A few months ago I gave a talk at the Smith College Social Entrepreneurship Conference. Among the other speakers was Marissa Davis (pictured in this photo, to the right of the yellow t-shirt), an impressive senior from Swarthmore College. Marissa gave an inspiring talk about the organization she founded as an undergraduate, NOLArize!

NOLArize! is an organization of college students across America who are partnering with their local communities to help rebuild New Orleans, “one community at a time.” Marissa, who was born and raised in Jamaica, graduated from Swarthmore in May and continues to run the organization while she works full-time.

Why did a busy student at one of America’s most competitive colleges decide to launch a nonprofit?

Marissa says, “After witnessing the dehumanization our fellow American citizens in New Orleans in the aftermath of Katrina, we felt a calling to simply lend a helping hand and show them that we cared.

“We are determined to help rebuild New Orleans until the city and its people are back on their feet. The post-Katrina city presents a reality of storm-ravished homes, abandoned neighborhoods and staggering poverty levels, but equally it is a city of hope, overflowing with people of an undeniably vibrant spirit and unique culture.”

The above photo shows NOLArize! volunteers in a youth library they built at the Cutoff Community Center in Lower Algiers, on the west bank of New Orleans. Over 900 books were collected and shipped to New Orleans for the library. All of the bookshelves were handmade and stained by NOLArize! volunteers and members of the local community.

NOLArize! is now making a national call to other young people committed to keeping the situation in New Orleans in people’s minds and working towards the vision of New Orleans rising again. To become a part of the NOLArize! network or to learn more about the organization, contact Marissa and her team at nolarize@gmail.com or visit their website at www.nolarize.com.

There are so many negative stereotypes about Generation Y college graduates, and yet I keep meeting smart, motivated, socially conscious teens and twenty-somethings like Marissa. If you are a young professional doing something that you’d like to share, let me know and I’d love to write about you, too.