The City University of New York Athletic Conference wrapped up their Goodwill Trip to New Orleans on June 4th, as the group arrived home at John F. Kennedy International Airport. While the group was tired from their flight, they were grateful for the experience of the previous ten days.
“The Goodwill Tour at Home was a resounding success,” said Zak Ivkovic, the CUNY Athletics Commissioner. “It was priceless to see our students work hard to make a difference in New Orleans and do it all with a smile and a helping hand, I couldn’t ask for more from them.”
The Goodwill Tour was the first sponsored by the CUNYAC since 2007 when a team of baseball all-stars went to Italy. This year’s trip was unique in comparison to past tours as it featured scholar-athletes from all of the campuses of CUNY and its main purpose was to participate in community service projects to help in the rebuilding of New Orleans. The student-athletes chosen represented a variety of sports as well as both genders, both firsts for the Goodwill Tour. Another difference from past tours was the addition of non-athletes who represented the Macaulay Honors College and CUNY student government.
In addition to the twenty students selected, ten staff members, including members of various campuses, the CUNYAC and CUNY Central, were chosen for the trip.
The diverse group had the chance to meet twice before the May 25th departure date, allowing for some icebreaking in addition to a brief education on the purpose of the trip, the mission where they would stay, the rules of the trip and an outlined itinerary. While there was some trepidation, including two students who had never been on an airplane, Team CUNY was focused and excited to take part in this meaningful expedition.
Team CUNY departed from John F. Kennedy International Airport on May 25th at 6:30 am Eastern Standard Time and arrived in New Orleans' Louis Armstrong International Airport at 9 am Central Standard Time.
The diverse group's first adventure was the flight itself as it marked the first time on an airplane for two of the students, Kimberly Battle of City Tech and Ja'net Goodwin of Medgar Evers. "I felt nervous and a little anxious as it was my first time being on a plane," said Goodwin. "I asked everyone on my Facebook page to pray."
When the group arrived at Annunciation Mission, their home for the next 10 days, they began to receive an education about New Orleans and the city's post-Katrina plight.
Duane Nettles, the Director, spoke passionately about the focus of the mission, the history of New Orleans and its people, and the work that the CUNYAC Goodwill Tour would be doing over the next ten days.
"The most important thing that you all are going to do is arriving today," said Mr. Nettles. He hammered home the point that the city did not receive the much needed help from different forms of government. As much as the community service would physically help New Orleans, the act of being here and helping is far more important to the people trying to rebuild.
The students and staff of the CUNYAC were touched by these words. "The people seem genuine," said Herschel Jenkins of the College of Staten Island. "They are here because they want to be. I was reminded of my hometown of Newark, New Jersey," continued the sophomore men's basketball player.
One of the highlights of Day One was the return home for Hostos Community College volleyball player, Bavarly Guity, who lived in New Orleans with her family during Katrina. She was actually on a two-week vacation in New York City when the storm hit but was unable to move back to New Orleans for some time, forcing her to relocate to Houston and then Alabama before eventualy returning to New Orleans. She chose to leave her family in New Orleans to move to the Bronx and live with her grandmother. While she has been back home to New Orleans a few times since she moved, the last time was just over a year ago on Mother's Day of 2010.
Tonight she was able to see her mother for the first time since the 2010 visit. Returning home and taking part in the days events with the Tour stirred up some emotions for the sophomore. "I am excited to be back home," said Guity "I don't know what to expect. It looks like they are rebuilding but I haven't seen my old neighborhood yet."
Day Two started early for the New Yorkers as breakfast was served at 6:30 am. While somewhat tired from the day before, spirits were high, and the bunch were excited to get to work.
“After a long day yesterday, we got right to work today,” Jonathan Castillo of Queensborough Community College said. “We were out at 8 am in the hot sun. I am usually sleeping at that time but it felt good to get working and make a contribution.”
First task of the day would be to do some gardening and housework at the Annunciation Mission, the home site of the Tour. A majority of the CUNY party applied some sunscreen, put on their work gloves and headed out to the garden. They got right to work weeding, raking, shoveling and pushing the wheel barrel as they totally reworked the earth. The indoor group worked hard as well, cleaning the bathrooms, kitchen and hallway.
