Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!!!!!

Consciously Rebuilding would like to wish Peace and Blessings upon all of our supporters. We hope to have a bigger and better journey in 2009. We're planning a Youtube competition and a College Speaking tour. Look out 09!!!!

We got a shout out on Q93

This morning around 745am, I received a text from a friend (Shelina) saying that Consciously Rebuilding just got a shout out on Q93's Real Talk Radio. Real Talk is a forum in which the state of New Orleans--the good and the bad--are discussed. Fortunately, Consciously Rebuilding's positive efforts were mentioned as some of the under-appreciated "good" that is often overshadowed by the City's negative issues. We appreciate our mention. Thanks Eddie Francis,


Yasmin

Nov 15 Workshop Pics

Here are some pics from the Health Fair.

We're on TV!!!!!

Check out the new video on Youtube that aired on ABC26 after our Health Fair.
--Yasmin

Nov 15th Health Fair Results

Here are the Action Plan Initiatives of the participants who attended Consciously Rebuilding's Health Fair on November 15 2008. We are super excited that so many people came and really committed a first step of healthier living. Generally, fitness was a popular topic and in terms of specific initiatives, water conservation seemed to capture people's attention. In order to track these healthy initiatives, we had free bike raffle tickets that requested a lifestyle change related to environment, water, energy, fitness, nutrition and indoor air quality. We had tip sheets, action plans, and a video to coach participants and guide them on their decision-making. After the educational materials were presented and our volunteers assisted participants on a Starter Plan, they qualified to enter the bike raffle (*very clever).

All in all, the yoga and the bikes were a huge attraction and we hope to continue to offer these services for our next events. About 30 people attended the event over a 3-4 hour period, and they were all new people. It was a bit of a shocker to have no one attend from our networks, but I actually prefer to introduce myself and Consciously Rebuilding to newbies that are excited to hear something fresh. For the future, I would prefer to have a handful of new people who honestly want to know who we are and what "green" and "health" means to them than to have hundreds of friends or peers who've heard it all before. This was a turning point in Consciously Rebuilding and how we will truly reach our target community....even if it's at a person-by-person pace. Every person was well worth our time and I am satisfied with the response that we got. Two people won bikes, we got many monetary donations, and ABC26 News ran a story on the event.

Consciously Rebuilding is a force to be reckoned with and we're welcoming everyone on this ride of change and healthy fun living.

Peace and Blessings,

Yasmin

504ward

It feels good to be appreciated. Check me out, http://www.504ward.com/, http://www.504ward.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=2&Itemid=10, http://www.neworleanscitybusiness.com/viewStory.cfm?recID=32152

We are pressing onward and appreciate all those who want to press with us. We also had another Health Fair on Saturday, November 15, 2008 and I will be posting pics and video soon :)

---Yasmin

Social Entrpreneurs of New Orleans (SENO)

On October, 23, 2008, Consciously Rebuilding was recognized at "Be the Change: A celebration
of Social Entrepreneurs in New Orleans." The event was hosted by SENO to bring together the positive efforts in rebuilding the City. We are blessed to have been honored as Social Entrepreneurs that advocate for community health and "Green" living. SENO is a great network striving to keep talented people, such as myself and Andrea, in New Orleans. You can check out our profile on SENO's website http://www.seno-nola.org

----Yasmin

Walk the Beat for the NOPD!!!!

Greetings!!!! Today began with an awesome opportunity for Consciously Rebuilding to participate in the Walk the Beat 5K Fundraiser for the Police Departments of New Orleans. Our membership with the Central City Comeback Committee allows us to have the 6th District Police Department as a supporter of our education and "Green" Housing initiatives in Central City. They support us, so we support them.

---Yasmin

NOLA100

On Friday, October 17, 2008 I attended an event at Global Green to acknowledge the efforts of NOLA 100. NOLA100 is an organization that has been working to rebuild homes in Holy Cross for the last 100 days. Using Americorps workers and Salvation Army funds, they have maneuvered through various obstacles to come away having renovated almost 50 houses into comfortable, energy efficient homes for the people of Holy Cross.

Here are some of the slides that are the most relevant to Consciously Rebuilding as our efforts to be "Green" are targeted to low-income and communities of color. The lessons I took away from the NOLA 100 experience is that little initiatives really add up. Especially in low-income communities that are rebuilding, retrofitting and rehabbing are more feasible options than purchasing a new customized home.

---Yasmin

Allan Houston Business Education and Development Program

Greetings, Conscious Rebuilders!!!!! It is my pleasure to announce that Consciously Rebuilding, Inc. has been accepted in the Allan Houston Business Education and Development Program. Orientation took place last Saturday (Oct. 11 2008) and the first class was tonight (Oct. 14 2008). Consciously Rebuilding represents selfless giving, but the individuals that operate this giving need to pay the bills. Therefore, we are implementing a social entrepreneurship program in which we use the tourism of New Orleans to offer products and services that benefit our non-profit and other community-based organizations. At the end of this 6-month program we will have a business plan and compete for start-up capital. We appreciate everyone's support, prayers, and positive thoughts.

