Brad Pitt, in Katrina's Wake

[babylonsister]

I'm so impressed! He's made this happen!


Brad Pitt, in Katrina's Wake

by Benjamin Sarlin



The Clinton Global Initiative featured a range of A-list stars on Thursday, from Jessica Alba to Usher, to go along with its usual CEOs and policy wonks. But it was Brad Pitt who got top billing with a special session that evening his charity, Make It Right, and its work rebuilding New Orleans' Lower 9th Ward, which suffered horrific damage from Hurricane Katrina.

"You will never again question if progress is possible when you see this panel," the former president gushed before introducing Pitt.

The actor first announced his charity at the 2007 version of this event, pledging that the outfit would resettle 9th Ward residents in a model community comprised of 150 state-of-the-art, affordable houses.

While initially suffering from the “fundraising blues,” as he put it, Pitt told the audience that he was inspired by a pep talk from Clinton to keep scrounging for donors until he found enough seed money to move forward.

“He told me to stick with it, calm down, you'll figure it out,” Pitt said.

Make It Right has already completed 13 of the houses it plans to build, all of which have so far been certified LEED Platinum, the highest possible sustainability rating. Many more are in the process of being constructed. The homes draw electricity from solar panels, reduce energy bills even further by trapping hot and cold temperatures, and stand on stilts to guard against floodwaters, among a wide array of cutting-edge features. Pitt said the biggest challenge was keeping them affordable despite the many safety, aesthetic, and green goals the group initially set out. But the team managed to find ways to cut costs and the houses ended up being valued at about $150,000 each. Make It Right helps former residents secure forgivable loans to buy the homes.

“By this time next year when we put the lid on our 150th house, that house will be built for the same price as any HUD standard house in New Orleans if not cheaper,” Pitt said.

He added that the innovations the project were forced to improvise in order to keep costs down had potential far beyond New Orleans alone.

“We are just scratching the surface,” Pitt told the audience on Thursday, saying that the model his group employed “should work in any climate, any condition, any culture around the world.”


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http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-09-25/brad-pitt-in-katrinas-wake/full/

[Sherman A1]

1. Way Cool!

Thanks for Posting. My Sister who lives in nearby Metarie often comments about Brad Pitt and his efforts in New Orleans.

[CurtEastPoint]

2. I thought he was so much pretty fluff until I saw him on Real Time

He's a good guy and pretty smart. He shows real leadership, IMHO.

[CitizenLeft]

3. he's awesome, not just a pretty face.

And he knows his stuff, and this project, inside and out. Love him!

[Ineeda]

4. Living on the Gulf Coast

Every summer and fall we fear devastating storms and think about 'what if...'. If it ever happens to me, I would definitely rebuild using these awesome MIR standards. Relatively inexpensive, sustainable and, most importantly - safe.

[bigwillq]

5. Anyone can write a check.

It's nice to see Pitt being "hand's on" with this project.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. He is from MO and recently gave a couple million to a hospital in his hometown

Brad Pitt is a great guy.

[Bluenorthwest]

7. Brad Pitt is a great guy

and an underrated actor. His work in NOLA has been committed and consistent, organic to his many interests, a worthy and well conceived plan. The home designs are pleasant to the eye, good for the planet, and strong for the storms. And people will benefit from his efforts for many years to come.

[saltpoint]

8. Bush, with all the levers he had to pull, couldn't manage much more

than a fly-by.

Here, a film star makes good stuff happen benefiting many thousands of people.