One Step Away Magazine Volume 9 Issue 3: Philly's Heroes

ONE STEP AWAY VOLUME 9 ISSUE 3A Program of Resources for Human Development PHILADELPHIA’S UNSUNG HEROES * OLNEY’S NORTH 5TH REVITALIZATION PROJECT PHILLY’S HEROES$ 5

Why is One Step Away now $5?

9 YEARS 1 MILLION PAPERS GIVINGDISTRIBUTED.APLATFORM AND A VOICE TO THE VOICELESS . BREAKING STEREOTYPESDOWNAND BUILDING COMMUNITY WITH VOLUNTEERS4,000 . CREATING MEANINGFUL & DIGNIFIED OPPORTUNITIES FOR 3,000 PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS

Every day our vendors put on their yellow vests and hit the streets distributing One Step Away. Our vendors work hard to earn the money they need to support themselves, to meet their basic necessities, to overcome homelessness, or to afford rent so they do not experience homelessness again.

POVERTY. THANK YOU! YOUR IMPACT BECAUSE OF YOU, I CAN:

2 ONE STEP AWAY

The new price allows our vendors to continue to benefit from selling the magazine throughout the city, and allows the program to grow and continue to be an open opportunity and second chance for our neighbors in need. Vendors purchase each magazine for $1.50 and distribute them on the streets for $5 — earning $3.50 for each magazine. What does One Step Away's future look like? We are focused on remaining a no-barrier income opportunity for anyone in need, while supporting vendors and providing them with the skills they need to succeed. We plan on creating internal vendor positions and promotions, while building our community and business partnerships, with the goal of finding stable employment opportunities for our vendors. WHY A MAGAZINE? OR

Over the past nine years, basic living expenses have increased, and 75 cents does not get you very far these days. We want to help provide our vendors with the best opportunities for success, and stay current in our constantly changing society. To do this we created the One Step Away magazine. We hope you enjoy the new format, and will continue to support us as we prepare for the future. Is One Step Away’s content changing?

SUPPORTING OUR VENDORS

While we are moving to a new format, we will still continue to provide the solutions oriented, community focused, and vendor driven content that you have come to expect. While adding some new sections to engage more of the community.

In honor of our nine years as Philadelphia's street paper, we wanted to celebrate all of our accomplishments and create a magazine to help our vendors earn more money so they can truly break the cycle of homelessness.Asanewspaper, vendors earned 75 cents from each paper sold.

Why did you change to a magazine?

OSAPHILLY.ORG 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS INSP: VENDOR CITY GUIDE 5 FEATURE:CHICAGO PHILADELPHIA’S SOCIAL 6 JUSTICE STEPHANIEHEROESMICHEL & NORTH 5TH 18 REVITALIZATION PROJECT UNCOVERED ISSUES 26 POETRY 28 MEET THE ARTIST BEHIND THE 29 “EASY STREAK” COMIC PUZZLES 31 THE MAGAZINE VENDORS BUY EACH COPY FOR $1.50 AND DISTRIBUTE THEM FOR $5, KEEPING ALL OF THE PROFITS! Every time you purchase a One Step Away Magazine you create meaningful income and personal growth opportunities for individuals experiencing homelessness or poverty. HELP OUR VENDORS WORK THEIR WAY OUT OF HOMELESSNESS. 1216 18 One Step Away is a program of Resources for Human Development (RHD), a certified 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. www.rhd.org. We are a member of the International Network of Street Papers (INSP), helping 20,500 vendors earn an income each year. www.insp.ngo OUR AFFILIATIONS

One Step Away P.O. Box Philadelphia,63703PA19147 osa@rhd.org @OSAphilly osaphilly.org

PERSPECTIVESSHARING

EASY TO SLIDE HOMELESSNESSINTO

FROM HEARTKAREEM’S Kareem, I really enjoyed reading your article [“No Child Left Unprotected” in Issue 2]. Though the subject is very painful there needs to be people like you who make this a priority in the media... and speak from the heart with truth (and facts) about it. I also thought the metaphor of the “punishing bag” was very powerful because it makes the reader think about how this can be a symptom of intergenerational pain and frustration that leads the frustrated/angry/hurt to hurt others as an attempt to let out/ get rid of that feeling. Thank you. I look forward to reading more from your articles and poems. — Isel TO OUR VENDORS I have to say that all of your vendors are always so friendly and energetic. I always enjoy talking to them and hearing about their contributions. It adds a special element knowing that they do so much. — Andy H. A BREATH OF FRESH AIR I was at 30th Street Station in Philadelphia and was approached by a nice young man, Edward Johnson. It’s nice to see motivation in what some may consider a dreary world. I commend this young man; he is a breath of fresh air. — Mo

We want to make “From Our Readers” a permanent section. Please help by submitting your thoughts and feedback!

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I’ve never been homeless, but I’ve been unemployed and realize how easy it is to slide into homelessness. I want to help by donating to this paper.

VENDORSIMPRESSIVE

ARTICLE I wanted to take this opportunity to thank Kareem for the article he wrote in Volume 9 of “One Step Away”. It is a thought-provoking and deeply compassionate article, well-crafted and passionate and humane. Thank you for your writing and your focus upon such an important topic. All the very best, Ray GIVING BACK Because my own sister was homeless on and off. I also feel strongly about helping those less fortunate in our city. It’s SO important to give back and I love connecting with these people.

A FRIEND IN BERNARD I support One Step Away because I like that the vendors are working and trying to earn money. I also support it because I have found all of the vendors to be courteous and polite and I want to help. Lastly, I support it because I have grown very fond of my friend and vendor Bernard.

I support One Step Away for many reasons, but primarily because it provides employment opportunities and offers individuals a creative outlet that gives a unique perspective on homelessness, poverty, and mental illness to the community at large.

ACTIVE MEMBERCOMMUNITY I believe in being an active member of my community and the homeless are as much a part of the community as anyone else. I need to step up and be part of helping.

OFF THE STREETS I want One Step Away to continue until everyone is off the streets.

CHANGING PEOPLE’S MINDSETS One Step Away is a great cause, great magazine and content. I think it’s an awesome idea and really helps make a difference. It changes people’s mindsets when they see people experiencing homelessness being productive and friendly members of society.

POSITIVE SUPPORT One Step Away is a great cause and a positive way to support homelessness — I can see where the money goes. Also, the articles are very good!

Vendors are out there inperson working in all kinds of weather to try to support themselves. They sell a good product that both educates and entertains.

ONE STEP AWAY YOUR SAY: FROM OUR READERS

From Our Readers submissions must be 100 words or less, contain the writer's full name and home address, and may be edited for clarity or space.

