”This New Orleans trip was an amazing experience.’ It was very eye’ opening to see how devastated New Orleans still is especially in the’ Lower Ninth Ward even three years later.’ It helped emphasize that small actions can go a long way, as we had complete strangers approaching us’ on the streets thanking us for what we were doing.’
-Mary Catherine Taylor ’11
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‘If this trip doesn’t give Fairfield students some street-cred for involvement, participation and dedication, I don’t know what will. Self-motivated students are what maximizing the student-body potential is all about. The GCI’s grass roots and self-determination is what we need more of in all organizations. Students mobilizing themselves under whatever cause is what will make our campus a genuinely richer community.’
‘ -Galen Vinter ’09
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‘This trip with Fairfield was my fourth trip to New Orleans and each trip is so different. The fact that these people have been pushed out of their homes, separated from their families and forgotten is all the more reason to continue our efforts to rebuild one of the greatest cities our nation has ever seen.’ Each of us has the tools to help the people of New Orleans rebuild and in turn, we will each have a more whole sense of self.’ New Orleans is a part of me now and it will continue to be a part of my life and my personal mission for as long as I am able to work there.’
-Alex Roem ’10
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Kristen McManus ’09 is a member of GCI and participated on the trip to New Orleans.
On the last night of the trip that 38 Fairfield kids took to help rebuild New Orleans, everyone said their own short piece about what they took out of the experience. Among the differences emerged the common thread of disbelief at the state of the city and the need to urge others to help.’ The city looks as if Katrina happened recently – not three years ago.
The Lower Ninth Ward, the community most destroyed by the storm and closest to the levees still looks like a ghost town. Newly built or renovated houses pop up sporadically, and Brad Pitt’s sustainable housing projects stand impressive amongst the ruin.
The contrast among the different settlements is disheartening. Eerie seems most appropriate to describe the multitude of house foundations that stand alone and the ruined houses bearing spray painted messages like ‘two found dead in garage.’
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, those responsible for rebuilding the levees, have only rebuilt them to pre-Katrina levels.’ Joel K. Bourne, a Senior Editor at National Geographic, wrote in a 2007 article that ‘The system is actually riddled with flaws, and a storm even weaker than Katrina could breach the levees if it hit this year, say leading experts who have investigated the system.’
It seems that the city’s future depends on non-profit sector companies and volunteers. Without them, New Orleans would be forgotten.
‘ A question that I cannot seem to justify, however, is why the city would rebuild an area likely to be washed out again.’ Or, why would the Army Corps only build the levees to pre-storm standards? Why rebuild imperfections when they initially served as a city’s downfall? ‘
Hope blooms from the efforts of humans. The only way to restore hope to a city washed away is to bring it back again, yet better and stronger than before.’ People need to go and see, and then act on that experience.
As the economy continues to dwindle and college graduates begin to examine every opportunity available, more are turning to a year of service.’ AmeriCorps needs volunteers in New Orleans, and Fairfield students should take a look at the multitude of job openings there.
A year spent rebuilding homes while absorbing the colorful jazz, artist and Bourbon Street culture could help shape the life of a family who lost their home passed down from generations ago.
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