Turkey Giveaway 2014

Something happens around the Holiday season that our society would really benefit from if it happened more often. People seem to be in better moods, more willing to give, and empathy is at an all-time high. Being a volunteer coordinator I definitely see an increase of applicants after Halloween. It is like people “try” to be nice all year ‘round but something about the holidays gets in our heads to put action behind these kind thoughts- and we do amazing things.

 

The past two Thanksgivings I had the opportunity to be a part of the AmeriCorps Partnership to End Homelessness Turkey Giveaway. The event provides 300 families all the fixin’s for a Thanksgiving meal- a big ol’ turkey, stuffing, a couple cans of vegetables, cranberry sauce, gravy and dessert. The event is scheduled to start at 9am the Tuesday before Thanksgiving but donations and preparation for the event start much earlier. Donations are collected the entire month of November and come in from local grocery stores as well as the community churches and residents. The Monday before Thanksgiving we, AmeriCorps members, spend half of the day as an assembly line sorting and bagging the donations to be ready for the next day’s event.

 

 

On the day of the Turkey Giveaway, cars start lining up as early as 8am to make sure they can have a Thanksgiving meal for their family. The Giveaway is drive-thru style; you register at the entrance and make your way toward the big truck while smiling faces are wishing you and your family a happy holiday. At the big truck, you pop your trunk and we bring your bag of sides and your turkey right to the car! It goes extremely smooth and is convenient for those who have vehicles.

 

 

I was amazed at the amount of families who were on foot. It is pretty difficult to watch this person get off of the bus, pick up a 10lb turkey and load their arms up with bags of sides, and walk to the bus stop again only to have to wait 30 minutes to bring the food to the home it will be nourishing. Or to watch a four year old and his grandmother walk from their house a few blocks down to get their meal only to have one of the plastic bags break so they have to walk back for a replacement. How is life so unfair?

 

 

It does feel good to help someone who is in need of a simple human necessity, but why do we only act on the need around this time of year? People are homeless, hungry and living in poverty all year long, not just around the holidays. There are more donation collection sites, volunteer service projects, and donation drop off locations around this time of year- but why? Is it because people are more willing to give because of the spirit of the holidays? I think people are willing to give and want to help when they can but so much emphasis is put on giving around the holidays that we forget about the rest of the year. What if Salvation Army had bell ringers outside of Food Lion every single Wednesday of every single month? I bet people would still give their change! If Goodwill dedicated one week each month as a week to get rid of old things we don’t need anymore, people would give! I say we test that theory and make the entire year of 2015 a year to give… not just around the end of it!

 

 

Give your time, money, or clothes, anything you can give throughout the whole year can be put to good use. Not only are you helping those in need, but you are helping yourself by becoming less selfish, which in turn helps the entire community. If every community were less selfish, the entire nation’s morale could change for the better, and maybe eventually change the world in a positive way. It could happen, and it will happen if we can commit to GIVING all year, every year.

Giver Or Taker?

I have been a taker all of my life.  I have lived in a constant state of narcissism.  Everyone has been a means to an end for me.  When people do not live up to my expectations or the standards that I have decided for them, and I have decided that they no longer serve a purpose for me, then I would quickly discard them.  That has been my struggle for a long time.

That seems to have become a thing of the past, though.  A door of opportunity opened for me to serve the Partnership To End Homelessness in Greensboro, NC, through AmeriCorps.  It is turning out to be a life-changing experience.  I will tell you why...

I was simply looking for a part-time job to work during my senior year in college.  When I learned about this opportunity, it seemed like a good fit for my life.  I could do something positive for the community, while earning a little extra dough to help me live a comfortable life.  But, it is much more than that.

I found that out at one of the first training sessions we had.  I had just moved into an apartment (my own place for the first time in over three years), and so the members of the group decided to surprise me by chipping in and getting me some things that I might need for my place.  They even sprung for a really nice, brand-new toaster oven (which I know took some capital to procure)!  It touched my heart deeply, and I was very humbled by such a display of love and care.  Usually, I love being the center of attention, but I am in a period of transition in which I would rather let the light shine on those around me.

Why was I humbled?  These folks hardly knew me!  It is one thing if people within your close proximity reach out to bless you, but it is something altogether different when complete strangers lend a helping hand (and I use the word "strangers" very loosely - we in this group are the type of people who really do not know any strangers in life, if you know what I mean).  They did not know me, which, in my mind, would not give them any incentive to reach out to me in the way that they did.  (This shows you the faulty narcissistic thinking from which I have suffered).

