Tech Collective

Common Ground’s Tech Collective has been working since hurricane Katrina to provide computers, internet access, and tech support to New Orleans’ neglected communities.

“Common Ground Tech's first response efforts were building computer labs and mobile internet labs to help residents get assistance from Fema and the Red Cross and find and contact loved ones,” says Ted Cash, Tech Collective member since June, 2006 and current IT Coordinator. Ted originally came to New Orleans to work with Common Ground’s Legal office, but the demand for skilled IT volunteers convinced him to join the Tech Collective.

Thus far, Common Ground has done an amazing job of building our own technology capacity and providing both necessary services and computer labs to the community at large entirely through the generosity of individuals like you! At the moment, however, we have some very urgent needs. Tech work at CG is a fundamental element of everything we do, from keeping databases of houses gutted to building maps of the Wetlands; shooting documentaries to assisting residents with FEMA websites. With new projects starting every day, we can use whatever you can send! Of course, your donation is tax deductible.

If you have access to any of the following resources, or would be interested in donating specifically to our IT programs, please contact Technology Collective 504-235-1759, or fill out the form on our site www.cgctechs.com , tech (at) commongroundrelief.org or mail directly to us: CG Tech, 215 North Jefferson Davis Parkway, New Orleans, LA 70119. Tech Project Wishlist
updated May 5, 2007

* Monetary donations (you can donate via paypal or by mailing a check made out to "Common Ground Relief" For "Tech" to 215 N jefferson davis parkway New Orleans, LA 70119
* UPS (uninteruptable power supply)
* Monitors
* Wireless networking hardware
* blank CD-Rs (urgent) and DVD-R's
* Laptop computers & PC computers less than 5 years old (we can wipe your hard drive)
* Mac computers, iMacs or newer
* Routers, both wired & wireless
* Working digital cameras
* RAM memory
* bulk Cat5 cable & ends
* USB peripherals, most urgently keyboards & mice
* tools & test equipment
* blank CD-R and DVD-R's
* Working video cameras (miniDV or VHS)
* USB cables of every length & variety
* Working hard drives, CDROM drives and DVD drives.
* Large external hard drives for file servers
* High-end workstations for video & graphics work
* Contact numbers/emails for schools & businesses interested in large-scale off-lease equipment donations.
* Working printers and ink cartridges. Please note that at this time we are not accepting inkjet printers- unless they arrive working with spare cartridges. Thanks!

....and volunteers! Whether it's two weeks or two years, we need you to come down & get involved.

Some of What we've done

• Assembled 50+ computers with open source operating systems from parts
• Setup laptop computers for common ground organizers
• Provided technical and software support to the computer labs, media, administrative, and legal offices at the House of Excellence now at 215 N. Jefferson Davis Parkway
• Setup and maintained office labs at Kone's office, Sharon's, the administrative offices at the Woodlands, St. Mary's and the Lighthouse
• Troubleshot computer and other technical problems for organizers, volunteers and residents, in addition to providing continuous technical support through our tech support hotline
• Setup other local activist organizations with computers; food and farm network, critical resistance, and other groups
• Setup 5 free voip internet phones in the House of Excellence and St. Mary's.
• Assisted websites:
  nolahomefortheholidays.org
  rebuildgreen.org
  cgctechs.com

Common Ground Relief is seeking donations of Verizon Phones.

This is the company that we have our phone plans with, and as you might imagine our phones often break, get lost, or some have gone missing. It will save us lots of money, if we can get some phones that can be activated on our plan as opposed to having to buy new replacements. If you have a phone to donate, please contact Common Ground Tech (504) 208-3913 or mail it directly to: Common Ground Relief, 1415 Franklin Ave. New Orleans, LA 70117, Attn: Tech Team