After Hurricane Katrina, volunteers formed the Common Ground Health Clinic in Algiers, New Orleans, to provide immediate medical care and address healthcare gaps for the community, particularly for Latino residents. The clinic evolved from a temporary first aid station to a full-service healthcare provider, receiving significant recognition and introducing various health programs by 2012. With a focus on community engagement and integrative healthcare, the clinic continues to serve a vital role in the local health ecosystem.

1. Algiers, New Orlean
1400 Teche St.
New Orleans, LA 70114
http://www.commongroundclinic.org

3. Nine days after Katrina hit, a group of
street medics arrived in Algiers and
began knocking on doors and asking
people if they needed medical
attention.

5. They were not the Red Cross or FEMA,
just volunteers who answered the call
sent out by Common Ground Relief
founders Malik Rahim and Sharon
Johnson, and came to offer first aid.

7. The volunteers rapidly grew in
number, and became part of a healthcare
movement focused on creating a
sustainable model for community health
care…
the Common Ground Health Clinic.

11. For the first four months, the
clinic operated out of donated
space at the Masjid Bilal, an
Algiers mosque.

17. Initially, the clinic was open 7
days a week as a 24-hour first aid
station, hitting a peak of 150
patients seen in one day in
October 2005.

20. Doctors, nurses, herbalists, body
workers, counselors, pharmacists,
acupuncturists and physical
therapists came from around the world to
volunteer with the clinic as the First Aid
Station developed into a free-emergency
response health care clinic.

23. In the first month after the levees
broke, a few volunteers from the
clinic began scouting areas of New
Orleans in order to assess
healthcare needs on the ground.

24. They quickly realized that among the
many gaps in the public healthcare
infrastructure…
was a source of culturally
competent, bilingual healthcare
for Latino residents and day
laborers.

25. The Latino Health Outreach Project
(LHOP) was formed and began setting
up mobile clinics where large numbers
of workers were staying.
Today, LHOP continues to organize
health clinics and projects with and for
the Latino community.

28. In January 2006, Common Ground
Health Clinic moved to its current
location across the street from the
mosque.
Clinic started operating four days per
week.

29. In an old
corner
store in
Algiers, a
clinic was
born….

32. Clinic hours were staffed by local
doctors, nurses, medical students
and community members.
Until Spring 2007, most of them
were volunteers.

38. Many health care providers
volunteering at the clinic often state
that their experience reminds them
why they went into the field of
medicine.

41. In its first year, the clinic had
recorded over 15,000 visits…
and a strong commitment to the
Algiers neighborhood was created.

47. A major renovation in July 2007 greatly
improved the space.

48. In February 2008, the clinic implemented an
electronic medical record (EMR) system that
was donated by Allscripts.

49. In January 2009, the clinic received
recognition as a Patient Centered Medical
Home from the National Committee for
Quality Assurance (NCQA).

50. The top three diagnoses seen at the clinic
are hypertension, diabetes and stress
management— all chronic poverty-
related conditions.

51. The clinic stands in contrast to the
time crunched, profit-driven, top-down
environment that has become the
standard in the health care industry.

52. It has become an important part of the
community, and continues to grow, in
every way….
Here are some more highlights of the first
seven years of CGHC!

54. New Orleans Food & Farm Network

65. Amigos Super Market
Feria de Salud
Test de Presión Arterial, Prueba de azúcar en la sangre, Acupuntura y Examen
Gratuito del VIH (Resultado en 25 minutos con muestra de saliva)
Sábado 25 de Octubre, 2008
1629 Gentilly Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70119
Te esperamos de 10am a 3pm

146. In 2012, CGHC services include:
routine primary care,
interpretation services in Spanish &
Portuguese, dermatology,
prescription assistance, wellness programs,
acupuncture, classes in
gardening, cooking, exercise &
nutrition, advocacy,
social work services, youth art workshops,
herbal medicine, endocrinology and

172. Mission Statement
The Common Ground Health Clinic is a
non-profit organization that provides
quality health care for the greater New
Orleans community, and develops and
provides programs to address community
health care needs through collaborative
partnerships.

173. Purpose
• To provide quality integrative healthcare.
• To provide quality healthcare education for
preventive self-care.
• To create an environment conducive to
patient, staff and volunteer learning.
• To work in an anti-racist paradigm.

176. … And in many ways, we’ve just begun!
Thank you for continuing to walk with us.