Project: Katrina Hope…raise funds…raise walls…raise spirits

HOPE. One word with an incredible amount of significance. As a verb, hope means, “to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence”. In our society, it has become almost trite. “I hope I pass this test,” is the most common phrase I have uttered in the past few weeks. How does this compare to bringing the promise of a shelter to someone who has lived in a trailer the past two years, after they lost the place they call “home”? When I fully realized what an impact Project: Katrina Hope could have, not only on the people of New Orleans, but on the volunteers who help fund and shoot this documentary, I became overwhelmed at the efforts I would be directing. But slowly, as I began to tell others of my modest attempts to raise awareness, an infinite amount of hope came to me in the form of six people, now dubbed the Project: Katrina Hope insiders.

I would like to introduce you to the young men and women who will help rebuild New Orleans through their skills and commitment to this project.

• Jeff Briscoe, a senior at the University of Kansas, is a New Orleans native. His contacts and experiences in his home city are key in making the documentary successful.
• Brandon Cassens, a senior at Western Illinois University, is in charge of promotions. You will soon be seeing a preorder form for t-shirts that he designed to raise funds and awareness for the organization.
• Crissy Del Percio, a graduate of the University of Kansas, is well-experienced in video and editing. Her skills in this field and contacts in the business community make her well-equipped to assist on the film.
• Krystle Gascoigne, a senior at St. Ambrose University, works with Illinois/Iowa relations. She motivates individuals and groups at her school and home through her personal experiences in New Orleans.
• Leci Pelaez, a senior at the University of Miami, works on East coast relations. Her standing in the field of public relations, as well as her geographic position, truly allows Project: Katrina Hope to become a nationwide initiative.
• Shannon Mortimer, a graduate of the University of Kansas, is in charge of news affairs. She collects all relevant materials to allow the group to stay on top of Katrina issues–facts you will see in the documentary.

Please visit the “Contact Us” tab to e-mail any of the dedicated insiders. They carry out the mission on a much grander scale than I could imagine, and they provide me with hope for the project’s future. I have no doubt that the residents of New Orleans will see them as positive representatives as we travel to shoot and produce the documentary in the coming months.

With hope,
Gretchen

Posted on October 8th, 2007 by Gretchen Wieland
Filed under: From Gretchen