Oral Histories

Stephen Bradberry

   April 30, 2024

   

Local Organizer, Lead Organizer, Head Organizer, Gulf Coast Regional Campaigns Director, New Orleans, 1995-2009

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Part 1 — April 30, 0024
Interviewed by Steven Kest

1. Track 1 AOHP BRADBERRY STEPHEN REMOTE 20240430 SKEST AUDIO1

Part 2 — May 3, 0024
Interviewed by Steven Kest

1. Track 1 AOHP BRADBERRY STEPHEN REMOTE 20240503 SKEST AUDIO1

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Part 1 — 4/30/24

This is Part 1 of Stephen Bradberry’s oral history: Steve worked for ACORN from 1995 until 2009, all of that time in New Orleans: as a local organizer, lead organizer, and then Head Organizer. He talks about local organizing campaigns in the city, and then discusses at length the impact of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans, how it affected ACORN members, and ACORN’s response to the hurricane and the flooding. Steve, and New Orleans ACORN, were leaders in this effort: locating members who fled the city, organizing the ACORN Katrina Survivors Association in the “diaspora”; fighting for the “right to return,” and for a fair and inclusive rebuilding process; helping to organize a community-driven planning process for a post-Katrina New Orleans, etc. Steve also talks about the impact of the attacks on ACORN, from the unique perspective of being the Head Organizer in the city where ACORN had its national HQ, and where Wade and his brother worked.

Part 2 — 5/3/24

This is Part 2 of Stephen Bradberry’s oral history (this remote follow-up interview ends when the interviewer and narrator get cut off from one another after about 17 minutes): Steve worked for ACORN from 1995 until 2009, all of that time in New Orleans: as a local organizer, lead organizer, and then Head Organizer. He talks about local organizing campaigns in the city, and then discusses at length the impact of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans, how it affected ACORN members, and ACORN’s response to the hurricane and the flooding. Steve, and New Orleans ACORN, were leaders in this effort: locating members who fled the city, organizing the ACORN Katrina Survivors Association in the “diaspora”; fighting for the “right to return,” and for a fair and inclusive rebuilding process; helping to organize a community-driven planning process for a post-Katrina New Orleans, etc. Steve also talks about the impact of the attacks on ACORN, from the unique perspective of being the Head Organizer in the city where ACORN had its national HQ, and where Wade and his brother worked.