10.25.2023

VOL. 20 ISSUE 41

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OCT. 25 - NOV. 7, 2023

Real Stories

Real People

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Real Change

THE HALLOWEEN ISSUE Inside a new program for family shelters 4

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Changing lives one shower at a time 6

2 / / S T R E E T S E N S E M ED IA // O C T. 25 - N O V. 7, 2023

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NEWS IN BRIEF

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Local youth housing providers increase services for Spanish speakers

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ANNEMARIE CUCCIA Interim Editor-in-Chief

Three local housing and service providers for young people are expanding their programs for Spanish-speaking youth, thanks to a new grant.

In the coming year, Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders (SMYAL), Latin American Youth Center (LAYC), and Sasha Bruce Youthwork will each receive $150,000 from Capitol One to ensure Spanish-speaking youth can access services, including shelters and housing programs.

SMYAL, a local organization that supports LGBTQ+ youth, identified the need for bilingual outreach staff and targeted services last year, according to a press release announcing the grant. While government agencies must provide services in Spanish, people living outside or accessing case management often say it’s hard to receive services without speaking fluent English. According to the most recent annual survey of people experiencing homelessness, about 6% of D.C.’s population does not speak English fluently. Queer, Spanish-speaking youth especially face barriers that can make it hard to get support, Lupi Quinteros-Grady, president of the LAYC, said in the release.

In the first year of SMYAL’s bilingual street outreach program, it served over 100 youth ages 16 to 24. The program, which will continue with this year’s grant, supports dedicated bilingual staff, outreach supplies and document translation, and connects young people to housing, legal services, employment, documents, health care and emergency resources.

This year, LAYC, which has over 50 bilingual programs supporting low-income youth, will also receive funding to connect young people with support, expanding the number of people the program is able to reach. At Sasha Bruce, a large local youth service provider, the money will help make drop-in centers and street outreach programs more accessible for Spanish-speaking young people, Executive Director Debbie Shore said in the announcement.

“Through this program, we are connecting a whole range of queer people to services who can’t find support anywhere else because of language barriers or immigration status,” Sierra Barnedo, street outreach manager at SMYAL, said.

To connect to SMYAL, contact the SMYAL Youth House office at 202-567-3166 or housing@smyal.org. For a housing referral at LAYC, visit their drop-in center at 3045 15th Street NW or call (202) 768-7801. Sasha Bruce’s 24/7 shelter (located at 1022 Maryland Avenue NE) can be reached at 202-546-4900.

Tres organizaciones tienen recursos para los jóvenes entre 16 y 24 años. Llame a 202-567-3166 o mande un correo electrónico a housing@smyal.org para conectar con la casa de jóvenes de SMYAL. Para obtener una referencia de vivienda de LAYC, visite sus oficinas en 3045 15th Street NW o llame a (202) 7687801. Sasha Bruce tiene un refugio para las personas entre 11 y 17 años. Está abierto 24/7 en 1022 Maryland Avenue NE, y puede llamarlo a 202-546-4900.

BIRTHDAYS Daniel Ball Oct. 25

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NEWS

A new program is coming to family shelters in 2024. Here’s the woman behind it.

ELIZA DUBOSE Michael Stoops Fellow

J

aleesa Hall was in her sophomore year at Clark Atlanta University, doodling in her notebook, when the name Raising a Village came to her. When Hall began an education-based foundation almost a decade later, she knew exactly what she’d call it.

Today, Raising a Village is a D.C.based organization dedicated to buiding better communities through improving education, health and access to the arts. The organization’s signature program, Driven 2 Succeed, provides support and tutoring for students in nine D.C. schools.

Raising a Village rose out of work Hall did in college. During her time there, Hall founded the Driven Student Organization to encourage student engagement on campus. Inspired by that work, Hall used the knowledge she gained to inform Raising a Village. Since its launch in 2019, Raising a Village has served over 1,000 middle and high school students. Over half of the students who took advantage of Raising a Village’s programs raised their grades, according to the organization’s 2022-2023 report.

In 2023, Raising a Village was one of over 140 organizations selected by the Biden administration as champions for The National Partnership for Student Success, a public-private partnership dedicated to addressing COVID-19’s devastating impact on school children. Hall believes the organization was nominated for its work to ensure that students were able to keep learning through the pandemic.

Raising a Village is currently working to launch its new program, At the Table, at family shelters across the District.

Taking a two-generational approach, the program will help parents earn high school education equivalents and create support networks. Meanwhile, students will participate in Raising a Village’s summer acceleration program, which generally includes more artistic, health and wellness elements than homework-focused after-school programs.

Hall discussed the mission of Raising a Village and her hopes for the future in an interview with Street Sense.

provide meals. That's the incentive — come eat and get your work done. We have homework help after school.

Then there's the summer acceleration, which is our summer program in our shelters and community learning centers. It is more like a summer camp that deals with arts, physical fitness and academics. It's usually for students who are coming into a new grade, like incoming sixth graders or students going to high school.

At the Table is our two-generational program, where we are going to provide free English language learning and GED prep to parents and guardians who need it. We’ll also have the Guardian Hub, parent and guardian circles where we provide resources and community connections. And then we also have medical checks and health checks. How do you take care of yourself in terms of mental health and physical health, so that you can be there for your children and you can provide for them? That is At the Table, the next pillar we are launching.

Why do you think Raising a Village's mission is so important?

