Searching For Light in New Orleans
Ahhhh New Orleans. Mardi Gras, Bourbon Street, Canal Street. My first trip to New Orleans was powerful, impactful, and in other ways sad. I traveled to meet with Beth and Ivan Misner, the founders of BNI International, to assist with some of the most high risked schools and at risk youth in the country.
New Orleans has incredible history, art, food, music, and culture that is known worldwide. Unfortunately, I did not experience these good things as this wasn't a vacation for me. I can tell you there is darkness that blankets the city, you can see it, and feel it. It has remnants of Hurricane Katrina still present after 9 years, crime is rampant, and corruption is everywhere.
Clearly, we weren't visiting Disneyland and it wasn't very safe. We were not only going to be in the thick of it, but our itinerary included the toughest part of it. Yes, being a white man from Idaho, I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little hesitant. To support my position and to ensure I wasn't making this up in my mind I want to provide some factual data. Did you know:
I wanted to share with you what I witnessed and experienced, both on Bourbon Street and in the schools we visited.
I have heard the hype about New Orleans, but not in person, until tonight, and it was 110% opposite of what I expected. Imagine the smell of food, mixed in with alcohol and urine, and trash on the ground next to several homeless people passed out.
There are children with parents, and most disturbing, children without parents wandering around. Very young girls and boys talk to mostly naked women outside of buildings which are nothing short of brothels. Our journey continued down Bourbon Street and the farther we walked away from Canal Street, the darker it got, and I am not referring to lack of lighting. The hopelessness and void of morals fill the street, and I found it very disturbing.
I want to remind you this was early in the evening, around 7:00pm. After 10:00pm there are lots of women completely nude, and you can imagine with the massive flow of alcohol everything intensifies. It seems as though every night is Mardi Gras here. I felt heartbroken in witnessing all of this. So many without hope, lacking a bright future.
I'm not oblivious to the workings of large cities, as I have lived in Los Angeles, but this city is different. I had been warned about the dangers, but after experiencing it first-hand, I agree that New Orleans is the darkest city I have ever been in. Dark in the lack of hope, love, support, purpose, or passion. Dark including sex trafficking, sadness, grief, voodoo, and addictions, to name just a few. The city's darkness is masqueraded by scenes of Mardi Gras, a 24 hour party full of laughter and fun. In reality that just isn't the case, and couldn't be further from the truth.
Perhaps it was because I was sober or perhaps it was because my spirit is completely in a different place, but I simply not only did not enjoy it, I wanted out quickly. We cut our visit well short and turned around in the middle of Bourbon Street, and headed toward the hotel. As we neared the end of the street I could literally feel the weight being lifted off of me, as if the darkness didn't want to leave the imaginary line at the end of Bourbon street. I returned to the hotel around 7:45pm with mixed feelings of sadness, anger, and confusion. I also arrived with a sense of relief and safety as the darkness was gone.
This famous street exemplified what we are Standing Up against, and on Friday that movement started. Friday was the day that we visited two of the hardest, toughest, broken and most dangerous schools in New Orleans. Someone in our group said, "We are visiting the worst of the worst in the hood." This coming from a guy who was raised in the 'hood' in Detroit, made it seem even more crazy. It was bleak and something I haven't experienced before, but gave thanks that God provided the safety and courage to go where most people intentionally avoid.
Our first stop was an alternative school. I use the term "school" lightly, as breaking it down to truth, it's the last chance these kids have before going to jail or prison. This is where kids charged with major and serious crimes are sent, crimes such as battery, drug possession, bringing guns to school, and many other felonies. This is the school where kids go when nobody else can control them or they wish not to deal with them. This is the school that isn't gives them the only other option than jail. If during their stay they don't comply with rules, they are remanded to prison. This is the school where it's truly their last chance. This is the school that to me resembled a slightly upgraded halfway house, except they are on their way in to prison, not out.
When we first walked into the assembly, We were drawn to a young man (we'll call Mike) who clearly didn't want to be there, quiet in voice but extremely loud with body language. His tough exterior didn't hide the scared youth standing before us.
spoke sternly, stronger than I had ever seen before, regardless of how brutal the truth was. Many kids rolled their eyes, tried to sleep, and the respect and interest level meter was clearly broken, but I felt confident at least a few received the message.
Antonio Wright spoke next and his manner commanded immediate attention. He was passionate, loud, and brought a different flavor to the day. Antonio sang a rap song he wrote, discussing his own story with gangs, his accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down, the murder of his brother; it was quite inspirational. A partial video of this is below.
The poignant messages from Antonio showed a cohesion that was unrehearsed. God clearly had a hand in the presentation.
