New Pediatric Clinic Opens in the Upper Ninth Ward of New Orleans
Four years post-hurricane Katrina, citizens of the Upper Ninth Ward communities now have full access to their very own pediatric clinic, Kids' First Pediatric Clinic, located at 3512 Louisa Street.
Desire Street Ministries/CDC58:12, Abundance Community Residents, Children's Hospital,and LSU Tiger Care Partnership has been working diligently to provide medical services for thousands of these citizens. The new clinic officially opened its doors on September 1, 2009. However, there was a ribbon- cutting ceremony on August 28th, followed by a 'Second-Line," a New Orleans' own dance celebration in the streets of the city. Keynote speakers like: Danny Wuerffel, executive director of DSM along with others, came to speak to citizens during their dedication dinner.
"Once the flood waters receded after Katrina, our ministry team returned to the Upper Ninth Ward to help rebuild. Initially, progress was slow as families and resources trickled back into the city. In the four years since Katrina, we've resumed high-impact programs, one by one," Wuerffel said. Some of those programs and services implemented are:
- Helping to gut over 600 flood-damaged homes, preparing properties for rebuilding
- Rebuilding and renovating nine flood damaged homes
- Providing financial literacy seminars for local families
- Serving over 150 local youth each year through after school and summer programs focused on education, recreation, and character development
- Resuming Desire Street Academy to graduate 8 local young men this year while pursuing charter school status for the 2010 school year