10 24 2012

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Volume 9: Issue 25 October 24 - November 6, 2012

Street

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MARCHING ON

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The Walkathon is History - Homelessness is Not pg. 5

Gifts fo need r the Hom s men e ’s win less coats t ! er pg 4

Street Sense aims to serve as a vehicle for elevating voices and public debate on issues relating to poverty while also creating economic opportunities for people who are experiencing homelessness in our community.

6 7 11 14

Elderly apartment tenants buy their building.

Vendor and storyteller Ivory Wilson takes Street Sense to the New York!

Columnist Jeffery McNeil keeps his eyes on the prize.

Reduce, reuse, recycle, says vendor Cynthia Mewborn.

COVER ART

North American Street Newspaper Association

ADDRESS 1317 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005 PHONE 202.347.2006 FAX 202.347.2166 E-MAIL info@streetsense.org WEB StreetSense.org

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@streetsensedc /streetsensedc OUR STORY Street Sense began in August 2003 after Laura Thompson Osuri and Ted Henson approached the National Coalition for the Homeless on separate occasions with the idea to start a street paper in Washington, D.C. Through the work of dedicated volunteers, Street Sense published its first issue in November 2003. In 2005, Street Sense achieved 501 ( c ) 3 status as a nonprofit organization, formed a board of directors and hired a full-time executive director.

Today, Street Sense is published every two weeks through the efforts of four salaried employees, more than 100 active vendors, and dozens of volunteers.

Nearly 30,000 copies are in circulation each month.

1. Street Sense will be distributed for a voluntary donation of $1. I agree not to ask for more than a dollar or solicit donations for Street Sense by any other means.

2. I will only purchase the paper from Street Sense staff and will not sell papers to other vendors (outside of the office volunteers).

3. I agree to treat all others – customers, staff, other vendors – respectfully, and I will not “hard sell.” (threaten or pressure customers) 4. I agree to stay off private property when selling Street Sense.

5. I understand that I am not a legal employee of Street Sense but a contracted worker responsible for my own well–being and income.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brian Carome EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mary Otto MANAGING EDITOR Eric Falquero VENDOR/VOLUNTEER MANAGER Allen Hoorn ADVERTISING/COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR Rebecca Stewart

VOLUNTEERS/WRITERS Jane Cave, Margaret Chapman, Brandon Caudill, Lilly Dymond, Ashley Edwards, Andrew Gena, Steve Gilberg, Jane Goforth, Roxanne Goldberg, Roberta Haber, Jesse Helfrich, Maurice King, Sean Lishansky, Victoria Hatterman O’Banion, Ashley Perkins, David Piper, Mark Rose, Willie Schatz, David Sellers, Kate Sheppard, Ernie Smith, Lilly Smith, Kelly Stellrecht, Brett Topping, Charlotte Tucker, Bryan Watkins, Marian Wiseman, Eugene Versluysen

PHOTOS BY SYDNEY FRANKLIN

/streetsense

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Yebegashet Alemayehn, Margaret Chapman, Kristal Dekleer, Robin Heller, Heidi Keller, Sommer Mathis, Manas Mohapatra, Brad Scriber, Michael Stoops

INTERNS Joel Barnes, Natalie Devlin, Sydney Franklin, Jeff Gray, Nick Mutschler, Lauren Poole, Claire Riesenberg, Ashley Trick

Participants in the St. Columbus Episcopal Church mini-walk march to raise money to support their ministries for the homeless.

A new issue comes out every two weeks, but you can stay connected to Street Sense every day!

International Network of Street Papers

6. I agree not to sell any additional goods or products when selling the paper.

7. I will not sell Street Sense under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

8. I agree to stay a block away from another vendor and respect the space of all vendors.

9. I understand that my badge is the property of Street Sense and will not deface it. I will present my badge when purchasing the papers and display my badge while selling papers.

10. I understand that Street Sense strives to produce a paper that covers homelessness and poverty issues while providing a source of income for the homeless. I will try to help in this effort and spread the word.

VENDORS Gladys Akins, Orin Andrus, Charles Armstrong Glenn Artis, Jake Ashford, Lawrence Autry, Daniel Ball, Alan Bates, Grady Baxter, Roberta Bear, Kenneth Belkovsky, Tommy Bennett, Frosty Bibbee, Phillip Black, Reginald Black, Deana, Black, Viktor Blokhine, Harmon Bracey, Debora, Brantley, Andre Brinson, Kanon Brown, Reco, Brown, Percy Carter, Sunny Chadwick, Conrad Cheek, Lea Ciochetti, Elena Cirpaci, Sarah Colin, Theresa Corbino, Anthony Crawford, Kwayera, Dakari, Louise Davenport, Michael Davidson, James Davis, Charles Davis, Clifton Davis, Devon Dawkins, Chino Dean, David Denny, Janna Disraeli, Nema Dixon, Alvin Dixon-El, Charles Eatmon, Richard Embden, Pieus Ennels, Kristin Evald, Betty Everett, Joshua Faison, Patty Feris, Larry Garner, Anthony Gist-El, Marcus Green, Barron Hall, Dwight Harris, Dewayne Harrison, Lorrie Hayes, Patricia Henry, Shakaye Henry, Derian Hickman, Vennie Hill, Ibn Hipps, Jaamill Hipps, Anne Marie Holloway, Phillip Howard, James Hughes, Donald Johnson, Tavon Johnson, Mark Jones, Ryan Jones, Evanson Kamau, Tammy Karuza, Mike Leach, Ziang Lin, Anthony Lindsey, John Littlejohn, Michael Lyons, Kina Mathis, Authertimer Matthews, John Matthews, Charlie Mayfield, Marvin McFadden, Jermale McKnight, Jennifer McLaughlin, Jeffrey McNeil, Kenneth Middleton, Gary Minter, Anton Mitchell, L. Morrow, Jai Morton, Tyrone Murray, Darryl Neal, Charles Nelson, James Nelson, Sammy Ngatiri, Evelyn Nnam, Amen O’Jango, Moyo Onibuje, Douglas Pangburn, Ebony Pannell, Earl Parkin, Franklin Payne, Aida Peery, Michael Pennycook, Lucifer Potter, Frank Pruden, Ash-Shaheed Rabbil, Clifford Ringwald, Anthony Robinson, Andrell Robsinson, Lawrence Rogers, Melania Scott, Chris Shaw, Adira Sheinman, Veda Simpson, J. Simpson, Patty Smith, Gwynette Smith, Yvette Smith, Terron Solomon, Matt Southworth, Franklin Sterling, Warren Stevens, James Stewart, Billy Sullivan, Beverly Sutton, Sybil Taylor, Paul Taylor, Archie Thomas, Shernell Thomas, Victor Thompkins, Deborah Tibbs, Jacqueline Turner, Deborah Turner, Bada Umoja

STREET SENSE October 24 - November 6, 2012

Begging for Beds

By Mary Otto Editor-in-Chief Homeless mothers described harrowing nights spent huddled with their children in hospital and train station waiting rooms. And they pleaded with city officials for beds.

City Council member Jim Graham pleaded for beds too. He repeated his request that empty beds in the District’s family shelter be opened up to homeless men, women and children immediately.

At the time of the Oct. 10 hearing held to discuss the District’s 20122013 winter plan for the homeless, 149 families were housed at the city’s family shelter, located at the former DC General Hospital. But another 118 rooms designated for overflow use were standing vacant.

It costs $500,000 a month to operate all 118 overflow rooms. They are currently held in reserve for freezing weather, when the city is required by law to shelter the homeless.

Chile Claims Cup Jorge Garcia scored six goals as Chile outlasted a resilient Mexican team, 8-5, last Sunday in the ninth annual Homeless World Cup. Chile rode a brilliant performance

by Garcia to overcome an early deficit in Mexico City’s historic Zocalo Square, and Edwuard Gomez’s strike in added time extinguished a late rally by the host nation.

