Bryan:

 

My impression of New Orleans was that it was really cool to see how enthusiastic Connie and Robin were with regards to the work they do in New Orleans. The organization exists solely to help others and it’s really great that they are so adamant to help make the world a better place.

 

While I was working on the house, I was glad to be able to help this other family that was so unfortunate. It almost didn’t even feel like work, but rather a duty to help others. And it was great knowing that the more we could do for them as far as demolishing the house, the cheaper their repairs would be and, the better off they’d be in general.

 

In this way, the work done today was definitely a healing process for the family, but also for those that were helping out today. There is definitely a sense that you’re improving your own self as well as that of those you’re helping when you do this type of work. So I’d sy it was a healing process for all those involved.

 

Jennifer:

 

I think healing is taking place today by helping others out and putting others before yourself. The NOLA Tree Project is an amazing organization that offers help to people who need it. After the thing people go through with these storms, it’s comforting to know that there’s this organization to got to. It makes on realize that there is help out there even in the hardest times. The reason for existing, I believe is to help their neighbor in need whether you know them personally or not. It gives hope that there are people who truly care and want to help. Coming to NOLA, I think it would help me want others to help each other out more, even if it’s just the small things, because you never know what someone is going through. It can make a huge impact on them.

 

I feel extremely grateful to have help the Brazley family even if it was just for a couple hours, because this would help them out a lot. Since I’m fortunate enough that I don’t or have not been in this type of situation, it feels great to help others. What I found heartwarming was when he and his son felt so happy to see us there and offering to buy us food. I didn’t expect it since they were already going through so much.

 

Justin:

 

The service project was such a rewarding experience. Being able to be surrounded y my peer helped me pull through even though I was tired. Working with the NOLA Tree foundation opened my eyes to the thousands of individuals willing to pick up the tools to help rebuild the community. I also had the opportunity to talk to Robin about her work in the non-profit organization. This is the field that I want to work in. It is hard because the perception is that non-profit is not enough to survive. Talking to her about it helped me be empowered because both her and her husband work in non-profit. Overall the work was hard but it was totally worth it. It was hard picturing the family who lied in the house that we spent hours working on. But meeting the family really was a game changer because I was able to see how grateful they are and even offered to buy us drinks and fried chicken. Hearing their story and how the tornado had affected them gave purpose to why I was doing this. The words that Robin said over and over again was that it’s all about giving the family hope and how knowing that volunteers travel thousands of miles just to help. Because they care and that they want to help.

 

In CWU, I already serve and volunteer all the time either through the CLCE cleaning up the environment to working at APOYO for Chavez-King leadership institute. One thing that I do help with at CWU is teaching about diversity because this is important because it makes students aware and more knowledgeable of prejudice and discrimination in our own community.

 

I think “healing” is being able to look at your house that has been destroyed twice, and being able to rebuild despite nature destroying it all over again. There are two types of healing. Those who have wounds in the physical form and wounds in the heart. It’s a fact that healing of the wounds is easy, but the heart can only be healed by love. The communities’ love of those affected helped heal those in desperation of everything in their life being turned upside down. This individual is very resilient and truly inspiring.

 

Leni:

 

The NOLA Tree Project originally started as an organization to help plant trees and mangroves around New Orleans after hurricane Katrina. This was due to the fact that much of the vegetation around New Orleans had been destroyed because of development throughout the city. The founders of the NOLA Tree Project had much experience in hurricane recovery, so when Katrina hit New Orleans, they put the tree planting business aside and began to build houses and help elderly homeowners recover. My experiences today have shown me a lot about the culture of this city and the resilience of its people. Getting to talk to Robin, an employee of NOLA Tree Project, was such a great experience. She had so much knowledge about the topography of the area. She had used terms that I had just recently learned in my geology course at Central, and when she was asked if she had taken a college level geology course, she said “No”. I thought it was amazing that she knew so much about the geology of the area without taking a college-level course. It just showed me how this disaster could bestow so much knowledge on a person or a group of people. She educated herself in order to prevent this from happening again. They say that education is power and I most definitely believe it. This has affected me greatly and it makes me think of how others can benefit by looking at the city of New Orleans as an example of resilience, strength, and knowledge.

 

After this disaster, the city came together, regardless of race or religion and helped each other when they needed it. I think I can take this knowledge back to CWU and apply it to everyday life. We shouldn’t judge people based on race, gender, or creed! We are all human, and we should raise each other up. Why does it have to take a natural disaster for people to realize that?

 

After talking to Reverend Terry and his son about the tornado, I really felt like I was there for a good reason. Before we got to the site, I didn’t know who this house was for or why we were doing this, but after seeing the smile on Reverend Terry’s face as he got out of his car, I knew why we were doing this. It was to give an old man hope. It was to heal a broken heart. It was to rebuild the walls of the heart, not only the walls of a home. With every brick we pulled from the rubble, we were giving Reverend Terry and his family the hope and strength to persevere. It is because of the hope for a better future that healing is taking place today.