But, that is the whole point of AmeriCorps, and the Partnership To End Homelessness.  We, as servants, are a family.  In fact, that is what I was told that day when they gave me these gifts.  "We're all family here!"  Not only are we family in serving together, we also reach out to serve the family of humanity.  We are all one human race, and rather than focusing so much on our differences, we should be seeking to find the ties that unite and bind us together.  If more people would adopt such an attitude, the world would be a much better place.

They say that no man is an island unto himself, and that is certainly becoming evident to me in my service with AmeriCorps.  It is in the context of team work that we truly learn our independence, because it shows us how much we cannot do it all alone.  We all need a helping hand to get by in life, and as we work together, we can promote love, harmony, and the freedom that comes from being able to depend on each other.

A man once said that in order to become the greatest among humanity, you must first become the servant of all.  Another man wrote that it is better to give than to receive.  The greatest gift we can give is ourselves, because at the very core of our being is light and love.  That is what makes humanity so special, and why it is important to have service projects like the AmeriCorps Partnership To End Homelessness.  It teaches and trains us to get out and over ourselves, and into this world and help make it a better place, one act of random kindness at a time.  This is true change, and I am thankful that it is finally happening in  my life.  Now, I can stop being a taker, and become the giver I was designed and created to be.

by Carl Michael Pozyck, Food Bank Assistant for AmeriCorps at Greensboro Urban Ministry

SALUTE 2014

SALUTE is an annual fundraising event for The Servant Center (TSC), the proceeds go to benefiting The Servant Center programs serving homeless & disabled veterans. This year, the event was held in the Empire Room of downtown Greensboro and had about 120 guests. SALUTE is a social event to give thanks to former and current military as well as their families in a WWII theme with entertainment being a Bob Hope impersonator and “Letters From Home” an Andrews Sister’s tribute to truly take you back in time. Did I mention there were swing dancers?! Music will never be the same… that’s a whole ‘nother blog.

Veterans are twice as likely as other Americans to become chronically homeless.

SALUTE was graciously sponsored by businesses around the triad and many of their employees were in attendance. There were silent auctions, in-kind donations to be won by raffle drawings and some freebies. Chronic homelessness has decreased in Guilford County, but the number of homeless veterans has increased so seeing veterans, their families, TSC staff, AmeriCorps members and the community all coming together to give thanks for our freedom was breath taking. The food was delicious, entertainment to die for, and conversations that could go on all night.

1 in 4 homeless people are veterans.

Being a 90’s baby, I don’t know what it feels like to have our country governed by war the way it was in the 1940’s. I am thankful for that but working at TSC part-time gives me the opportunity to listen to stories the veterans living in transitional housing are willing to share. It is important to learn all we can from the past and not let it be forgotten about as new generations are born. SALUTE is a great way to do that and give appreciation to Veterans and current military personnel who deserve so much more.

-Amber Ward

Tent City Meeting

On Tuesday, May 13, I attended a community meeting at Gift Community Church to discuss a recent issue that has struck our community with concern. A few of the tent city locations, including one located right behind the AmeriCorps Partnership to End Homelessness office, is being closed down. The purpose of this gathering was to come together as advocates for those experiencing homelessness in order to exchange concerns and ideas about possible housing solutions for the people who lived in these areas. This particular session was the second meeting of this project. There were not very many people in attendance; however those who were present included mental health workers, church members, and community volunteers who all were very passionate about the issue.

The meeting opened up with positive words of encouragement and inspiration for us to be able to pass along to former tent city residents and other individuals experiencing homelessness. One quote in particular that I remember hearing a man share after telling  his homeless friend to keep voicing his cares and worries was “You are not alone. Someone cares.” I liked the fact that during the meeting everyone who spoke addressed the tent city residents as “our friends.” I felt the language was really positive and helped me see firsthand ways in which we all can continue to eliminate the stigma around being homeless.