As the kids left, which appeared to be in groups based on the level of severity of their crimes, two young men stayed back, not in any hurry to leave. "Mike" and another young man came up to us and started conversation. It was Mike's first day at the school, meaning he had just started his 45 day stint. The other student "Alphonso" was getting out the next day. Ironic that one was leaving and one just arrived and they had never spoken to each other, but they were the ones hanging back after others left. Soon, they were laughing and smiling (something rarely seen at this school) and introduced the two. Upon leaving, Alphonso was telling Mike that he was never coming back, and he would teach him how to do the same. They connected with our message.
Trying to emotionally recover, we drove to the next school, which believe it or not was worse. This school required a metal detector to enter, after going through iron gates which included passing by many police officers with work belts lined with tazers and firearms.
These were not security guards or school resource officers, their badges and police cars parked immediately out front solidified that.
After being screened we were met by a staff member and police officer who took us into the auditorium. The students started filing the empty auditorium and eventually all took their seats.
The topic of courage entered the conversation and students were asked to come down, if they had courage.
We thought perhaps six or eight might come down, which was another way we underestimate people. Twenty-one students came down in front of everyone and lined up.
You have to put into perspective just what that means to see so many respond. At this school, you don't do anything to stand out and you certainly don't do anything that may come across as "better than others." Walking down in front of everyone opened them up to all of this, but their actions clearly fall under the word courage.
Through the Business Voices this school received a $5,000 scholarship to bring our Leadership Training Program to them. This program will will educate them on core values and leadership, becoming pillars of their community and remove them from the path they have been on.
I want to stress the uniqueness and courage it took Dr. Misner and his wife Beth to do what they did. They attended the schools with us, they were in the trenches, and they are engaged to make a difference. These two have a passion for helping others and certainly didn't need to take a risk or take time to do what they did. Frankly, I am not sure they even know what volumes their actions say about their character, the movement, and their courage.
I just want to say that there is a risk to be in New Orleans, as a white man, trying to help those that truly, I have little life experience with. The color of ones skin makes no difference when it comes to helping others, friendship, purpose, and doing the right thing.
These characteristics have no color. Are you willing to Stand Up, regardless of the fear or consequences, for what you believe in?
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that." - Martin Luther King Jr.
New Orleans has incredible history, art, food, music, and culture that is known worldwide. Unfortunately, I did not experience these good things as this wasn't a vacation for me. I can tell you there is darkness that blankets the city, you can see it, and feel it. It has remnants of Hurricane Katrina still present after 9 years, crime is rampant, and corruption is everywhere.
Clearly, we weren't visiting Disneyland and it wasn't very safe. We were not only going to be in the thick of it, but our itinerary included the toughest part of it. Yes, being a white man from Idaho, I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little hesitant. To support my position and to ensure I wasn't making this up in my mind I want to provide some factual data. Did you know:
- Louisiana has the highest per capita murder rate, leading all other states for 24 consecutive years (1989-2012)?
- New Orleans had the highest murder rate of any U.S. city in 2011, and ranked 21st in the entire world for murders?
- Just a few months prior to our arrival, there was a shooting of 10 people right on Bourbon Street?
I wanted to share with you what I witnessed and experienced, both on Bourbon Street and in the schools we visited.
I have heard the hype about New Orleans, but not in person, until tonight, and it was 110% opposite of what I expected. Imagine the smell of food, mixed in with alcohol and urine, and trash on the ground next to several homeless people passed out.
There are children with parents, and most disturbing, children without parents wandering around. Very young girls and boys talk to mostly naked women outside of buildings which are nothing short of brothels. Our journey continued down Bourbon Street and the farther we walked away from Canal Street, the darker it got, and I am not referring to lack of lighting. The hopelessness and void of morals fill the street, and I found it very disturbing.I want to remind you this was early in the evening, around 7:00pm. After 10:00pm there are lots of women completely nude, and you can imagine with the massive flow of alcohol everything intensifies. It seems as though every night is Mardi Gras here. I felt heartbroken in witnessing all of this. So many without hope, lacking a bright future.
I'm not oblivious to the workings of large cities, as I have lived in Los Angeles, but this city is different. I had been warned about the dangers, but after experiencing it first-hand, I agree that New Orleans is the darkest city I have ever been in. Dark in the lack of hope, love, support, purpose, or passion. Dark including sex trafficking, sadness, grief, voodoo, and addictions, to name just a few. The city's darkness is masqueraded by scenes of Mardi Gras, a 24 hour party full of laughter and fun. In reality that just isn't the case, and couldn't be further from the truth.
