MTV filmed live rebuilding efforts in St. Bernard Parish assisted by nine Loyola University Community Action Program members on Inauguration Day, as part of its Youth Inaugural Ball coverage, “Be the Change: Live From the Inaugural,” praising youth-voter turnout and encouraging community service.
Rebuilding efforts were a part of St. Bernard Project’s “Rebuild the Dream,” a 24-hour service event dedicated to reconstructing two St. Bernard Parish houses and encouraging community involvement. President Barack Obama addressed the nation’s youth at the ball.
Chad Carson, sociology junior and LUCAP chairperson of public relations, said he hopes Obama’s talk about change will make a difference in New Orleans.
“Well, of course, the one thing people think of when the president comes to office is ‘what is he going to do for me,’ and here it’s the same way, ‘where can Barack Obama, or President Obama, now make his mark on Louisiana and New Orleans,'” said political science senior and LUCAP associate chair, Jennifer Rudolph.
Kathleen Warner, LUCAP chairperson and Spanish and Latin American studies senior said she feels grateful to be a part of LUCAP’s partnership with the St. Bernard Project and appreciates being a part of the change Obama speaks about.
“I think the theme of the election — and it goes in hand with the inauguration — was change, and the whole idea of enacting change is really making yourself be the one to change the situation,” said Warner.
Woody Rinker, LUCAP external affairs chair and music education senior said President Obama’s inauguration speech increased his motivation to participate in the rebuilding efforts.
“New Orleans has really had a massive flood of volunteers from all over and a lot of different social ideas sort of happening from schools and I think it’s really exciting to see what new ideas can come out of this that can may change America,” said Rinker.
Jonathan Cortez, LUCAP work-study and sociology freshman, cites rebuilding New Orleans as a reason he decided to study at Loyola. Cortez began rebuilding efforts with St. Bernard Project his first semester, performing work like hanging dry wall and laying flooring.
“I just think it’s great to see how people, strangers, come and just do this because they want to,” said Cortez. “They don’t get paid – well we don’t get paid – we just do it because we want to help out the community.” According to Warner, there were no long-term goals about how to improve New Orleans’ situation and make the city stronger with the Bush administration.
“The problems of New Orleans are not endemic to the city, but they are problems found in every big city,” said Warner. “They just are exasperated right now because of the storm and different institutions that have crumbled.”
Warner said the fact Obama acknowledged the work they did in New Orleans is a good start in providing positive contributions to New Orleans’ rebuilding effort.
“New Orleans has been completely looked over in pretty much all stages of government, and it just seemed to be our problem that there’s something wrong with New Orleanians: which isn’t the case at all,” said Warner.
Warner said that if she could represent New Orleans and address the nation, she would ask U.S. citizens to see themselves and their loved ones in the people of New Orleans.
Allison Sickle can be reached at [email protected].
