Importance Of Community Service Experience

This semester I had the opportunity to partake in two different service experiences that spanned over the length of the semester. The first was with my Fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. and the Boys Scout troop that we sponsor called Troop 1911. The second is a partnership with the YLC New Orleans that I personally took part in putting together. The community service outreach with both have been extremely rewarding because in both instances I am granted the opportunity to mentor and work with kids. If I had to choose which I feel is the most memorable it would be the Saturdays that I have spent volunteering with the YLC. The reasoning behind my decision is the fact that I spent more time with this group of children allowing me to

My fraternity brother Patrick Jackson whom graduated first approached me about volunteering with YLC from Xavier University a couple years ago. He is a project leader for RECreate and wanted some of us to come out to volunteer and mentor, he said the kids in the program really didn’t have many positive male role models in their life so we could help fill that void. The group meets every Saturday in the old Magnolia projects, which is now called Harmony Oaks Community Center. The children that attend RECreate all come from that area and range from the age five years old to fourteen years of age. There are 10 programs in the spring and through these programs children are present with educational, cultural and recreational activities. They also provide breakfast and lunch for the children. Each volunteer is asked to do be involved in some aspect that might change depending on the day, but my role was usually consistent in the fact that I mainly was tasked with participating with the recreational activities with the children. My favorite day with volunteering with RECreate was the Field Day with

I believe that children are more receptive to change and God made us this way. So reaching out to children and teaching them to trust the police was easier. Through God allowing children to be like this and the infectious nature of emotions the adults there were able to begin to feel positively towards the other side. This event reminded me of what was said in Psalms 55:14 “We who had sweet fellowship together Walked in the house of God in the throng”. Through this fellowship we will be able to build relations and bring peace, which will hopefully lead to allowing us all to make it to heaven. Reflecting on this issue has strengthened my belief that we are all God’s children and if we spread love instead of hate we can build a safer