In this episode, host Dr. Rob Harter sits down with Sandy Rosenthal, the founder of Levees.org, to uncover the shocking truth behind the catastrophic flooding of New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. While most people attributed the devastation to the storm itself, Sandy discovered a deeper, man-made failure at the core of the disaster—the collapse of federally designed levees. Despite having no background in engineering or advocacy, Sandy turned her personal mission for justice into a national grassroots movement that is still influencing policy and education today.
Through tireless research, community mobilization, and resilience in the face of fierce opposition, Sandy Rosenthal not only revealed the truth about what went wrong during Hurricane Katrina but also sparked a national conversation about flood protection, government accountability, and citizen advocacy. In this episode, she shares her journey, the birth of Levees.org, and why education is key to preventing future disasters.
Key Topics Include:
- The real reason behind New Orleans’ flooding during Hurricane Katrina
- Sandy’s discovery of the Army Corps of Engineers’ responsibility in levee failures
- How she overcame media silence, government opposition, and personal attacks
- The founding of Levees.org and its expansion into a national advocacy movement
- The importance of education and why engineering students should learn from failures
- How Sandy transformed personal passion into sustained national advocacy
- Practical advice for nonprofit leaders facing opposition in their own missions
Mentioned in This Episode:
- Sandy Rosenthal’s website: sandyrosenthal.net
- Levees.org
- Sandy’s book: Words Whispered in Water – Available on Amazon
This Episode is Sponsored By:
Links to Resources:
- Interested in Leadership and Life Coaching? Visit Rob’s website: RobHarter.com
- Find us on YouTube: Nonprofit Leadership Podcast YouTube Channel
- Suggestions for the show? Email us at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com
- Request a sample coaching session: Email Rob at rob@robharter.com
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