Learning from Disaster: Miyakejima & New Orleans

April 18, 2009
past event image

Public Forum
U.S.-Japan Innovators Network



Site visit in New Orleans, April 2008.

When disaster strikes, failures and mistakes occur–during evacuation and relief as well as in the subsequent process of support to victims and recovery. However, disasters can also be seen as an opportunity to innovate and bring about positive change. Americans from New Orleans, representing local government and nonprofit organizations, who were directly involved in response operations on the frontlines of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, discuss their personal experiences during the hurricane and its aftermath.

This public forum is presented as part of an exchange program, Learning from Disaster: Miyakejima and New Orleans, that brings eight Japanese on the frontline of the response to the Miyakejima volcano eruption in 2000 and eight Americans on the frontline of the response to Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005 together to share their experiences, learn from each other and contribute to improving response to disasters in Japan, the U.S. and around the world.

Speakers:

Ed Blakely, Director, Recovery Office, City of New Orleans
Carol Bebelle, founder and Executive Director, Ashé Cultural Arts Center
Shawn Escoffery, Deputy Director, New Orleans Neighborhood Development Collaborative
Rosanne Haggerty, founder & CEO, Common Ground Community
Martha J. Kegel, Executive Director, UNITY
Richard McCarthy, founder & Executive Director, marketumbella.org
Vien The Nguyen, Pastor, Mary Queen of Viet Nam Church
M. von Nkosi, Director, Housing Renewal Division, Office of Recovery, City of New Orleans
Kathy Riedlinger, Principal, Lusher Charter School
Yasushi Aoyama, Professor, Graduate School of Governance Studies, Meiji University & former Vice Governor of Tokyo, presides.

Location:
2nd Floor (Victory Floor), Academy Common building , Meiji University
Map: http://www.meiji.ac.jp/cip/english/other/surugadai.html

Language:
English and Japanese (Simultaneous interpretation provided)

If you would like to attend this program, please send an e-mail or a fax. Please include your name, affiliation and contact information (e-mail address preferred).

E-mail: [email protected]
Fax: +81-3-3296-4425

For any inquiries, please send an e-mail to [email protected]

Learning from Disaster: Miyakejima and New Orleans is generously funded by The Ford Foundation.

Additional support is provided by Japan Trade Union Confederation, Tokyo Local (Rengo Tokyo), Tokyo Consumers’ Co-operative Union, and Meiji University, Research Center for Crisis and Contingency Management.

The U.S. –Japan Innovators Network is assisted by grants from R&R Consulting, Inc. and Justin A. Rockefeller.

International transportation is supported by    

The Network is also made possible in part by Japan Society’s endowment for policy projects.

  • Saturday, April 18, 2009
  • 2:00 pm