We walked into the condo at 9:00 am yesterday to the sight of a black hole. Literally, black mold was everywhere. The home had not been touched since the levies broke two and a half years ago. The house at one time was ten feet under water. We all had masks to hopefully protect us from potential danger, but when you see the damage your personal danger doesn’t really come to mind. It is one of those moments where fear does not enter your mind because of the need at hand. Our minds were fluttered with numerous emotions for the people of New Orleans, compassion for the the owner of the condo, and what it all meant for us? When you experience things like this, you have a responsibility going forward.

Then, the neighbor stops by just to say thanks and bring drinks for the team. That’s where the story really begins on being a good neighbor. The neighbor shared how everyone was caring and the love was incredible in the city for 6 months after Katrina. Everyone was looking after each other and together getting through the mess. Then selfishness set in. Finances were adding up. Future decisions were playing a role in the equation. The absence of insurance checks were now a reality. The loving your neighbor mindset fled from existence. People began looking out for themselves. In contrast to selfish ambition, this neighbor cared about others. He knew the big story and was able to love others, even though it negatively influenced his finances. Regardless of the financial gain or loss, love still drove his decisions. Few people let friendship drive decisions. Money and personal gain too often drove decisions. Today, the owner of the condo and the neighbor saw each other for the first time in two years, as the relationship was filled with phone conversations since the storm. To see the embrace of the two neighbors was worth the entire trip. The love shared between each other was seen by all watching, yet to complicated to explain to anyone. Being a good neighbor is caring for the person more than caring about the value of your home. Being a good neighbor is standing up for your fellow neighbor regardless of how you personally gain or lose. Being a good neighbor is showing love in the midst of disaster for as long as it takes to recover. This neighbor was there, even when the insurance check was not.

After 24 hours of fried food menu’s (including fried oysters, fried shrimp, fried soft shell crab, fried catfish, etc.), I am realizing a consistent pattern in the cuisine of New Orleans. Some would look at this menu as a never ending gut bomb, but I think its a token of the culture that you can’t live without experiencing while in “the big easy.” The best of the day was a late night stop at Cafe Du Monde in the French Quarter that was an introduction of a taste of pure doughy-sugary-goodness on a plate. They are open 24 hours a day, 364 days a year (closed on Christmas) and are known for their Beignet. The best way to explain it would be a cross between a donut, a dessert, and a sweet roll with powdered sugar covering the creation. I have never had one before last night and I would happily say we will go back this week.

For some reason jazz has been introduced to me this week in an entirely fresh way that started in Pittsburgh with a world famous concert series hosted at Manchester Bidwell. Jazz is part of the culture of the facility. On the tour of the space, they shared a story about a gardener that was pruning in the greenhouse one day, listening to heavy metal, resulting in all the orchids wilting the next day. So, they played jazz for 3 days and every single orchid came back to life. True story. Jazz creates a feeling of inspiration, life and hope.

Last night, we arrived in New Orleans just in time to hear a concert by the infamous and local favorite Rebirth Brass Band. We walked into a dingy club with low lighting, cheap beer and burnt red tin walls called The Maple Leaf Bar. The hole in the wall is a chilled environment with a broad mixture of people and cultures: from “bobo” iphone users to hip hop swag crowds to older indie music lovers to college groupies that are somewhere in the middle. Then the show began…the club filled up instantly with about 200 people dancing as if the roof came off the club the moment the first note was produced. Not in a bump and grind club way, it was more like a light bulb in the fabric of each human identity was lit that emoted a unique color in each person. It was true beauty. No dance was replicated, it came from the heart and emotion of the individual. Every single person felt the music in a unique way that I can’t explain in words. Rebirth consists of 9 musicians: trombones, trumpets, drums, snares, tuba, saxophone, tambourines and pure love of music. The energy from the musicians forces you to move. This group is one of the most stimulating group of entertainers I have ever experienced. It is not just music, it’s a feeling, it’s emotion that you see on faces and in motion. The songs were a mixture of two genres: fast paced jazz ensemble pieces written by the band and old classic spirituals. To see rebirth play the old gospel favorite of my dad, “I’ll Fly Away” in this environment made me experience a glimpse of the Kingdom that will stick with me for weeks to come. Thank you rebirth for sharing your passion and for creating culture in the midst of a dingy old club in New Orleans redeeming it into a space of true beauty and illumination.

