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http://www.commongroundrelief.org/
Where
people can volunteer to help:
"Common Ground Collective formed in the wake of Hurricane Katrina,
to provide immediate aid and long-term solidarity along the Gulf Coast.
We are a local, community-run organization offering mutual aid and support
to New Orleans communities that have been historically neglected and
underserved. Common Ground's teams of volunteers include: medical and
health providers, aid workers, community organizers, legal representatives
and people from all over with broad skills from all walks of life..."
Rebuild New Orleans
Green
A group of
New Orleans residents
has formed with the goal of rebuilding their city based on ecological
"green" principles. They say:
"...There will be powerful corporate and government forces
trying to control the rebuilding without popular participation. And
there will be community-based organizations struggling to ensure that
social justice and environmental sustainability take a prominent place
on the rebuilding agenda. Help us make sure our community needs for
livable, sustainable neighborhoods take precedence over corporate greed.
The disaster that has struck New Orleans should be turned into an opportunity
to REBUILD GREEN. By focusing on green building technology, renewable
energy, mass transit systems, and green community development that empowers
local people to take control of their local resources, the rebuilding
of New Orleans can take our city from being a symbol of disaster to
being a prototype sustainable city of the future..."
Contributions to their work can be made via their well-known non-profit
sponsor Global Exchange. Click on the title above for their website
and more information.
"The people of New Orleans need our help.
85% of the City of New Orleans is underwater (the images that you see
on the TV of bone dry streets is just the French Quarter and the Central
Business district. They have automatic pumping stations, something they
don't provide for the rest of the city). The displaced survivors will
not be able to return home for an estimated 6 months. Many of them will
never be able to return. Some people have no place to return too. Their
families, their homes, their lives have been devasted. The dead have
not been counted.
The flood waters poured in so quickly when the levy breached at 2:30AM
Tuesday, whole communities were buried underwater as they slept off
the effects of the hurricane. The elderly, the infirm and the children
were the reason many did not evacuate. African people in New Orleans
live in clans of large extended families. Because they did not have
the resources to evacuate all members of their families, they decided
to stay together and ride out the storm. And they did ride out the storm.
The levy breach is responsible for so many of the deaths. Mismanagement
and lack of planning by city officials is responsible for so much of
the suffering. Race and class are at the root of the current chaos."
-- from letter from New Orleans film-maker
A southern US activist
wrote this message, which we support by offering the information below:
"As we have
seen in the recent fiasco, it is TIME for us to build and strengthen
our community based organizations. I write you this email for two particular
reasons. The first reason is to thank you the work, prayers and contributions
that each of you have made to our communities down south. The second
reason is to ask each of you to support and spread the word about all
of the great grassroot efforts that are currently underway in our community..."
Local
initiatives doing support work -- that need our support:
Highlights of Alabama S.O.S.(Saving
Our Selves) Efforts
Alabama Coalition on Black Civic Participation: This is a chapter
affiliate of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation that
served as the coordinating body for the statewide efforts in Alabama.
Also this organization helped with fundraising and collecting donated
items for the effort. Contact Natasha Jennings at 1-866-922-VOTE.
Malcolm
X Grassroots Movement:
The Selma chapter has organized 200 units of temporary and long-term
housing for Hurricane victims. They also organized a service system
of community groups to provide educational services for the children,
legal aid, food, clothing and transportation from the disaster sites
to Selma, AL. They are coordinating alot of work with the groups in
Mississippi. Contact Cliff Albright at 334- 872-7517.
One for Life: This organization
was founded and led by formerly incarcerated people who have dedicated
their lives to restoring, empowering and building communities. The organizers
coordinated an effort in which food, water, pampers, instant milk, and
hygiene items were distributed to the residents of the Orange Grove
Housing community and the bay area neighborhoods in Mobile. Over 300
people were served. Contact Paul Robinson at 251-604-1837.
T.O.P.S.:
This is a prison ministry located in Dothan, AL that is also led by
formerly incarcerated people that were able to collected five van loads
of food, clothing, water, and personal items. They also organized and
coordinated the transporting and assisted with the distributing of the
items from Dothan, Al to Mobile. Contact Kenny Glasglow at 334-791-
2433
Ellwood Community Development Center:
This non-denominational Christian community based in Selma has organized
resources, housing and transportation for the victims. contact Pastor
Crum at 334-872- 6000.
Community Empowerment Project:
This is a group of young Alabama natives that have formed a think tank
to help with training, logistics, and developing a community based plan
and strategy to address some of the long-tern issues. Contact Vivian
Felts at 251-377-9691.
Black Youth Vote: This is a student
led organization that is coordinating volunteer efforts of college students
at several junior and community colleges. Contact Natasha Jennings at
866-922- VOTE.
http://blackvoternetwork.com/blackyouthvote.htm
Beneath My Wings Ministry:This
grassroots organization that was recently donated an abandoned Wal-Mart
building and shopping center is working to transform the building into
a temporary crisis center and shelter. Contact Rev. Joyce Peeples at
334-872-2929
21st Century Youth Leadership Movement and the National Voting Rights
Movement: These organizations have
coordinated the 21st Century dormitory and camp site based in Perry
County into as a shelter for over 65 hurricane victims. They are making
arrangements to accommodate at least 50 more people. They are also establishing
a school for the children at the site as well as support programs. Contact
Joanne Bland at 334-418-0800.
Here are some Atlanta local organizations to consider:
Georgia
Coalition for the Peoples Agenda
contact Helen Butler 404-653-1199. Black Youth Vote:
contact Steven
Waddy at 404- 290-2912.
Some
places to send aid: (from
the report
on Katrina by activist-writer Starhawk)
Families and Friends of Louisiana's
Incarcerated Children
are doing intense work among the shelters and prisons with displaced
youth, mostly African American. Believe me, the Red Cross and the Christian
charities won't be pouring out relief to this group! They can also use
some volunteers (especially African American) and many gifts in kind.
Send a check to the "FFLIC Hurricane Relief Fund" to: 920 Platt Street,
Sulphur, Louisiana, 70663.
Info: awakenprogress@yahoo.com
kd.higgs@yahoo.com
The Veterans
for Peace bus that was at Camp Casey in Crawford, TX has now
gone down to Covington, Louisiana to do relief work. They also need
donations of money and computer equipment. Make a donation to Veterans
For Peace Chapter 116 www.vfproadtrips.org
Contact information: Veterans For Peace National Office Michael T. McPhearson,
E. D. 216 S. Meramec Ave. St. Louis, MO 63105 VOICE (314) 725-6005 FAX
(314) 725-7103 email: vfp@igc.org webmaster: vfpstl@graffiti.net
Food Not Bombs will be providing food for refugees. They
can use volunteers to prepare and serve food, and, of course, donations.
Web: www.foodnotbombs.net.
You can make a financial donation on line or mail checks to: Food Not
Bombs, P.O. Box 744, Tucson, AZ 85702. Please call (1-800-884-1136)
or email katrina@foodnotbombs.net
if you can join them on the bus or help with gas money.
See also relief support being organized by CodePink: http://www.codepink4peace.org/
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