The Rising Tide Conference is an annual gathering for all who wish to learn more and do more to assist New Orleans' recovery. Leveraging the power of bloggers and new media, the conference is a launch pad for organization and action. Our day-long program of speakers and presentations is tailored to inform, entertain, enrage and inspire.
I am working with NOLA Slate on a panel on the state of New Orleans culture, with panelists who will speak on the state of parading, food and music culture in the city in Year Four after the Federal Flood. Speaking on parading culture will be Edward Buckner of The Porch Seventh Ward Culture Organization and the Original Big 7 Social Aid and Pleasure Club Our food panelist will be Susan Tucker, editor of New Orleans Cuisine: Fourteen Signature Dishes and Their Histories. Our music panelist will be Bruce Raeburn of the Hogan Jazz Archive and author of New Orleans Style and the Writing of American Jazz History.I myself am not without news:
After all this time, the results of a recent study have linked the stresses of post-federal flood life - including the scanty access to hospitals, pharmacies, and treatment by health care professionals - to a greater incidence of heart attacks in area residents...Keynoter Harry Shearer contributes to TPM Cafe and gets his Derek Smalls on for The Daily Show...
The health care panel at this year's Rising Tide conference will explore this sad fact of post 8-29 living, as well as many other related subjects. Moderated by public health Ph.D. candidate and local blogger Holly Scheib, the participants will be: Cecile Tebo, crisis unit coordinator for the NOPD and one of New Orleans magazine's Top Ten Female Achievers; Dr Elmore Rigamer, medical director of Catholic Charities; and Sean Fitzmorris, local EMT and administrator of New Orleans EMTs Sound Off!
I've been a busy bee organizing this year's politics panel, which thus far includes Clancy DuBos of the Gambit and WWL-TV, ace NOLA political cartoonist and WBOK radio talk show host John Slade, blogger extraordinaire Lamar White Jr. of CenLamar fame and perhaps a player to be named later. I'm not sure if Crash Davis is available or not. I'll be the immoderate moderator and along with throwing raw meat at the panelists, I'll offer some pithy and, hopefully, perceptive comments as well. We may even muss the eminent Mr. DuBos' well coiffed head for your amusement. It's just a joke Clancy, I may envy your full head of hair but I would never, ever muss it...Big thanks also go to Adrastos for his instrumental role in getting our keynote speaker's participation this year.
