Idea Village News

Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding Meets with New Orleans Community Leaders

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 19, 2007

Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding
Meets with New Orleans Community Leaders
and Faith Based Organizations

Says despite progress made more needs to be done

New Orleans, LA. -- Donald E. Powell, the president’s top official for Gulf Coast rebuilding, today met with local community leaders and members of faith based organizations to discuss the city’s rebuilding efforts and plans for continuing progress.

“Every week I see more examples of progress,” said Powell. “Critical infrastructure is being restored and rebuilt; charter schools, shining examples of recovery, have replaced failing schools; and once-devastated neighborhoods are beginning to return to life. But even among these signs of rebirth, more work needs to be done.”

“We need to have people participate, act and integrate. Katrina requires us to work together. This is a great opportunity" said Maria Bermudez, Community Liaison, Hispanic Apostolate.

Meeting with community and faith-based leaders is a critical component of Powell’s strategy for the region’s rebuilding efforts. These meetings provide an opportunity for Powell to reconnect with key community leaders and both highlight and hear first-hand the positive developments they are working to achieve as rebuilding continues. Meeting participants were selected based on their involvement in a variety of key sectors including housing, health care, education, and faith-based organizations. Powell requested the meeting in order to get direct feedback from leaders on what other types of assistance would be helpful in their efforts to support their communities.

“It’s energizing to sit down with folks around the table and talk about the issues we face and the positive developments in the region”, said Sara Massey, Executive Director of Communities in Schools.

The following community and faith-based leaders attended today’s meeting:

Tim Williamson – President, the Idea Village
Sara Massey – Executive Director, Communities in Schools
John Alford – Principal, Langston Hughes Academy Charter School
Jim Kelly – CEO, Catholic Charities
Jody Herrington – Director, U.S. Disaster Relief, Operation Blessing
Reverend Ernest Brown – Union Bethel AME
Reverend Vien The Nguyen – Mary Lady Queen of Vietnam
Maria Bermudez – Community Liaison, Hispanic Apostolate

Idea Village President, Tim Williamson said, “New Orleans is becoming a center of innovation. We are attracting a new generation of leaders who are addressing economic and social issues and creating models for the nation.”

“It’s an honor to be with such a group of individuals who have sacrificed time and energy for the sake of their community,” Powell stated. “I truly am humbled by your efforts and look forward to continuing this dialog which is so critical to the success of rebuilding New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.”

For the last twenty-three months, the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding has been engaged in facilitating and streamlining various components of the recovery effort, providing key federal support and resources to local leaders, and reinforcing the federal government’s commitment to the people of the Gulf Coast.