Call for volunteers for a Katrina project

[Plaid Adder]

Hello fellow DUers,

As you all know, the one thing with which New Orleans is most identified (as far as the rest of the country is concerned) is Mardi Gras. As you also all know, our current federal government, having done a piss-poor job of preparing for Hurricane Katrina, is now doing an equally piss-poor job of caring for its displaced victims. It also looks as if--surprise, surprise--this congress is planning to make it easier for real estate developers to make a killing off the rebuilding of New Orleans, while making it harder for the displaced poor to return to their homes:

http://www.colorofchange.org/baker/message.html

And, as we also know, the media, after a brief outburst of actual reporting during the actual crisis, has now been distracted by a variety of shiny objects. They no longer care, because the national attention span is tiny and because from the perspective of a news crew virtually any object is shinier than a poor American in need of assistance.

Well, Mardi Gras is the day before Ash Wednesday, and for Catholics, Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent. I grew up Catholic, and though I no longer practice (for reasons you can all probably figure out), I do credit my Catholic upbringing with instilling in me the belief in and desire for economic and social justice which shape my politics and which make it just FRICKIN' UNBELIEVABLE to me that so many people are still suffering because of our government's incompetence, callousness, corruption, and rapacity.

So I have decided that I am going to launch a little online Lenten project, and it will be called:

40 Ways In 40 Days: Remembering The Survivors Of Katrina

For every day of Lent, I want to post here in GD and on my livejournal a little write-up of a group, organization, or action item that ordinary Americans can get involved in which will benefit survivors of Katrina. What I am hoping is that some of my fellow-DUers will help me out with research. Many of you probably remember how difficult it was during the first days after Katrina to figure out how to send your money where it would do the most good. Many of us donated to the American Red Cross, for instance, only to find out that they had not been able to get into the city. I donated to the Louisiana state fund set up by Gov. Blanco, but I have no idea how that money got spent. Now that we have some time, I think it would really help if DUers--especially people who are from the area and know more about the situation than we can figure out from the national media--would spend some time researching what the victims need and who is trying to get it to them. It would be especially keen if people could dig up some smaller organizations that might not get a whole lot of national publicity, but are doing important work.

For those who have more time than money, I would also like to include ways in which people might get involved in political actions devoted to protecting the rights and fulfilling the needs of displaced Katrina survivors. ColorOfChange.org has already started a write-in campaign about HR 4100, the "Baker Bill;" if anyone knows about any other action items that need more attention, they would go into the mix too. I would also like to include opportunities for people to donate time, in-kind items, etc., so that people who are not able to give money would still get a chance to help.

Anyway, that is my plan, and if you would like to help do some of the preliminary research, post on this thread and we can brainstorm. Thanks in advance to everyone who wants to help out.

Thanks,

The Plaid Adder

On edit: Changed "victims" to "survivors" after browsing the DU Katrina Survivors' Group

[Earth_First]

1. Common Ground Collective

http://www.commongroundrelief.org/

[klook]

19. Common Ground is doing great work

I heard Mary Frances Barry talking about them on Ed Gordon's "News and Notes" program on NPR and checked out their web site. They're doing the grunt work to help the people of New Orleans get their lives back together, including a medical clinic, food, clothing, etc.

Mission and Vision: Common Ground's mission is to provide short term relief for victims of hurricane disasters in the gulf coast region, and long term support in rebuilding the communities affected in the New Orleans area.

Common Ground is a community-initiated volunteer organization offering assistance, mutual aid and support. The work gives hope to communities by working with them, providing for their immediate needs and emphasizes people working together to rebuild their lives in sustainable ways.

Background and Problem: The Common Ground Collective was established in the first week after Hurricane Katrina flooded New Orleans. It was the first organization to open up a medical clinic in Algiers, and provide immediate assistance (food, water, supplies) to the thousands of low-income residents unable to evacuate....

Common Ground started with 3 volunteers and $50 dollars. We have grown to over 40 fulltime organizers and hundreds of volunteers including health care workers, community organizers, skilled laborers, techies, legal and housing rights advocates, gardeners and more. In addition to the programs below we have built alliances with other relief and community organizations, developed a network of over 700 volunteers, secured over 150 bikes for area residents and volunteers, and produced a new promotional video called "Solidarity Not Charity." Common Ground is in it for the long haul and we hope that you will join in efforts to ensure that historically neglected communities are able to come back together for a more just and sustainable future.

