WM Student Marks Fifth Anniversary of Katrina with Fundraiser

By Amber Lester Friday, August 27, 2010

Five years have passed since Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast, but the region is still recovering from the effects.

William and Mary senior Joe Boselovic wants to help the city of New Orleans, where he volunteered for a little more than a month this past spring. He plans to return over Spring Break and hopes to squeeze in some work during Winter Break, as well, but in the meantime, he wants to help from afar.

To commemorate the natural disaster’s fifth anniversary, Boselovic has organized a two-part screening of director Spike Lee’s documentary, “When the Levees Broke” this weekend. The screenings are open to the public and all proceeds from the event will go toward the purchase of construction supplies, such as paint, nails and ladders.

Boselovic was interested in volunteering in New Orleans because of his interest in jazz and curiosity about the city nicknamed “The Big Easy.” He volunteered with the United Saints Recovery Project, a nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to rebuilding homes in an economically depressed section of New Orleans called Central City. Most of his work involved repairing siding, painting and leading student groups in restoration work.

During his time in the city, Boselovic saw that simple, fundamental tools seem to be the greatest need in the road to recovery. In the five years since the hurricane swept the city, about 25 percent of the city’s original residents have not been able to return, he said.

“The task now is to not forget, to keep working towards mending this great city and to understand how the issues being dealt with in New Orleans today, from economic ones to environmental ones, have large ramifications for the country as a whole,” he said.

He wanted to raise money for the United Saints Recovery Project because “tremendous work” is left to be done, but also to honor the memory of the hurricane. “I feel that many people just ignored the matter for the most part when the storm hit and for being probably the greatest American tragedy that I’ve seen so far in my lifetime, too little is being done,” he said. “I hope that in doing this, we can raise funds to continue the good work that is being done now, but also to raise a greater sense of awareness about the echoes of the storm that are still felt today.”

On Saturday, the first two parts of the four-part documentary will be shown from 3 to 6 p.m. in Blow Hall room 333. The third and fourth parts will be screened from 3 to 6 p.m. on Sunday in the same location. Admission is $3 for each screening or $5 for both.

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