Black Leaders Hold Briefing with Federal Agencies
September 9, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kevin Parker
(202) 659-4929, Ext. 13
Organizations Launch Rebuild Hope NOW Campaign
Washington, D.C. - A coalition of national Black organizations met today with federal agencies, relief organizations and service providers to discuss the ongoing response to Hurricane Katrina. The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP) and Black Leadership Forum in partnership with dozens of national organizations has formed Rebuild Hope NOW - a campaign to help bring aid directly to those on the ground who are caring for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The briefing was held to help bridge the communication and logistical gaps between those who are willing to give help and those on the ground who are giving aid directly to victims. Groups participating in the briefing included the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), officials from the White House, the United Way, US Conference of Mayors, National League of Cities, and dozens of advocacy organizations.
By the end of next week NCBCP, along with their partners, will set up a national 1-800 number for people who have goods to donate to call, as well as a website. The Rebuild Hope NOW Campaign will then coordinate the pick-up of those goods and deliver them directly to organizations on the ground in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas and Georgia. It will also facilitate volunteer recruitment and placement with their partner organizations. Further, Rebuild Hope NOW's goal is to provide a sustained effort as millions of African Americans begin the long and painful task of rebuilding their lives.
“Today's briefing is an important step in getting assistance to those who need it,” said NCBCP Executive Director and CEO Melanie Campbell. “These community based organizations are the backbone of the African American community in the best of times, and in times of crisis, they are essential and they understand the community they are serving.
“We started the Rebuild Hope Now Campaign to help cut through the red tape and get these organizations the materials and supplies they need immediately,” said Joe Leonard, Executive Director of the Black Leadership Forum. “As we know from the images we see hourly, there is absolutely no time to waste.”
NCBCP, along with the Black Leadership Forum, partnered with 100 Black Men of America, AFL-CIO, American Federation of Teachers, BCHLE, Blacks In Government, Black Youth Vote, the Center for Civic Participation, the Clinton Foundation, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Dewey Square, Georgia Coalition for the People's Agenda, Hip Hop Caucus, NAACP, NAFEO, National Black Caucus of State Legislature, National Council of Black Mayors, National Council of Negro Women, National Education Association, National Pan-Hellenic Council, National Urban League, Operation Hope, Rainbow PUSH, Share Our Strength, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Washington Linkage Group and several other national organizations.