The SEEDS project trip to Louisiana really helped me to understand what service learning is. I was surrounded by a group of peers who actively engage the communities we entered in order to understand the underlying issues affecting their communities. I learned to really listen to the experiences and struggles of the people we met. For example, I began to understand the fight of the Homa Nation to be federally recognized and the discrimination they have had to endure throughout the years. I also learned about how race, violence, and public health intersected in New Orleans – causing health disparities among the residents of the city. Environmental issues were also discussed through the disappearing coastlines of Louisiana and how some individuals were looking to remedy the problem.<\/p>\n
Through the daily reflections and constant dialogue, I took the experiences I encountered throughout the trip and thought about how I could use them to benefit the Richmond community. I want to tell others about what I learned and how we face similar issues in Richmond regarding social justice and the need to address those issues. I hope I can continue learning about the hardships that many face in order to see where I can volunteer my time and be useful
\nRegards,
\nTomi Jegede<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The SEEDS project trip to Louisiana really helped me to understand what service learning is. I was surrounded by a group of peers who actively engage the communities we entered in order to understand the underlying issues affecting their communities. … Continue reading