they’re more eager partnership with New Orleans Area most anyone else in the Gulf—takes for to talk about what’s happening to them Habitat for Humanity. The literal granted anymore. now. The day before we visited, every- distance between the old apartment “I love this house,” said Joy Velez, body had gathered to celebrate Nate and the new house is only a couple of a native of Brooklyn, New York, who Campo’s turning 11. blocks. But figuratively, the two are a lived in Louisiana’s St. Bernard Parish “That was the best party of my million miles apart. in 2005. “Just look! I love this house!” life,” Nate said with the hyperbole of a Laila, now 5, is a whirling dervish In partnership with Habitat for happy child. who likes to talk, play baseball, talk, Humanity St. Tammany West, Velez Today, the party is for our ben- play soccer, ride her bike, talk, read and built her house at the end of a quiet cul efit—or perhaps simply because it is a talk. Her mom, a devotee of Home and de sac in a Covington neighborhood beautiful sunny Sunday in Covington, Garden TV shows and Gabriel Gar- filled with streets named Progress and Louisiana. Nobody in the Gulf ever cía Márquez novels, is a clerk for the Success and Hope. really needs a reason to cook some federal court system in New Orleans, When we first visited Velez in 2007, gumbo and have a few friends over. and just started a monthly book club her daughter, Krystal, was about to Ezra and I are on the road for an- among her co-workers. graduate from high school, where she other week, trying to document some The house is decorated in rich earth had struggled to fit in after the hur- of the unprecedented work that Habitat tones and comfy furniture befitting a ricane shut down her beloved Chal- affiliates from Houston, Texas, to Mo- fan of home improvement shows. On mette High. Now Krystal is a junior in bile, Alabama have done and continue the day we visit, Martin is stuck in traf- elementary education at McNeese State to do as the fifth anniversary of hur- fic, so her fiancé, Lee Young, is vacu- University in Lake Charles. Still a year ricanes Katrina and Rita rolls around. uming the living room and making away from finishing her degree, she Every time we travel this route, I’m snacks for Laila. already has a job waiting for her at the struck by what a privilege it is to be There is a solid sense here not just rebuilt Chalmette High. here—to hear these incredible stories of family but of a future. From the porch of her new home, and see how these lives are being rebuilt. “It feels good to be a homeowner,” Velez points to all the other Habitat There is a lot of work left to do all Martin said. “It’s a different responsibil- houses in the community, identify- along the Gulf Coast. But so far, we ity than renting, but I don’t mind doing ing all the homeowners by name and haven’t run across anybody who is extra when it’s mine.” occupation, and sharing stories of how ready to stop trying. Martin’s monthly mortgage payment, they all look after one another—from plus insurance, is less than half what she mowing a neighbor’s lawn to bringing Teresa K. Weaver is a senior writer/ was paying in rent for a substandard casseroles after a hospital stay. editor at Habitat for Humanity Interna- apartment. That math is life-changing, “This is the best part of life right tional, based in . allowing her not only to furnish her here,” Velez said. “Standing on your

3 Habichat — March 19, 2010 The border between the Dominican Republic and Haiti has been strained by refugees.

mArtHA collIer Helping Haiti from across the border

By Theresa Waldrop assembled in the Dominican Republic. quake, Collier said. “They had the system down and “A lot of the same needs that are in In the chaos and devastation that were doing it,” Collier said. “And they the Haitian side are on the Dominican followed Haiti’s January earthquake, are still doing it.” side,” said Collier, who represented Habitat for Humanity employees from Collier also witnessed one aspect HFHI at weekly meetings of nongov- around the globe were called on to help of the tragedy that hasn’t gotten a lot of ernmental organizations that were with disaster relief in Port-au-Prince attention: the refugees at the borders, called by the United Nations to coordi- and surrounding areas. But some of the on both the Haitian and the Domini- nate assistance in the area. key players were only 160 miles away, can sides, and the strain the influx is “That whole border area is a very in Santo Domingo: Habitat’s staff mem- putting on that impoverished area. The poor area,” Collier said. “And now with bers in the Dominican Republic. United Nations estimates that about the increase of Haitians in those border For a month after the quake, there 1,000 people a day are fleeing Haiti towns, there’s a need to coordinate were no commercial flights into or out of for the Dominican Republic, and the strategies and increase the assistance Port au Prince because of damage to the population in the border zones has to communities on both sides of the runway. The office in Santo Domingo, increased 15 to 20 percent since the border, so they can help these refugees which has a staff of 20, with five addition- continued on page 5 al Habitat employees outside the capital, helped get food, supplies, computers and HFHI organizational development consultant Martha Collier (right) celebrated Valentine’s Day with specialists into neighboring Haiti. And Habitat employees in the Dominican Republic during her visit to help in the Haiti disaster response. they continue to play a key role. Martha Collier, an organizational development consultant in global pro- BIdo JoHnny grams based in Atlanta, spent a month in the Dominican Republic helping out. The fluent Spanish speaker, who has spent many years in Latin America, translated and assisted with travel ar- rangements and communications for other HFHI staff members headed into and out of Haiti. She also helped with purchasing the contents of the first 500 shelter kits, which were procured and