The Homeless World Cup is an international non-profit organization focused on combating homelessness worldwide through sport. Proclaim-

Homeless not Voteless Over the past months, groups around the DC area have worked feverishly to help register homeless and low-income district residents for the upcoming election.

Historically, low-income and homeless individuals vote at the lowest rate in the country. In the 2008 presidential election only 51.9 percent of the poorest voting-aged citizens actually voted, compared with 79.8 percent of the

3

NEWS IN BRIEF Strapped for funds due to a $7 million shortfall in the city homeless services budget, city human services officials acknowledged they had turned away 240 families who applied for shelter between April 1 and Oct 1.

“We attempted to provide alternatives,” said Department of Human Services administrator Fred Swan.

Through follow up calls, the city had determined that most of the families who had been turned away eventually found accommodations, according to Swan. However, he said, the fate of a few of the families was unknown because the department had been unable to reach them again.

Dashawn Brown, mother of three small children, including an infant asleep at her breast, may have fallen into the latter category.

She said she had applied to the city for emergency shelter weeks ago but without success. Since then, she and her children had been sleeping on benches and in a waiting room at United Medical Center, a hospital in Southeast, D.C.

“We’ve been on the street. Bench to bench with my three kids,” she said. “ I don’t have no alternative,” added the mother, before bursting into tears.

After listening to her story Graham told her: “You have illustrated the cost of turning people away.”

He asked human services officials to see that she was helped.

“Hopefully, last night was your last night” without a place to stay, Graham told Brown.

Rather than continuing to expand the emergency shelter system to house desperate families, the city is better off using scarce human services funds on rental assistance and other programs that prevent homelessness and address the causes of poverty, said Department of Human Services Director David Berns.

“Sheltering a family for a year at DC General costs $50,000,” he said.

A new intake system that went into place on Oct. 1 combines the resources of homeless and welfare services since thousands of city families qualify not only for shelter and emergency housing

ing to “use the power of [soccer] to energize homeless people to change their own lives,” the organization, which boasts partnerships with over 70 nations worldwide, celebrates its work by holding an annual international soccer tournament. The event allows participants to unite with fellow homeless from around the globe while providing a platform to raise awareness on the issue.

Matches are played on “street courts” only 72x53 ft. by teams consisting of four players (three fielders and one goalkeeper). Played over two 7-minute halves, matches are faster-

paced and feature higher scoring than traditional soccer.

This year, 54 nations and 250,000 players, both men and women, traveled to Mexico City to take part in the eightday tournament, which culminated in Chile’s thrilling finals victory.

After a closely contested first half ended in a 3-3 tie, Garcia then came roaring out of the break, netting four straight goals to break the match open for Chile. Two late goals by a determined Mexican team threatened the Chilean lead, but Gomez’s score in added time put the game out of reach for good.

- Jeff Gray

wealthiest voting aged citizens, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

For three days, the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) and students at George Washington University ran a table at the Martin Luther King Library to encourage and assist people in the voting registration process. Another group of GWU students ventured into local parks to answer questions and register people.

The GWU groups were able to collectively register 137 individuals. They also

helped guide another 150 individuals, who mainly lived outside of the district, to early voting information as well as where they can vote.

So Others Might Eat (SOME,) held a similar registration booth from their dining hall at 71 O St., NW. In a single week this month, SOME registered 105 new voters. In addition , SOME also registered 165 DC voters in early 2012.

“It needs to be recognized that just because someone is low income and can’t contribute financially to a cam-

but for job training, child care vouchers and other supports that city welfare-towork efforts can provide.

“Forty three percent of families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families are homeless or at eminent risk,” Berns said.

Reached by email on Oct. 19, Brown said she and her children had been placed at DC General Hospital.

Graham said the same day in a telephone interview that he remained upset about the lack of funding for homeless services, particularly in the light of a late September announcement that the District showed an operating surplus of more than $139 million for the 2012 fiscal year. While some city leaders see the funds as an essential cushion against possible federal budget cuts, Graham said he believes a small percentage of the money should be spent on sheltering the homeless.

“This city has values that are better than that,” said Graham. “It takes such a small amount of money to open up beds.”

paign does not mean they should be ignored from the voting process,” says Nechama Masliansky, senior advocacy advisor at SOME. Same-day registration on November 6 is available but the deadline to register in person at the DC Board of Elections and Ethics has passed. If you have received a “voting card,” you have the option of early voting until Saturday, November 3. For more information on DC voting, see www.dcboee.org.

-Nick Mutschler

Organizations Help Community Prepare for Winter Months By: Jeff Gray Editorial Intern The approach of winter weather has local charities gearing up to gather the essential supplies to help the homeless survive.

One of the biggest challenges is acquiring adequate amounts of men’s clothing.

“Always, our biggest need is men’s clothing, because that’s the biggest population we’re serving,” said Greg Chudy, donations manager at So Others Might Eat. Unfortunately, there is often a mismatch between the donations and the needs, organizers say.

Because men make up the majority of the homeless population, demand for male clothing is significantly higher than any other category. Yet coats and other garments for men are donated at the lowest rate.

“In three days, we take all of those clothes in, and with about 300 volunteers we sort them, bag them, and deliver them.”

“We get about three times as much women’s clothes as we do men’s. Unfortunately, the request we get from most of our clients is exactly the opposite.” said Joseph Edmondson, Jr. vice president for used clothing and a board member at Gifts for the Homeless, or GFTH. City plans for emergency shelter beds for the winter seem to bear him out:

1,331 beds for single men, compared with just 427 beds for single women.

Over the years, GFTH, a charitable organization formed in the mid-80’s and run by volunteers from law firms and corporate legal departments from across the city, has learned to adapt to meet the actual needs. GFTH, governed and operated by a board of directors, has no paid staff or administrative costs. Any overhead is covered by board members or their affiliated firms, meaning every dollar GFTH raises goes directly to purchasing clothing for the homeless.

Every year, at the end of November, the group puts on a large-scale clothing drive to collect winter clothing for the homeless.

While the event itself takes place over a three-day period from November 30 through December 2, Edmondson says individual law firms and affiliated organizations begin their own drives in early or mid-November. Each group delivers their donations to a central site, where clothing is sorted and packaged.

The clothing is then loaded onto vans and distributed to over 70 shelters and service providers throughout the city.

“In three days, we take all of those clothes in, and with about 300 volunteers we sort them, bag them, and deliver them.”

Typically they end up with far more women’s clothes and a shortage of men’s clothes. That’s where GFTH’s new clothing directive comes in.

Using an annual budget of $400,000 raised from various fundraisers, the group is able to purchase brand new clothing to supplement their supply.

“We’ll take money and go out and

buy twelve dozen or so coats, and mix them into the pile,” says Edmondson.

“New coats will show up alongside old coats in our bags. That way we make sure we have enough.”

Fortunately for SOME’s Greg Chudy and the men his organization helps, some of those new coats and clothes find their way to SOME’s clothing closet.

“That’s what we’ve really relied on to get through the winter,” said Chudy.

SOME registered nearly ten thousand individual visits to its clothes room during 2011, and GFTH delivered over four thousand bags of clothing during last year’s winter drive.

And while the clothing center is open year-round, Chudy said the need for clothing donations peaks during the winter months.

“Particularly when it gets colder, groups will reach out and host clothing drives on our behalf,” said Chudy.

That’s the spirit that drives GFTH, said Edmondson. While the organization accepts clothing for any season, its slogan is “Making the Winter a Little Warmer.”

“We certainly do focus on winter clothing,” he said. “That’s really where our core is.” said Edmondson.

He said he is heartened by the annual generosity shown by his donors. But the growth of his organization seems bittersweet when he thinks of the needs of the city’s growing homeless population.

“Unfortunately, it is getting bigger.

We’d love it to get smaller each year, but unfortunately the problem’s not getting smaller.”

If you are interested in donating, contact Gifts for the Homeless at gfthdc@gmail.com

Homeless Town Hall Meeting A clothing drive, music, speakers and food will all be featured at an Oct. 29 event organizers have dubbed “Occupy the DC Council: A Homeless and Poor People’s Town Hall Meeting at DC City Hall.”

