<p>I was really ignorant about the term NOCCA, never having seen it before this board, and Katrina. It sounds like the community is very displaced now. Hopefully, like seeds of wildflowers carried on the wind, these young performers will spread their talents across the country, and make a good new start.
Best of luck to all of you. Noccamom, and Noccadad I was very touched by your stories- and now I enjoy reading good news from you.</p>
<p>Diana</p>
<p>NOCCAMom - I am from NO, also, and although I moved away several years ago (Chicago area), much of my family is still there, so we're there several times a year. The last trip pre-Katrina, we were out at the lakefront at Williams Blvd. (near the Ponchartrain Center) and ran into a bunch of NOCCA kids. They were the kindest, most respectful group of theatre kids, with the usual performing arts level of energy!</p>
<p>When you guys first created this thread, I was in a daze trying to help my parents get out of a very similar financial and logistics nightmare. They lost the entire first floor of their Kenner home. My brother, his wife and two toddlers had a one-story in Lakeview... need I say more? </p>
<p>My parents are back in theirs, after much hard work by family and generous friends, but my brother's family is in an apartment uptown until they can iron out all of the rebuilding issues. They are fine financially, though -- they just have no home and have lost everything down to baby photos of their children and old portraits of sister-in-law's dad who passed away a few months ago. It's awful, but they're strong and are gradually rebuilding their lives.</p>
<p>Anyway, I just wanted to say I've followed this thread closely, and as a fellow New Orleans native, my heart is warmed at the stories here and the people like Mary Anna who have made them happen. God bless you and your family. Good luck to your daughter -- I can't wait to hear the good news!</p>
<p>gail</p>
<p>There are 5 NOCCA students at the North Carolina School of the Arts High School program who were adopted by the school after the hurricane- They are attending tuition free ! 3 of the students are in the HS drama program with my son- They seem like great kids!</p>
<p>Jbrown - I know the kids that are with you guys. They love being there and are very appreciative of the welcome. Thanks from all NOCCA families!</p>
<p>Edmondsg - </p>
<p>I am so sorry to hear about your family. My D & S's father lived in Lakeview and lost everything including all of the cards and pics that they have given him over the years. We are working to put together some new scrapbooks for him from the pics that the rest of the family has. This has been particularly hard for the kids to see a place where they spent half of their childhood totally destroyed. I am glad that your encounter with the NOCCA kids was a good one!! They are great kids and I know will bring light to every place that they land.</p>
<p>I Hope The New Orleans Family Is Well Since One Year Has Passed. Our Hearts And Prayers Go Out To Them</p>