The most high-performing communities have those resources prevalent in their community, right? They have good schools, which is our education pillar. They have access to parks, recreation and gyms. They also have ample grocery stores.

That is the health and wellness pillar. Also, these communities typically have cultural capital around them. So they have a place for entertainment and culture, either through murals or a stadium or a place to see a show.

And so what Raising a Village tries to do is to journey along underserved communities that may not necessarily have ample resources in those areas and use our services to fill their cup.

And so that's why those three pillars are important for us. And that's why we focus on those three pillars in our organization.

The following conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Tell me about the mission of Raising a Village and the organization’s programs.

Our education pillar is the Driven 2 Succeed program. The program for K-12 students provides support and academic interventions, particularly high-impact tutoring, in math and English. We also provide a social-emotional learning curriculum, understanding that it's not just about academics, it's about the whole child. Then we provide college and career readiness opportunities for our high school learners.

We provide in-school support, which is where our tutors are in the school doing pullouts in math and English classes. We have lunch and learn. There may be students who are dealing with some real issues of truancy. They are usually put on a list for credit recovery. So we take over the lunch period and

How does Raising a Village’s work affect people experiencing homelessness?

Raising a Village is a place-based service, meaning we go where the people are. That is intentional, because we understand that distance can serve as a barrier for folks to receive support, especially those who are underserved and unhoused.

We are growing our partnerships in transitional housing shelters and providing the services that they need. For example, at the Aya transitional housing shelter, while the children are experiencing our summer acceleration program, our adults will be experiencing At the Table.

We provide opportunities for families and students through this program. We're helping them create a legacy of thriving, not surviving. That’s how our services are meeting people where they are, especially the unhoused.

At the Table is launching in February. The Department of

Human Services wants us to launch in a few places so that's what we're narrowing down now.

What’s the meaning behind the name Raising a Village?

Moving from a campus organization to a nonprofit, the name drove our mission and culture. It helped solidify the identity of the organization. There are just certain things we have to do and we have to exude.

We can't say we're Raising a Village and be divisive. We can't say we're Raising a Village and not be community-minded.

We can't say we're Raising a Village and not create a loving community. I was inspired by the movement that I did in my young adult life but the name did codify the work that I was trying to do.

Raising a Village launched shortly before the beginning of the pandemic. How did the pandemic affect your organization?

Raising a Village was launched officially in the spring of 2019, moving out of the pilot phase and into our first D.C. school. By January, we were in two affordable housing communities. We were growing in a matter of months. And then March happened, and the pandemic.

Within that time, Raising a Village had to be nimble. We had to figure out how we could meet the needs of the people in this new, strange context. Being primarily in affordable housing communities and schools, we knew that the digital divide was real. So we did a laptop loan program and a funder helped us give out laptop hotspots.

We journeyed alongside schools to be a part of that virtual classroom. We were one of the only education nonprofits that had access to Microsoft Teams in D.C. schools and our tutors and mentors were literally in those classrooms, listening to the lesson. The teacher would create breakout rooms for the tutor to work with struggling students. When other principals found out that we were doing that, we started to grow in the middle of the pandemic.

We also started breakfasts and giveaways at our affordable housing communities. Because kids are hungry and, a lot of times, school is the place they primarily get meals.

So yes, growing up in the middle of a world crisis is kind of cool, but it was stressful. All of our hands were on deck. I was out in the community, ensuring people had what they needed.

But I think serving as the direct response, which Raising a Village prides itself on doing, helps people trust us and helps us grow as a young organization.

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What is one of your favorite memories of working in the last couple of years?

The incoming of our tutors and mentors. When I started the organization, I recruited 25 myself. Now we have over 80. To see them excited to go into these community centers and schools to make an impact always brings my heart joy. I know that not only are they making a difference in our local children's lives, but our children are also going to make a difference in their lives.

What was it like to be nominated as a champion for The National Partnership for Student Success?

It’s an interesting and blessed journey, but it's hard, right?

We were in a world crisis, so I was just trying to stop the bleeding. And so I wasn't in it for me, it was to add value to the people I was serving.

Then the Department of Education called to say “You are an early adopter of what President Biden is trying to do.”

Knowing the need is important on a national level is quite humbling. It’s also gratifying to know that Raising a Village is on the cutting edge of educating our children and supporting our families. And people want to hear more about how they can create systems change.

You used the phrase “add value.” What does that mean to you?

We don't believe in having the missionary or savior complex, of coming into a community to say, “I'm going to help those people.” We come from an understanding that there's good already taking place there. How can we add value to the good already there? How can we do the best of what you do? That is what we call a community-minded approach.

What’s the future of Raising a Village?

One of the goals is to expand Raising a Village to different cities. We were offered the opportunity several times early on to do that. But I believe in focusing on where your feet are planted. And so I wanted to make sure that D.C., which is our home base, was secure, before trying to expand and grow. Now that we have established roots here, the goal is to expand our work in other cities. Stay tuned.

Jaleesa Hall. Photo courtesy of Raising a Village

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NEWS

More than a mobile shower: The Neighborhood Well offers community to its neighbors ELIZA DUBOSE Michael Stoops Fellow

F

ew people take the phrase “follow your dreams” as literally as Omolayo Adebayo.

In 2015, Adebayo had a dream where she saw an unhoused man step out of a mobile shower unit, turn to her and say, “Thank you.” When she woke up, Adebayo knew that she needed to make that dream a reality.

And she did.

