5 years later, NSCC’s ‘Labor of Love’ remains fresh

LYNN – To many, Hurricane Katrina is a far distant memory. Yet five years later, North Shore Community College students and faculty can attest that displaced residents are still living in temporary accommodations with much work remaining to be done.”There are still entire neighborhoods filled with abandoned homes,” said student Archie Bandera. “Many families haven’t even returned to their homes in fear of what they will see.”This year marks the fifth anniversary of NSCC’s “Labor of Love” initiative, which sends volunteer teams of students and faculty to New Orleans in January to assist with post-Katrina rebuilding.The commitment to service and shared experiences of those involved were celebrated Wednesday evening in the college’s Lynn Campus gym.”This is a life-changing experience for everyone involved,” said Lisa Milso, NSCC Director of Student Life and trip coordinator. “What students have learned from these experiences cannot be taught in a classroom.”NSCC students and faculty have been traveling to New Orleans since 2007 and have assisted the community by gutting and rebuilding homes. This past January, 11 students and two faculty members from NSCC traveled to the city.Milso says she has recognized the most improvement in the city from last year to this year.”There were street signs on streets again, children are wearing school uniforms again,” she said. “Everyone who lives in New Orleans was impacted by the storm and our students have realized that it’s helping others, not who or how, that truly makes the difference.”Milso says many of the students who have gone on the trip have been inspired enough to continue their volunteering efforts.”We had a student become a Big Sister because she was so impacted by the trip and wanted to continue making a difference,” said Milso. “Other students have begun volunteering at My Brother’s Table and other local food pantries.”President Wayne Burton attended the trip in 2007 and 2008 and recalled some of his most eye-opening experiences.”We worked inside homes that had scratch marks on the ceilings from people who were trying to escape during the storm,” he said. “You could just feel the pain and agony that these people endured. To be able to make a difference and to restore hope is just incredible.”The group spent time removing debris from homes, rebuilding walls and sanding, plastering and replacing ceramic tiles.Milso says the team building that occurs is indescribable.”Many of these students didn’t know each other before they went,” she says. “They return from the trip and share an amazing bond.”Student Stephan Orival said despite the fact that most of the city is still in shambles, the hope and resilience of residents taught him to take nothing for granted.”They taught us to have a bigger appreciation to just to be alive,” he said. “There homes are destroyed, but nothing will take away their hope.”The celebration was concluded with an original New Orleans-style musical event written and directed by Director/Playwright Robb Dimmick and a performance by Building Bridges Through Music, Inc., a non-profit multicultural performing arts organization.