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Florence Schornstein - 31-Jul-2006 - Katrina's Jewish Voices
About this film
A lifelong resident of New Orleans, Florence Schornstein is deeply involved in civic life in the city—both before and especially after Hurricane Katrina. Florence was born in Touro Infirmary, where she later served as the Executive Director of their Foundation, and grew up in the Garden District, where she still lives. From 1968-1970, Florence was the President of the Council of Jewish Women. She also became involved in the Civil Rights Movement and was particularly active in helping to desegregate the public schools in New Orleans. Later, she was appointed to run the City’s Parks Department and developed the Parkway Partners Program, which is still in existence today. Florence is grateful that the week before Hurricane Katrina hit, her entire family was in Atlanta to celebrate her granddaughter’s Bat Mitzvah and were able to remain out of harms’ way. Florence’s home sustained minimal damage, but unfortunately her daughter, who lived in Lakeview, lost everything due to the flooding after the levees broke. In the aftermath, Florence has continued to work hard to help reconstruct the city. She chairs the Women’s Leadership Initiative, part of the United Way and is focused on creating…
Directors & creators
Jewish Women's Archive
Subjects
Jewish Women's Archive (JWA); Institute of Southern Jewish Life (ISJL); Oral History; Rosalind Hinton; Hurricane Katrina; Florence Schornstein, New Orleans, LA; Scheme: Library of Congress Authorities Hurricane Katrina, 2005 Personal narratives; Judaism; Public service; Marriage; Motherhood; Family; Council of Jewish Women (U.S.); Touro Infirmary; United Way; Desegregation in education; New Orleans City Park Department; Parkway Partners Program;
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