Where to Now?

Last Friday the Katrina and Rita Hurricanes Support Group met at Calvary Baptist Church in Salt Lake City. There were about 45 people in attendance as compared to 10 at the initial meeting. The group consisted of "new community members" (formerly known as evacuees) as well as an outpouring of people who just want to help.

There were moving and heartfelt stories of the life-changing ordeals most of them experienced. The one element the stories all had in common was the will to survive. That will is still happening in Salt Lake with people who were formerly computer specialists, small business owners, contruction workers, etc. willing to do domestic work just to earn a living here. Being without gainful employment is something foreign to us. It helps to define our sense of self as well as the pride of being a fully functinal American citizen--not a refugee or an evacuee!

Being from New Orleans myself, this will to contribute to Salt Lake as gainfully employed citizens is not surprising to me. It is the work-ethic that I was raised with. Many of these new citizens have much to contribute to Salt Lake, both in terms of their ethnic diversity as well as their differences in thinking.

They also provide a learning opportunity for residents here. The learning opportunity is to become more multicultural and diverse in our own outlook. This is most effectively achieved through human experience. If you have employment opportunities for sharp, positive-attitude people who view employment as a privilege, not a right, then call Calvary Baptist Church, Reverend France Davis (801-355-1025) or Bill Guillory at Innovations (801-268-3313) to arrange interviews.

By the way, every testimonial expressed love and acceptance on the part of the people of Utah. To a person, the new citizens feel truly blessed to be here, regardless of whether they remain or not. Quite frankly, this outpouring of human compssion does not surprise me, it simply confirms my own 20+ years of living here! Keep in mind 50% of Animal Kingdom purchases go to the Support Fund.

Next Support Group meeting this Friday October 28, 2005, Calvary Baptist Church at 7:00 P.M. I invite your comments or contribution to this website.