Many teens in New Orleans lost more than their homes when Hurricane Katrina hit nearly six years. Entire neighborhoods were wiped out, taking friends and businesses and gardens and the food supply with them. That’s still the case in in many poorer sections of the city, where former friends are a distant memory, entire blocks remain vacant, businesses are shuttered and fresh food is a faraway affair. The same held for schools until one community activist, Nat Turner, transformed an empty grocery store into Our School at Blair Grocery, a living, breathing learning center.

The crew at Our School at Blair Grocery sets off for work in the garden. (Photo by ARI LEVAUX, The Atlantic)