Each One Teach One

“One of the biggest things I learned, being involved with Picture the Homeless was unity.”

~

The Picture the Homeless Oral History Project

Don’t Talk About Us: Talk With Us!

Introduction

Each One Teach One is a skill-share about the ways in which Picture the Homeless (PTH) and the struggle for civil and human rights for homeless folks was a school where everyone was a student, and everyone was a teacher within the organization.

It also offers reflections about the many ways that PTH as an organization taught movement allies, faith communities, policy makers and the general public about issues impacting homeless New Yorkers and what real solutions to homelessness could be.

We learned how to: o Identify root causes of the problems impacting us o Craft solutions to homelessness and learn how to organize for them o Create popular education materials o Conduct research o Use direct action as a way to educate o Know how to “make our case” in campaign meetings, the media and with elected officials o Understanding laws and policies o Breaking down jargon o Make the media work for us

Creating a culture of learning:

• Honors the knowledge of homeless folks

• Recognizes that agreeing on a problem isn’t the same as agreeing on solutions to the problem

• Is clear about the work we need to do, together

• Values how individual knowledge is transformed through collective learning and action

• Respects all the ways that learning happens and is shared

• Lifts up creativity and fun

How did we do this?

• Believing that everyone is a teacher and a learner

• Making space for folks to discuss, debate, agree and disagree

• Demystifying jargon

• Started an organizer trainee program

• Creating a Homeless Organizing Academy and curriculum

• Seeing ourselves as social change makers

• Educating our allies

• Educating the public through direct action, participatory action research projects, media work and public speaking

What was accomplished?

• We changed negative stereotypes

• Built solidarity among members and the social justice movement

• Seeded the social justice movement with skilled leaders

• Moved innovative ideas and won policy change that was shaped by homeless New Yorkers