The Neighborhood Well is a nonprofit offering a private space to shower for those who might struggle to find one, including people who are sleeping outside. For the past two years, Adebayo, Co-founder Jazmin Beverly and a team of volunteers have spent two Saturdays a month offering showers, food, drinks and company to their unhoused neighbors out of the parking lot of the First United Methodist Church in Hyattsville.

The volunteers call the 15 or so unhoused and housinginsecure people they serve their neighbors, believing that better represents how they’d like to interact with the community.

“It’s very fulfilling to see you’re coming out here and meeting a need,” said Adebayo’s cousin, Ibukun Aewakun, who works as a volunteer.

People who sleep outside often lack access to showers. In previous interviews with Street Sense, people who sleep outside said they often didn’t have access to private places to shower, sometimes using gym memberships or public shelter showers to bathe. But gym memberships cost money and shelters can offer only a limited amount of time, space and privacy. It’s estimated 610,000 people in the United States don’t have access to clean sanitation, according to a 2020 article from the American Public Health Association.

The struggle to maintain hygiene has long been connected to poor health outcomes, including infections, skin rashes and worsening chronic health issues like HIV and diabetes. And when people have the opportunity to take care of their hygiene, they’re more willing to reach out to clinics and other health care providers for aid with medical conditions, according to an article from the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Despite this, funding for public sanitation infrastructure is lacking.

As Street Sense previously reported, people sleeping outside in D.C. often use portable toilets, sometimes with one toilet available for 20 people such as at an encampment near the Watergate building that was closed in 2021. One time, feces piled so high residents could no longer sit down. Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners have submitted resolutions to create mobile showers and better sanitation services, but the city has not implemented them.

Because of the visible need in D.C., Adebayo and Beverly initially intended to begin their work there. They canvassed D.C. and Prince George’s County, speaking to unhoused people in both areas to understand how they could make their services as useful as possible. Through that work, Beverly and Adebayo realized how great the need for showers was, including in their own neighborhoods.

“We decided that it was best to start where home was for us,” Adebayo said.

While Adebayo was involved in community service for years, she was convinced her future lay in being a “big bad attorney in a suit somewhere,” something she felt would preclude her from working in service full-time. While working, Adebayo began

Neighborhood Well Founder Omolayo Adebayo supervises volunteers cleaning out one of two shower units. Photos by Eliza DuBose

Neighborhood Well is largely operated by a team of volunteers.

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creating and distributing “prayer bags” packed with essentials such as hats for the winter, toothbrushes, socks and snacks.

As Adebayo launched her career as an attorney, she had a nagging feeling that God was speaking to her.

“God was like ‘What you’re doing with the prayer bags is good, but I want you to do more,’” Adebayo said. But it wasn’t until the dream that Adebayo knew what “more” would look like, though she did have to Google what a mobile shower was.

She’d never heard of them.

The first step was to raise money. Adebayo recalled feeling at a loss as to how to raise the $50,000 to purchase the first shower unit, with two showers, sinks and two flushing toilets. After a five-minute conversation with people from Alfred Street Baptist Church, they offered her $30,000, over half of the necessary funds. Working a full-time job on top of this work is exhausting, but Adebayo said she feels she isn’t alone.

“God is driving the ship,” Adebayo said.

The Neighborhood Well began service in 2021, in the midst of the pandemic. Beverly said she thinks since everyone had to consider washing their hands and social distancing, the importance of hygiene became more evident, boosting support for Neighborhood Well.

“When Covid kicked off, I think it opened people’s eyes to just how difficult hygiene services can be,” Beverly said, “It’s something that I don’t think most people have ever had

Mobil shower units are hard to come by int the D.C. area. but Neighborhood Well is trying to change that.

to think about.”

On a gloomy Saturday in October, most of the volunteers, including Beverly and Abedayo, are dressed in hoodies and raincoats to ward off the cold. Beverly is clutching a Starbucks coffee cup like it’s a lifeline. Adebayo lugs a hose 400 yards to the fire hydrant that serves as the water source for the showers.

Still, the mood is decidedly cheerful as the volunteers begin to put up tents.

Adebayo greets all of the guests, who are largely housing insecure or unhoused, by name, and offers them coffee and donuts.

Only two or three guests shower every time Neighborhood Well operates. But 15 to 20 people consistently spend their Saturdays there, Adebayo said. Sitting together under the tent, the neighbors say Neighborhood Well is a social club. Elizabeth Johnson comes every week, though she has never used the shower. To her, it’s somewhere to go to that feels safe and gets her out of the house, something she feels is beneficial to her overall health.

“I keep coming back to meet friends and get treats,” she said.

Cheryl Heir heard about Neighborhood Well through a woman in her building and has been coming consistently ever since. She told Street Sense Neighborhood Well has been a helpful community support since her mother died due to COVID-19. Like Johnson, it gets her out of the house and

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among friends.

People who used the shower at Neighborhood Well declined to speak to Street Sense, due to privacy concerns.

Since Adebayo and Beverly began operations, they’ve only missed two days of service: One because of tropical storm Ophelia and the other because Ronald Chase, whom everyone at Neighborhood Well calls Uncle Ronald, couldn’t drive the trailer to the location.

Even though Adebayo and her team couldn’t operate the shower during Ophelia in September, they came to the site and found one of their neighbors waiting for them. He told them he knew they’d be out there so he needed to get up and make sure it was worth it. “Our neighbors are there for us as much as we’re there for them,” said Adebayo.

