Disaster Relief Through Resources for Recovery

In response to the tremendous long-term needs of those affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the National Youth Leadership Council has introduced Resources for Recovery — an effort to tap the power of young people through service-learning as a sustainable, effective part of the recovery effort.

“In times of great need, the most accessible resources are often the most valuable, but also commonly overlooked,” says NYLC President and CEO Jim Kielsmeier. “In the current situation in the Gulf Coast region, our youngest neighbors, along with their schools and youth organizations, are described almost exclusively as victims of the hurricanes — not as resources for recovery. We think this is a disastrous oversight, having witnessed the engagement of school-aged young people in responding to comparable needs.”

Resources for Recovery connects the individuals and organizations — including local state education associations — that are mobilizing youths through service and learning, creating a network for sharing ideas, coordinating responses, identifying best practices, and providing support to affected communities. Participating organizations and individuals have been meeting regularly, and have made an initial trip through the Gulf Coast region, meeting with young people, educators, state education associations, AmeriCorps, local Learn and Serve grantees, community-based organizations, and other residents to identify needs and resources.

Participants are currently planning and implementing a number of events and programs to support those affected, from free service-learning training to partnerships between schools in New York City and New Orleans. (A list of scheduled events follows.)

Though the initiative focuses on the current crisis in the Gulf Coast, it’s also understood — in this year of earthquakes, hurricanes and a tsunami — that there is a massive need both to engage young people in devastated areas in the rebuilding of their communities and also to provide a route for youths outside of those areas to play both direct and supportive roles. To this end, Resources for Recovery’s end goal is not only the recovery of the Gulf Coast, but also the creation of replicable, youth-centered disaster-preparedness and relief models.

For further information, please contact NYLC Director of Professional Development Tony Byers at [email protected] or (651) 999-7378.

Current Resource for Recovery partners include Common Cents New York, Florida Alliance for Student Service, Institute for Global Education and Service-Learning, National Dropout Prevention Center, The National Service-Learning Exchange, NYLC, and Texas Center for Service-Learning.

Resources for Recovery Calendar

January 14, 2006

The National Service-Learning Exchange Free Training

Pensacola, Fla.

The National Service-Learning Exchange will provide a day of free service-learning training and workshops for teachers from the affected area. The training will focus on best practices for disaster relief. It will draw upon the expertise of Exchange members, along with local service-learning practitioners and higher education partners from area. The State Farm Companies Foundation is the primary sponsor of the Exchange and this free day of training.

February 19-22, 2006

At-Risk Youth National Forum

Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Resource for Recovery partners will be presenting two workshops: One on developing resiliency and developmental assets in young people through service-learning, by the National Dropout Prevention Center. The second, Helping Students, Helping Communities, will present strategies and resources created as part of the Institute for Global Education and Service-Learning’s YODA (Youth Organized for Disaster Action) Program and other Resources for Recovery initiatives.

March 22-27, 2006

The 17th Annual National Service-Learning Conference

Philadelphia, Pa.

This year’s conference will feature a special series of workshops focused specifically on disaster relief, facilitated by Resources for Recovery partners and other experts. State education agency leadership from the Gulf Coast region will be invited to present, along with others experienced in disaster preparedness and relief.

May 17, 2006

Common Cents New York Global Relief Conference

UNICEF House

New York, N.Y.

This all-day teach-in, Rebuilding after the Hurricanes, will be led by high school students for their middle school peers. Participants will also make philanthropic decisions, directing the more than $75,000 raised through the 2005 Penny Harvest.

Organizations Providing Hurricane Relief

The American Red Cross Donation Link:Click here Relief focus: Provides a full spectrum of services to disaster victims, including shelter, medical care, food, clean water and assisting with cleanup efforts.

America's Second Harvest Donation link:Click here Relief focus: Transports food to victims and secures additional warehouse space to assist member food banks in resuming and maintaining operations.

A Project of MoveOn.org Donation Link:Click here Relief focus: Emergency housing offered with 200 miles (roughly) of New Orleans.

Catholic Charities USA Donation Link:Click here Relief focus: Community based relief efforts focused on the long-terms needs of disaster victims and affected communities.

Direct Relief International Donation link:Click here Relief focus:Serves as a private back-up support to official emergency response efforts in the United States.

Feed The Children Donation Link:Click here Relief focus: Mobilizing and distributing supplies in hurricane devastated areas.

Habitat for Humanity Donation link:Click here Relief focus: Helping disaster victims rebuild piece by piece and house by house.

Petfinder.com Donation link:Click here Relief focus: Rescuing pets and reuniting them with their families through the PetFinder website.

Humane Society of the United States Donation Link:Click here Relief focus: Dispatching Disaster Animal Response Teams (DARTs) to rescue animals and assist their caregivers.

Noah's Wish Donation Link:Click here Relief focus: Keeping animals alive during disasters.

The Salvation Army Donation Link:Click here Relief focus: Providing hot meals to displaced disaster victims and emergency personnel working to aid those devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

United Jewish Communities Donation Link:Click here Relief focus: Community organized and administered humanitarian relief for disaster victims.

United Methodist Committee on Relief Donation Link:Click here Relief focus: General community-based disaster relief, as well as the creation and distribution of "flood buckets" -- a relief item for those who prefer to donate with a personal touch.

United Way Donation Link:Click here Relief focus: Identifying serious needs of devastated communities and helping not only with front-line disaster relief but with long-term recovery.

From the front:  Everyone experienced a bit of shock and awe when first seeing the wreckage that the coastline had become.  That is to be expected.  What I didn't expect was the incredible response that everyone had to this devastating situation: dedication to doing everything we could for the affected people while we were down there.  The volunteers that went on the trip were different politically, religiously, socially, racially, academically, and in almost every other way you can think of.  Somehow everyone got along (for the most part), and worked together very well.  People who would normally give each other dirty looks on campus became friends on this trip; the focus on the greater good allowed people to set aside certain differences and connect on some level.  I saw the different subgroups develop, each with their own personality.  Some were quiet and reserved, focused on the task at hand.  Others were more outgoing, goofy even, creating cheers, joking and laughing.  Each group had their own way of dealing with the distressing situation, and they all worked very well together.  I was impressed to see how cohesive each group became after such a short time.  I wasn't even in a group, and I made a lot of great friends.  There was something about the mood and attitudes of everyone that was very conducive to making friends.  Everyone let their shields down, and put themselves out there a little more than you usually would in front of strangers.   What I learned on this trip will help me in my professional career, as well as in my personal life.  I will never forget my responsibility to help my community and my country.  Most importantly, I will remember that the best thing you can do for a person is give them the chance to do something great...it is likely that they will exceed your expectations.  - Mark Siemers, IU Bloomingotn.  View photos from the trip