I went to the BOTS Center for Creating Learning‘s graduation last night. That’s half the graduating class in the photo, from left: Robert A.P. Andrews (who goes by Justin Sweetwater when he writes poetry); Joan Artis, Aldene Burton, and Antoinette McCrary. Behind them is Rabbi Donna Berman, the executive director of Charter Oak Cultural Center,… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Homelessness
Farewell to Alvin
Saskatoon’s town drunk Alvin Cote died, and the town turned out to mourn him. The police were especially taken with him, and one person in a local detention center sketched Mr. Cote’s likeness, and put it on mugs and t-shirts, items that are extremely popular right now. One officer wrote a beautiful tribute that included… Continue Reading
So much for the least of these
A sculptor had a hard time finding a home for his haunting sculpture of Jesus as a homeless man. One of the churches that turned him down was St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. So much for the least of these, I guess. Meanwhile, in Connecticut, legislators are discussing a budget that must include… Continue Reading
Bruuuuuuuuce!
For more on homeless veterans, go here. And thanks, Cynical, for the link.… Continue Reading
Journey Home’s looking for some volunteers
Since 2009, Journey Home Inc., community partners and volunteers have taken to the shelters and streets of Greater Hartford to conduct a vulnerability index survey by interviewing individuals experiencing homelessness. Results from the surveys are used to advocate for more housing for the medically vulnerable, to calculate the costs of homelessness, and strengthen advocacy efforts… Continue Reading
Thank yous in the dark places.
This is an abandoned truck trailer in Hartford. While there were no people there when the Hartford’s Homeless Outreach Team (which on Thursday, consisted of Brian and Dave and me) came by, you can see how neatly the residents have the place arranged. The same holds true for — well, I call them flops, but… Continue Reading
The BOTS classes, and why I teach them
This is a Hartford Courant story about the B.O.T.S. Center for Creative Learning. The classes cover all kinds of topics, from life skills to finances to personal communication to journalism. That’s where I come in. I’m involved because the students are mostly a group of writers/poets/photographers who produce The Beat Of the Street newspaper (or… Continue Reading
We should all over ourselves
Love the TED talks. Love them. Read more about Anne Mahlum here. And thanks, Judy, for sharing this.… Continue Reading
It’s 14 degrees
And I am sitting at my volunteer job at Columbus House Annex in New Haven. My job is to sign in the clients who are homeless, connect them with case managers, hand out towels for the shower in the back, that kind of stuff. It’s like being a Walmart greeter (my career goal before I… Continue Reading