This report from NPR looks at the efforts of one educator to help rebuild communities in New Orleans by rebuilding the city's charter school system.
"Even though James Meza doesn't wear the uniform of a first responder, he is doing rescue work. Meza is saving the children of New Orleans from the miserable education system they had before Hurricane Katrina."
"Meza hopes that the presence of a solid school will jumpstart the recovery. That's the big picture. But walking around the school, Meza gets a smaller reward: The halls are full of the sound of children learning."
"A year-and-a-half ago, most of the homes in the middle-class Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans were vacant or obscured by piles of debris. Today, most of the trash is gone."
"But the people are still missing. It's the grim view that Meza sees on his way to work every day."
"Still, he feels his schools are clearly helping the surrounding neighborhoods."
FULL STORY: Educator's Charter Schools Help Revive New Orleans
Hard to Get to Class in Charter-Only New Orleans
In a district now comprised entirely of charter schools, many New Orleans children face hour-plus journeys. This makes for increased stress on low-income families and a potential rise in chronic absenteeism.
Slow Progress in East New Orleans
In this piece from Places, Deborah Gans offers a firsthand look at planning for recovery in the city's neglected East side.
Local Rebuilding Efforts Underpin New Orleans' Recovery
The recovery of New Orleans is happening in many small ways. One of them is the work of community groups to rebuild and re-inhabit damaged homes.
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