By Sean Fitzgerald, NCCC River 4 Corps Member

My team, River 4, arrived in New Orleans with high hopes and open minds. It was our last project with AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) and we were ready to take in the city and enjoy our time together. As part of a team-based, residential national and community service program, the nine of us lived on site near the Rebuilding Together New Orleans (RTNO) warehouse and Preservation Salvage Store. After our full-time work day doing construction with RTNO, our stay was filled with free concerts, time spent by the Mississippi River, and a whole lot of boiled crawfish.

I remember stepping out of the plane at Jackson International Airport in the sweltering 114 degree heat-index weather en route to the NCCC Southern Region Campus in Vicksburg, MS at the beginning of our term of service. That summer I sweat through my clothes in the mornings even before embarking on the day’s physical activity. Since then, we have lived on four dollars and fifty cents a day for food and a very modest living allowance. It has now been 10 months, and our term is coming to a close.

During the year, River 4 has fought a 1,700 acre wildfire, learned construction skills, helped to plan an event with 2,000 planned attendees, and served in five different states. That is not to mention learning how to coexist and work with a team of 18-24 year-olds from diverse backgrounds. We acknowledge that this experience is unique, valuable, and nearly impossible to convey to someone who has not participated in the program.

Just as we were finding our rhythm in New Orleans, River 4 was called to assist with disaster relief in Wren and Houston, Mississippi. We were sad to leave RTNO, but honored to be able to assist with cleanup after an F5 tornado devastated many areas in Northeast Mississippi.

River 4 spent three weeks with RTNO laying flooring, doing deconstruction, and ridding older houses of lead paint. The staff was extremely welcoming and accommodating, giving us an in-depth training and allowing us to participate in weekly meetings. We enjoyed working with the other RTNO AmeriCorps members (House Captains) who were in charge of the different build projects. We couldn’t have asked for a better time, or a better host than RTNO for service in New Orleans.

Want to learn more about the NCCC and Americorps? May 14-21 is Americorps Week, seven days to shine “a spotlight on AmeriCorps’ impact in communities across the country.” There is no better time to meet and get to know the Americorps programs, current members and alumni, and their stories.
For more information, pictures, and experiences, visit the Americorps Week website.