Custom Program Spotlight: Music and the Call for Justice, New Orleans
New Orleans is a vibrant city with brightly painted houses lining the streets, live oaks draped in Spanish moss, the clatter and bells of street cars sounding through the air. You might catch a waft of chicory coffee drifting from a corner cafe, wander past steamboats pushing through the brown currents of the Mississippi, pause to admire an ornate iron balcony, or make a spontaneous decision to stop and listen to a jazz band casually rehearsing.
It’s also a city with a layered identity and complex history where resilience and community sit alongside what Lonely Planet describes as a “deep-rooted cultural fusion”—and this is exactly what we came to explore.
Met by Program Leader Kyle Simmons (who is also EdOdyssey’s Director of Institutional Partnerships), a group of students from Curry College and their faculty leaders, Emily Howe and Marshall Lancey, would spend six days exploring the city affectionately nicknamed NOLA. Their program, “Music and the Call for Justice in New Orleans” was what Kyle has described as “an unforgettable immersion in history, music, culture, and hands-on learning.”
The group aimed to return home with a deeper understanding of NOLA, including the people, history, cuisine, and culture—where French, Spanish, African, & Caribbean influences thrive.
Let’s look at some of the highlights:
Exploring Congo Square. Set in Louis Armstrong Park among the ancient oaks was a gathering place for enslaved Africans and free people of color. Drums, banjos, and fiddles would send rhythms—influenced by both West African and European cultures—into the air while people danced and clapped around the musicians. Locals also sold their crafts, told stories, and formed friendships here. The square became a key location in NOLA’s rich musical heritage story; in fact, the roots of jazz can be traced back to this space.
Discovering Frenchmen Street. While Bourbon Street is the typical magnet for tourists, the more authentic beating heart of NOLA’s live music scene is Frenchmen Street in the Faubourg Marigny neighborhood. We could hear the sound of saxophones and the beat of snare drums spilling from doors of the clubs that line the street, and one evening we enjoyed a jazz crawl here. The street also comes alive for the Palace Market which opens in the evening to sell local paintings and handmade crafts—a nod to the city’s creative spirit. Street performers add to the energy—from dancers to poets with typewriters—and the scent of jambalaya and smokey barbecue drift from street food stalls nearby for a full sensory experience.
Visiting the Whitney Plantation. About an hour's drive west of NOLA, we spent some time taking a guided tour of the Whitney Plantation. “Our visit to the Whitney Plantation provided a powerful and deeply moving look at the lives of the enslaved people who built and sustained plantation life, thanks to the exceptional work of its historians and curators,” Kyle shared. The guides place the enslaved people’s experiences at the forefront of the conversation instead of the grandeur of the architecture or lives of the wealthy landowners. From the original Big House, to the collection of humble slave dwellings, to the wall of honor listing the names of thousands of people who were enslaved, to the Field of Angels memorializing the children who died while enslaved, this was a space for deep reflection, listening, and learning—an unflinching glimpse into our country’s past.
Taking a Guided Tour of the French Quarter. One of the most well-known areas of NOLA is the French Quarter. In this historic neighborhood, we found narrow winding streets, a mix of Spanish and French colonial architecture, and the white spires of the St. Louis Cathedral jutting into the sky. Jackson Square is the center of it all where locals sell sketches along the iron fences and a brass band might strike up a tune. Here, we visited the Presbytère Museum which is divided into two main exhibits: one side on Mardi Gras with its annual spectacle of costumes, floats, and masks; the other side on “Living with Hurricanes” which details the destruction of Hurricane Katrina and beyond and shows the resilience of the local community through personal stories and photos. We also explored hidden courtyards, the infamous Bourbon Street, and the art galleries of Royal Street, and visited the Historic New Orleans Collection—a museum and research center for the history, culture, and art of New Orleans and the Gulf South.
Touring the Le Mussee de FPC. Another guided tour we learned a lot from was at Le Musée de la FPC (Free People of Color), set in a Creole townhouse in the Tremé neighborhood. This space is all about the history, culture, and legacy of people of color who lived as free citizens in Louisiana before the Civil War. We discovered skilled artisans, businesspeople, educators, and property owners who contributed music, literature, architecture, craftsmanship, and much more to the city. Exhibits also explored the systemic racial inequality and prejudices faced by this group of people, along with their resistance, activism, and commitment to community building.
