The 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina stirs memories and emotions that some would rather leave behind. But we must never forget the citizen-led reform movement that followed. As Charles Eliot Norton reminded us, “It is the duty of a good citizen not to be silent.”
What began with levee board reforms grew into a broad movement to rebuild and renew state and local policies. Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans helped consolidate Orleans Parish’s seven assessors into one, creating a fairer, more efficient system. We secured stable funding for the Office of the Inspector General and the Ethics Review Board, strengthening accountability and good governance.
To carry this work forward, Citizens for 1 established three standing committees—on education, criminal justice, and good government—ensuring reforms were studied, advocated for, and implemented. It was your voice, the voice of the citizens, that drove and supported these changes - a powerful testament to a well-functioning democracy.
Today, as Katrina recedes further into memory, the risk of catastrophic flooding remains. Our region has the largest flood protection system in the world, yet reforms that safeguard it are at risk of erosion. Politics once again threatens to creep back into the management of our levee boards.
This anniversary is not just a time to look back—it is a call to action. New Orleans still faces challenges that demand vigilance, persistence, and civic engagement. Citizen-led advocacy works, but only when citizens step forward.
We invite you to re-engage:
Share this message with friends and neighbors ready to take up the torch.
Reach out to us if you are interested in volunteering.
Stay informed, stay active, and stay vocal.
Our work is not done. Together, we can continue to protect and strengthen New Orleans.
Citizens for 1 Founder Ruthie Frierson and Anne Milling were invited to speak to the Junior League of New Orleans about advocacy leadership after Katrina
SAVE YOUR SPOT
Citizens for 1 is co-hosting a Mayoral Forum on Water and Coast
September 30 at UNO
Copyright (C) 2025 Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans. All rights reserved.
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