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.

***

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