CREATIVE OUTLET

INVESTMENT EMPOWERMENTAND

ENTERTAINMENTEDUCATIONAL

The vendors are typically very professional and knowledgeable. I am impressed by them.

Because I think it makes individuals invest in their recovery/escape from homelessness. I think it empowers them and gives them tools to achieve what they want in life.

I enjoy the perspectives One Step Away offers and enjoy having extra copies around to share with guests, clients, and visitors to the community center I work at which serves some of the vendors and others in the community experiencing housing instability or deep poverty.

ADMIRATION & RESPECT I admire and respect people trying to make their lives better by working and not just panhandling. I want homelessness to decrease in our city and everywhere.

PROVOKINGTHOUGHT-

05 What to eat Giodano’s put Chicago on the map for pizza. The deep dish is really good, I recommend that if you come to Chicago. But my favourite place to eat is called Valois on East 53rd Street. They serve a buffet of soul food. The prices are good and the food is delicious. Obama has a house near there and this is the restaurant that our President goes to when he’s in town. If it’s good enough for the President, it’s good enough for me.

06 Best time of year My favourite time of the year is spring and summer. The weather is better. Winter is terrible, you have look for inside entertainment unless you like to ice skate. Sometimes Chicago can get to 20 below zero and that is really cold with the wind-chill factor. streetwise.org Street secrets revealed by the people who know them best Chicago GUIDECITYVENDOR

OSAPHILLY.ORG 5 #INSP: INTERNATIONAL STREET PAPER FEATURE 10-16 DECEMBER 2018 BIGISSUE.COM | 47

|CULTURE

01 My sweet home Chicago is an interesting city, we offer a variety of different types of entertainment. We have some good food, we have a lot of museums, we have a lot of theatres and there is the Magnificent Mile. That’s where a lot of people from all over the world go shopping because you have all the brand name stores.

04 How to escape city life The shoreline offers a lot of different boat opportunities to tour the lake. From my experience, when I was on the boat, they have music, food and some boats have entertainment – a person telling you architectural information about the buildings. The metro train can take you right out of the city. If you’ve never been to Evanston it’s a real nice place to visit, like a small Chicago, and they have a lot of things to offer.

Our guide this week: A. Allen, 60, has been a StreetWise vendor for around seven years. He sells at an L-Train station where he is constantly asked to give directions and change for ticket machines. He also helps train new vendors, teaching selling techniques and sharing his ‘work smarter, not harder’ ethos.

03 My favourite area One of my favourite areas is the Hyde Park, by Lake Michigan. It’s a mixed neighbourhood with a lot of college students. Over there they have the Museum of Science and Industry. It’s huge and a very educational experience for adults and children. Some days it’s free and some days it costs so check that out before you go.

Illustration: BrenchTaaryn

02 The best park They host a lot of events in Millennium Park and most of them are free. For instance, during the summer they have the Blues Festival, the Jazz Festival and a lot of outdoor entertainment. The Bean [a public sculpture designed by British artist Sir Anish Kapoor] is right across the street from Millennium Park. Its official name is Cloud Gate, we just call it the Bean. People love the Bean. Every time you go there you’ll see a crowd of people taking pictures.

TO

THE H EROES E DITION

Every day people throughout Philadelphia work tirelessly to help those in need. Whether it is an individual or a community, there are countless compassionate individuals working to help those who have come upon hard times. Often these heroes work to lift people up who have fallen with little praise or acknowledgement. These unsung heroes have dedicated their time and committed themselves to bettering the lives of those around them. Each year we take a moment to recognize these individuals and the work they do with our annual “Steppy” Awards. We accept nominations for our “Steppy” Awards from our readers and community members as well as from our vendors—many of whom choose to highlight someone who has helped them overcome homelessness in their lives, or who offered them a hand up when they needed it most.

In this issue, we recognize community members who have tirelessly worked to improve the lives of their homeless neighbors. We are grateful for each of these Heroes and are proud to recognize them with a “Steppy” Award. In the next few pages, read about the Heroes our vendors nominated, and why they chose to do so; as well as nominees who have been recognized by other community members for their outstanding service.Toall our Heroes out there—both those recognized in these pages and those not—we give our heartfelt gratitude to you for all that you contribute to building a compassionate Philadelphia where all are cared for. Thank you for your passion, your perseverance, and your kindness. OUR HEROES

Mrs. Baker never gave up on me. She worked hard to get me into a safe haven where I got kicked out of after a couple of weeks. When I saw her I thought she would be mad but she wasn’t, she recommended a recovery house. At first I turned it down, but as I thought about it I knew I had to stop drinking. A month later I started my recovery and now I have six months sober. She was trying to help me get off the streets, but she actually helped me so much more.

— Kareem Jones

SISTER MARY SCULLION, COFOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PROJECT HOME Sister Mary Scullion is my hero because she puts her all into homelessness — she’s been doing it for 30 years. She’s always put her love, honesty, and heart in homeless people. She fights for us — she really does. She fights for the homeless. She goes to Harrisburg, she goes all over the country and does different things for homeless people. She opens her doors, and she doesn’t give up. I love her, she’s the best thing that ever happened in my life, and in the homeless life. We all appreciate her. — Kevin James THANK YOU — OUR HEROES

Thank you for helping us when we were in need.

TANYA BAKER, PROJECT HOME OUTREACH TEAM

Caia Iglehart began as a vendor for One Step Away and was recently promoted to a Vendor Representative. She also writes for the magazine. She can closely identify with the experience of homelessness because she is still navigating the system to obtain secure housing.

“After four years, I’ve come to a very clear purpose for my work:

TED GOLDMAN, PHOTO TGOLDMANPHOTOGRAPHYJOURNALIST, After 39 years in the chemical industry, Ted Goldman launched a new career in photojournalism. His goal is to tell important stories through photo essays that he publishes on his website. In 2015 he became interested in using his camera to help the homeless in Philadelphia. For the first time he stopped walking by people on the street as if they were invisible. By talking to people he found that most have had bad breaks in their lives and they are just looking for their next meal, a decent place to stay, and a job. Then he met One Step Away vendors and heard their stories. “I’m so impressed that One Step Away can provide a real living for people who put in the effort,” he says.

Telling Important Stories with Pictures and Words to Make a Difference. My greatest satisfaction is telling important stories about people, organizations, causes and issues. I go beyond the obvious to find the story within story and to connect with the reader on an emotional level. My hope is to impact in a positive way people’s thoughts and actions — that is, to make aWedifference.”thankTed for his contributions to One Step Away, and to our community. You can see more of his photo essays at TGoldmanPhotography.com.

