An Overveiw:

Over Easter break a group of students and faculty will return to New Orleans for the third year in a row. In past years the trip’s focus was Katrina clean-up and repair. As time has passed the needs of the community have changed and so has the focus of our trip. This year we will spend our time in New Orleans reflecting on the connection between poverty, racism and education. This trip will be limited to 20 sophomores, junior, and senior students. Faculty leaders are Mr. Doug Brown, Mr. Tommy Smith, Mr. Matt Gaimari, and Mr. Matt Hooten.

Total cost for the trip will be roughly $750. Applications for NOLA ’08 are due in the OFJ by 3pm on Tuesday, January 15th. The trip roster will be posted on Tuesday, January 22nd in the OFJ.

The destruction and devastation left in the wake of this storm was well documented when the storm brought the Crescent City to its knees.  As the rebuilding continues, we travel to New Orleans with questions. Questions not only about why the levees broke but questions about the massive poverty that was uncovered and exposed as the water levels rose. We travel as students to further our commitment to doing justice, a commitment which, on a national level, has been severely tested in the years following Katrina.  We’ll spend much time talking to local community leaders about their perspective of the response to Katrina and the challenges the community faces now. We’ll learn what more needs to happen and how we can advocate for people of this region when we return to Phoenix.

Some Details:
The trip’s structure and content will vary somewhat from past years. While the itinerary and accommodations are still being finalized, we expect the focus of the trip to shift from the manual labor of clean-up and rebuilding projects to connecting with people and learning about New Orleans now. Students will examine education, racism, poverty and the relationships between them. More details will come early in the spring semester.

Questions or concerns?
Please stop by the OFJ or contact one of the trip leaders.

Click here for an application.

Please note, the New Orleans immersion experience does not fulfill any of the Brophy sophomore service or junior justice hours.