This is for the Streets
New Orleans has been one of the best, and most intense weeks--or rather, 10 days,--of my life. I can't remember ever feeling so inspired as I have here, or loving so many people so much at one time.
The people, houses, and land of the Gulf Coast and New Orleans have been to so devastated by Katrina, by the levees breaking, and by the effects of racism, neglect, and poverty before and after the storm. What the locals who are leading the fight and the hundreds of volunteers who come in solidarity are saying is that if the government is not going to make things right, then we are going to do it ourselves. Residents of the 9th ward, where roots run deep, proclaim, "Since its here, we must come back."
So one plant at a time, we help to restore the bayou.
And one house at a time, we try and give a family a chance to return home.
Malik, who started Common Grounds in the midst of the madness following Hurricane Katrina, says every person in New Orleans said a small prayer when the storm hit. And every person helping to restore New Orleans is an answer to one of the prayers.
I don't believe in god or in prayers, nor do I think I am personally much of an answer to what's happening in New Orleans. But when Miss Margaret, a full-time Common Grounds volunteer, told me her story about fighting to survive the storm and about everything that's happened to her since, I hugged her and said "God bless you Miss Margaret." But she said back "God can't do nothin for me; its you and me that are gonna get us through this."
And since Miss Margaret, like so many others, is still smiling, still working, still loving, and still fighting, wherever we are--all of us--we are in it 'till the end.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Common Grounds Headquarters
Upper Ninth Ward, where we live
Harvesting plants to restore the wetland
A truck full of smooth cordgrass, that we will plant in the wetlands
Room 10 volunteers at Common Grounds, week 2
Some of my favorite Common Grounds volunteers, week 1
>
Common Grounders, if you are reading, thank you for inspiring me to love, struggle, and fight to help create the world of justice and prosperity (not for the few, but for everyone. for the 9th ward, for the 3rd world, and for the whole world) that we all so much want and deserve.
The people, houses, and land of the Gulf Coast and New Orleans have been to so devastated by Katrina, by the levees breaking, and by the effects of racism, neglect, and poverty before and after the storm. What the locals who are leading the fight and the hundreds of volunteers who come in solidarity are saying is that if the government is not going to make things right, then we are going to do it ourselves. Residents of the 9th ward, where roots run deep, proclaim, "Since its here, we must come back."
So one plant at a time, we help to restore the bayou.
And one house at a time, we try and give a family a chance to return home.
Malik, who started Common Grounds in the midst of the madness following Hurricane Katrina, says every person in New Orleans said a small prayer when the storm hit. And every person helping to restore New Orleans is an answer to one of the prayers.
I don't believe in god or in prayers, nor do I think I am personally much of an answer to what's happening in New Orleans. But when Miss Margaret, a full-time Common Grounds volunteer, told me her story about fighting to survive the storm and about everything that's happened to her since, I hugged her and said "God bless you Miss Margaret." But she said back "God can't do nothin for me; its you and me that are gonna get us through this."
And since Miss Margaret, like so many others, is still smiling, still working, still loving, and still fighting, wherever we are--all of us--we are in it 'till the end.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Common Grounds Headquarters
Upper Ninth Ward, where we live
Harvesting plants to restore the wetland
A truck full of smooth cordgrass, that we will plant in the wetlands
Room 10 volunteers at Common Grounds, week 2
Some of my favorite Common Grounds volunteers, week 1
>
Common Grounders, if you are reading, thank you for inspiring me to love, struggle, and fight to help create the world of justice and prosperity (not for the few, but for everyone. for the 9th ward, for the 3rd world, and for the whole world) that we all so much want and deserve.