Advocates from the grassroots orga-

nization SHARC ( for Shelter, Housing And Respectful Change) are hoping to draw 1,000 homeless people to the gathering, scheduled to be held from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. at Freedom Plaza and the John A. Wilson Building, located at 1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW.

Organizers say they plan to enter the Wilson Building throughout the day to ask city leaders to invest in affordable housing, homeless services and other social programs aimed at addressing poverty and ending homelessness.

-Mary Otto

PICTURES COURTESY OF FLICKR.

STREET SENSE October 24 - November 6, 2012

55

NEWS

After the Walkathon Mini-Walks Carry On

By Sydney Franklin Editorial Intern For 24 years, the Fannie Mae Help the Homeless Walkathon brought crowds of spirited marchers to the heart of Washington. The event raised public awareness about homelessness, and over $90 million for local shelters and other homeless programs, organizers say.

But this year, there will be no big Help the Homeless Walkathon on the National Mall.

Mortgage giant Fannie Mae remains in government conservatorship, a casualty of the nation’s real estate crisis.

And instead of sponsoring any more big walks, Fannie Mae has shifted its focus to helping organize much smaller, community-based walks in cities around the country.

Because homelessness endures, supporters of the homeless say they will keep walking.

“We’ve been doing the walk as long as it’s been going,” said Judy Smith, finishing a mini-walk at her church, St. Columba’s Episcopal Church in Tenleytown.

The church held a mini-walk after each of its six Sunday services on Oct 21.

The walks at St Columba’s were just the start. Over 100 Help the Homeless mini-walks are being held throughout DC this fall. Some local groups, anxious to sustain the funding levels of previous years, are trying innovative alternatives; there are 5K runs, a Zumbathon,

a yoga class, a harvesting event and a jump-a-thon.

A complete list of walks and other events in the area can be found online at www.hthwalks.org.

At St. Columba’s, hundreds of parisheners filtered out of the church’s side doors on the corner of Albemarle Street and 42nd Street Northwest. Choir members wearing royal blue robes sang a Hallelujah chorus, while clergymen dressed in white, families, teenagers and small children filed around the block.

Rev. Rose Duncan said that St. Columba’s has been a part of this tradition for nearly 13 years.

“We’ve always had a walk,” said Duncan. “And we’ve always participated in the Mall walk. It is still our commitment for that.”

Duncan explained that St. Columba’s uses the fundraiser to support its three ministries. Its Water Ministry provides lunch, shower and laundry facilities four days a week for people experiencing homelessness. At The Haven, St. Columba’s partners with Friendship Place to maintain this transitional housing and counseling program for women. Rebuilding Together is a program where church members spend the last two Saturdays in April to refurbish the homes of poor, elderly or handicapped DC residents.

“Last year’s funds from the walks doubled outreach for these services,”

Choir members of St. Columbia’s Episcopal Church in Tenleytown take part in their annual mini-walk, one of the hundreds of such events occurring over the next few weeks as part of the Fannie Mae Foundation’s Help the Homeless Program.

PHOTO BY SYDNEY FRANKLIN

said Duncan. “It is our job to educate and make people aware that there are people struggling from homelessness and poverty all around us.”

Aiming for 1,200 participants on Sunday alone, the congregation at St. Columba’s walked with a goal of raising about $30,000. Late registration fees are still coming in for the final fundraising count, organizers said.

Sondra Mills has been attending

Find a Walk for the Homeless Event Near You Arlington

Maryland

NOVA Walks for A-SPAN ............................................ 10/28 Halloween Walk/Parade for the Homeless ..................... 10/31 Barcroft Elementary Walk for the Homeless ................... 11/2 Kicking it Home! .................................................... 11/3 Arlington Church of Christ Walk for the Homeless ............ 11/4

Leisure World - Inter-Faith Chapel ... 10/26 kettering Elementary School .......... 10/26 St. Mary of the Mills School ............10/26 Deerfield Run Elementary School ..... 10/26 St Bernadettes School .................. 10/26 Reid Temple Christian Academy ....... 10/26 Northwest High School .................. 10/26 UMD Terp Vets ............................ 10/27

DC Duke Ellington Community Walk ................................ 10/26 Friends of Bright Beginnings Mini-Walk......................... 10/28 American University Hope and a Home Community Walk ... 10/31 Friendship Heights Community Walk ........................... 11/3 Thrive DC Help the Homeless Campaign ....................... 11/4

For the complete list of upcoming mini-walks in the metro area scan the QR code below or visit www.hthwalks.org.

the walks since 1996 and can remember bringing her now grown-up son to participate.

“I was here when my son was a little guy wearing a giant Help the Homeless T-Shirt,” she said. “The number of homeless children in Fairfax County has tripled to something like 3,000 kids. That’s stunning. The problem is getting worse.”

Seniors Fight Gentrification with Building Purchase ership. Singled out for special praise was Ward One City Councilmember Jim Graham, a big supporter of TOPA, for his work upholding tenants rights.

Luckily, the renovations did not require the residents to move out, so they could stay in their homes as new heating and air conditioning systems were installed, and as elevators, lobbies and common areas were refurbished.

At Large City Council member Michael Brown, chair of the council’s economic development committee, who attended the celebration said he hoped to see more such celebrations in the District. Too often, he said, affordable apartments continue to be displaced by luxury projects.

Residents celebrate with City Council Member Michael Brown and other officals at the dedication of Paul Laurence Dunbar Apartments.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE OFFICE OF COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN

By Natalie Devlin Editorial Intern Mary Smith knew that her housing security was at risk when she saw an increase in other senior citizens seeking apartments in her building.

They told her they had lost their own places to high-end development.

“Other people were coming here looking for applications because they were put out,” she said.

For 12 years, Smith had enjoyed life in her 171-unit senior housing community, Campbell Heights Apartments, on 15th Street Northwest. But she and her neighbors began to worry about the future of their homes.

All over the city, affordable rental units have been giving way to luxury apartments and condominiums.

The DC Fiscal Policy Institute estimates that 8,000 apartments were lost between 2000 and 2007 alone, many to upscale development.

So when the owner of Cambell Heights notified tenants of his intention to sell their building, Smith and her neighbors decided they would try to buy it themselves.

The Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) allowed them to do just that. The law gives District tenants the right to buy their building anytime its owners offer it for sale, or make plans to demolish it or discontinue its use as a rental property, On a summer day, after an average of $25,000 of renovations to each apartment, the neighbors gathered to celebrate a day in their community.

A bright green ribbon was cut, and a saxophone and bass player kept the mood of the event light and fun.

They were now homeowners, and their building had a new name too: Paul Laurence Dunbar Apartments, in honor of the famous African American poet, who penned such lines as “What dreams we have and how they fly/ Like rosy clouds across the sky.”

The neighbors attributed their success story to teamwork, a variety of interested parties coming together to achieve a common goal. They said that they themselves, the Paul Laurence Dunbar Residents’ Association, along with city officials and Jair Lynch Development Partners worked as three parts of a whole to fulfill a dream of own-

“We have a lot of developers in D.C., some do not do right by D.C. residents; some do.”

He praised the cooperation between the nonprofit residents association and the developer, Jair Lynch Development Partners, which structured a $43 million financing package to facilitate the rehabilitation of the property.

The package included housing revenue bonds insured through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and tax-exempt bonds issued by the DC Housing Finance Agency.

A new HUD housing covenant preserves the affordability of the apartments for the next 30 years.

“We have a lot of developers in D.C.,” Brown said. “Some do not do right by D.C. residents; some do.”

Deputy Mayor Victor L. Hoskins said he saw the ribbon-cutting at Paul Laurence Dunbar Apartments as an event worth cherishing.

The building “houses our seniors,” he said. “It houses our most important treasure. It houses our wisdom.”

