Compelling, Firsthand Experiences

Student Leaders will hear from all of these noteworthy leaders during the summit.

Spike Lee Director, When the Levees Broke Spike Lee’s thought-provoking work has won widespread acclaim, and Levees, his 2006 Katrina documentary, earned 7 awards, including 3 Emmys. His film is considered the definitive account of the storm’s aftermath; in it, nearly 100 people, from government officials to celebrities to private citizens, recount the disaster in their own words. Lee also generated a unique cash flow to the region—HBO gave the victims featured in Levees a percentage of the proceeds from DVD sales.	Peyton and Eli Manning NFL Champion Quarterbacks Super Bowl MVPs and New Orleans natives Peyton and Eli Manning are the only brothers to play at quarterback in the Super Bowl. Peyton and the Indianapolis Colts won the championship in 2007, and in 2008, Eli led the NY Giants to Super Bowl victory. Eli and Peyton are leaders both on and off the field and exemplify the importance and power of giving back. Peyton’s PeyBack Foundation has distributed more than $3 million to help disadvantaged youth, and both brothers actively support post-Katrina relief efforts and numerous other charities.	Condoleezza Rice U.S. Secretary of State (2005-2009) Condoleezza Rice entered the world spotlight in 2005, when she became the first African-American woman to serve as U.S. secretary of state. In January 2009, Rice returned to her roots as a professor of political science at Stanford University. She has been named four times to Time magazine’s list of the world’s 100 most influential people. Rice offers a unique and personal perspective as a member of the president’s Cabinet.	Lt. Gen. Russel L. Honoré Lt. General Russel L. Honore’, USA (Ret) Honoré, then commanding the U.S. First Army at Fort Gillem, Georgia, was appointed by President George W. Bush to coordinate relief efforts across the Gulf Coast. Nicknamed “the Ragin’ Cajun,” Honoré has earned numerous military decorations, as well as the Omar N. Bradley Spirit of Independence Award for his leadership after Katrina.	Mary J. Eisenhower President and CEO, People to People International The granddaughter of U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Mary Eisenhower has made it her life’s work to bring nations and people together. With People to People International, the nonprofit founded by her grandfather, she helps private citizens meet needs and overcome differences to build global understanding. She accepted a Knight of Peace award from the International University in Assisi, Italy, in 2003.
Jim Reed Storm Chaser Reed has spent nearly two decades capturing weather events in his writing and his spectacular photographs. Tom Piazza Author, Why New Orleans Matters Already a sought-after music-industry writer, Piazza filled his post-Katrina book with deep affection for his adopted city.