The first two years of service brought many lessons, including when the team realized that on freezing cold days they couldn’t offer showers, because the hose froze. For that reason, Adebayo says she plans on completely halting winter operations after November.

But Neighborhood Well will still be active. They hope to expand into D.C. and are currently looking a space where they can cultivate the kind of community that makes their work so special. Beverly said they are in discussion with several potential services and hope to be in the city sometime next year.

“We just want to meet people where they are and fill the gap,” she said.

Volunteers open the fire hydrant, which is used as the water source for the showers.

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ART

SYBIL TAYLOR Artist/Vendor

MARC GRIER Artist/Vendor

JEFFREY CARTER Artist/Vendor

ABEL PUTU Artist/Vendor

ROCHELLE WALKER Artist/Vendor

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GRETA CHRISTIAN Artist/Vendor

ANDRE BRINSON Artist/Vendor

Like what you see?

Email annemarie@ streetsensemedia.org to purchase any of the art in this issue.

DANIEL BALL Artist/Vendor

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10 / / S T R E E T S E NSE M ED IA // O C T. 25 - N O V. 7, 2 023

OPINION

Please don't defend me, I don't need a savior or caretaker JEFFERY MCNEIL

T

he one lesson I learned selling newspapers is to stay away from controversy.

When someone starts blathering about Trump, abortion, LGBTQ+ issues or Israel, I politely say I’m not a political person, but a spiritual one.

I don’t see the world in black and white. No one is all good or bad. What I discovered is that many people who come off as liberal and enlightened eventually reveal themselves to be vicious, angry people who seem to hate everything about America. They can’t put anything in context. They hate Abraham Lincoln because he said the N-word, but never ask how slavery would have ended without him. Do they think about how coal miners in company towns and children working in sweatshops have also been oppressed?

Recently, I encountered a long-time customer who thinks he’s compassionate and caring.

However, he was triggered by my jersey with Redskins on it. Although I’m part Cherokee, I think the whole controversy was foolish. Not only did they remove the name, but they also wiped out a history and culture.

I don’t get it. We're down to canceling names because some white guy may have been racist centuries ago. If they are outraged about the former name of the Commanders, why not remove the Cowboys and Rangers, who committed genocide on Native Americans? Let's remove the Raiders, Pirates and Buccaneers who raided ships, slaughtered the shipmen and kidnapped women. While we're at it, let’s remove the Patriots, because leftists hate those who believe in “America First,” or the Yankees, because most people hate them.

I feel like I’m living in an episode of the Twilight Zone. I ask myself, what is going on?

Instead of our “white saviors” fighting the people who slaughtered my ancestors, they attack me over what should offend me. If they are so outraged about Native American suffering, why not sell their land, property and 401K and return everything they own on the stolen land they benefited from?

While the woke constantly harp on about slavery and genocide, they seem mysteriously unconcerned and silent about the slavery that exists today. Why aren't they at the border, trying to stop the human trafficking of women and children? They claim to be fighting white supremacists, but it’s crickets when a 2-year-old is shot by someone who looks like them.

Customers tell me they have “white privilege,” unaware of how insulting and racist they sound. What are they saying? That because they were born white they’re somehow better than and superior to me?

Some liberals need to look in the mirror and see they have become everything they claim to hate about conservatives and Trump supporters. They are no different from the original white missionaries who tried to colonize us. First, they came with blankets and Bibles; when we rejected them, they became violent and massacred us.

When liberals try to help us, and we say “No, thank you,” aren't they engaging in the same behavior that Christopher Columbus and all the European missionaries have done throughout history? Didn't they come to civilize the savages, and when they resisted, they grabbed their muskets and enacted genocide?

Liberals can’t see they are those same people they claim to want to erase. But the more they start trivial fights over names and mascots, they better get ready for the mother of all backlashes. I never appreciated their condescending and demeaning rants over Robert E. Lee or Aunt Jemima.

I moved past slavery and Indian removals, forgave those who enslaved and massacred my ancestors and pray for those who wronged me. They owe me nothing, nor do I want anything from them. I will settle when I leave Earth and meet my heaven.

Jeffery McNeil is an artist and vendor with Street Sense Media.

We need more LORI SMITH

P

eople desperate for some feelings and comforts of home have been building shelter, as well as equipping tent interiors like small furnished apartments from what they can salvage. Because people continue to go unhoused, when the sweeps come, they don’t just lose their survival gear, but generators and more. Whether they are compensated for these further losses in their lives remains a question. Their situations are already difficult. Without housing for everyone, people must still attend to the basics… among them shelter.

Distribution remains inconsistent to the homeless. Some areas are so deficient people fight and steal survival elements and gear. Others are so flush small trade has emerged with the excess.

Once distributed, it cannot be taken back and redistributed.

Services have been lacking from case management. Lots of burnout and attitude is generated back on the homeless, leading to more conflicts between those being serviced and those servicing

Taking a stand JENNIFER MCLAUGHLIN

I admire Rep. Kevin McCarthy for helping to pass important legislation that kept the government open. He stood up for justice and worked across the aisle, even at the cost of being speaker of the House.

Jennifer McLaughlin is an artist and vendor with Street Sense Media.

as weather conditions progress.

Throwing garbage at and around homeless people and their tents is still prevalent and disheartening. Harassment towards homeless people continues.

There is still an overabundance of hygiene products in distribution and a shortage of hardcore gear necessary for the serious cold or wet weather people need to survive.