Image of tent city found on Google

 

Next, the floor was opened up to sharing concerns about specific challenges that our friends due experiencing due to losing their homes. The most obvious of course was the inability to afford housing. Another was the lack of access to shelters and other housing programs. Some people discussed how during their interactions with our friends they had noticed stress levels escalating. One lady wanted to share a heart-moving story with the group about a client she has been working with. She shared her concerns about the client’s mental and physical health. He had been struggling to obtain food. She explained that he had lost seven pounds in less than a couple of weeks due to not eating. Her frustrations involved not being able to find adequate food supply and now housing resources specific to his needs. She expressed that his biggest hindrance to self-sufficiency and getting help is a language barrier; he is a member of the Montagnard community. His physical health was so disturbing to staff members at the agency that one nurse practitioner literally searched through her entire desk hoping to find any kind of snacks that she may have had from previous lunches. It was a very emotional experience for her and I could tell everyone in the room could relate to her empathy towards this man perhaps due to their own personal encounters with some of our friends.

The meeting continued with Thessa, a SOAR case manager at the Servant Center sharing community contacts and information about upcoming SPDAT trainings. This information was relevant because SPDAT is an assessment tool used for placing individuals in the Housing First program which assist them in obtaining their government benefits (SSI/Disability, etc) and also helps pay for their housing expenses. Many former tent city residents can benefit from this service. Partners Ending Homelessness is really advocating for agency staff members, specifically case managers and shelter staff to attend these trainings as a means of our community being more efficient and effective in housing people quicker.  Thessa informed us that tent city residents could potentially be considered for the Housing First program by stopping by Salvation Army on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays to be assessed up until early June.

Overall, the meeting was very informative. I look forward to attending more in the future to see what our community is doing to meet the pressing needs of housing for former tent city residents, also known as our friends.

-Written by Chianti

Jammin' Our Way into June: Collaborating with MusicCorps on Future Service Porject

Billy Joel once said," I think music in itself is healing. It's an explosive expression of humanity. It's something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we're from, everyone loves music."

Who is a better candidate for the healing power of music than someone facing homeless or poverty? However, those in such precarious situation often do not have access to music, whether in the form of musical instruments, or the radio. 

This is where the collaboration of the AmeriCorps Partnership to End Homelessness and MusicCorps comes in. 

And what better way is there to unite two unique organizations with distinct missions than under the umbrella of a joint service project? 

As we pulled into the parking lot of the North Carolina School of the Arts, I was immediately flooded with  beautiful campus scenery, boasting impressive sculptures, an array of magnificently blooming plant life, and a unique student body of talented, creative, and interesting individuals. 

As we entered the large conference room where our meeting was to be held, we were greeted warmly by the friendly director and members of Music Corps. 

Everyone I know dreads ice breaker games. Having to nervously shake the sweaty palms of people you don't know while fumbling to make some kind of connection through tedious small talk can make even the most socially savvy among us cringe. However, our ice breaker was not only painless, but extremely fun!

Though we come from serving vastly different missions, and our backgrounds seem more diverse than the United Nations, I found myself connecting easily and effortlessly with the members of MusicCorps. 

After getting to know each other through bonding on 3 commonalities and forming a line based on our birthdays, we, to our great delight, were greeted with the sight of pizza that was delivered for lunch.

 

 

While eating what could have easily been the best slice of my life, I continued getting to know fellow AmeriCorps members serving in the vastly different branch of service than ours: MusicCorps. Our assignment was to sit with someone new, rather than the same members of our organization, and I learned more about what the various members of MusicCorps do on a daily basis. Their work sounded involved as well as very rewarding and fun. For an organization which hasn't even celebrated its first birthday yet, MusicCorps were nothing less of organized and professional.

 After the pizza lunch, we met back in the conference room and were randomly broken up into teams consisting of members of both organization, and were tasked with the mission of brainstorming ideas for the group service project, as well as planning the logistics of carrying out each hypothetical event. After about 20 minutes, we met back in the large room to share our ideas. We then repeated the process with a new set of group members. 

I was very impressed with the members' ability to not only come up with impressive service ideas, but also with their ability to listen to our ideas. Together, we decided that music and homelessness is not only a possible combination for the group project, but also a necessary one. So many of our clients are the denied the enriching opportunities music provides. Some of the resonating ideas concentrated around homeless children, considering music is vital to child development and the fact that many homeless children tend to go unnoticed by "the system" and slip through the cracks.

 The several potential project proposals included: holding a performance at a park and setting up resource information centers both homeless and housed individuals could find beneficial, developing a music corner at a local homeless day center, providing a fun retreat day, which would include music, face-painting, and other activities for homeless individuals, concentrating on homeless youth, at a park, and finally, holding a musical day camp where children would be able to create their own instruments through recycled materials, learn to play them, and perform in a group talent show.