THANK YOU TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS

TIM KELLY, VOLUNTEER WRITER

Since then Ted has focused his lense on social justice issues and advocates both in Philadelphia and around the country.

Tim Kelly is the contributor to three nominee profiles for this year’s Heroes for the Homeless edition of One Step Away. He enjoys both volunteering and writing and has an academic and professional background in public health and the social sciences. He is a great admirer of One Step Away, its contributors, and the people the program supports and is humbled by the stories shared by those whom he interviewed for this month’s edition. He looks forward to future opportunities to contribute to the paper and the homeless community in Philadelphia.

REPRESENTATIVE

Caia continues by explaining the importance Joe had on her life and the lives of other people who may find themselves on the streets: “His message is to “make a stranger smile today” and spread love to everyone, but especially people often stigmatized by commonly believed stereotypes. His efforts result in lifting the spirits of deeply troubled and challenged individuals, and making them feel they are not worthless. His organization inspires others to contribute to those less fortunate in similar meaningful ways. There are now PMA Bike rides in several other cities and states. He donates money to any group wishing to start their own PMA Bike Ride.”

Caia nominated Joe Cox, founder of the PMA Bike Rides, as one of our heroes this month. Joe organizes four monthly bike rides giving out free pizza to the hungry and homeless. “PMA stands for positive mental attitude,” Caia says. “In addition to being fed by Joe making his PMAbike ride rounds when I was on the streets hungry many times, he welcomed me to participate in the bike rides even while still homeless. This helped with job experience for a nonprofit and my self-esteem at a time when I facing many challenges.”

CAIA IGLEHART, ONE STEP AWAY VENDOR

Joe’s organization inspires others to contribute to those less fortunate in similar meaningful ways. There are now PMA Bike rides in several other cities and states. He donates money to any group wishing to start their own PMA bike ride. He welcomes anyone to participate in the bike rides even while still homeless.

Giving positivity and acknowledgment to Philly’s population of street citizens often stigmatized by commonly believed stereotypes, is the goal of four monthly bike rides in the neighborhoods of Center City, South Philly, West Philly, and Kensington. Since PMA’s inception, volunteers have given out 3,200 free pizzas to the hungry and homeless. The monthly cost for pizza runs around $700, and is payed for by donations, and out of Joe’s pocket when donations don’t cover it. He typically personally contributes several hundred dollars up to the full $700 if there are no donations that month. His efforts result in lifting the spirits of deeply troubled and challenged individuals and making them feel they are not worthless. “If you were sitting on a corner watching thousands of people pass you every day, it wouldn’t take long before you would start to lose it.” He suggests giving something if you have it to give but says one of the simplest ways to help the homeless is to say hi or tell a joke. Joe believes it is the acknowledgment that each person is valuable and human that is missing when those experiencing homelessness are ignored or looked at as trash. “People bottle up the homeless into one or two categories that are all negative. They don’t realize all of the reasons that can cause homelessness that are not a person’s fault.”

Upcoming

Joe aspires to be the change every day, through his organization PMA Bike Ride, which he began in June 2016. PMA stands for positive mental attitude.

In addition, Joe is running for city council in Philly as a progressive who is aware of and interested in the issues that face the homeless.

“These problems we’re having are disgusting. They shouldn’t exist. We have millionaires living in huge skyscrapers right next to people freezing and starving to death, literally.” If elected, Joe envisions drastically improving the number of equitable bathrooms accessible to everyone, not only the rich. He is seeking to establish rent control and believes tenants should have a right to council. He also believes a $15 minimum wage is needed ASAP not in 2025. events include PMA Bike Rides:

• 4/30/2019 2pm Kensington • 4/30/2019 2pm Center City • 5/1/2019 2pm West Philly • 5/1/2019 2pm South Philly • Petition Concert Benefit @ the Buffalo 4/27/2019 JOE COX FOUNDER, PMA BIKE RIDE

If you’ve seen Joe Cox riding around Philadelphia on his daily courier deliveries, you probably remember him. If you didn’t notice his fluorescent pink Mohawk, you couldn’t miss his fluorescent yellow signs saying, “Make a stranger smile” or “Be the change”, or his bright pink “End stop and frisk” stickers liberally applied to his trailer. Riding around as a courier, Joe saw so much homelessness everywhere it made him feel like crap, so he decided to do something about it instead of feeling like crap.

In addition to her work with RHD and her nonprofit, Janelle’s Women’s Christian Ministry at her church Beloved Baptist Church feeds and gives away clothing to homeless individuals and others while also offering other resources as well as a kind ear and encouragement to those in need. Janelle focuses on simple acts of respect that can be so lacking for those who find themselves living on the Janelle’sstreet.own experiences, and those of family and friends who have experienced similar challenges, inspired her work, and given her insights and ability to identify with the struggles of others that few people who have not experienced such difficulty can relate to. Janelle doesn’t want “anybody to think they don’t have anybody to lean on,” and knows that “if I can do it — anyone can.” In D.I.V.A.S. For the Lord she writes of how she found her way to recovery and what she went through to “get to the other side”, make it through college, and start working. From her personal experience, she knows that, at any given time, anyone can find themselves in a similar situation and instead of wasting time judging others for their life circumstances, she asks that we “don’t look down on anyone” but “reach down and pull them up.”

Janelle believes that one of the most common misconceptions about homeless people is that they cannot or will not change. But she also knows from personal experience that this is not true and that many people suffering life’s greatest challenges have never had any help to change in the first place. She understands that we all come from a different starting place and that “life is a challenge and we shouldn’t make it any harder for anyone.” Through workshops she has conducted, she knows it’s often financial issues or past trauma that make it difficult for those who find themselves homeless or suffering from other ills to realize that they can heal. However, she has seen the successes that such supportive environments have had for fostering healing and asks, “If we don’t help them think they can, who will?”

Janelle herself has come such a long way on her own path to recovery and that experience has enabled her to give back in a way few people realize they are capable of. For these reasons it is clear why she was nominated as a 2019 Hero for the Homeless. As she continues her inspiring work, it is her hope that “we continue to work for others in helping the homeless.”

What are some ways someone can reach out, like Janelle, and offer assistance to those who find themselves burdened by life’s challenges? Janelle encourages those who want to offer assistance but don’t know where to start to do just that: start. Somewhere, anywhere. She suggests volunteering with an agency that addresses homelessness so that you can “experience the atmosphere and get to know homeless people and then you will find your niche.” In addition to her other work, Janelle found a niche with Arch Street United Methodist Church. She volunteers as a greeter at events around Christmas and New Year’s, offering a warm smile and hug to people who so often go so long without either. As Janelle recognizes, it is often the smallest things that can make the largest impact.

