Andrew Billingsley is a professor of sociology and African-American studies at the University of South Carolina in Columbia and senior scholar-in-residence at the university’s Institute for Families in Society.

Henry P. “Hank” Sims is a professor of leadership and management at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. He has done research on leadership and teamwork and can speak about how relief organizations, including faith-based groups, respond to disasters.

May 12, 2013, The Washington Post article about Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) trying to court conservative evangelical voters partially through a strong stance in support of Israel.

May 24, 2013, The New York Times article about famous evangelical conservative Christians who converted from Judaism and the innate friction between the two groups over their support of the State of Israel.

Read a report called “Understanding Katrina: Perspectives from the Social Sciences,” posted on the website of the Social Science Research Council. It examines issues of race and racism revealed by Katrina, and contains the links to writings on the hurricane by more than 35 academics.

Read a June 2, 2006, National Public Radio article about a surge in immigrant day workers helping with the demolition and rebuilding work in New Orleans. These immigrants – undocumented or contract workers – often lack decent housing and food.

May 2, 2013, The Daily Beast article about the multi-faceted nature of Americans’ support for Israel, namely Jewish groups and right-wing evangelical groups.

Read a June 26, 2006, story from WLOX television about how First Baptist Church of Pass Christian, Miss., is managing to hold Vacation Bible School this summer in a trailer with help from a Baptist church in Florida.

May 19, 2011, New York Times article about President Obama announcing his belief that Israel and Palestine should look to the 1967 borders as a starting point for a peace talks. The announcement angered Israel and U.S. supporters of Israel.