Jason Wade, JD ’08, traveled to Louisiana after graduation to pursue an opportunity with the City of New Orleans Office of Recovery and Development.  With the aid of his 2007 HOPE Fellowship, Wade helped citizens begin the process of rebuilding and returning to their homes, which were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. 

“I was the mediator,” he explained.  “Ninety percent of the people didn’t have anything left, and the city was trying to get everything rebuilt.  There had to be someone working in between.”

Wade found his work in New Orleans fulfilling, but challenging. “Every day is tough here no matter what, since these people have been through extreme hardships,” he stated. Hoping to go into International Business in the future, or to one day become Mayor of New Orleans, Wade will always feel strongly about helping others. “I am the type of person who can’t see things and not get involved,” said Wade.  “The fellowship allowed me the opportunity to do [this].”