 

Before adjourning, each organization chose several members to act as group leaders for the project and were tasked with email correspondence to collaborate on finalizing the project. 

Up to date, over 30 emails have already been exchanged by the group. The tentative date for the project has been set for June 30th, with the activity involving a combination of a retreat day in the park as well as handing out as resources. 

Personally, I am extremely excited to be working with such a fun and diverse group of musicians passionate about their service as well as their ability to improve lives and provide meaningful human connections through man's greatest common denominator: art, specifically the art of music.

 

By: Lana Skrypnyk 

Talent Show at the IRC

Melea Lail soulfully belted out “I’m forever yours ever yours faithfully…” at the end of the Interactive Resource Center’s (IRC) Talent Show on April 4th. Every audience members’ eyes were transfixed on Lail, a talented singer and poet with a strong set of pipes. Journey’s timeless lyrics—delivered with such gusto by Lail—served as a fitting ending to the night’s performances.

Lail’s enthusiasm in singing “Faithfully” exemplified the sincerity shown by all the performers involved in the event. She committed wholeheartedly to performing “Faithfully,” including practicing at the Talent Show’s sound check, but most of the night’s performers showed a similar level of commitment. Chris Ward, essayist and special effects makeup artist, sat throughout the afternoon and evening completing gruesome makeup jobs on volunteer models. Kris Schumacher, poet and artist in Artifacts Cooperative, arrived at 8 am the morning of the Talent Show to perfect her drawings and paintings for sale at the event.

 

The types of talents performed were as diverse as the performers who showcased them. These talents included singing, dancing, comedy, visual arts, poetry, personal narratives, and even Chris’ special effects makeup. Performers ranged in age from teenagers to seniors and came from a variety of different backgrounds. Many of these performers were recruited or encouraged during various enrichment programs offered at the IRC and other community organizations. The IRC offers an open arts studio (Art Corner), artist’s cooperative (Artifacts), creative writing programs (Write-On Greensboro; Storyscapes), a street newspaper dealing with issues of homelessness (The Greensboro Voice), and other programs. People who are homeless are not just in need of shelter, food, clothing, and financial assistance. When you lose your home, you may also lose your sense of community. Community can provide inspiration, creativity, and a supportive space to foster your artistic talents. The IRC and other organizations strive to meet these therapeutic and enrichment needs for the people we serve.

 

It was important to the performers and to members of the Talent Show Committee that the event wasn’t promoted just as showcasing performers experiencing homeless—many artists at the IRC and other agencies do not want their artwork or talents to be defined by homelessness. Several artists have expressed distaste for terms such as “homeless artist” or “homeless person” as these labels box them in according to their housing situation rather than their art. Therefore, the Talent Show Committee recruited a diversity of performers, including Americorps members and their families, and used the event to promote awareness of local organizations fighting to end homelessness. An Americorps Partnership to End Homelessness member serving at each affiliated organization spoke about their mission statement and services during breaks between performers.

Americorps members, IRC staff and volunteers, and clients of our affiliated organizations came out in force to attend the show and to help out behind the scenes. Whatever the event at the IRC—be it Talent Show, movie screening, dinner or funding meeting—volunteers and staff are always available to help out with setup, decoration, and take down. Part of the magic behind events like the Talent Show is this sense of community that they foster. An integral part of the show was the collaborative nature of the planning process—we met continually as a Talent Show Committee and every performer decided what they would present and when they would appear in the lineup. Some performers helped each other prepare for the show and/or performed duets. One look at the audience during the Talent Show also reveals this sense of community. Audience members of different ages, ethnic backgrounds, socioeconomic statuses, and housing situations sat side by side—moved by Lail’s singing or scared by Ward’s special effects. Artistic events like the Talent Show offer a universal language—be it music, visual arts, or poetry—that can bind these audience members into a cohesive community.

 

-Frances

Mayor's Day of Recognition for National Services

The second annual Mayor's Day of Recognition for National Service was quite the success, especially here in Greensboro. Many people don't even know this day exists but it wont be that way much longer- our mayor, Nancy Vaughn, declared April 1st the official Day of Recognition for National Service in Greensboro, North Carolina. The day is put aside for the community to appreciate National Service around the nation, making our country an even better place to live. 

