E-mail a friendAugust 17, 2006
In New Orleans, a discussion on the continuing impact of Hurricane Katrina includes Angela Blackwell of PolicyLink, journalist Jed Horne, State Rep. Charmaine Marchand, filmmaker Royce Osborn and Police Superintendent Warren Riley.
Warren Riley
Warren Riley
Warren Riley became New Orleans Police Superintendent in '05. He's a 24-year police vet who ran the department after the departure of the former superintendent. Riley rose through the ranks, serving as assistant commander of community policing and deputy chief of operations during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. He grew up in New Orleans' Gert Town neighborhood and has a master's degree in criminal justice. Taking the helm at a troubled time, Riley acknowledged immediate challenges.
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.