Open Architecture Network

Clean-up por vida!

So here's what we've schemed (pre-apology for the inevitable typos).......

The clean-up effort will be a collaboration between S.O.S., Rebuild -
AFH San Diego, and Architecture for Humanity Los Angeles. As the research team
has importantly noted, the clients needing our services will not be
from the 'flush' sector, but rather the uninsured or feebly insured.
They will most likely be the one's left in the wake of the rebuilding,
needing some service and voice. Our clean-up efforts will follow this
idea, hopefully taking direction from the Red Cross, or local
communities. Through these pathways we will hopefully find those who
need volunteer clean-up most.

Meanwhile......

We are looking to start the clean-up program on Nov. 17th at the home
of person acquainted with Nathan, who had there structure
burned to the ground. It is the hope that after we test drive our
ideas at this first clean-up, we will be better equipped to continue
on with following clean-ups, and that people will begin to voice their
needs to us.

Here are the tasks our sub-committee has developed for this first site
clean-up:

+Business plan (Mike P to draft) - The business plan will be used as a
marketing device with which to approach local equipment renters or
material suppliers for donation of materials or services. This task
will also include searching out material reclamation services,
material providers, volunteer labor and equipment sponsors.

+Client research/site research (Kristy/Young to coordinate) - Seeking
partnerships with organizations (e.g. Red Cross) who may already have
similar programs in place...if not then we start the program that
accomplishes the goals we think are most appropriate. This task will
also include approaching local communities and hopefully find out when
city hall or neighborhood meetings occur.

+Kick-off event organization (Nate to coordinate) - Develop a bill a
materials, services, equipment, safety gear and labor needed to make
the first cleanup happen. Also develop the agenda and schedule for
that day (i.e. when do we start...when's lunch....what's the
procedure....plan of attack....etc.)

+Procedures/Compliance - (Young...you want this one?) We will be doing
research into proper material and waste handling procedures to ensure
we are complying with current proper practices.

Keep up the great work groups..... Keep up the communications.

peace love and lovely watermelon

m i k e p

AfH . los angeles

Dear Rebuilder's,

We will be hosting a meeting this coming Sunday at Gelato Vera Caffe, 11 a.m. Please review our website for further information and details, www.afhsd-rebuild.org.

We have been in direct contact with the offices in San Francisco and have been communicating back and forth with Cameron Sinclair and Kate Stohr. Cameron is currently in Zurich, but will be meeting up with funders on Monday in hopes of assisting us with Rebuilding efforts. Kate is currently working on the funding aspect and has been in touch various organizations, vendors and firms who wish to participate and donate as well.

I would like to encourage and invite you all to attend.

There has been such a great response from various individuals in the local and global community, including numerous volunteers who want to come to San Diego and spend x amount time in the Rebuilding efforts, from San Francisco to New York to Vancouver and New Castle. What I want to make sure is that we have enough people to coordinate our project task teams and from there you can choose which team you wish to be a part of.

If you have the time and commitment to oversee these tasks and would like to get further involved, we are in need of Task Team Coordinators. Please contact me directly at sandra@afhsd-rebuild.org , with subject line stating Task Team Coordinator.

I would also like to mention that a certain percentage of the proceeds for our fundraiser event on December 1st, for Rebuild:Kenya will be put aside for our rebuilding efforts in this wild fire response. So please continue to spread the word, we are still looking for more artist who would like to participate by donating one or more pieces of artwork that can be used to raise project funds for our Rebuild efforts.

I look forward to seeing you all, as part of the Rebuild community, we have an important job to oversee. Please bring maps of San Diego, laptops to do internet searches, notebooks, pencils, pens and paper and anything else you might find useful for this round table discussion.

See you Sunday and thank you all for your participation, looking forward to sharing our ideas.

Sandra Plaza on behalf of Rebuild

www.afhsd-rebuild.org

From Architecture for Humanity San Diego Rebuild:

October 23, 2007

Dear Rebuilder’s

Looks like we’ll have a bit more work to do. The fires that has ravaged through our counties has been quite unpredictable and for those of you who have been directly affected, or know of others who have been affected, we would like to extend our sincere apologies for your loss.

As voluntary architects and designers we have the opportunity to use your our skills and assets to come together and help Rebuild San Diego. If any of you are interested in seeking out volunteer opportunities, you can get in contact with us by sending an email to rebuildsandiego@gmail.com. From there, we will round up folks, set up a meeting and see what we can do, I’m sure ideas and stories will be coming from all angles. If you would like to get involved, please contact us.

There many ways you can contribute as an individual. I have attached imagery from visiting Qualcomn Stadium last night. Volunteer opportunities for Qualcomn can be found near Gate A. Everyone seemed in good spirits, live music, a lot of food, blankets, tents and more, but as the days pass by there will be a greater need volunteers and donations.

Approximately 400 senior citizens from the ages of 70-90 years old have been evacuated and sent to San Diego High, 1402 Park Blvd, downtown SD. They are seeking anything and everything, from food, to toiletry, to bedding. We are on our way right now.

If you live near the Del Mar area, would like to volunteer you can contact 858-792-5245 and they will give further instructions. To donate feed/hay for horses, you can also contact 858-509-5245.

Any information you guys would like pass along, please feel free to get in contact with us directly. Check the Overview for imagery coming from Qualcomm. Even had the opportunity to see Governor Schwarzenegger. Hope fully we can come together, rebuild what has been lost, and bring back the good spirits that continues to strive upon our San Diego community.

Cheers,

Rebuild San Diego

October 24, 2007:

As the blazes hopefully die out by the week’s end, we will continue to outline our response to this week's fires.

The City of Los Angeles has diverted the transitional housing efforts to the Los Angeles chapter of the American Red Cross, which have shelters open to provide food, shelter and emotional support to individuals and their families. Nearly 10,000 meals and snacks have been served to evacuees, as well as to emergency response personnel. More than 100 Red Cross personnel are staffing the shelters and providing mobile canteen feeding. We are working with our local contacts at the Red Cross to answer the following questions:

- Are there any groups of people who do not have adequate temporary housing right now? If so, where can we find shelter for them?

- Where are the evacuated being temporarily housed? What are the conditions? How long do they anticipate being there?

- How can we make this transitional housing any more humane/livable?

This last question is key, as with the weather still not being cooperative (the infamous Santa Ana winds are forecasted to lose their strength at tomorrow), it is unclear how long those evacuated from their homes will be in the local shelters and high school gyms. It is important that they are treated respectfully and efforts continue through the next few weeks to get them back to their normal lives. Looking to partnerships with suppliers like Home Depot and local builders, we hope to act as a catalyst for the rebuilding efforts.

Also looking ahead, we are currently working with students and faculty from Sci-Arc, to organize a design charette with the community and emergency relief agencies to devise plans and strategies for future potential events of this scale. The products of the program will include – but are not limited to – temporary, city-sponsored temporary housing strategies, disaster response plan evaluation, discussions on how to enhance disaster response and empower those evacuated, etc.

AFH-LA is also coordinating with the San Diego chapter to mount a regional-wide response on behalf of Architecture for Humanity. We hope to continue the partnership, extending our manpower and aid to them, as well as sharing information in regards to the local municipalities’ relief efforts.

We continue to try and squeeze information from local authorities. Luckily, as far as we can tell, transitional housing conditions here in LA are by no means post-Katrina-like. Yet, the Los Angeles chapter continues to dig, in order to be certain that those evacuated are being adequately housed and served. As the local Fire Departments continue to fight the blazes, we are waiting to assess how great the damage will be when the fires rescind, and look forward to helping the communities rebuild.

Sincerely,

AfH Los Angeles