Lauren Cooper
Brittney Curtis
Denisa Hancock
Susan Issacs
Taieka Jackson
Valencia Johnson
Julian Jordan
Eboni Kaglear
Alayne Lawrence
Ja’Meisha Pierre

I would say that a prophet like Isaiah is very appropriate in conjunction with my project. In chapter six of Isaiah he has experiences an awakening. He sees God in the spirit and it changes him. He realizes that there is work to be done and God needs people to do it. I feel as though this is what I have experienced in this class. The more I study and learn the more I see God in the spirit. This project has challenged me to open my eyes to the problems that are around me. Something needs to be done. I am saying like Isaiah, “…Here am I; send me.” Isa 6:8(KJV).

Job lost everything. He lost family, wealth, and health. His wife did nothing to comfort him and his friends blamed him. He questioned God momentarily. But ultimately he remained faithful to God. God rewarded his faithfulness by giving him even more than he started with. I believe the message for New Orleans is to keep trusting in God. Even though things look bleak, God has the power to give you even more than you had before. I know that is what he has done for me.

Psalm 22 is prayer similar to the situation in Job. The author feels as though God has forsaken them. They realize that regardless of what is going on at this time God is still in control. People who don’t believe in God may say they are foolish and God is not able to deliver them. They realize that from the beginning of their life God was there with them and he will be there until the end. He is powerful and to be trusted. In the end everything bows to God.

I empathize with you. It has been a challenge trying to find the time to devote to volunteering. I have also had trouble finding a place to volunteer. I decided to do things outside of one particular organization. I feel better knowing that people are being helped. I still want to work with an established organization. I believe working within an established group helps to prepare you to work independently later. I encourage you to hold on to your original goal even if you focus on alternate ways to reach your goal. The experience of volunteering at a clinic should be good for your career. LCOOPER

I am glad you are getting a chance to develop a good relationship with the kids. I do hope that it will have a long term effect on their lives. It is true in some cases that the parents do not see the importance of education. Because of this attitude many towards educational development many of these children and their families will be poverty stricken. Our society is constantly advancing technologically. If a person is uneducated they will not be able to excel. I do not think all of the parents do not care. I believe some of them really do not have the time to set aside to help. If you have a minimum wage job today in New Orleans, you need to have another job just to stay afloat. I agree with you. It is a cycle that is hard to break. But knowledge is the key to breaking the cycle. SISAACS

I realize what I am about to right may seem offensive so I apologize. From what I am reading your project is to convert people to Christianity in order for them to have a better and more fulfilled life. I think in essence you have a good idea. I do not think it is realistic. People use the idea of happiness, joy, and prosperity to “sell” the idea of Christianity. I am a Christian. I’ve been in church my entire life. I promise you that if I was basing my devotion on feeling good and getting everything I wanted I would have left the church a long time ago. I am not saying that church is a bad thing but I hope you are putting the emphasis on a relationship more than a ritual. Too often people join churches because of an emotional experience and when problems and reality come they leave the church. This is just something for you to think about. TAIEKA

I feel more informed just reading your summary. I think people should know how their choices are affecting the planet. The concept of Global Warming is still very abstract for most people. Most of us won’t be alive in 80 years and 6 degrees doesn’t seem to be a high number. Can you help people see why those 6 degrees are important to us today? Also I would suggest keeping your brochure brief and direct. There is a lot of unimportant paraphernalia being circulated. You would not want your brochure to be put into the same category. Keep up the good work. KJENKINS

I agree that there is definitely a problem with males disrespecting females. But a bigger problem is that the females are disrespecting themselves. A girl in my class made a comment that just turned my stomach. She said she doesn’t see why people are so upset. She’s not a “hoe” so they are not talking about her in the music. She just likes the music. So if those girls want to disrespect themselves that is on them. What is sad is that most females think like her. I feel as though each female that buys the album, watches the video, or listens to the song on the radio is guilty of disrespecting all females. I hope your project encourages these girls to respect themselves and each other. Teach them to EXPECT respect from males. Another part of the problem is the lack of positive male role models in the females’ lives. We often think only males need a male role model. Females need to see a male who respects women in order to know what they should expect. VJOHNSON

Your project is very noble. It is also very important in relation to my project. It is my view that a person can get into debt because they are unable to pay their medical bills. Or they can even lose their job because they are sick but unable to get medical attention. One thing I found particularly interesting was a statement that said “the hospitals are able to keep prices down because they are getting paid.” It’s somewhat of a sad cycle. Prices are high and people can’t afford to pay for healthcare. When they don’t pay prices go up higher. The higher the prices, the fewer the people who can afford to pay and it just continues. Hopefully with programs like ours the process will start moving in reverse. Ekaglear

I believe the wages for the people who are helping us everyday should be higher. No one would want to live in a city without firemen, policemen, and educators. I think you have a great idea. I also know it will be difficult. I believe we should all continue with these projects even after the class ends. Maybe we will eventually see more positive results. Alayne Lawrence

I believe you have a great project. One suggestion I might give based on a comment in your blog this week, is for you to tutor privately. You can still do it voluntarily if you feel the parents would not be able to afford to pay you. Tutoring privately would allow you to work with the students even after the program ends. It’s just something for you to think about. I believe it can give your project another element for long term impact. Danisa

Well it is definitely a good idea to promote responsible sex. I think the idea of tracking may be a difficult one. People are not likely to come up and say whether or not they used the condoms. You may consider some type of anonymous survey. It probably would have been a good idea to do a survey before you started giving out information and then follow up with another survey to see if people’s views have changed. Another thing would be to compare medical statistics before and after they received the information. Are there fewer cases of STD’s and pregnancy or is there a change at all. I don’t know how easy it is to gain access to that information though. B Curtis

I encourage you to stick with this project long-term if you can. It takes time for most people to trust someone new. It takes even longer when you are dealing with a person with emotional baggage. Some of these parents are honestly working long hours just to keep food on the table and water in the tub. Some have not matured yet themselves and so they are out trying to “live their own lives” when they have children who need them. The kids you are helping today may one day help other kids coming up behind them. You may be the motivation to keep them from becoming parents too soon. I really do hope this is a lifelong commitment you are making. You are making a difference in the future of the world. Jameisha

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