Liz McCartney
Encyclopedia
Liz McCartney cofounded the St. Bernard Project
in March 2006 to rebuild homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina
in the St. Bernard Parish of Louisiana
, southeast of New Orleans. She is the 2008 Hero of the year
.
. She graduated from Boston College
in 1994 and received a Master's Degree in curriculum and instruction from the George Washington University
. McCartney served in the Peace Corps
in Lesotho
, South Africa
. She has also taught ESL
and middle school. Before starting St. Bernard Project
, McCartney was the Executive Director of a community-based nonprofit organization in Washington, DC which provided technology-based after school and summer programs for young people attending DC public schools. McCartney and Zack Rosenburg volunteered in St. Bernard Parish in March 2006 after the storm. They then quit their jobs in Washington, returned to Louisiana
in June 2006, and the following August they cofounded the St. Bernard Project
. As of September 2010 25,000 volunteers have rebuilt more than 310 hurricane-damaged homes in St. Bernard Parish with the St. Bernard Project.
According to CNN's website:
St. Bernard Project
The St. Bernard Project is a non-profit organization established in March 2006 to rebuild homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina within the St. Bernard Parish. It was originally founded by Zack Rosenburg and Liz McCartney. As of June 2011, the St...
in March 2006 to rebuild homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
in the St. Bernard Parish of Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, southeast of New Orleans. She is the 2008 Hero of the year
CNN Heroes
CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute is an annual television special created by CNN to honor individuals who make extraordinary contributions to help others. It is hosted by Anderson Cooper...
.
Biography
A native of Washington, DC, McCartney attended Georgetown Visitation Preparatory SchoolGeorgetown Visitation Preparatory School
Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School was founded in Washington, DC in 1799 as the Georgetown Academy for Young Ladies. It was also formally referred to as the Convent and Academy of the Visitation. Since 1799, the school has continued for over 200 years as a college preparatory school for women...
. She graduated from Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
in 1994 and received a Master's Degree in curriculum and instruction from the George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
. McCartney served in the Peace Corps
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
in Lesotho
Lesotho
Lesotho , officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country and enclave, surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. It is just over in size with a population of approximately 2,067,000. Its capital and largest city is Maseru. Lesotho is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The name...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. She has also taught ESL
ESL
ESL is a common abbreviation for English as a Second Language, see English language learning and teaching.ESL may also refer to:-Companies:...
and middle school. Before starting St. Bernard Project
St. Bernard Project
The St. Bernard Project is a non-profit organization established in March 2006 to rebuild homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina within the St. Bernard Parish. It was originally founded by Zack Rosenburg and Liz McCartney. As of June 2011, the St...
, McCartney was the Executive Director of a community-based nonprofit organization in Washington, DC which provided technology-based after school and summer programs for young people attending DC public schools. McCartney and Zack Rosenburg volunteered in St. Bernard Parish in March 2006 after the storm. They then quit their jobs in Washington, returned to Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
in June 2006, and the following August they cofounded the St. Bernard Project
St. Bernard Project
The St. Bernard Project is a non-profit organization established in March 2006 to rebuild homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina within the St. Bernard Parish. It was originally founded by Zack Rosenburg and Liz McCartney. As of June 2011, the St...
. As of September 2010 25,000 volunteers have rebuilt more than 310 hurricane-damaged homes in St. Bernard Parish with the St. Bernard Project.
Awards
- In 2007, Liz McCartney and Zack Rosenburg made Gambit's "40 under 40" list of successful young New Orleanians.
- Liz and Zack received the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research Social Entrepreneurship Award in 2008.
- On May 3, 2008, Senator Mary LandrieuMary LandrieuMary Loretta Landrieu is the senior United States Senator from the State of Louisiana and a member of the Democratic Party.Born in Arlington, Virginia, Landrieu was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana...
presented Liz and Zack with the Heroes of the Storm Award. - On January 5, 2009 Liz and Zack were named Gambit WeeklyGambit WeeklyGambit is a New Orleans, Louisiana-based free alternative weekly newspaper that was established in 1981 as Gambit Weekly. Gambit features reporting about local politics, news, food and drink, arts, music, film, events, environmental issues and other topics, as well as listings...
's New Orleanians of the Year 2008. - Liz McCartney was voted the 2008 CNNCNNCable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
Hero of the Year (CNN HeroesCNN HeroesCNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute is an annual television special created by CNN to honor individuals who make extraordinary contributions to help others. It is hosted by Anderson Cooper...
) on November 27, 2008. - Liz McCartney was named the "2010 Woman of Excellence for Community Service" by Wiley CollegeWiley CollegeWiley College is a four-year, private, historically black, liberal arts college located on the west side of Marshall, Texas. Founded in 1873 by the Methodist Episcopal Church's Bishop Isaac Wiley and certified in 1882 by the Freedman's Aid Society, it is notable as one of the oldest predominantly...
According to CNN's website:
- "Liz McCartney is dedicated to helping Hurricane Katrina survivors in St. Bernard Parish, a community just outside New Orleans. Her nonprofit St. Bernard Project has rebuilt the homes of more than 120 families."