Since Sean Penn Dirty Hands Caravan landed in New Orleans on the last weekend of Jazz Fest, folks around the world had been trying to find out where they were and how and what they were doing. I figured the Hands had been too busy to write.

Determined not to let this mystery stump me, I did an exhaustive search online, and even by phone, calling campgrounds (assuming the group was still going from camp to camp). I even drove around as Jazz Fest was ending, winding my way through heavy post-Jazz Fest traffic in a futile search for bio-diesel buses with hippie-era paint jobs, and hundreds of young activists.

With no word from the Caravan, was there a possibility they got stopped on the highway by some overzealous anti-activist cops, who had refused them entry into this war zone, and the Dirty Hands mission may have been aborted?

Ironically and miraculously, I found them a week later – by going to church – because that’s where the Dirty Hands were arriving as I was on my wild drive through the wild after-Jazz Fest traffic the Sunday before.

Just as I thought, these Hands have been busy. They’ve been doing good works on a church-owned duplex on Washington Avenue in New Orleans’ Central City, and another building nearby on S. Saratoga St. – plastering, painting, cementing, laying tiles, and installing cabinets.

And, these “unofficial” Dirty Hands – renegades from Sean Penn’s army – really do seem to be a truly exceptional group that has a united, genuine, passionate comittment to their objectives. Steve said, “We don’t hear anything about (New Orleans rebuilding) on the news in California. We didn’t know there was so much that had to be done.”

Individually, the goals are as diverse and unique as the personalities will allow. For example, Sarah would like to stay and eventually open a montessori school for pre-schoolers in New Orleans. She got tired of “teaching celebrity kids” in California and wants to teach in a more down-to-earth setting here.

Then there is Adrienne, a 20 year-old who’d like to open some type of recycling operation to help clean the city’s environment of aluminum, plastics, and other trash, and there is Zach, also 20, who wants to start a sports program for local kids and young adults. So does Dean.

Texas Tony and the twelve were slated to leave last weekend, to be replaced by a second relief group from the Caravan, but those plans began to change last week. And those I talked to were in no hurry to end their two week stay, even a little disappointed that they may have to leave. Several are considering making permanent homes in this still-charming ravaged city.

Much of what they envision and what they want to accomplish is relying on the goodwill of actor Sean Penn or others, such as agencies and organizations willing to help reach goals of getting homes, offices, and the bureacracy of Louisiana.

Yet, the small army has made strides, putting their limited funds together to get a rental near the church.

The latest updates can be found on the group’s blog at www.dirtyhandscaravan.blogspot.com/