Start of Phase 3

We are thrilled to announce that our feature documentary, After the Storm, will premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival in mid-June 2009, and shortly thereafter, at the Outfest Film Festival, also in Los Angeles.

Thanks to the generosity of the Priddy Brothers and Rosie O'Donnell, the amazing contributions of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens and so many others, the After the Storm film project is nearing completion. We are turning our attention to garnering the funds needed to finish the documentary, fund the premieres and continue and/or launch a handful of projects, aimed at securing the arts in the minds and hearts of the next generation in New Orleans.

This summer marks the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and yet, the latest statistics show only 25 percent of the area’s community centers have re-opened and restarted their arts programs. The loss of these centers is a key obstacle to the recovery of New Orleans and has especially impacted local programs for youth.

The progress at St. Mark’s (now North Rampart Street Community Center) has continued since the doors reopened following our initial contact in June 2006. The summer program currently has about 150 kids; the after-school program has 250-300. Thankfully, our work has catalyzed and inspired others to support and serve the Center, and much of the facility has been restored. There is, however, so much more to do.

Our documentary film is a vehicle for fundraising and for bringing the plight of New Orleans ’ young people to the public’s attention. Therefore, our goal is to have 2,010 screenings of After the Storm between June 2009 and Dec. 31, 2010 throughout the continental United States. Along with the funding needed to see us through the premieres, we are planning the following programs in New Orleans:

• After-School and Summer Arts Programs -- continued operation at North Rampart Street Community Center and expansion into other New Orleans community centers.
• Summer Musical Theater Workshop -- a new, week-long, life-to-life Arts experience that connects New York theater professionals with New Orleans community center kids through one-on-one training, workshops, classes and performances.
• Year Round Music Lab – creation and implementation of a year-round music lab at North Rampart Street Community Center.
• New Community Center Partnerships – development of relationships with other New Orleans community centers to re-build and create programs to introduce and enhance kids’ participation in the arts.

We are now raising the necessary funds to complete our post production and publicize and market the film’s release. We still have a ways to go. Won’t you consider helping us reach our goal? Please make a donation at www.afterthestormfoundation.org/donate.cfm.

With your assistance, we can realize our dream of bringing the community centers and arts programs of New Orleans back to life and profoundly contributing to the lives of young people -- one neighborhood at a time.

James Lecesne