The roots of Val Shexnayder’s struggle to stay on her land go back to the era of Reconstruction. Living in a FEMA trailer where her house once stood, this Lower Ninth Ward resident plans to rebuild.

Meet three individuals -- a building trade apprentice, a public housing tenant and a labor investment officers -- who exemplify the spirit of rebuilding, renewal and tenacity that characterize the Gulf Coast rebuilding efforts.

 

Pilot program introduces urban residents to careers in the construction trades

Carpenters from around the country make sure Local 1846 and its members don't go under

NOFF Local 632 fire fighters find surviving Katrina is an all-alarm battle.

“Today is the day we will do this grand experiment for ILCA, go out into the community, interview people and tell stories of what is going on with the people of New Orleans,” says Howard Kling to an audience of more than 100 writers, photographers, videographers and labor activists gathered in New Orleans October 18-20 for ILCA 2007. “We want to demonstrate the power of labor’s voice this weekend, as much as we can,” Kling says.

Faces from the conference: Eric Bailey of AFT Connecticut talks about faith. I don’t know if I’ve ever had faith in the government, but Eric Bailey says he did before Katrina, before New Orleans, and before the impotent response by the powers that be that left an expectant, trusting populace stranded on rooftops, without homes, help and hope.