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Stormers not ready to stop Congress push
Direct Article Link (with photos)
New Orleans City Business
by April Capochino
06/12/2006
It’s just after 9 a.m. on a humid but breezy Wednesday morning and 11
Women of the Storm members are gathering on the steps of what they dub
the “most photographed home in Lakeview.”
It’s the same place they showed Sen. John McCain, D-Ariz., in March.
After seeing its destruction, McCain encouraged Congress to OK $4.2
billion in federal aid for Louisiana. They talk about that day as they
climb the steps of the mangled, two-story house, which sits directly
across from the 17th Street Canal levee breach. Floodwaters ripped
bricks from the front of the home, exposing the remains of a foyer and
a living room.
A boy’s muddy suit jacket hangs from a wooden stud and a rusty baseball
trophy from 1981 lies in the dirt of the front yard - reminders a
family once lived there. They point to the jacket and a few women shake
their heads mumbling, “That gets me every time” and “I think it’s been
there since the storm.”
They hold blue umbrellas, wear “Women of the Storm” pins and stand on
the ledge, chatting about families, the weather and even the dwindling
water pressure in their homes since the storm. They are mothers,
grandmothers, daughters and wives.
Before Katrina devastated New Orleans Aug. 29 and displaced nearly
300,000 residents, these women watched their children play on the same
playground, shopped on Magazine Street and enjoyed afternoon lunch in
the city.
Some have been friends for years; others just met. Half are volunteers
and homemakers; the others full-time professionals, nonprofit leaders
and business owners. They are white, African-American, Hispanic and
Asian.
“The best way to describe us is that we’re a cross section of the
community, which spans among all economic groups,” said Ann Thompson, a
part-time attorney.
“It’s a group effort and women can relate to each other as both
homemakers and caregivers,” said Susan Hess, a full-time volunteer.
Networking power
Women of the Storm consists of New Orleans women with the social
connections to make things happen and the tenacity and passion to see
things through.
“Rather than money playing a part, influence plays a part with us,”
said Nancy Marsiglia, a full-time volunteer. “We are women who
networked and who had connections and who all came together.”
When asked if in the past women’s work has been discounted in New
Orleans, Marsiglia said, “I don’t know if it’s overlooked, but it has
been understated. But after the storm, it’s definitely been noticed. We
play off the Southern charm and then we hit them hard with our wealth
of knowledge.”
Women of the Storm runs on private and business donations and has about
500 members in the metropolitan New Orleans area and close to 300,000
across the country. Founder Anne Milling said the number of members
increased after Women of the Storm aligned with national groups that
wanted to help with the New Orleans recovery. In May, Women of the
Storm partnered with: The Association of Junior Leagues International,
The National Women’s Leadership Council, United Way of America, The
Links Inc. and the National Council of Jewish Women.
Educators and state leaders say their work is playing a significant role in city rebuilding efforts.
“Women’s voices and women’s experiences should be at the forefront, not
just because we associate women with heartstrings but because a
disproportionate number of women have been affected by all of this,”
said Rachel Luft, assistant professor of women’s studies and sociology
at the University of New Orleans. “Women and women’s groups are
excellent representatives and spokespeople for what happened in the
city.”
“This has been a fabulous example of human activism at its best,” said
Andy Kopplin, executive director of the Louisiana Recovery Authority.
“The work they have done has been absolutely magnificent.”
Milling said she had the idea to form the group after deciding people needed to see the destruction in person.
“It’s a natural thing for Southerners to do, ask people to come and
visit,” said Milling. “So I thought, ëWhy not ask (members of Congress)
to come down?’ But instead of writing letters, we hand-delivered
invitations. We figured you could not look at this and not want to do
something. And people relate to what we have to say.”
“Women in general from New Orleans have a style - it’s not in your face
but it’s very effective,” said Lauren Anderson, director of
Neighborhood Housing Services, a New Orleans nonprofit. “We are a very
special community. We have a love of our community and a commitment to
our community.”
The commitment has been effective.
On Jan. 30, 140 members of the group traveled to Washington, D.C., to
invite members of Congress to see the devastation of hurricanes Katrina
and Rita.
“This is a family tragedy,” said Thompson. “Everyone can relate to what
happened down here. In a sense, we’re representing all of the people
whose homes were damaged.”
So far, 92 out of 435 representatives and 47 out of 100 senators have seen the destruction.
And Women of the Storm members say they will not quit until every
member of Congress has visited New Orleans. The group will begin a
letter writing campaign to the congress member spouses to lure the rest.
“One of the things women do well is nag. We nagged and nagged the
congressmen. There’s not a congressman on the Hill who doesn’t know us.
We let them know who we are and what we want,” Milling said. “And we do
it with Southern grace.”•
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