Initiatives
River of Hope: New Orleans
The initial Headwaters project, River of Hope, began as an Orion company initiative with 35 staff and friends volunteering to help the poor and elderly people in a New Orleans neighborhood left behind by other relief efforts. This grew into more than a dozen relief trips involving more than 400 volunteers including construction workers, roofers, electricians, plumbers and other workers, thousands of dollars worth of supplies and contributions and more than 11,000 hours of labor. The result was more than 50 homes cleared and stripped of damage, the rebuilding of 5 homes of elderly residents, the rebuilding of six community structures including a church, a domestic abuse center, and two homes that serve elderly individuals. In addition to this the project developed and operated the Ninth Ward's first-ever mental health resource center for nine months during 2007. The project has worked out a long-term plan for the ongoing work of the resource center with volunteer support.
Southeastern Minnesota
Headwaters responded to the flooding in Southern Minnesota in August 2007. Within 24 hours of the disaster we mobilized a team of experienced relief workers to assist Rushford residents who had limited help available in the cleanup of flooded homes. Headwaters followed up with three additional teams during the first few weeks of the flooding. Additionally, Headwaters assisted in the coordination of rebuilding efforts by connecting its own building and construction volunteers with construction projects led by other organizations.
In September, 2008, work crews went again to Rushford and Winona to help complete some rebuilding in a follow-up to the 2007 flood relief efforts.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
After the Cedar River rose to flood Cedar Rapids, Iowa in mid-June, 2008, Headwaters brought its clean-up expertise to bear in that community. Volunteer teams were on-site a few day each week over a five week period to assist families who needed clean-up and gutting assistance.
River of Hope Mental Health Resource Center
The River of Hope Mental Health Resource Center offers free walk-in mental health support to the people of the Ninth Ward through education, counseling and referral services. Our community partners include the New Salem Baptist Church and faculty and students of Tulane University Medical School. The program design, which includes outreach both through education and access services, is designed to serve those who might not otherwise be served. The River of Hope project accepts that no one type of service will be the best for everyone affected. Consequently, the project’s activities include identifying the necessary and essential services for each person through effectively screening, building awareness, advocating, supporting, and accompanying when necessary. Since January 2009, our River of Hope Mental Health Resource Center staff and volunteers have involved the local community through monthly therapeutic drumming circles, health and wellness fairs, stress management groups and art therapy groups for children.
Headwaters' focus is on assisting families and individuals who have few resources to fall back on when disaster strikes. We work with community leaders to identify those most in need of our services and coordinate our efforts with other relief and social service agencies. The extent of our involvement is dependent upon the ongoing need for our services. Most of our work involves site clean-up and damage removal. However, Headwaters provides rebuilding assistance when called upon and always provides on-site emotional support for victims. See the links in the left hand column of this page for Initiative stories.
