Katrina @ 5: Partners in Philanthropy is a special convening of the philanthropic community, nearly five years after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, to explore the lessons of response, rebuilding, and transformation in the Gulf Coast, and how they apply to communities around the country.

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This post is simply an invitation: please share your comments about Katrina @ 5. If you were at the conference, or if you didn’t attend but are interested in what we were learning and talking about for the past three days in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast, please tell us your thoughts and observations. Thanks!

Katrina @ 5: Partners in Philanthropy is a special convening of the philanthropic community, nearly five years after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, to explore the lessons of response, rebuilding, and transformation in the Gulf Coast, and how they apply to communities around the country.

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The recent earthquakes in Haiti and Chile have taught us an important lesson in disaster preparedness. The stark contrast between the two earthquakes demonstrates not only the life-saving benefits of basic preparedness measures, such as proper building codes, but also the value of an effective response and recovery plan. As a country prone to earthquakes, Chile has experienced firsthand the importance of looking back and applying lessons to future disasters.

Katrina @ 5: Partners in Philanthropy gives us an opportunity to do that as well. It’s been almost five years since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast. Community recovery efforts in the Gulf Coast have long since dropped out of the media’s eye and are rarely discussed by most philanthropists. But there are still stories to be told and more importantly, lessons to be learned.

In just a few days, the communities of the Gulf Coast will share with us their stories and their knowledge, inspiring us to reengage there and to apply the region’s lessons to future disasters in the U.S. and abroad. As Chile and Haiti have reminded us, it’s time to look back to the past and prepare for the future.

I look forward to seeing so many friends and peers in NOLA as we remember the past, learn lessons, inspire each other and celebrate our successes together.

Eric Kessler, Principal and Founder, Arabella Philanthropic Investment Advisors
Katrina @ 5 Partner

Katrina @ 5: Partners in Philanthropy is a special convening of the philanthropic community, nearly five years after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, to explore the lessons of response, rebuilding, and transformation in the Gulf Coast, and how they apply to communities around the country. 

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What a thrill! Just since February 15 – only 11 days ago – registration for Katrina @ 5: Partners in Philanthropy has jumped by an incredible 84 percent. It’s fantastic to see so many people being moved by the mission and message of this conference enough to decide to join us in New Orleans March 22-24.
 
But, you know, the conference has been a success since its inception because two things happened. First, more than 20 philanthropy organizations committed to sending leaders to the conference. Collectively, through their respective organizations, these leaders are information gatekeepers for literally thousands of foundations. Second, the partners had the wisdom to run the conference collaboratively and to let local organizations play the key role in shaping it. So now, when the people of the Gulf Coast share their lessons of what’s working and what’s yet to be done, we’ll know that what we’re learning is based in real experience. And that will be a step forward for all of us.
 
It’s been nearly five years since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the Gulf Coast, nearly five years for all of us to do our best to help and to think a lot about how to learn from these years so that the future is better. It’s a perfect time to take stock, listen, and engage. I look forward to seeing you at Katrina @ 5.

Tim Walter, CEO Association of Small Foundations
Katrina @ 5 Partner

Katrina @ 5: Partners in Philanthropy is a special convening of the philanthropic community, nearly five years after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, to explore how the lessons of response, rebuilding, and transformation in the Gulf Coast apply to communities around the country. 

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Why join us?

1. The lessons apply everywhere – not only in the Gulf, but in communities everywhere that are working to overcome odds and reinvent themselves.
2. You’re working to transform communities – tackling education, economic development, and many of the same issues at the forefront in the Gulf.
3. You’re in a position to lead – the transformation of communities around the country and the world.

This March 22-24, while history is still fresh, gather with hundreds of fellow funders to explore what has worked in the Gulf Coast region, what hasn’t and bring home the lessons for your work in communities everywhere.

Katrina @ 5: Partners in Philanthropy is a special convening of the philanthropic community, nearly five years after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, to explore how the lessons of response, rebuilding, and transformation in the Gulf Coast apply to communities around the country.

The recent earthquake in Haiti is a harsh reminder that disaster can strike anytime and anywhere. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck our own Gulf Coast in 2005, devastating countless lives and communities in the region, and leaving an impact on the entire country that is still strongly felt today.

What can we learn from the response, rebuilding and community transformation five years following these disasters? How do these lessons apply to communities around the country and the world – from Flint, Michigan to Port au Prince, Haiti?

Join us March 22-24 in New Orleans for Katrina @ 5: Partners in Philanthropy. Learn, share, and affirm your support for the Gulf Coast—and for sustainable, resilient communities everywhere.

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Listen to “Earthquake in Haiti: A Briefing for the Foundation Community”
Katrina @ Five Partners hosted a conference call for the foundation community on the Haitian earthquake. Hear on the ground information and experienced disaster grantmakers reflect on lessons learned as participants consider their own approach to assistance.