Participating in a Bamboula Workshop. “One of our most memorable experiences on this trip was a bamboula music lesson with the Second Line Arts Collective, where students not only explored the rich history of New Orleans music, but also gained valuable artistic skills to support their growth and success in the music industry,” Kyle said. Bamboula is a drum and dance style that has deep African and Afrio-Caribbean roots.
Walking Around the Garden District. Upriver from the French Quarter, we explored the Garden District, which was set up by wealthy residents in the 1800s. This is where the huge wrap-around porches, intricate railings, and upmarket boutiques are found. The name is apt as the area boasts some huge magnolia and jasmine vines, manicured gardens, lush greenery, and tumbling ivy. The street cars trundling down St. Charles Avenue felt timeless, Lafayette Cemetery has elaborate family tombs, and the architecture—Greek Revival, Italianate, Victorian—is impressive!
A Driving Tour of Lower Ninth Ward. Before Hurricane Katrina, the city’s Lower Ninth Ward, was thriving. It was home to jazz musicians, artists, and many African American families who had lived there for generations. But it was one of the hardest-hit areas in 2005 and much of it the ward was left in ruins. A tour of this area was insightful as we learned about efforts to recover and rebuild, with the organization Lowernine having been one of the most instrumental in what is still a work in progress two decades later.
New Orleans Jazz Museum. We learned all about the history and cultural significance of jazz—its roots, its evolution, and its lasting impact—at the New Orleans Jazz Museum, a tribute to the birthplace of this genre. We were able to see an incredible collection of instruments like saxophones, trumpets, and pianos that were once played by legendary musicians. There were also recordings, videos of live performances, and original sheet music from some of the most influential people who dedicated their lives to jazz.
Attending Concerts. A visit to explore the music scene in NOLA would not be complete without hearing live music at some of the city’s legendary venues. One concert we attended was at The Howlin’ Wolf, one of the NOLA’s iconic music venues in the Warehouse District. It has been around since 1988 and is named after legendary blues musician Chester “Howlin’ Wolf” Burnett. Another was at Preservation Hall in the French Quarter—one of the most revered venues in the world for traditional New Orleans jazz. We were also lucky enough to attend a New Voices New Orleans, which was followed by a Q&A!
Bowling and Zydeco Line Dancing at Rock ’N’ Bowl. For a bit of extra fun and an immersive experience in local Louisiana Creole culture, we headed to Rock ’n’ Bowl for catchy zydeco tunes and some good laughs over our line dancing skills.
Enjoying local food. One of the best parts of a visit to NOLA is the food! Our welcome dinner took us to Olde Nola Cookery in the French Quarter where the scents of simmering gumbo and other classic Creole and Cajun dishes gave us our first taste of the iconic flavors from Louisiana. Another memorable food experience was our farewell dinner at Ye Olde College Inn with its vintage decor and memorabilia. The menu featured some traditional staples like fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits, gumbo, red beans and rice, catfish, cornbread, fried okra, and pecan pie.
Indulging in Beignets at Cafe du Monde. A classic NOLA experience is indulging in beignets (squares of golden fried doughy perfection dusted in powdered sugar) and café au lait made with chicory coffee and steamed milk at Cafe du Monde—an opportunity we weren’t about to pass up! This iconic cafe first opened its doors in 1862 and is open 24/7 with a steady stream of customers.
THE POWER OF DOMESTIC STUDY AWAY
Programs like “Music and the Call for Justice” highlight the transformative power of domestic study away. Too often, we think of study away as something that happens only abroad, but the US is home to diverse cultures and rich, complex histories that provide equally powerful learning opportunities.
“This journey was made truly special by the dedication and vision of the faculty and our team at EdOdyssey,” Kyle said. “By engaging with these stories firsthand, students expand their perspectives and develop a deeper understanding of their own country—its past, present, and future—and the ways in which local histories connect to global issues and their communities at home. Experiences like these leave a lasting impact on everyone, myself included.”
If you have a vision, or even just a curiosity, about building a custom study away program for your students—in the US or abroad—reach out and start a conversation. We’d love to talk!
