Re-Post from: Gulf Coast Civic Works Campaign
A National Partnership for Human Rights and Hurricane Recovery
A National Partnership for Human Rights and Hurricane Recovery
May 7, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jainey Bavishi, Equity and Inclusion Campaign, Jainey@equityandinclusion.org (225) 772-2714;
Dr. Scott Myers Lipton, GCCWP, smlipton@gmail.com (510) 508-5382;
Diane Yentel, Oxfam America, dyentel@oxfamamerica.org(202) 496-1304;
Jeffrey Buchanan, RFK Center, buchanan@rfkmemorial.org(202) 257-9048;
Campaign Applauds Job-Creating Gulf Coast Recovery Legislation
The Newly Introduced Bipartisan Gulf Coast Civic Works Act (HR 2269) Promotes Infrastructure, Training, Comprehensive Flood Protection and Energy Efficiency.
WASHINGTON, DC – May 7th – The Gulf Coast Civic Works Campaign, a diverse national partnership of community, environmental, faith-based, human rights and student organizations, applauds the introduction this afternoon of bipartisan legislation to rebuild more equitable and resilient communities across the areas still recovering from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
The Gulf Coast Civic Works Act of 2009 (H.R. 2269) would create 100,000 “green” living wage jobs and training opportunities for Gulf Coast residents and displaced people to rebuild critical infrastructure, restore natural flood protection and increase energy efficiency. This important legislation allows the federal government to partner directly with local leaders and non-profits to address remaining recovery challenges while building resilience to climate change, mitigating the effects of future deadly storms and confronting poverty. It also addresses the challenges faced by internally displaced, elderly, disabled, women, low income, immigrant and minority communities.
HR 2269 was introduced in the U.S. House May 6th by Representatives Zoe Lofgren (CA), Rodney Alexander (LA), Joseph Cao (LA), Charles Gonzalez (TX), Charlie Melancon (LA), Gene Taylor (MS), Bennie Thompson (MS), John Conyers (MI), Alcee Hastings (FL), Barbara Lee (CA), John Lewis (GA), Peter Stark (CA), and Charlie Rangel (NY).
Read the full bill at: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:HR02269:
Ask your Member of Congress to support the bill: http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5107/t/5835/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=1375
Almost four years after Hurricane Katrina, our nation’s largest natural disaster, America’s Gulf Coast remains a domestic human rights crisis. As we approach the 2009 Hurricane Season beginning June 1st, levees remain vulnerable, tens of thousands of people have not been able to return home, schools, hospitals and transportation infrastructure remains damaged, and residents continue to struggle for access to affordable housing and living wage jobs.
“Nonprofit and community groups have been the heroic leaders of the citizen-led Gulf Coast recovery. The Gulf Coast Civic Works Act will efficiently allocate funds for job creation and infrastructure development, two significant recovery needs, by avoiding layers of governmental red tape and dispersing funds directly to the entities, regardless of sector, which are ready to do the work,” said Jainey Bavishi, director of the Equity and Inclusion Campaign, a coalition of organizations working on recovery across Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
“ACORN finds the Gulf Coast Civic Works Act to be a reasonable and viable pilot project not just for rebuilding the Gulf Coast from the 2005 hurricane season but for providing a community driven recovery plan for any and every part of America where natural or other disasters occur,” said Bertha Lewis, Chief Organizer/CEO of ACORN. “Locals should be at the forefront of recovery and rebuilding of communities following hurricanes, floods, fires, or even bridge collapses. Our infrastructure is in need of repair nationwide and ACORN believes HR 2269 provides a valuable blueprint for how that can happen.”
“This legislation takes an important step towards assuring that communities that are most vulnerable to the direct effects of climate change be able to prepare for and adapt to those impacts by building resilience and reducing risk,” said Rhonda Jackson, Gulf Coast Program Manager, Oxfam America. “The bill would create jobs to assist in restoring the Gulf Coast’s first line of defense against hurricanes and floods by rebuilding the coastline and will employ local citizens in this important work.”
