Common Ground Relief - interviews/articles

Demolition News: How to find what you are looking for

Sun, 16 Dec 2007 22:25:08 +0000

While plans to demolish public housing has drawn many protests marches and lawsuits, many informative websites are covering these issues by providing regular updates and action requests.

If you haven't heard, the New Orleans City Council approved the demolition of portions of C.J. Peete, Lafitte, and St. Bernard Housing developments. Strategic planning and calls for solidarity actions are ongoing. Coverage in mainstream media sources like the Times Picayune newspaper have been inaccurate, so independent information sources stand alone in factual coverage of this critical issue. Check out the following sources for accurate information!

Support the Justice in Jena Campaign!

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 22:58:01 +0000

Common Ground Relief stands in solidarity with historically neglected commmunities, and stands firmly against racism in all forms. We must stand together with people in Jena, Louisiana. Please check out their website at freethejena6.org and get involved.

Together, we can unravel institutional racism that plagues Louisiana and our world.

Weekend Voices Interviews Emily Posner, Bioremediation Coordinator

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 19:01:33 +0000

Weekend Voices interviews Emily Posner. The show looks at grassroots groups that are tackling issues the government agencies have not addressed. Mikkel Allen and anonymous are also interviewed.

Listen here or here

Common Ground Relief's Malik Rahim Awarded Jane Bagley Lehman Award for Excellence in Public Advocacy

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 04:41:28 +0000

The Tides Foundation recently announced seven Gulf Coast winners of the Jane Bagley Lehman Award for Public Advocacy. Common Ground Relief is pleased to share that Co-Founder, Malik Rahim, is one of the seven honored with a JBL award for his Post-Katrina efforts for social change in New Orleans.

The JBL Awards focus on recognizing individuals that have been integral to the rebuilding efforts in the Gulf Coast. According to the Tides Foundation, the seven activists, advocates and organizers are being highlighted because their work addresses the need for “public infrastructure systems, a social safety-net, environmental monitoring and toxic clean-up, and . . . civic participation.”

Common Ground Relief and Veterans for Peace Team Up in the Lower Ninth Ward

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 03:59:14 +0000

On March 19th, Veterans for Peace (VFP: www.veteransforpeace.org), Military Families Speak Out, Iraq Veterans Against the War, and Gold Star Families for Peace embarked on a caravan in Fayetteville, North Carolina to demonstrate their opposition to the Iraq War. The organizations traveled in the southeast and stopped at six different military towns. At each stop, VFP hosted an event for active duty military personnel and their families, and additionally collected signatures for the Appeal For Redress.

The caravan arrived in New Orleans on March 25th and immediately began volunteering with Common Ground Relief's rebuilding efforts in the Lower Ninth Ward Neighborhood. Some thirty VFP caravaners joined Common Ground's co-founder, Malik Rahim, and volunteers in beginning to reconstruct Walter Goodwin’s home at the corner of Roman and Jourdan Ave. in the Lower 9th Ward.

Common Ground Relief Thanks Laurie David, Sheryl Crow and Stop Global Warming Campaign

Sun, 15 Apr 2007 13:49:07 +0000

Common Ground Relief wants to thank Laurie David, Sheryl Crow and the Stop Global Warming Campaign for stopping by the Lower Ninth Ward and supporting New Orleans Residents' struggles to return home.

The Stop Global Warming Campaign (www.stopglobalwarming.org) encourages individual action that proactively addresses practices that lead to global warming.

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina and Rita devestated much of the Gulf Coast. And today, residents of the region are still struggling to rebuild their lives and communities. Common Ground works under the principle that all people of conscience must work together to ensure that New Orleans, a city of utmost historical and national importance, is no longer victim to the environmental degradation and institutional racism that allowed Katrina and Rita to turn natural disasters into national tragedies.

Communication for a Better New Orleans

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 21:43:55 +0000

by Ian Mayes

In these times of widespread social violence, a devastated city, & devastated lives - an honest public dialogue, conversation without selling an agenda, is all the more important. That is just what happened on October 17th of this year, thanks to the Communication Department of Xavier University of New Orleans.

The event took place in the cavernous ballroom on campus, five people in a row on a panel, moderator at the side by a podium, numerous seats pointed towards them. Presented with the title of "Media, Communication, and Community: Private & Public Interests in Rebuilding New Orleans", this dialogue was moderated by Bruce France, a former public-speaking professor of Xavier University and a co-founder & co-artistic director of the local art company Mondo Bizarro. France began with a few remarks of his own, one of which was a question which he used to present to his students at Xavier:

"Are you paying attention to the world around you, or are you paying attention to what is going on for you?"

He then answered this question, for himself: "I can barely be paying attention to any of this stuff (world events). Why? Because I live in New Orleans." He then remarked on how "more people die per capita here in New Orleans than in Baghdad," and on some other challenges the city faces, and thus, the discussion began.

This dialogue consisted of a panel of five people, and the audience at large. The panel was comprised of:

Bart Everson, a local activist & blogger and multimedia artist for Xavier's Center for the Advancement of Teaching.

Michael Franti and Spearhead visit the lower Ninth Ward

Fri, 11 May 2007 01:48:08 +0000

Michael Franti is an American poet, musician, artist, activist, and composer. Franti is the creator and driving force behind Michael Franti & Spearhead, a band that blends hip hop with a variety of other styles including funk, reggae, jazz, folk, and rock. He is also an outspoken supporter for a wide spectrum of peace and social justice issues.

Michael Franti will be hosting an upcoming socially conscious reality program on cable television featuring interviews with Common Ground volunteers and Lower 9th Community residents.

Check out their awesome website SpearHeadVibrations

New Orleans Alternative Christmas Carols

Tue, 26 Dec 2006 19:34:31 +0000

New Orleans Alternative Christmas Carols

In the spirit of the holiday season, some activists, including Bork from the Common Ground Algiers Health Clinic, who have worked since Hurricane Katrina to fight the governmentally created parts of the disaster, decided to have some fun and make alternative lyrics to some of the most well known Christmas songs. We thought they would be an innovative way to communicate our frustrations and disappointments. We collected our results and created this booklet for you.

Those of us who had previously worked on such songs for a political housing group, Mayday DC, in Washington DC got us permission to barrow from their songbook. Additional song lyrics were gathered and adapted from other political groups efforts such as Welfare Warriors of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and The Center for a New American Dream.

Malik Rahim Brings Common Ground to D.C.

Wed, 13 Sep 2006 23:45:40 +0000

Malik Rahim, visiting Washington D.C. to take part in the congressional black caucus meeting came to Camp Democracy, an offshoot of Camp Casey to spread the Common Ground message. Malik talked to a committed group of activists and took part in the delivery of the findings of the "Bush War Crimes Tribunal". Click here for photos

Speeches and Interviews

Fri, 30 Sep 2005 12:48:45 +0000

Click an interview to listen!