By Mike Marzelli, Summer Associate

We’ve come from all over the world, from as far away as the Middle East and as close as here, in the city of New Orleans. Yet no matter the path we took to arrive in the “Big Easy”, Rebuilding Together New Orleans’ 2010 AmeriCorps Summer Associates have one common goal and that is to help wherever we are needed.

We are professionals who have taken sabbaticals from our careers to head in a bold new direction; students looking to make a difference in the time between semesters; and travelers of the world with designs on leaving our mark on this unique locale. Our varied perspectives make us an eclectic group and a results-oriented team. This team has been tasked with immersing ourselves, as quickly as possible, in RTNO’s logistics and protocols as well as the culture and nuances of this city.

Starting with the week-long orientation that began our term, Summer Associates have been trained to complete the day-to-day labor that culminates on the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Beyond simply providing added labor during our two months of service, we are on a crash course to becoming leaders in the field as we prepare for an influx of volunteers to arrive from all over the country. Our presence helps facilitate the success of Rebuilding Together’s “Fifty for Five” event. We are tasked with everything from setting up ladders and scaffolding, safely working with lead paint and familiarizing ourselves with saws, nailers and drills of all shapes and sizes.

Our time in the field with RTNO’s experienced house captains prepares us to take charge of our own houses and lead teams of volunteers during “Fifty for Five.” Though many of us are unskilled or under skilled laborers who lack professional construction experience, like many New Orleanians we have learned to adapt, persevere and overcome. Whether that means adapting to scraping a house for the first time, persevering through Louisiana’s legendary summer heat in a Tyvek suit and respirator, or overcoming a fear of heights on a 28-foot ladder, we have all shown the gumption to be up to the task of getting 50 homeowners back in their houses.

As AmeriCorps Summer Associates, we have made commitments to New Orleans and to ourselves. The city can only benefit from a continuing influx of young enthusiastic talent and our time here is a chance to challenge ourselves, our chance to use our skills and mettle to make a difference in the ongoing recovery process. We are here to work, and while our spare time has provided us with opportunities to explore this unique and historic city, it is our experience in the field that has offered us a hands-on introduction to the Crescent City.

We’ve learned about the creative architecture of the city’s houses, the differences between a shotgun, Creole cottage and what makes a house a camelback. We’ve encountered all types of creatures that crawl and fly, from colorful lizards to ominous spiders and wasps. More significantly, we’ve become keenly aware of the diverse and historically significant makeup of the city’s neighborhoods.

In doing everything from clearing overgrown lots and priming houses to setting fence posts and installing hurricane roof straps, we’ve met and familiarized ourselves with homeowners all over Gentilly. These homeowners and their stories are our motivation and our purpose. No matter where we came from or why we chose to serve as summer associates, every day we spend with a paint brush or a power driver in our hand ensures that RTNO will meets its goal of getting homeowners back on their feet.