Hidden Gems 2014

Colophon The 2014 Hidden Gems, Volume 7, was printed

by AlphaGraphics Shady Grove 9117 Industrial Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Our local AlphaGraphics representative was Danielle Milligan. The press run of 8.5 x 11 books was 110. The 36 pages were printed on 80 lb. gloss paper. All 36 pages are 4-process color. The book was produced using Adobe InDesign CS6 and Adobe Photoshop CS6.

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HIDDEN GEMS

Hidden Gems Sta Marli Abramowitz

Bronya Lechtman

Mayan Beroukhim

Olivia Lerner

Emma Enig

Shoham Lewin

Jonah Eisen

Annie Rodney

Jazmin Gelbart

Sarah Rubin

Michael Greenberg

Sivan Shilo

Hannah Jacobs

Carol Silber

Evie Kraner

Ian Subin

Editors

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Rina Bardin

Haley Lerner

Alison Kraner

Daniel Thorne

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Martha’s Table Martha’s Table is located on 14th Street in Washington, D.C. It works to provide stuggling D.C. residents with healthy meals, clothing, and educational opportunities. Martha’s Table helps both individuals and families to become self-sufficient. It helps families in need plan for the future so their children can grow up to be independent. Martha’s Table works to partner with 200 other organizations to provide people with additonal services.

Thank you to our school and shelter staff Diana Bernhardt Claire Burke Emily Horwitz Roz Landy art by Claudia Gonissa MASTER SPREAD.indd Spread 3 of 18 - Pages(35, 4)

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Letter from the Editors Dear Hidden Gems Reader, We’ve spent a lot of time in the past year compiling the magazine-- matching artwork to writing and composing all that we’ve collected into something tangible.

As we go through the spreads, we remember the faces of the people who created the work and the stories they told. While you as the reader have not met these people or listened to their stories in person, we hope this magazine gives you a chance to learn about them through the stories they have shared with us, and now with you.

Hidden Gems is a club as well as a magazine. Over the past year, we have visited homeless shelters where we assisted residents in creating artwork and writing prose and poetry.

This magazine is not our work. Though we compiled it, we consider our job to be bigger than the work that goes into production. We aim to give people a forum for expression and a chance to be heard. We allow anonymous submissions and offer to let residents keep their work if they don’t want it published. We also made a conscious decision not to correct the spelling and grammar of the poems and prose we collected because we aren’t involved in Hidden Gems to edit something raw into a polished piece. Instead, we hope to showcase the genuine work of the people we’ve listened to and provide a forum where others can listen to them, too.

Sincerely, Alison Kraner and Daniel Thorne

Hidden Gems Magazine Seventh Edition Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School 11710 Hunters Lane Rockville, MD 20852 www.cesjds.org 301-881-1400 cover art by Linda Lou Williams MASTER SPREAD.indd Spread 4 of 18 - Pages(5, 34)

N Street Village Luther Night Place Shelter N Street Village is located in Washington, D.C.’s Logan Circle on 14th and N Street. N Street empowers homeless and lowincome women to claim their highest quality of life by offering a broad spectrum of services and advocacy. It provides an atmosphere of dignity and respect by meeting the needs of homeless and extremely low-income women as they move to stable housing and maximum self-sufficiency. Every day of the year N Street provides food, clothing, showers, transitional and permanent housing, mental and physical health care, and support to re-enter the workforce. N Street presently serves approximately 850 women a year, approximately 1/3 of the total number of homeless women in D.C.

Interfaith Works Interfaith Works is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency and a nonsectarian interfaith coalition of more than 165 affiliated congregations of diverse faiths, working together to meet the needs of the poor and homeless in Montgomery County, Maryland. Their programs shelter, clothe, and feed neighbors in need and provides supportive services with the goal of helping them achieve self-sufficiency.

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Table of Contents I must say that I am not very proud of what i have done in the past, I had lost my mother in Aug 2000 and I took it very hard so I started useing drugs and I just didn’t care about myself. I started oweing people, doing things that I did not want to do but had no choice, because I needed money, I got into serious troble, nearly lost my life a couple of times, but by the grace of God I got help and been drug free for twelve years.

Then in 2008 I got married, I was fine at first moved to SC then husband became an abuser, I left, then went back, left again, went back then left for good in July 2012 I will never go back again because I had enough and I know I can do better, that is how I ended up in a shelter, and I thank God and the staff of the Wilkins Ave assessment center. I also thank my baby sister Tammy for always being there for me. I am a mothe of one and a grandmother of eight, and at this stage in my life I am so happy that I still have hope, and I will stay focus and move on with my life. I have so much to live for. And I know my mother looking down and saying how proud me she is and I will always miss her.

I was weak then. Now I feel strong and I know I can make, I am a much happier person now.

