The Magnolia Project, in collaboration with Cal Corps Public Service Center, works on three separate projects: the 3-week summer service trip, an 8-week internship program, and a semester-long exchange program with the University of New Orleans (UNO)

 

Learn more about:

The Summer Service Trip 

The Summer Internship Program

The Semester-Long Exchange Program

The Magnolia Project Summer Service Trip to New Orleans is a three week service and educational trip from May 29, 2009 - June 19, 2009 for 60 Cal students (including graduating seniors and graduate students). The purpose of the trip is to assist with the rebuilding effort and moreover, to provide emotional support to the residents in the area. Anyone is welcome to sign up for the trip, and as part of our objective to tailor to students and faculty of all backgrounds, we will be offering scholarships for people that cannot afford to go on the trip otherwise. The trip costs $750 for all transportation, lodging, and food. Please talk to us if you need any financial assistance.

On the trip, you will have the opportunity to support community members by:

• Servicing and distributing food to low income residents
• Cleaning up the residential environment
• Gutting and rebuilding houses
• Communicating with residents about desired changes and solutions
• Working with youth

 

All participants will be expected to attend a manditory orientation on Sunday, April 19 and two out of five educational sessions. The purpose of the educational sessions is to give paricipants a greater understanding of the geography, history and socioeconomic issues of New Orleans, and thus to make the trip an even better experience. The educational sessions will be on April 6th, April 10th, April 14th, April 16th and April 27th or 28th, from 6:00pm to 7:45pm.

To apply for the summer service trip, please fill out this application and put into Christa Lim's box in 505 Eshleman by March 18, 2009. 

Please look out for info sessions on:

• Wednesday, February 18th: 7pm in 279 Dwinelle
• Thursday, February 26th: 7pm 254 Dwinelle
• Monday, March 9th: 7pm in 255 Dwinelle
• Wednesday, March 11th: 7pm in 187 Dwinelle
• Tuesday, March 17th: 7pm in 246 Dwinelle

The Magnolia Project is pleased to offer internships with New Orleans-based organizations this coming Summer 2009. Interns will be matched with partner organizations according to their interest and through the selection process. Previous internship sites included the Loyola Katrina Law Clinic, Neighborhood Empowerment Network Association, Office of Recovery Management, Kids Rethink New Orleans Schools, Greater New Orleans Housing Alliance, Neighborhoods Partnership Network, and Lower Ninth Ward Health Clinic. To view descriptions of confirmed internship sites for Summer 2009 click here.

In addition to their work, interns are responsible for a Community Based Research paper due at the end of the summer, where they develop a question based on the social issues that their host site adresses and investigate it. Interns will also engage in weekly discussions over the summer to reflect on their work and their experience. If desired, interns can earn academic units if they enroll in distance learning courses through UCB.

The 8-week internships begin Tuesday, May 26th. Interns will be provided with $2000 stipends to offset cost of lodging, living, and transportation costs.  They are also eligible for a $1000 AmeriCorp education award to be put towards future educational fees.

All current UC Berkeley undergraduate, graduate students, and recent graduates are eligible to apply. To apply, download the internship application and return it to 505 Eshleman by February 20. If you have any questions or want to be added to our listserv email magnolia.katrina@gmail.com.

Info Sessions will be held on:

• Wednesday, February 4th: 8pm in 155 Barrows
• Friday, February 6th: 7pm in 109 Wheeler
• Monday, February 9th: 7pm in 228 Dwinelle
• Thursday, February 12th: 7pm 83 Dwinelle

The Magnolia Project is also currently working on implementing an exchange program between UC Berkeley students and students from the University of New Orleans. Service-learning projects will be a part of the academic curriculum, where students can also concurrently earn units for their department.  Financial aid may be transferable. Please check out the Cal Corps Public Service Center website at calcorps.berkeley.edu regularly for details.