Next on the day's agenda was a trip to the Green Charter School in the Central City section of New Orleans, only blocks away from the mission. Kelly Regan, the director of outreach for the institution’s Edible School Yard, gave a brief overview of their history. The school was nearly closed due to poor performance but was reinvigorated with an influx of community help and a creative program.
The CUNY volunteers handled a variety of chores in the garden. Many weeded, while some worked on disinfecting the greenhouse and others helped move equipment. While there, one of the teachers recognized the CUNYAC logo and came out to talk to the group. Her name was Johari Harris, a CCNY graduate, and former soccer player, who relocated to New Orleans two years ago and has been teaching at Green. Harris informed the group that she was just awarded a Fulbright Scholarship before bringing her class of 4th graders over. The children interacted with the CUNY students and staff talking about sports and their experience at the school.
“Today at the school we worked really hard but it is well worth it because we know it was for a great cause,” said Alyssa Lubrino a sophomore from Baruch.
“It was interesting to see the children build connections with the cafeteria and the food grown in the garden, as well as their ability to be immersed in the entire process,” said sophomore Lorena Russi of Queens College.“
On Day Three the Goodwill Team arrived at Bayou Rebirth/Common Ground, a not for profit organization, filled with excitement and ready to get to work. The group was greeted by Amanda, the Volunteer Coordinator, who provided an overview of the organization. Many were impressed with the nonprofit and what they accomplish with limited resources.
Amanda went on to explain that her organization received a donation of 9,000 Cypress seedlings and needed help with potting the seedlings. The seedlings will grow at the nursery for about a year and then be placed in their permanent home within the Louisiana wetlands. The Cypress trees are an imperative component of the wetlands, as they help with filtration and prevent soil erosion. Unfortunately the salt water from the man-made canals and devastation from Hurricane Katrina depletes the Cypress trees at a catastrophic level.
“I feel very touched for the people who were here in 2005, given what we saw in the media," said Loukman Lamany of Bronx Community College. "Society is based on the eco system and many people live off selling vegetation. If this happened in my home country of Togo (in West Africa) it would be disastrous.”
An afternoon visit to Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge capped off the day's activities for the CUNY volunteers. This day allowed the group to become more cohesive. It was also a great reminder as to why New Orleans needs help from volunteer groups like the CUNY Goodwill Tour.
Day Four was one of the most meaningful days of the trip as the group the their most eye-opening look at the damage caused by Katrina, as they visited he Lower Ninth Ward, a low-income area of New Orleans where much of the devastation from the hurricane can still be seen. The Goodwill Team was met by Smitty, a historian who grew up in the neighborhood and still lives there. Smitty rode around with the gorup, giving a tour of the Lower Ninth, while stopping along the way to point out some of the scenery, while sharing some of his own stories of the hurricane.
Smitty, a gentleman of great experience, talked of hurricane Betsy (1965) and how some of the homes in the Lower Ninth Ward never totally recovered from that storm, and Katrina basically finished them off. While driving through the neighborhood the devastation was obvious, as bare lots where houses used to stand was the norm, abandoned houses facing inevitable devastation plentiful and less commonly, some rebuilt dwellings standing strong in the New Orleans heat.
"Compared to pictures & videos, being there was something else, unlike anything that could be seen on television," said Edwin Marrero of BMCC. "Seeing the level of actual devastation and to picture water 10 feet high was unimaginable, and something I will never forget."
Smitty went on to tell stories of how the looting began and of a confrontation with the NOPD in the midst of trying to get water, toilet paper and food during the aftermath of Katrina, where large groups of displaced residents were wandering around the city.
The afternoon activity consisted of a sports clinic, run by the CUNYAC group, that was advertised to the children of the Ninth Ward by All Souls Church. Between 30 and 40 children of all ages arrived to enjoy the day on the levee, in an open field right off the Mississippi River, playing softball, football, volleyball, soccer, frisbee and basketball. The day was extremely hot, as most May New Orleans days are, but the kids and CUNYAC Team found great joy in spending some hours playing games, talking, joking and drinking some gatorade by the cooler. "One of the kids named Gerald came up to me & said you played with me the whole day today and thanked me," said Mickey Abbatiello. "I thought it was really cool that he was appreciative for what we were doing."
