A QUART E RLY NEWSLETTER OF THE M IDNIGHT M ISSION
FALL 2015
WE CHANGE LIVES As The Midnight Mission enters into its second century of service for those who are suffering at the lowest rung of society’s ladder, I couldn’t help but reflect upon all those men, women and children who have had their lives restored through the assistance received and tools provided while in our care. Over the past five years, fueled by the Federal Government’s political machine and funding giant The U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, there has and continues to be an assault on the “Transitional” service providers throughout our country. You see, for the Federal Government, it’s about warehousing individuals not about providing them with the platform and tools to lift them out of dependency and a subsidized existence. HUD controls the purse strings that finances local continuums of care for homeless populations. HUD has used that power to dictate local community funding policy. As a result, Permanent Supportive Housing is their current panacea. Thank God, our supporters understand and continue to support our independence from these ill-conceived quick fix approaches. The Midnight Mission has and continues to focus on changing lives, free from permanent dependency and giving our people the tools to regain self-sufficiency and the self-respect that comes with it. On the following page is a story written by a man I met three years ago when, as an independent movie maker, he and his wife began covering a wonderfully organic bred program here at The Midnight Mission that illustrates the value of transitional based recovery. I believe it shows the true value of our work… Changing Lives. We will continue to fight to see that people are given the chance to be a part of our communities and not a dependent of it. Your support allows us to fulfill this promise. Larry Adamson President & CEO
What Homeless People Taught Me
ABOUT SUCCESS About two years ago, I began filming a documentary about a running club in L.A.’s Skid Row district founded by a Superior Court judge. Now that most of the filming is finished, I am now faced with the frightening task of editing 300 hours of material into a meaningful and hopefully watchable finished product.
After Judge Craig Mitchell had sentenced a man to prison a few years back, he was out on parole and decided to pay the judge a visit in his chambers. This man told Mitchell he was living at The Midnight Mission, a homeless shelter on Skid Row and invited the judge to stop by. So Judge Mitchell, who loves to run, jogged over to the Mission to see where the parolee was living. He was impressed by how they were helping people get off the streets, how they were changing their lives for the better. Inspired, he met with the shelter’s president, Larry Adamson, and they decided to start a running club. One of the first members to join the Midnight Runners was Ben Shirley. Ben was a heavy metal guitarist and had a regular gig playing at L.A.’s legendary Viper Room. One night, Ben walked out onstage totally plastered and collapsed. After the band walked off the stage in disgrace, someone carried Ben out to a car and loaded him in the back seat like a sack of potatoes. They drove him down to Skid Row and dumped him at the curb. Ben found his way to The Midnight Mission and began his recovery when he heard about the running club. He was 300 pounds and a heavy smoker, but he decided to join. “I couldn’t barely waddle down the street [at the beginning],” Ben recalls, “but I waddled a little further every day. The running club taught me how to show up and keep showing up. Results will happen. It’s transformed my life.” As he tried to get a job and move off Skid Row, Ben enrolled in a music program at Los Angeles City College. He eventually moved out of the Mission and started renting a small room where he could sleep and compose. He wrote an original classical composition as an audition piece to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
Rebecca is another one of the Midnight Runners we’ve been following.
She and her 3-year-old son used to live between a couple of dumpsters in a downtown Seattle alley she called home. After more than 30 arrests for various offenses, she moved to L.A. where she eventually got help with her addiction issues. The Midnight Mission family program provided housing and support for her and her son as she waited tables and went back to school. She joined the running club because she had a crush on one of the members. The love story didn’t work out, but she realized that she really liked running. It gave her the discipline and structure she needed as she set some major goals for herself— someday she wanted to move back to Seattle so her son could be near his father and she wanted to get a job at a hospital caring for patients. When we returned to L.A., Rebecca starting looking in earnest for a job in Seattle. She had a couple of good phone interviews, but they still needed her fingerprints to do a background check. She was worried. “It seems really frustrating right now— dealing with my past and climbing this mountain and fighting all these giants,” she said. “But I know that if I keep just putting one foot in front of each other, that I will finish the race.” A couple of weeks later, she flew to Seattle for a follow-up interview at a hospital and was able to make her case in person. Her arrest record came up. She took responsibility for her past and explained that she was a different person now and was ready to prove herself. Back in L.A., she waited for the call. It finally came. She got the job and would be starting at the maternity ward in two weeks. She was ecstatic. Mark Hayes is a documentary filmmaker based in Los Angeles. His project Skid Row Marathon follows a running club on L.A.’s Skid Row that was founded by Superior Court Judge Craig Mitchell.
