The Work Continues

By moving to New Orleans and officially accepting a position with Hope for Stanley, we (i.e., the NCAS, DeVos Program, and UCF) have made a commitment to the people of New Orleans. Helping a community and staying focused on what must be done is not easy, and it takes guts to say, 'We're here to help,' because then you will have people that will depend on you and look toward you for a sense of leadership and to get things done. I've sat back plenty of times and put my hands on my head and tried to grasp the amount of work that remains to be done in this area, and I lose myself with all kinds of thoughts.

But then I hear the stories and see the commitment and sacrifice from other people, and it gives me strength. I've met people that moved down here to work for $300 / month because they want to help the Lower Ninth Ward. I met a man who used his Road Home money to begin a project he's always dreamed about; a center for youth where they can have a place to go and enhance their education, play sports, and learn a skill such as carpentry. That man is still living in a FEMA trailer when he could have rebuilt his own home. I hope to help him by providing sports equipment for his youth center. I've volunteered side-by-side with Dr. Yun-Oh Whang, who had his home and possessions destroyed by a tornado, and only a little more than a month later was helping to rebuild homes in New Orleans. I've met the founders of the St. Bernard Project, and they inspire me to think about how great the Hope for Stanley Foundation can become.

It is our hope that athletes and sports administrators will embrace Hope for Stanley and recognize its importance. I believe that as much as we are doing for New Orleans, this experience gives volunteers a sense of self-empowerment. It gives them the idea that if they want to make something right, then they can just by showing up. I used to watch television and wonder how I could help people that suffered after a flood, tornado, or storm. And now I realize that it's very easy. All I have to do is show up and offer my services. I know I can be an agent for change by just deciding I am going to take things into my own hands. Hopefully, volunteers will leave New Orleans knowing that they can impact their own communities in the same way.

It is the goal of this blog to get people to write about volunteering in New Orleans and to put a voice behind their experiences. It will also serve to give updates on the latest developments at Hope for Stanley. I hope that this wall can become a collection of words and ideas that will continue to inspire young people from all walks of life, including myself and my colleagues.

Horacio Ruiz
Hope for Stanley