Actress Jurnee Smollett Hosts Docu-Special That Follows Stories of Men, Women and Families Devastated By Hurricane Katrina and the BP Oil Spill.
NEW YORK, Aug. 16 (PRNewswire) — Five years after the United States’ most devastating natural disaster, Hurricane Katrina, BET News returns to New Orleans for an exclusive prime time special, HEART OF THE CITY: KATRINA FIVE YEARS LATER — Sunday, August 22 at 10:00 p.m.* For the past year, BET News has followed stories of several men and women living in the Ninth Ward, the community in New Orleans most devastated by the hurricane and levee breach. With emotions running high, residents take viewers inside their lives by detailing their challenges and outlining their hopes for the future. This hour long special will also raise the question: will the BP oil spill make it harder for the people of the Ninth Ward to recover from Katrina? Or will the disaster put fresh attention on an area in distress? HEART OF THE CITY: KATRINA FIVE YEARS LATER is hosted by actress and activist, Jurnee Smollett.
ABOUT JURNEE SMOLLETT
Jurnee Smollett got her start on TV at the age of five, and she enjoyed recurring roles on such shows as Hanging with Mr. Cooper, Full House and On Our Own. Her film work includes title roles in the critically-acclaimed big screen movie, Eve’s Bayou, and The Great Debaters, directed by Denzel Washington and produced by Oprah Winfrey. Smollett’s maternal family is from New Orleans and she has been vocal in raising awareness about the issues surrounding Katrina. Smollett is also a strong activist in the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS.
HEART OF THE CITY: NEW ORLEANS FIVE YEARS AFTER KATRINA is a BET News Production. Barnard Jaffier serves as producer and director with Dan Klein as executive producer.
For more on HEART OF THE CITY: KATRINA FIVE YEARS LATER visit www.BET.com/news.
This is nothing but another bad hustle, unfortunately from an ex-gang member. I feel similarly to this as I did about the Lower Ninth Ward tours in New Orleans (see article “Refugees to Evacuees to Tourist Spectacles, more of my post-Katrina anger“). Total exploitation of people. Watch this news clip.
If you saw it, the reporter, Leanne Suter from ABC 7 in Los Angeles, mentions that this guy has negotiated a cease fire from 3 gangs already to help ensure safety…between the hours of 10am and 1pm. I heard the first part and had hope. Then, I heard the rest and was like, wtf?? Heaven forbid a tour run past 1pm.
Whether it creates jobs, opens communication, is “non-profit” (I’m not sure I buy that it’s truly a by the book non-profit) or otherwise, I think this is all around bad idea.
Who can EVER forget? Take a moment of silence. Light a candle. Say a prayer. Do not forget what the cities in the Gulf region went through in late August 2005.
Where were you? What did you do? What have you done? How were you affected?
This is an excellent video that’s about 27 minutes of runtime narrated by Brian Williams from NBC Nightly News.
If you know of any other inductees please use the CONTACT form at the upper right corner of this blog or leave a comment. I would like to post a full list, if available.
* * *
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 10, 2009
(BLACK PR WIRE) July 10, 2009 – New Orleans, LA —- Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., in session, at its 95th Anniversary Conclave in New Orleans, LA, voted to induct the Honorable William Jefferson Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States of America, as an honorary member of the organization. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity’s International President Paul L. Griffin, Jr. commented “It is a high privilege and a matter of great significance that we the members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. accept and welcome the Honorable William Jefferson Clinton into our wondrous band.”
President Clinton has been focusing on the activities of the William J. Clinton Foundation since he left the White House. He wanted the Clinton Foundation to address the areas where he could make the most difference as a private citizen. The Foundation has grown into a global non-governmental organization with more than 1,400 staff and volunteers in more than 40 countries and with offices in New York City, Little Rock, Ark., Boston, Mass., and other cities around the world. The Foundation, working in collaboration with governments and other partners, makes a significant impact in the lives of hundreds of millions of people around the world.
Phi Beta Sigma’s programs, including Bigger and Better Business, Social Action and Education are compatible with the mission of the Clinton Foundation. The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a partnership between the Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association to help combat childhood obesity, is in alignment with Phi Beta Sigma’s partnerships with the March of Dimes, and the American Cancer Society. The Clinton HIV/Aids initiative is right on target with Phi Beta Sigma’s partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which provides awareness and prevention strategies through its Conversation Among Brothers Series (CABS). Clinton’s Economic Opportunity Initiative embraces the same values that have been core to Phi Beta Sigma’s Bigger and Better Business program since its inception in 1925.
Congressman John Lewis (D-GA), a long-time member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. responded “I am so pleased and delighted that President Bill Clinton has accepted membership in my fraternity. As a true servant-leader it is fitting for him to join the ranks of civil rights activist and labor leader A. Philip Randolph, Atlanta businessman Herman Russell, former U. S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige, former NAACP Leader James Weldon Johnson and renowned scientist George Washington Carver. My heart is warmed today.”
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity is an international organization dedicated to the principles of Brotherhood, Scholarship and Service, founded in 1914 at Howard University in Washington, DC, comprised of college and professional men, predominantly of African American origin, open from its inception to men of all race, religion, class and national origin. The Fraternity holds as its motto, “Culture for Service and Service for Humanity.” With over 150,000 alumni and collegiate members, located in over 500 chapters throughout the United States, the Caribbean, Africa and Asia, the organization has its international headquarters in Washington, DC. It conducts national programs in the areas of Education, Social Action and Bigger & Better Business, a youth mentorship program of Sigma Beta Clubs for young men from 8 to 18, and a Sigma Wellness program in partnership with the American Cancer Society and the March of Dimes. Notable members include James Weldon Johnson, George Washington Carver, Congressman John Lewis (GA), Congressman Edolphus Towns (NY), Former Mayor Harold Washington (Chicago), and African Presidents: Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana), Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe (Nigeria) and William Tolbert (Liberia). For more information, visit www.pbs1914.org.
The news is getting depressing. Even commercials are now targeted to us broke Americans- debt consolidation, financial advice, lenders, etc…
Glad New Orleans still knows how to keep it festive through the the best of times and the worst of times. Maybe there’s something we can learn from NOL.
50% of your donation (less Pay Pal fees) will go to Emerge Global charity (http://emergeglobal.org/). The other 50% funds the sweat equity I put into my work for your enjoyment. My hope is that one day I will be able to donate 100% to charity.
President Clinton has been focusing on the activities of the William J. Clinton Foundation since he left the White House. He wanted the Clinton Foundation to address the areas where he could make the most difference as a private citizen. The Foundation has grown into a global non-governmental organization with more than 1,400 staff and volunteers in more than 40 countries and with offices in New York City, Little Rock, Ark., Boston, Mass., and other cities around the world. The Foundation, working in collaboration with governments and other partners, makes a significant impact in the lives of hundreds of millions of people around the world.
Comments