New York 2 New Orleans Coalition
Submitted by funkmasteral on Mon, 11/24/2008 - 20:12.
Last updated on Tue, 07/07/2009 - 09:45.
Vital Stats
ongoing project
People Impacted:
700People Involved: 175
Project Video
The Problem
NY2NO has focused its efforts over the past 3 years on working with those most devastated by Hurricane Katrina. The poorest, and primarily black, residents of the city have been victim to not only a hurricane, but also to a structure of racism, classism, and systematic oppression that has been forced uppon them the neglect of our government. We have primarily worked in the Lower 9th ward, doing construction work and community organizing.
Recently, however, we have expanded our horizons and are now working to bring what we have learned from New Orleans and apply it to our own communities. We are now partnering with a number of grass roots organization who are working to organize residents in the poorest areas of NYC who are facing the same issues that the residents of New Orleans have been facing; racism, classism, poverty, and gentrification.
Why It's Important
The New York 2 New Orleans Coalition (NY2NO) is a youth-led, consensus-based organization made to create a network of young people who are interested in organizing and mobilizing across New York City. NY2NO works in solidarity with those most affected by the social, racial, and economic inequalities in both New York and New Orleans. Through this, the youth breaks down barriers and works together to combat racism and classism and move towards an egalitarian society.
The Plan Of Action
The process of creating NY2NO has been a very gradual one. A number of my friends and I first went down to New Orleans in April of 2006, and then two more times with our school. The experience impacted us so strongly, that when our school stopped having trips, we decided to start our own organization in order to give more and more students the opportunity we had. Eventually we gained our 501C3 Non-Profit Status, and since then we have helped organize 12 trips for over 400 students from NYC. Today, we are trying to expand our bounderies, and bring what we have all learned in New Orleans and apply it in our own communities. We are still plannig trips to New Orleans, but we are concentrating on working with grassroots organizations in NYC who are doing similar organizing work that we have done in New Orleans.
How Can Others Get Involved?
We encourage anyone who is interested in working with us to do so. While we primarily work with students, anyone is welcome to join us weather it be by going down to New Orleans, or to do some community organizing work here in NYC. Anyone interested can visit our website at www.ny2no.org, or contact me at alex@ny2no.com
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My name is Dani Atkins and I am one of 4 surviving children of Ronald Edward Atkins and Clancyna Marie Atkins. On January 26, 2008 my father was killed in a tragic car accident that took place only 2 minutes away from my home. My parents had been married for 30 years at the time of the accident without separation. As I have been assisting my mother with putting together various lawsuits and claims against several different persons, insurance companies, and even the Los Angeles Police Department regarding several acts of negligence and dishonor surrounding my fathers death, I have come across a disturbing piece of information that I, being a 24 year old African American person am appauled. My father having been born on April 9, 1955, has a birth certificate that identifies his color and race as being "NEGRO." My grandmother, Eloise Marie Harrison having been born on April 4, 1933 has a birth certificate that identifies her color and race as being "NEGRO". My mother, who is still alive, Clancyna Marie Atkins born on September 4, 1956 has a birth certificate that identifies her color and race as being "NEGRO" as well. And I am quite sure there are thousands if not milliions of other African American people dead or alive who have been identified on paper at birth as being "NEGRO" I am absolutely disgusted that the United States of America even in 2009 have not made an attempt to make right this defamation of character in administering all new birth certificates to those who have died as well as those still living to identify these HUMAN PEOPLE with dignity and respect. I am passionately committed to make my fathers name wholly reflect the honorable father, husband, and man that he was and the fact that his life was not even given an opportunity to start before he was branded on United States of America paper as being a "NEGRO" is a disgrace and a shame on America.
PLEASE SUPPORT THIS MESSAGE TO THE WHITE HOUSE BY SIGNING MY ONLINE PETITION at: http://www.gopetition.com/online/29117.html
If you have any questions e- mail me at: kingdom.servant.dani@gmail.com
Thank You,
Dani