Outside of Miriam’s Kitchen, which is noted for its good meals, there is a notable lack of good, nourishing, filling food and too many opportunities for tater tots, pizza, hot dogs and sandwiches.

Lori Smith is an artist and vendor with Street Sense Media.

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The spooky night of the dead CARLTON JOHNSON Artist/Vendor

The joy after Halloween CARLTON JOHNSON Artist/Vendor

I want to enjoy the comfort of bringing creativity to your eyes, only now bringing attention to the Halloween comforts of being brave.

Play only on your favorites, the joy of life after the night of the candy hunting, for the touch of joy you wish to share with your loving family and friends from the joy of the new day.

Looking and waiting for the eve of Halloween as the ground rolls over for doors to be open for all dead sleepers to come late for the night of Halloween.

But the one you must look out for is the horseman in all black with the head of a pumpkin. Embrace your living fate.

The spookiest night of the year.

The night of changes for the lives of many.

The day of Halloween comes with no solution to the living situation.

The night with a change.

The dead never sleep.

Halloween JACKIE TURNER Artist/Vendor

The most awesome thing people do on Halloween is to have a costume party where people can dress to express the way they feel. You can be a person, place or thing. This happens all over the world.

It goes back to long ago, when people celebrated the harvest, the change of seasons warded off ghosts. People dress up and play a part.

It started as a Pagan holiday. It later became a day of giving, candy and playing pranks. It’s also a day to celebrate the people who have passed. There is no mention of Halloween in the Bible.

Halloween is on Oct. 31, the evening before All Saints Day. It’s just a custom for kids to get candy, play pranks and dress up in costumes and have fun.

Halloween TONYA WILLIAMS Artist/Vendor

What a fun day! Scary. Exciting. Trick or treat! Candy given away. Haunted houses. Pumpkins. I love all the different costumes the kids wear. I also love laughing and having fun.

Halloween MARS Artist/Vendor

Did you know Halloween has its roots in Ancient Celtic celebrations? At the end of summer, people would dress in costumes and light bonfires to ward off ghosts. What will you be wearing this Oct. 31?

I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. On Halloween one year, I tagged along with my older brothers and their friends to go trick or treating.

However, instead of going house to house, they targeted each kid without a parent, and stole their candy. At the end of the night, I was amazed at how much candy was collected.

My Halloween GRETA CHRISTIAN Artist/Vendor

Halloween is music and horror movies, children and candy.

It’s fun going door-to-door while trick-or-treating. Pumpkins.

Witches. Lights. There’s love in the air. Parents, take your children to a party, where maybe they’ll make arts and crafts. Yes, maybe they’ll be scared, but that’s what happens on Halloween.

And yes, sometimes it rains and gets cold, but that’s the end of October. No matter what, I love Halloween!

11

12 / / S TR E E T S E NSE M ED IA // O C T. 25 - N O V. 7, 2023

ART

The Capitol GERALD ANDERSON Artist/Vendor

I was told when I was in the nursing home that I would get a visit to the United States Capitol when I got out. My friend Robert did stick to his word. That’s who got me in.

After getting out of the nursing home, I went to So Others Might Eat and they got me a room to rent. My friend Melissa did all the paperwork to help me get into a facility.

After being in my new home for a few months, I was escorted to the Capitol with my lady friend and her 12-year-old son. We went in a government truck. It felt like I was goin’ to prison. But I knew I was free.

We got out of the truck, and as we arrived to go inside the Capitol, there was a big smile on my face.

Honestly, I toured the whole Capitol, walking, even in the handicapped condition I’m in. I wanted to prove to my lady friend that I could walk the whole Capitol.

I really enjoyed that day. We even toured the newsroom and where they make decisions. The kid on his own said, “I think the Congress should come together.” He thought to say that by himself.

I wanted to go because it’s history for me and I might not get to go to it again. The Capitol made an impression on me when I first came to D.C. after Katrina hit New Orleans. I wrote my book “Still Standing” about that crazy time.

My next big dream is to get a tour of the White House!

With my new home, I don’t have to look back on no one puttin' me out, no one tellin’ me to pay the rent — it’s all on me now. I have my new place and God knows I’m so happy to have it. No more sleepin’ out. It’s all about sleepin’ in. I feel good every mornin’ I wake up in my place.

This goes out to all my homeless friends. Take it one day at a time. Please believe me it can happen for you, just like it happened for me.

I like to thank everyone who helped me through this situation and everyone who donated stuff for my new home. And thank all my customers. Mainly, I thank Melissa for all her hard work to keep me from bein’ on the street.

Workshops LADY SASHA Artist/Vendor

I wanted to write to share that I am so blessed and thankful. I am really astounded by Street Sense Media. I took the illustration workshop and I loved it. It awakened things in me that laid dormant. I took the photography workshop and that also was the same effect as the illustration workshop.

I also did writers’ group, and the support I get to contribute to writing in the paper over the years has been refreshing and phenomenal. I did theater group and that is majestic — being able to work on the courage to sing. I get anxiety when it comes to singing but I keep pushing, cause that’s what I want to do in life, sing and write songs.

I did a filmmaking workshop where I was able to show my story and self-produce my own documentary. I also found the courage to find housing, to stick to my goal for my daughter and to get out of the family shelter.

I did get a digital marketing certification but it stopped around the pandemic.

I did a workshop where I designed mugs with District Mugs and I did a knitting workshop.