“The introduction–and hopefully quick passage–of the Gulf Coast Civic Works Act, is important not just for the Gulf Coast but the entire nation,” said Dr. Scott Myers Lipton, co-founder of the Gulf Coast Civic Works Project, a student organization with members on over 30 campuses across the nation. “This legislation, with its focus on enlisting communities in their own restoration and expanding opportunity provides the Obama Administration and Congress with an effective new model for disaster recovery and infrastructure development.”
“Passing HR 2269 would be a bold stand for the fundamental rights of displaced and low-income Gulf Coast residents,” said Monika Kalra Varma, Director of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Human Rights. “The right to participate in recovery, to return home with dignity and safety, and to decent work opportunities – these are the basic human rights that we have denied survivors of hurricanes Katrina and Rita for too long.”
Marking the beginning of the 2009 Hurricane Season, supporters of the Campaign including hurricane survivors, advocates and students from across the country will be bringing a FEMA trailer to DC and speaking out about this vital legislation as well as meeting with Members of Congress. For more information on how to support the campaign please visit: http://gccwc.wordpress.com.
Gulf Coast Civic Works Campaign partner organizations include:
1Sky
232-HELP/Louisiana 211
ACORN
ACT All Congregations Together
Advocates for Environmental Human Rights
AFL-CIO Investment Trust Program
African American Environmentalist Association
Alabama Appleseed Center for Law & Justice, Inc.
Alabama Arise
Alliance for Affordable Energy
Appleseed
Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America
Bay Area Women Coalition, Inc.
Bayou Grace Community Services
Biloxi NAACP
BISCO Bayou Interfaith Shared Community Organizing
Black Workers for Justice
Brethren Disaster Ministries
Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good
CDC 58:12, inc.
Center for Ethical Living and Social Justice Renewal
Central City Partnership
Churches Supporting Churches
Clergy Strategic Alliances, LLC
ColorofChange.org
Commission on Stewardship of the Environment, Louisiana Interchurch Conference
Common Ground Health Clinic
Common Ground Relief, Inc.
Community Church Unitarian Universalist
Community of Christ
COPE Congregations Organizing People for Equality
Dando la Mano / Extending a Hand
Desire Street Ministries NOLA
Disciples Justice Action Network (Disciples of Christ)
Environmental Support Center
Episcopal Network for Economic Justice
Equity and Inclusion Campaign
Finding Our Folk
First Pilgrims Baptist JEDC-HDM
First Unitarian Universalist Church of New Orleans, Social Justice Team
For the Bayou
Franciscan Action Network
Friends Committee on National Legislation
FUEL Faith United for Empowerment and Leadership
Gamaliel Foundation
Gert Town Revival Initiative, Inc.
Global Green USA
Global Mission Partnerships, Church of the Brethren
Good Work Network
Gulf Coast Civic Works Project
Gulf Restoration Network
Hip Hop Caucus
Holy Cross International Justice Office
Holy Cross Neighborhood Association
Hope Center, Inc.
Hope Community Development Agency
Hope Haven of Hancock County Inc.
Institute for Human Rights and Responsibilities Inc.
Institute Justice Team, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas
Institute of Women & Ethnic Studies
Interfaith Alliance
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Jewish Reconstructionist Federation
JustFaith Ministries
Katrina Solidarity Network
Labor-Religion Coalition of New York State
Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
Louisiana Appleseed
Louisiana Community Reinvestment Coalition
Louisiana Conference of The UMC Disaster Reponses, Inc
Louisiana Environmental Action Network
Louisiana Housing Alliance
Lower Mississippi Riverkeeper
Lower Ninth Ward Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development
Maria Iñamagua Campaign for Justice
May Day New Orleans
Mennonite Central Committee U.S.
Mennonite Central Committee-New Orleans
MICAH Project
Mid-South Peace and Justice Center
Minnesota Tenants Union
Minnesota-New Orleans Solidarity Committee
Mississippi Center for Justice
Mississippi Coast Interfaith Disaster Task Force
Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance
Mississippi Low Income Child Care Initiative
Moore Community House
Moravian Church in North America, Board of World Mission
Moravian Church, Southern Province
MPOWER, Mississippi Poultry Workers for Equality and Respect
MQVN Community Development Corporation
National Congress of Black Women, Inc.
