There are a couple of destinations that I return to regularly, and one of them is New Orleans. Some combination of the city’s music, food, culture and that je ne sais quoi just latched onto my soul more than 18 years ago—and I can’t stay away for long.
I’ve returned to New Orleans seven times since Hurricane Katrina, to help in any way I could: rebuild, donate to local services, spend tourist dollars and buy drinks for my friends. And I stumbled upon an incredible way to help the city’s neighborhood kids—with photography.
The New Orleans Kid Camera Project helps kids express themselves using cameras, creative writing and mixed media. Children are often the most able to find beauty, especially after everything that was once beloved has changed or been destroyed; the project was created to address the impact of Katrina on the kids who lived through the disaster, and continue to live through the aftermath.
Scroll through the photo and video galleries to see through the eyes of the children of New Orleans. Consider donating: money, equipment or services. On one of my trips, I took a used digital camera. Now, each time I return, I ask photographer friends what they have for me to bring to New Orleans. What better way to support future artists?
