Madalyn Schenk arrived in New Orleans in 1982 when her husband, a subcontractor, began working on construction projects for the World’s Fair. She quickly became involved in both Jewish and civic organizations, rising to vice president of the National Council of Jewish Women, organizing the first pro-choice rally in Louisiana, and becoming the Louisiana contact for the Million Mom March in 2000 to advocate for better gun control laws. An education reformer who helped spearhead preschool programs for NCJW and United Way, Schenk focused her attention after Katrina on rebuilding schools. In 2010 she was appointed to the board of the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts, a high school program focused on art, theater, and music.

To view Madalyn Schenk's full interview, please visit the Internet Archive.