Selections from the poetry of

Paul Laurence Dunbar From

“Inspiration” Long I dwelt in this domain, Knew no sorrow, grief, or pain; Now you bid me forth and free, Will you shut these gates on me?

From

“The Place Where the Rainbow Ends” Oh, many have sought it, And all would have bought it, With the blood we so recklessly spend; But none has uncovered, The gold, nor discovered The spot at the rainbow’s end.

They have sought it in battle, And e’en where the rattle Of dice with man’s blasphemy blends; But howe’er persuasive, It still proves evasive, This place where the rainbow ends.

From

“A Warrior’s Prayer” When foes upon me press, let me not quail Nor think to turn me into coward flight.

I only ask, to make mine arms prevail, Strength for the fight!

From

“A Poem of Faith” I think that though the clouds be dark, That though the waves dash o’er the bark, Yet after while the light will come, And in calm waters safe at home The bark will anchor.

STREET SENSE October 24 - November 6, 2012

Ivory Wilson: Vendor, Author, Former Player and Forever Cowboy

By Sydney Franklin Editorial Intern Seven-year Street Sense vendor, Ivory Wilson, knows a thing or two about success. His popularity with customers on the corner of Seventh Street and E Street Northwest comes from his welcoming personality and his ambition to share his story.

Wilson is the self-published author of A Player’s World Manual: Wanna Be A Pimp? This self-help style autobiography contains Wilson’s guidelines on how to succeed off the streets.

“I wrote it like a scroll,” said Wilson in an interview. “It’s like the Ten Commandments of Players. You can read it like a textbook.”

“It ’s all about the strength of my fans.

I’ve been going on the corner for seven years, and without them, I wouldn’t be there.”

The book’s title suggests something radically different from what is inside.

Wilson details how he became involved in the game of pimping, trafficking prostitutes, and making big bucks. But, he does not condone this lifestyle. In fact, he challenges it.

“Everyone tells me they open that book up and expect it tells them to become a pimp or something,” said Wilson. “But you can take the knowledge out of that and you can come up in life. If you open it up and read one sentence, you can’t close it until you finish.”

Inspiration for Wilson’s book came during a stint from prison in his late twenties. Wilson recognized his story could benefit other young men.

“If the right people get it, it could be worth something,” said Wilson.

Growing up in Beaumont, Texas, Wilson lived the life of a typical cowboy.

Desperate to serve his country in Vietnam, Wilson joined the army at 17, but he was shipped out of basic straight to Fort Riley, Kansas, instead of the warfront. There, he confronted a world unlike anything he had ever seen.

“The other guys would go downtown every night. Then they would come back telling stories about pimps and hoes,” said Wilson. “I would be excited sitting there listening. All I knew was washhorses and cows.”One weekend, Wilson joined the crew’s escapade downtown. Hopping into a yellow taxi with six other young soldiers, he cruised down Washington Street and Ninth St. where women lined the streets, looking for work.

“Hundreds of soldiers were there, so it was like everything was okay,” said Wilson. “I wanted to fit in.”

After quickly being accepted into that community, Wilson was dubbed “Pretty Red,” gaining him automatic respect and credibility on the streets.

In his book, Wilson describes his break from the army and his period of affluence living in Kansas City, which led to time in prison. He also writes about his transition to the East Coast ,and his start with Street Sense.

Wilson is currently in conversations with Amazon digital publisher, CreateSpace. The book is expected to be available online later this year.

Twelve years ago, Wilson printed and sold 550 copies of his book, finding it high in demand among loyal fans.

“It’s all about the strength of my fans,” said Wilson. “I’ve been going on the corner for seven years, and without them I wouldn’t be there.”

With 25 copies of Street Sense and 1000 copies of his book flyer, Wilson plans to travel to New York City the first weekend in November. Street Wise, the Big Apple’s newspaper for the homeless, recently went out of business.

“I’m going to give the New Yorkers a chance to rethink their homeless newspaper program,” said Wilson. “If it wasn’t for the newspaper and the fans that purchase my stories, I would have never known anything. They need to see this, and what a homeless paper

77

NEWS

Street Sense vendor Ivory Wilson’s book A Player’s World Manual: Wanna Be a Pimp? is expected to be released online on Oct. 25.

Flyer produced by Wilson for the release of his new book this fall.

PHOTO COURESTY OF IVORY WILSON

can do for your city.”

Wilson already has big plans for the money earned from book sales. He is less concerned about publicity, and more interested in the simple life.

“I want to go home to Texas,” said Wilson. “I’ll fix the fence, patch the roof, break a few more horses, and show a

few young cowboys how it’s done.”

Wilson is also the author of a series of short stories, hoping to publish them into a book someday.

STREET SENSE October 24 - November 6, 2012

99

COMMUNITY VOICES

choose me or why I should trust anything that you say. So, you better have a good explanation and answer my question now!

MC: We will answer your question once you have finished smoking that cigarette. We require your full attention.

R: How do you know that I’m smoking a cigarette? Did you put micro-cameras behind my eyes?

I take medications that make it easier for me to live with the voices, but they never stop talking to me.

Mission Control

Statistics show 20-25 percent of homeless people in the U.S. are severely mentally ill, This is an actual record of my personal experience living with paranoid schizophrenia...

Rod Collins Volunteer

11:11 a.m.

Rod: This is Rod to Mission Control.

What do you want to say to me?

Mission Control: You have gone offline.

R: That’s because I don’t know who or what you really are — other than a voice in my head.

MC: We have already explained to you that Mission Control guides your current lifetime lessons.

R: This morning I heard you say that I’m on my own now, and I would have to figure it all out by myself. So what if I do?

Obviously, I have an imagination that runs away with me in all directions. You are just a figment of my fantastic imagination. Why would I take you seriously?

MC: You are a paranoid schizophrenic man. It is imperative that you stay online with Mission Control in order for you to experience a quality lifetime.

You require specialized attention and constant guidance in order for you to navigate the challenges of living on earth. We only want the best for you.

Why do you refuse our assistance?

R: I have heard many voices in my head throughout my lifetime. They call

themselves different names depending on my current state of mind.

Some of them say they want to help me. Some of them say they need my help. Some of them say that I need to fulfill a certain assignment that doesn’t interest me at all. You said it!

I’m a paranoid schizophrenic, which means I have competing voices for my attention that change all the time!

How is that improving the quality of my experience as a man on the planet

DANIEL SPIESS/FLICKR

Earth? It keeps me constantly anxious, confused and irritated! I simply try to block them all out. IT’S NOT NORMAL! My heartfelt desire is to be at peace with myself and the world around me.

Peace is quiet. Going offline, as you have called it, is peaceful for me. Last night was the first time that I ever thought of Mission Control.

Obviously, I have an imagination that runs away with me in all directions.

You are just a figment of my fantastic imagination. Why would I take you seriously? You’re not my first voice! I have a long history with inner voices that constantly change their names and agendas for me. I’m not paying much attention to any of them anymore.

The name “Mission Control” indicates that I have an assignment to fulfill that requires consistent monitoring to keep me on task. Thanks … but, no thanks. I don’t want it! I’m not interested in sav-

ing the world anymore. I don’t want to be hero. I simply want some peace and quiet please. I WANT AN EMPTY HEAD! Writing down these interactive communications is ridiculous, but it does release a pressure valve of some kind. So, I do it. That is the extent of what I am willing to do at this point in time. Anything beyond that … forget about it! Your voice is dominant today.

I will agree to record this communication with you only to clear my head.

What’s the big deal this time? What’s so important for you to say to me?

MC: We want to help you deal with your anxiety. You need to calm down. We are well aware of all the voices that have come before us. We have blocked their access to your awareness. You will not be hearing any other voice except Mission Control. That, in and of itself, will ease your anxiety, and you will calm down from this frenzied state of mind.

R: That sounds nice, but I’ve heard it all before. Why should I trust you? Who are you? What are you? You sound like the voice of an artificial intelligence … perhaps a super computer.

MC: We recommend that you take a nap and get some rest before we continue this communication.