Janelle Lewis, Lead Direct Support Professional and Case Manager with Resources for Human Development (RHD) in Philadelphia, believes deeply in the role of self-empowerment in overcoming personal obstacles, whether it be addiction, homelessness, or any other problem. Janelle was once in the grips of addiction herself but has overcome this obstacle and continues to share her personal story with others through her book, D.I.V.A.S. For the Lord... How Grateful Are Thy Servants... Janelle held her first book signing in November 2018 and has also launched her own nonprofit organization, Women’s Interests Never Stops Empowerment Ministry Inc. (WINS).

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JANELLE LEWIS LEAD DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL & CASE MANAGER, RHD CEDAR PARK SAFE HAVEN “LIFE IS A CHALLENGE AND WE SHOULDN’T MAKE IT ANY HARDER FOR ANYONE.”

For her own part, Janelle also has other aspirations, especially through her nonprofit WINS. She hopes to convert abandoned buildings into shared residences for people experiencing homelessness, where they have the opportunity to contribute to residential upkeep and engage in other tasks while earning a paycheck, something that goes a long way in “starting a chain reaction” of positive outcomes, in Janelle’s words.

“A LOT OF TIMES THE SYSTEM AND THE HOOPS WE PUT-UP FOR PEOPLE ARE SO DIFFICULT, THAT EVEN IF THEY’RE AS DETERMINED AS THEY CAN BE, THEY’RE NOT GOING TO MAKE IT.”

OSAPHILLY.ORG 11 MATT TICE CLINICAL PATHWAYSDIRECTOR,TOHOUSING

Two of these teams are specifically dedicated to working with chronic opioid users. This is the first program in the country to use the Housing First model specifically for this population. Matt was instrumental in launching this. More than 70% of those housed have sought treatment for their addiction, while 100% remain housed. “A lot of their work is about safety, helping them connect to treatment and other lifesaving interventions.” The success of this program is due in large part to Matt’s leadership. “It’s been really exciting to pave that ground and walk it out and creatively adapt it while using the model they have already sorted out.”

Under Matt Tice’s clinical leadership, Pathways to Housing PA is leading the way in providing “Housing First” and harm reduction support for people experiencing homelessness with substance use disorders and mental health challenges. His approach focuses on treating his clients with compassion, empathy, love, respect and a non-judgmental attitude that opens doors for them to seek treatment instead of reinforcing a belief that they are at fault for their current situation and judging them. Then, after their basic needs are met of knowing where they will sleep that night, or where they will get their next meal, they can be supported to continue treatment for their mental and physical health. The program, and Housing First model focuses on the idea that housing is a jumping off point. When you can come into your own place, you have the capacity to then do so much more. Their program views housing as a human right. They don’t want anyone to feel they must earn their way off of the street. Though they must fulfill the HUD (Housing of Urban Development) definition of chronic homelessness. Clients must be homeless at least a year or longer and suffer from a severe mental health diagnosis or a severe substance abuse disorder. Many have failed in other programs that have had more conditions.

PA

The program began in 2008 with one clinical team, and as they filled up their clinical, they continued to add teams. They have now grown to six clinical teams. Each of the six clinical teams handles approximately 80 clients, and they currently have 450 clients in the program. This include most of the participants to date because most stay in the program and continue to receive support from the clinical teams unless they become so independent they no longer need any support. The program has a 93% retention rate and is paving the way for other programs around the country to use the Housing First model.

“It’s an incredibly nuanced question, one of the things really important is to look at every person as an individual, our system or supports are not designed to help people with a variety of conditions, for example severe mental health, people transitioning out of foster care, and trauma.” He tends to work with adults who much earlier in life had situations and had ended up on the street for many, many years. But, if they had had some better supports earlier, they may have been better set-up for life. One of the areas they have seen issues with is trauma. “We don’t always know how to best walk through those things. We are just starting to scratch the surface of how to bounce back from trauma. We have to figure out how to better address this [trauma].”

Matt has seen so many people “who have done everything they can do to survive, to battle everything they must to get through to tomorrow, but a lot of time the system and the hoops we put-up for people are so difficult, that even if they’re as determined as they can be, they’re not going to make it.” He appreciates people’s resiliency, and wants to see where there are gaps he can help bridge.

Jim McPhail, Program Director at Kailo Haven, a residential program serving chronically mentally ill clients operated by Resources for Human Development in Philadelphia, has spent his life working for peace and justice by advocating for the rights of homeless people. Jim started volunteering with Saint Francis Inn in Kensington 39 years ago, where he spent six years contributing to the soup kitchen and shelter at Saint Francis. Here he first addressed the issues that would come to define his role advocating on behalf of social justice and the homeless community while also entering formation to become a Franciscan brother. While Jim soon learned that the religious life did not represent his true calling, he subsequently received training as a lay missionary, serving eight years in Jamaica.

JIM MCPHAIL DIRECTOR, RHD KAILO HAVEN

As someone from a poor, working class upbringing himself, Jim’s awareness of these issues is deeply felt and not simply hypothetical. He has experienced recovery in his own life, a process that led to his vocational calling and spiritual awakening. It is that experience and his commitment to the Christian spiritual and corporal works of mercy that continues to inspire him today in his work “helping those who are down and out.” However, while he continues to understand the role of underlying social problems for the challenges faced by the men he works with as both a behavioral health specialist certified in trauma recovery and empowerment and Director at Kailo Haven, he has come to realize that he was “not getting far with enhancing awareness of social issues alone” and that he could best use his skill set working with individuals and small groups in recovery situations.

While Jim feels “it is a sad time for society” and that the system and spirit of support that may have once existed in his youth has been eroded, he is heartened by the contributions made and work done by individuals and by the power that is made possible through the potential for individual change. He knows that the “king is not going to give it to us, “ but that the “love, peace and justice within us” can spread from “a thousand, to two thousand, to ten thousand, to ten million,” and that “that is how real change happens.”JimMcPhail’s lifetime of commitment to social change, and awareness that it is first necessary for it to begin within each of us, is what makes him an ideal nominee and model for what it means to be a “Hero for the Homeless.”

NOMINATION

By addressing the childhood trauma and co-occurring mental disorders that underlie the painful life circumstances experienced by those he works with, Jim believes he can initiate change within each of us at the individual level, from “heart to heart to heart.” He further realizes that each of us is “a paycheck away” from homelessness and that homelessness effects people from all walks of life and in different ways. For some, it could represent the worst thing that has ever happened to them, while for the population he works with, homelessness is much better than life in their family of origin.

Locally, he demonstrated against the “mock war” represented by the ArmyNavy college football game held annually in Philadelphia, even as homeless people lived and died on the city’s streets. He did this by joining others in pouring fake blood on the field and holding up banners in protest during theJim’sgame.commitment

“We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers and we should try to be there for our families in need,” he says. “We are all God’s children.”