To read more about what Mark has learned from this unlikely group of people, read the full article at www. midnightmission.org/success
Homelight Family Living Kathleen and her son are one of the newest families to join our HomeLight Family Living program. HomeLight was created to be a place of refuge and hope for families in need. For Kathleen, it was a second chance at the life she wished she had, and the opportunity to create a brighter future for her son. Kathleen was a victim of sexual abuse at the hands of her stepfather and emotional abuse from her mother, who rejected her. After enduring this for years, Kathleen began to rebel. At the age of 17, she found out she was pregnant with her son. Shortly after that, she discovered that her younger sister had also suffered the same abuse at the hands of their stepfather. Unwilling to lie to authorities about the abuse, her mother kicked her out of the house. She moved into a shelter, where she gave birth to her son. She was determined to change her life. She strived to keep a sense of normalcy for herself and most of all, for her son. Eventually, she began dating again and found a man whom she grew to love and trust. Unfortunately, she soon discovered that he had a drinking problem and became violent when he was under the influence. After falling victim to his abuse the third time, Kathleen decided to escape. She found herself, yet again, moving between shelters before finding her way to HomeLight Family Living. At HomeLight, Kathleen finally found a new beginning. She says that things felt different. She now feels empowered, positive and stable. HomeLight has given her family a place of their own in a safe and supportive environ ment. She has been given the tools she needs to help her heal and to be the good mother she has always dreamed of being. The counseling provided, at no cost, to her and her son is helping them to deal with their history of abuse and instability. With the resources provided by the staff at HomeLight, Kathleen can finally look ahead and has developed long term and short term goals. She has enrolled in school to become a Dental Assistant and will continue her education to become an Oral Hygienist. Kathleen credits HomeLight’s Director Ricardo Rosales with being the positive influence she needed to get back on her feet.
EMERGENCY SERVICES
The Midnight Mission has been a beacon of hope for the neediest people in the Los Angeles Community for over 100 years. Our services are provided free of charge to anyone in need 7 days per week, 365 days per year. Our doors have never closed. Below are some of the many services we provide at no cost to any man, woman or child who comes through our doors. You will find additional information on our website: www.midnightmission.org • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily • Clean, accessible public restrooms and showers • Sack lunches (children & adults) • Hygiene kit & clothing distribution • Food Boxes Distribution (nonperishable)
Since opening in 1994, HomeLight Family Living has helped hundreds of families get back on their feet. With your generous donations, we provide families with counseling, childcare, financial literacy training and various workshops to give them every chance at success.
• Diapers
For more information, please visit our website at www.midnightmission.org/homelight.
• Mail service
• Safe Sleep, nightly emergency shelter • Haircuts (men & women) • Additional shelter during inclement weather • Indoor public shelter (Day Room)
SERVICES DASHBOARD | JANUARY 1 - JULY 31, 2015 EMERGENCY SERVICES
• Charging stations for phones/ wheelchairs
HEALTHY LIVING PROGRAM
NIGHTS OF SHELTER
MEALS
ADVOCACY HOURS
EDUCATION HOURS
VOLUNTEER HOURS
32,489 (Beds x Nights)
530,475
15,509
12,316
40,891
Gary Moore
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Small Town Boy Makes Good 95.5 KLOS, where he has been since 1997, promoted some Midnight Mission events in the past, so he had heard of us. But, he didn’t become actively involved until 2010 when he met our Director of Public Affairs Georgia Berkovich at an event. At that time, Gary expressed his interest in becoming involved with TMM (and with Georgia, too, who is now his fiancée).
Photo: MM Golden Heart Awards, 2013
Gary stays involved because he says “the need for help is perpetual. If you’ve been given anything in your life, like a roof over your head every night for openers, you want to give back”. He added that it has changed his life in a multitude of ways–all positive. His eyes were opened to what it’s really like to be homeless or nearhomeless. “Every story is different. You also realize it’s not ‘us and those people’; it’s just ‘US’”. Some may be surprised to know that 95.5 KLOS Radio Personality Gary Moore started his radio career before he could even drive, at 14, hosting the Murray High Tiger Hour on the Murray State FM station. Growing up in Murray, Kentucky, on ‘Main Street’, he walked through a meadow to his school, played Little League baseball and football and was a Cub Scout. It was so AllAmerican, it was absurd. The Midnight Mission, located in the heart of Skid Row is thousands of miles away, both figuratively and literally, from where he began. We wanted to find out how and why this rock jock came to support our wonderful organization.
“Of the many memorable experiences I have had at TMM, one is seeing people come to one of the big celebrations where the street is closed off and there’s food for everyone with a live band playing. The looks of gratitude and happiness on people’s faces are reason enough to volunteer. Some are so happy they forget their troubles and start dancing to the music–it’s amazing! Something else that’s etched in my mind is watching the men graduate from The Midnight’s program. To see those guys on that big day, knowing where they came from and how much work they’ve done to get there, seeing their fellow graduates and family members cheer them on, it’s one of the greatest things you could ever witness.”
Gary says his favorite TMM event is our Music With A Mission because it’s such a fantastic idea to bring in live music to those who don’t have the same chances the rest of us do to go somewhere and hear it. Music is unifying; it lifts ALL of us up. I also love Christmas day at The Midnight. When you work in Santa’s Village and you see the kids come through and pick out toys THEY want, you see the magic of the day all over again. Sometimes we lose track of that. And again, it’s about giving back and always being thankful.” When Gary is not rocking the air waves of southern California, hosting concerts, interviewing rock celebrities like Jimmy Page and Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin, for example, he loves reading, writing and not arithmetic. He is a huge sports fan, especially baseball and college football. And, of course, music has always been a big part of his life, which is why he got into radio.
