The Ways We Care
How Tulane Students Are Helping Others
The sky's the limit - or at least it seems so - when it comes to Tulane students helping others in the community. Undergrads are volunteering in traditional and non-traditional ways to make a difference.
Tulane is the only highly research intensive school in the country that requires public service as a graduation requirement. Students are required to complete a service learning course and participate in one of several programs approved by the Center for Public Service. For more information visit cps.tulane.edu.
Students have immersed themselves in projects that they find interesting and provide real-world experiences that help them when applying for jobs or grad/prof schools. Here are just a few examples.
Junior Ben Brubaker with Lupe Fiasco, hip hop artist.
Harnessing the Power of Hip Hop
Ben Brubaker was sitting in a class called "Hip-Hop and HIV/AIDS" as part of an introduction to African Diaspora Studies when the idea hit him: capitalize on the immense popularity of hip-hop to help others. It would be an entertaining and informative way to raise awareness for social change. It was at that point Hip Hop For Hope was born. The group organized a three-day event including a concert, forums and block party. A special appearance by nationally acclaimed recording artist and Grammy nominee Lupe Fiasco highlighted the event. So far, in its first two years of existence, the group has raised over $12,000. www.hiphopforhope.org
"I definitely plan on using these skills after I graduate because they are both important facets of my intellectual being, my moral convictions and my personal identity. As for New Orleans, this Philadelphia native is staying put. "I never truly felt home anywhere until I came to New Orleans, so now I call this city home." To Read more about Ben's experience click here.
Freshman Sarah Oertling with members of the "Power Raiders of the Lost Energy Solution"
Robokids
Freshman Sarah Oertling put her science background to work. The chemical engineering major and a team of Tulane volunteers created a "Lego League" at a local school in Lakeview, an area hard hit by Hurricane Katrina two years ago.
The class competed to build a robot from Legos. "The students did most of the programming with guidance from us," Sarah explains. As for the robot itself, it was programmed to complete eight missions. The most complicated mission involved using a touch sensor, light sensor, and ultra-sonic sensor to retrieve a load and return it to base. The robot sensed where it was to pick up and make the delivery. The project won first place in robot design in a statewide competition.
Oertling says her public service experience at Tulane has been a pleasant surprise. "When I first heard about the public service requirement - the truth is that I didn't know what to expect, but it has been a wonderful experience," she says.
Narda Hdz (left) speaks with junior Annabelle Pardi (right) at Tulane’s Community Clinic.
Making the Health Connection
Junior Annabelle Pardi enjoyed her volunteer experience at Tulane's community health clinic in a downtown neighborhood so much she started a program of her own. Annabelle began helping out at the clinic by surveying patients about their health care to learn about what needs are going unmet in the community.
"We found out that 70% of the patients surveyed don't see anyone for mental health and they would like to. The Tulane community health center is the only place the majority of them go for care," Annabelle said.
So Annabelle applied for and received a grant from Tulane's Newcomb Institute to conduct an educational seminar series for women's health this spring. "We are going to bring in speakers from the community to let people know what medical services are available to them. Hopefully we can tell them where to go for help with prescriptions and other health services in the area," she said.
Savannah Moon got a chance to help lure a presidential debate to New Orleans through an internship with "Women of the Storm."
In the Eye of the Storm
Savannah Moon got a chance to help lure a presidential debate to New Orleans through an internship with "Women of the Storm." The group has made a national name for itself, convincing close to 200 senators and congressmen to visit Katrina-damaged areas.
Savannah helped the group court the prestigious nationally televised debate to the city by drafting letters, making phone calls and basically helping out. Major news outlets across the country supported New Orleans as the site, but unfortunately the decision-makers weren't sold on the site. Savannah learned a lot from the experience nonetheless.
"It was incredible to watch how their ideas formed and how they got things done," the senior from Fort Lauderdale said. "It was amazing to watch it become reality. They Women of the Storm wanted to get the presidential debate in New Orleans and they really almost got that."
Savannah earned course credit for a semester's work and continues her volunteer work today. www.womenofthestorm.net
Working for the Wetlands
Louisiana wetlands comprise 40 percent of all wetlands in the United States and Louisiana is experiencing 80 percent of the entire country's wetlands loss.
Students can help save Louisiana's coastline and apply it toward their public service requirement as part of a political science class being taught this semester. In class, students will learn about the many aspects of the issue, the strategies and tactics used by advocacy groups, the role of the federal, state and local governments, and study the skills of effective policy advocates in the American political system.
Then, they will work with the Gulf Restoration Network, an environmental advocacy group that promotes a healthy Gulf of Mexico, including healthy water quality, sustainable fisheries, protection against further coastal land loss, restoration of coastal marshes and prevention of needless destruction of cypress forests in Louisiana.
For a full listing of volunteer opportunities, go online to the Tulane Center for Public Service www.cps.tulane.edu or the Community Action Council of Tulane University Students www.tulane.edu/~cactus.
