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

Tent City: How 4 "Professional Outdoors Dwelling" Residents Changed my Life

This is a tent city.

As explained in a wonderful documentary Tent City USA, such an establishment serves as not only as "permanent" a place as homeless individuals can call home, but also as a community, a support network for those who desperately need one to re-gain control of their life and get back on their feet, but whom, unfortunately, society tends to cast out and deprive of that fundamental human right.

Tonight, the AmeriCorps Partnership to End Homelessness organized a truly perspective altering event. What started out as a simple movie screening of Tent City USA with a panel discussion following, became something so much bigger than we ever anticipated. The event was held at a local "gold mine" of resources for Greensboro's homeless population, the IRC (interactive resources center). Our panel consisted of four current tent city residents, who, by the way, do not like being described as homeless, because of the negative connotation it has regretfully come to carry in our society, and prefer creative names for themselves, such as "long-term campers," and "professional outdoors-men."  

Why does homelessness carry such a stigma in our society today? As the documentary and several of our panel members point out, most people just assume that all those without permanent homes and steady incomes are "dirty, uneducated, drug addicts, and alcoholics just wanting a government handout." This is perpetuated myth, very distant from reality, as this study in San Francisco shows. 

Most of us wouldn't expect four smart, funny, frank, humble, hardworking, resourceful individuals. But that, and so much more, is exactly what these people are. 

I certainly wasn't expecting to be moved to tears with their stories, experiences, and the injustice they face from the society I am part of. While I have never been one of those people who would tell a homeless individual to "get a job" (FYI if you are one of those people, you try that in this economy while NOT having a permanent address, and let me know how it works for you!), I would walk by someone asking for a dollar to buy food (which as the study above shows IS where your dollar is actually going)  with my head bent low, mumbling something about not having cash on me. 

AND I AM ASHAMED!

As we all should be. 

What I learned from these individuals tonight is that they come from life situations that make up our worst nightmares. They have been abused, molested, beaten, left on the street as children and teenagers. They have been stripped of every ounce of their dignity. Who am I, or you, or anyone to say they CHOSE this lifestyle? While all of our discussion members take full personal responsibility for their choices that may have contributed to their downward spiral, leading them to their current living situation, we have to realize that these people are just as much, and I would even argue more so, a product of their circumstances. Particularly in this economy, we all know "the system" is not only imperfect, it is severely deficient. What little aid non-profit agencies scrape by, fighting tooth and nail, advocating for their clients is simply not enough!

As one of our panel members pointed out, "who would choose to live like this? I'm not happy with this. None of us are." He has 3 blankets to cover up with in the cold temperatures we are experiencing right now. In the morning, there is dew, which means he and his shelter are wet, and there is absolutely nothing he can do about it. 

As one of our sagacious panel members pointed out, temporary aid is greatly appreciated, but it doesn't solve the problem. With the continuous rise of the homeless population in the United States, something is simply not working, and these men and women, who have the actual experience of living on the streets, are more than ready to ponder these problems and offer solutions! However, as we see in Tent City USA, as well as from our panel's discussion, their voices are silenced by our prejudices. Temporary housing vouchers only last for a year, hardly enough time for even those qualified for jobs to find employment in our economy, let alone someone who may have been incarcerated, for often very MINOR offenses such as DUIs, or someone having a learning, physical, or other disability, or suffering a mental health issue.(I will save the prejudices our society has against mental health care for another blog rant). Yet, the system is deficient in providing resources to remedy these hindrances to steady, full-time employment.  As one of our panel member mentioned, he is "willing to do anything." He will "work his tail off, if only someone, anyone, will give him a chance!" Yet corporate America turns its cheek the other way and ignores the problem. 

Why? Because we are embarrassed, hindered by our misconceptions, unsure of how to act. After even only an hour of getting to know these individuals, I would confidently hire any one of them, knowing they would provide their best work and want to be at the job 100 percent. Our panel members expressed the desire to work without pay even, or to have a probationary period so they may impress their employer with their work ethic in hopes of eventually obtaining paying employment! However they are discriminated against based on their status, their appearance, their living situation. As one of our panel members pointed out, he seeks employment every single day. Yet every door is slammed in his face. Another member added that someone at an employment agency once told her she "doesn't look homeless."  

I'm sorry. I wasn't aware HOMELESS had a certain look to it! 