R: That sounds good to me. I’m tired!

4:17 p.m.

R: I took some medication and rested for a while. I am playing some light classical music to stay calm while I continue this communication with you.

So, are you the voice of an artificial intelligence? Are you some kind of super computer? Are you government sponsored mind control? Sometimes, I feel like a robot. I call myself “The RodBot” to make light of it. Maybe you are a top secret government experiment playing with the susceptible minds of schizophrenics like me. I am not going to follow any directives that would be harmful to me or anyone else! I will not be used as a puppet to do your dirty work! NO! NO! NO! What is Mission Control???

MC: We are well aware of your fantastic imagination that spins outrageous scenarios.

R: I have watched the whistleblowers on TV and YouTube! Other voices have told me that I was taken as a little boy for mind control experiments that involve collaboration with extraterrestrial races. I have dreams about it sometimes that seem more like repressed memories. Maybe that is the cause of my so-called schizophrenia! I take medications that make it easier

for me to live with the voices, but they never stop talking to me. Maybe you are a translation device that speaks for otherworldly beings in the OMNIVERSE! I just don’t understand why you would

MC: You are being very dramatic and jumping to bizarre conclusions. We would suggest that you avoid watching conspiracy theorists. We would also suggest that you have a snack. Your brain cannot function at optimal capacity when you are hungry.

R: First, you knew that I was tired this morning. Then you knew that I was smoking a cigarette. Now you know that my stomach is growling at me.

Obviously, you are a figment of my own imagination. I’m going to take a break and eat now … just as Mission Control has directed “The Rod-Bot” to do! I’m going offline again. So, peace out!!!

CHILDREN’S ART: MY COLLAGES

“I really tried my best on my collages. I hope everyone likes my artwork. I like that my collages come off the paper.”

- AJ, age 11

There are 1,880 children experiencing homelessness in the District. The Homeless Children’s Playtime Project visits six different transitional housing and emergency shelter programs to provide weekly activities, healthy snacks, and opportunities to play and learn to as many children as possible.

COMICS & GAMES

GLARPH THE POSTULATIN’ SHARK: MASKS

TERRON’S GAME: STREET PREACHERS

By Chris Shaw “The Cowboy Poet”

By Terron Solomon Vendor

Street Sense h as run out of s torage!

Help!

We are in need of a two-drawer lateral filing cabinet that can hold legal size documents for our offices. If you can help, please contact: brian@streetsense.org | 202.347.2006 x 702

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STREET SENSE October 24 - November 6, 20122

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OPINION

My Apologies for America Finally, It Happened

By Jeffery McNeil Vendor Some people compared the second debate between Barack Obama and Mitt Ro m n e y t o t h e battle between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. To me, it brought to mind the face-off between Joe Louis and Max Schmeling. In that fight the stakes were higher: it was USA vs Germany.

The total contempt between Romney and Obama was electrifying. You could feel the tension across the country.

After going through a primary with weak competition many Democrats underestimated Romney. They were convinced he was just a millionaire buffoon. The bizarre Republican convention seemed weak compared to Democratic show of power, starring Bill Clinton and Michelle Obama. The intelligentsia of Washington had the champagne on ice.

When Romney dissed the 47 percent the Republicans seemed to be finished.

Then, as 70 million watched the first debate, Obama received an ass-whipping. Romney was like a man possessed: sharp, snapping jabs and zingers. He was hungry. He pushed the moderator and hit below the belt.

The liberal media went frantic. Pollsters also went crazy, showing questionable polling numbers. Romney’s base energized and what seemed like an inevitable victory for Obama turned into a fight for his political life.

America was stunned.Liberals devastated. Hysteria replaced smugness.

Yet maybe, the panic was an overreaction. After all was said and done, Obama emerged unscathed. No one had to check his facts. No one accused him of lying.

And while the pundits dismissed the vice-presidential debate between Joe Biden and Paul Ryan as the undercard fight that didn’t matter, it actually contained the the blueprint on how to defeat the Romney machine.

Every time Ryan misled and insinuated, Joe Biden just grinned and called him out on his misstatements. He hit him with a right cross when he exposed

By Maurice King Volunteer Ryan over accepting stimulus money while denouncing it.

In the second meeting between Obama and Romney, things turned out differently.

Right from the start, Romney went for the jugular by trying to pointing out failures. However a different Obama emerged. He was partisan, and passionate, sticking up for the middle class. I leapt from my chair with tears, because he did what I wanted him to do: show emotion and release the anger over what the Republicans have done during his first term.

Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Doug-

“When Obama found a cut and really started landing blows when it came to the embassy bombing in Libya.“ las had nothing on these two goliaths.

When Obama attacked Romney’s five point plan, the shaken Republican went to the gutter, trying to run over moderator Candy Crowley and talking down to the president, telling him to wait his turn. When Romney tried to go back to his talking points, Obama continued to unnerve him with assaults on his positions on immigration and womens rights.

Obama found a cut and really started landing blows when it came to the embassy bombing in Libya. Romneys trainers thought the administration’s handling of security at the embassy would be a knockout punch to the President. But Obama dodged, with a critique of Romney’s accusatory tone.

Romney again tried to connect, but Crowley’s fact-checking gave the Republican a standing eight count.

In the end Obama finished the job and flattened with the 47 percent comments. Obama supporters loved it and he re energized the base.

I am writing this before the third meeting between Romney and Obama.

No matter who wins, the debates are great for the country.

For those of you who have wondered where I have been, I have been living life one day at a time at Community for Creative Non-Violence (CCNV), working in the computer lab as a staff member.

I have not written in some time because I felt that I was beating a dead horse, writing about what it’s like to be homeless, until it became monotonous for me. Call it writer’s block or what you will, but I took time to do some other things with my life.

And that brings me to the main subject of this editorial. As much as I always said that there is no system to help the homeless — and I still maintain that to be true — something miraculous did happen recently. I started moving into an apartment of my own. I have resigned as a CCNV staff member to take time to prepare for the longanticipated move.

I admit that getting the apartment was a battle of nerves for me. Between the time I saw the apartment and my move-in date, three months elapsed, and often I wondered if it was going to be another disappointment. In the past, I have written about opportunities for housing that did not materialize, and I could only wonder if that would be the case this time. To my amazement, it was not.

I would be remiss if I did not give credit to my core service agency, Green Door, which was the organization that made it all happen. I have been a consumer there since 2003, almost as long as I was homeless, and I was able to partake of many of its services.

My case manager was able to find the apartment in which I will be living as an available unit, and I am very grateful to her for that. Others in the agency also played a significant part in making it all happen, and I thank them all most sincerely.

Additionally, A Wider Circle and the National Academy of Sciences both helped me considerably with furniture,

and I owe them a special thank-you.

As I said in an earlier editorial, now I will be facing life in Washington as a regular citizen. I will not have the acceptance that I had as a CCNV staff member in the community; it will be starting from scratch.

One thing I would warn anybody who gets an apartment through whatever means: be prepared to spend big bucks.

Moving is expensive, and certain things, such as changing locks on the doors, are indispensable, even though they may be costly. Also, if there is a deposit to pay, it is not always covered by the subsidy or voucher that enables a person to get an apartment. If you don’t have money to spend, chances are you won’t make it in the new place.

As much as I look forward to living in my apartment, I will still miss CCNV. It was a good place for me, even though I will not miss the meals (that I could not stomach) and the cold showers (that happened without warning). I hope there is some way to improve these things in the future.

“Getting out of homelessness is not easy.”

The shelter has long been a low priority for the D.C. government, even to the point that the inspectors did not even bother to visit the shelter in the last go-round. Unless something is done to end homelessness in a satisfactory manner — which does not mean closing down shelters and forcing people into the streets — CCNV will be valuable for the homeless population and needs to be treated accordingly.

That having been said, it is my sincerest wish that all the homeless manage to find acceptable housing and to end their homeless status. Being homeless can be devastating, and getting out of homelessness is not easy.

