CUNYAC Goodwill Tour 2011 – New Orleans, LA – Day 10
Emotional Experience
Team CUNY's last day in New Orleans started off with an emotional experience. The group that had completed the work at the home of Rene the day before traveled to the home of Germaine. Germaine was greatly affected by Hurricane Katrina and Team CUNY was sent to paint her new home.
Post Hurricane Katrina, Germaine evacuated to Dallas, Texas where she took shelter and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity while she awaited the signal that she could return to New Orleans. Germaine's family home near the Garden District was destroyed by the storm and the amount of damage was irreparable. Germaine lost her mother shortly after Hurricane Katrina; the stress from the devastation of losing their home was too much for the senior citizen. Germaine and her family were welcomed in by the community of Gentilly, and nearly 6 years later she finally has a home to call her own. With the help of St. Paul's Homecoming Center, and their many volunteers, Germaine will be able to live in her home very soon.
The group working in the Community Center finished everything they set out to complete. "It felt good to complete the project we were working hard on all week. To know that we were able to give back to the community of New Orleans was very fulfilling." Alyssa Lubrino of Baruch College
Bringing Back
As the Goodwill Tour at Home comes to a conclusion there are many lessons traveling back to New York with the members of Team CUNY.
Herschel Jenkins, College of Staten Island Men's Basketball: "The CUNYAC Goodwill Tour to New Orleans has been a tremendous experience. We have met the most amazing and inspirational people throughout this trip. We have done more than just paint, build, and clean up the area. We have made a real difference in people's lives just by listening to their stories and the pain they went through. These people have also affected me. I have a greater appreciation for life and what I have. I took for granted the what my parents did for me and the support they provided; now I know how much it takes for me to have what I have. This has truly been a life changing experience."
Alyssa Lubrino, Baruch College Women's Swimming: "The CUNY Goodwill Tour has been one of the greatest learning experiences of my life. Visiting a place in which people are faithful to themselves, each other, and their entire community while rebuilding a destroyed city is one of the best ways to see how simply one's attitude can change a life. By staying positive and accepting the help and support of those around them, New Orleans has been able to keep volunteers who are happy and willing to help. In return, New Orleans makes every person who steps on this soil grateful and ultimately a better person."
Bavarly Guity, Hostos Community College Women’s Volleyball: “One of the main things I'm bringing back with me after this amazing trip is effort. I personally didn't come close to knowing exactly what we were going to do in New Orleans but the simple fact that we had a mission to accomplish without knowing if we were really going to change anyone's lives was something that really touched me. We made a great effort to get to our job sites as early as possible just to help others who had been affected by the storm. We didn't feel like we were doing much but the fact that they constantly reminded us that what we were doing was making a huge difference in their lives really made us feel like HERO's. I'm very glad that I was one of the chosen ones to attend this trip. I'm happy that I was able to help heal and also be healed as I helped others. It’s amazing how after 6 whole years and counting the New Orleans tradition is still alive. I’m looking forward to another trip and continuing to help heal.”
Heather Ruger, City College of New York Women’s Soccer and Track & Field: “I came on this trip thinking that I would be helping to build a house. Instead I was assigned to painting the outside of a community center. I was originally disappointed with this assignment, thinking “how is this helping anyone.” Then as I proceeded through the week on my project, I saw the difference I was making. Multiple times a day people would walk by the center stop to look and comment on how nice it looked. I finally realized I was helping an entire community. The fresh paint is a new start, the building is on the border of two social classes and it is a safe haven for all. I helped to unite the community and give them a sense of hope and pride. That is more helpful than anything else and can carry the community through anything.”
Alisa Jaganjac, Hunter College Women’s Volleyball and Tennis: “I have had the opportunity to meet people with the biggest and warmest hearts. Everyone welcomed us with open hands and would not stop thanking us for just showing up. They kept reminding us that our presence here gives them hope. What they don’t understand is they have given me more than I could ever give them. They allowed me into their homes, schools, and organizations in order to be a part of rebuilding one of the best cities in the world. It is an honor to be the chosen student-athlete from Hunter College and to be given an opportunity to come down to Louisiana and really make a difference. The biggest lesson the New Orleanians have taught me is to keep fighting. They love their city and despite this terrible manmade disaster, they are not running away from it -they are staying and refusing to give up. They are the living proof of "Where there is a will, there is a way". I thank them for proving that statement and allowing me to be included in the fight.”
Joviette Frederick, York College Women’s Cross Country and Softball: “It was a great opportunity being selected to participate in such a mission that would greatly affect the lives of people. I felt part of a movement to rebuild New Orleans. With that came great opportunities to meet new people and listen to the stories of what these citizens have been through. Living through a catastrophe such as the earthquake in Haiti, I can relate to every single person’s story. Out of this trip I take with me that although we can’t heal wounds over night or even in 5 years, the people of New Orleans and Louisiana in whole appreciate every effort given from others and I am very much proud to say I helped these people in some way. One day I can point to that house and say I helped paint it or look at that tree and say I helped pot it long ago. I can also say WE, the scholar athletes of the City University of New York carried our bags to Louisiana with the intent to move people and the people of Louisiana moved us.”
Elston Alexis, Medgar Evers College Men’s Track & Field: “This tour to New Orleans has been a good a experience for me. It opened my eyes to the condition of some parts of the US outside of New York. I was surprised to see the horrible state of New Orleans 6 years after Katrina hit. It was saddening to hear the stories of the people here and to see so many homes abandoned or damaged. And the more disturbing fact about New Orleans is that it has ongoing disasters, for example every hour more than a football field of land is lost. New Orleans definitely needs aid from both the Government and the citizens of this country. I will bring back with me a better awareness to the different situations that exist outside of New York. I am extremely happy to know that I have helped rebuild this wonderful city.”
Evening Expedition
After a hot and humid morning of work, Team CUNY enjoyed an afternoon of shopping and seeing the sights around New Orleans before moving onto their last meal in the city. A tremendous wrap up to the Goodwill Tour, the group dined at Galvez a beautiful restaurant in the French Quarter. Caesar, the owner, is a York College alum, and his niece Jessica, a waitress, briefly attended Medgar Evers College. They not only accommodated the large group but they treated Team CUNY like family. A delicious farewell meal, topped off with impeccable service, left Team CUNY proud of the work they had completed and the new friends they had made. To find the CUNY connection here in New Orleans yet again was a realization of CUNY's extended reach beyond New York City.