COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO HELP REBUILD AND AID THE KATRINA EMERGENCY

Last night I watched a bunch of TV coverage of Katrina and tried my best not to completely break down. I keep reading and seeing more and more upsetting coverage. I can't believe this is happening here, there is so much the government could be doing that they are not. The most infuriating was Fox's racist coverage of the strong nice white families staving off the mad black "urban youth" looters who they suspect are "organized gangs." Furthermore, the way disaster aid is administered in this country is notoriously disorganized, harsh and inhumanitarian. I worry that all that aid pouring into new orleans will never help the people it needs to help. During 9/11 I organized a tent city on the west side highway just below houston near a police checkpoint. we provided supplies to the rescue workers and took donations from people wanting to help. The disorganization I saw down around ground zero with supplies was ridiculous. It was like the whole country sent a million pallettes of poland spring for dead people to drink. in the end it was underpaid migrant labor that did much of the work and suffer respiratory damage. months later a friend of mine was set up in a truck administering health checks on the workers there. everything's fucked. Compiled by journalist/author Kevin Powell: Monetary donations can be sent to these outlets, which we have confirmed are REALLY delivering services to folks in need........ BlackAmericaWeb.com Relief Fund PO Box 803209 Dallas, TX 75240 OR you can make an online donation by going to www.blackamericaweb.com/relief This fund has been set up by nationally syndicated radio personality TOM JOYNER NAACP Disaster Relief Efforts The NAACP is setting up command centers in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama as part of its disaster relief efforts. NAACP units across the nation have begun collecting resources that will be placed on trucks and sent directly into the disaster areas. Also, the NAACP has established a disaster relief fund to accept monetary donations to aid in the relief effort. Checks can be sent to the NAACP payable to NAACP Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund 4805 Mt. Hope Drive Baltimore, MD 21215 Donations can also be made online at: www.naacp.org/disaster/contribute.php FYI, the NAACP, founded in 1909, is America's oldest civil rights organization. www.teamrescueone.com Set up by native New Orleans rapper Master P and his wife Sonya Miller You can mail or ship non-perishable items to these following locations, which we have confirmed are REALLY delivering services to folks in need.... Center for LIFE Outreach Center 121 Saint Landry Street Lafayette, LA 70506 atten.: Minister Pamela Robinson 337-504-5374 Mohammad Mosque 65 2600 Plank Road Baton Rouge, LA 70805 atten.: Minister Andrew Muhammad 225-923-1400 225-357-3079 Lewis Temple CME Church 272 Medgar Evers Street Grambling, LA 71245 atten.: Rev. Dr. Ricky Helton 318-247-3793 St. Luke Community United Methodist Church c/o Hurricane Katrina Victims 5710 East R.L. Thornton Freeway Dallas, TX 75223 atten.: Pastor Tom Waitschies 214-821-2970 S.H.A.P.E. Community Center 3815 Live Oak Houston, Texas 77004 atten.: Deloyd Parker 713-521-0641 Alternative media outlets where you can get a more accurate and balanced presentation of the New Orleans catastrophe.... www.diversityinc.com www.alternet.org www.blackelectorate.com www.npr.org www.daveyd.com www.slate.com www.bet.com www.allhiphop.com www.democracynow.org www.blackamericaweb.com PLEASE VISIT all these websites. Five things you can do to help immediately: 1. Duplicate what we are doing elsewhere in New York City, in your city or town, on your college campus, at your church, synagogue, mosque, or other religious institution, via your fraternity or sorority, or via your local civic or social organization. 2. Cut and paste the information in this eblast about Items needed by survivors of the New Orleans catastrophe: * Monetary donations * Where you can ship non-perishable items * Alternative media outlets * Five things you can do to help immediately and share this information, as a ONE SHEET, with folks near and far, via email, or as a hand out at your event, religious institution, and with your civic or social organization. 3. Voice your opinion to local and national media, and to elected officials, via letter, email, op ed article, or phonecall, regarding the coverage of the New Orleans catastrophe, as well as to the federal government's ongoing handling of the situation. 4. Ask the hotel you frequent, such as the Marriott or Holiday Inn, to give your hotel points to an individual or family in need of a stay for a night, a few nights, or longer, depending on how many points you have. Be sure to get confirmation that your points have been applied in that way. Encourage others to do the same. Also inquire if your airline Frequent Flyer mileage can be used for hotel stays as well. Finally, either offer to pay for hotel rooms, or encourage others to do so, including your place of employment or worship or your organization. 5. Dare to care about other human beings, no matter their race, gender, class, sexual orientation, religion, geography, culture, clothing, hairstyle, or accent or language. Like September 11th, the New Orleans catastrophe is a harsh reminder that all life is precious, as is each day we have on this earth. AND REMEMBER that our attention and response to the New Orleans catastrophe needs to happen in three stages...DISASTER, RECOVERY, and REBUILDING. We need you for all three stages.