Katrina@5

Join members of the philanthropic community for this special 2.5-day conference in New Orleans, just a few months before the 5th anniversary of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Nearly 5 years after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, learn how commitment, collaboration, and creativity are transforming the Gulf Coast—and how strategies there can be used around the country. Katrina @ 5 is a collaborative effort of the Association of Small Foundations and more than 30 partner organizations representing national, regional, and local funders and funder networks. This conference is made possible in part through generous grants from The Azby Fund and the Ford Foundation.

While many challenges persist, we’re hearing more and more about the Gulf Coast being a hotbed of inspiration, creativity, and fresh approaches. The Katrina @ 5 conference represents a rare opportunity to see this vibrant history in the making. It’s also a chance to look at how philanthropy’s role in the recovery worked, how it didn’t, and what’s yet to be done.

Look for GFEM sessions exploring the role of innovative media projects in relief and recovery.

Explore philanthropy’s role as a partner in recovery and transformation—together with hundreds of fellow funders.

Tap into critical conversations brought to the forefront by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita—on disaster preparedness, response, and recovery; housing and homelessness; economic rejuvenation; education; community involvement; and more.

Celebrate and be inspired by progress made in the Gulf Coast. You’ll find a window onto the hard work that donors, nonprofits, and many others are doing to address issues of local, regional, and national significance.

Gain up-close insight into the significant work that remains in the Gulf—issues being faced on the ground, the areas of unmet need, and the opportunities for action.

Affirm your support for the Gulf through your Presence, your Attention, and your Action.

Registration is now open. Visit www.KatrinaAtFive.org for more information.

GFEM Sessions and Screening:

Monday, March 22, 2010: 1:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Radio Is King: The Low Power FM Revolution in Your Neighborhood
Join GFEM, Prometheus Radio Project and local experts in a session on the whys, hows and low cost(!) of establishing low-power FM radio stations – critical information hubs that are filling a gap left by the hurricane and the collapse of journalism as we previously knew it.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010: 8 p.m.
Mine: Film Screening and Discussion
Join GFEM, your colleagues, filmmaker Geralyn Pezanoski and Jessie Pullins, a pet owner portrayed in the film, for a documentary screening and discussion that dives into critical questions of race, class, disaster preparedness and relief though the poignant story of New Orleans pet owners and their beloved four-legged companions. 

Wednesday, March 24, 2010: 9:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Maximum Impact: Utilizing Media to Move Your Mission
Join GFEM, Erlin Ibreck of the Open Society Institute and Katrina Media Fellows for a facilitated discussion about media as a tool to amplify philanthropic work.  The dialogue will focus on how media projects have been implemented in the Gulf Region to strengthen program outcomes and how such cost-effective models can be replicated nationally and internationally.