 

Fred:

 

Today, we provided service for the community of New Orleans. During this service I acquired new skills and a bunch of knowledge. From learning of the past devastating disasters such as hurricane Katrina up to the most recent disaster – the tornado, and also learning about the truth behind the disasters, such as the flawed engineer work by the US Army Engineers. All these disasters have created so much destruction and really makes parts of New Orleans seem “third world” rather than “first world”! I was very touched by the community’s strength and resilience because despite all their losses, they still stuck together and rebuilt, instead of moving away and finding a play to live in that is less prone to natural disasters. All the community is very social and genuine. Most of the people I met today were very easy-going, nonjudgmental, empathetic and loving. It was strange receiving farewell hugs from two of the ladies that we did service for.

 

As far as the non-profit organization, NOLA Tree project, I thought this service was very moving and inspiring The fact that they are being environmentally friendly by planting new trees to make up for the lost ones. Not only that, but they also went beyond their service and began helping out with the reconstruction of lost homes.

 

To make a difference anywhere, we have to have a goal; one that targets the challenges that the community is facing. After we have the goal, we can set up a time or tackle down the task individually. To make a difference in my hometown community that faces homelessness issues, mental health issues, and drug addiction problems, I would simply educate people on the subject, gather a team of specialists on the problem and hope to raise community funds from others.

 

Healing was done during the project because most of the destruction was getting wiped up through intensive and extensive cleaning and reconstructing. This provided the “physical” healing or the superficial healing. Internal healing was done through the support of the profits member, servicemen, and volunteers. When the victims are getting help from strangers to recuperate most of their losses, the victims get a touch of joy and love.

 

After talking to Troy and Terry about their experiences with their house and them explicating their feelings, I felt a sense of sorrow, but at the same time felt strong and ready to help them out. Terry was able to make joke out of the entire situation which just goes to show that even though it was a bad situation, he is still positive.

Kristin:

 

The NOLA Tree Project was very inspiring. I thought it was so encouraging that they just had a heart and passion for serving others – spreading hope and love. This encouraged me to serve others & love others better. I can do this every day – it doesn’t have to be where a giant disaster happens – it can be at home too. I think just the presence of hope can affect the attitudes of people you interact with. You can show servant leadership every single day – by sacrificing things and putting others before you. I feel extremely moved and motivated to show the same love at home that NOLA Tree Project shows here.

 

I experienced so many feeling while working on the home – I felt honored to be serving the Brazley family (who were so kind and thankful). It was apparent how resilient they were. It really plainly felt so good to serve and love them. I also felt extremely humbled by this experience – seeing the devastation and putting myself in the shoes of having my home – full of loved ones and memories destroyed twice. It was a very humbling experience. My heart feels so full – from the service project and the people we were able to meet through this experience.

 

I believe hope is present because of the love these people encompass here in Louisiana. Because this community is all for one another and building each other up when someone gets knocked down – it takes a special community to have so much hope in a place that has experienced a lot of disaster.

 

Jackson:

 

There is a great start with all of the positive clubs on campus such as Happiness Club and Chavez-King. Through Chavez-King I personally help out with APOYO food bank. Chavez-King is also partnered with a learning coalition for elementary students. Ellensburg was big on Not in our Kittco. Brother 2 Brother has sent students from Central Washington University down to the YMCA in Yakima for real workshops. The College of Business judged a high school Shark Tank competition. Maybe I am biased, but I think the Ellensburg community is doing good deeds. I would like to see more of a connection of the campus and the community as a whole.

 

Sadly, there is a lot of healing going on today because everyone is too busy tearing others down It was rewarding being a part of the effort to begin rebuilding Terry’s house today. We were not the only ones there helping the families who were affected by the tornado. There is hope for our country and I believe we are heading in the right direction. In the media, we see a lot of hate, we should show more of the good things in life. Earlier these past couple of years, I had worries of a possible World War 3. I am starting to lose those fears. Healing has always needed to be present because we started out behind. I am looking forward to the day we are 100% healed. Do I think that can happen? …Yes it will just take an extra effort.

 

Madai:

 

When we were helping rebuild the Brazley’s house, I was asking Austin how people started volunteering and joining nonprofit after Katrina. He said that all it was was people wanting to lend a hand, so they learned how to do things in order to help. Not everyone had a construction, or similar, background, but they were willing to learn and help. I was also talking to Robin, our project supervisor and NOLA Tree Project program director, and she was telling us that she moved from California to New Orleans to help after Katrina. Her husband also created a nonprofit to help at-risk young adults get job training. Taking to these people was really inspiring. They dedicate their life to helping others and making a difference. It inspired me to find and join or participate in a nonprofit that does something that interests me. Talking to Austin and Robin really made me question why I wasn’t doing more to give back and help my community.

 

Going into the service project, I was excited and looking forward to helping a family. However, after talking to the Brazley’s, it all became personal. When they were telling us their story, you could see the emotion in their eyes. They were also grateful that we were there. Mr. Reverend Brazley and his son were at home when the tornado hit. Mr. Brazley told us that he went to check on his son, who was sleeping in his room shortly after his son got up and they tried to cover, the roof collapsed right on the son’s bed. I can’t even imagine what that must feel like. All of it, being close to dying and seeing all of your belongings destroyed and having your home destroyed after spending years rebuilding after Karina. These people are resilient and hopeful. I truly don’t know how I’d feel after surviving two disasters. They are friendly and always start a conversation with you like they know you. One of the students in our cohort said that someone she spoke to said that these events and experiences make them stronger; it is noticeable in the way people treat you.