God Bless, Jesus Loves

Yasmin

New Homes in the L9W

While I was gone over the summer/winter in South Africa, other people were also accomplishing a lot in such a small window of time. This just goes to show you that where there's a will there's a way. The next time you're faced with an obstacle, just relax and remind yourself that when people really want something they'll find a way to get it done. Therefore, excuses are just ways to distract you from this fact.

Make it Right has done a great job launching their 100 affordable energy-efficient homes in the Lower 9th Ward. Consciously Rebuilding uses these organizations as inspiration for our future efforts.

---Yasmin

Check out the new Video!!!

The new video is on the left and contains a great motivational speech from the Honorable Archbishop Desmund Tutu. This video was taken at UCT's Speaking Truth to Power on August 11, 2008. It was such an honor to be in the presence of living legends.

---Yasmin

Other Updates

So while I was gone there was definitely progress on the ground in New Orleans.

We handed out 30 remaining children's books, various parenting pamphlets, and Recycling toothbrushes at the Central City Night out Against Violence March on June 21, 2008

We were selected to participate in the 504connect Pilot group that pairs us up with mentors to enhance our organizational strategies.

We were invited to serve on the EPA's Environmental Justice Conference Planning Committee for 2009

On Saturday afternoons during the summer, Andrea Floyd and Chad Smith hosted a Green Talk Show on WBOK radio to encourage everyone of their rights and responsibilities when it comes to environmental and health issues.

Recently, we were honored to be recognized on a list "The New Orleans
100" that highlights 100 of the most innovative and world-changing
ideas to take root in the city of New Orleans since Katrina.
Consciously Rebuilding came in at #98.

Please click the link below to review the list.

http://www.alldaybuffet.org/neworleans100

In addition, on August 28, 2008 BET commentator Jeff Johnson, mentioned
Consciously Rebuilding on the Tom Joyner Morning Show as he was
discussing Hurricane Katrina's anniversary. You can click the link
below to listen.

http://players.eonstreams.com/FastAim/Player/Player.php?PlayerID=419&MediaURL=http://reachmedia.wmsvc.vitalstreamcdn.com/reachmedia_vitalstream_com/082608/JEFF.wma

We want to thank everyone for your continued support on our accomplishments.

Please keep in touch and check our blog regularly as we are constantly
updating it.

Yasmin and Andrea

GOOGLE US!!!!

So it's like 1am here, and I just finished writing a report. I decided to "Google" Consciously Rebuilding, and there were a lot of hits that I was unaware of. It actually made me feel good. I advise everyone to "google" us and then "google" yourself. It's surprisingly pleasant. I can't (but I can a little bit) believe that for 7 pages articles were about us. So.....does this mean that we have a web audience? Nice to know.

Peace and Blessings,

Yasmin

PS- Expect another blog entry soon. Consciously Rebuilding has been invited to participate in an Energy Fair next week.

Learning Network Workshop on Health Rights 8-13-08

Consciouly Rebuilding, Inc. is going to be a sister-satellite member of the Learning Network. The Learning Network is made up of academics, researchers, non-governmental organizations, and community-based organizations.

On August 13, 2008 I attended a workshop on health rights, violations, resolution techniques(i.e. collaborations, community engagement and empowerment) that member organizations and their clients can relate. The event was held at Women on Farms in Stellenbosch and many organizations were present-Women's Circle, Sikhula Sonke, Ikhaye Labanthu, Epilepsy South Africa, Department of Health, Aurora Cooperative, and UCT amongst others.

There were so many people eager to share their experiences and form meaningful partnerships. Three languages were spoken to respect everyone's ethnicity--Afrikaans, isiXhosa, and English. I was there representing Consciously Rebuilding as a potential member organization. The Learning Network is advocates for productivity across different stakeholders involved in the right to health. Consciously Rebuilding is a community based organization that uses health education to address indoor and outdoor environmental health and climate change. We hope to continue to build upon this relationship with the Western Cape in South Africa.

I think one quote from one of the presenters sums up my feelings toward networks and partnerships..."A bell is not a bell unless it rings" (You gotta love Africa :)

On that note, Consciously Rebuilding is prepared to ring all around the World!!!!!

Speaking Truth to Power

On August 11, 2008 I had the honor to be amongst leaders in human rights for a panel discussion.

Denis Goldberg, Koigi Wa Wamwere and Guillaume Ngefa Atondoko, Kerry Kenedy and Samuel Kofi Woods delivered inspiring presentations at the Speak Truth to Power forum.

Mr. Koigi Wa Wamwere spoke about issus of Ethnic Federalism which leads to Ethnic Cleansing and how interchangeable "Negative Ethnicity" and racism are. He believes that negative ethnicity is the biggest threat to human rights as it is used as a political tool and one of the fastest growing political ideologies. Examples include the Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia (clanism), Rwanda, and Kenya.

Kerry Kennedy (Bobby Kennedy's daughter) and Gloria Reuben of ER were also in attendence and lovely to meet.

The Honorable Archbishop Desmond Tutu delivered a motivational speech of youth being the power in which truth must be spoken.

More Women's Day