May 27, 2009
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Katrina Evacuee
Re-grows Roots
Page A3
It pays to be green.
Earns degree and starts a new job
by J ake T homas
T he P ortland O bserver
Celeste Calvin was attending
school in New Orleans before
her life was rearranged by Hur­
ricane Katrina nearly four years
ago.
After being displaced by the
storm and flood, the Portland
native accepted a scholarship
at Concordia U niversity that
would send her back home.
She left behind scores o f
friends. She left behind a seri­
ous boyfriend. She left behind
a church. She left behind a life.
But after making it through
the ordeal, she has a degree and
steady work at the Boys and
Girls Club of Portland, and she
wouldn’t change anything.
She’s grateful to Concordia
for the scholarship and books
they provided. She’s grateful to
the people who donated clothes
to replace the entire wardrobe
she lost in the disaster. She’s
also grateful for the new friend­
ships formed and the new job.
Calvin left Portland for New
O rleans to study prem ed at
Xavier University. Her family’s
deep roots in the South drew
her there. She liked seeing the
regionally characteristic man­
ners, humility, and hospitality
on visits to see family there.
She remembers her grandpar­
ents telling her stories about liv­
ing in the South.
“To me that was a fantasy,
but for them it was a reality,”
says Calvin. “I always wanted
to go back and see that because
th a t’s what made them who
they were, and who they are is
who I am.”
Calvin worked two jobs while
in New Orleans. She had a car
and her own apartm ent, and
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P hoto by J ake T homas /T he P ortland O bserver
Celeste Calvin stands outside Rosa Parks School in New
Columbia where she is employed at the Boys and Girls Club.
was on the cusp of graduating.
The night before the storm
she was working the graveyard
shift as an auditor at the Hilton
Hotel. Calvin had experienced
hurricanes before, and used
them as an opportunity to visit
family in the region, but when
she heard about this storm on
the news at 2 a.m. she knew this
was different.
When Calvin’s shift ended at
6 a.m. she went to her sister’s
house and they quickly left with
her nephew, and brother-in-law
so quickly she didn't even have
time to pack any of her belong­
ings as the city was evacuated.
continued
y f
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on page A10
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