Mayor Vaughan and AmeriCorps member, Lana

AmeriCorps and Seniorcorps members met at UNC Greensboro to be recognized for the impact they're making daily, and to share their own experiences with other members and the community. One of our own members, Lana Skrypnyk, spoke on Americorps Partnership to End Homelessness on our behalf and did an amazing job- even throwing in her recent acceptance to UNCG's graduate school. 

 

AmeriCorps member Lana Skrypnyk

The introduction of Mayor Vaughn was incredibly impressive- she's been more than involved in Greensboro before she was elected mayor. Mayors around the country used this day to point out the importance of national service and the role it plays in local communities to the people in the community and national policy makers. The fact that our mayor chose to participate in this day of recognition (it isn't something any mayor HAS to do, our mayor last year didn't attend) says how much she actually appreciates the service we, as a people are doing. Mayors use national service to solve local challenges, while engaging citizens to participate and volunteer in their own community and coming from someone who has actually done those things means much more. Mayor Vaughn joked that we kept clapping for her when in reality we were the ones deserving to be clapped for and thats what this day was about- thanking us for what we do. 

It was empowering to me that although we did have different communities we focused our service on, no one is less important than another. The fact that there are people of all ages, races, political backgrounds, and cultures brought together by the want to make our city a better place to live means more to be apart of an organization like this than I ever thought it could. 

AmeriCorps members Amber, Connie, Malisha, Lana, and Chianti

 

Mayor's Day of Recognition for National Service was more than just getting recognized for what we do, it was being able to share and listen to what other groups do in our community and how even though each program is different, we all have the common goal of bettering our city. 

"The AmeriCorps Partnership to End Homelessness program provided me with a unique opportunity to interact directly with the homeless population, which has been a life-changing experience for me. It has allowed me to interact personally with those experiencing homelessness and, upon hearing their stories, I've learned that the stereotypes about homeless people are untrue, and I now see them as the unique, hardworking and passionate individuals that they are. As a Ukrainian immigrant, the program allows me practice my United States citizenship and give back to the country that has given me so much. Through this experience, I have found my passion for public service and will be attending UNCG's MPA program in the fall in order to learn how to better serve the public in the future and advocate on behalf of those who cannot advocate on behalf of themselves." -Member Lana speaking during the event

 

-Amber

Bingo Night Service Project

March's service project was wonderful. The committee planned to host a pizza and bingo night for the veterans at The Servant Center, getting together on a Saturday evening to share in food and laughter. Before the game or food got started, we all had the opportunity to spend time talking with some of the veterans about their stories and their experiences at the Servant Center and in the community.

Fellow AmeriCorps member David and I spent some time speaking with a hilarious and insightful man who had been staying there for about three months. He talked about his journey into homelessness which was filled with unfortunate circumstances, tough decisions, and a lot of pure bad luck. He told us about the struggle it was to go into a facility like the Servant Center-- how even though he was incredibly grateful for the center's employees and everything they do he wanted nothing more than to not have to be there at all. And he told us of his future plans, what motivated him and kept him excited about the future.

 

Then he told us something that is sure to stick with me for quite some time. He said, "You all are very fortunate to be given the opportunity to care for other people."

I think when you do service, there's an expectation of some level of gratitude. At some point people thank you for what you did or for your service attitude or for doing AmeriCorps at all. But this wonderful man was quick to remind us that there are so many things we can be grateful for. How the simple act of service is remarkable for both parties. The rest of the night was full of joking and laughter and lots and lots of M&Ms, sharing stories and food and a good time. I hope this great guy had fun at our bingo night, but this was one of the times I walked away feeling like I had been the one experiencing service, not serving.  

-Laura

For the Love of Art

Last month, visitors flowed into the Interactive Resource Center (IRC) to see the artwork of Artifacts Cooperative members at their annual Valentine’s Day sale, “For the Love of Art.” Pink and red crepe banners hung in a curtain from the walls and paper hearts were taped to the large front windows. Each Artifacts member occupied a table lining the sides of the room, and visitors formed a clockwise line circling past the artists. The Artifacts artists there specialized in a variety of art media, including acrylic and oil painting, drawing, woodworking, beadwork and jewelry.

Samuel Kwarteng, a painter, drawer, and longtime Artifacts Cooperative member, stated that art shows like “For the Love of Art” always provide learning opportunities, shedding light on what could be improved for next time. Several Artifacts members at the show lamented the fact that there weren’t more visitors, and discussed ideas for advertising the next show or new venues in Greensboro.  Despite the lower attendance, I overheard significant interactions between the members and the visitors that did attend. 