The Tent City USA documentary mentions the benefit of such an establishment as fostering a sense of community. These men and women truly becoming the family they never had to each other, and love and care for each other in a way I have not never experienced in our bigger communities. Yet, as seen in the film, and based on our panel's experience, we shun them. We just don't want to be reminded to the fact that our "American dream" may have failed. 

They, in turn, welcome us and each other with open arms. One gentlemen recited an anecdote I would like to share. One night, in colder weather than we are currently experiencing, he was settling in for the night under the bridge. Another individual lacking housing, having just gotten off from a graveyard shift, approached him and offered to give him $10 for one of his blankets. This gentleman gave it to him for $5. These two blankets are the only possessions he had to keep himself warm, and he chose to share with someone in need. 

After getting to know these people, I realized they have so much heart and love to give, and they, like all human beings, just want the same simple things we ALL want and need: acceptance, a place they feel they belong, a sense of purpose and accomplishment, however minuscule form work, and love.  Our lady panel speaker was funny as hell! (excuse my French). One of the younger gentlemen of the panel and I bonded over our failed romantic relationships! These people are real, and they are human. For people in their situation, some of them being homeless for years, they have a remarkable spirit and resilience. They maintain a hope beyond all hopes that with enough effort and patience, eventually good things will come to them, so they go on. They apply for jobs they know they will be turned away from. They attend GED classes offered at the IRC. Most importantly, they help each other in any way they can. 

Most basically, and most importantly, they are JUST PEOPLE. They are not "the homeless." They are not a statistic. They are not "something" deserving of de-humanization and ridicule. The are just people. Like YOU and ME. With stories. With hopes and dreams. They are smart. They are eloquent. They are funny. 

Oftentimes, we find ourselves judging those whose stories we simply have no conception of so easily. However, one of our panel members has not been in a steady, permanent home since he was thirteen years old! He has struggled, as any of us would under such circumstances, as psychology teaches us that a stable home environment is one of the single most important factors contributing to a successful transition of a youth into an independent adult, and he has been overlooked and denied opportunities his whole life. His story really hit close to home as I am the same age. Having graduated from a university with not one, but TWO, diplomas, I was unable to obtain employment for months after graduation. Despite having a full scholarship, my savings were drained by the expenses of college, and I found myself jobless, with only $100 to my name. I was lucky. AmeriCorps became my opportunity and salvation. If I hadn't, I would be sitting right there in a tent next to him, utilizing only blankets and body heat in order to keep from freezing in the chilly Carolina fall, and I have had the opportunity to obtain an education, unlike him! The reason for my personal over-share is that I want to drive the point across that homelessness is something that can happen to each and every one of us. Medical bills, rent increases, elevated cost of living, a flailing economy are all factors working against us constantly. Some of us win the battle against our circumstances. Some of us don't. By the way, out of the over 633,782 people currently identifying as homeless (this number is actually lower than the over-all number of the homeless population because it represents only those who were able to be counted during the 2012 point in time count), roughly 40 percent have a disability, 1 in every 3 are veterans, and about 20 - 25 percent suffer some form of mental illness. Of these individuals, 2/3 are un-sheltered! 

Before I left, one of the gentlemen told me I was going to change lives. 

I really hope he is right. I and our wonderful AmeriCorps team will do everything in our power to help them and other homeless individuals in the Greensboro area. We will continue spreading awareness about their cause and fighting for their rights. 

However, little did these three men and one lovely lady know that with their candidness, their stories, and their amazing personalities they would touch my heart so much, and change MINE, and I just want to say THANK YOU to them. I will never be the same, and I am forever grateful to you guys. 

I challenge you, dear readers, next time you encounter a homeless individual, to not avert your gaze, but to approach them, shake their hand, and listen to their story. Volunteer at your local shelter. Attend your local legislation meetings and let your voice sound for those that are kept silenced.  Help spread awareness with others in your life by sharing this post with them. And, most importantly, keep an open mind and open heart. You might just find it stolen, and you will definitely not be the same afterwards. You will experience one of the most humbling  enlightening, and most importantly, HUMAN, moments of your life.  

Homelessness is a serious, devastating crisis in this country as well as the world.  However, a solution does not have to be out of reach. Imagine if each one of us applied only just a little bit of our strengths and efforts; we could move mountains! Or rather, tent cities and other residents lacking shelter into permanent housing. 

Post by Lana