Herman Melville brilliantly wrote: “There are certain queer times and
occasions in this strange mixed affair we call life when a man takes this whole universe for a vast practical joke, though the wit thereof he but dimly discerns, and more than suspects that the joke is at nobody’s expense
but his own. ”

If such an occasion presents itself, then it becomes vital to assume a macroscopic view from which life’s ludicrousness is simply symptomatic of an existential crisis. To remedy this situation, it is always important to reestablish purposefulness to our lives. Luckily, this month provides two opportunities to accomplish this feat. On Tuesday, April 22nd, the world will be celebrating Earth Day. This is an occasion for anyone to reassess his/her relationship with the environment. Environmentalism is a lifestyle which values our planet and humanity. It is of an utmost importance that we develop a love for our home and an appreciation for all that it has bestowed upon us.

Coincidentally and fortunately for those of us who are seeking, during this month, college campuses as well as women’s rights organizations will be commemorating for Take Back the Night. Although women make up a little more than one half of the world’s population, their person has been historically and systematically degraded and dehumanized. Women do not feel safe promenading during the night. Night time has been reported to be the time when most rapes occur. Take Back the Night addresses this pervasive societal ailment. For the sake of accuracy, I have included an excerpt from the Take Back the Night website, http://www.takebackthenight.org

“Common components of Take Back the Night rallies include candlelight
vigils, empowerment marches, and survivor testimonials. The goals and
specific features of a TBTN rally are just as varied as its vast array of
supporters. Throughout its history, Take Back the Night has inspired both
women and men to confront a myriad of social ills, including rape, sexual
violence, domestic violence, violence against children, and violence against women. The unifying theme throughout these diverse topics is the assertion that all human beings have the right to be free from violence, the right to be heard, and the right to reclaim those rights if they are violated.”

For those who are interested in reading an inspiring speech on this subject,
please check this website
http://www.nostatusquo.com/ACLU/dworkin/WarZoneChaptIIIE.html

So, I goad all of us, to love our planet and to make this world a safer
place for women! A collective consciousness is necessary to affect change
and to establish a purpose that transcends yet substantiates our quotidian
lives.

Best,
Assia Elgouacem
-Talent Search Officer

As a relatively new and growing non-profit, LEDA must continue to respond to the higher education landscape that surrounds us. I think LEDA will always be successful at identifying and supporting talented students… but even just in the last four years, the world of college admissions has really changed. Not only are colleges and universities are becoming increasingly selective; they are also revising their early admissions policies and reducing the income threshold for financial aid. Colleges and universities seem to be looking at diversity in new and innovative ways…which I think is great news. More and more, I think admissions officers and guidance counselors will understand and account for variations in students’ backgrounds. This includes figuring out ways to weigh the fact that not all students have access to the same array of Honors and AP classes, diverse extra-curriculars, and targeted college advising.

At the same time, though…on a day like today, after admissions decisions have come in, it really hits home for me how personalized our work is. This week, we have had some amazing successes and some heartbreaking news. It can be very hard to celebrate the successes of one student, while at the same time trying to understand why another student did not get into a particular school. But we are very proud of all of our LEDA Scholars; they have done amazingly well!

Here are some selected college admissions results so far for this week…

Amherst College: 2 admissions
Brown University: 4
University of Chicago: 4
Columbia University: 2
Cornell University: 11
Dartmouth University: 8
Davidson College: 11
Duke University: 1
Georgetown University: 6
Harvard University: 5
Johns Hopkins University: 2
MIT: 3
New York University: 2
University of Pennsylvania: 4
Princeton University: 7
Stanford University: 9
Wellesley College: 4
Wesleyan University: 2
Yale University: 1

–Heidi Fisher
LEDA Director of Research & Recruitment

“The storm came. Lives were washed away. Ancient pains resurfaced. Now it is time for a sea of change.”
-Tavis Smiley

I start my New Orleans reflection with this quote from Tavis Smiley for two reasons. Firstly, we’ve been hearing a lot about this concept of change lately. Change has been the focus of discussion during this election season. “A change we can believe in!”, “Being an agent of change”, “Working for Change, working for you” Secondly, I commence my reflection with this Smiley quote because I arrived in New Orleans during the very same weekend that Tavis Smiley held the State of The Black Union which is a yearly symposium that brings together “the country’s visionaries, educators, public policy makers, religious leaders, opinion makers, and community organizers… to weigh in on the most challenging issues facing Black America.”

Almost 3 years after Hurricane Katrina- here I was, back in New Orleans. As I sat in the taxi on my way to the hotel I gazed out my window at the New Orleans Skyline (or at least what was left of it). As we drove across the bridge, I couldn’t help but to think about the people who crossed this very same bridge with their loved ones to evacuate the city.

Throughout the five day trip, I visited 11 schools and spoke with over 175 students, I was also invited to a Parents meeting where I presented our program. Visiting these schools and hearing personal Hurricane Katrina stories from counselors, teachers and students has revealed to me the perseverance, strength and resilience of the residents who call New Orleans their home. Imagine: Being trapped in your home for 5 days, losing your loved ones, living under the highway, losing all your prized possessions, moving from state to state, missing months of school….This was a reality for the people of New Orleans and many of the students who I spoke with. Through all of the devastation, they never lost hope, New Orleans is their home and many of them have returned permanently to work towards rebuilding their communities.

I truly commend the dedication, commitment and support that the teachers and counselors continue to show towards their students. The New Orleans Public School system is still in the process of rebuilding the student’s academic information. Many of the students who are now back this year in New Orleans have attended school in Texas and other nearby states post-Katrina. The counselors are still in the process of compiling academic information from the high schools that the students were attending. While rebuilding the academic data, the counselors still remain good relationships with the students, help them with their college application process, work with their teachers for academic support and remain in contact with the parents.

I am very proud of the students who I have talked with about our program because through all that has happened in the past 3 years these students have maintained excellent grades and continue to thrive in their schools.

I will leave you with this quote from one of the students I spoke with during my visit.
“School is everything to me…Katrina took everything that I loved…My home, all of my possessions, My Dad…All I have left is my education…That’s why I work hard in school, because I want to change the world. Yes, another hurricane may hit New Orleans but I want to make sure that no one experiences what I did. Succeeding in school will give me the tools I need to change the world…”

–Mellisa Thompson, LEDA Program Coordinator