Mission & History - http://www.commongroundrelief.org/node/33
How You Can Help - http://www.commongroundrelief.org/taxonomy/term/9

[phusion]

2. Food Not Bombs

Their recent relief efforts: http://www.foodnotbombs.net/katrina.html

[Earth_First]

6. I second a spotlight on FNB!

[ClayZ]

29. They are my favorite!

http://www.foodnotbombs.net/dollar_for_peace.html


Donate a Dollar

[EFerrari]

3. Hey, PA, you might usefully cross post this to the

Hurricane Survivors Forum and hook up with other activists there, too.

:hi:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=360

[Plaid Adder]

4. Thanks, sfexpat2000!

I figured there was a DU group for this. I will go cross-post it now.

C ya,

The Plaid Adder

[EFerrari]

7. Great. n/t

[AuntiBush]

5. I Commend You. K/N!

[jobycom]

8. B-E-A-UTIFUL! Please don't leave out Mississippi, which is devestated

beyond believability and is forgotten even by those who do remember New Orleans.





"As Aug. 29 recedes into the conscious time of many Americans, the great storm that devastated 70 miles of Mississippi's Coast, destroying the homes and lives of hundreds of thousands, fades into a black hole of media obscurity.

Never mind that, if taken alone, the destruction in Mississippi would represent the single greatest natural disaster in 229 years of American history. The telling of Katrina by national media has created the illusion of the hurricane's impact on our Coast as something of a footnote.

snip

The depth of the suffering and the height of the courage of South Mississippians is an incredible story that the American people must know. But, in the shadows of the New Orleans story, the Mississippi Coast has become invisible and forgotten to most Americans.

Could it be possible that the ongoing story of an Alabama teenager missing in Aruba has received more coverage on some cable networks than all of the incredibly compelling stories of courage, loss and need of untold thousands of Mississippians? Maybe a lot more coverage?

The second reason that the coverage matters is in the realm of politics. If the American people and their elected representatives do not truly know the scope of the destruction here, and if they are not shown the ongoing conditions afflicting so many, then there are consequences which are playing out even this week in Washington, where Congress will act, or not act, to relieve the incredible pain that has reduced the condition of so many American citizens to Third World status or worse.

"If the people do not know, they cannot care."

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/13402585.htm

[Plaid Adder]

9. Yes, I will definitely make sure Mississippi gets represented

I know Mississippi has not made it into the dominant media story so I'm sure the need is even worse there.

C ya,

The Plaid Adder

[mopinko]

10. looking for a 501c to process musical instrument donations

i donated a nice vintage coronet that i had through the jazz foundation in new york, but i haven't gotten a receipt out of them. i am digging around for someone here in chicago to help, but haven't found anyone so far.
i have acquired a couple more horns. good, tho student, quality, but still... got a couple of other things, some drums, stuff.
i am willing to haunt some pawn shops, and think i may have someone to give me a break on repairs. what i need now, more than anything, is someone to provide "tax paper".
but i am also looking for musicians, student or professional, that can use them.

but, i bet there are a LOT of people out there (and here) with a nice instrument gathering dust that could be bringing the music back.

[pitohui]

12. arlo guthrie's group is giving folks musical intruments

ah, what's the name of that group, he has already been able to help one of my friends replace a piano, the friend lost everything in the breach of the london avenue canal -- job, house, car, every little possession in that house much less the piano

he is definitely getting the musical instruments to people, let me see if i can get ahold of her and get the proper name of the organization and how to contact

[klook]

18. WWOZ web site lists a bunch of musicians' relief organizations

Take your pick:
http://www.wwoz.org/music_help.php

Most of these groups are looking for money, not instruments, though. Many of the NOLA musicians need help with basics like housing and healthcare.

[mopinko]

26. thank you. the katrina piano fund looks like a good one.

i know everyone needs money, but as an artist myself, i know that there are some things that money cannot buy. i would find it hard to choose between keeping my chops up and feeding my family. so, this way, somebody does not have to choose.
thanks.