An African Dress by anonymous 5 I was Born in West Africa by anonymous 6 Open Window by Nancy Gomez 7 Artwork by Alayah 8 All Eyes on What by Nancy Gomez 9 Nobody Knew by Nancy Gomez 10 Artwork by Coelathia 11 I am Thankful by S.A.W 12 From Brand to Role Model by Carmen 13 Writing by Julee Crawford 14 One More Chance by Nancy Gomez 15 Artwork by Tsion 16

Sylvia

Artwork by Ercelis 17 I am a Gem by Linda Lou Williams 18

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Artwork by Lam Thi Phuong 19 I born in Great Vietnam by Lam Thi Phuong 20 1/27/2014 4:13:32 PM

Writing by Julice Mary Silvia Bell 21 Artwork by Claudia Gonissa 22 God Be the Glory by BP 23 Lost and Jobless by BP 24 Group Creativity by Nefatera McQueen 25 Writing by Idalmis Zuñiga 26 Nieto by Rico Nieto Gomez 27-28

This is me take it or leave it by Tai 29 Writing by Sylvia 30 N Street Village and Interfaith Works Shelter 31 Martha’s Table and School and Shelter Staff 32

Tai Hidden Gems Staff 33 Colophon 34

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anonymous Rico Nieto Gomez

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I was born and raised in west Africa. The country of which I am a native became embroiled in a way in the 1990’s. I have an MBA in Finance, a BBA in accounting and a certification in investment appraisal and management from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

I came to America in the 90’s and lived with my sister who was a doctor(pediatrician) until her death. As a tenet the house we lived in was sold. That’s how I became a homeless.

However overiding all of this is I am not a well person. I am sure someone with such credential should be working. The reason I am not gainfully employed is a result of the aforementioned. I worked previously as the internal auditor of a bank in west Africa. anonymous

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I used to draw a lot when I was in the 3rd grade. I loved to paint fish because I am from Cuba, an island with many beautiful fish. I left Cuba in 1969 and moved to Spain. From Spain I moved to the United States. I came to the United States with a lot of hope and I have had a good life here. I worked as a secretary and I have 4 children and 11 grandchildren. I always worked hard so I never thought I would be homeless and living in a shelter. This happened to me recently because I have an adult son who is mentally ill and I spent all my money taking care of him. But I am still hopeful because I have faith in God. I know that God will always help me.

Open Window Sunshine so sublime colors of the rainbow bestow its Radiant Blessings in the multipul colors comfort beauty still on the block I hear the cocking Boom my man down laying at my feet Eyes still open I take a seat dead eyes look into my soul step over the body now getting cold so I Boldly Shake him no blinking Eyes still looking into my soul But still the Rainbow shines new Life Begins Though unblinking Eyes!

Closer to the Life Now Being unfold!

Idalmis Zu単iga translated from Spanish

Nancy Gomez

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Nefatera McQueen

Alayah

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Lost and Jobless All Eyes on What!

I am a Washingtonian born here and raised. I am currently homeless and staying in a women’s shelter by choice. The reason is because of loss of income and bad choices along with bad luck. The lack of being able being able to take care of oneself financially. There is a lot of reason of not getting a paycheck but going to work at a Black own company. The CEO was swaddling the governments funding. The lack of not being able to eat, wash clothes, buy groceries living in fear ever second of the day And constantly staying stressed out. The thought of being homeless and sleeping on the street. Then One Day after “Six Months. God gave me a vision to wake up and look out the window I saw my Assistant Property Manager and Sheriff’s Department in another building along with this fifteen passenger van. I lived on the 18th Floor of Building C so I couldn’t see the exact writing on Van. God touched me and instructed me to take a shower and put my clothes on and I obeyed. I was combing my hair and loud Knock came to the door.

I answered it and it was the Sheriff and his partner. They asked if they could enter my apartment to check to see if anyone else was inside with me, they did a search of my apartment. They also told me that I could gather a bag to carry with me along with all my medicine. They was nice and comforting because I was crying profoundly. They also asked if I knew why they was here. They gave me the assistance of the Shelter and Emergency Creses Center which was of Blessing for me because I was totally lost and jobless.

God is my Help in the time of trouble. The Shelter is a Blessing. I am coming back and will be Restored.

10 yrs old cold hot hands hold and touch me story never told. Being passed around by a Father no bater just secretly touching soon came the ouching. All eyes on me ping pong back and forth such a pretty thing. what do you mean its my fault. No protection no elation just numbness and frustration! Im older now seen it done it ALL I took my fall to save the family still waiting for a call. Thiers too much to say on this day other than Grace Mercey and a life saved By Him above decending love help came and so my name is Nancy still standing story still unfolding peace TranQuilty. Thank you interfaith.