National Council of Churches
National Council of Jewish Women
National Economic and Social Rights Initiative
National Employment Law Project
National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference
National Jobs for All Coalition
National Lawyers Guild – Minnesota Chapter
National Low Income Housing Coalition
National Policy and Advocacy Council on Homelessness (NPACH)
NETWORK, a National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
New Orleans East Cooperative Parish
New Orleans Institute
New Orleans Neighborhood Development Collaborative
New Orleans Workers’ Center for Racial Justice
New Voices, Academy for Educational Development
North Gulfport Community Land Trust
Northside Neighbors for Justice
Oak Park Civic Association
Ouachita Riverkeeper
Oxfam America
Pax Christi USA
PICO Louisiana
Plenty International
PolicyLink
Praxis Project
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Washington Office
Prince Garrett Ministries
Providence Community Housing
Puentes New Orleans, Inc.
Renaissance Neighborhood Development Corporation
Retired Senior Volunteer Program
Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights
Samuel Dewitt Proctor Conference
Saving Ourselves Coalition
Shiloh Baptist Church
Sierra Club, Delta Chapter
Sisters of the Holy Cross Justice Office
Soria City Civic Organization
Sound Vision Foundation
South Bay Community Alliance
Southern Echo
Southern Poverty Law Center
Special Commission on the Just Rebuilding of the Gulf Coast, National Council of Churches
Squandered Heritage
St. Bernard Project
STEPS Coalition
Student Hurricane Network
Survivors Village New Orleans
Tennessee Alliance for Progress
Terrebonne Readiness & Assistance Coalition – TRAC
Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services, (t.e.j.a.s.)
The Episcopal Church
The Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana Office of Disaster Response
The Latino Leadership Circle
The Presbytery of South Louisiana Recovery
The Quest for Social Justice
The Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association
The Sisters of the Good Shepherd
TruthSpeaks Consulting
Turkey Creek Community Initiatives
Union of Black Episcopalians
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
United Church of Christ, Justice & Witness Ministries
United Hearts Community Action Agency, Inc.
UNITY of Greater New Orleans with Common Ground Institute
Universalist Unitarian Service Committee
Women Donors Network
Source: Gulf Coast Civic Works Campaign blog http://gccwc.wordpress.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jainey Bavishi, Equity and Inclusion Campaign, Jainey@equityandinclusion.org (225) 772-2714;
Dr. Scott Myers Lipton, GCCWP, smlipton@gmail.com (510) 508-5382;
Diane Yentel, Oxfam America, dyentel@oxfamamerica.org(202) 496-1304;
Jeffrey Buchanan, RFK Center, buchanan@rfkmemorial.org(202) 257-9048;
Campaign Applauds Job-Creating Gulf Coast Recovery Legislation
The Newly Introduced Bipartisan Gulf Coast Civic Works Act (HR 2269) Promotes Infrastructure, Training, Comprehensive Flood Protection and Energy Efficiency.
WASHINGTON, DC – May 7th – The Gulf Coast Civic Works Campaign, a diverse national partnership of community, environmental, faith-based, human rights and student organizations, applauds the introduction this afternoon of bipartisan legislation to rebuild more equitable and resilient communities across the areas still recovering from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
The Gulf Coast Civic Works Act of 2009 (H.R. 2269) would create 100,000 “green” living wage jobs and training opportunities for Gulf Coast residents and displaced people to rebuild critical infrastructure, restore natural flood protection and increase energy efficiency. This important legislation allows the federal government to partner directly with local leaders and non-profits to address remaining recovery challenges while building resilience to climate change, mitigating the effects of future deadly storms and confronting poverty. It also addresses the challenges faced by internally displaced, elderly, disabled, women, low income, immigrant and minority communities.
HR 2269 was introduced in the U.S. House May 6th by Representatives Zoe Lofgren (CA), Rodney Alexander (LA), Joseph Cao (LA), Charles Gonzalez (TX), Charlie Melancon (LA), Gene Taylor (MS), Bennie Thompson (MS), John Conyers (MI), Alcee Hastings (FL), Barbara Lee (CA), John Lewis (GA), Peter Stark (CA), and Charlie Rangel (NY).
