New Orleans: The American Disaster

February 13th-16th at the UCSC campus will be dedicated to raising awareness about the issues surrounding New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The event, titled "New Orleans: The American Disaster," will highlight issues regarding the various levels of institutionalized inequity exemplified by the post hurricane response.

By illuminating and deconstructing the post hurricane events, the teach-in hopes to reintroduce problems such as race, class, and gender into the minds and language of the local community in applicable ways. Each night will focus on making connections to the day-to-day parallels of injustice in the social makeup of America. The event will be action oriented, encouraging opportunities for community members and students to engage with activists from the Bay Area and grassroots organizers from New Orleans.

Speakers for this week-long event will include John Brown Childs, Jeremy Prickett, Malcolm Suber, Paul Ortiz, Betita Martinez, and many more.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Monday, February 13th: Governmental Policies and Responses
Speakers: Sociology Professor John Brown Childs, Sociology Lecturer Francesca Guerra, and New Orleans Anti-Eviction activist Jeremy Prickett.
Oakes 105-- 7-9PM.
Tuesday, February 14th: Race, Class and Gender
Speakers: Paul Ortiz (UCSC Community Studies), SNCC organizer Paul Hutchings, and SNCC organizer Betita Martinez.
Stevenson Event Center-- 7-9PM
Wednesday, February 15th: Environmental and Health Issues
Speakers: UCSC Environmental Historian Linda Ivey and more TBA.
Oakes 105-- 7-9PM
Thursday, February 16th: Grassroots Response and the Future of New Orleans
Speakers: New Orleans Housing Emergency Action Team activist Jeremy Prickett, former Black Panther and People's Hurricane Relief Fund activist Malcolm Suber, local activist Curtis Rutherford, and more TBA.
Kresge 321-- 7-9PM
**Each day will feature video footage, audio interviews, and photos from New Orleans, and discussion groups facilitated by students and activists returning from New Orleans.**