For people who assume that “the system” will get them out of homelessness, wake up: There is no such system, and the people who cared about the homeless seem to be a dying breed in D.C. politics. That needs to change fast.

The Street Sense Writers’ Group is led by two writing professionals and meets every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. The group’s goal is to develop ideas and colaborate on the next great issue of Street Sense.

Becoming a Homeowner

It’s Never Over

By Morgan A. Jones Vendor

By Phillip Black Vendor, “The Cat in the Hat”

I would like to tell about an organization that has helped over 200 Washington, DC families become home owners called Habitat for Humanity of Washington, DC. Their mission is clear, to eliminate poverty and homelessness in the nation’s capital by building affordable, energy and resource-efficient homes for people in need.

A common misconception is that President Jimmy Carter founded Habitat for Humanity. Actually, it was founded by a husband and wife team, Millard and Linda Fuller in 1976. However, the President and Mrs. Carter began working with Habitat for Humanity in 1984 and Habitat CEO Jonathan Reckford has said that no one worked harder for the organization. And in 2010, the DC chapter of Habitat was able to raise $1 million in cash and gifts-in-kind thanks to contributions to the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project 2010.

You can become a Habitat homeowner if you meet certain requirements, in-

cluding: currently residing the District of Columbia, be a first time homebuyer, apply for and secure HPAP financing, get homeowners insurance, attend a homeowner education workshop, contribute 300 hours of “sweat equity” (assist in the construction of homes), and more.

You also have to meet the DC Habitat annual income requirements:

Downtown DC has the most beautiful office buildings with matching beautiful sidewalks that are oblong marble, square red brick, shining marble or pebbly granite and faced with beautiful shiny granite curbs. Pedestrians walk side by side among the beautiful office buildings and their matching sidewalks. The curbs are slippery when wet, and so are the sidewalks.

God forbid they are wet, sending pedestrians flying like acrobats in a circus, as they walk these beautiful matching sidewalks. Some move as if on a seesaw while walking on these sidewalks.

Remember – it’s never over.

BEFORE THE RAIN PART 8: A PATH OUT Help the homeless help themselves, thank you for your support, and tell a friend about Street Sense newspaper.

If you’re interested in seeing if you can get assistance from DC Habitat for Humanity please call (202) 8824600 or e-mail info@dchabiatat.org.

The Beautiful Sidewalks of DC

By Aida Peery Vendor

Since overcoming homelessness and having my children back in my life, I’ve come to realize that ‘it’s never over’.

You have to maintain and better yourself each and every day, to make it in this world. There are so many people living paycheck to paycheck. This can be very scary.

The cost of living has gone up so much that just putting food on the table can be very difficult. More and more people are parking their cars and taking

public transportation, rather thandriving them to work, because gas prices are so high. It’s never over.

I remember when people use to take off work when they got sick, but now they go to work when they are sick because they can’t afford to take off. It’s never over.

I feel the best way to really make it out there is to stay healthy, stay positive and be more determined to stay on track.

I called 311, the mayor’s office, to complain about one oblong patch of sidewalk on 14th and K NW because I noticed one day while I was selling my papers, that it was loose. Still nothing has been replaced.

So, why have these beautiful sidewalks when pedestrians can’t walk on them? My proposal is to change the sidewalks back to the 70’s when they were concrete. I never tripped on those nor did anyone else, unless they were drunk or sick with something to fall on the concrete. Now, apparently, you can call in to the mayor’s office to get a pothole fixed, faster than you can get a sidewalk replaced. The 311 operator will ask what address is attached to the loose sidewalk? As long as a person like me knows the sidewalk replacement is at 14 and K St NW, in front of the PNC Bank, that should be sufficient information without an address.

By Chris Shaw “The Cowyboy Poet” Loomis stumbled at the landing over a rusty folding chair, which imploded upon impact with his aching knee. Mojo pulled him to his feet.

The other man helping him had torn and stained scrubs. Musta been an intern before this thing hit and rendered everybody nameless and practically useless. Loomis rubbed his weary eyes. Slimy black liquid was oozing out of the ceiling, down the pipes, and all over, accompanied by a thick mist. The whole thing evoked a long-ago sci-fi spectacle, “Blade Runner.” That was, as Loomis most nearly recalled, a great movie about the end of the world in 2019, at least as we earthlings had known it to be, and uh here it was twenty-oh-five , in the fifth year of Little Bush (who sho’nuf didn’t appear to give half a hoot ‘bout no New Orleans) and ...

“HEY! WHITE BOY!! You there?”

Loomis whipped his head around to meet Mojo’s livid stare.

“You WID us or ‘GINST us, boy?”

‘Cause we need to get goin! Right NOWW!!”

Mojo shoved Loomis hard to a brick parapet that led to an open courtyard, half of which in the yellowy murk of a time past dusk, appeared to be hanging over two walls

and a flat deck plum close to washed out. “JUMP, BOY!” A final desperate SHOVE , and well, Loomis had no choice. Grabbing the end of a filthy knotted line of hospital sheets, Loomis let go into Lord knows what awaited him in the mud below.

Meanwhile at the battered main entrance to the Ernest Morial Convention Center, a red-haired and tirelessly cheerful Lindsay Patterson pushed a wheelchair occupied by Lyvania Grimes, 91, and nearly passed out, but able to whisper “Why am I not in my home?”

Lindsay, a fresh-faced new graduate in sociology from Maryland, had recently seen her uncle’s farm flattened by a tornado. It was choking for her to try explaining to Ms Lyvania why she couldn’t just stroll back to her iron-porched cottage off Lee Circle, since it was under six yards of green muck and possible alligators and a human corpse or two.

“Is...is it Halloween?” croaked Ms. Livania.

Lindsay’s delicately beautiful face reddened. She struggled to hide the tears.

“That’s it,” she offered softly in response to the dazed old lady.

“We’ll go in then, for the party.

Happy Halloween, Miss Lyvania!”

(TO BE CONTINUED)

STREET SENSE October 24 - November 6, 2012

11 3

VENDOR WRITING Just My Imagination

The Tracks of an Ass

By Ibn Hipps, Vendor

By Chris Shaw The Cowboy Poet

My yellow brick road, corroded with dying trees and leaves Fresh green grass faded fast, now sprouts ugly weeds Here stands a lonely dusty road, as I wander along With little hope to go, staying focused on whatever strength I have left Disappearing and reappearing mirages of palm trees, tasty wine with someone beautiful so fine Along came a breeze, with a scent that would bring life to any dying breed Now look at my road, bright yellow gold Fresh green grass - trees deeply rooted, thick branches - colored leaves What a wind, what a breeze, as I continue my stroll A leaf lightly blows, I spot a rose That rose formed a pose, as she stood fresh and long to behold Heart pure as gold, (wow) I smile (She’s beautiful) I replied She replied (are you surprised?)

For weeks and months He sought to Tout a legendary steed, Well bred Indeed!

If your stable mate (reputed Brother by Half); Were Union Rags, Would you not be daft, To ignore the spawn of Heroic sires of yore!

Union won the Belmont, and you dear Horse, ‘Clept “Teeth of the Dog” Had greater promises still for More!!

Sad to say, at the approach Of The Day at hand, No “Teeth of the Dog” Could be spotted in the mighty Contestants’ Band!

The card could not yield A “Teeth”-ed any thing in Any of the Field, So this harried rail bird Thus left in a Lurch, And must needs to Launch, A Fresh Talent Search.

Money thus saved, He’ll watch the parade, Seated at a plate Of Lobstertail and Steak!

(Not Horse Meat-of course -during this meet.)

Nothing

By Gwynette Smith Vendor The pain was a crushing shock Scary to my body and head Light Noise Then dark What will it be?

What is wanted?

By whom?

By me?

The cold The smell The pain Doesn’t go away God, no tears Loss, no gain The end?

The beginning?

Of what?

Nothing Once again

I was attracted to the love and hope you have burning deep inside, that’s how I found my way Blowing through your road, which brought life to a dying soul.