Read the full bill at: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:HR02269:
Ask your Member of Congress to support the bill: http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5107/t/5835/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=1375
Almost four years after Hurricane Katrina, our nation’s largest natural disaster, America’s Gulf Coast remains a domestic human rights crisis. As we approach the 2009 Hurricane Season beginning June 1st, levees remain vulnerable, tens of thousands of people have not been able to return home, schools, hospitals and transportation infrastructure remains damaged, and residents continue to struggle for access to affordable housing and living wage jobs.
“Nonprofit and community groups have been the heroic leaders of the citizen-led Gulf Coast recovery. The Gulf Coast Civic Works Act will efficiently allocate funds for job creation and infrastructure development, two significant recovery needs, by avoiding layers of governmental red tape and dispersing funds directly to the entities, regardless of sector, which are ready to do the work,” said Jainey Bavishi, director of the Equity and Inclusion Campaign, a coalition of organizations working on recovery across Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
“ACORN finds the Gulf Coast Civic Works Act to be a reasonable and viable pilot project not just for rebuilding the Gulf Coast from the 2005 hurricane season but for providing a community driven recovery plan for any and every part of America where natural or other disasters occur,” said Bertha Lewis, Chief Organizer/CEO of ACORN. “Locals should be at the forefront of recovery and rebuilding of communities following hurricanes, floods, fires, or even bridge collapses. Our infrastructure is in need of repair nationwide and ACORN believes HR 2269 provides a valuable blueprint for how that can happen.”
“This legislation takes an important step towards assuring that communities that are most vulnerable to the direct effects of climate change be able to prepare for and adapt to those impacts by building resilience and reducing risk,” said Rhonda Jackson, Gulf Coast Program Manager, Oxfam America. “The bill would create jobs to assist in restoring the Gulf Coast’s first line of defense against hurricanes and floods by rebuilding the coastline and will employ local citizens in this important work.”
“The introduction–and hopefully quick passage–of the Gulf Coast Civic Works Act, is important not just for the Gulf Coast but the entire nation,” said Dr. Scott Myers Lipton, co-founder of the Gulf Coast Civic Works Project, a student organization with members on over 30 campuses across the nation. “This legislation, with its focus on enlisting communities in their own restoration and expanding opportunity provides the Obama Administration and Congress with an effective new model for disaster recovery and infrastructure development.”
“Passing HR 2269 would be a bold stand for the fundamental rights of displaced and low-income Gulf Coast residents,” said Monika Kalra Varma, Director of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Human Rights. “The right to participate in recovery, to return home with dignity and safety, and to decent work opportunities – these are the basic human rights that we have denied survivors of hurricanes Katrina and Rita for too long.”
Marking the beginning of the 2009 Hurricane Season, supporters of the Campaign including hurricane survivors, advocates and students from across the country will be bringing a FEMA trailer to DC and speaking out about this vital legislation as well as meeting with Members of Congress. For more information on how to support the campaign please visit: http://gccwc.wordpress.com.
Gulf Coast Civic Works Campaign partner organizations include:
1Sky
232-HELP/Louisiana 211
ACORN
ACT All Congregations Together
Advocates for Environmental Human Rights
AFL-CIO Investment Trust Program
African American Environmentalist Association
Alabama Appleseed Center for Law & Justice, Inc.
Alabama Arise
Alliance for Affordable Energy
Appleseed
Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America
Bay Area Women Coalition, Inc.
Bayou Grace Community Services
Biloxi NAACP
BISCO Bayou Interfaith Shared Community Organizing
Black Workers for Justice
Brethren Disaster Ministries
Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good
CDC 58:12, inc.
Center for Ethical Living and Social Justice Renewal
Central City Partnership
Churches Supporting Churches
Clergy Strategic Alliances, LLC
ColorofChange.org
Commission on Stewardship of the Environment, Louisiana Interchurch Conference
Common Ground Health Clinic
Common Ground Relief, Inc.
Community Church Unitarian Universalist
Community of Christ
COPE Congregations Organizing People for Equality
Dando la Mano / Extending a Hand
Desire Street Ministries NOLA
Disciples Justice Action Network (Disciples of Christ)
Environmental Support Center
Episcopal Network for Economic Justice
Equity and Inclusion Campaign
Finding Our Folk
First Pilgrims Baptist JEDC-HDM
First Unitarian Universalist Church of New Orleans, Social Justice Team
For the Bayou
Franciscan Action Network
Friends Committee on National Legislation
FUEL Faith United for Empowerment and Leadership
Gamaliel Foundation
Gert Town Revival Initiative, Inc.
