On NORD Reform

On NORD Reform
By: Cornelle D. Carney
September 28, 2010

In the civilian world, I am the youth liaison at the Greater New Orleans Afterschool Partnership (GNOAP), a nonprofit intermediary organization that promotes out-of-school activities for young people. Before I deployed in January 2010, I spent the last four months of 2009 promoting the 10 for 2010 platform. This platform includes ten reform initiatives that GNOAP and the out-of-school community wanted the next mayor, now Mitch Landrieu, to adopt. One of those reform efforts was the restructuring of NORD into a public-private partnership venture which purpose would be to bring the NORD facilities and programs up to standard. An example of this standard comes from neighbors in Baton Rouge—the Baton Rouge Recreation & Park Commision--or BREC. This reform effort has moved from the idea stage to possibility.

As I did in 2009, I still stand behind this reform effort which is coming up for vote. Some of the critics of this plan are skeptical of it because they are concerned that community input and interests were not present during the idea-to-possibility stage. This concern is valid and I wholeheartedly adore the commitment to preserving community interest by including them in all major planning process. Consistent with this commitment, I assure the community that their interest were included. For one, GNOAP engaged youth, including me, in this process by having them research other recreation departments in cities similar to New Orleans. We were tasked with figuring out what differences and similarities were there any why. Numerous meetings and conversations were held with parents about this initiative explaining this issue. This issue was discussed with parents, students, educators, business people, politicians, and other public interests at the January 5, 2010 mayoral forum at Walter L. Cohen High School.

Furthermore, this initiative was supported by hundreds of youth and adult allies at the Super Youth Saturday Rally which was held on January 23, 2010. As you can see, much effort has been made around obtaining community input. I call upon the community to move this initiative forward to bring quality back to our children. Our young people are no less deserving than their peers in other cities but we are treating them like second rate, undeserving citizens. As the Army is always preaching to soldiers “Do the Right Thing!” Who Dat for Kids?

I invite you all to read this op-ed I wrote regarding this: http://www.nola.com/opinions/index.ssf/2009/11/between_school_and_home_a_gap.html

in search of the CURE

I thought it’d be a little easier than this. You know… the thought of loosing someone that meant so much to you for so long. I guess what makes it all the more difficult is my inability to figure out what went wrong. I am inclined to believe that I did nothing wrong. After reflecting again, maybe I did contribute. “I was not helping you grow any,” was the logic behind your decision to take a hike. I am sorry for not helping you grow, but if it means anything, you did help me grow and I appreciate you for that. I am not asking for clemency; just for a cure to how I feel inside.

At 76 Days

Situation Report: At 76 days
16 September 2010
Cornelle D. Carney

Eleven more weeks and a new unit will be here to replace my unit. Anticipation has never been greater as we are slowly coming closer to ending the 2010 deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn.

Side note: Did you know that the original name of the Iraqi war effort was going to be Operation Iraqi Liberation? President Bush and the Department of Defense decided against that name because its acronym is Oil.

There was a combustible situation that happened about a week ago when soldiers, myself included, started protesting the situation under which we were expected to work. The biggest protest was transitioning from eight to 12 hour shifts. I was not too much concerned with the hours I worked. My concern was not being able to read anything that was not military related while at work. Apparently, unauthorized “propaganda” (they called my school books this) could negatively affect my alertness while on duty. This was ironic and unfair because the same leaders who made this rule played video games, barbecued, and even went to the gym during work hours. I approached my leadership with this issue and threatened to seek assistance from the Equal Opportunity and Inspector General Offices and conditions changed immediately.

On a lighter note, I got a letter from my six years old nephew, Ashton, two days ago. That letter came just in time and further motivated me to do what I have to do here so that I can get home to my family and Ashton. He loves that I am in the Army and boasts about me to all of his classmates. All of the stresses that come with being in the Army and deployment are worthwhile when you have someone that looks up to you in a positive light. Ashton is an extra layer of accountability in that I know he is watching me so I have to make sure my actions are reflective of a positive mentor.

I am about to finish doing homework. Thanks for reading; I hope this provided some information as to my situation. If you have any questions feel free to contact me; information below.

Cornelle D. Carney
E-mail: editor.cornell@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/cornelle.carney
Blog: www.situationreport1.blogspot.com