NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA

Dates:  January 8-16, 2010 (includes a one-day retreat prior to departure) and February 27 - March 6, 2010

Cost:  $650 - Participants will need additional spending money for leisure activities.

Immersion Site:
New Orleans, founded by France in 1718, is one of the oldest cities in the United States.  The largest city in Louisiana, it straddles the mouth of the Mississippi River and is a major US port.  It is well known for its multicultural and multilingual heritage, cuisine, architecture, music, and its annual Mardi Gras celebration. The city is often referred to as the birthplace of jazz music and the "most unique" city in America.

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina made landfall in New Orleans killing over 1600 people and causing extensive damage as well as levee breaches which submerged nearly 80% of the city. Hurricane Katrina proved to be the costliest and most destructive hurricane in the history of the United States.

Three years later, at least 30% of the population has not returned to the city and 65,000 residences remain blighted.  There are many opinions about what should happen in New Orleans.  Some have suggested bulldozing entire neighborhoods and it is clear that certain sections of the city will never be rebuilt.  On the other hand, poor families were the ones hardest hit by the flooding and often these families had lived in the same neighborhood for generations.  The opinions of these less powerful community members must be heard and respected.

Community Partner & Service:
While in New Orleans, we will work with an organization called “Operation Helping Hands,” which is a ministry of Catholic Charities.  The mission of Operation Helping Hands is to serve poor, elderly, and disabled homeowners who are not able to fund or manage the reconstruction of their homes.  Helping Hands works with contractors, coordinates volunteers, and purchases materials in order to bring relief to the residents of New Orleans, one house at a time.

The work has evolved from the gutting of houses to rebuilding and refurbishing.  There is  much to be done including interior finish work, and a variety of exterior work including scraping, painting, yard cleanup, and other neighborhood beautification projects.  The work is not glamorous but it is necessary work which will help revive the neighborhoods and lift the spirits of the residents.

Accomodations:
We will be flying to New Orleans from the Akron/Canton Airport. Operation Helping Hands will be providing all of our food and shelter needs for the week.  You can expect our living quarters to be dormitory style with shared bathrooms and kitchen.  In addition to our basic needs being met, while in New Orleans, we will not miss the opportunity to sample the food and music that made the city famous.