Nancy Gomez

BP

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God Be The Glory

Nancy Gomez BP

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Coelathia

Claudia Gonissa

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I am Thankful For this Day This very moment And Where I am, at A Daily Journal for in spiration and Love and Happiness Just me and the wind Carless and fanncy free M for the million things she gives me O means only the she growing old T is for the tears she shed to save me H is for Her Heart as pure as gold E is for eyes thats love and shining R right and right she’ll always be put them all together they spell mother the word that means the world to me

I have many things to say, but to know there’s one very difficult to remember. When I was three years old I was abandoneded in front of rich house then they put me in orphanage. I was over ther for four years, then they move out another time, but this time was for ten years ... they dont let me go to school or have anney things wht a ten year old gerl want or needs, but i was and be a stranger to women. I left to live buy may self and stay stronger many oder years past, i whento school, gradute highschool and whent two years of college, but i coulden’t go further because of fenances.

Júlice Mary Silvia Bell

S.A.W

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I born in great vietnam. And when my father go back to America They locked my mother in jail. and me and my god mother had no house. we stayed in a tin house and when I grow up, When I was a kid my god mother sent me to somebody. we don’t have no money so my go mother sent me to somebody to get money. He beat me up and abused me. When I escaped I never went back to the guy’s house. When I came to this country I was 19 years old. I don’t have no friends and the only friend I had was a bad friend. I lost my Job and my sister put me on the Street. Every night I went to the corner of the street to get some money. I’ve been locked up in jail for 2 years. I got out of jail and they caught me again- I was back in for 8 years. They wouldn’t buy me any help- they didn’t want to help. When I didn’t want to help. When I don’t have money nobody be playing on me when my husband get out of jail and I get some help- he took me to treatment I stayed in the treatment it was for 2 years.

Now I complete the treatment program I feel better because the friend in the street is not my friend. When I have money and grass they going to be your friend and when you don’t they won’t be your friend. Only if I stay in the program and go to the meetings and I get some help. Because the way i talk loud, I’m not angry and I be here the same boat. I’m not different than somebody.

Lam Thi Phuong

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Carmen

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Hello, My name is Julee Crawford, I have lived in Allegany county Md, Cumberland, Md, I have lived in Gaithersburg and lived a couple of days in Holiday Inn. I also lived in Gaithersburg with my long time loved Mark Knode, we lived in Gaithersburg, md 13 years and also have I Mark’s ring I carry with all time. I also a beautiful daughter Stephanie Crawford my hope that one day that we lives together in house and be together. Living in a shelter is just premanently. I am also for friends, family, and my friends and premanantly shelter and also my mom and dad who are now in heaven, who i know i will see one day with God. I have many gems in my life, my best friends,in the premaently in shelter, premaently where I live with my best friends who help with my laundry doing clothes in the washing machine, with clothes. and I have gone in church for whom I got married in 1984 in Route 355 in Gaithersburg, I lived in Allegany county from early 1960’s to the early 1980’s and, I was born in 1956 February 22, 1956. Memorial hospital in cumberland, md. My name is Julee Crawford I was also brought up in a church.

Become homeless because with my boyfriend I was evicted from our apartment in Gaithersburg. Yes I have a daughter Stephanie Louise Crawford who named after my hate mother, Mary Louise. My homeless have affected my family because I missed with my family. Based on my experiences I usually happy go person and going with movies, concerts, and going with family and friend/ I have a message to give out I hope no live in shelter because in premanently shelter is no really no friends. When you have no money and no place to go But at least I have a roof my head and a place out of cold. I describe my life as a purple as a beautiful rainbow in the sky. I would like some place with great boyfriend my daughter and my brother, Buddy name and sister-in law in wonderful safe place away from living with ladies which has been not easy for me. My idea afternoon would been going good movie with my boyfriend which 13 years, who I carry Mark’s ring with me at all times, who I miss very much and I love Mark also, what is life about my life, that I with different places. I am lived different kinds of my fondest childhood memory going to school with friends, By the way I am people person very much, I also enjoy going with friends and family also.

Julee Crawford

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One More Chance I’m a gem because God created me individually and uniquely ... His light that shines in me is brilliant Clear and bright ... As in a gem, stone or rock ... He breathed his breathe in me and I’m Light and Life ... Im hidden like a Gem and protected by his feathers ...

Life is a beautiful Gem

Take narrow Path that Leads to Joy and Happiness Fighting the Battles with strength and Pride.

Head Held up no longer stuck now mobile all things vile Bitter taste Leaving metalic taste of Blood now sweet as Honey I still fight myself For control but I know what I’m striving for is Eternal Happiness my son now smiles with me. Hope shines my path.

Linda Lou Williams

Nancy Gomez

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Ercelis

Tsion

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