GNY.169 | Feat. Laurel Flanagan from The Crawfish Festival & Operation Northern Comfort
In this episode of Good News York, host Noah Chrysler sits down with Laurel Flanagan, CEO of Operation Northern Comfort β a Central New York nonprofit born out of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. What started as one man’s phone call to friends in New Orleans became a decades-long movement of volunteers from across Central New York who showed up, rolled up their sleeves, and helped rebuild lives.
Laurel shares the remarkable story of Operation Northern Comfort’s founder, Norm Anki, who refused to just write a check after Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005. Instead, he rallied a dozen people from Central New York to fly down and start cleaning up β and they never really stopped. Over 68 service trips later, the organization has expanded its mission closer to home, building wheelchair ramps and lifts for individuals who are trapped inside their own homes with no means to afford the modifications they need. Laurel paints a vivid picture of what it means to hand someone back their independence β and why that smile on someone’s face the first time they roll themselves down a ramp is the fuel that keeps the entire team going.
This episode is full of warmth, community pride, and a reminder that good things are happening right here in Central New York.
ποΈ Guest: Laurel Flanagan, CEO of Operation Northern Comfort
π Location: Syracuse, NY
π Event: Syracuse Crawfish Festival β 19th Annual | Clinton Square | First Saturday in May, 11AMβ7PM
Chapters:
0:00 β Intro & Welcome
0:19 β Meet Laurel Flanagan
0:32 β The Syracuse Crawfish Festival
1:06 β How Operation Northern Comfort Was Founded
2:38 β What the Organization Does Today: Ramps & Lifts
3:44 β The Crawfish Festival Details
4:36 β What to Expect: Food, Music & Family Zone
8:50 β Festival Turnout & Rain or Shine
14:26 β How the Festival Has Evolved Over 19 Years
14:50 β The Mascot Dance-Off
16:52 β The Heart Behind the Mission
18:25 β How Laurel Got Involved
21:03 β "Norm Had a Project for Me" β Laurel Becomes CEO
23:18 β Volunteering After Hurricane Ian in Florida
25:48 β How to Get Involved & Donate
π Links & Resources
πΊ Good News York: www.goodnewsyork.com
π¦ Operation Northern Comfort: www.operationnc.org
π Sponsored by Ads on the Go
Looking to grow your business with smart, effective advertising? Check out our sponsor, Ads on the Go β making it easy to get your brand in front of the right people.
π www.getadsonthego.com
π¬ Produced by Clickstream Studios
Full-service content marketing agency based in Central New York.
π www.ClickStreamStudios.com
Good News York is a show dedicated to highlighting the people, organizations, and stories that make Central New York a great place to live. New episodes regularly β subscribe so you don’t miss one.
