General Trip Information

Welcome to LAAB:

  • This is the third year of the LAAB Project. For the past two spring breaks, we have traveled to Biloxi and New Orleans to support several rebuilding efforts on the Gulf Coast. Given the substantial and continuing needs in the region, we’ll be returning this year, and working again with the Student Hurricane Network (SHN) to help you find placements in both legal and non-legal volunteer positions.

  • We also hope to expand our organization this year to take an additional, shorter trip to Mexico at the conclusion of winter break.

  • Students have performed a variety of roles on past trips, from data entry to formal client interviews, but, as Pat said today, we’ve all shared the experience of making a difference in the lives of people who are still struggling to ‘rebuild’ two years after the worst disaster in American history.

I promise that if you join us, you will have an experience that will change you – and change your perspectives about one of the greatest cities in the world as they face issues of “new diversity” and old. You will also have a genuine impact on a community that’s still reeling from the blow of Katrina.

  • There are, of course, many less profound benefits of participation as well – live jazz, the best food you can eat, and, yes, New Orleans’ unique nightlife.

I don’t want anyone to feel like they are taking another class. This is volunteerism after all. However, some comments and questions yesterday may have sparked your curiosity about the following topics, so I’ve included some basic information. Not to worry, you will get LOTS of details from the LAAB Board as we move forward.

Fundraising:

While LAAB fundraisers aren’t usually mandatory, we’ve never had trouble with turn out.

  • The poker tournaments are always a lot of fun. Your involvement will include volunteering to bring food, showing up, drinking beer casually or playing poker and organizing impromptu beer pong…very serious business.

  • Also, we will sell both USC t-shirts (in the next few weeks) as well as LAAB t-shirts (closer to the date of the trips) which you will be required to wear periodically.

Education and Training:

  • We will host educational workshops before anyone departs for either trip. These will include information about the region as well as client intake interview training. I will keep you updated as we schedule these events.

  • In previous years, we have hosted a reflection/reception after returning to Los Angeles in the spring. This is a great opportunity for you to share your experience with the student body as well as administrators here at USC.

Logistics:

We will discuss these in MUCH greater detail as the trip approaches, but we anticipate the support of the law school again this year — and therefore hope to refund transportation and lodging almost completely.

  • Students in Biloxi will stay at the same hotel as we have for the past two years and will have their own rented van.

  • Students in New Orleans will stay at a location in the Central Business District (CBD), convenient to all volunteer projects. In this area of the city, things are completely “back to normal” so there are no extraordinary safety concerns

  • Any additional transportation expenses related to the trip (e.g., cabs) will also likely be covered by LAAB, provided the administration chooses to support us at the same levels as they have for the last two years.

We all hope you’ll join us for one or both of our trips this year.