Urban Immersion 2007
July 17 – July 22, 2007, 24 new students, 4 student coordinators, and 2 staff members participated in the 12th annual Urban Immersion program. Participants traveled to Houston and stayed at the Ballard Youth Center at Christ Church Cathedral, in downtown Houston. During the days, participants volunteered at local non-profit organizations and the nights were filled with cultural activities that explored the great city of Houston. This year's group had a great time exploring the culture and the food Houston has to offer while learning about the serious issues that face Houstonians everyday: poverty, homelessness, education and literacy, immigration and the environment. Below is a schedule of events and pictures of the projects.
The Schedule
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Check-In at Rice University
Orientation at Ballard Youth Center at Christ Church Cathedral
Dinner with Kelli King-Jackson from Children’s Defense Fund
Late Night: Get to Know you Games
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Breakfast at Ballard Youth Center
Morning Projects: Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services (TEJAS) and Small Steps Nurturing Center
Lunch with Dr. Sabrina Nguyen from Houston Independent School District
Afternoon Projects: Alliance for Multicultural Community Services and Houston Arboretum and Nature Center
Dinner from Ruggle’s Cafe
Evening Activity: Beehive at Miller Outdoor Theatre
Late Night: Reflection
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Breakfast at Ballard Youth Center
Morning Projects: Casa de Esperanza and Bering Omega Community Services
Lunch on the Road
Afternoon Projects: Alliance for Multicultural Community Services and Community Family Center
Dinner at Bodard’s and the Hobbit Café
Evening Activity: Game Night
Late Night: Reflection
Friday, July 20, 2007
Breakfast at Ballard Youth Center
Morning Projects: Community Family Center and Houston Food Bank
Lunch with Council Member Ada Edwards
Afternoon Projects: Lighthouse of Houston and East Side Village Community Learning Center
Dinner with Dr. Dr. Steven Klineberg (Rice University Sociology Professor)
Evening Project: Outing to Amy’s Ice Cream
Late Night: Reflection
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Breakfast at Ballard Youth Center
Morning Projects: The Beacon and Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services (TEJAS)
Lunch at the Beacon
Afternoon Projects: The Beacon and Houston Arboretum and Nature Center
Dinner at Pepper Tree
Evening Activity: Swing Dancing at Second Cup
Late Night: Reflection
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Depart from Houston
Our Group
- Trip Participants
Parag Bathia, Heather Beaber, Katie Douglass, Brett Good, Alex Johannigman, Lindsay M. Kirton, John Kohorst, Chase LeCroy, Kristina Liu, Travis Martin, Nicky Mehtani, Shehni Nadeem, Michelle Nguyen, Michael Pan, Valerie Peicher, Allison Post, Marisa Prevost, Kuo (Ronnie) Ren, Robin Richards, Antonia Sebastian, Anne Shaughnessy, Selim Sheikh, Michael Trejo, and Brittany Trentadue - Student Coordinators
Bonnie Breining, Meg Goswami, Alex Tran, Vickie Trinh
- Staff Members
Christa Leimbach, Mac Griswold, and Vivek Gopalan
Hard at work at the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center.
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The 2007 Urban Immersion group!
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Building forts for safety and protection?
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Houston at dawn.
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One big, happy family!
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Helping fill the sandbox at Small Steps Nurturing Center.
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Riding MetroRail to a service project.
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Making new friends.
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