Gerald Anderson at the Capitol. Photos courtesy of Anderson

Light switch ANDRE BALTIMORE Artist/Vendor

I want to write about the light, the light past the dark, because it’s light that I do not have in my every day.

Some people believe in the dark but I don’t.

Do you believe in becoming a bum? Becoming a bum in the streets of the past?

Wishing to run the streets is what pushes me to the light.

Dear Street Sense Media WARREN STEVENS Artist/Vendor

Summer has come to an end. September was the month when the kids went back to school after Labor Day. Now, it’s fall weather. And the leaves will be turning colors, falling to the ground. Next, there will be leaf raking. I will be taking my bike for a ride on a trail. I hope I will be moving back to Virginia soon. The Street Sense Media anniversary was in September at MetroBar. Love you all, and stay safe!

S T RE E T S E NS E ME DI A . ORG

//

13

Money

My man

ANTHONY CARNEY Artist/Vendor

FRED WALKER Artist/Vendor

Money makes the world go around.

That’s why we Street Sense vendors need your support to help us end homelessness.

Living on the street is no fun.

I know: It was tough mentally, physically and spiritually. It was hell. It was doomsday.

But, we can end homelessness. Yes we can.

Spread love.

I admire LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers. He’s the greatest player of all time. He had some injuries last year, but I don’t think that will happen again because he takes such fabulous care of himself. I particularly admire how he helps the homeless in Los Angeles.

Lived experience

Sad news

DON GARDNER Artist/Vendor

JOSIE BROWN

Shadows cast by iron bars I dwell, Incarcerated, a captive tale to tell, But within these walls, a spark does ignite, A voice for the homeless, a beacon of light.

Once homeless, now sheltered, I've known the cold, The bitter winds of life, relentless and bold, Yet through the storms, I found my strength anew, To share my lived experience, my truth, my view.

A sheltered heart, a spirit fierce and free, Paid not in coin but in empathy's decree, I stand for the less fortunate, their voice I raise, In this journey of advocacy, I find my grace.

Through these struggles, I've emerged refined, In darkness, I found the light and purpose aligned, Incarcerated, homeless, now a source of hope, I walk this path, a lifeline for those who cope.

Sharing my love story, my heart's decree, I bridge the gap, I set the less fortunate free, With each word, each act, each step I take, I break down barriers, a difference I make.

Artist/Vendor

Hey paper readers, I have sad news to share. My daughter passed away in June. She leaves three siblings, tons of relatives and many, many friends.

She was very special to me and she will be greatly missed. There will be a homegoing ceremony soon. Stay tuned for further details. And email me if you want to send cards or flowers: brownjosie57@gmail.com.

Coping VENNIE HILL Artist/Vendor

Eye opener!

MARCUS MCCALL Artist/Vendor

Yesterday, the world opened up its mouth and cried out to me, saying, “Baby boy, everything takes time.” But time waits for no one. Life has its ups and downs. We as humans cannot control the actions of another grown man.

Hello there, reader! Have you ever had that one person who always asks or looks to you for an answer? He or she might be young or old. That one who might ask you a good ass question, but could then do some childlike shit and act out like they have no home training?

Hey, I’m 34! Somewhere down the line of some people’s families they really drop the ball on life. Yes, life. Teaching the basics of living and how to treat people. That line I was talking about was some of us ‘80s babies. We didn’t teach ‘90s babies no home nothing!

It’s 2023, and some people and kids still have no values, no goals. When I was in my youth, an older lady said there would be babies raising babies.

Damn, that lady spoke the truth!

Finding new coping skills has given me a positive attitude about myself. It has changed the way I think and process my recovery. I am releasing the stress and worry in my life today, so I can focus on my recovery more. Today I will speak and act in a more positive way about my addiction.

You see, I'm an easy-going person. I like to laugh and have fun in recovery.

I like to be happy in this process, but there are those days when the day is just not going right for you. Will you look at it straight in the face? Say to yourself, “Tomorrow is another day.” I will be stronger and better in my process to stay focused, learn to keep myself safe and have a positive outlook on myself.

So I stay pretty cool with with myself. The tools I'm learning from others are encouraging me and helping me to keep strong. Take the time to examine your behavior, and take it slow.

Slow down and think about it and find new ways to come out on top of the situation. Ask yourself, “How can I benefit from this decision?” You choose slowly and wisely. That's mostly how I keep myself and on top of my recovery. Try it, it works. Until next time — stay clean and stay safe. Have a great one.

14 / / S TR E E T S E N SE M ED IA // O C T. 25 - N O V. 7 , 2023

FUN & GAMES Across 1. More contemptible 6. Stuck in place; motionless 14. Give-upper’s cry 15. Like Deputy Barney Fife as played by Don Knotts 16. Strait-laced, as an extra-composed librarian 17. Inveterate gambler’s recurring inner dilemma (3 wds.) (4,2,3) 19. Members of a prior political administration who retain their positions 21. “House,” in Inuit 22. Engaged to a level that’s close to being over one’s head (2 wds.) (2,4) 23. Hotel Bible name 25. “Sprechen ___ Deutsch?”

26. Gov’t.-issued ID Nos. used on tax returns (abbr./initialism) 29. Come into view 30. Stylish, in the 60’s 31. Prudential rival 33. Neighbor of Isr.(abbr.)

