LOCAL LEADERSHIP FOR STRONG COMMUNITIES: LESSONS AFTER THE STORM

Hurricane Katrina starkly reminded us of the flagrant injustices faced by communities of color in this country. Over a year and a half after the storm, Gulf Coast residents are still working to rebuild their communities and their lives. The rebuilding of the Gulf Coast, coupled with the shifting racial demographics of the South poses both opportunities and challenges for us. How do we rebuild an equitable and sustainable Gulf Coast? And, more broadly, how do we build an equitable and racially just South in this new millennium? What kind of leadership do we need to bring about a strong, healthy and multiracial southern region? How can we support current leaders and develop new leaders to shape this work? How can organizations and individuals work synergistically to be more effective in bringing about needed change? And what roles do funders, national organizations, intermediaries, community groups and local leaders play in making this happen?

The Center for Social Inclusion (CSI) proposes an interactive panel workshop to discuss these questions at the U.S. Social Forum. CSI will frame the discussion by sharing the findings of its 2006-2007 Southern Local Leadership Capacity Scan, an assessment of local leadership and community-building capacity in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. In partnership with local consultants, CSI conducted interviews with nearly 100 not-for-profit organizations, religious groups, public sector and business leaders, funders and community leaders throughout the region. Their culminating report, Local Leadership for Strong Communities: Lessons after the Storm (to be released in June 2007), builds a regional picture of the current state of local leadership and community building work. The findings of the project will be used as a springboard for the workshop discussion.

CSI will also share its experience in coordinating the Gulf Coast Action Network (GCAN), a collaboration of national and local organizations and leaders pushing for equitable recovery and rebuilding policies in the Gulf Coast. The goal of this advocacy network is to help to build the capacity for people to be in relationship with one another and support one another’s work.

Workshop Format:
The panel will consist of the five local consultants who conducted the project interviews: Cassandra Welchlin (MS-Delta), Colette Pichon-Battle (LA and MS-Gulf Coast), Denise Jennings (GA), Janet Perkins (AR) and Jessica Norwood (AL). The workshop panel will be facilitated by a CSI Staff Member. The workshop will be conducted in English and copies of the report’s executive summary will be distributed to all workshop participants.

The discussion will focus on strategies to build and support leadership capacity in the South based on the experiences and suggestions of people working on the ground. The workshop will begin with a brief PowerPoint presentation to summarize the project findings and recommendations, followed by short presentations by the panelists. The workshop will provide ample time for questions and discussion among speakers and participants. We anticipate the workshop will be a springboard for participants and panelists to build relationships and dive into these strategy conversations around building an equitable and racially just South.