In the 1980s, Jim recognized the hypocrisy of injustice locally and globally and engaged in activism in protest of apartheid in South Africa and of U.S. support of the Contras in Central America. Locally, Jim worked at Kensington Joint Action Council (KJAC) with the peace and action committees. “It was a powerful organization that was locally bringing about social change.”

Jim McPhail’s history of service for those in need is beyond compare except for those rare few who have dedicated their lives to serve those in need. Jim has spent the last seventeen years working at Resources for Human Development with homeless individuals having behavioral health disorders. He worked at the largest homeless shelter (Ridge Center) for ten years, carving out a special area of service for those with behavioral health disorders. His development of this “First Step” in the bustling 300 bed shelter encouraged many of the most desolate from the streets to spend months arranging the pieces of their fractured lives in this safe place. He has been the Director of RHD Kailo Haven for the last eight years, a safe haven for men down on their luck with mental health and/or substance use disorders. Jim is “Everyman” — he sees no one as better and no one as less. All are equal in his eyes. Jim started his mission of caring and support nearly forty years ago when services for the homeless, let alone individuals with behavioral health issues, was nearly non-existent. He started at the St. Francis Inn in Kensington hosting “Open Houses for the Homeless” which led to many men finding a bed and a place to rest. He spent a few years working in Boston and New York with individuals in the throes of drug addiction. He has been a very vocal social advocate for change and improved service to those in need. This has occasionally put him in conflict with the “powers that be,” since his is the voice of reason and compassion that will never be silenced. It is for these reasons, and for his undying zeal and effort to help those in need, that I nominate Jim McPhail as a Hero for the Homeless. — Jim Piasecki, RHD

OSAPHILLY.ORG 13

Social justice has always been at the core of Jim’s values and belief system.

“YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE TO PAY A TAX ON BASIC NECESSITIES.”

to issues of social justice is rooted in a deep awareness of the larger-scale, structural reasons for why people become homeless or suffer from other social ills. While many people may tend to blame homeless individuals for their life circumstances, Jim says it’s “not just a drug problem” and questions why, in a society such as ours, many people have to “work up to three full-time minimum wage jobs just to be able to afford to rent a home.” He understands the role of such causes as a reduction in the availability of affordable housing over time, and a property tax structure that penalizes the poor by raising the cost of housing in order to pay for childhood education. “You shouldn’t have to pay a tax on basic necessities,” he says.

Regardless of one’s circumstances, Jim recognizes the need for healing within each of us and of the importance of a shared sense of community, urging us to realize that “if a relation became homeless, you would want to feed, clothe, and shelter them,” and that “we should look at our human family in the same way.”

For the next 18 years Sonia experienced what many homeless individuals in our city and elsewhere experience. She found herself sleeping in alleyways and under bridges, experiencing deathly winter cold without socks or other adequate clothing, and being made to feel less than human as a result of stigmatization from people who don’t understand what it’s like to suddenly find yourself with nowhere to go or turn to in times of crisis.

Sonia finally got the help she needed when someone approached her while living on the street and asked if they could accompany her to a shelter. It was there that Sonia received access to the resources that enabled her to turn her life around as well as the training to become a Certified Peer Specialist so that she could assist others in overcoming the obstacles that she had overcome. While Sonia laments that “these resources didn’t exist when I was homeless,” she feels fortunate that she now has the opportunity to provide those resources to others.

“How did I get here? I’m actually on the street?”

According to Sonia, one of the simplest ways a person can begin to help a homeless person is to simply talk to them. “Ask them if they need help,” she says. “Tell them you support them. “ From there, you can offer to help in other simple ways, such as offering “a sandwich, socks, or a blanket,” and during cold winter nights “making sure they have somewhere to stay” by being aware of social service agencies that can provide assistance. One of the most important things is to speak with respect with those who find themselves homeless and to realize that they are normal people too. According to Sonia, even people who have been living on the streets for a long time and may feel there is no hope can come around if you treat them with respect. “Talk to them like they are one of you,” she shares. “That will make them open up more.” From her own experience, she knows that “no one likes to be talked down to. Show me how to fix it, who to talk to. Lead me in the right direction.”

Sonia Thompson, a Certified Peer Specialist and Recovery Coach with Mental Health Partnerships in Philadelphia, brings her own personal experience with homelessness to her work assisting individuals transition from a life on the streets to one of hope and recovery through the many resources offered by health and human service agencies throughout the city. After two years of living on the street herself, Sonia woke up one day and realized, “How did I get here? I’m actually on the street.”

SONIA THOMPSON CERTIFIED PEER SPECIALIST & RECOVERY COACH, MENTAL H EALTH PARTNERSHIPS

Sonia’s experiences and insights now enable her to not only provide direct services to homeless individuals but to educate the general public and help to overcome some of the stigmatization that can make life for those living on the streets so challenging. In describing what people who have not experienced homelessness need to understand about those who have, she shares, “I still have a heart. I care. I want to be loved. We can’t express this because we’re trying to get food, somewhere to sleep. We want to be loved, to be cared for. We don’t want to be homeless.”

14 ONE STEP AWAY

From her personal experience overcoming homelessness and working to help those who still find themselves on the street, Sonia also has many other observations that can help service providers assist even more people in need. While agencies like her own Mental Health Partnerships, Project

HOME, and many others already provide life-saving services, she realizes even more can be done. One of her ideas is to convert many of the abandoned buildings and lots she sees in her daily work around the city into shelters and housing for homeless individuals. While this work is already being done, she feels even more can be done in this way to provide much needed shelter and housing for homeless individuals, especially in corridors, such as along Broad Street, where people experiencing homelessness already congregate. Sometimes it’s our own experiences that give us the most insight into the challenges faced by another person. Perhaps few know this as much as Sonia Thompson and others like her who have spent a significant portion of their life without the comfort and stability provided by steady housing. It’s this insight which enables Sonia to share: “I just want us to be more aware that the homeless need our support, need our love, need our hearts, need to know we care for them.”

MENTAL HEALTH CASE MANAGER, RHD’S FASST/CONNECTIONS, ST. JOHN’S HOSPICE

The “hell” she mentions can include mental health issues, families breaking apart, a lot of trauma including domestic violence, lack of education, and barriers to employment. It’s become her life mission to help those experiencing homelessness, and says each person needs a coach or cheerleader. “It’s amazing to see each person’s journey.” Clients need help to “jump through flaming hoops or navigate a system that is so frustrating that most people eventually give up.” The importance of educating yourself on the issue is emphasized by Melissa.

