The following is a listing of New Orleans events, ranging from mass demonstrations and vigils to to policy roundtables and prayer breakfasts, compiled from a few sources and organizing bodies including the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, the African-American Leadership Project, and TheNewOrleansAgenda.com -- all fine, dedicated organizations that are working in a broader coalition to organize a meaningful national commemoration of the second anniversaries of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. These are tentative schedules that were posted as of today, and we encouraged those interested in participating to consult the source websites for schedule updates.
If you know of events/actions not listed here, please leave us a comment and let us know! If you want to receive alerts when we post updates, you can subscribe to our feed -- either the main one or using the "katrina" category.
---------Scheduled activities during the Second Anniversary
of Katrina-Rita National Call to Action
August 27-29, 2007
On the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina the National Coalition on Black Civic participation’s women’s initiative, Black Women’s Roundtable (BWR), hosted a Gulf Coast
Hear Me Now Listening Sessions Bus Tour of regions hit by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The seven-city tour set out to learn how women directly impacted by the storms were surviving one year after enduring the life-altering affects of Katrina and Rita. The tour revealed that the storms exacerbated the already fragile social and economic existence of many African American women in the Gulf Coast region in three of the most
economically depressed states in the nation—Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi.
After listening to our sister’s voices about their experiences in the rebuilding process, the barriers they encountered and how they were affected by this natural disaster, the National Coalition was able to identify the most pressing issues thwarting recovery and rebuilding efforts in the Gulf Coast region----affordable housing, education, and mental/physical health topped the list.
As we approach the second anniversary of the worst storm in America’s history, sluggish rebuilding efforts have increased despair, frustration, and stress among people already emotionally traumatized. The never-ending struggle to secure a sense of dignity and stability has aggravated the severe mental stress and physical health problems survivors of these storms are facing on a daily basis in rural and urban communities in the Gulf Coast and all across the country where displaced survivors are attempting to rebuild their lives.
In 2006 the women of Black Women’s Roundtable heard the voices of our beloved sisters in the Gulf Coast. Further, to build upon what we learned from our Gulf Coast recovery & rebuilding work and from the women of the gulf coast over the past year, NCBCP will utilize the
Black Women’s Roundtable Healthy, Wealthy & Wise Initiative to assist the women of the Gulf with their civic engagement and provide vehicles for their voices to be heard by policy and opinion makers across the country.NCBCP will incorporate the mission of BWR –
to promote healthy families – as we return to New Orleans to commemorate the second anniversary of Katrina through our 2007 BWR Celebrate Our Sisters of the Gulf Coast Wellness Journey. The journey will include a full day focused on health and wellness through exercise, volunteerism, pampering, dialogue, entertainment, spiritual upliftment, recognition, and information gathering. NCBCP will host a regional organizing briefing and conduct a scientific survey/poll of survivors to evaluate their recovery/rebuilding experiences over the past year, document their stories of success and thebarriers Katrina-Rita survivors continue to encounter as well as stand in solidarity with the people of the Gulf Coast for a national call to action on August 27-29, 2007 in New Orleans, LA.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
[Check for Updates at
http://www.ncbcp.org/bwr/index.html]
TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2007
7 A.M. – 5 P.M.
UNITY Day of Community Service
LOCATION: Various locations around New Orleans
DESCRIPTION:
NCBCP, National Urban League, AFL-CIO, NAFEO, The Advancement Project, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, American Federation of Teachers, A. Philip Randolph Institute,
Black Leadership Forum, Blacks In Government, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, International Association of Black Firefighters, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, The People’s Agenda, The Praxis Project and Saving Our Selves Coalition, and volunteers will join volunteers from across the country for a Day of Service assisting in environmental cleaning up of damaged neighborhoods, schools and churches in New Orleans and we will visit the sick and elderly in
the few nursing homes that have reopened including Guste Home Senior Citizens
Highrise. Volunteers will help to paint, pressure wash and repair play grounds
in a local public school and remove contaminated top soil from communities. Our
goal is to personally touch as many survivors as physically possible to let the
people of the Gulf know that we will not let the country forget the devastation
that still exists in the Gulf. Day of Service organized by Deep South Center for Environmental Justice at Dillard University, Mount Zion United Methodist Church, AALP, Urban League of Greater New Orleans, Rainbow PUSH New Orleans, Millions More Movement and LA Unity Coalition.
TO VOLUNTEER CONTACT: RosariaBeasley@bellsouth.net or call the Urban League of Greater New Orleans at 504-620-2332
1:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.
