Convening Agenda:
Thursday, October 2
12pm - 2:00pm Opening Lunch & Fireside Chat:
How Community Leaders Rebuilt New Orleans After Hurricane Katrina
The communities served by credit unions, particularly by community development credit unions (CDCUs), are continuously in the process of rebuilding due to their histories of systemic disinvestment. In these rebuilding experiences, credit unions gain a deeper understanding of their communities while helping them grow and become more resilient. This role that credit unions play prepares them to be able to respond quickly and effectively to the needs of their communities during financial, climate, pandemic, and other catastrophic events.
Hear how two New Orleans communities were impacted during and immediately after Hurrican Katrina, and how local community leaders, through community partnership, were able to bring equitable access to financial services for under-resourced small businesses, homeowners, and other members of the community.
2:00pm - 5:00pm Site Visit to Bayou District Foundation
Join us as we travel by bus to a special site visit hosted by the Bayou District Foundation (BDF), the lead organization behind the transformation of the St. Bernard community in New Orleans. BDF orchestratesw a collaborative development strategy, uniting residents and partners to integrate essential elements such as real estate, community services, and healthcare. This holistic approach ensures the rejuvenation of the neighborhood and fosters a thriving, vibrant community ecosystem.
On this visit, attendees will visit Columbia Parc, a mixed-income neighborhood on the site of the former St. Bernard public housing development. This area now features 685 residential units across 13 city blocks, along with key community anchors including: an early childhood learning center, a K–8 school, and a neighborhood health clinic. Together, these investments reflect BDF’s commitment to comprehensive community renewal and opportunity.
Friday, October 3
8:30am Breakfast served
9:00am
The Credit Union Experience during Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina forever changed the way Louisiana credit unions think about resilience. In this session, credit union leaders will share their firsthand experiences during and after the storm, reflecting on the challenges they faced, and the lessons learned. Their stories will provide a powerful foundation for the second day of sessions, illustrating how Katrina reshaped emergency preparedness and continues to inform how credit unions respond to crises today.
9:55am
The True Cost of Rebuilding, a National Perspective
The economic consequences of preparing for and mitigating the impact of weather-related events are increasingly evident, particularly for low- to moderate-income (LMI) households that face disproportionate financial strain in the aftermath of disasters. Panelists will provide a national perspective as they explore the depth of these challenges, from the depletion of savings to increased reliance on high-cost credit and difficult trade-offs between basic needs and recovery expenses. Credit unions, nonprofits and local organizations are uniquely positioned to stand alongside communities in these moments, offering both support and solutions that help households prepare for and recover from the unexpected.
11:00am
Climate Resiliency Solutions Developed by Credit Unions
In almost every country across the nation, the past few years have brought a dramatic increase in devasting disasters and climate events. At each turn, credit unions have been at the forefront, ready to service their communities. Learn best-practices from credit unions from across the country that have built climate resilience in their communities.
12:00pm Lunch Served
1:00pm
Small Group Breakout Sessions
Attendees will have the opportunity to move around, connect with each other in small groups, and dive deeper into all the incredible stories shared during this convening. Groups will discuss any new resilience new goals or needs they have identified for their credit unions.
1:45pm
Full Group Discussion: Planning for the Future
The full group will come back together to share key insights and takeaways from the small group discussions. Participants will have the opportunity to highlight new goals, emerging challenges, and innovative ideas uncovered during their conversations. Together, we will explore how Inclusiv and Luminate can provide support, resources, and guidance to help credit unions strengthen their resiliency and continue advancing their mission. This session will serve as a bridge to the next stage of resilience planning, fostering collaboration and actionable strategies that credit unions can take back to their communities.
2:30pm Networking Reception in the Ashe Gallery
Katrina 20 Exhibition: Old Orleans in the Neo Diaspora
We’ll close the day with a networking reception in the Ashe Cultural Center’s gallery, where attendees can connect with peers while exploring the dynamic Hurricane Katrina exhibition. The exhibit showcases how New Orleans’ culture, its music, cuisine, and spirit. has traveled across the world, highlighting what survived, what was reinvented, and the community’s resilience. From Katrina memorabilia and masking suits to vivid depictions of Orishas of the storm, this mixed-media collection offers a rich, immersive experience that complements the day’s conversations on recovery and resilience.
Join us in New Orleans as we honor the past,
strengthen the present, and build resilient communities for the future.