Photo by Tom Gralish originally published on Philly.com. Melissa speaking with a man during the 2016 Point-In-Time Count.

MELISSA CLARK

EVERYONE SOMETHINGHASIN THEIR LIFE THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH, BUT SOMEONE WAS THERE TO HELP YOU. I THINK WE SHOULD BE THERE TO HELP THEM AND NOT PUT A STIGMATIZATION ON IT.”

Last year, for a short time after a divorce, Melissa Clark was couch surfing with her son. They had to live with her parents for a little bit. If not for family and friends, they would have been in a shelter. The experience for her was a humbling illustration of how we are all just one step away from a life altering event that can leave us suddenly homeless. This understanding is partially what motivates Melissa to be a fierce advocate for the rights, wants, needs of her homeless participants in her role as a mental health case manager for RHD’’s FaSST/ Connections program. Her office is at St. John’s Hospice, a men’s shelter at 12th & RaceMelissaStreets.connects her clients to services, housing, treatment, hospitalization, and education. She engages her clients in conversation and says many people “look right through them. They are not lazy, beggars who are all addicts and mentally ill. They have been through hell. They need compassion.”

“THEY ARE NOT LAZY, BEGGARS WHO ARE ALL ADDICTS AND MENTALLY ILL. THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH HELL. THEY NEED COMPASSION.”

“You can do a lot of harm by not educating yourself first if you want to help.” She suggests that this education could include volunteering and talking directly to a homeless person or going to a shelter. “And we need more affordable housing and a living wage.” It has been an honor for her to work with each one of her clients and hear their story from street to home.

The Housing First model is important to use because everyone should get housing. “People shouldn’t have all of these requirements. Once they have that stability over their head then they can start to get some of the other things that they really need.”

She suggests those that would like to help volunteer with a local organization. “There are a lot of great organizations that work with homelessness.” They can also call and write their legislators that can make change within the government.

Tina believes that everyone deserves housing as a human right, as it is really important for the health of her patients. “I believe as a medical provider, that health care is a human right. For many people, lack of safe housing and shelter threatens their health. Everyone has the right to a roof over their head.” She feels one of the big stereotypes around housing can prevent people from seeking the care they need: “it’s not just folks living on the street. There are people with all levels of housing insecurity that affect their health and their ability to function.”

Tina works as a full-time medical doctor at the Stephen Klein Wellness Center. The Stephen Klein Wellness Center located at 22nd & Cecil B. Moore Streets is committed to addressing the health and wellness needs of people who are currently homeless, formerly homeless, and people living in our North Philadelphia community. The center offers primary medical care, psychiatric services, nurse care management, individual, couples and group counseling, peer-led outreach and care coordination, healing touch, on-site legal counseling, dental services, and assistance with applying for health insurance benefits. If you are in need of services you can contact the Stephen Klein Wellness Center by phone at 215320-6187.

DR. TINA CASTELLAN FAMILY MEDICAL DOCTOR, STEPHEN KLEIN WELLNESS CENTER “THERE ARE PEOPLE WITH ALL LEVELS OF HOUSING INSECURITY THAT AFFECT THEIR HEALTH AND THEIR ABILITY TO FUNCTION.”

Tina works with homeless and poverty stricken folks in North Philadelphia. Specifically, she likes to work with women and babies, doing family planning and pediatrics. She’s a procedure master, an amazing teacher to the medical students that come through her clinic and one of the biggest hearts on the planet. Tina is a hero! When she’s not doing family planning and pediatrics, Tina cares for homeless folks to help wean them off opiates, assist in mental healthcare, and getting life threatening illnesses finally under control. She works with amazing people to make sure that her patients are well taken care of and can walk away from the practice with some hope of surviving another day on the streets.

Specifically, Tina likes to work with women and babies: “I enjoy working with families during pregnancy and practicing pediatrics once women deliver.” Her patients consider her to have one of the biggest hearts on the planet. Dr. Castellan also provides medication assisted treatment (MAT) for people with opiate use disorder (OUD). She helps her homeless patients safely stop using opioids, assists in mental healthcare, and helps patients get life-threatening diseases under control.

“I think that Project HOME’s mission statement is the perfect way to express it! ‘None of us are home until all of us are home.’” That’s why Dr. Tina Castellan has chosen to address social justice issues mainly through her work at Project HOME, a local nonprofit whose main objective is to make Philadelphia the first major US city to end chronic homelessness.

— Elaina Kalogerakis, Philadelphia FIGHT NOMINATION

homeless you experience more trauma.” But she has a clear view of the solution including housing as a basic human right.

CARNITA

WASHINGTON CASE MANAGER, THE CENTER AT ARCH STREET UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

homelessness is disheartening — it’s nice to feed people and give them socks, but wouldn’t they like to fix their own meals?”, Carnita asks. By working with her clients who she sees by referral or walk-in, she helps by treating the problem holistically. “People need to come and see what the experience of homelessness is in-person, and if you see the conditions, it may motivate you to help someone move to housing security.” She is also passionate that others need not judge those experiencing homelessness. “People who are experiencing homelessness are not bad people. They shouldn’t be categorized as people who are lazy, uneducated, substance users.”Formany of Carnita’s clients, untreated mental health issues and trauma have led to their homelessness. “People leave traumatic situations and choose to be homeless instead of being in a dangerous situation, and then when “THERE SHOULD BE FAIR, EQUITABLE HOUSING PEOPLE CAN AFFORD. HOUSING SHOULDN’T BE AN OPTION — IT SHOULD BE A PRIORITY.”

Because of her personal experience obtaining secure housing after 15 years of homelessness, and stability in her recovery after 30 years of substance use, Carnita Washington is currently pursuing her master’s degree in social work at Temple University so that she can help others with social justice issues access needed resources. She interns at The Center designed to carry on and enhance three critical areas of work related to the Arch Street United Methodist Church: Grace Café, Serenity House, and the Community Center and Civic Engagement activity currently operating in the church building. Her role includes getting her clients into treatment, if needed, or obtaining resources and services on an individual basis. She is a liaison between a lot of agencies that most people don’t have access to. Her role varies based on an individual’s needs, but she can help obtain birth certificates, direct someone to the nearest food pantry, or get someone connected to a shelter or safe haven.“Chronic

“There should be fair, equitable housing people can afford. Housing shouldn’t be an option — it should be a priority. Everyone should have a safe place to rest at night. It shouldn’t be [let’s] see who can qualify or who can afford it. Everyone should have it. We take in more strays than people. That’s not fair. We invest in parking lots instead of housing.”Herview of the solution includes changes to our financial priorities. “If people made better investments, as opposed to investing in other things, it would make a change. For example, the sugar tax should be invested in affordable housing. Invest in training for people to be competent to treat people the right way; to be caring and compassionate.” She believes people need to look at homelessness as a public health concern and not view it as a moral deficiency.

