The New Orleans Resurgence: Netroots Innovation in the Citizen-Driven Recovery of New Orleans
With under-funded federal agencies in the incapable hands of political appointees, New Orleanians had to organize and fund their own recovery. In the vacuum of government, New Orleanians have formed increasingly sophisticated grassroots and neighborhood organizations. Neighborhood organizations that engage in urban planning, provide social services, partner with foundations, universities and Fortune 500s to create the institutions that civil society needs to function. This is not a story of the invisible hand of the marketplace, but the hands-on work of tens of thousands citizens and volunteers, working together in the largest grassroots campaign in the history of the United States.
Marshall Truehill, Jr. is Pastor and Executive Director of First United Baptist Church and Faith In Action in New Orleans. He serves as Moderator of the TCA Faith Collaborative and is the founder of a faith-based disaster plan for the city which has evolved into Operation Brother's Keeper. Dr. Truehill is a former Chairman of the City of New Orleans Planning Commission and has been a long-term advocate of Public Housing in New Orleans through his ministry and advocacy for the multi-family residents. Dr. Truehill has also served the community on multiple boards and committees.
John M. Barry is a prize-winning and New York Times best-selling author whose books include "Rising Tide" and "The Great Influenza." His articles have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Time Magazine, and many other publications. He has lectured at the National Academy of Sciences, the National War College, serves on advisory boards at M.I.T and Johns Hopkins, and is secretary of the levee board which oversees several levee districts in metropolitan New Orleans.
As the founder and director of Squandered Heritage I have been able to expose corruption and the misuse of federal funds. As well as promote policy change.
Prior to practicing journalism, Al Giordano's community organizing work in the New England anti-nuclear movement was noticed internationally, including by American dissident Abbie Hoffman who wrote about Al in 1987 as "the best under-30 community organizer in the United States." In the mid-1990s, Al worked as the political reporter for The Boston Phoenix, and continues to publish in national and international newspapers and magazines. In 1997 he headed South of the Border and has reported from Latin America ever since as publisher of Narco News, which is now the new home of Al's political blog, The Field.