34. ____ and between (neither here nor there) 36. Mandela’s org. (abbr./initialism) 39. Site that may serve as an oasis of sorts for so-called American Nomads (2 wds.) (2,3) (incls. abbr./initialism) 40. C.I.O.’s partner 43. Rock’s ___ Brothers 45. Silent assents 48. 401(k) alternative (abbr./initialism) 49. Strips down sails, as on a ship 50. In closer proximity (to) 52. “Auld ____ Syne” (Scottish-Gaelic) 53. Hanks and Ryan who co-starred in “You’ve Got Mail,” “Joe Versus the Volcano” and “Sleepless in Seattle” 56. Possible alternate title (and a clue for solvers) of this puzzle (2 wds.) (5,4) 59. Take by force 60. Canine pack leader (2 wds.) (5,3) 61. Comedian/Talk-show host DeGeneres 62. Sufferers of hemophilia, informally 63. Behold visually, in Biblespeak Down 1. Term for an unconventional statement by GWB like “They misunderestimated me” or “Our priorities is our faith” 2. Actor Banderas 3. Burned with liquid or steam 4. Skip over word parts, like saying “y’all,” or “nothin’ doin’” 5. Goes back to square one 6. About, on a memo (2 wds.) (2,2) (incls abbr.)

7. Former Israeli P.M. Golda 8. “No ____, no fuss” 9. Mork’s sitcom planet 10. “You stink!” from a disappointed fan, or “Gotcha!” from a scary spook 11. “Let____!” (high roller’s bet) (2 wds.)

(2,4) (I TRIED anagram) 12. Hangs around like low-lying fog in horror flicks 13. Study of the environment 18. One concerned with pitches 20. Some No. 2 corp. or pol. execs (abbr./ initialism) 23. Boomers’ ‘kids’ [now mid-lifers!] (2 wds.)

(3,1)

CROSSWORD

Where’s the Candy?

Puzzle by Patrick “Mac” McIntyre 1

LAST EDITION’S PUZZLE SOLUTION

2

3

4

5

6

14

15

16

17

19

7

8

20

26

27

30

28

31 34 37

43

38

29 32

33

40 45

46

47

50

49 52

*This crossword puzzle is the original work of Patrick “Mac”McIntyre.

It is provided to us courtesy of Real Change News, a street paper based in Seattle, Wa. Learn more about Real Change News and the International Network of Street Papers at realchangenews.org and insp.ngo.

13

24

39

53 57

12

35

44

56

11

21 23

25

24. “____ your total beck and call” (servant’s assurance) (2 wds.) (2,2) 27. One of pro baseball’s 2 major leagues (abbr.)

28 .Attach, as a uniform patch (2 wds.) (3,2) 32. One of the Jackson 5 34. Shipboard jail 35. December 24 and 31 36. Word before ____ ticket or ____ supervision 37. Common descriptor for Iran, Israel and Turkey, as countries (3-4) 38. Youngest Ivy League school 40. Unit of interest to a frequent flier (2 wds.) (3,4) 41. What water does at 32 degrees F or 0 degrees C 42. 70’s-80’s Seahawks Hall-of-Fame receiver Steve who became a U.S. Rep. for Oklahoma 44. Two-word phrase for a lummox, a galoot or a Gigantopithecus 46. Stranded material surveyed by 23andMe, MyHeritage and Ancestry.com (abbr./initialism) 47. Has an inkling (that) 51. Singer who had us at “Hello?”

53. Sassiness, for short (elision) (DUET anagram) 54. ____ about (date estimation phrase) (2 wds.)

(2,2) 55. Gatherings that may be conducted via Zoom calls (abbr.)

57. Kick in ____ butt 58. Once possessed

10

18

22

36

9

58

54

41

42

48 51

55 59

60

61

62

63

MELODY BYRD Artist/Vendor

S T RE E T S E NS E ME DI A . ORG

COMMUNITY SERVICES

SHELTER HOTLINE Línea directa de alojamiento

(202) 399-7093

YOUTH HOTLINE Línea de juventud

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE Línea directa de violencia doméstica

(202) 547-7777

1-800-799-7233

Housing/Shelter Vivienda/alojamiento

Education Educación

Health Care Seguro

Clothing Ropa

Legal Assistance Assistencia Legal

Case Management Coordinación de Servicios

Food Comida

Employment Assistance Assitencia con Empleo

Transportation Transportación

Showers Duchas

All services listed are referral-free Academy of Hope Public Charter School 202-269-6623 // 2315 18th Place NE aohdc.org

Bread for the City - 1525 7th St., NW // 202-265-2400 - 1640 Good Hope Rd., SE // 202-561-8587 breadforthecity.org

Calvary Women’s Services // 202-678-2341 1217 Good Hope Rd., SE calvaryservices.org

Catholic Charities // 202-772-4300 catholiccharitiesdc.org/gethelp

Food and Friends // 202-269-2277 (home delivery for those suffering from HIV, cancer, etc) 219 Riggs Rd., NE foodandfriends.org

Foundry Methodist Church // 202-332-4010 1500 16th St., NW foundryumc.org/idministry Identification services Friendship Place // 202-364-1419 4713 Wisconsin Ave., NW friendshipplace.org

Georgetown Ministry Center // 202-338-8301 1041 Wisconsin Ave., NW georgetownministrycenter.org

Central Union Mission // 202-745-7118 65 Massachusetts Ave., NW missiondc.org

Jobs Have Priority // 202-544-9128 425 2nd St., NW jobshavepriority.org

Charlie’s Place // 202-232-3066 1830 Connecticut Ave., NW charliesplacedc.org

Loaves & Fishes // 202-232-0900 1525 Newton St., NW loavesandfishesdc.org

Christ House // 202-328-1100 1717 Columbia Rd., NW christhouse.org

Church of the Pilgrims // 202-387-6612 2201 P St., NW food (1-1:30 on Sundays only) churchofthepilgrims.org/outreach