The artwork of Jerry Rich, the newest member of Artifacts, made one visitor to the art show tear up. Jerry later told me in an interview for the Greensboro Voice, a newspaper housed at the IRC, that he and this visitor both began crying when he described the meaning behind a drawing of a shepherd overlooking his flock. Jerry said that the shepherd was watching the sheep from afar, like he and his wife Angel watch their children from a distance. Viewing and discussing the artwork of Jerry and other artists fostered empathy in this and other visitors to the show.

As a part of my Americorps service, I facilitate Art Corner, an open art studio program where new and experienced artists can support each other in the creative activities of their choice. Since beginning Art Corner, I have had the privilege of partnering with Artifacts Cooperative members. Several of the members create their artwork in Art Corner, but I also attend Artifacts Cooperative meetings, support the members in their artistic decisions, and help promote their events like this year’s Valentine’s Day show. One of the goals of my Americorps service is to continue promoting partnerships and creative collaborations between IRC enrichment programs—this is part of our reason for hosting an interdisciplinary Talent Show at the IRC as our April Americorps service project.

-Frances Morris, Americorps member at the Interactive Resource Center

Afterthoughts on Racial Relations Training

Speaking of race relations and understanding our own local history - it may surprise some to hear that North Carolina to this day remains the stronghold of the KKK. NC's KKK population was larger than the rest of the South combined.

David Cunningham, professor of sociology at Brandeis University, delves into the KKK of the Civil Rights Era and the impact it had on southern communities - then and now. Cunningham notes that in cities where the KKK had a strong presence during the Civil Rights Movement, especially in NC, these communities now have rates of violent crimes that excede the rates of communities where the KKK didn't have a presence.

You can listen to an NPR discussion with Cunningham about his research and his book here

I lived in Winston-Salem for roughly 20 years, those years split between south Winston-Salem in a racially diverse part of town along Sprague Street - a working class community. My elementary school had seven white children in it - my sisters and I made up three of them.

I was going on 15 when we moved to Pfafftown, NC (5 miles or so outside of W-S), into a community that was the complete opposite - there was one black family that I knew of, several roads over. This new community and its surrounding communities - Rural Hall, King, Tobbacoville, etc had a *STRONG* Klan presence and many of the residents were proud of it. That one black family had a cross erected in their yard one night while I was in 10th grade and set ablaze. When they refused to move, their house was burned down.

I was in an interracial relationship in high school which attracted the attention of assholes very quickly. We were both young, in love, and scared - a deadly combination. Between social pressure and the scrutiny of our families, Brooke (we affectionately called her Danny, her tomboy name) hung herself shortly before our Senior Prom.

While we clearly serve the wider Greensboro community, I bring up Winston-Salem because it is our backdoor, my own experience with racial relations in the city, and because so much of it is a matter of public record. W-S also has the distinction of having a former mayor (Jack Cavanagh - among others), with strong ties to the KKK - a picture once ran in the paper of him attending a cross burning while mayor.

Anyway, food for thought. Hopefully the NPR segment encourages a person or two to read the book. Maybe as well it'll encourage us to look into the racial history of our own towns and see what skeletons are hiding in the closet.

A flowing stream...

I’m standing next to a flowing stream, a great meadow on one side of me and a hill up towards a beautiful forest in front of me.  I can hear the water bubbling in the stream and practically feel the soft breeze brushing against my skin. The sun is shining brightly and I can even faintly hear birds singing in the trees only a little bit away. I am relaxed, content and calm feeling ready to take on anything and everything.

Then I blink and I am sitting with other AmeriCorps members, still relaxed, still calm, and smiling and laughing with them as we all ‘come back.’ It is training day and our AmeriCorps member Frances has taught us the incredible skill of mindfulness and meditation, using imagery to help us find peace and quiet in the middle of a chaotic day.



Members Ruth & Nardya smile while they paint their guided imagery scene.

 

Sometimes working an AmeriCorps position becomes stressful, to a point where we feel burnt out or at our limit.  I think that our natural human reaction is to react strongly to what we see—we want to help more people than we can.  We feel despair when we think of the largeness of the homelessness issue or see someone struggling with a particularly sad story.  We get frustrated by our own limitations and the limitations of our organizations.  All of these happen because we are human and we want to help others the best we can.

