E-mail a friendAugust 18, 2006
Part 2 of a discussion on post-Katrina re-building efforts in New Orleans includes PolicyLink's Angela Blackwell, Jed Horne of the Times-Picayune, State Representative Charmaine Marchand, filmmaker Royce Osborn and iconic entertainer Irma Thomas.
Irma Thomas
Irma Thomas
Known as the "Soul Queen of New Orleans," singer-songwriter-producer Irma Thomas has been in the music business almost 50 years. She was discovered at age 16 and, by age 19, was a twice-married mother of four. The Louisiana native proved to be a survivor, traveling the Chittlin' Circuit, recording for several companies and eventually earning a Grammy nod. Thomas lost her New Orleans club to Hurricane Katrina, but continues to perform at jazz festivals. She also has a new CD, 'After the Rain.'
Royce Osborn
Royce Osborn
New Orleans native Royce Osborn and his wife survived the wrath of Hurricane Katrina. They evacuated from New Orleans days after the area was hit. They're now staying with family in Los Angeles. Osborn is a TV and documentary writer and producer. His PBS documentary, All on a Mardi Gras Day, celebrates his hometown in all its riotous, colorful and spiritual glory. His credits also include writer for the 35th and 36th NAACP Image Awards.
Charmaine Marchand
Charmaine Marchand
Louisiana State Rep. Charmaine Marchand's district includes New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward, an area devastated by Hurricane Katrina. A resident of the area who also lost her home, she founded a homeowners association as a way to reunite residents. She's an outspoken advocate for residents' right to return home and a high-profile spokesperson for the Ward. Marchand earned her J.D. at New Orleans' Southern University Law Center, is a practicing attorney and previously served as Assistant City Attorney.
Angela Blackwell
Angela Blackwell
Angela Blackwell is a nationally recognized voice on racial and social equity issues. She's the founder & president of PolicyLink, a national nonprofit focused on the community building movement, including the Gulf Coast rebuilding efforts. A lawyer by training, she previously served with The Rockefeller Foundation and as a partner with Public Advocates. She's also co-author of Searching for the Uncommon Common Ground and has been published in the Op-Ed pages of several major newspapers.
Jed Horne
Jed Horne
Metro editor at the New Orleans Times-Picayune, Jed Horne is a resident of the city's French Quarter. He's a veteran writer for magazines and alternative newsweeklies and was part of the team which won two Pulitzers for Hurricane Katrina coverage. His first book, Desire Street, was nominated for the '06 Edgar Award for nonfiction crime writing. Horne's new book, Breach of Faith, chronicles the engineering and political failings behind the disaster and looks at efforts to rebuild the city.