4 Habichat — March 19, 2010 Dominican Republic public were the Habitat staff members. assistance organized by the Dominicans. “I was really impressed with the In the end, as was made clear during the continued from page 4 enthusiasm and professional level of U.N. meetings, the fate of the two coun- our staff in the Dominican Republic, tries is intricately interwoven. who come over.” and their team spirit,” she said. “They “The risk mitigation strategy for The border zone consists mainly of worked holidays and Saturdays, and both countries is linked because a hur- small towns that are very isolated from they worked till late at night. They got ricane is very likely to hit either or both both capital cities, she said, so “there’s up in the middle of the night to pick up countries, and that would be a devastat- a lack of basic services, and there are people at the airport.” ing blow to Haiti’s recovery,” Collier said. areas that have been hit by previous And no one pulled rank. Civil engi- “Building up the productive capacity of hurricanes and flooding.” neers served as airport shuttle drivers, the both countries is going to be essential to A former United Methodist mis- executive director assembled shelter kits, both in getting through this.” sionary in El Salvador and Nicaragua, and the family services coordinator made Collier is no stranger to natural disas- flight and hotel reservations. “It was very Theresa Waldrop is a writer/editor for ters. What impressed her most about egalitarian and collegial,” Collier said. Habitat for Humanity International, her experience in the Dominican Re- She also noted the importance of the based in Atlanta.

steffAn HAcker Plans emerge for more shelter kits for Haiti Habitat for Humanity International will McDonough, Ga., in mid-April. coordinate the creation of 13,250 more Habitat for Humanity International emergency shelter kits to help those staff will likely have the opportunity to affected by Haiti’s magnitude-7.0 earth- support the effort, and volunteer reg- quake. Funding for the kits is provided istration is planned to be online next by the American Red Cross and CARE. week. Please check upcoming issues of Volunteers mobilized by Habitat for Habichat for more information. Humanity International will assemble the kits at a Whirlpool warehouse in —Shelly Whittet

Where in the world is the CEO? An occasional report on what’s happening with Jonathan reckford

In February, HFHI CEO Jonathan Reck- Habitat’s legislative needs with several ers and staff, will make a presentation ford taught in Nic Retinsas’ class at Har- members of Congress in their offices. about housing needs and strategies vard Business School and also spoke to The board of directors meetings in in Brazil and will participate in the a group of students about Habitat’s plans March in Americus included challeng- dedication of the 100,000th Habitat for for serving 50,000 families in Haiti. Ret- ing and inspiring devotions by board Humanity home built in Latin Amer- sinas, a former chair of HFHI’s board of members John Stack and Nabil Abadar. ica. He will also lead a “Housing for directors, is director of Harvard’s Joint The meetings focused on issues critical to All” panel as part of the World Urban Center for Housing Studies. implementing our strategic plan. Forum in Rio de Janeiro on March 22. At Habitat on the Hill in Washing- Reckford enjoyed a week of family ton, D.C., he emphasized the impor- vacation time before preparing for a —Pam Campbell, executive communi- tance of local advocacy to the 250 del- trip to Brazil to begin March 19. He cations egates from U.S. affiliates and spoke on will meet with Habitat Brazil lead-

5 Habichat — March 19, 2010 Habichatter By Jennifer Graves

What’s your best spring break memory?

IAN MCALLISTER LARRY GALANTE ANN CHARLES WATTS JUDI SMITH Government relations Americorps U.s. field operations national services – U.s. and Advocacy

My best memory is prob- My best spring break The first spring after my husband and My best spring break was ably backpacking through memory occurred on a I got married, we had two friends from at one of National Services’ Ireland with my Dad during Collegiate Challenge trip to Paraguay visiting us. One wanted to Build-a-thons in Mississippi my senior year of high Sea Island, South Carolina. see the Grand Canyon, and the other in 2008. I helped to install a school. We spent three I was on the build site, wanted to see Mount Rushmore before hardwood floor in one of the weeks traveling around and we had just met the going back to South America. So, with resident’s homes. I love to and seeing all the sights. It homeowner. He was so a KOA campground membership card decorate and rehab homes. was awesome! amazed and grateful that in hand, the four of us packed into our my college group would station wagon and began the adven- come all that way to spend ture that would take us from the Smoky our spring break “sleep- Mountains in the East, across the south- ing in bags” and building west, through the Rockies, back across his home. It was such a the vast expanse of Dakota farmland, to tear-jerking moment to Chicago and finally home. We stopped at hear and see how much he virtually every national park and historic appreciated our time there site along the way and still managed with Habitat. 5,000 miles in 10 days. Awesome!

What’s Next in Habitat Tuesday, March 23 Wednesday, March 24 Tuesday, April 13 Part 2, coding mystery revealed, 1-3 p.m.: devotions in Atlanta, 9 a.m.: devotions mission Alignment and IBodtask force the second segment of a two-part live vir- room, 12th floor. led by the rev. Jeff brown-bag session in Atlanta, noon: koi- tual session for the finance coding train- meyers, college andyoung Adult Pastor nonia conference room, led by steve Weir, ing.to register for virtual training, go to at north Avenue Presbyterian church.the vice president of global program develop- http://teams.hfhi.habitat.org/sites/support/ topic of his message is “lent: Atime for ment and support, andted Baumann.the training/acct/default.aspx and click on Boundaries and Blessing.” session will also be available via live- class listing. face-to-face training will be meeting. for more information, contact devotions in Americus, 10 a.m.: devotions available in Atlanta from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. lisa Heintz in learning and organizational room, rylander Building. led by the rev. April 15, and in Americus from 10 a.m. to development, ext. 6774. keith Wishum, pastor of Williams road 3 p.m. April 22. for additional information church of christ, Americus.the topic of his on these sessions, please contact Angela message is “making a mark on the World.” nolan in Americus, ext. 7702.

6 Habichat — March 19, 2010