Community Family Life Services 202-347-0511 // 305 E St., NW cflsdc.org

Community of Hope // 202-232-7356 communityofhopedc.org

Covenant House Washington 202-610-9600 // 2001 Mississippi Ave., SE covenanthousedc.org

D.C. Coalition for the Homeless 202-347-8870 // 1234 Massachusetts Ave., NW dccfh.org

Father McKenna Center // 202-842-1112 19 Eye St., NW fathermckennacenter.org

Martha’s Table // 202-328-6608 marthastable.org 2375 Elvans Road SE 2204 Martin Luther King Ave. SE

Miriam’s Kitchen // 202-452-8926 2401 Virginia Ave., NW miriamskitchen.org

My Sister’s Place // 202-529-5991 (24-hr hotline) mysistersplacedc.org

N Street Village // 202-939-2060 1333 N St., NW nstreetvillage.org

New York Avenue Shelter // 202-832-2359 1355-57 New York Ave., NE

Laundry Lavandería

Samaritan Ministry 202-722-2280 // 1516 Hamilton St., NW 202-889-7702 // 1345 U St., SE samaritanministry.org

//

15

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH HOTLINE Línea de salud del comportamiento

1-888-793-4357

JOB BOARD Customer service associate

Walgreens // 1815 Connecticut Ave. NW Full-time/Part-time

Sasha Bruce Youthwork // 202-675-9340 741 8th St., SE sashabruce.org

So Others Might Eat (SOME) // 202-797-8806 71 O St., NW some.org

Ensure good customer experiences, stock and organize shelves, aid with photo services.

REQUIRED: N/A APPLY: tinyurl.com/walgreensdc

Food runner St. Luke’s Mission Center // 202-333-4949 3655 Calvert St., NW stlukesmissioncenter.org

Thrive DC // 202-737-9311 1525 Newton St., NW thrivedc.org

Unity Health Care 3020 14th St., NW // unityhealthcare.org - Healthcare for the Homeless Health Center: 202-508-0500 - Community Health Centers: 202-469-4699 1500 Galen Street SE, 1500 Galen Street SE, 1251-B Saratoga Ave NE, 1660 Columbia Road NW, 4414 Benning Road NE, 3924 Minnesota Avenue NE, 765 Kenilworth Terrace NE, 555 L Street SE, 3240 Stanton Road SE, 3020 14th Street NW, 2700 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, 1717 Columbia Road NW, 1313 New York Avenue, NW BSMT Suite, 425 2nd Street NW, 4713 Wisconsin Avenue NW, 2100 New York Avenue NE, 2100 New York Avenue NE, 1333 N Street NW, 1355 New York Avenue NE, 828 Evarts Place, NE, 810 5th Street NW

Matchbox // Penn Quarter Full-time Maintain clean spaces, deliver food and beverages, memorize and explain the menu to guests.

REQUIRED: Be able to satnd for up to 10 hours and lift up to 50 lbs.

APPLY: tinyurl.com/matchbox-job

Cashier associate

Burlington // 3100 14th Street NW Full-time Provide good customer service, ring up registers, process returns and exchanges and perform other tasks as assigned by the manager.

REQUIRED: N/A APPLY: tinyurl.com/burlingtondc

Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless 1200 U St., NW // 202-328-5500 legalclinic.org

The Welcome Table // 202-347-2635 1317 G St., NW. epiphanydc.org/thewelcometable

Whitman-Walker Health 1701 14th St., NW // 202-745-7000 2301 MLK Jr. Ave., SE // 202-797-3567 whitman-walker.org

Patricia Handy Place for Women 202-733-5378 // 810 5th St., NW

Samaritan Inns // 202-667-8831 2523 14th St., NW samaritaninns.org

For further information and listings, gs, visit our online service guide at StreetSenseMedia.org/service-guide

Hiring? Send your job postings to editor@StreetSenseMedia.org

Oh, autumn!

EVELYN NNAM Artist/Vendor

The summer skies fade away and autumn creeps in with a new face.

Colors burst out like a juicy watermelon in your mouth, filling the air with beautiful natural colors. Like ballet dancers, leaves fall and flutter from the trees.

They leave their temporary homes from the spring and summer, and join the pavement of leaves filling the streets with orange, yellow, red and brown.

The sun sets lower and the days become shorter.

The night skies creep in earlier and the breezes and air get colder.

We’re getting ready for those autumn activities: pumpkin patches and apple bobbing; drinking hot drinks of cinnamon, pumpkin and chai by the fireplace; feeling cozy and warm.

A new season is beginning and an old season is ending. The transition from warm to cold comes upon us.

Let's welcome and embrace our new season, as we change to jackets and boots from tees and shorts.

Let go of summer's hot days and short nights. Give way for the weather to do a 180spin into a cooler time, and then into an colder time when winter comes into the picture.

We welcome you, autumn, for your time has come.

Your presence is inviting and life-changing.

We hope to enjoy your time with us as you come into our lives.

Make your mark with wonderful memories to come!

Happy autumn!

CARLOS CAROLINA Artist/Vendor

OC T. 2 5 - N O V. 7 , 2 0 2 3 | VOLUME 20 ISSUE 41

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