Common Ground Collective
Common Ground Relief , also known as Common Ground Collective , is a grassroots organization that aims to bring the residents of New Orleans back home .
history
Common Ground Relief was founded by former Black Panther Party member Malik Rahim immediately after the dam broke as a result of insufficient protective measures against Hurricane Katrina . The districts that are mostly inhabited by Afro-Americans, such as the Lower 9th Ward , were not only destroyed by the flood, but no government assistance was given to rebuild them. Common Ground therefore began building it on a voluntary and donation basis. The first projects were the establishment of distribution centers, which provided the remaining residents with the necessary resources, and the establishment of an independent medical clinic that provides its services free of charge.
aims
The primary goal is the return of the former New Orleans residents to their homes. One guideline here is “Solidarity not Charity”. Attempts are being made to structure the reconstruction according to ecological and social criteria so that the living space is resistant to hurricanes. Common Ground works on a grassroots basis and has an anti-sexist and anti-racist basis. For example, weekly meetings on racism and sexism take place in the former St. Mary School.
Common Ground's work
Common Ground Relief comprised 26 projects in July 2006, ten months after it was founded. These include four independent clinics that also work with alternative medicine such as acupuncture , support with legal issues and administrative procedures, ecological reforestation of the coastal landscape south of New Orleans, educational offers and, above all, the renovation and reconstruction of the destroyed homes and schools. The work is supported by donations and by volunteers. As of July 2006, 10,000 volunteers had worked at Common Ground.
See also
Web links
- Official website (English)
- Common Ground Health Clinic (English)