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