Go New Ro 2013: Final Day!

Although we were tired from yesterday's service sites and many activities, we all came energized for our final day.

After meeting with some Iona administrators during breakfast, the whole "Go New Ro crew" headed up to St. Joseph's Care Facility to meet with many of the retired Christian Brothers for the Go New Ro Project Bro. The students were all inspired by the gracious welcome we received from the Brothers but also their insights and wisdom from many years of service. Hopefully these Go New Ro'ers will join the ranks of the many Iona students who visit St. Joseph's with Mission & Ministry's Project Bro during the year.

We transitioned from engaging in service to discussing servant leadership with President Nyre, Iona College's  Eighth President, in the Charter Room. It was an amazing experience, and privilege, for these incoming freshmen to meet with President Nyre and learn more about his own servant leadership style and how service is at the heart of Iona's mission and character.

                                       Go New Ro'ers with Dr. Nyre in the Charter Room

The Go New Ro experience is not complete without the final lunch at Posto 22 in downtown New Rochelle.  Each of the four Iona in Mission: Go New Ro programs have supported this local business, which also owns the Avenue Deli and Gemelli's, to be good neighbors but also show the Go New Ro'ers the importance of local business...plus the great food doesn't make the decision difficult!

From Posto 22 we then moved to the New Rochelle City Hall to meet with Councilman Jared Rice. We discussed the various development projects in the City of New Rochelle, the relationship between Iona students and our local neighbors, civic engagement, and how to get involved in New Rochelle as students. Councilman Rice generously took time out of his busy schedule to meet with our Go New Ro group and our gratitude cannot be expressed enough.

                                  Go New Ro'ers with Councilman Jared Rice at City Hall

To conclude Go New Ro 2013 we gathered in the Blessed Edmund Rice Chapel for the "Ignite our Spirit" Mass with Fr. Frank Dixon celebrating and Jeanne McDermott leading the make-shift choir. Although the air conditioning was not working (FYI it was not cold outside either) it was a great way to give thanks for the various experiences serving, learning to lead, and building community that comprised the 2013 Iona in Mission: Go New Ro experience.

I can't wait to see these nineteen amazingly gifted young adults take the Iona community by storm this fall as they bring their desire to serve and lead. They impressed all of us and truly walk in the footsteps of Bl. Edmund Rice.  Certa Bonum Certamen: Fight the Good Fight!

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Go New Ro 2013: Second Day

On Thursday the "Go New Ro Crew" continued their journey of leadership and service!

Both groups were treated to a tour of New Rochelle, visiting jewels of the community Like Glen Island and the Library Green.  They also learned about New Rochelle's rich 325 year history, famous New Rochelle residents like Lou Gehrig and Norman Rockwell, and the history of some of our buildings like City Hall, New Rochelle's first high school and many buildings in New Rochelle's downtown.

                                                            Students at Glen Island

They also spend the mornings at either the Adult Learning Center teaching English or at Trinity-St.Paul's Church making 60 bagged lunches to serve to New Rochelle's neediest residents.  It is powerful to see the difference you can make in just a morning of service to our fellow men and women.

To bring our work to an even deeper level, Professor Ilene Haspel from Iona's Social Work department led a discussion about social justice and privilege to further our understanding of the work we do and why it is needed.  The Go New Ro students participated in a "Privilege Line," which can be very hard for some people to experience.  However, our students utilized the experience to engage in a discussion that shed light on some challenging societal structures and how we can work to provide more access to those who need it through both service and advocacy.

In the afternoon half of our students travelled to either the Shakespeare Garden in New Rochelle's Davenport Park, working with the New Rochelle Garden Club to weed and clean the garden.  The other half travelled to Project Family Soup Kitchen in Mt. Vernon to serve those in need in a neighboring city. Project Family is one of Mission and Ministry's regular service projects, so this was a great opportunity to introduce the Go New Ro team to a way they can continue their service to the community in the fall.

We finished the day with two important programs.  First, the Go New Ro students got to "find their footing" in an interactive session learning about leadership and involvement at Iona from five of Iona's top student leader: Trista Rivera, Brian Pristash, Matt Harrigan, Mike Foti, and Caitlyn O'Toole.  The Go New Ro students got to learn about their leadership journeys and benefit from a question and answer period.

Then we all participated in a wonderful Iona tradition, our own version of Mission and Ministry's Coffee House.  Every member of the Go New Ro team stepped out of our comfort zones to share our own unique gifts and talents.  Some of our talents included Irish step dancing, singing, reading poetry acting, and even reciting our US President's in order from memory (forward and backward).  Look out world, this group's got the goods!  It's a great day to be a Gael!

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