Through working with House to Home (www.housetohomeproject.org), we met a bunch of people that work with this organization called Common Ground
(www.commongroundrelief.org). Common Ground was started right after Katrina working in efforts to keep the lower 9th ward residential. It's a sort of collective that offers the residence of the lower 9th "immediate aid...and longterm support in rebuilding these communities in just and sustainable ways."(pamphlet from common grounds) It is completely volunteer run and provides legal assistance, media coverage, wetlands restoration, construction services and mowing services, which is much of what we have been doing, mowing. The residence that have not been able to move back for what ever reason are being fined outrageous amounts per day for not having their lawns maintained, to which the city intends to take control of and turn the neighborhood into some sort of strip mall or something. 85% of the lower 9th were, and for many, still are home, or now lawn, owners. It's been great. I've been working with common ground during the day and working at Bubba Gumps at night. We plan on heading to Austin on Monday.