Press Release Katrina - On the Ground
March 13, 2006

WHO: Students: “Katrina on the Ground” is 2000 plus college students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Black Student Unions from Universities across the country and community groups coordinating volunteer efforts. Community members: New Orleans residents working to support the return ofdisplaced residents in areas hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina and it’saftermath. Community based organizations: Representatives from:Critical Resistance South, Tamika Middleton INCITE- Women of Color Again Violence, Mayaba Leibenthal Zion Travel Cooperative- Plaquemines Parish, Tyrone EdwardsPeople’s Hurricane Relief Fund, Ishmael Muhammad LaKedra Robertson, RALLY Foundation Lynn Dean, St. Bernard Parish City Council

The People’s Hurricane Relief Fund & Oversight Coalition (PHRF), a collaborative of organizations and Katrina survivors, working to ensure the voices of hurricane survivors are central to the just reconstruction and recovery of New Orleans, neighboring parishes and the Gulf Coast is taking part in coordinating “Katrina on the Ground,” a student lead initiative and collaborative effort that has organized thousands of students to participate in community-led reconstruction efforts during their spring break throughout the affected region- New Orleans, LA, Biloxi, MS, Mobile, Alabama. The student
volunteer effort takes place over 4 consecutive weeks March 5 – April 2, 2006.

“A tremendous number of people living below the poverty level were severely affected by this catastrophe. Prior to the storm, many of these individuals struggled by on low wages while serving as the lifeline for the booming tourism industry, serving as cooks, maids, bell hops and other industry workers that allowed the region to flourish with prosperity… Having identified this unprecedented opportunity to target, harness and capitalize on the collective intellect, initiative and manpower of African American students en masse, this concerted effort is intended to generate national support and impart widespread improvement at several levels in the lives of the thousands of still-reeling victims.”