I have just the inkling of an idea to go to New Orleans over Spring Break to gut (or build) houses, or to help out in other ways. Students, perhaps, could even go along as part of an “alternative spring break.”
Does anyone have any advice or experience regarding such things?
A pal of mine here in SoCal took a bunch of his students to southwestern Louisiana over last spring break to help rebuild there.
http://www.csulb.edu/~d49er/archives/2006/spring/news/v12n104-students.shtml
Drop me a line if you’d like me to get you in touch with him…
We always send groups of students to places like that (although closer to home) through Habitat for Humanity.
Thanks, KF!
Jo(e), my inclination is to look first into what Habitat is doing in NOLA, since I have some experience working with them. Thanks for the suggestion.
george, a similar project was organized last spring break (2006) at university of washington. i tried to search through the student newspaper but couldn’t find it. if you are super interested, i believe i know one of the students who did it – say the word and i’ll introduce you to him via email.
Cool. Thanks, David!
Center for Poverty and Work at UNC (the one founded and chaired by John Edwards) sent several groups of students to NoLa over the past few months. I am sure they will keep doing it.
Excellent suggestion, Coturnix. Thanks!