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Brian_egeston
Regular Poster
Username: Brian_egeston
Post Number: 39
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 09:19 am: | 
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Got an e-mail from Olympia Vernon this morning.
She has no electricity and is lighting her stove with a lighter. She has water, but very little food.
We'll be in Little Rock this weekend and may try to see what we can do for her.
But this got me thinking that maybe we'd can check on our other writers and readers in the MS, LA, AL areas.
Perhaps we can find beds and spare rooms for them if need be and if available.
Brian Egeston |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 1397
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 12:35 pm: |
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Good post, Brian. I'm sure Baba Kalamu won't mind me posting this
e-drum@topica.com
From: "Kalamu ya Salaam" <kalamu@aol.com>
Subject: INFO: kalamu needs your help
Date: Wed, 31 Aug 2005 12:56:24 EDT
folks,
excuse the brevity and directness, but the situation is this:
like literally at least a million other folk from new orleans, we are now refugees.
we left new orleans early sunday morning under mandatory evacuation. my wife, nia, is an x-ray technician who was on call at the veteran's hospital. we had planned to be at the hospital, however, other arrangements were made early, early sunday morning because the full emergency plan had not been implemented at the hospital and for some reason her name was not on the list for emergency personnel even though she was on call. so at the last minute rather than staying at the veterans hospital we elected to drive to houston to nia's brother's home. with us were nia's daughter and her two small daughters.
arrived in houston 2:30am the next morning. it was a long, slow trip.
it's wednesday morning. it is clear to me that we won't be back in new orleans anytime soon, and new orleans won't be new orleans anytime the remainder of this year.
i have ten dollars in my pocket. a $500 check i can't cash because it's drawn on a new orleans bank and which i did not receive until after the banks were closed on saturday. maybe $50 in the bank.
if you are in a position to help, i have one request: i need work: speaking engagements, lectures, readings, short term residencies, writing assignments. please contact me via email:
kalamu@aol.com or kalamuya@yahoo.com
thank you for your consideration.
a luta continue (the struggle continues),
kalamu
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Yvettep
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 680
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 10:34 pm: |
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Thank you for sharing this information.
What an overwhelming tragedy for our brothers and sisters.
Anyone who enjoys the movie reviews at 3Black Chicks might want to help here, too (Go to the site to click donation button): http://www.3blackchicks.com/
As some of you may know, since we began this adventure in June of 1999 we have become an important voice in film and music criticism.
I'm sure you've come to love our unique perspectives, especially that of Cassandra Henry. Cass was born and raised in New Orleans. Until 4 days ago, she called New Orleans her home. Now she and the 20+ members of her family have lost everything. But they are grateful that they still have each other. Her son and daughter-in-law have decided to move, with their infant daughter, to Dallas. They aren't even going back. They no longer have jobs to go to and their home is underwater. Her parents are elderly, so I am sure she will go back to N.O. to help her parents get back on their feet. But the bottomline is our dear Cass has suffered a total loss.
My goal is to collect $1000. This should enable her to stay at hotel for the next 4 weeks until she can determine what she is going to do about finding a place to live. It will also help defer the cost of food and toiletries.
So without permission from Cass (she would never agree to this), I appeal to you, our wonderful readers, if you can spare even ONE dollar, I would be forever grateful.
If this button does not work for you, please send your donation via paypal to thediva@3blackchicks.com Thank you and God Bless.
Our girl needs us.
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Yvettep
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 685
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 02, 2005 - 12:38 pm: |
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More from Kamal:
Please pass this on if you see fit.
My name is Kamal Larsuel and I run www.3blackchicks.com. My writing partner
lives(ed) in N.O. she and her family got out safely and are trying to rebuild their lives in Baton Rouge. She asked me to get the word out
about this:
They are in shell shock, but they are fine. They left on Saturday before it hit so they are blessed in that regard. They are still trying to figure out what to do; whether or not to even bother going back. That changes from hour to
hour. I spoke to her around 10 last night and she was planning on going back because her neighbor had looked at arial photos and he was convinced it was dry by their house and they hadn't gotten hit. I told her that I didn't think that was probability since she lived in N.O. east about 1/4 of a mile from the lake. She said I was right and decided not to go.
She's a bit perplexed with Sprint. She said that Cingular is giving their customers unlimted access in that region, but Sprint is not and is
unwilling to give her a temporary plan that would not charge her over minute fees or let her talk
during the day. She said the Sprint tower is now down and they get crappy reception so that is the least they can do.
She also wants it known that there is price gouging going on in the Baton Rouge housing market. She understnads the need to weed out the riffraff who are looting, but raising the rents and making people sign 1-2 year leases seems a
bit much. No one is offering month to month at a reasonable price.
She said there are some affordable housing units, in the 'hood. but there is also insanity there. People are being car jacked at gun point. Housing units are being broken in to. There is looting going on there too. So she just does not want to leave there, but she will if she has no other choice.
That is really frustrating to have to deal with that. Her law firm will be working out of Baton Rouge so as of September 9th she has a job. Since she is having difficulty finding an apartment, the money I'm collecting is going to be very helpful as she just might have to stay in a hotel/motel to go to work and then when things can settle down a bit and stablize and she'll be able to find affordable hoousing.
The donations are going well. Thank you so much for getting the word out. I'm halfway there. I've collected $582.34
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Sisg
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Sisg
Post Number: 203
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 02, 2005 - 01:00 pm: |
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Hello Everyone,
I am deeply saddened by this tragedy. I normally visit New Orleans at least once a year, and have been going there for the last 7 years. I have co-workers, friends and extended family with family affected by this. I want to help out and have donated to the Red Cross, and to the lady above from 3 Chicks, as well as offered help to Kalamu. Now I want to do something bigger, if i can. My new book, Devil in the Mist is due to be released soon (hopefully in next week or so), and I am offering to give all of my sales for the month of September to assist the victims of Hurricane Katrina...now i don't really know what that amount will be, but whatever it is, consider it donated. Peace everyone and please keep all of our people in your prayers! |
Linda
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Linda
Post Number: 138
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 03, 2005 - 12:04 pm: |
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Hello all
This tradgey has got me thinking about how else I may help. It just dosen't seem that donations are enough. So, I plan to leave tomorrow and go down to Mississppi to listen, talk, and record through pictures and words the devastion that has fallen on so many. I ask for your prayers and advice on my journey.
Peace
Linda Watkins
author of "Althea"
AALBC.com Reviewer |
Sisg
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Sisg
Post Number: 204
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 03, 2005 - 02:42 pm: |
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Hey LINDA,
Bless you girl! You are special, and I will keep you in my prayers. I know how you feel, about thinking on ways to help. If you get there, and need something, i don't know...something we can do from here that maybe hasn't covered, let me know. I think you have my email offline, but if not you can go to my website www.dianedorce.com and my contact information is there. If you email me, I will give you my phone number. I just want to do more. Thanks again.
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