If you don’t know Jim Luce, you’re missing out on something special. But if you don’t know this low key, soft-spoken, that’s no surprise. His impact on young people, especially orphans, happens without a lot of noise. And now, the receding pandemic has let him get back to work.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
Jim Luce: Out of the Pandemic, Back on the Road
“Our India trip will be first to Gaya, Bihar to open our Saraswati Centre. It features a free primary school, orphan home ground-breaking, and possible pop-up health clinic,” he writes.
Moving on…
Then, he’s off “to visit the university library we hope to sponsor — In Maoist guerrilla territory.” When he could be home on Roosevelt Island, directing from a distance.
Luce is not known for taking the easy way out. Commitment and hard work saves lives.
In Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh “I meet with the team of H.H. The Dalai Lama who we partner with for…Manjushree Orphanage in Tawang, Arunachsl Pradesh, once part of Old Tibet.
“The Indian Army seized it from China when the Dalai Lama arrived in 1959 when Tibet was annexed by China. Our two-day, 4×4 trip over the Himalayan Mountains on the Tibetan/Chinese border in a military zone closed to the world.”
Helicopter is possible if the weather cooperates, which is seldom… “
“The $800k academic building we helped construct for Manjushree Orphanage stands 9,000 feet up. Hard to acclimate at first…
“For years, we ran two centers just below India in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka after the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami (as we did in Aceh, Indonesia), and plan on meeting with fellow Lions across neighboring Bangladesh beginning in January.”
All this is quietly organized and energized from Roosevelt Island with Jim Luce at the wheel. And now, mostly on foot.
Internet access is, of course, a challenge along this route, but Luce promised to keep us informed when possible. We will update when we can.
More from the roosevelt island daily
- How Roosevelt Island’s Steady Daily Life Connects With City ChangesExplore how Roosevelt Island’s steady daily life connects with city changes, from safety incidents to neighborhood campaigns, and how island routines shape our shared urban rhythms.
- Mother’s Day Weekend on Roosevelt Island: Warming Up to CommunityCelebrate community during Mother’s Day weekend on Roosevelt Island. Discover how neighbors gather, new spots like Citarella, and the warmth of the season.
- How Queens News and Community Events Influence Roosevelt Island Daily LifeSee how Queens news and community events influence Roosevelt Island daily life, touching on public safety, housing changes, and neighborhood connections.
- June News Highlights: Roosevelt Island and Queens Community UpdatesGet the latest June news highlights from Roosevelt Island and Queens, including community updates, local safety, rent discussions, transit negotiations, and celebrations.
- Community Safety and Resilience on Roosevelt Island and BeyondCommunity safety and resilience on Roosevelt Island and beyond are reflected in how our neighbors, institutions, and leaders quietly respond to challenges and sustain local life.
The Committee Man
Committees are supposed to be where outcomes are shaped. They are meant to be the place where questions slow decisions down, where competing interests surface, and where public responsibility is exercised before anything reaches a formal vote.
2 COMMENTS