What to do?

Today, several students that go to my school approached me about doing some community service project in New Orleans or on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. All of them spent time in MS last summer. I love New Orleans, but I am worried. I think it would truly benefit this country, my school, and these students to go and help people in New Orleans get their lives together. However, I also feel that I cannot lead students into harms way which I feel like I may do if we plan a trip. How can I assure parents that their children will not be the victims of violent crime? How can I justify the danger of New Orleans over the relative safety of the MS Gulf Coast? It hurts me to say this, but my heart says go to New Orleans, but my head says we go to Mississippi. I hate that. What would you do?