The Monroe Street Journal

Issue date: 4/7/08 Section: Inside Ross

Though Hurricane Katrina may seem like a thing of the past for most Americans, as the third anniversary approaches, much of New Orleans remains in ruins. According to Dr. Pamela Jenkins, Professor of Sociology at The University of New Orleans, "Life is now defined in pre-Katrina and post-Katrina terms." The flood waters have receded and FEMA has finally come; however, life as it was (pre-Katrina) has not been fully restored and things are far from the way they use to be. With little more than half the pre-Katrina population, the recovery process for New Orleans and the surrounding Gulf Coast area continues to be an incredible challenge. In particular, there has been a massive effect on the educational system, as teachers and administrators struggle to open schools and provide basic remedial classes to students.

Understanding such challenges and looking for an impactful way to assist in the New Orleans recovery effort, Chris Genteel (MBA2 and co-founder of The Arts Enterprise Club) decided to use his skills to help the city he loves. Chris partnered with Dr. Nate Zeisler (also a co-founder of the Arts Enterprise Club and a current Professor at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio) to charter the Arts Enterprise for New Orleans (AE4NOLA) initiative. Chris and Professor Zeisler selected a diverse team of students from the University of Michigan and Bowling Green State University to embark on this two-week service learning project and put thought to action. The cross-disciplinary team of fourteen students from a variety of backgrounds - including Business, Music, Dance, and Policy - will travel to New Orleans to evaluate the current state of the New Orleans arts education sector and to assist in revitalization efforts. Joining Chris from the Ross School of Business is Andrew Charnik (Finance and Funding Manager, MBA1), Ken Powers (Project Manager, MBA1), and Karima Holland (Public Relations Manager, MBA1).

During the trip, the AE4NOLA team will partner with New Orleans Outreach (www.noooutreach.org), a non-profit organization that provides volunteer-based educational programs to the New Orleans school district. While many schools are unable to offer music, art, sports, and other enrichment opportunities, community partnerships with organizations such as New Orleans Outreach have played a vital role in advancing learning potential and strengthening the educational opportunities available to students. The AE4NOLA team will conduct quantitative and qualitative research and analysis to assist New Orleans Outreach in maximizing the effectiveness of their programs. The team will research, measure, and document the artistic achievement of students in relationship to their standardized test performance, grades, and school attendance. These measurements will help New Orleans Outreach better understand and communicate the benefits of their programs, and will assist the organization in shaping their strategic direction, decision-making, and program design in order to facilitate future expansion and national support.

AE4NOLA is a unique initiative in that it is entirely student initiated, designed, and run. All necessary funding has been generated by the tireless fundraising efforts of those participating. As the team works hard to raise the necessary funds to make this trip a reality, Chris reflects on his goals for the group, stating, "Ultimately I am looking forward to delivering great recommendations to help New Orleans Outreach learn more about themselves as an organization, as well as solutions that they will be able to use going forward. In accomplishing that goal, I hope to help each member of the AE4NOLA team understand the power they have to make changes in the world around them."

AE4NOLA will take place from May 1 - May 16th. If you would like to contribute to the fundraising efforts of the AE4NOLA program, please email Andrew Charnik at acharnik@umich.edu.

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