be the change that you want to see in the world

I am fascinated by what happens after a disaster, be it natural, or God forbid, man-made.

I was old enough to be cogniscent of FEMA's incredibly embarassing and frankly, damningly inept, managing of what happened post-Hurricane Katrina. This was these people's JOBS! They're the ones that are supposed to be the go-to guys when things like this happen! A lot of criticism has been said already against this total miscarriage of any form of civic responsibility, so I wouldn't dwell on it too much.

But what perversely interested me was what did they do with all of those people? Where did they house them? How did they provide for their basic needs? Suffice to say, lodging them in the Superdome was an unorthodox, though I wouldn't go so far as to say inspired, move.

(It still infuriates me that despite this epic mishandling of the situation there are still people who have not been able to return home to New Orleans, but that'll be another post.)

When a disaster hits, it often affects people's homes. What was once a sanctuary is now merely rubble. One of our basic needs as humans is for shelter, and when that is taken away, it can feel like losing a limb.

An organization that is seeking to address both post-disaster housing needs and low-income and Third World housing needs is an amazing organization called, Architecture for Humanity. Founded in 1999 by Cameron Sinclair and Kate Stohr, they are "a grassroots nonprofit organization that seeks architectural solutions to humanitarian crises." (-taken from the back flap of Design Like You Give a Damn) They have written a book called, Design Like You Give a Damn, which spotlights various projects around the world that seek to address issues like shelter, both in post-disaster situations and for people in Third World countries and other places that cannot afford big fancy homes.

I love what Ganhdi once said, "Be the change that you want to see in the world." It's simple, but profound and should be adopted by everyone who does care to give a damn.

There is still so much wrong in this world, but I like to think that what Oscar Wilde once said is true, "They say that the age of miracles is past. I say it has not yet begun."

There are many gifted, innovative designers out there who realize that true greatness may not be achieved constructing the new blockbuster museum or multi-millionaire's home, but instead providing cheap but safe and dignified housing to people less fortunate than ourselves.

I have so many different areas that I want to focus on as an urban planner- sustainable land use, downtown/post-industrial revitalization, mixed-income housing. But I would like to think that I will also be able to devote some of my energies to helping those who cannot help themselves.

For more information on Architecture for Humanity please go to http://www.architectureforhumanity.org/ Thank you.