OSAPHILLY.ORG 17

“It’s just as important as the opioid epidemic, or domestic violence. If people would look at it as a public health issue, we can begin to slowly find a cure.”

MICHEL NORTHDIRECTOR,5THSTREET REVITALIZATION PROJECT

STEPHANIE

3. Business Assistance: “We work one-on-one with owners to improve store fronts, to get new lights and windows, to provide help filling out business forms and paying bills, to explain how changes in laws might affect their business plans – we’re like social workers for businesses.”

1. Cleaning and Street-scape: “We have two awesome guys who clean the streets and sidewalks of North 5th Street seven days a week, and that’s the bread and butter of what we do to enhance community pride. People want to live somewhere that looks clean; we’ve been cleaning for ten years and people are just starting to realize the impact and why it’s important; residents and business owners are now thanking us; parents can walk their kids to daycare without having to step over piles of trash.”

Stephanie, and the team she leads, have selflessly committed themselves to this community, accepting that it is a very slow process offering little acknowledgment. They support Olney because its residents are as important as any others in the City of Philadelphia. On behalf of all those who advocate for Olney, Stephanie is deserving of One Step Away’s 2019 Champion for Social Justice award.

The North 5th Street Revitalization Project has four objectives — Stephanie explains:

4. Community: “This is my favorite part — we’re trying to get residents to see the beauty of where they live and why diversity matters; we send that message though community events like the Olney Winter Festival, Open Mike Night and the Olney Youth Arts Festival.”

Stephanie Michel is the Director of the North 5th Street Revitalization Project and Chair of the Olney Advisory Board. These are groups of people dedicated to maintaining and enhancing the Philadelphia community known as Olney. This low to moderate income neighborhood in North Philadelphia is the most linguistically diverse zip code in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Sadly, Olney’s outward reputation includes crime, disrepair, and trash on the street. But Stephanie, who has lived in this community since the age of 12, knows that Olney is made up of wonderful people just trying to make ends meet —people who know the power of diversity. But Olney needs help to maintain its pride in order to fend off the forces of gentrification, or forces that could take Olney into despair.

“I lived in Brooklyn until 12; my parents moved to Philadelphia because of high living costs in New York and that was a time when many Haitians were moving to Philadelphia. It was a hard move for me, but Olney brought me comfort because of the diversity. I’ve always been around people who look different from me. I’m more comfortable and I love learning different languages, learning about different food and cultures; growing up in Brooklyn that’s what you saw — there were Mexicans, Guatemalans, and Africans all on the same block; I was used to that throughout my life. It was that background that brought me to the North 5th Street Revitalization Project.”Afterearning a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Sociology at Albright College in Reading PA, Stephanie worked in nonprofits before becoming a kindergarten teacher. But wanting to help people one-on-one made her return to nonprofits: “A position at the North 5th Street Revitalization Project was available and because I grew up in Olney I wanted to see if this would be for me. I was hired under AmeriCorps VISTA for a year of service; after a year I was hired as the Program Coordinator and then promoted to Assistant Director a year later; I became Co-Director and then Director in 2017.”TheNorth 5th Street Revitalization Project started in 2006 when a business owner saw the community declining. North 5th Street was dirty, a lot of businesses were closing: “I gathered together business owners, stakeholders, and residents who lived in the community as a steering committee; this led to funding by Philadelphia’s Commerce Department to enhance the commercial corridor of Olney’s North 5th Street.”

2. Public Safety: “We work with the 35th Police District to keep North 5th Street as safe as possible; we help business owners get security cameras and provide information about how business owners can keep their places safe.”

Stephanie Michel is a resident of Lawncrest, a community just East of Olney. She is the daughter of Haitian immigrants who came to the United States in the late 1970’s settling in the Crown Heights Section of Brooklyn. As a young child she learned the value of living in a diverse community.

OSAPHILLY.ORG 19

“DIVERSITY IS OUR STRONGEST ASSET — WE USE IT AS THE FLAG WE WAVE BECAUSE OLNEY IS SO LINGUISTICALLY DIVERSE WITH MORE THAN THIRTY LANGUAGES SPOKEN IN THE LOCAL SCHOOLS.”

Stephanie is Chair of the Advisory Board, formerly the steering committee: “In 2015 we developed a ten-year strategic plan with stakeholders from the community.” The underpinning of their effort in Olney is to preserve diversity: “Diversity is our strongest asset — we use it as the flag we wave because Olney is so linguistically diverse with more than thirty languages spoken in the local schools. We have Sub-Saharan African, Vietnamese, Chinese, Haitian, Korean.”

But the current political winds are saying if you don’t look like me, get out of here — Make America White Again: “Olney is the antidote to racist thinking. People from outside should come visit Olney and maybe they would see things differently. We have different cultures that all get along; if you speak to most Olney residents, they’re proud of the diversity. The home of the North 5th Street Revitalization Project — the center of activities to strengthen Olney and the meeting place of the Advisory Board.

© 2018 TGoldmanPhotography

20 ONE STEP AWAY

“WE ACCEPT EVERYONE AND WE LOVE EVERYBODY — THIS IS HOW SHOULDAMERICALOOK.”

OSAPHILLY.ORG 21

A man who lived in the neighborhood for thirty years stopped into the office to share stories about how his kids had friends from so many cultures, and he thought that’s what made his kids successful. In the Advisory Board when Trump became President, we knew we had to maintain this safe place where cultures can mix and it’s okay. We accept everyone and we love everybody — this is how America should look. Olney is portrayed in the news as a negative place, but as far as the intrinsic makeup of the community, it’s a welcoming feel-good place where not everyone is the same and that’s the strength of diversity.”

What do you get personally from doing this work? “I know in my heart of hearts that this is a beautiful community. My personal goal is to maintain the identity of the community because there are a lot of outside factors that we can’t control — gentrification has already started to take place in other parts of the city. I go back to Brooklyn and it’s not the same place as when I grew up there in the 90’s — it’s a completely different neighborhood. House prices have skyrocketed, I don’t want to see that happen here. One thing I say to myself every day is that Olney deserves the very best, the best that I have to offer.”

If the dream of Olney is diversity, what’s the nightmare? “Rich people coming in and just capitalizing on the assets that are here in a malicious way. That’s what happened in other parts of the city like building expensive condos. We need to support the people who are here and maintain our identity, and we must maintain community pride — these are our main goals.”

22 ONE STEP AWAY

“I KNOW IN MY HEART OF HEARTS THAT THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY.”

