Partnerships Service

Belhaven Students Embark on Immersion Excursion to NOLA 

  • David Sprayberry
  • 06 February 2025

February 6, 2025 (Jackson, Miss.) – A group of 27 Belhaven University students and faculty traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana to serve and dive into the city’s diverse culture on Friday, January 24.

Chair & Professor of Intercultural Studies Dr. Kristen White said Belhaven’s School of Ministry and Human Services organized the trip in hopes of preparing and engaging students in an academic environment outside of the classroom. “You are a whole lot more willing to trust someone and learn with them, not just from them, when you have spent that extra time together,” said White. 

Hosted by MissionLab, the Belhaven group partnered with Bethel Colony South Transformation Ministries to complete a number of service projects, including washing cars, restocking local food pantries, and working with children of the community.

After the service projects, students participated in cross-cultural engagement activities such as viewing a jazz concert and visiting the New Orleans African American Museum and National World War II Museum.  

Dr. White described the experience as “experiential learning at its finest,” as students gained a deeper understanding of Belhaven’s mission to serve, not to be served. “There were a lot of teachable moments about how to think as a team and not as an individual. It was a great time of fellowship with my colleagues and it was a great engagement with students.”

Makaiyla Wilson, a senior public relations major from Crystal Springs, Miss., states that not only did the trip offer her a practical application of the university’s mission to serve others, but it also gave her a new appreciation for the “vibrant mix of traditions and histories” that the city brought to life. “This experience taught me the value of approaching different cultures with an open mind and a compassionate heart,” Wilson explained.  

The School of Humanities and Ministry hopes to continue providing students with unique ways to engage in authentic environments and serve other communities in need.