AALP to Host Katrina 10 Events

The African-American Leadership Project has a slate of community-based activities and events planned for the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, including its annual Morris F.X. Jeff Awards Luncheon that will take place 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, at the Miracles, 3010 Bruxelles.

AALP will also host the Tale of two Cities Dialogue at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, at Beecher UCC, 1914 No. Miro St. This discussion will center on the fact that a significant numbers of New Orleanians and many of the devastated neighborhoods have not benefited equally from recovery projects and resources. The result is one city richer, whiter and more stable, the other poorer, Black and more marginal

On Saturday, Aug. 29, the AALP will host its annual Hands Around the Dome ceremony and rally, during which participants will form a human chain around the Superdome to remember the loss of lives and the human brokenness caused by Katrina. It will be followed by a rally at Duncan plaza for Equity, Economic Justice, Educational Reform and a Livable Wage.

Participants will meet at Duncan Plaza at 1:30 p.m., march around the Superdome at 2, returning to Duncan Plaza for the rally at 3.

IWES Conference

The Institute of Women and Ethnic Studies (IWES) will host a free, two-day forum for the 10th anniversary of Katrina examining the status of communities of color in New Orleans. The conference will be held from 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20 and from 9:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21 at Ellis Marsalis Center for Music, 1901 Bartholomew St. in the Ninth Ward.

“Community Uprising: Katrina, Resilience, Resistance and Culture after Ten Years” is a free conference open to the public; bringing recognized thought leaders and community members to discuss recovery and resiliency.

Coinciding with Hurricane Katrina’s 10th anniversary, the event will reframe the idea of resiliency by focusing attention on communities of color still struggling to recover from the disaster in the face of chronic stress and inequities. The forum will also examine culture as a protective factor against stress and its potential to transform one’s emotional state to enhance resilience. Speakers will present specific policy recommendations to support all people’s recovery.

Presenters will include Dr. Mindy Fullilove of Columbia University in New York, Nadia Ellis, Ph.D. of the University of California-Berkeley, Carolyn Cooper, Ph.D. of the University of the West Indies, and the IWES’ Melanie Powers, MPH – IWES

Peacekeepers Rally Sept. 7

The New Orleans Peacekeepers are hosting a march and rally on Labor Day Sept. 7, to promote the continued efforts to foster peace and village building throughout the City of New Orleans. The march will begin at 11 a.m. at Hunters Field and travel to Orleans and Claiborne, where the Rally for Peace will begin.

As peace ambassadors, the Peacekeepers provide conflict resolution, community building, resource allocations through a network of grassroots organizations and concerned citizens with the common goal of healing and reducing the violence through the City of New Orleans.

The event will feature speakers and entertainment. Community organizations will be present to showcase their resources.

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