Public Policy Forum
Recovery & Renewal
Louisiana Justice Institute
LOCATION: Dillard University in Lawless Memorial ChapelThe August 28th session will feature two two-hour town hall meetings with Gulf Coast residents discussing recovery and renewal efforts ranging from housing and economic development to education and the environment. One session will begin at 1:00 a.m. and a second session will start at 4:00 p.m. Expected to participate are national policymakers, including Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee (Texas), Representative William Jefferson (Louisiana), Representative Bennie Thompson (Mississippi) and Representative Maxine Waters (California). Dillard University is located in the storm racked Gentilly section of New Orleans.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Tracie Washington at www.louisianainstitute.org
6:30 PM – 9:30 PM
BWR Celebrate Our Sisters of the Gulf Coast
Dialogue & Recognition Ceremony
LOCATION: Loew’s Hotel
Speakers include: Susan Taylor, Editorial Director, Essence Magazine and Iyanla Vanzant, author, radio host and spiritual leader.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Latosha Brown at latoshab@truthspeaks.info or Ruby Pulliam at events@ncbcp.org.
6:30 PM – 9:30 PM
BWR Celebrate Our Sisters of the Gulf Coast
Dialogue & Recognition Ceremony
Selves Coalition will recognize women from the region who have worked tirelessly to assist hurricane survivors and advocate for comprehensive recovery and rebuilding of the Gulf Coast. The evening will include dinner, music, poetry, comedy, and the presentation of certificates of recognition. Each roundtable will consist of people from different regions, elected officials, and celebrity guests dispersed throughout the crowd to allow the women to share their successes and challenges on a more personal level. Speakers include: Susan Taylor, Editorial Director, Essence Magazine and Iyanla Vanzant, author, radio host and spiritual leader. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Latosha Brown at latoshab@truthspeaks.info or Ruby Pulliam at events@ncbcp.org.
9:30 PM – 10:00 PM
BWR Old-School Dance Therapy
LOCATION: Loew’s Hotel
DESCRIPTION: To make sure our appetizing dinner is thoroughly digested and prepare for the long day ahead of us, we’ll have a 30-minute boogie session to end the night, hosted by LA Unity Coalition.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2007
A DAY OF PRESENCE – A NATIONAL CALL TO ACTION!
7:30 am – 9:00 am
Unity Prayer Breakfast
LOCATION: Loew’s
Day of Presence National Call to Action
(Rally & Call to Action)
LOCATION: Across from Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
A Day of Presence is a national Call to Action co-convened by national, regional and locally-based organizations and leaders to demand justice NOW with and for the people of the Gulf Coast Region. National and regional co-conveners include: NCBCP, National Urban League, Children’s Defense Fund, Louisiana Unity Coalition, LA Justice Institute, AALP, Millions More Movement, NAACP, Rainbow PUSH Coalition, National Action Network, The Praxis Project, The Advancement Project, Greater New Orleans Urban League, New Orleans Rainbow PUSH, Saving Our Selves Coalition, Alabama Coalition on Black Civic Participation, Mississippi Coalition on Black Civic Participation and many others,
(there will be additional national and local groups joining as co-conveners as the organizing progresses).For more information, contact NCBCP National Headquarters.
------------
ADDITIONAL EVENTS
[Check for Updates at http://www.aalp.org/]
THURSDAY AUGUST 30th
KATRINA LECTURE SERIES
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
A Lecture series that raises questions that situates Katrina in the broader context of the historic struggle for Black liberation and human justice.
LOCATION - DILLARD UNIVERSITY, COOK THEATRE
FRIDAY, AUG 31st
NATIONAL DIALOGUE - "State of Recovery"
6:00 pm - 9:30 pm
A two part panel that examines the "State of the Recovery" and disaster readiness and rebuilding of Cities as new national priorities.
6:00 pm - 7:20 pm
"State of the Recovery" a conversation with Dr. Ed Blakely and alternative/community media.
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
"Getting ready for hurricanes and rebuilding cities as new emerging national priorities" - A panel of nationally distinguished practitioners, organizers, advocates, citizens and policy planners.
LOCATION - MCDONOUGH 35 HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1st
"HANDS AROUND THE DOME CEREMONY"
12:30 pm
Program participants gather and process from City Council chambers.
1:00 pm
Program and cultural events at the Superdome.
3:30 pm
Circling of the Dome.
LOCATION - LA. SUPERDOME PLAZA LEVEL (free parking)
We urge citizens to consult the master calendar and support ALL events of their choice, especially the Great Flood Commemorative March, The Day of Presence, the Bell ringing /Wreath laying ceremony, and the Public Housing residents memorial service , all on the 29th. Finalization of program participants is in process and will be posted on http://www.aalp.org/ and http://www.theneworleansagenda.com/ once complete.
