VISIONS Mississippi

  United States

Mississippi

Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: June 30 - July 27

Description: Visions offers teenagers opportunities for ambitious service work and cross-cultural immersion in the United States and abroad. We work with and for intercultural communities that lack financial and other development resources. Through service, authentic experience, and active exploration, we encourage new perspectives and dynamic learning.

Visions Mississippi participants live and work in a coastal Mississippi community best described in a September 2005 press release of the Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights Under Law: "North Gulfport and Turkey Creek are communities rooted in African American history. Purchased and settled by a group of emancipated African Americans in 1866, the few acres of land later known as Turkey Creek was a vibrant, self-sufficient neighborhood, replete with farms, homesteads and the first African American school in the Gulfport region. At the time that Katrina struck, North Gulfport and Turkey Creek were the sites of numerous historic homes and minority businesses. Community groups and residents have been working hard to obtain historic preservation status and build affordable housing. Now, the communities are fighting to survive."

Since 2006 in partnerships with the North Gulfport Land Trust, Audubon Mississippi, and Turkey Creek Community Initiatives, VISIONS participants have accomplished impressive service. This includes construction of a 600 sq. ft. outdoor environmental classroom; fishing decks and a 50 arched wooden walking bridge over a Turkey Creek tributary that eases access to community green space and a neglected waterway that was once the setting for Saturday afternoon fishing contests and Sunday morning baptisms.

2008 participants built a wildlife observation deck 6 ft. above ground with attached handicap ramp; created community murals with the North Gulfport Youth Council; distributed health and social services information throughout the community, volunteered at the Isaiah Fredericks Senior Center, planted trees, and more.

A range of activities rounds out the service. Spontaneous catfish frys, beach outings, making music with local teens. Mark LaSalle's irresistible Cajun hospitality and keen Audubon wisdom and a Moss Point barbeque with live music and tall Southern tales. Derrick Evans compelling accounts of Turkey Creeks strategic and historic place as a major watershed wetland. [In October 2006 Robert Kennedy Jr., stood in the outdoor classroom that VISIONS built three months earlier and named Derrick Mississippis first Riverkeeper as part of The Waterkeeper Alliance, a national advocacy group dedicated to preserving and protecting community waters.

Highlights: Of course, it won't all be work in Mississippi. Some of the excursions include fishing on the bayou, taking a flatboat spin to try your hand at crabbing, spending a long day and evening in New Orleans, ferrying to Shipp and Dauphin Islands, exploring lush coastal backwoods by canoe; beach combing, and more.

Cost in US$: 4,550

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 14 - 18

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to United States Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work in Groups

Scholarships are Available.

Application Process Involves:

• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network

Visions Service Adventures's Mission Statement: VISIONS offers teenagers opportunities for ambitious service work and cross-cultural immersion in the United States and abroad. We work with and for intercultural communities that lack financial and other development resources. Through service, authentic experience, and active exploration, we encourage new perspectives and dynamic learning.

Year Founded: 1989