Tuesday, August 21, 2007
The couple spent the day making improvements to a Biloxi house.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN — While attending a national conference in Biloxi, Miss., Youngstown Councilman Artis Gillam Sr. and his wife, Annie, who’s running to succeed him, took a side trip.
The two joined dozens of other attendees at the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials’ annual summer conference, rebuilding houses devastated by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005.
Two years after the hurricane, the city is still in desperate need of assistance, Gillam said.
“It’s pitiful down there,” Gillam said. “It was enough to make you cry. ... There are still people in need down there. Some people have forgotten about them.”
The Gillams were among more than 100 people attending the conference earlier this month who spent the day working to make improvements to Biloxi houses severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina.
The Gillams painted a house and Artis, a contractor by trade, also put siding on that house and built a porch.
“I wish we could have done more,” Annie Gillam said. “We were worn out. We worked for hours.”
Grateful residents
The people of Biloxi were pleased to receive the assistance of those who attended the conference, the Gillams said.
“You can’t describe the devastation in Biloxi,” Artis Gillam said. “It’s very sad. But it’s very rewarding to help.”
The two will attend a conference later this year in New Orleans and plan to volunteer time to help that city, also devastated by Hurricane Katrina.
Gillam’s wife said she’d like to see Mahoning Valley residents volunteer their time to make improvements to houses in need of repair in this area.
Though the Valley hasn’t had to deal with a natural disaster as destructive as Hurricane Katrina, she said there are people in the community who simple can’t maintain the appearance of their houses and could use a helping hand.
Artis’ term as the 1st Ward councilman expires at the end of this year. His wife is the Democratic nominee for the seat in the November election.
skolnick@vindy.com