Thankfully, Frances has shown us ways to handle life when days are especially hard.  She gave us the tools to relax in the middle of a stressful situation so that we can still be our best and do our best in our mission of helping others.  Together we all brainstormed different ways to decompress and to spend time doing what we love instead of working every second of the day.  Taking time for ourselves, I have learned through all of this, may be one of the most important parts of life in the midst of this craziness.  If we want to be any good for anyone else, we have to try to take the time to be okay and with it on our own. 

 

We learned about guided imagery techniques, which is when we are walked through a relaxing visual scene to help us take away from the situation.  We learned about deep breathing and how just taking a few moments to take some deep breaths helps us relax.  And we learned about the joys in painting and expressing yourself through art and conversation to help put things in perspective and take some time to enjoy life.

I will certainly be using what we have learned now in the future so that I can feel refreshed and deal with burn out as the year goes on.  It’s always wonderful to see what other AmeriCorps members bring to the group and how they can teach us so much to add to our own experiences.  Thanks Frances!

 

Written by Laura, AmeriCorps member.

A Walk in Their Shoes: the Homeless Memorial Walk

"To truly know someone, one must walk a mile in his or her shoes." 

In December, the AmeriCorps Partnership to End Homelessness, along with the Interactive Resource Center, Partners Ending Homelessness, Guilford County officials, and individuals facing homelessness in our community, embraced this familiar adage literally, undertaking a nearly 3 mile walk around the center of Greensboro, in order to honor and respect those individuals in homeless situations who would not, unfortunately, be ringing in the new year with us. 

According to this article http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2076949/Homeless-people-expect-die-30-years-average-person.html, the average life span of a person in a homeless situation is 30 years less than the average housed person's. Every year, thousands of Americans freeze to death outside (for more facts, please go to http://nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/How_Many.html).  While temporary winter emergency shelters are a great resource and help, many can often accommodate a limited number of people (with about 20 on average), and often have specific hours during which they are forced to close their doors for the night. In addition to having to be on the list for such a shelter beforehand, many homeless individuals who hold irregular hours at their jobs may not be able to get in to the shelters before they close for the night. Additionally, some individuals may not be comfortable, for varied reasons, staying in the shelters. Thus, many of our citizens freeze to death on the streets. 

The annual homeless memorial walk serves to honor those individuals who lost their lives to the harsh conditions of their surroundings. Additionally, the walk is designed to bring awareness to the prevalent issue of homelessness in our community. The event is attracts a lot of local attention,as the streets are shut down by police officers, and elected officials attend the event. The process of the walk is a somber experience, encouraging those who are out and about to pause and reflect on the serious issue presented to them by the walkers. 

The public's response I experienced left much to be desired, however. 

Imagine the following scene as you are idling in an intersection in downtown Greensboro: several police cars block your way of passage as a group of roughly 50 individuals, all carrying tea light candles, following a group holding the banner pictures above. I envisioned a lot of stares, some curious questions, numerous honks, and other various displays of respect. While there were stares, very few people stopped to question the procession before them. Several people snapped pictures. One gentleman took his hat off as we passed. Two people honked their horns and waved in their support. However, so many more individuals averted our gazes and simply went about their business as if nothing unusual was occurring before them. As if nothing about the message we were carrying was a concern of theirs.

Unfortunately, it is this very attitude I see applied to homelessness by the general population time and time again. 

Perhaps the individuals looking away, playing on their phones, conversing with their friends, and generally pretending to not see the events unfolding before them  do so because they did not experience the moving speech of remembrance and honor about the friends he lost on the streets from a homeless gentleman earlier that night that I was privy to witness. Perhaps they do not know how difficult of a life many of these wonderful individuals I have gotten to know lead. Or, perhaps, they simply do not think they can do anything to help.

Let me correct you right there people. YOU CAN! However, ignoring the problem, pretending it does not exist, will absolutely not be beneficial to resolving it. 

I can't emphasize enough that every individual has a unique story, including those in homeless situations and how they ended up in them. Each of these stories will move you, surprise you, humble you, and make you unable to forget their story. We should not be ashamed of homelessness; nor should we attempt to hide it.  We need to talk about it and to have it out in the open because that is the only way permanent solutions may be found. 

Perhaps most importantly, we must remember to keep open minds and open hearts. 

