Through the Preservation Project in partnership with The Charles School at Ohio Dominican University, we mobilized 14 at risk high school students from Columbus to New Orleans for a service learning expedition. A completely grass-rooted effort, we raised funding for this expedition through sales of a benefit CD (Operation NOLA) that was sponsored by the Columbus Music Co-Op. Five students and two teachers from The Charles School donated songs on the benefit CD in an effort to help their peers get to New Orleans to fight hunger and poverty. The Preservation Project was featured on Good Day Columbus (http://bit.ly/eHyKgz), a local Columbus morning show that highlights great things happening in Central Ohio.

The expedition took place during the week of April 10^th, 2011, and with the support of two incredible expedition teacher coordinators... we successfully caravanned 18 hours to the city of New Orleans. The purpose of the Operation NOLA service learning expedition was to provide youth the opportunity to build civic engagement through experiential service learning in a city that represents the best aspects of “Protecting our habitat and preserving our humanity.” The Preservation Project has created an artistic, sustainable, and philanthropic outlet which engages youth in leadership development and community service; while integrating the foundation of education through hands on experiential community service. We distributed food and clothing to the residents of the St. Bernard Parish, and assisted in the rebuilding of homes in the area still devastated by the aftermath of hurricane Katrina and the oil spills.

Not only were we able to help serve a community in need, the students were able to learn through direct service how to organize, communicate, and create positive change in a culturally diverse community.

To see pictures from our service expedition, please visit our Facebook page: http://on.fb.me/ThePreservationProject

Thank you for your consideration.

Founders

Angie Leonard & Michelle Lowry