Toward Sustainable Post-Katrina Recovery: Lessons Learned From African American Neighborhoods

This article reports on data from focus groups conducted in low-income African American neighborhoods in post-Katrina New Orleans. Findings indicate 7 domains identified by research participants as central to neighborhood revitalization: (a) physical space/environment; (b) crime and safety; (c) housing; (d) health and social services; (e) children, youth, and family; (f) education and employment; and (g) community and social capital. Findings reveal that the domains are mutually dependent. The author employs sustainable recovery and assets approaches to discuss the meaning of the data and to offer implications for disaster policy and practice.