Hurricane Katrina @ 20
Climate Justice for Black Communities
August 29, 2025 marks the 20th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which changed the trajectory regarding how people viewed disaster relief, resilience, and equity within communities. It was one of the worst natural disasters in history with an estimate of $170 billion in losses and at least 1,700 deaths. Nearly 1.2 million people from the affected area were displaced in a region stretching from Florida to Ohio.
Climate justice is an extension of environmental justice that emerged in the early 2000's. It recognizes that the impact of climate change – increased floods, hurricanes, tornados, sea level rising, drought, etc. – impacts people who already experience inequity more than those who experience inequity less in our society. As climate justice advocates, we work to uphold human and civil rights to change climate policies, principles, and practices.
Program At a Glance
Wednesday, August 27
A NAACP Community Training for "Ready People, Resilient Future" | 10 am – 3 pm
Screening of Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time with Malik Rahim | 2 pm
Xavier University at Admin Auditorium, New Orleans, LA
Speakers:
- Michael McClanahan, Esq. – NAACP LA State Conference President and NAACP National Board Member
- Abre' Conner, Esq. – Director, NAACP Center for Environmental and Climate Justice
- Dr. Rasheed Atwater – Xavier University NAACP Youth and College Advisor
- Xi McWilliams – NAACP Youth and College President, Xavier University of Louisiana
- Wisdom Cole – NAACP Senior National Director of Advocacy
- Bobbie Green, New Orleans Black Girl Environmentalist Hub Lead
- Kevin Hannon, Partner, Singleton Schreiber
- Gregory Swafford, Organizer, Healthy Gulf and Founder of Culture of Cleanliness
- Laura Tuggle, Executive Director, Southeast Louisiana Legal Services
- Malik Rahim, Lifelong Organizer and Activist
Thursday, August 28
Convening and Reception | 6-10pm
The Almanett Bistro, Gulfport, MS
Friday, August 29
Power in the Storm – A Policy Framework for Climate-Related Disasters Panel– Report Release | 10-11:30am
Tent 1 at Armstrong Park, New Orleans, LA
Speakers:
- Abre' Conner, Esq. – Moderator
- Dr. Mustafa Ali - Executive Vice President at the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and the Founder and CEO of Revitalization Strategies
- Damon Hewitt, Esq. – President and Executive Director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
- Gregory Swafford -Founder and Director of Culture of Cleanliness and Southeast Louisiana Organizer for Healthy Gulf
- Jessica Dandridge-Smith, MA – Executive Director, The Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans
- Remarks by Michael McClanahan, Esq. – NAACP LA State Conference President and NAACP National Board Member
Save Your Spot
Join us in Gulfport and New Orleans as we provide tools and knowledge to help prepare for, respond to, and recover from climate-related disasters in ways that center Black communities.