Musician Michael Franti Helps Wesley In New Orleans

Nice one from Michael Franti and friends!

Restore Wesley United has several integral partners in New Orleans. One of the most helpful is the United Saints Recovery Project, as mentioned in the video.
Next week the Home Builders Institute apprentice-class for tradespeople at the former C.J. Peete Public Housing returns with a second group of Central City residents. We’re really looking forward to working with these home-grown volunteers and their skills–the first group brought so much love and energy last December.

Don Paul for Restore Wesley United/The Wesley United Digital Arts and Training Center

Update of March/2010

Steps advance to strengthen building!–Volunteers from several colleges!–Michael Franti and group visit!–Ben Vereen and many others adopt bricks!–Organic Valley Farms adopts a pew!–Home Builders Institute apprentices to return next week!–And much more to come!

Hello, Supporters of Restore Wesley United,

Mo’ big fun! More of daily progress! More termite-nests the size of disco-balls!

•Our structural engineer, David O’Reilly, inspected the Wesley building on March 1. Per David’s instructions, foreman Norman Clark and United Saints volunteers have pulled away the tongue-and-groove ceiling boards from the eastern third of the ground floor and begun to replace or “sister” (brace) the 12-foot-long 2″-by-12″ floor joists. This is one more step toward insuring the building’s integrity. Thanks to volunteers from the University of Vermont, the University of North Carolina, Southern Illinois University, and other colleges, participating through our partners the United Saints Recovery Project, the heart-of-pine ceiling boards are now denailed and ready for re-installation. Thanks also goes to the Home Depot at 1100 Claiborne Avenue for donating ten replacement floor-joists.

•Many personal friends have adopted bricks over the past ten days. From the world of distance-running, Amby Burfoot of Runner’s World, Jim Ferstle of Road Race Management, Masters stalwart Les Ong, Dipsea winner Eve Pell, Los Angeles Marathon winner Ric Sayre, and U.S. Olympic Men’s Marathon Trial winner Steve Spence and his family are now adopters. Walter Gallas of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Teresa Torkanowsky of Eracism, Henry and Virgilia Dakin of the Mendocino Environmental Center, and Foster and Kimberly Gamble of the successful movement to resist aerial spraying of pesticides in Santa Cruz County are also new adopters. Last Tuesday Tony-award-winning actor dancer-singer Ben Vereen decided to adopt one brick each for himself and relatives, most of them his grandchildren. Welcome the Vereen-descended cluster of seven!

Wednesday, March 10, 2010 in the Sanctuary space of the Wesley with United Saints volunteers, Michael Franti and other friends. Photo: Amee Palazzolo

•On Wedesday afternoon the Wesley enjoyed a surprise visit from Michael Franti, guitarist Jay Bowman, and friends from San Francisco and Houston. About 70 volunteers gathered on and beside pews in the upstairs Sanctuary. Michael and Jay played and sang to sets of shining eyes and received the stand-up-and-cheer reception their energy deserved. Michael then went to New Orleans Arena to join his band Spearhead in opening for John Mayer. Check out michaelfranti.com or myspace.com/guerrrilla for tour-dates. Check out youtube for the video of Michael’s and Spearhead’s ongoing hit, “Say Hey (I Love You)”–http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoaTl7IcFs8–4,646,208 views as of today. Michael and Jay have joined our Artists’ Advisory Board. (See photos next page.)

•Organic Valley Farms has adopted a pew. In return I get to perform at the Kickapoo Country Fair. Really.

•Back in the world of Louisiana-nurtured insects and 137-year-old buildings, we’re ready to move in five work-areas next week with the second crew of Home Builders Institute apprentice trades-people from Central City. Last December the first class of apprentices hugely improved the building’s interior. Over the next month with them we’ll (1) continue to replace and repair floor-joists, beams and columns, (2) point-and-tuck all the exposed brick walls, (3) patch openings and cracks, (4) install angle-brackets and lintels for the Sanctuary ceiling, and (5) repair and replace the building’s roof. Instructor Levi Lewis visited last Friday afternoon to plan with us on “a game-plan” for his “teams”.

We’ve gathered multiples more support in the past month, but the work to be done to preserve the Wesley remains urgent. The termites, waking with Spring, tell us so. Join us in whatever way you can (savewesleyunited.org).

Real Hope for New Orleans: The Wesley United Digital Arts and Training Center

Your Support is Needed: Real Hope for New Orleans

ACTION ALERT: Restore Wesley United New Orleans