Day Five was a day off from volunteering, but there would be no break from learning, as the group took a trip to Jean Lafitte National Historic Park and Preserve. The group was met by Ranger Jack at 11 am at the visitor's center, where he began a hike that would show off some of the park's terrain. He gave them an overview of the history, talked about some of the trees and wildlife of the park, and some tips on how to not get attacked by an alligator.
Once the hike was over, the CUNY students and staff ate lunch and then headed for a tour of the Destrehan Plantation. The guided tour gave information on the history and restoration of this plantation, originally owned by a French Creole family. The tour guides split the CUNY group into two to more easily show them around the main house, telling stories of the different rooms and showing a bathtub that was a gift to the family from Napoleon Bonaparte. While somewhat glamorizing the lavish style and traditional French quarters, the guide also showed some of the brutality on the plantation, as slaves were a mainstay and driving force behind the cash crops grown on the land. A story of one of the biggest slave rebellion and consequent execution of those slaves involved, left many of the students feeling a great deal of ambivalence toward the day's findings.
"The plantation gave a background to some of the segregation that Smitty talked of the day before," said Alyssa Lubrino a sophomore at Baruch College. "We were able to see some of the history that didn't focus on Katrina and current events, but instead gave us a broader history of New Orleans."
On Day Six, Memorial Day, the group was split up at the beginning of the work day, as fractions went to different worksites. Some stayed on the Annunciation campus while others went to local homes and some went to a local community center. It was the first time on the trip that the CUNY Team would be split into groups.
The fraction that remained at the Annunciation Mission watched a brief video that showed the plight of Father Jerry Kramer, of the Church of the Annunciation. He was shown walking toward the church in the days following Katrina, only able to find his way after he saw some neighbors who gave him their boat. The visual effect of the video was tremendous as it showed Kramer walking into the same entrance to the mission that the group has been going in and out of daily in their stay. The video then went on to interview many of the community members who were left without a home after Katrina and received help from the mission and consequently joined the cause, remaining with the mission.
"Seeing the video was heartbreaking," said Kevin McKessey of Medgar Evers College. "I got a chance to speak with Perry, a truck driver who was interviewed in the video. He was telling me how difficult it was to leave the city during Katrina. The highways were backed up and then if you got off an exit, you would not be allowed to get back on. When he got to Atlanta, he never planned on coming back. When the mission asked for his help, he returned and when he saw how much good he could do for the community he stayed."
After seeing the video, the volunteers from CUNY were highly motivated in the task of painting what will be a community center on the grounds of the Annunciation Mission campus. Duane, the Director of the mission, would lead the painting crew in prepping for their days' work and then they would proceed to climb their ladders and start priming the building.
One of the other fractions of Team CUNY went out to a local resident's home to help him with some work around the house. Jack, an activist in the community, gave much of his time to helping neighbors over his lifetime. Much of the needed help with was actually lighter than what the group was used to doing over their time in New Orleans, but the effect the CUNY students and staff who visited with him was far greater than any chore. "He appreciated talking to us and making a connection," said Danielle Maresca of Brooklyn College. "I got to meet his dog and we found out we are both dog lovers. I could tell that it meant a lot to him that we were there."
On Day Seven most of Team CUNY got right back to work on projects they started the day before. The 8 am start to the work day has become routine for the group and therefore energy was high and the day ahead seemed to be bright.
