GSEHD alumna Liz McCartney (master's, Curriculum and Instruction) was highlighted in BC Heights article, "McCartney Picks Up the Pieces in Recovering Communities." The article details the story of how McCartney came to be nominated for CNN’s Superhero of the Decade award, after being named CNN's Hero of the Year in 2008.
Per the article:
Liz McCartney, a 1994 graduate of Boston College, has dedicated her life to disaster recovery, significantly impacting communities affected by natural disasters. Her journey into disaster relief began in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Initially planning a brief volunteer stint in New Orleans, McCartney was deeply moved by the extensive devastation she witnessed six months after the storm. Realizing the inadequacies in the existing disaster response system, she felt compelled to take more substantial action.
Together with her then-boyfriend, now husband, Zack Rosenburg, McCartney co-founded the St. Bernard Project (SBP) in 2006, named after St. Bernard Parish, a community near New Orleans where they first volunteered. Their initial plan involved creating a tool-lending library and providing furniture to affected residents. However, they quickly recognized the immediate need for home repairs. Starting with a single home and four volunteers, SBP shifted its focus to rebuilding houses. By December 2006, they had four houses under construction and dozens of volunteers.
Over the years, SBP has grown exponentially. As of 2018, the organization had enlisted over 180,000 volunteers, rebuilt more than 1,592 homes, and expanded its services to 10 different communities beyond New Orleans. McCartney views these achievements as a collective effort, emphasizing the collaboration involved in disaster recovery.
McCartney's story exemplifies how individual initiative, when combined with community collaboration, can lead to significant positive change in disaster-stricken areas.
Read more about McCartney's journey that led her to where she is today in the full article.