Help After The Storm Foundation

After The Storm Foundation

Boise, Idaho

Cause Description:
Almost three years ago, on the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, actor and songwriter, Randy Redd, Academy Award-winning writer and activist James Lecesne, actor and director Gerry McIntyre and filmmaker Hilla Medalia went to New Orleans. With the help of countless dedicated friends and generous artists in New York and the resilient people of New Orleans the team helped to reopen the North Rampart Community Center (formerly St. Mark's) and staged Lynn Ahren's and Stephen Flaherty's musical Once On This Island with local students, musicians and young artists. AFTER THE STORM is the feature-length documentary film that follows the production of the musical Once On This Island at St. Mark's from auditions through performances in New Orleans and New York and also includes the story of each young actor's life in the wake of Katrina. The focus is not on rescues, evacuations and losses, but on survival, hopes and dreams. The film explores the cultural landscape of New Orleans as seen through the eyes of these teenage artists. The goal of the film is to create an emotional and entertaining storytellingexperience that celebrates the spirit and culture of New Orleans at a specific point in history. AFTER THE STORM depicts a unique American city and how it is beginning to piece itself back together. The film also explores how art can be used as a tool for healing and growth and the power a community wields by sharing its story, locally and beyond. Filmmaker Hilla Medalia explores the young actors' daily lives, how they are coping with a struggling school system, limited job opportunities and the loss of family members and friends. Through their eyes, the film's audiences can view the recent history of New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina's impact through the lens of a group of talented young people. The After the Storm Foundation was established to offer assistance and support not only to North Rampart Street Community Center (formerly St. Mark's Community Center) but also to other already existing relief organizations currently serving the youth of New Orleans. The first step in the foundation's creation was the formation of a life-to-life link between the New York music, theater and film community and North Rampart Street Community Center. By getting to know its people and programs, the foundation is better able to assist community center staff members in setting up new opportunities for youth and buoying up already existing programs -- by providing the needed funds and offering technical and moral support. By creating ties to local arts organizations, the foundation also intends to leave behind the means and personnel to keep music and theater training programs going and to set up video and film archiving capabilities so that the kids can continue to tell their own stories.

Type: Business/Professional
Listed on iGive since: December 2009
iGive members supporting: 2

Website: www.afterthestormfoundation.org

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