New Orleans (NOLA) Community Service Trip
January 2008 This past winter, nine JHSPH students traveled on a community service trip to New Orleans. The students worked with ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now), Habitat for Humanity, and the New Orleans Department of Health, Office of Health Policy, Division of HIV/AIDS. The group invested over 500 hours, helping to restore New Orleans by assisting ACORN with gutting homes in low income communities and building homes with Habitat for Humanity. 
The students also applied their public health skills by assisting New Orleans Department of Health, Office Health Policy, Division of HIV/AIDS in assessing the quality of health care given to its current and returning patients. The group abstracted data from patient's charts that will be used by the agency to apply for federal Ryan White funding. 
This year's NOLA group was inspired by the initial NOLA group who traveled to New Orleans in the immediate wake of Hurricane Katrina (early 2007) to rebuild homes and to build a relationship between JHSPH and the New Orleans community. The group of students initiated partnerships with ACORN and the RALLY Foundation (Recovery Act Learning Laboratory). From building and repainting homes to dancing and singing in in the festive events, the students were welcomed and embraced by the community. 
The trip was an eye-opening and rewarding experience and gave students the chance to immerse themselves in a real time disaster situation and put their classroom knowledge to the test in the real world.
More than two years after Hurricane Katrina, bright lights and the sounds of music pervade the streets, but the devastation and pain remains a strong undercurrent, especially in low-income communities. The city still desperately needs the help of volunteers to rebuild New Orlean's fascinating culture, history, and unified community atmosphere. We encourage next year's cohort to volunteer and help make a difference in NOLA.
Learn more about the Original 2007 Trip: S.W.E.E.T. Seminar Presentation: Powerpoint Presentation about 2007 Trip Description of the 2007 NOLA Trip online: 2007 New Orleans Trip
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