This is the first year that students and alumni from the PACE Program at NLU have joined the NOLA schools project. For those who do not know, PACE is a two year post-secondary program for young adults with multiple learning disabilities. The main goal of the program is to learn independence.
We at PACE have a philosophy that life should be "a balance of work and play", and the PACE students who have journeyed this week to NOLA have demonstrated exactly that.
As their instructor and friend, I am brimming with pride to watch them trek through the thick New Orleans heat every day by bus, street car, and ferry to Harriet Tubman Elementary, put in a full day of diligent work either painting, moving furniture, or sorting books, then be fully open and welcome to all of the social experiences offered to us in the evenings. I am excited to see them interacting with all of the others on the trip, collaborating on projects, exploring the city, and building new friendships! This is surely an experience they (and myself!) will always remember.
For several years now, PACE students have been involved in many different kinds of service learning projects, however none of them the size or scale of this trip. We have walked and raised money for Epilepsy, Autism, Leukemia and Lymphoma, Breast Cancer, stuffed teddy bears for children in crisis, and made greeting cards for seniors- just to name a few.
This trip enables you to completely immerse yourself in the project and task at hand- including meaning and learning about the people you are servicing, rather than just sending a check or taking a walk. It is my hope and wish that PACE is able to continue to participate in future service learning trips!
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