(Just my imagination)

Salvation

Street Sense

By Evelyn Namn Vendor

By Barron Hall Vendor Sometimes I feel like giving up or giving in. Sometimes I feel like just going along with things the way they are.

I wish I could work a nine to five job so I could meet my own needs. I would also take care of the people that depend on me, but I have disabilities that don’t allow it.

Maybe if I went back to standing with a cup in my hand it would be better? But I try to

help myself by writing articles for a paper that tells the story of people trapped in a situation not their own fault. I also sell those papers on the street corner.

So, what should I do? Should I sell drugs, or stick people up, or rob banks like others do? I’m a veteran. I was part of a war this country fought. I can’t even get a place to live. My God tells me to be patient, pray, and have faith.

But, this most blessed free country on Earth is the most racist and dangerous in the world. Even with a black president in office.

“Biblical Salvation,” is God’s way of providing his children deliverance from sin and spiritual death through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ died for our sins. He paid the price for our death.

In the Old Testament, the concept of salvation is rooted in Israel’s deliverance from Egypt in the Book of Exodus. The New Testament reveals the source of salvation in Jesus Christ. By faith in Jesus Christ, believers are saved from God’s judgment of sin and its con-

sequence, eternal death. Everyone needs salvation because we have all sinned. (All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23) When Adam and Eve rebelled, man was separated from God through sin. Our death is not sufficient to cover the payment for sin.

Only a perfect, spotless sacrifice offered in just the right way, can pay for our sin. Jesus the perfect God man, came to offer the pure, complete and everlasting sacrifice to remove, alone, and make eternal payment for sin. Why? Because God loves us and desires an intimate relationship with us.

This is why salvation is very important in many lives. Thank you and God bless.

C=MB ON THE ENVIRONMENT: RETHINK, REDUCE, REUSE, AND RECYCLE

By Cynthia Mewborn Vendor, “C=MB”

LET TER TO THE EDITOR

Why Give Just Every Two Weeks?

When I started working in DC in 2009 my boss introduced me to Street Sense. I started giving here and there as I saw vendors. Eventually I found a vendor who I really liked and started buying from her almost exclusively, every time a new issue came out. At some point I started buying from her every time I saw her. I now buy Street Sense from my vendor every single morning. If there’s a holiday or I go on vacation or I’m out sick, I make up for it when I return. We’re now on a first name basis and i look forward to her friendly smile to start my day each day. With Street Sense I know where my donations are going, not just the organization but the actual person who is working so hard.

-J

Street Sense vendors were invited to collaborate with the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) on a waste reduction and recycling program in September. Many other groups, including Sierra Club and DC Clean City, contributed as well. As a Street Sense vendor I was given the opportunity to serve as an educator at the event.

The education program, led by student Poonam Sandu, clearly showed that there are better practices to be put in place for reducing and managing waste.

Sandu and her sister were inspired to plan the waste reduction event with Taste of DC after witnessing excessive accumulation of waste during an Indian festival they attended last year. They had a vision for a world empowered by better disposal methods, and Poonam was awarded funding at an annual CGI event through her school, George Washington University.

Taste of DC held a public food-based

Word on the Street

By O.B. Black Volunteer Word on the street is that Adams Place Shelter in Northeast Washington is the cleanest and best managed

Halloween

By Sybil Taylor, Vendor A day where everybody can be who they want?

All favorite style costumes, all favorite style make-up, all favorite style masks and wigs. this is a fun day full of tricks and treats.

Goblins howling all through the night, wolves howling through Halloween night, witches flying across the full moon on their broom sticks, ghosts rising from the grave, bats flying across the night, black cat crossing our pathway, scarecrows sit tight in the field with pumpkins around them, as well as birds and crows.

Halloween is a day of trick or treaters, knocking at every door for Halloween treats, with lots of candy and goodies to go around. There will be parties with apple treats, candy apples, cookies, sodas, pumpkin pie, and all sorts of candy.

Don’t get caught alone walking on Halloween night, you may encounter a Halloween surprise you’ll never forget!

festival, similar in scale to the Indian festival the Sandu sisters had attended, and educators were stationed throughout to show people how to minimize the amount of waste, and why this is so important for a sustainable future.

Prior to the event all the vendors took a training course on the different types of waste and how to dispose of them.

Sandu’s method divided waste into three categories: compostable, recyclable, and garbage. Even though Americans waste about 20 pounds of food per month most food items besides meat, dairy, or eggs can actually be composted, so that it can break down naturally; plastic bottles, cans, and paper obviously can be recycled; and what’s left is garbage.

Large scale adoption of this method is a blueprint for globally cutting landfill dumping and reducing emissions of methane gases which causes climate change. We would be separating out future hazards by recycling and composting them today.

Sandu adopted the motto, Rethink, Reduce, Recycle and Reuse for the pro-

gram, and that was clearly illustrated to participants.

Witnessing the whole concept in motion was unbelievable. I heard participants say “I didn’t know that could be recycled” and “DC is really changing for the better with recycling.” Some returned several times just to see if they had figured out what was compostable or garbage. The amount of garbage reduced was mind- baffling; a full bag of recycling, one-third of a bag of compost, and only three-forths of a bag of garbage was collected at my post!

Not only did this program demonstrate what happens when recycling waste management is put into effect, but Sandu and her staff made the Street Sense vendors involved feel comfortable, dry and safe. Ben’s Chili Bowl also provided lunch!

It really felt great to be part of a first time event that could change how DC disposes its waste materials, and to see people really excited about the subject.

The event achieved its environmental goals while engaging the homeless community. Congratulations!!!

residence for the homeless in the city.

This is verified by the many discussions that take place. Veterans as well as newcomers give their nods of approval. Staff and security have good rapport with guests, making for a usually smooth transition.

The shelter is composed of men from many places. They come from all over the United States, as well as Cuba, Mexico, El Salvador, Canada, Cameroon, Nigeria, Japan, Russia, and other countries as well. It’s impressive how, despite being in a difficult situation with the financial challenges facing them, the men manage to adjust and adapt and develop a camaraderie. Trust and honesty grow, with comparatively little theft and few conflicts. Friendships are formed and the men rely on their strength, many talents, and experiences to help each other. This willingness to support one another is a great example of humanity. Some work and some are searching for employment. Some have their own transportation; others rely on mass transit.

Another example of self-reliance is the effective AA/NA program right there on the premises, run by competent homeless and formerly homeless individuals. Regular resident meetings which focus on individual and community concerns are well-attended.

The residents enjoy a wide range of

interests: self-improvement, economics, business, music, labor, health, history, religion, education, and politics.

They also bring many skills. Some have worked in IT professions, others as administrators, some in culinary arts, others as security consultants, electricians, home improvement specialists, plumbers, painters, artists, writers, auto mechanics, landscapers, bus operators, and the list goes on. Many are avid readers, enjoying books such as Lee Childs’ Double Reverse, Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol, London Bridges by James Patterson, Og Mandino’s The Greatest Salesman, the works of Stephen King as well as the Holy Bible

by You Know Who. Major holidays are often joyous occasions. July 4th is spent going out to barbecue or some similar kind of event.

On Father’s Day, you can hear salutations exchanged. Christmas is a time to count blessings and create another day of thankful atmosphere.

Basically, everything that happens in our community happens in every corridor of the city. Most issues on this side of the tracks can be found on your side. For the residents of Adams place, New Year’s Eve rolls around and a new year begins, bringing another chance to implement the plans for recovery that many are seeking and many will witness.

From the book:“Obafemi Obafemi.”

Service Spotlight: Transitional Housing Corporation

By Ashley Trick Editorial Intern Founded in 1990 as a faith-based homeless services organization, THC, or Transitional Housing Corporation has grown into a major Episcopal housing agency. They help families overcome homelessness by providing transitional housing and helping parents find the jobs or skills they need to move toward self sufficiency. THC is currently serving over three hundred families through its housing programs and supportive services.

