Because I won my Olympic gold medal in Nagano, Japan in 1998, the country has always held a powerful and touching place in my heart. Like many, I was really shaken by the scary sights of the tsunami that hit Japan on March 11, 2011. In the wake of this horrific disaster, I am reminded of how we were struck by similar heartache and fears not so many years ago here in the United States after Hurricane Katrina. Amidst the despair and disbelief rose some real heroes whose true concern and efforts gave us all hope that from the desolation, New Orleans would be reborn. I wanted to share a story today of one of those very heroes in the hopes it ignites more supporters to champion the work still needed to be done in Japan and for future natural disasters.
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Branford Marsalis
Teamwork
(Story from When Turtles Fly: Secrets of Successful People Who Know How to Stick Their Necks Out)
I can still remember sitting on my front stoop when I was young, listening to the local musicians of New Orleans. They were part of a real community, and supported each other like no group of artists I’ve ever encountered elsewhere.
So I was shocked when I moved to New York City and saw firsthand the competitive nature of the “real world.” The Big Apple made me realize how unique New Orleans truly was. Growing up, you would hear one musician finish his gig and then encourage the crowd, “You have to go across the street to take in this other guy’s set because he’s even better than me.”
The New Orleans I knew changed forever on August 29, 2005, as the world witnessed. The music stopped; there were no more musicians in the streets, and no crowds tapping their feet to the rhythms. A destructive presence changed it all, and her name was Hurricane Katrina.
I remember getting the call from my parents that fateful day. They were safely on their way to Baton Rouge, but they warned me of the devastation that was left behind. Despite these warnings, nothing prepared me for what I saw unfold on the following morning’s news. Katrina had swallowed up our New Orleans and nearly half the population in her wake. She was merciless to the people who had worked so hard for generations to establish their families, homes, businesses and communities.
The devastation revealed to me how people can initially shut down in response to horrific acts. I myself felt utterly helpless, and could not figure out how to react. My manager called to tell me there were tons of press requests for comments, but I turned them all down. I did not wish to be a cheerleader or a finger-pointer, and I wanted—needed—to do something more than run off at the mouth.
My friend and fellow New Orleans native, Harry Connick, Jr., was heading home to see if there was anything he could do to help, and asked if I would like to join him. After talking our way into the city past various checkpoints, and going by our families’ houses, we rowed/drove around, trying to help anyone we could find. Viewing the implausible destruction, I was even more determined to help.
After our New Orleans visit, Harry and I drove to Houston, to try to comfort the large number of Katrina evacuees stuck in the Astrodome there. On our journey, we started talking about what we could do to make a difference. We decided to try to help the musicians. Harry’s work with Habitat for Humanity, plus my concern about relying on the local bureaucracy, led us to agree that we should focus on rebuilding wards that the government would treat as low priorities.
With New Orleans area Habitat for Humanity on board, we put plans in motion to build a Musicians’ Village in the Upper Ninth Ward. For many New Orleans musicians, their lifestyle and immediate earning potential did not allow them to even consider home ownership. We wanted to make sure they were given the opportunity to return to New Orleans and take advantage of the musicians’ network, just as we had in our years as aspiring musicians. Our project began in March 2006 on a large, empty, desolate lot, and rapidly gained momentum. On that spot we now have a thriving community of musicians and other families.
In the summer of 2009, ground was broken for the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music. Thanks to tens of thousands of volunteers from all over the world, and thousands of donations large and small, Musicians’ Village is a reality. (Check us out at www.nolamusiciansvillage.org.) If we have played some small part in helping a handful of musicians find a home, then we have done our part to redress a huge wrong.
People thank me every day for the village, but I really just helped to start the ball rolling. So many folks responded to our pleas with kindness and concern, people with no caveats or hidden agendas. Throughout the process, the true inspiration for me has been the multitudes who donated time and money to help people they’d never met. Universities and corporate entities sent students and workers to put in time. Individuals gave up vacations to come build homes. Countless others donated lumber, building materials and other essential items that helped make the Musicians’ Village a reality. In an era of cynicism, I am delighted to be associated with groups and individuals who have stuck their necks out for those in need.
Every time I return to New Orleans, I am moved by the vast undertaking that has made our dream a reality. I am often left speechless by what Americans can do when we pull together, and I draw inspiration from the great example of humanity that is out there. In many ways these efforts make me feel quite small. They also make me feel connected to a community that, working together, can move mountains…or rebuild a legacy. The musical legacy that has made me who I am.
********** Motivational Weight Management Tip **********
My experience of working with the Biggest Loser contestants and Symtrimics has inspired me to share motivational diet, health, and wellness tips. These tools have been driven from actual advice communicated with contestants. This week's tip: Today I’ll leave you with a simple quote—I know you’ll apply it appropriately: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” ~Winston Churchill
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Nikki Stone won Olympic gold after she overcame a near career-ending spinal injury to win America’s first gold medal in the sport of Aerial Skiing. She was honored with the task of helping train the current Olympians on overcoming distractions, dealing with pressures, and harnessing confidence going into the Vancouver Olympics. And most recently, she was asked to be the motivational expert for a new Biggest Loser regional program.
Stone now works as a motivational speaker and recently authored the much-talked-about inspirational book When Turtles Fly: Secrets of Successful People Who Know How to Stick Their Necks Out (with contributors Lindsey Vonn, Shaun White, Tommy Hilfiger, and more). For more information, please visit www.WhenTurtlesFly.com and www.NikkiStone.com.