Leaders of the National Bar Association, the nation's oldest legal bar association for black lawyers, will gather in Holy Cross today to celebrate a partnership that resulted in the rebuilding of three homes badly damaged during Hurricane Katrina.

The legal organization, which is holding a conference in New Orleans this week, raised $106,000 for home-rebuilding needs and relied on the nonprofit Rebuilding Together New Orleans to carry out the work.

Today's gathering will be at 3:30 p.m. at one of the rebuilt homes, at 937 Lizardi St. in Holy Cross.  The home is owned by Sidney Davis, a Holy Cross native and retired merchant mariner.

The initiative also brought about the restoration of a second home in Holy Cross and one in the Broadmoor neighborhood.

State Sen. Cheryl Gray, D-New Orleans, a member of the legal organization, helped persuade its leaders to hold their conference in New Orleans.  More than 300 people are attending the meeting, leaders said.