Making
UPA successful through our volunteers
Many of you know Ulster Project Atlanta takes hard work and dedication by a number of people in order to pull off the great summer program each year that so many teens and families enjoy. Here in Atlanta we are fortunate to have such a great group of people that make it happen – but of course we can always use more. In each newsletter we will begin highlighting the people that make UPA so successful. Watch out, it could be you! In this edition we take a closer look at two outstanding individuals who help UPA continue to do great things.
Del and Richard Halstead-Nussloch – Supporters and volunteers from the early years of UPA.
I recently sat down with Del and Rich one early Sunday
afternoon in a busy crowded Atlanta restaurant. What I felt as we greeted each
other and began to talk was a feeling of calmness, serenity and caring that they
brought to our little area of the restaurant. The sense of friendship and
understanding they demonstrate make them such valuable friends and volunteers of
Ulster Project Atlanta (UPA). Peace, caring and understanding…Isn’t that
exactly what UPA is all about?
Del and Rich have been part of UPA since 1995 as host
family (twice), supporters and hands-on volunteers. They have seen the program
change over the years not only with the “daunting” daily logistics and
activities, but also changes in the teens coming over from Northern Ireland. The
one thing that has stayed constant over the years is the project’s overall
purpose of peace, and the Halstead-Nussloch’s commitment to this ultimate
goal.
Del grew up in Michigan and Richard in Minnesota. They
met while in school at the University of Michigan. Their early married years
were spent in New Jersey and New York before relocating to Roswell, where they
have lived for sixteen years with their two daughters, Bronwen and Gwyneth.
Bronwen and Gwyneth both graduated from high school and have gone on to college.
Bronwen graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in International Studies and
Gwyneth is a freshman at Georgia Tech studying biology. They are members of
Saint James Episcopal Church in Marietta.
Del and Richard first read about UPA in the local
Episcopal Diocesan newspaper. An article caught their attention and they thought
it might be an interesting program for the summer. That was ten years ago! They
first participated in 1995 when their daughter Bronwen served as a host teen. In
the early start up years of UPA, Rich recalls somewhat seriously, he put an
average of 150 miles a day on the car just taking the teens to and from their
activities. But that time in the car also allowed them all to talk and to get
better acquainted with their new friend from Northern Ireland. They also
remember their first exposure to the difference in language or accents and not
being able to understand their Northern Irish teen; sometimes even after several
requests for her to repeat what she had said. Del agrees that the summer
experience gave their daughter, and the entire family, a
sense of the world beyond Roswell. These are only some of the recollections, but
all are fond memories.
The experience was so rewarding, they served as a host
family again when their daughter Gwyneth participated in 2002. Once again the
couple felt it was a valuable experience. Of particular interest to them this
time as host family, was that they felt the Northern Irish teens seemed younger
and the teens seemed to blend together more readily than a decade earlier. Their
thoughts are that what made the difference in the teens over the years is the
fact that now the peace accord is in place, there are more students going to
integrated schools, people are working toward common peace and the teens
weren’t wearing their “labels” on their sleeves as years past. Change and
evolving attitudes are coming alive, and are being noted by the Halstead-
Nusslochs. They had also played an active role in making a difference.
Del currently chairs UPA’s activities committee in
planning for the teens’ daily schedule. I asked Del and Rich why they continue
to volunteer and be part of UPA after so many years. They responded by
referencing some of John Hume’s principle points (He is the Nobel Peace Prize
winner, who recently visited Atlanta). Rich describes John Hume’s three
principles for peace to be successful are:
1. Respect diversity;
2. Institutionalize the respect by supporting the
new peace accord with shared resources and opportunities;
3. Have patience and allow the healing process to
unfold.
Del and Rich see there is still a need for UPA and its
mission, and they want to be part of the change that is unfolding in Northern
Ireland. Through UPA they can be part of that change right here at the
grassroots level, working with next generation of Northern Irish teens and
Atlanta teens. Del and Rich feel like Northern Ireland is a microcosm of what is
happening in so many troubled areas in the rest of the world. Let’s hope the
fact that they participated locally and had a proactive role in peace building
for Northern Ireland will impact the greater understanding and
peace globally.
This year Del and Rich will celebrate their thirtieth
wedding anniversary. On behalf of the Ulster Project Atlanta family, we wish
them a beautiful anniversary with many peace-filled years to come. And, thank
all of you for helping to make the Ulster Project Atlanta a dynamic,
peace-driven reality.
-Constance Callahan
Del with Santa at
High Tea 2004
