By James El-Mallakh

One group of students at the University of Louisville used their spring break to help others. The group of graduate students from the Kent School of Social Work went to New Orleans, La., where they had the chance to gain some hands-on experience in social work.

“It was a very humbling experience” said Ayana Tyler, a graduate student studying social work. “It’s far past [Hurricane] Katrina and six years out they are still suffering from what happened there. There are a lot of services that they need that they’re not getting.”

Tyler said that her experiences in New Orleans were varied.

“We worked within the community,” said Tyler. “We did surveys and worked with the senior center there. We also worked in the school system. At the particular school we went to, most of the fourth graders were reading on a first grade level. Basically, we were going in there and helping them edit their papers and helping them to expand their vocabulary.”

Dr. Judy Heitzman, a professor of social work, led the group of graduate students.

“We were in New Orleans from March 14th to the 17th.” said Heitzman. “We visited Central City, a low income neighborhood that is still in the process of rebuilding after Katrina, and toured a senior center. We did door-to-door canvassing for a pilot study, needs assessments, and also a records audit for the new neighborhood center.”

The goal of the neighborhood canvassing was to find out what services the residents would like to have by asking them directly. Though the group did not spend an extended amount of time in New Orleans, as is often required in order to develop long-term connections to clients and to pursue effective community development, they felt that the trip had positive results.

“I believe overall it was successful,” said Tyler

During the course of the trip, the group learned about the city and the social organizations that have grown in the area since the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Some of the students will be doing similar work throughout their education, studying abroad or completing practicums outside of Louisville. For most of the students, the trip was a preview of what they will be doing for their careers.

 Tyler, who has an alcohol and drug counselor specialization within social work, will be returning to New Orleans for more intensive study.

“When I go back down there, I’ll be working with the [Veterans Affairs] hospital and their substance abuse center,” said Tyler.

However, there is more to New Orleans than Katrina’s devastation. Renowned for its unique culture, including French-inspired food, blues and jazz, many of the students appreciated the rich history of the city.

NgocUyen Nguyen, a graduate student studying social work, was impressed by the warmth of the city and its people.

“The food was great enough to convince vegetarians to start eating meat again,” wrote Nguyen in the journal she kept during the trip. “I think in time I would learn to fall in love with jazz too…The people are so warm and welcoming. Overall, it was a great trip.”