Open Mic

From time to time we like to offer an opportunity for our diverse pool of allies to share their thoughts on why they have chosen to partner with the Foundation to help foster Black community change.  The following is a testimonial from Kimo Campbell, a GSAF donor who shares a story far more eloquent than anything your intrepid reporter could write:

“I made a few donations for ‘help to people Post-Katrina.’ But it is hard to find a way to connect to an issue that happens far away, gets a lot of media attention, and is then replaced by the problems of Britney Spears. What happened? Why? What’s happened since? What SHOULD happen? All questions that need answers, and some kind of context.

I heard of people going to New Orleans, but hesitated to go, feeling as if it would be gate-crashing a funeral. Finally, having become involved with Gulf South Allied Funders, I’ve found an organization, and people, I can work with.

GSAF has worked through several groups to get people involved in the ongoing struggle in the Gulf South. They have established a partnership with the 21st Century Foundation, an African-American organization with grass-roots contacts in the region. I took a trip to New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and learned about the physical, personal, financial, social, and political devastation Katrina left, and the way in which the displacement of hurricane refugees is being used for political and monetary gains.

Best of all, I met, heard, and learned from the residents of the Gulf South who are working and fighting every day to rebuild their communities, with the ‘authorities’ putting up roadblocks stronger than the levees. We hear a lot from the White House about ‘surrender.’ Well, people in New Orleans and the Gulf South don’t see surrender as an option. But their ‘terrorists’ have badges, briefcases, and political muscle. What the people have is strength of will, brains, passion, ideas, commitment.

Through GSAF and the 21st Century Foundation, they are getting help to put those tools to work. Study the response — or lack thereof — to the disaster, and your anger grows. But see what can be done to empower people, and anger changes to a fierce joy. Feels like democracy to me.”