This is no haphazard road trip. As they live in poverty-stricken communities, the students are becoming involved in such good works as helping in soup kitchens, building houses, writing grants and working with migrant workers, Cuban and Haitian refugees and homeless veterans. All say they are haunted by questions about how poverty can continue to exist in the richest country in the world. Or, you see news commentators interviewing celebrities and then cutting away to the bombing in Kosovo. Poverty in this country isn't news any more.
Nobody really knows anything about poor people.
If you see news about poverty these days, it's usually related to crime. D.C. Additional projects are being planned in Chicago, Los Angeles and Brooklyn. They are staying with religious figures or community leaders at each stop in hopes of being accepted by the local communities and getting to know the people. We don't even plan to bring out our cameras until we've been in an area for a week or so. We want the people to feel comfortable with us.