September 11th, 2007

Peace. On this day six years ago, I woke up to interview Ralph Reynolds of RP55 fame about designs for a denim round-up I'd been assigned to write. Before the sun peaked over downtown LA, he dialed me to warn that the World Trade Centers had crumbled to the ground. I turned on the TV and watched until my eyes hurt.

The sky was falling. And we feared it might fall in every major city. There was no interview. Ralph ended the call with a distracted "Happy Birthday, Katina" - this was the day that I turned 27.

With the exception of August 29, 2005 -- the day Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast -- no day has been more significant since. For me and many of my artist friends who are connected to Manhattan it renewed our commitment to birthing art that inspires social change. I had the good fortune of being able to re-enroll in grad school (since most of my fashion work was indefinitely on hold). I retreated to an artist residency in Florida with Saul Williams, Carrie Mae Weems, DJ Spooky, Alan Berliner and a collective of international media makers and performance artists who taught me to test the boundaries of art as public intervention.

Today, I turn 33. If you are into numerology, you know this is my Christ-like year - a year of sincere devotion to my principles. For my 33rd year, I am promising myself the type of creative freedom and boundless joy known mostly to suburban teens on summer break. My mother, my greatest fan, has promised that amazing things will happen for me at the beginning of 2008 - others have foretold the same. And I believe it all one hundred, one thousand percent.

Two weeks ago, I was in New Orleans to mark the 2-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. When Katrina first hit, I was in Atlanta and once again found myself watching TV until my eyes hurt. Day in and day out of rapidly deteriorating living conditions and not enough people to help - I was stunned into action. I'm not from the Gulf Coast, never lived there. Don't have any family there. But as someone who is strongly rooted in my Spencer, Oklahoma stomping grounds and all the life-affirming ways that long, hot summers on my great grandmother's farm shaped me and even saved me from my gnawing teenage angst, I have tremendous compassion for people who can never return home.

In my family, I am the griot - the keeper of photos, videos, birthdays, traditions and customs. When I think of all of our keepsakes washed away, or when I think of the home that housed everyone I've ever loved in a state of prolonged and unnecessary neglect, it rattles my bones.

For my 33rd year, I am committed to rallying 5,000 volunteers to rebuild in the Gulf Coast. I am doing so through New Orleans: A Labor of Love, a grass-roots, web-based, public awareness campaign that I designed for this specific purpose. Awareness about the Gulf Coast's ongoing need for volunteers is being created through campus/church/community screenings of my documentary New Orleans: A Labor of Love, which follows 18 college student volunteers during their recent trip to work in the city. And our website www.nolaboroflove.com serves as a user-supported clearinghouse where interested volunteers can connect with assignments, tips and resources.

Please check out our trailer at www.nolaboroflove.com.

A year ago, I didn't know that I had this to do. And even once I knew, I tried to negotiate with God - it's a tremendous amount of work and, young though I am, some days I get tired of running. But this is my journey, an assigned opportunity to fully realize my purpose. Now that I've surrendered, everything is falling into place. We've received great coverage from NPR's News and Notes with Farai Chideya, BlackEnterprise.com, the Yolanda Adams show, the Warren Ballentine Show, BlackAmericaWeb, the Black Collegian, etc. And all types of material resources have been offered.

But we need money to fund this vision. Ducats. Coins. Fudiciary. Dinero, people, dinero -- this is where you come in.

Today, in lieu of flowers and gifts (which I know you were planning to send), I'd really appreciate it if you'd make a tax-deductible donation of $100 (or any other amount from $10-$10,000): https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/MakeDonation.aspx?ORGID2=330767921&PcaItemId=14353.

It's been a long road. After 33 years, I have finally come into alignment as a lover, student and connoisseur of the human fabric. A storyteller, filmmaker, photographer, writer, graphic designer, activist, educator. And whatever else God asks me to do. I'll do it to the "nth" power, with your support. It only gets better from here. Because it has to and because we're here together to make a lasting difference.

I really appreciate your presence in my life.

Much love,
Katina v3.3 aka "a work in progress"
https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/MakeDonation.aspx?ORGID2=330767921&PcaItemId=14353

Katina Parker works as a visual artist in Los Angeles, where her body of work encompasses television and film writing/directing/producing; graphic/web design; photography; and mixed media installations. Previous clients include Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, Saul Williams and Cody ChesnuTT.

Currently, Katina is in post production for New Orleans: A Labor of Love, a public awareness campaign to get 5,000 student volunteers to rebuild the city during 2008: www.nolaboroflove.com.

This summer, Katina's documentary Peace Process won Best Documentary, Honorable Mention at the 11th Annual Urbanworld VIBE Film Festival. The anti-gang violence project follows 17-year old poet Jabril Muhammad while he interviews people who have been affected by gang violence to decide whether he really wants to join a gang. Interviews include Stan Tookie Williams, Saul Williams, Aceyalone, Medusa and Sugafree. To view the trailer visit: www.myspace.com/peaceprocess.

Earlier this year, Katina's short Radimi: Who Stole the Dream, debuted on BETJ. The film features Mehcad Brooks, formerly of Desperate Housewives, and tells the story of a college-bound teenage couple's fight to stay together for the sake of their 2-year old daughter.

Other projects include a coffee table photo essay book on homelessnesss and another on the Million Man/Woman/Youth/ Family Marches.

Katina received her M.F.A. from the University of Southern California and her B.A. from Wake Forest University. She is a native of Oklahoma City and grew up in Wilmington, Delaware.