Hello New Orleans!

New Orleans, Louisiana

NOLA 2015 has finally arrived! It seems like I’ve been waiting forever to go to New Orleans, Louisiana with my freshmen Bonner family to help rebuild homes affected by Hurricane Katrina. Hurricane Katrina was the largest and 3rd strongest hurricane ever recorded to make landfall in the US. An estimated 80% of New Orleans was under water, up to 20 ft deep in places. Hurricane Katrina cause $81 billion in property damages, but it is estimated that the total economic impact in Louisiana and Mississippi may exceed $150 billion, earning the title of costliest hurricane ever in US history. For those of you who don’t know, Bonner is a program at The College of New Jersey and other schools responsible for mobilizing faculty, students and staff to help sustain and advance the communities in which we live. We address issues such as poverty, homelessness, hunger, education, environmental needs, juvenile justice, health, immigration and more. As a part of Bonner, the freshmen travel to New Orleans, working with United Saints Recovery Project and the St. Bernard Project, both nonprofit organizations dedicated to assisting communities that have suffered from natural disasters. I am very nervous about the work I will be doing in New Orleans. Sometimes, I wonder if the work that I do really has an impact, even at my regular sites, TEACH, where I tutor GED science and computer classes and ASA, where I tutor elementary school students. I try to make what I do as significant as possible by being the best tutor and team member I can be. I hope I do leave a lasting impression in New Orleans. I hope to create bonds that I will never forget with the homeowners, residents and my Bonner family. I also hope to have a meaningful service experience while working to make sure that I leave New Orleans a little better than when I came. Here’s to having a worthwhile trip! Feel free to email me at flowerjas96@gmail.com if you have any questions about my service trip.

Jasmine Miller