From staff reports
Clarion University-Venango’s CU Serve Club traveled to New Orleans during spring break to explore the culture and history of one of the most unique cities in America, and to complete service projects at the Los Islenos Fiesta in St. Bernard Parish and ARC of Greater New Orleans.
Participants included group leaders Casey McVay of Franklin, CU Serve advisor/assistant director of admissions; Catelynn Fleming of Oil City, student activities and residence life coordinator; and Jenna Paratore of Oil City.
Other participants were students Alexa Chaikowsky of Bethlehem, Erica Cornell of Oil City, Kinsey Green of Chicora, Brianna Higgins of Eldred, Trelyn Nelson of Meadville, Aaron Ritsig of Emlenton, Andrew Ritsig of Emlenton, Alex Vaughn of Eldred, Saira Walker of Altoona, Jocelyn Whitman of Franklin and Lauren Yeager of Bellefonte.
Additionally, CU Serve toured the French Quarter to learn about the pharmacy where Louis J. Dufliho Jr., America’s first licensed pharmacist, worked and made many significant contributions to the field. They saw the location of the first coven of witches, as well as the home of Madame Marie Delphine LaLaurie, a socialite and serial killer, as well as the home next door where “American Horror Story: Coven” was filmed.
For service, the group assisted the hard-working crew at Los Islenos Fiesta to set up for a large festival serving more than 10,000 people. The club cut fruit, meat, potatoes and more to prepare special food offerings for the event from the Islenos culture including sangria and caldo, a beef stew. They helped organized booths, food serving items and more.
Students were able to hear an archaic Spanish dialect, still spoken there today, and stories of how they have preserved to a large extent, their distinct cultural identity.
CU Serve also went back to serve at Arc of Greater New Orleans, an organization that works to secure for all people with intellectual disabilities opportunities to develop, function and live to their fullest potential. They provide a variety of services to individuals of all ages, including parent assistance, post-secondary education exploration, life and job coaching, day activities and personal care.
CU Serve also worked beside the ARC crew to sort thousands of pounds of Mardi Gras beads and trinkets for recycling.
