Reflecting on Reflections

Hey from the drivers seat. My name is Michelle and I am one of the advisors of this trip. The topics of diversity, neighborhoods, and urban renewal have always been ones close to my heart.  Of course when the opportunity arose last year to attend the NOLA trip, I jumped on it.  The experience was unforgettable and changed me in a way difficult to capture.  This year I was fortunate enough to return and work on the same topic with (mostly) new students.  The change within me continues into this trip. 

So quick recap of what we did today:  Starting off the day, we attended a tour with Stephen Nelson, a geology professor from Tulane University.  He has held tours presenting the geological facts behind Katrina and the levee failures/breaches for almost eight years.  Check out his site here.  After grabbing some local seafood for lunch, we moved into the Central City neighborhood of New Orleans to volunteer at a youth after-school drop in center, APEX.  

Overall, the issue has been proven to be more complicated than we first realized.  A seemingly simple visit to a youth center sparked issues about the way and motivations behind our service, diversity in our own Springfield community, the language we use, ethical (or not so ethical) leaders and politicians, and human development.  It is near impossible to say all we can say about these issues we have explored.  Each perspective brings new questions and each question brings new perspectives. 

Our allotted time for reflection at the end of the day has provided opportunities for us to explore safely with each other.  Listening, empathizing, and sometimes even challenging each other, we always have made good use of our reflection time.  It seemed though today, with so many issues coming to the surface and our differences in perspectives, ultimately it is the underlying desire to better our community unite us.  Each person has experienced a change in some way.  Whether it was through observation of an argument between neighbors in Central City or standing on top of the rebuilt levees looking out at neighborhoods only 10% rebuilt, the only clear thing is how the complex and unsettling these issues of diversity and urban development are to us.

We still have two full days left.  With the past three providing so much room for dialogue and experience, I look forward to the exposure of new ideas that have not been uncovered.