MEDIA ADVISORY
September 11, 2008 | Contact: Amy Saltzman
301-656-0348
202-669-8494 (cell)
|
MEDIA AND POLICY BRIEFING
The Gulf Coast and the New Administration:
An Agenda for the First 100 Days
Bi-partisan panel, including former coordinator of Gulf Coast Rebuilding,
to examine strategies for reinvigorating recovery efforts
When: Monday, September 15, 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Where: Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 562
Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In the past few weeks, hurricanes Gustav and Ike have refocused the nation’s attention on the Gulf Coast region, reminding us once again of the hardships faced by those whose lives were devastated by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. But three years after those storms, what must be done to make sure attention doesn’t wane? Presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama have pledged to reinvigorate recovery efforts, but how do we ensure that as president their words are matched with concrete action?
On Sept. 15, a bi-partisan group of national and local policy experts, officials, foundation representatives, policy experts, journalists and community organizers working in the Gulf Coast region, will come together to answer that question. The forum, titled The Gulf Coast and the New Administration: An Agenda for the First 100 Days, will examine the policy strategies available to the next president, and how to maintain the political and public will crucial to recovery efforts. Panelists will also discuss the pending economic stimulus bill as it pertains to Gulf Coast recovery.
The event is jointly sponsored by the Equity and Inclusion Campaign (E&I Campaign), an initiative of the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation and by Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity, a foundation-led initiative.
“While our political leaders have, to date, provided vital assistance to the Gulf Coast region, we challenge them not to forget the thousands of citizens from disenfranchised communities still struggling to recover from the 2005 hurricanes, as well as the recent storms,” said Jainey Bavishi, manager for the E&I Campaign. “Disaster recovery and rebuilding must be at the top of the next president’s domestic agenda and should be part of any first 100-days plan presented by a McCain or Obama administration.”
The panelists will include:
- Angela Glover Blackwell, founder and CEO, PolicyLink
- Jed Horne, former city editor, Times-Picayune and author,Breach of Faith: Hurricane Katrina and the Near Death of a Great American City
- Donald Powell, former federal coordinator of Gulf Coast rebuilding
- Courtney Howell, director and co-founder, Bayou Grace Community Services (Louisiana)
- Jerome Hughes, member, Bay Area Women's Coalition (Alabama)
- Mary Troupe, executive director, Mississippi Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities
The event will also feature a presentation by Allison Plyer of the Greater New Orleans Community Data Center on recent findings from The New Orleans Index, compiled by the Brookings Institution and the Data Center.
Registration is not required for media. All other attendees, please click here for registration information.
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The Equity and Inclusion Campaign is a nonpartisan policy advocacy and public messaging campaign advocating for fulfillment of the federal commitment to confront persistent poverty and inequity during the Gulf Coast recovery and rebuilding process. The vision for the Equity and Inclusion Campaign is to establish sustainable Gulf Coast communities characterized by economic, social and environmental fairness. The Campaign is working to effect systemic change so that all people are included, valued and empowered. For more information, visit www.equityandinclusion.org.
Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity: Foundations Ask Presidential Candidates What They’ll Do for America is a new initiative supported by American foundations to develop sustained political will on the pressing issues of poverty and opportunity. Spotlight starts by engaging candidates in substantive discussions about poverty in our country and eliciting ideas and perspectives about what must be done. The Spotlight web site offers the latest research and news from around the country and features compelling commentary from leading public figures and experts. Through ongoing forums, discussions, and outreach, Spotlight will seek to ensure that poverty and opportunity are on the national agenda long after the elections are over. For more information, visit www.spotlightonoverty.org.