[pitohui]

11. new alternative to baker bill

http://www.nola.com/newslogs/tpupdates/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_tpupdates/archives/2006_02_12.html#112336

the five parishes plan might be better as it would allow owners of modest homes to get 100 percent of the value of their home rather than only 60 percent, never forget baker is a republican and has to be watched, i'll support either plan to get people some money and back in their homes but the new plan may be the way to go

[Leopolds Ghost]

20. Why isn't anyone pushing to REBUILD these peoples' homes?

Giving folks a 100% of the "assessed" value of their home (i.e. accept government sponsored eminent domain or else get foreclosed on) is a poor substitute for a break on their mortgage and assistance rebuilding.

How can any Dem be pushing for this? Eminent domain of the entire city? I have spent years FIGHTING the eminent domain/foreclosure of restorable properties in poor areas of my town.

[pitohui]

23. please read the proposal again, read it don't skim it

if you don't know what you are talking abt and clearly you do not, it is not helpful to offer hysteria and conspiracy

there is no eminent domain here, it is the opposite of eminent domain because there is no political courage on any side to admit that, yes, some houses are in unsafe locations that should have never been built on in the first place and should not be rebuilt now

the only property being taken by eminent domain is in bucktown, a white area, and it is being taken because otherwise next hurricane season, and the next, and the next, thousands more people will be killed because the repairs of the breach in the london avenue and 17th street canals are not going to be able to be completed in time

if a person objects to this use of eminent domain, then they are not a democrat, they are in a fringe area of the libertarians or extremist free-market republicans, and they are certainly no friend to new orleans, to the majority democratic population of orleans parish, or to the people who need proper rebuilding and proper levees completed by june 1, 2006 -- less than 4 months away

i am tired of people calling for new orleans to remain a slum forever and to deny homeowners a fair chance to start over, no one here would be willing to live in the lower 9th ward or in new orleans east but they are happy to condemn others to do so

give the people the damn $$$ they need to move out of unsafe areas and rebuild elsewhere

i don't see how any decent human being can object to that, i really do not

[peacetalksforall]

13. Limited time, but I'd like to help if I can squeeze more in. May I ask ..

does anyone know if everything is being done about/for the relatives of the 5300 missing - are they getting government follow-through or .....?

[pitohui]

14. new orleans coroner is searching for 300 most likely to be dead

the state of louisiana and the city of new orleans are broke and basically w.out any source of revenue so w.out federal assistance, which has not been forthcoming, then i don't know how a search for thousands of people would be paid for

there are 300 names of missing that are almost certainly dead because of the location where last seen was hit by the storm surge so the focus such as it is will be on locating any more bodies in that area, mostly the lower 9th ward

[Coastie for Truth]

15. There is a "Volunteer Vets" Group of Red Cross and Salvation Army

volunteers (among others) who are working with local survivors in their communities. We don't have that many survivors here - and Rev Cecil Williams of Glide Methodist Church in San Francisco seems to be carrying the ball.

(I have only worked with two families)

[bettyellen]

16. k+r

[Kurovski]

17. Great idea to keep efforts on the front page.

Habitat for Humanity:

http://www.habitat-nola.org/

[Lydia Leftcoast]

21. Camp Coast Care in Mississippi

http://www.campcoastcare.com/

I volunteered there the first week in January. It's a joint project of the Lutheran and Episcopal disaster relief programs, but they help people without regard to religion, don't proselytize, and welcome volunteers of all belief systems. (There's a nightly meeting with Evening Prayer, but I noticed that some people chose to skip it, and nothing was said to them.)

The volunteers clean up people's lots and staff the clothing, food, and medical care facilities while essentially camping out in a school gym.

Volunteers get three meals and cot space while volunteering, so their only expense is transportation to the site.

[AspenRose]

22. Katrina on the Ground

for college spring break-ers (and anyone else)

www.katrinaontheground.com

[Plaid Adder]

24. Kick cause it doesn't have Cheney or a shotgun in it n/t

[Plaid Adder]

25. Whoa_Nelly pointed me to DU's own resource:

Katrina Underground:

http://www.boomdesign.no/ku/index.php

Looks like some of it hasn't been updated in a while, but still, a good place to start.

