The 2005 storms that devastated the Gulf region will long be studied by policy analysts, historians, and social commentators for their size and impact. Since 2005, the world has witnessed new devastation with earthquakes in Haiti and China, floods in Pakistan, and the tsunami that wiped out huge portions of Japan and its landscape, with an overwhelming loss of life. Closer to home, tornados obliterated much of Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Joplin, Missouri. Leaders worldwide continue to turn to the Gulf Coast in search of lessons learned.

A new book, Resilience and Opportunity: Lessons from the U.S. Gulf Coast after Katrina and Rita, from Brookings Institution Press presents the complex lessons of the 2005 storms and their aftermath. It offers the first comprehensive look at how the Gulf Coast communities are reemerging from the disasters with resilience and determination. Resilience and Opportunity, featuring many New Orleans researchers, documents the unprecedented civic revival that has breathed energy and accountability into reforms and has the potential to make the region more resilient to future catastrophes.  It also assesses the state of current reforms in education and land use planning, as well as lesser publicized reforms such as in evacuation planning and criminal justice. 

On August 29th, the Greater New Orleans Community Data Center and University of New Orleans will host a forum to introduce this edited volume from the Brookings Institution Press and discuss its implications.  

This forum will recognize those achievements perhaps overlooked, examine where we are today according to the numbers with a briefing on the New Orleans Index at Six, and honestly assess the business undone and what New Orleanians, its leaders, and many partners must do to make greater New Orleans a model of growth and resilience. 

Copies of the book will be available on site for purchase at a discount.

Welcome

Susan Krantz

Dean of the College of Liberal Arts

University of New Orleans

Introduction

Amy Liu

Senior Fellow and Co- Director of Metropolitan Policy Program

The Brookings Institution

New Orleans Index at Six

Allison Plyer

Deputy Director

Greater New Orleans Community Data Center

Panel Discussion: State and Future of Policy Reforms

Moderator: Andre Perry

Loyola University

John Renne

University of New Orleans    

Karen DeSalvo

City of New Orleans

Luceia LeDoux

Baptist Community Ministries

David Marcello

Tulane University

Panel Discussion: State and Future of Civil Society and Community Engagement

Moderator: Roland Anglin

Rutgers University

Richard Mizelle

Florida State University         

Linetta Gilbert

Ford Foundation

The Declaration Initiative

Silas Lee

Xavier University       

Reilly Morse

Mississippi Center for Justice

Rich McCline

Southern University at Baton Rouge 

Attendance is free and open to the public. 

However, space is limited and pre-registration is required.