Berklee Helps Build Homes in New Orleans
Berklee has almost doubled the number of staff that will travel to New Orleans this year June 23-28 to spend a week building homes in the New Orleans Musicians' Village. This is the latest effort from the first college of jazz in the birthplace of jazz, and the second time the college has sent staff to work on location. Last year, the effort was documented by several media outlets to remind Bostonians that the rebuilding process continues in that region. One of those stories ran on Boston's CBS-TV affiliate, WBZ. Read updates written by this year's Berklee team on the Berklee in NOLA blog.
Staff members traveling to New Orleans are:
Camille Colatosti - Chair, Liberal Arts
Herman Hampton - Assistant Professor, Ensembles
Jon Hazilla - Associate Professor, Percussion
Kathryn Hencir - Academic Advisor, Counseling Center
Juliana Horton - Director of Academic Services, Academic Affairs
Jeff Muzerolle - Senior Data Technician, Administrative Systems
Patricia Peknik - Assistant Professor, Liberal Arts
Diane Richardson - Associate Professor, Voice
Gabe Roses - Special Services Advisor, Counseling Center
Paul Stiller - Associate Professor, Ear Training
Barbara Thomas - Major Gifts Coordinator, Development
Michael Willliams - Professor, Guitar
Maegan Wright - Senior Administrative Assistant, Financial Aid
Linda Embardo-Project Manager - Senior Training and Support Coordinator
Roya Nassery - Project Manager - Faculty Development, Academic Affairs
This is Berklee's only sponsored volunteer program for staff and this year includes faculty as well. A committee reviewed letters of intent submitted by applicants describing their motivations and expectations for the experience. Sponsorships include travel, hotel, meals, and daily expenses. The team will work from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. No previous construction experience was required; all training will be done on site.
Outreach began a month after Hurricane Katrina hit, when Berklee organized the New Orleans Resurrection Brass Band to march in Boston as a fundraising event featuring alumni and Big Easy natives Donald Harrison and Christian Scott. That year the college also hosted New Orleans musicians for teaching and performing residencies whose lives were affected by Hurricane Katrina, including Ellis Marsalis, Marva Wright, Harrison and others. Since then two tremendously talented young musicians from the area, Joe Dyson and Max Moran, have been awarded the prestigious, full-ridePresidential Scholarship and a full-tuition scholarship respectively for study at the college.
Related Links
- Port Berklee professor returns from New Orleans with rewards of inspiration(Newburyport Current, July 25, 2008)
- A musical revival (The Daily News Tribune, July 8, 2008)
- Somerville resident travels with Berklee to help New Orleans (Somerville Journal, July 4, 2008)
- Local Berklee professor travels to New Orleans to help Katrina victims, build curriculum (Newburyport Current, June 20, 2008)