(Photo taken from Rebirth Photo Gallery)

Yesterday, I had the joy of traveling to Pittsburgh to meet with Bill Strickland and get a tour of Manchester Bidwell Training Center. I will forever be influenced by the work he has put into that space of beauty. In his words, “my identity is found in the work I have done.” He has created a safe haven for a struggling neighborhood and one of the most creative environments I have ever stepped foot into. Every wall is filled with art. Taking the tour was unending creations: a 40,000 square foot greenhouse (growing orchids), a culinary school, art studio, graphic design lab, music studio (that has won 7 Grammy’s), Jazz concert series, photography class that travels around the world, a green screen room, art exhibits everywhere, a dining room and on and on. As a person that find inspiration in finding creativity in others, he has been doing it for 40 years. Here is one of the most profound statements I have learned from Bill that I think everyone should consider on the definition of poverty:

Poverty is, essentially, the acceptance of meager possibility, we can’t deny that all of us are in some fashion poor. We all suffer some form of poverty - poverty of imagination, or courage, or vision, or will. We allow ourselves to be limited by our fears - fear of failure, fear of change, fear of being criticized or of looking like a fool. We convince ourselves we lack the resources, the education, or the talent to pursue extraordinary goals. We trust conventional wisdom more than our own intuitions, and we prize the narrow and partial aspects of success - money, power, prestige - more than the rich, whole, satisfyingly human success we imagine in our dreams. In the same fashion that poor folks are shaped and limited by the unforgiving world into which they were born, we all allow ourselves to be defined by the external circumstances of our lives, in terms of what lies beyond our reach, in terms of dreams that will never come true. In the name of “common sense” or “being responsible,” we follow the path of least resistance, ignoring our true passions and potential and squandering the chance to live truly extraordinary lives.

Growing up, sitting on the bench was a very negative thought because all I it meant to me was not getting in the basketball game. At that age it was a concept of exclusion. In contrast, as I grow older, sitting on a bench shifts its perception to a very positive idea, meaning taking a break and getting off my feet for a moment. Relaxation.

After many walks to the village from my house, I have realized there is a small injustice in my neighborhood at a bus stop that has no bench. A bench injustice. It is the busiest bus stop serving a couple hundred people daily, yet no bench is in existence for older passengers waiting for the bus. Many contributors have tried to create a makeshift bench out of pieces of wood or soda cases, but none of these creations are sustainable. These so called “benches” usually only last about a month before disintegration (case in point: the unique bench in the picture above). I have shared this unfortunate observation with a few friends and they have all challenged me with one response: do something about it. So, I couldn’t just buy a bench and fix the problem, instead we are turning it into a viral idea with a custom artistic bench, recycling bins, trash cans, a flower bed and a full film crew to share the transformation with the world. Thanks to Brandon McCormick of Whitestone Motion Pictures and Blake Howard of Matchstic for collaborating with Andre and I in the creation of this forthcoming bench redemption. The actual short film will be releasing in months ahead. IF you have any ideas for this new creation, please share.

I grew up in Michigan, but now I live in Atlanta. The southern culture is often a conversation over dinner, laughing with Southern friends about the unique slang used to explain all different life scenarios and we often need a translator to understand what was trying to be communicated. Anyway, a classic phrase is, “bless your little heart,” which is a nice (Southern) way to say “you have no idea what you are talking about.” The t-shirt shown above was designed by a local Atlanta artist and you can view other Southern concept shirts like this at Pecan Pie Couture. I thought the design idea was a pretty funny, yet fitting style for the south. What is your favorite southern slang and what does it mean (since I am from the north)?

The second feature submission to Catalyst for the Artists | Together Project is from ‘St. Mars,’ a nickname for his first name Marshall. In his words, “The ‘Together’ images are actual X-ray prints that I have digitized. I call the triptych Hold, Lock, and Bond.”

Did you know slavery still exists? Did you know that children are forced to work in brick kilns in India today? Gregg Helvey is finalizing his thesis short film at USC Film School called Kavi, the first movie focused on bonded labor slavery. I had the opportunity to share some ideas with Gregg on for this project through email and phone conversations with him over the past 2 years. I am proud to show you the trailer below about this unfortunate reality happening to children all over the world and the important work this filmmaker is leading for our society. The movie will be completed later this summer and will hopefully hit the film festivals scene soon. Be on the lookout for 5 questions with Gregg very soon, to learn more about the project.

Kavi The Movie (Large Version)