In closing, we asked Gary if there was anything he wanted to add. “People should know that those working at TMM are truly angels in the ‘city of’. For Midnight employees, it is NOT a paycheck job. It is a calling. And it shows!” In the last 5 years, Gary has hosted multiple events for us including our holiday street fairs, Golden Heart Awards, Music & Laughter With A Mission, Program Graduation, to name but a few. In addition, he has helped promote our cause on his station 95.5 KLOS where you can hear him Monday through Friday from 2 pm to 7 pm. Thank you for sharing your time and talent with our unique community and for the incredible difference you make!
BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
MARIA BECKMAN We sat down with Board Member Maria Beckman to get her insight on The Midnight Mission and its service to the community. Maria Beckman is a Senior Vice President and Consumer Market Manager for the West Los Angeles Market at Bank of America. She began her banking career at Security Pacific Bank in 1984 while attending UCLA. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy, she was placed in the Management Training Program. Ms. Beckman has twenty-nine years of leadership experience in the financial services industry. Director Beckman is involved with the Los Angeles chapters of HOLA, LEAD for Women, MSAG and Bank of America’s military support group and is a founding member of the Latino Strategy Executive Council. She has been an active volunteer at The Midnight Mission since 2012. 1. What brought you toThe Midnight Mission? I was looking for a team building event for my leaders at Bank of America. While there are organizations that specialize in team building events that are usually athletic or entertainment based, I wanted us to do something more fulfilling. While some of those leaders are no longer on my team, their relationships with TMM continue. 2. Are you involved in any TMM committees?
EVENTS LISTING
I am involved with both the Programs and Development Committees. They both provide
great insight into TMM’s vision and impact. 3. What are some of the significant changes you have seen in your years of service? Years ago when I came to TMM as a volunteer, it was primarily men that were served. Today, you see men, women and sadly families. That is heartbreaking to me. 4. What is your fondest memory at TMM? Three years ago, I brought my son to serve at Thanksgiving. He and I were walking and chatting and then he wasn’t there. I turned around and he had stopped, completely taken aback by the number of children at the event. Later that afternoon at our Thanksgiving dinner when he said grace, it was truly heartfelt. 5. What is your favorite TMM event & why? I know a lot of volunteers like the holiday events, but I love the daily dinner service. Every time I bring a team, we work hard but get so much out of it. 6. Why would you tell someone to get involved with TMM? You come to TMM thinking you are doing something to help others, but what you get in return is far greater than what you give. Not everyone has money to give, but everyone can give of their time and that is often far more valuable. Come and volunteer once, and if you are like me, you’ll be back again and again.
NOVEMBER 2015
DECEMBER 2015
RECURRING EVENTS
Program Graduation Sunday, Nov. 8: 1pm to 3pm-TMM Veteran’s Day Observation Wed., Nov. 11: 8am to 10am-TMM Veteran’s Stand Down Friday, Nov. 13: 8am to 2pm-TMM Turkey Trot Thurs., Nov. 26: 8am to 12pmFIGat7th Thanksgiving Thurs., Nov. 26: 10am to 1pmStreet Fair
Handel’s Messiah Friday, Dec. 4: 2pm to 4pmTMM Gym Christmas Eve Decorating Thurs, Dec. 24: 9am to 5pmTMM Dayroom X-mas Brunch/Toy Giveaway Friday, Dec. 25: 8am to 12pm-TMM
Art With A Mission (AWAM) 2nd Thursday 1:30pm to 3pmTMM Dayroom Laughter With A Mission (LWAM) 3rd Thurs, Quarterly: 1:30pm to 3pmTMM Dayroom Music With A Mission (MWAM) Last Thurs. + Add. Thurs. 1:30pm to 3pm - TMM Dayroom
601 South San Pedro Street Los Angeles, CA 90014 213.624.9258 midnightmission.org TheMidnightMission @midnitemission #midnitemission themidnightmission
||||||||||||||||||
For additional information, please contact Joey Weinert 213.624.9258 x1248 or jweinert@midnightmission.org
EVENTS HIGHLIGHTS NOVEMBER 2015
Program Graduation Sunday, Nov. 8: 1pm to 3pm TMM Thanksgiving Thursday, Nov. 26: 10am to 1pm Street Fair
DECEMBER 2015
Christmas Eve Decorating Thursday, Dec 24th: 9am to 5pm TMM Dayroom X-mas Brunch/Toy Giveaway Friday, Dec. 25: 8am to 2pm TMM
The Midnight Mission’s
RECURRING EVENTS:
ART WITH A MISSION (AWAM) 2nd Thursday 1:30pm to 3pm TMM Dayroom
2015
Golden Heart
Awards
LAUGHTER WITH A MISSION (LWAM) 3rd Thursday/Quarterly 1:30pm to 3pm TMM Dayroom
MUSIC WITH A MISSION (MWAM) Last Thursday+Add . Thurs. 1:30pm to 3pm TMM Dayroom
Thursday, October 1, 2015 The Beverly Wilshire Hotel www.MidnightMission.org A portion of the proceeds benefit The Midnight Mission