Remembrance, Resilience, and Resistance
The 20th Anniversary Commemoration of Hurricane Katrina
August 29, 2025 | Gulfside Assembly, Waveland, Mississippi
A Morning of Reflection and Hope
Twenty years ago, Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, forever changing the lives of thousands. On August 29, 2025, over 150 people gathered at sunrise on Gulfside Assembly’s beachfront property in Waveland, Mississippi—ground zero for the storm—to honor the past, celebrate survival, and chart a path forward.
The commemoration, organized by the Steps Coalition and Gulfside Assembly, brought together faith leaders from Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, and Muslim traditions, along with survivors, volunteers, and community advocates from Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama.
Why This Place Matters
Gulfside Assembly is more than a location—it’s a testament to endurance. Founded in 1923 by Bishop Robert Elijah Jones, the first African American Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Gulfside was established on the Chautauqua pillars of faith, education, culture, and recreation. Today, it remains one of only two African American Chautauquas left in the country and the only one owned by the community it serves.
Hurricane Katrina destroyed 13 of Gulfside’s buildings, but the organization’s mission survived. The sunrise service on August 29th symbolized not just remembrance, but the ongoing work of rebuilding and advocacy that Gulfside continues to this day.
What Remembrance Looks Like
The commemoration was structured around a People’s Movement Assembly—a gathering designed to foster collective critical thinking, share survivor stories, and build community power. Attendees heard directly from Katrina survivors in their own words, participated in healing exercises, and engaged in discussions about community resilience.
By the numbers: More than 150 attendees gathered alongside 47 volunteers and 6 faith leaders. Three arts organizations and five food vendors supported the event, while 175 commemorative t-shirts and 200 SWAPS emergency preparedness bags were distributed to participants.
Financial backing came from the Foundation of Louisiana ($63,000), Hancock Whitney Bank ($5,000), and the Groundwork Project ($2,000), demonstrating broad regional support for the commemoration.
Voices of Resilience
“We all carry this trauma with us,” shared one participant. “This space is for us to reflect and then figure out a plan going forward so that we don’t feel like we felt in those days after Katrina.”
Survivors shared powerful testimonies of loss and recovery. One attendee recalled returning to find nothing left at Gulfside, standing in the middle of the grounds with her sister, simply crying. Another spoke of water bursting through their back door, forcing the family to escape through the attic.
Yet the overwhelming message was one of unity. “It did bring people together because it hit everybody regardless of your faith tradition, your economic status,” one participant reflected. “We are united. We are powerful.”
The Path Forward
The commemoration wasn’t just about looking back—it was about building toward a more resilient future. Gulfside Assembly continues its mission through youth leadership programs, life skills training, college tours, senior services, and community advocacy. The organization’s documentary, “The Gulfside Assembly Story,” has earned a Communicator Award for Excellence and two Silver Telly Awards, and has been accepted by PBS for national broadcast.
Looking ahead, Gulfside envisions developing its 70 acres—including 20 acres of beachfront property—into a weather-resistant ministry center capable of hosting retreats, conferences, and educational programs, while also creating affordable housing to help families build better futures.
Join the Story
The work of remembrance, resilience, and resistance continues. Whether through sponsorship, partnership, or simply sharing this story, you can help write the next chapter of a century-old legacy.
Learn more at gulfsideassembly.org or explore the documentary at thegulfsideassemblystory.com.
“May we rise up and bloom beautifully, boldly, brilliantly.”