DSM in New Orleans

Desire Street Ministries is "reconnecting" with residents of the Ninth Ward who are continuing to return home following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

Since the founding of Desire Street Ministries (read our history), the Upper Ninth Ward of New Orleans has been central to our vision to see impoverished neighborhoods become desirable places to live. When Hurricane Katrina came ashore in late August 2005, fifteen years of ministry progress, as well as the hopes and dreams of many neighborhood residents, was submerged in 8 feet of murky water. Massive clean-up efforts for almost a year netted only a beachhead in the work that remained to restore this area to decent living conditions.

Redevelopment progress continues and neighbors are slowly returning home as resources permit. There are many reasons to be encouraged ... yet many that discourage. So, while DSM partnered to found a community development corporation to restore and build affordable housing (read about CDC 58:12), a new umbrella ministry emerged that reflects the kingdom of God at work on earth. DSM partners with many different ministry programs and groups which call our facility at 3600 Desire Parkway "home."

HOUSE OF WORSHIP

We are delighted to host neighborhood churches while they work to rebuild their own facilities. DSM currently provides meeting space for two churches each Sunday with a total attendance of 150 persons. Bible Study is held on Tuesdays and a community-wide "Saturday Night Live" praise and worship service has just begun.

AFTER SCHOOL ACADEMY

Our after-school program operates during the school year on Monday through Thursday from 4 to 6:30 p.m., offering a computer lab and community library. Volunteers from Tulane University and Mission Year assist our small indigenous staff in tutoring students from the neighborhood in grades Kindergarten through 12th, with special sessions for Carver High School's basketball team, and a young ladies' fellowship group called Ladies of Desire. The New Orleans Recreation Department registers youth on their teams for mandatory attendance at our tutoring session on days they don't have games.

Read about our summer programs for youth in New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERS

We have formed partnerships with five neighborhood ministries and churches to rebuild the Kingdom of God in the Ninth Ward. Leaders of the newly formed group meet quarterly for on-going capacity building discussions and leadership development. We look forward to sharing the stories of their work, so please check back soon!

POWER HOUR

Those attending local churches were polled to see what they missed most in the neighborhood before Katrina. The consensus was that residents needed a place to talk, share with each other, and know that someone cares about the Ninth Ward. So DSM organized a weekly lunch ministering to those who continue to struggle with anxiety and depression caused by this traumatic event. It also is a good source of input to planning processes for making Desire a desirable place to live again.

YOUTH RECREATION

In the fall of 2007, PeacePlayers International (www,peaceplayersint.org) launched its first domestic program to begin a large scale, multi-sport effort to assist in the transformation, education and unification of post-Katrina New Orleans. Every Saturday and Sunday, our ministry facility is alive with kids and athletes and balls going everywhere (in between worship services, that is)!

COMMUNITY INITIATIVES

We are excited to once again be partnering with Children's Hospital and LSU Tiger Care to bring a pediatric clinic back to the Ninth Ward. It's been four long years, but Kids First is back!

EXCELth, Inc. operates a medical mobile unit at our facility on Louisa Street every Thursday. Thanks to a donor who organized a medical mission trip to this area, long unattended medical needs are now being met regularly.

Interns from Mission Year (www.missionyear.org) assist the Desire Area Residents Council with community projects. They also volunteer at Carver High School, who uses DSM's facility for events like their Homecoming Dance.

We are excited about on-going discussions concerning education initiatives for the Ninth Ward, so check back soon.

SERVING TOGETHER

The DSM team in New Orleans works together with nearby partner St. Roch Community Church staff on community activites throughout the year. St. Roch is a church plant in the St. Roch and St. Claude neighborhoods of the Eighth Ward, founded by Desire Street Ministries in early 2007.

For more information, on any of these ministries, email Director Marcia Peterson or call 504.304.9356.