Thus, next time when a group of individuals carrying banners and candles, bundled up in layers to protect themselves from the harsh, cold, windy night passes by you, wave, ask a question, honk your horn, or heck, even join them!  Perhaps next time you see someone on the street with the sign "homeless and hungry" you may stop and offer to bring them some food. Perhaps, you may attend an event such as this one in the future and meet some homeless individuals, and really sit down and listen to them, show them your respect, and get to know them. Some of these individuals may be homeless, some may be fighting to advocate for them and improve their conditions, and some may be running your city! I promise, once you walk a mile in one's shoes, you will never be the same. 

The beauty of this event is that all marched as equals. All marched for one single cause. 

 The cold, somewhat miserable conditions of that night perfectly reflected the conditions those sleeping on the streets this winter face. By the time I reached the end, my fingers were numb from the wind and holding the banner, but my heart was so warm from having the pleasure of the company of fellow human beings, in whichever walks of life, marching together, with matching steps and matching heartbeats, occasionally cracking jokes about the obstacles in our way on the sidewalks. 

Walking in the shoes of the homeless has never felt so normal. 

By: Lana, an AmeriCorps Partnership to End Homelessness member

Reflections from the Greensboro Point-in-Time Count

Photo by Jerry Wolford

Never had I ever ridden in a police car (thankfully) before today when I had the privilege to participate in the Partners Ending Homelessness (PEH) Point-in-Time Count. The Point-in-Time Count is a 24 hour count of the homeless, and at risk of becoming homeless, population in Guilford County. Despite the snow, volunteers from different organizations around the county participated in making sure as many homeless people were counted for as possible. The count goes over night into the shelters to account for those people as well.  The count is held every year in Guilford County (bi-yearly in other states) and uses a survey to get demographics, a small amount of history about the person, the reason they became homeless, what resources they use and/or need around our community and if they don’t access shelter, why not?

     At 10:00am volunteers, PEH employees, and community resource policemen and women met at the United Way on Yanceyville Street.  We were paired off and sent to our district to search for any and everyone we can find on the streets panhandling. This was my, and my officer’s, first time participating in the event so we talked about that majority of the time on our search (in between me trying to convince him to pull somebody over, or take me to the scene of a crime). We were assigned to “district two,” the Randleman Road area- there we were driving slowly by bridges, making u-turns to do double takes, and going around the back of buildings to find ANYBODY known to the area panhandling. Unfortunately for me, majority of the regulars were inside somewhere keeping warm in the winter weather and not on their corner or parking lot trying to make money. On our entire journey, we found one well-known panhandling citizen, Mr. W. Being my first and only experience thus far the officer got out of the vehicle and asked if he wouldn’t mind answering a few questions from me, he agreed.

     While talking to Mr. W I learned that he hasn’t been stably housed since 1995 when he was living in Virginia and married to his ex-wife. He joked that it was a “good-call on her part because she probably would have been sitting with him on that curb if she hadn’t left him.”  Despite Mr. W’s situation he was nothing but positive, he smiled the entire time we talked, he said God gives him everything he could ever pray for and pointed to the snow making a comment of how beautiful it was. This Vietnam veteran does frequently rent a room from a nearby hotel in order to stay warm and made clear that that is where his money goes, not to drugs or alcohol like some of the other panhandlers he knows. He also said “panhandling isn’t about the money” for him- if he wanted to make money, he’d move from his spot that he is at every day to the intersection or the by-pass because that’s where the moneys at! He enjoys his spot and likes to meet the people that are kind enough to share what they have with him. He says “if people see I’m not here, they worry.” I was happily invited back anytime and told “things aren’t that bad if you really think about them.” All that has happened in Mr. W’s life has made him who he is today, a positive, friendly man just living day-by-day making as many friends as he can.

     One of the main goals with the Point-in-Time count was to help those who are “chronically homeless,” by their definition is anyone who has been homeless for a year/has experienced homelessness 4 times in the past 3 years and has a disease or disorder. Although Mr. W may fall into that category, I would be interested in seeing when/if PEH contacts him how he will react. If doors are opened for a person, could trust issues get in the way of them helping themselves? The next time I run into Mr. W I plan on stopping to chat and see if anyone from Partners Ending Homelessness has contacted him and if his already high spirit has gotten any higher. Being part of this count is bigger than me, Americorps, Guilford county, and North Carolina... It is nation-wide. It is hard to wrap your head around something so large and even though someone cant help everyone, everyone can help someone. Putting an end to homelessness is the ultimate goal, that isn’t going to happen within 24 hours but every effort counts and does not go unnoticed by the community.

-Amber