Beyond housing, THC also offers enrichment fitness, art and tutoring programs to homeless and atrisk youth. These programs serve to engage children in physical activity, promote child literacy, and introduce children to visual arts. In addition, THC provides employment training and counseling, substance

DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS HOTLINE 1-888-7WE HELP (1-888-793-4357)

SHELTER Calvary Women’s Services 110 Maryland Avenue, NE (202) 289-0596 (office) (202) 289-2111 (shelter) www.calvaryservices.org Central Union Mission (Men) 1350 R Street, NW (202) 745–7118, www.missiondc.org Open Door Shelter (Women) 425 2nd Street, NW (202) 393–1909 www.newhopeministriesdc.org/id3.html Community of Hope (Family) 1413 Girard Street, NW (202) 232–7356,www.communityofhopedc.org Covenant House Washington (Youth) 2001 Mississippi Avenue, SE (202) 610–9600, www.covenanthousedc.org John Young Center (Women) 119 D Street, NW (202) 639–8469, www.catholiccharitiesdc.org

abuse counseling, and child abuse prevention programs. The many services are geared toward helping families move from homelessness to stability and independence.

THC locations may be found in both Ward 4 (935 Kennedy St, NW / 4506 Georgia Ave, NW) and Ward 7 (342 37th St, SE). Hours will vary for each program; more information can be found at www.thcdc.org

A Fannie Mae mini walk benefiting Transitional Housing Corporation.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THC

My Sister’s Place PO Box 29596, Washington, DC 20017 (202) 529-5261 (office) (202) 529-5991 (24-hour hotline)

STREET SENSE Month Day - Day, YEAR

COMMUNITY SERVICES St. Stephens Parish Church 1525 Newton St, NW (202) 737–9311, www.thrivedc.org

Martha’s Table 2114 14th Street, NW (202) 328–6608, www.marthastable.org

Food and Friends 219 Riggs Road, NE (202) 269–2277, www.foodandfriends.org

Rachel’s Women’s Center 1222 11th Street, NW (202) 682–1005, www.ccdsd.org/howorwc.php

Miriam’s Kitchen 2401 Virginia Avenue, NW (202) 452–8089, www.miriamskitchen.org

Sasha Bruce Youthwork 741 8th Street, SE (202) 675–9340, www.sashabruce.org

The Welcome Table Church of the Epiphany 1317 G Street, NW (202) 347–2635, http://www.epiphanydc. org/ministry/welcometbl.htm

So Others Might Eat (SOME) 71 “O” Street, NW (202) 797–8806; www.some.org

MEDICAL RESOURCES

Academy of Hope GED Center 601 Edgewood Street, NE (202) 269-6623, www.aohdc.org

Christ House 1717 Columbia Road, NW (202) 328–1100, www.christhouse.org Unity Health Care, Inc. 3020 14th Street, NW (202) 745–4300,www.unityhealthcare.org Whitman–Walker Clinic 1407 S Street, NW (202) 797–3500, www.wwc.org

OUTREACH CENTERS N Street Village (Women) 1333 N Street, NW (202) 939–2060, www.nstreetvillage.org Samaritan Inns 2523 14th St., NW (202) 667 - 8831 http://www.samaritaninns.org/home/ New York Ave Shelter (Men 18+) 1355–57 New York Avenue, NE (202) 832–2359

FOOD

15

Bread for the City 1525 Seventh Street, NW (202) 265–2400 1640 Good Hope Road, SE (202) 561–8587, www.breadforthecity.org Community Council for the Homeless at Friendship Place 4713 Wisconsin Avenue NW (202) 364–1419, www.cchfp.org Bethany Women’s Center 1333 N Street, NW (202) 939–2060, www.nstreetvillage.org

Charlie’s Place 1830 Connecticut Avenue, NW (202) 232–3066 www.stmargaretsdc.org/charliesplac

Father McKenna Center 19 Eye Street, NW (202) 842–1112

Church of the Pilgrims (Sundays only) 2201 P Street, NW (202) 387–6612, www.churchofthepilgrims.org

Friendship House 619 D Street, SE (202) 675–9050, www.friendshiphouse.net

Thrive DC Breakfast served Mon.-Fri., 9:30-11 a.m.

Dinner for women and children, Mon.-Fri., 3-6 p.m.

Georgetown Ministry Center 1041 Wisconsin Avenue, NW (202) 338–8301 www.georgetownministrycenter.org

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Catholic Community Services 924 G Street, NW (202) 772–4300, www.ccs–dc.org D.C. Coalition for the Homeless 1234 Massachusetts Ave., NW (202) 347–8870, www.dccfh.org Community Family Life Services 305 E Street, NW (202) 347–0511, www.cflsdc.org Foundry Methodist Church 1500 16th Street, NW (202) 332–4010, www.foundryumc.org Gospel Rescue Ministries (Men) 810 5th Street, NW (202) 842–1731, www.grm.org Hermano Pedro Day Center 3211 Sacred Heart Way, NW (202) 332–2874 www.ccs–dc.org/find/services/ JHP, Inc. 425 2nd Street, NW (202) 544–9126, www.jobshavepriority.org Samaritan Ministry 1345 U Street, SE 1516 Hamilton Street, NW (202) 889–7702, www.samaritanministry.org

SHELTER HOTLINE: 1–800–535–7252

VENDOR PROFILE: CYNTHIA MEWBORN

By Joel Barnes Editorial Intern Vendor Cynthia Mewborn says her tremendous faith in God motivates her to keep marching on, even through difficult circumstances.

“God Knows what’s best for me,” Mewborn said.

Selling Street Sense has provided many opportunities for Mewborn. She first heard of Street Sense two years ago through another vendor and decided that it was something she wanted to pursue. She says she has met many friendly and genuine people. Mewborn uses the paper as an opportunity to travel to new places and meet new people. She has really enjoyed her experience but aspires to move on to other ventures.

Mewborn has studied all forms of science and is seeking a career where she can utilize her knowledge and skills. She has a background in computer science and is quite in tune with environmental issues. She has been invited to speak about the environment at a local university in the upcoming weeks. Mewborn landed this speaking engagement by meeting someone while selling papers.

At the present moment Mewborn turns to her faith to steer her in the right direction, but she does plan to

pursue further education. In her spare time, Mewborns love of singing helps maintain her positive attitude.

Recently, Mewborn sang in front of a large crowd in D.C. near The George Washington University campus and university. Singing and composing music has always been something that is near to her heart.

Mewborn has observed significant changes in D.C., while out in the city selling papers. Racial integration particularly, is something that is changing the city, but for the better, according to Mewborn.

Mewborn grew up in Maryland but has lived in D.C. for a while now. She says that even in the last couple of years, thing have improved in the city and that the racial mix that now makes up the city will be beneficial. Mewborn notes that even the sturggling neighborhoods in D.C. are being transformed.

“You had to be mindful when you went outside, now things are beginning to change,” Mewborn said.

Mewborn believes that the result of wealthier people moving into low income neighborhoods will be good for the city. There will be better schools, a safer environment and less crime, according to Mewborn.

“I’m just trying to have a positive outlook on life as I go through these negative situations,” she added.

Consider contributing to Street Sense during this year’s CFC Campaign

Deana Black - 10/12 | Linda Euell - 10/31 October 24 - November 6, 2012 • Volume 9 • Issue 25

Street Sense 1317 G Street, NW

Nonprofit Org US Postage Paid Washington, DC

Washington, DC 20005

Mail To:

Permit #568

Remember, only buy from badged vendors and do not give to those panhandling with one paper.

Interested in a subscription? Go to page 3 for more information.

love thy

neighbor.

Neighbors cannot be excluded based on sexual orientation.

D.C. and other jurisdictions protect against sexual orientation discrimination. If you have experienced discrimination when seeking housing or would like to learn more about your rights, contact the Equal Rights Center today. www.equalrightscenter.org or call (202) 234-3062 This announcement was supported by funding under a grant with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The ERC is solely responsible for its accuracy.

Such interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of the Federal Government.