Sponsored Projects and Initiatives
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Delta Express Program After two of the country’s most violent hurricanes struck the Gulf Coast in 2005, hundreds of thousands of Louisiana residents were relocated to temporary homes where most of the economically poor remain today. The LSU College of Education and UC Berkeley’s UC Links after-school initiative formed the Delta Express Program to address the educational needs of the children in the Renaissance Village FEMA trailer park in Baker, Louisiana. Through additional funding from the Louisiana and Kentucky Campus Compact Learn and Serve Grants, the Delta Express Program expanded its initial structures and services to include social, emotional, health, and civic components in order to address the myriad of needs of the children and families of the Renaissance Village. LSU faculty have used these experiences to develop materials and models for future responses to natural disasters when large populations are relocated to temporary villages. While the living conditions may be temporary, the lives of these children cannot be put on hold. Leveraging university resources and established partnerships, this project deepens and strengthens the service-learning infrastructure, promotes opportunities for university students to engage in their communities, provides academic and civic engagement through disaster relief, and helps individuals within the Renaissance community and beyond. |
To request a copy of the Delta Express Program brochure, contact the Office of Public Affairs at abrous2@lsu.edu.
School-to-Work Transition |
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The Delta Express Program models materials and strategies for improving school-to-work transition competencies at Renaissance Village after an existing College of Education community partnerships and on-going workforce development initiatives developed by the Louisiana State Youth Opportunities Unlimited (LSYOU) program. Community volunteers and students enrolled in service-learning classes participate in this aspect of the project, which creates invaluable and sustainable psychological and social networks.
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Conflict Resolution & Leadership Development |
Educational Component |
| Programs, materials, training, and workshops facilitate conflict resolution with feedback from area teachers and administrators experiencing multiple challenges in the merging students from two cultures and cities. This program focuses on Renaissance Village and in the schools where “504-225” conflicts – derived from the telephone area codes of New Orleans and Baton Rouge – have become commonplace. |
Service-learning classes in the College of Education are designed to help create a safe, welcoming, and engaging environment for interactive learning among older and younger peers. Specific educational offerings include after-school tutoring, digital storytelling, technology centered activities, parental professional development training, as well as enrichment and cultural activities. |
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Healthy Living & Life Choices |
| Service-learning classes in the Department of Kinesiology provide supervised and organized physical activities designed to develop collaboration and teamwork and identify and promote healthy life choices and the importance of physical activity. K-12 students participate in supervised physical activity, cooperative games and group challenges, rhythmic movement skills, and health-related fitness activities and principles. These activities also allow university students to authentically experience the course content while simultaneously enriching their cultural competence, teacher efficacy, and increasing their pedagogical, curricular, and pedagogical content knowledge. |
Faculty & Staff Carol Plummer, Ph. D. Jan Shoemaker |
Graduate Students Jolanta Smolen, Doctoral Student |
Projects and Initiatives | Sponsored Programs | College of Education Highlights