Perhaps it was because I was sober or perhaps it was because my spirit is completely in a different place, but I simply not only did not enjoy it, I wanted out quickly. We cut our visit well short and turned around in the middle of Bourbon Street, and headed toward the hotel. As we neared the end of the street I could literally feel the weight being lifted off of me, as if the darkness didn't want to leave the imaginary line at the end of Bourbon street. I returned to the hotel around 7:45pm with mixed feelings of sadness, anger, and confusion. I also arrived with a sense of relief and safety as the darkness was gone.
This famous street exemplified what we are Standing Up against, and on Friday that movement started. Friday was the day that we visited two of the hardest, toughest, broken and most dangerous schools in New Orleans. Someone in our group said, "We are visiting the worst of the worst in the hood." This coming from a guy who was raised in the 'hood' in Detroit, made it seem even more crazy. It was bleak and something I haven't experienced before, but gave thanks that God provided the safety and courage to go where most people intentionally avoid.
Our first stop was an alternative school. I use the term "school" lightly, as breaking it down to truth, it's the last chance these kids have before going to jail or prison. This is where kids charged with major and serious crimes are sent, crimes such as battery, drug possession, bringing guns to school, and many other felonies. This is the school where kids go when nobody else can control them or they wish not to deal with them. This is the school that isn't gives them the only other option than jail. If during their stay they don't comply with rules, they are remanded to prison. This is the school where it's truly their last chance. This is the school that to me resembled a slightly upgraded halfway house, except they are on their way in to prison, not out. When we first walked into the assembly, We were drawn to a young man (we'll call Mike) who clearly didn't want to be there, quiet in voice but extremely loud with body language. His tough exterior didn't hide the scared youth standing before us.
spoke sternly, stronger than I had ever seen before, regardless of how brutal the truth was. Many kids rolled their eyes, tried to sleep, and the respect and interest level meter was clearly broken, but I felt confident at least a few received the message.
Antonio Wright spoke next and his manner commanded immediate attention. He was passionate, loud, and brought a different flavor to the day. Antonio sang a rap song he wrote, discussing his own story with gangs, his accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down, the murder of his brother; it was quite inspirational. A partial video of this is below.
The poignant messages from Antonio showed a cohesion that was unrehearsed. God clearly had a hand in the presentation.
As the kids left, which appeared to be in groups based on the level of severity of their crimes, two young men stayed back, not in any hurry to leave. "Mike" and another young man came up to us and started conversation. It was Mike's first day at the school, meaning he had just started his 45 day stint. The other student "Alphonso" was getting out the next day. Ironic that one was leaving and one just arrived and they had never spoken to each other, but they were the ones hanging back after others left. Soon, they were laughing and smiling (something rarely seen at this school) and introduced the two. Upon leaving, Alphonso was telling Mike that he was never coming back, and he would teach him how to do the same. They connected with our message.
Trying to emotionally recover, we drove to the next school, which believe it or not was worse. This school required a metal detector to enter, after going through iron gates which included passing by many police officers with work belts lined with tazers and firearms.
These were not security guards or school resource officers, their badges and police cars parked immediately out front solidified that.
 |
| Metal detector and security checkpoint - just to enter the high school. |
After being screened we were met by a staff member and police officer who took us into the auditorium. The students started filing the empty auditorium and eventually all took their seats.
The topic of courage entered the conversation and students were asked to come down, if they had courage.
We thought perhaps six or eight might come down, which was another way we underestimate people. Twenty-one students came down in front of everyone and lined up.
You have to put into perspective just what that means to see so many respond. At this school, you don't do anything to stand out and you certainly don't do anything that may come across as "better than others." Walking down in front of everyone opened them up to all of this, but their actions clearly fall under the word courage.
 |
| Antonio Wright hands out Stand Up / Leadership1st wrist bands to students committing to Standing Up |
Through the Business Voices this school received a $5,000 scholarship to bring our Leadership Training Program to them. This program will will educate them on core values and leadership, becoming pillars of their community and remove them from the path they have been on.
I want to stress the uniqueness and courage it took Dr. Misner and his wife Beth to do what they did. They attended the schools with us, they were in the trenches, and they are engaged to make a difference. These two have a passion for helping others and certainly didn't need to take a risk or take time to do what they did. Frankly, I am not sure they even know what volumes their actions say about their character, the movement, and their courage.
I just want to say that there is a risk to be in New Orleans, as a white man, trying to help those that truly, I have little life experience with. The color of ones skin makes no difference when it comes to helping others, friendship, purpose, and doing the right thing.
These characteristics have no color. Are you willing to Stand Up, regardless of the fear or consequences, for what you believe in?
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that." - Martin Luther King Jr.
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