Foundation Hosts Seventh Annual
Inter-Ethnic Congressional Staff Luncheon
Katrina: What’s Next?
Race Relations and Rebuilding New Orleans

The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding hosted its Inter-Ethnic Congressional Staff Luncheon on Monday, March 19, 2007, on Capitol Hill. The panel discussed race relations and the rebuilding of New Orleans nineteen months after Hurricane Katrina ripped
through the city.

Over eighty Congressional staffers, lay leaders and corporate leaders attended the luncheon. Basya Laye, Foundation Director, gave opening remarks and Alicia Simmons, Congressional Outreach Director, served as moderator. Panelist Congressman William Jefferson (2nd-LA) discussed the current situation in New Orleans, including
where the federal money for rebuilding is being sent, as well as the various challenges New Orleans is facing.

Other panelists included Hilary Shelton, Director of the NAACP Washington Bureau, who encouraged those in attendance to become legislatively involved with efforts to repair the Gulf Coast.

Le'Kedra Robertson of the Katrina Information Network, when asked what the state of race relations on the ground actually is, replied that many communities are currently in a state of unrest, in a city where southern culture and tradition dictate social and familial
allegiance. As a result some ethnic communities are pitted against other communities. As an example, Robertson mentioned the issue of voting rights among New Orleanians. Some of the people that have recently moved into the region are not in favor of those New Orleanians displaced by the storm having the right to vote.

Stephen Peychaud, Director of the Recovery Support Branch of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) spoke about the agency's continued efforts to make sure displaced residents are being accessed by federal programs in order to assist them in rebuilding. Mr. Peychaud, who is a New Orleanian, said that he personally understands
the frustrating process of rebuilding as he is currently living in a FEMA-issued trailer and that he too has to wait for federal assistance. Mr. Peychaud also spoke of other government programs such as SBA loans and how personal insurance can be used to promote recovery.

Also on the panel was Ms. Tuyet Duong, Language Access and Emergency Preparedness Attorney for the Asian American Justice Center and former Staff Attorney for Boat People SOS, who shed light on the ethnic makeup of the Gulf Coast and the impact of the storm. Ms. Duong spoke at length about the large Vietnamese population
that was affected by Hurricane Katrina who lost businesses and homes. Many of these Vietnamese Americans owned shrimping businesses that were lost in the storm along with other minority owned businesses. When asked what organizations outside Congress can do to help the residents of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast rebuild their cities and lives, Ms. Duong mentioned continued support of the Red Cross and collective volunteer efforts.

Anna-Maria Schneider, Executive Director and Deputy to the Group Vice President, Government and Industry Affairs, Toyota Motor North America, Inc., Washington DC office sponsor gave remarks and spoke of the role Toyota took in the recovery and rebuilding efforts. She discussed the importance of corporate responsibility and the
vital role companies can take to make a difference.

Other topics discussed were how organizations can keep media attention on the post Katrina and post-Rita challenges and what Americans can do to support Congress in making sure this area is rebuilt with equality to all ethnic groups and economic levels.

View photos from this event

Copyright © 2007 The Foundation For Ethnic Understanding
The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding was founded in 1989 by Rabbi Marc Schneier and the late Joseph Papp.
We are committed to the belief that direct, face-to-face, dialogue between leaders of ethnic communities is
the most effective path toward the reduction of bigotry and the promotion of reconciliation and understanding.

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