C ya,

The Plaid Adder

[Lisa]

27. NAACP is partnering with Habitat to build homes in the affected area

http://www.naacp.org/

[Lisa]

28. fund for Gulf Coast libraries (Biloxi, Gulfport, Pass Christian)

Having free access to public libraries is essential part of long-term community-building. Libraries are vital links in education, local democracy, and hands-on stuff like Internet access and learning about how to deal with your government agencies and representatives. Besides losing collections and equipment, and having seriously-damaged buildings, even though many branches have managed to reopen, there are going to be long-term issues with replacing materials. Not to downgrade the importance of fixing people's homes, but if state funds are limited (and they are), the libraries probably won't be first in line. So they're going to need help.

http://www.harrison.lib.ms.us/

"Like many of you along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the Harrison County Library System received extensive damage to several libraries. The Biloxi Public Library, Gulfport Public Library, and Pass Christian Public Library were devastated by Hurricane Katrina's storm surge. The D'Iberville Public Library had some flooding, but the collections were not lost. The other libraries were luckier. We have thankfully accounted for all of our staff. Since October 4th, we have opened the locations we could."

"Fund created by Friends of MS Libraries
Rebuild MS Libraries Fund
C/O AmSouth Bank
210 E. Capital Street
Jackson, MS 39201 "



Initial estimates of losses, from ALA:

http://www.ala.org/template.cfm?section=libraryfunding&template=/cfapps/pio/state.cfm&state=ms


The ALA has decided to go ahead with the plan to keep their 2006 meeting in New Orleans (decided prior to Katrina). They have a special page just for librarians who would like to help out with community projects, so if you are a library staffer or know one, check this out ...

http://www.ala.org/ala/cro/katrina/katrina.htm


Note: They are asking people to hold off on book donations until they have a better idea of what needs to be replaced. (This Political Science association is starting to match up requests, but it appears to be fairly specific stuff.)

http://spsa.net/flr/

[egadsbrain]

30. ACORN

http://www.acorn.org/

[Lydia Leftcoast]

31. Let's kick this

:kick:

[likesmountains 52]

32. I am considering a book drive in my town....how can I get the books

to all of the places they're needed? Is there any group coordinating something like this? Thanks!

[Lisa]

40. perhaps you could check with your local librarians?

If the ALA is doing anything of this sort, they would know about it via the mailing list?

[likesmountains 52]

44. Now why didn't I think of that? Thank you...will do!

[Swamp Rat]

33. kick and recommended n/t

:grouphug:

[intheflow]

34. Hands On Network

I'm typing from their site in Biloxi (God love 'em for providing wifi!), and they're setting up a volunteer camp in New Orleans now, too.

http://www.handsonusa.org/

Please come help!


First Baptist, Gulfport
My photo, taken on January 29, 2006.

[HeeBGBz]

35. I used to go to that church

When I was with my second husband. I hope they don't have to finish it off with a wreckin ball.

Still working on coming back down there in a couple months.

[egadsbrain]

36. Kick for the night owls

:kick:

[Plaid Adder]

37. I'm gonna kick this once a day till March 1 n/t

[Plaid Adder]

45. Kick n/t

[knitter4democracy]

38. I e-mailed this to my priest.

We're Eastern Orthodox, so our Great Lent starts later. We might have time to do something like this in our church. Thank you for such a wonderful idea. :D

[Wordie]

39. Excellent. K&R Please also note that Nagin has a new plan for the

housing in NO, which is apparently an improvement on the Baker plan. Thread on it here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2107387

I'd really like to hear from NO residents on what they think of Nagin's new plan...

[DarkmoonIkonoklast]

41. Awesome Idea!

:toast: :applause:
"... dig up some smaller organizations that might not get a whole lot of national publicity, but are doing important work." This is exactly the sort of thinking I had in mind when I wrote of "new paradigms in political activism". The folk who are doing this kind of work: small, local, targeted and quiet, ("Too busy doin', to brag on what they're doin'") are the only ones truly qualified to represent us in the halls of government.
:patriot:

[mopinko]

42. am i just stupid? where is the katrina survivors group?

i can't find it.

[bobbieinok]

43. thanks for this----some of us like me may have some $+want to go

where it will be used for people, not bureaucracy