Jim Russell joined the Peace Corps in 1999 and was sent to Nicaragua, where he became fluent in Spanish and taught in the small village of Santa Lucia
Latin America love is a family affair
Love for Latin America runs in family
Thursday March 04, 2004
Ana Ester Gershanik
Honduran-born Alicia Garsaud Davis and her New Orleanian grandson, Jim Russell, share a love for Latin America.
Davis has been connected to her roots through her work in the area of international relations for Mayors deLesseps S. Morrison, Victor H. Schiro, Moon Landrieu and Dutch Morial. She organized trade and travel missions, especially to Latin America, and annual Caribbean press seminars, translated speeches, recorded proceedings in Spanish and English and taught Spanish at International House.
Russell, the son of Virgil and Alice Russell, joined the Peace Corps in 1999 and was sent to Nicaragua, where he became fluent in Spanish and taught in the small village of Santa Lucia. While working there with other volunteers from the United States, he helped build a baseball stadium in Empalme de Boaco that gave the local people a renewed pride in their village and resulted in the formation of a baseball team.
After Russell left the Peace Corps, he was so attached to the Nicaraguan villagers that he returned to build decent houses for people living in substandard conditions. Through a partnership agreement with Habitat for Humanity in Nicaragua, he is involved in a project to build 60 homes on five acres of donated land that will be used as a model for the country.
In addition, he is studying for a master's degree in social work at San Jose State University in California, where he also works at a bilingual school teaching Hispanic parents.
"We are all very proud of Jim. His heart is in helping disadvantaged Hispanics here and abroad," said Davis, who last year was recognized as Tenet Choices Champion.
She is a wonderful role model for her family and others. After retiring from work in 1986, Davis enrolled at the University of New Orleans and received a bachelor's degree in English literature in 1990, a bachelor's degree in Spanish literature in 1991, a master's degree in foreign languages in 1995 and a doctorate in urban history in 2001.
But her work did not stop there. While at UNO, she assisted Latin American students, and now, at age 83, she is involved in service organizations with a never-ending eagerness for learning.
As for Russell, he continues to pursue help to move Nicaraguan families out of cardboard houses into new houses built by the project adopted by Habitat for Humanity, the organization that will supervise and train each worker and family in the construction and maintenance of their homes.
