Now that we're back, part of our goal is to keep you informed about the situation on the Gulf Coast. In the near future, we hope to keep the spirit of our trip alive through events where you can learn more about our individual experiences and those of other students across New York City. Until then, watch this space!

We've also run across some links that talk a bit more about the projects we worked on over break, especially those in New Orleans.

The Times-Picayune is a great source for on-the-ground hurricane recovery coverage. On March 18th, they did a story on Project Triage. (As you may remember, ten of us volunteered with Project Triage and worked side-by-side with students Sarah and Luke, as well as with Meg Garvey and Prof. Pam Metzger.) The following Monday, the Times-Picayune printed an editorial about the indigent defense situation and the larger problems within the criminal justice system in Louisiana. In their closing, the editorial remarks:

The justice system needs to be swift, fair and efficient. When innocent people are convicted and guilty people go free, victims are denied justice. Public safety suffers. Building a functional criminal justice system is crucial to New Orleans' future. And improving indigent defense needs to be part of the agenda.

Right on!

As Chris mentioned below, the Times-Picayune wrote about the ICE raids that occurred on the last day of his placement with the Workers' Rights Project, and quoted his colleague Abraham Salcedo from Fordham Law.

Also in the Times-Picayune and its sister site nola.com, an article about St. Augustine Catholic Church, which was forced to close due to lack of parishioners. Mary Anne wrote about attending one of the last services at St. Augustine way back on March 12th.