Hilary Bragg is not only known around campus for playing the flute in the Bi-Co Choir, but she also has a passion for non-profit work to strengthen communities. This senior Psychology major spent most of last summer working in New Orleans with two community based non-profits that strive to rebuild neighborhoods in the wake of Katrina. We caught up with Hilary to find out where her community interests come from, the biggest challenges she faced while in New Orleans, and her plans for the future.
Name: Hilary Bragg
Year: Senior
Major: Psychology
Hometown: Silver Spring, MD
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How are you involved here on Haverford’s campus and in the Greater Philadelphia community?
Besides conducting research for my thesis, I play in the Bi-Co Flute Choir, work at Magill and am a Research Assistant at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. I used to work at the Phebe Anna Thorne Kindergarten Center but now I assist in learning support classrooms at Whitehall Elementary School in Norristown.
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What first made you interested in working in New Orleans?
Last Spring I was really looking for something meaningful to do with my summer. I knew I didn’t want to be at home so I explored different options, including getting an internship funded through the CPGC. I came across an organization called Artfully AWARE, which uses art as a tool to empower individuals to improve their own lives, their communities, and to learn about their culture and history. Although the organization is based in the UK, they had just opened a branch in New Orleans, where, as it turned out, a good friend of mine was going to be for the summer. Despite my request for funding from the CPGC falling through, I decided that working with this organization was something I wanted to do so I funded my own way for just part of the summer.
I had also been wanting to get down to New Orleans to help with the rebuilding effort because a lot of my Dad’s family is from the area and was effected by the storm, so it hit close to home. Basically I just packed up and went down there.
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Which organizations did you work for?
When I first got there I lived with and volunteered for Lowernine.org, a rebuilding non-profit organization that teaches a variety of home construction/rebuilding, gardening, etc. skills to volunteers and community residents in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans. Later in the summer I interned with Artfully AWARE and helped to develop ideas for increasing membership, fundraising and outreach. I also helped to create community partnerships with local organizations and artists in order to expand the organization’s programs and scope in the community.
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What was the most challenging part of rebuilding?
During my time with lowernine.org, I worked with a team of about 10 other volunteers from very diverse backgrounds (including French, Korean, and Canadian volunteers). Aside from the brutal summer heat in New Orleans, the most challenging project was a mold remediation job in an abandoned house that the organization was in charge of. We had to wear full HAZMAT suits and prep and treat every surface of the house to remove mold – the fumes got a bit much at points. I did have the chance to lead a small group of high school volunteers with this project even with the very little training I had.
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Do you think you will continue to work with other non-profits in the future?
After graduation I can definitely see myself getting involved with non-profit or social work. Right now I am primarily interested in working with at-risk youth and communities and am hoping to become involved in some capacity with either Head Start or a program that provides “wrap around” behavioral health services to children and families. I also hope to work in New Orleans again at some point!