For many years, people from around the world have been coming to New Orleans to enjoy the music and party. Few stay for much else, and there has been an unfortunate pattern of the college educated citizens leaving for other cities. But post- Katrina, a new phenomenon emerged. Recent college  graduates, plus other young people  who were looking to participate in a meaningful experience began moving to New Orleans. For most people, living in the city had never even crossed their minds. But after the government's failures to respond and rebuild the city, a huge void remained. For many New Orleanians, the prospect of starting over was and still is overwhelming, and  it was clear that, the only way the city would rebuild itself, was if energetic, passionate, idealistic young people mixed with residents of the city to do the work of what the government had failed to accomplish.

In my case, I had come down to the Gulf Coast, for the first time, in March of 2006. With hundreds of other college students, I spent the week repairing roofs in a storm damaged are of Gulfport, MS. Clearly, the storm had taken its toll, but I also saw the after-effects of years of neglect. When I began walking around the neighborhood, all I needed to do was ask people, "What have you received from FEMA and the insurance agencies." And in many cases their responses would last thirty minutes, but it was the same similar pattern. They had not received the money they were promised, or the money that many people across the nation believed was being given to victims of the storm. It was outrageous, and when I returned to the northeast, I really wanted to find a way back. Now, after being here for almost a year, I am working hard to help others,who feel a call to action by what Katrina has shown us about this country, find the means to come down to New Orleans and be a part of the rebuilding process. The city also needs to build a network for these young urban rebuilding professionals (YURP) to share their stories with each other and the rest of the world, and that is what we are trying to create with the website. Please check it out- http://www.nolayurp.com/