Global Green USA
Global Mission Partnerships, Church of the Brethren
Good Work Network
Gulf Coast Civic Works Project
Gulf Restoration Network
Hip Hop Caucus
Holy Cross International Justice Office
Holy Cross Neighborhood Association
Hope Center, Inc.
Hope Community Development Agency
Hope Haven of Hancock County Inc.
Institute for Human Rights and Responsibilities Inc.
Institute Justice Team, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas
Institute of Women & Ethnic Studies
Interfaith Alliance
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Jewish Reconstructionist Federation
JustFaith Ministries
Katrina Solidarity Network
Labor-Religion Coalition of New York State
Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
Louisiana Appleseed
Louisiana Community Reinvestment Coalition
Louisiana Conference of The UMC Disaster Reponses, Inc
Louisiana Environmental Action Network
Louisiana Housing Alliance
Lower Mississippi Riverkeeper
Lower Ninth Ward Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development
Maria Iñamagua Campaign for Justice
May Day New Orleans
Mennonite Central Committee U.S.
Mennonite Central Committee-New Orleans
MICAH Project
Mid-South Peace and Justice Center
Minnesota Tenants Union
Minnesota-New Orleans Solidarity Committee
Mississippi Center for Justice
Mississippi Coast Interfaith Disaster Task Force
Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance
Mississippi Low Income Child Care Initiative
Moore Community House
Moravian Church in North America, Board of World Mission
Moravian Church, Southern Province
MPOWER, Mississippi Poultry Workers for Equality and Respect
MQVN Community Development Corporation
National Congress of Black Women, Inc.
National Council of Churches
National Council of Jewish Women
National Economic and Social Rights Initiative
National Employment Law Project
National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference
National Jobs for All Coalition
National Lawyers Guild – Minnesota Chapter
National Low Income Housing Coalition
National Policy and Advocacy Council on Homelessness (NPACH)
NETWORK, a National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
New Orleans East Cooperative Parish
New Orleans Institute
New Orleans Neighborhood Development Collaborative
New Orleans Workers’ Center for Racial Justice
New Voices, Academy for Educational Development
North Gulfport Community Land Trust
Northside Neighbors for Justice
Oak Park Civic Association
Ouachita Riverkeeper
Oxfam America
Pax Christi USA
PICO Louisiana
Plenty International
PolicyLink
Praxis Project
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Washington Office
Prince Garrett Ministries
Providence Community Housing
Puentes New Orleans, Inc.
Renaissance Neighborhood Development Corporation
Retired Senior Volunteer Program
Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights
Samuel Dewitt Proctor Conference
Saving Ourselves Coalition
Shiloh Baptist Church
Sierra Club, Delta Chapter
Sisters of the Holy Cross Justice Office
Soria City Civic Organization
Sound Vision Foundation
South Bay Community Alliance
Southern Echo
Southern Poverty Law Center
Special Commission on the Just Rebuilding of the Gulf Coast, National Council of Churches
Squandered Heritage
St. Bernard Project
STEPS Coalition
Student Hurricane Network
Survivors Village New Orleans
Tennessee Alliance for Progress
Terrebonne Readiness & Assistance Coalition – TRAC
Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services, (t.e.j.a.s.)
The Episcopal Church
The Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana Office of Disaster Response
The Latino Leadership Circle
The Presbytery of South Louisiana Recovery
The Quest for Social Justice
The Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association
The Sisters of the Good Shepherd
TruthSpeaks Consulting
Turkey Creek Community Initiatives
Union of Black Episcopalians
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
United Church of Christ, Justice & Witness Ministries
United Hearts Community Action Agency, Inc.
UNITY of Greater New Orleans with Common Ground Institute
Universalist Unitarian Service Committee
Women Donors Network
Source: Gulf Coast Civic Works Campaign blog http://gccwc.wordpress.com
Ronni ARMSTEAD
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