Thanks you for your interest in volunteering with the Common Ground Collective. The information below will help you to prepare for your time in the New Orleans area.

You can find more background about Common Ground on this website along with our new volunteer handbook.

If you have further questions, contact the Volunteer Coordination Team at 504-218-6613, or send an email to commongroundvolunteers@gmail.com.

The mailing address for the Common Ground in New Orleans is 1415 Franklin Street, New Orleans, LA, 70117. NOTE: This is not the address of the community center.

If you decide to come and volunteer it is really important that you fill out a registration form online.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

Volunteer Orientation-

There is a new volunteer orientation everyday at 5:30 PM at the community center, located at 1614 Pauline Street (at the corner of Pauline and North Claiborne). This short meeting will give you an overview of the history of the Common Ground Collective, general health and safety information, and other information you will need while working with CG.

Housing -

Common Ground provides BASIC communal housing for all volunteers. We offer space in the Community Center, either a bunk bed, a cot, or space for your sleeping pad/mat. It’s first come, first serve. Bring your own bedding, e.g. sleeping bag and pad. There are often smaller houses available, but most all our spaces are basic - gutted out buildings that we have cleaned up. Camping is also an option, so if you want, bring a tent.

There are showers on-site but you may not be able to have one every day. And, the shared bathrooms are part of the revolution.

Food-

Common Ground will provide three meals per day. Our volunteer kitchen staff does include vegan and vegetarian choices. Strict vegans and vegetarians may want to bring dietary supplements such as vitamins, power bars, peanut butter etc. Food allergies can be accommodated. Notify the kitchen when you arrive. It is also great when people can bring snacks or fresh produce to share.

Weather-
Check www.weather.com for the latest weather information. The zip code to use is 70117.

Getting to Common Ground

The Community Center is located at 1614 Pauline Street, at the corner of Pauline and North Claiborne.Click here for a map!

If you are driving, you can visit Craig's List or our online forum to search for travel buddies to share costs.

If you are flying, the New Orleans airport is open and convenient. There is a shuttle bus that will take you to the community center for $13. The website for the shuttle is http://www.airportshuttleneworleans.com. The shuttle only runs until around 8PM. Contact the volunteer coordination team at commongroundvolunteers@gmail.com or 504-218-6613 if you are arriving later than that.

If you are arriving by bus or train, you should catch a taxi directly to the community center. If you cannot afford a taxi, contact the volunteer coordination team at commongroundvolunteers@gmail.com or 504-218-6613.

The Work (If you have a particular skill, please identify yourself to the Volunteer Coordinator during the Volunteer Orientation)

Some of the things you might do in New Orleans:

House Gutting/ Mold Abatement
Distribute food and supplies to community members
Support work at the Free Medical Clinic
Emergency home repair to damaged homes, including roof tarping, debris removal, tree trimming, etc.
Legal support for residents affected by police brutality and violations of renters' rights
Environmental monitoring/bio-remediation, gardening
Childcare Cooperative support
Other miscellaneous jobs such as staffing the women’s center, repairing computer, cars and bikes, running errands, washing dishes, general upkeep and providing security for the Common Ground housing locations

WHAT TO PACK:

Sleeping bag and pad or inflatable mattress
Flashlight and extra batteries
First aid kit
Work clothes
Sweater, rain jacket, possibly a hat and gloves
Closed-toe shoes and extra pair of comfortable shoes
Hand sanitizer
Toiletries and towel
Camera or video camera to record damage
Cell phone
Specialty needs
Insect repellent
Tent if you are camping
Instruments, books, arts supplies
If you can, bring a full or half-face respirator, with N100, P100, or R100 cartridges, tyvek suits (1 per day), work gloves, and sturdy or rubber boots. If you do not have or cannot afford protective gear, it will be provided for you.

If you or your group can bring other things to donate that is also appreciated. There is a downloadable donation letter on our website that you can bring to local stores. Please check our online wish list but,

3mil Contractor Bags
Small Tools – hammers, crow bars etc are always needed
Work Gloves

Check the website for updates.

Remember, the circumstances you are entering are part of a DISASTER ZONE. It is important to take good care of your mental and physical health prior to arrival and during your stay.

We are excited to work with you in a mass effort of 'solidarity, not charity.'

Thanks on behalf of the Common Ground Collective

www.commongroundrelief.org

click here for HAWC - the hurricane action worker's collective - a group created by meg's friends in her memory to continue her work in the gulf

On December 10th, 2005, Common Ground volunteer, Meg Perry, 26, was fatally injured in a tragic accident in New Orleans. She is survived by parents Rosalie and Robin Perry, one sister, Jennifer and hundreds of friends. Meg was a dedicated organizer who drove the Frida bus from Maine to support residents of the Gulf Coast region after Hurricanes Katrina. Eight others survived the accident without serious injury.

Common Ground Collective's hearts and minds are with Meg's parents and family during this time of grief. We too are grieving the loss of a great friend and a committed activist. Meg poured her heart and soul into her work; at Common Ground Collective, at Save Our Selves and with the People's Free Space in her home town of Portland, Maine. Here in the Gulf Coast, she was working to improve the lives and living conditions of New Orleans's residents.

Meg Perry was an energetic, passionate, kind and dedicated person. She filled her days working for justice, building community and bringing love and joy into people's lives. She was always ready with a warm smile or to lend a hand. She came down to the Gulf Coast soon after Hurricane Katrina, and only left in October to recruit more volunteers to come down. A Maine newspaper quoted her in September saying, "Get enough people and you can move a mountain."

Meg lived every day her philosophy of progressive change and mutual aid. While
working with CGC, Meg did roof repairs, youth mentoring and coordinated a community garden. The Frida Bus, a vegetable powered mobile community space, has been used for the last two and a half years to bring people together, share resources, and
provide information about alternatives to fossil fuels. Meg logged many hours designing, renovating and decorating the bus in an effort to create a beautiful, safe, educational space for her community. For her it was truly a labor of love.

In Portland, Maine, Meg was a coordinator with the People's Free Space, a community group fighting social, ecological and political injustices. After Meg's initial trip to the Gulf Coast to work with both SOS and CGC, she returned to Maine, recruited volunteers, and came back to support the same projects. Meg believed we must change the ways we interact with each other and the world around us to address fundamental injustices. Small actions can have a big impact. Meg demonstrated that statement through her daily actions. She dramatically affected many lives while in the Gulf Coast while doing relief work.

Meg and other volunteers that traveled to the Gulf Coast were deeply moved by the tragedy that people in the region suffered this hurricane season. They came in the spirit of volunteerism and mutual aid. The survivors have vowed to return to continue her legacy, by building Common Ground's Meg Perry Community Garden Project, at St. Denis St. and Havana Place. This community encourages people from across
the US to come to the Gulf Coast to continue this crucial work.



The "Meg Perry Memorial Fund" has been established to provide an alternative to sending flowers in rememberance of Meg. This fund will be used to support educational programs for hurricane survivors and to sustain the humanitarian efforts to which Megan dedicated her life. Contributions may be mailed to the Meg Perry Memorial Fund, c/o Key Bank, 172 Maine St., Brunswick, ME 04011