One of the projects that would be continued on Tuesday was the painting of the Presleys' home a few minutes from Annunciation Mission. The Presleys are a couple who could not afford to make necessary improvements on their home largely due to being conned by an unscrupulous contractor. A large amount of money was taken from the couple and services were not completed. The Presleys turned to asking help of volunteers from Annunciation, however, they discussed that there are many problems with some of the volunteers that have passed through their home. Many volunteers are not dilligent and therefore the work must be redone. In addition, many helpers only stay for a day or two and then the couple must train new workers to continue a job that takes a week or more to complete. The couple was glad that the CUNY Team was here because they would stay through Friday and were hard-working and organized. While on Monday the fraction sent to the couple's house mainly prepped, on Tuesday they began to paint and made lots of progress. "At first it seemed like an impossible challenge to paint the Presley house. We came together as a team, created a game plan, and got to work. I'm really proud of all we accomplished for the Presley family." commented Shanita Scott of Hostos Community College.
One segment of the group that would not be continuing with a project from the previous day headed to meet a man named Rene who needed help constructing his house. Rene, who is currently living with a friend while his domicile is being worked on, is a New Jersey native who came to help post-Katrina. Like many of the volunteers who came to New Orleans, he ended up remaining in the city helping many to rebuild their homes. A charitable man, Rene did not worry about his own living situation but is trying, with help from Team CUNY, to get his own house built. "Rene needed help with his patio. I didn't get a chance to finish but it's coming out nicely. I can't wait to finish it so I can give back to a man that gave so much to his community" explained Kim Battle from City Tech. The CUNY volunteers gave him great reason to be optimistic as they made tremendous headway throughout the day and promised to return tomorrow.
Team CUNY continued to get to work on Day Eight and many saw lots of progress on projects started earlier in the week. One portion of the group returned to help out Rene construct a water filtration system and other projects around his home. Those who participated got useful lessons in construction. "Learning to use a saw was a lot of fun," expressed Jonathan Castillo from Queensborough Community College. "I learned a lot about cutting boards at different angles. Geovanny and I worked on fixing up a fence that a different group had done incorrectly. We had to remove the planks, then cut and reshape the boards so they were straight. We also cut boards for the water filtration system. Today was a lot of fun."
Those working on the community center at the Annunciation Mission campus continued putting primer on before moving to painting. "Everyone was tired but rebounded, pulled it together and finished strong," explained Kaili Insalaco of John Jay. "We ran into some issues with the fact that the primer and the paint looked exactly the same in the sun, so it was hard to remember what was painted and what wasn't. Although we tend to get in the zone when we work and stop talking, we still have a lot of nice conversations and have learned a lot about each other.”
Day Nine saw some extreme heat as temperatures neared 100 degrees, but Team CUNY's hard work did not falter. Half of the group continued painting the community center and the other half returned to the home of Rene to finish up the water filtration system and other projects.
Team CUNY members who were working at Rene's home were determined to finish up and they succeeded. Planting, painting, and building rounded out their day and they left with a feeling of accomplishment. "Working with Rene gave me a sense of nostalgia, said Geovanny Arredondo of Lehman College. “Rene told me my task of the day was to paint the fence next to the deck. My father works as a carpenter and a painter so I had previous experience. As I painted away I couldn't help but to think about my dad and all that he taught me."
The day concluded with a fun evening of community involvement. Executive Director, Brad Powers, from the Jericho Road Episcopal Housing Initiative, a neighborhood based nonprofit homebuilder that provides families with healthy and energy-efficient affordable housing options, visited the Mission to speak with the group. Brad provided a background overview of the organization and answered questions across a range of topics including: crime, population, and housing. Team CUNY then traveled to the Lower Ninth Ward Village, a Community Center, to participate in all ages open mic night. Kaili Insalaco, Gloria Cavallaro, Ja'Net Goodwin, Joviette Frederick, Kimberly Battle, Mickey Abbatiello, Bavarly Guity, Herschel Jenkins, Trina McCandless, Lorena Russi, Staffer Shanita Scott,and Conference Commissioner Zak Ivkovic all showcased their talents: comedy, poetry reading, juggling, "the snake" (a stomach exercise), short story reading, and singing.
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.
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. Cesar, the owner, is a York College alum, and his niece Jessica, a waitress, briefly attended Medgar Evers College where she played on the softball team. 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 once more was a realization of the impact CUNY has across the country.
The group would wake up the following morning to catch an early morning flight back to New York, but before they would go their separate ways, many gave their sentiments on this wonderful trip:
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.”