700 college students and the Clinton Global Initiative in New Orleans for spring break 1

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   kateryan Posted 4:36 am
   27 Mar 2008

   upon reflectionAgreed- the conference was an interesting look into a non-governmental approach to action.
   
   I came away reflecting upon Clinton's success at bringing youth together, but also feeling empty.
   
   I was troubled that Clinton was shaking hands with students who had developed commitments to actions that had no clear plan for implementation. I was angry that with all the political connections that could have been brought to bear and integrated into our commitments, there was hardly any mention of previous his ties. I was angry because 2100 hours of service were wasted, wasted, weeding and looking at Brad Pitt. There are so very many organization in New Orleans, Common Ground, (on the very site where we worked) being one of them that could have used our time.
   
   I realize that there are few jobs that could utilize 700 students for three hours of work- yet we didn't all have to work in one place. The Ninth isn't the only place in NOLA that needs help.
   
   There was a missed opportunity to speak with those who lived in the Ninth, who grew up in the Ninth, who lived through Katrina. There was a missed opportunity to connect to a community, a people, a city.  We heard the story through the extremely unpopular mayor's voice, and some general who decided to spend his opportunity to reach thousands and thousands of young people both directly and indirectly talking about first aid.
   
   There were some wonderful things that went on at the conference, and powerful influential people who stood and listened to our ideas. We were encouraged to change the world with our own two hands, and yet, I left feeling as if a huge and powerful ship was sailing without a captain.
   
   I still haven't quite figured out why I am so troubled by the experience, but I do feel a great opportunity was missed, if nothing else, to tell the story of New Orleans to 700 more people.

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