2009 Archive

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jan 21, 2009	Contact: Muriel Cooper Phone: (202) 263-2829 mcooper@cbcfinc.org
“Beautiful” Sums Up Katrina Survivors’ Inaugural Experience CBCF Brings Eight Hurricane Victims to Washington to See Start of Obama Presidency

 

WASHINGTON – The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) hosted eight Hurricane Katrina survivors, ages 82 to 100, for the People’s Inaugural Project. Six of the seniors reside in New Orleans, while one has relocated to Houston and one to Orlando.

 

The Katrina survivors and four caregivers were feted with events celebrating the swearing-in of America’s first black president. The group was a part of The Stafford Foundation’s outreach project to include Americans who would have otherwise not been able to participate in inaugural events.

 

“I couldn’t help but cry,” said 90-year-old Sarah Ricks of New Orleans, describing the feeling she had as she watched Barack Obama becoming the nation’s 44th president. “The bible said it would happen, but I didn’t think I would live to see it. This is just beautiful.”

 

Each participant was required to write a brief essay describing their experiences as Katrina survivors. Doreatha Williams, 86, also of New Orleans, wrote that she waved a white T-shirt to get the attention of rescue helicopters. After the water had reached the second floor of his house, 100-year-old Sylvester Williams, now of Orlando, was evacuated by boat to a helicopter and finally ended up on Interstate 10, where he waited for a day before boarding a bus to Houston.

 

“This special group has lived through segregation, integration and then devastation with Katrina,” said Elsie L. Scott, Ph.D., CBCF’s president and chief executive officer and a Louisiana native. “Yet they still give back to their community through their churches and other outreach programs. Bringing them in for this special inaugural is one way to let them know how much they are valued.”

 

The other seniors included Joseph Smith, 94, Louvenia Lewis, 92, Eddie Brumfield, 91, and Margie Lawrence, 82, all of New Orleans, and the Rev. Louis Phoenix, 83, now of Houston.

 

CBCF used a grant by Altria Group, Inc., to bring the group to Washington to participate in inaugural festivities and to witness the swearing-in of the new president.

 

“We are proud to support this effort to enable these individuals, who have already witnessed so much of our history, to attend this particularly historic event,” said Bruce Gates, senior vice president of government affairs, Altria Client Services.

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Inc. (CBCF) was established in 1976 as a non-partisan, non-profit, public policy, research and educational institute intended to broaden and elevate the influence of African Americans in the political, legislative and public policy arenas.