The True Champions of New Orleans

BY JOHNICE WOODS

If you have been out of the loop of life since Sunday, you missed a spectacular win by the New Orleans Saints in Super Bowl XLIV (44). As I watched thousands of fans descend upon the famous Bourbon Street in New Orleans, I was reminded of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Millions of federal and nonprofit funds have been poured into New Orleans for the development of the city’s infrastructure in its most impoverished neighborhoods.

A former New Orleans Saints player named Danny Wuerffel is a true champion and MVP of New Orleans. After Danny retired from the NFL, he began his “heart” work in New Orleans at Desire Street Ministries (DSM) as its Executive Director. DSM’s mission is to transform impoverished neighborhoods through spiritual and community development. Some of DSM’s current initiatives include Desire Street Academy (a school for at risk junior and senior African-American males), St. Roch Community Church (a multi-cultural church that provides outreach to the St. Roch and St. Claude neighborhoods), and CDC 58:12 (a partnership between DSM and residents of the Christian community that focuses on restoring and redeveloping affordable housing for low to moderate income families in the Ninth Ward area). Hmmm…DSM sounds like two familiar local nonprofits, Central Dallas Ministries and Central Dallas CDC, perhaps?

I encourage you to read about Desire Street Ministries in New Orleans. While you celebrate with the newly crowned Super Bowl champions you will be inspired by the awesome work of DSM. For more information on DSM, click on the following link:

http://www.desirestreet.org