 Sumter County resident Brad Vanlerbergae's stilts help him apply drywall mud to the harder-to-reach seams in EMB House No. 1. click to enlarge Sumter County Fact: Plains, Ga., will be one of two communities hosting the Jimmy Carter Work Project in 2000. 
More about the 1999 Easter Morning Build: Return to Tuesday's 1999 EMB Report So Far So Good: Blitz Right On Schedule Sixpence None the Richer Enriched by Serving 1999 EMB Homeowners More Updates: Monday | Wednesday Thursday | Friday 1998 Easter Morning Build |
JCWP 2000 Leaders 'Spy' on Local Blitz
AMERICUS, Georgia (March 30, 1999) -- Easter Morning Build volunteers Kevin Sullivan and Kelley Smith are lurking around the Habitat for Humanity subdivision to learn a few tricks of the trade when it comes to blitz building.
The two are staff members with Habitat for Humanity New York City, the affiliate that will co-host the Jimmy Carter Work Project 2000 next year. Sullivan will be JCWP's lead construction manager of the site, while Smith will serve as director of volunteers.
An estimated 1,000 volunteers will attend JCWP 2000, making it similar in size to the 1999 EMB. Sullivan and Smith hope to witness first hand how this week's blitz build deals with housing, transportation, food and other ins-and-outs of such a massive project.
"This [build] is a very tough act to follow," Sullivan said. "I'm really impressed with the organization and am here to figure out all the details of a blitz build."
By participating in the Easter Morning Build, the two have been able to meet HFH affiliate and HFHI staff, finally seeing faces of people they have been talking on the phone with for months, as well as cementing friendships.
"It all gives me a sense of teamwork by being able to work with affiliate, regional and international staffs," Smith said. "We are trying to create some synergies from EMB and to build upon them in New York ... we would love to see folks from here come and help us during that time in New York."
JCWP '99 in the Philippines closed just last week with record numbers of volunteers and homes built. Even so, reminded Sullivan, JCWP 2000 is "really just around the corner."
JCWP 2000 is scheduled for Sept. 11-27 in New York City and Plains, Ga.; it will be a joint celebration of sorts. The build in the Big Apple, the site of the first JCWP 16 years ago, will consist of 20 units, of which 10 will be new construction and 10 will be renovations. During that week, the 100,000th Habitat house will be built.
The following week in Plains, the 100,001st house will be constructed. That house will mark the elimination of substandard housing in Sumter County, Ga. "The two events go hand in hand," Sullivan said. "The connection to make is with Carter starting JCWP in New York and then ending with his hometown roots in Plains.
"I think if we really take on the 21st century push of HFH in New York City, it will reach a wide audience ... neighborhood by neighborhood, block by block -- eliminating substandard housing," said Sullivan.
Return to Tuesday's 1999 EMB Report
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