You are a very capable person who could easily get a fancier job — are you giving anything up to do this work in Olney? “I give up free time mostly and definitely income. I work between 60-70 hours — even when I take a vacation I’m still working; but I don’t see this as a sacrifice because it comes with the job. I can say that this job makes me feel whole — it makes me happy that we’re doing things to make Olney a better place. When I walk down the street and talk to residents who appreciate the clean streets, that feels good.”

Does the community understand what you’re trying to do? “Some people do but not everyone or even enough. We work in a community that is low-moderate income and people are just trying to survive, which makes our job a little bit harder. People aren’t worried about the grand scheme of economics, community development, community pride… People see our events and it excites them, but after that moment they’re just worried about making dinner for their kids or how they’re going to pay their next bill. This initiative is being done for them without them being aware; it’s going to take time — hopefully ten years from now people will get it!”

Photo essay of Stephanie Michel by Ted Goldman of TGoldmanPhotography. Pictured left Stephanie leads Christmas carols on a tram ride between festival locations during the Olney Winter Festival.

“OLNEY CAN

PEOPLEDISCOURAGINGSEEMIFONLYFOCUSONTHENEGATIVE, BUT WE CHOOSE TO CELEBRATE THE MINI WINS AND THAT’S WHAT GIVES US HOPE AND INSPIRES US TO KEEP GOING!”

Words of a true champion: “There are a couple of girls I’ve watched grow up; I do this for people like them so they can be proud of where they live. Not only do their moms have businesses here but this is where they live — this is their world — they don’t get outside of Olney. When all you hear on the news is people getting shot and all things negative, I’m working to give them hope — to give them light — to give them a place to be proud of.”

OSAPHILLY.ORG 23

But what keeps you going? “Olney can seem discouraging if people only focus on the negative, but we choose to celebrate the mini wins and that’s what gives us hope and inspires us to keep going!”

When she takes on a client, each case much be assessed individually because each situation is so unique, and the needs are different. Once their needs are assessed, which commonly includes a lot of mental health treatment, they can be supported as they transition into housing opportunities that Marybeth helps coordinate. She also commonly helps coordinate medical treatment and school.

The next step would be volunteering. Connect with an organization that provides services to the homeless. “Choose an organization that reaches out in a way that means something to them.” Vote, and get involved in community organizations that improve the community as a whole.”

MARYBETH RESOURCE COORDINATOR, RHD STATIONFASST/CONNECTIONS,HOUSEMEN’SSHELTER

“PEOPLE ARE VERY QUICK TO JUDGE. THEY FOCUS ON WHAT CHOICES THAT PERSON HAS MADE AS THE EXCLUSIVE REASON THEY ARE HOMELESS. WHILE THAT DOES PLAY A ROLE SO DOES ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, ACCESS TO HOUSING,RACISM.”AND

In addition to her job, Marybeth also volunteers to help individuals in need. When volunteer opportunities arise, she is first to sign up. These things include providing a meal or conversation to the homeless, as well as packaging materials for needle exchanges and safe injection sites. Marybeth keeps an open mind when it comes to issues like local needle exchanges, but she also tackles volunteer roles that are much more complex, including joining and leading groups around national efforts to drive public policy and funding for homeless populations, or presenting on best practices we do in Philadelphia at national conferences.

As a resource coordinator for Resources for Human Development’s FaSST/Connections program, Marybeth Taylor provides mental healthcare management. Her office is located at Station House, one of Center City’s men’s homeless shelters. Her caseload consists of 22-26 people who are referred by the shelter and other referrals from partnering agencies focused on helping the homeless, including the Office for Homeless Services.

The role that Marybeth plays is one of the most complicated in her organization. Each day she engages with individuals and families coming directly off the streets with very complex needs. They are also a highly vulnerable population, and they need help navigating a complex system that is broken and could affect anyone. “There are a lot of discriminatory practices.” One of Marybeth’s best qualities is her desire to learn and seek out any new knowledge to help the clients she provides services to. She is known for showing compassion every day and is committed to show the importance housing has for a person experiencing homelessness.

24 ONE STEP AWAY

Marybeth also recommends paying attention to legislature that would affect issues involving affordable housing. And to support the right councilpersons because “policies are really important.”

Those who wish to help the homeless can begin with “trying to remember to focus on giving people the respect they deserve and viewing them as equal. People are very quick to judge. They focus in on what choices that person has made as the exclusive reason they are homeless. While that does play a role so does economic opportunities, access to housing, and racism.”

TAYLOR

TOGETHER, WE CAN End homelessness

OSAPHILLY.ORG 25 TO

Together we’re better. Together, we’re RHD.

Everybody deserves a place to call home. From shelters and safe havens to supportive housing and nationally-renowned case management services, Resources for Human Development helps people of all abilities attain and maintain their own housing. RHD is a national leader in pioneering innovative strategies to support people as they work to break they cycle of RHDhomelessness.founded One Step Away in 2009 as a voice of advocacy and social justice, and as an innovative way to solve gaps in social services that would help people achieve self-sufficiency. A national human services nonprofit with the broadest possible service mission, RHD supports tens of thousands of people each year in caring and effective services addressing intellectual disabilities, behavioral health, homelessness, addiction recovery and much more. Find out how you can help at www.rhd.org

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UNCOVERED ISSUES GIVES OUR VENDORS AND WRITERS A VOICE. IT IS A CHANCE FOR THEM TO SHARE THEIR STORIES — AND CONNECT WITH YOU, OUR READERS. VOICES: UNCOVERED ISSUES

Atrepublic.thesame time, this move is part of an ongoing effort to undermine any possibility of solidarity between US workers and our class brothers and sisters abroad. By demonizing and dehumanizing those divided from us by imaginary lines drawn by political representatives of the capitalists, the aim is to keep us from making common cause against them. It’s the old strategy of divide and rule.But we don’t have to passively accept it. Workers’ unions still have millions of members and play key roles in the economy. It will be difficult for Trump to build a wall without our cooperation, and we shouldn’t give it to him.

As I watched the NBA finals. The triumphant team celebrated by pouring champagne on each other, and according to the sports analyst, it cost over four million dollars, not to mention the very expensive cigars that were wasted due to the ruins from the wetness from the poured champagne. And America claim to be plundering financially? America wastes so much of the vitalities that truly could be used to feed hungry families, give proper medical care, housing, and many more humanitarian aids to deprived families here as well as beyond onto third world countries. And they still chant, “America the great?” I can go on and on of the monstrosities of immoralities that’s openly displayed here in America. Of course, I’d love to be proud to be an American. But after witnessing the degeneration of this country, I’m just about to the point of total embarrassment of this country we live in. When my mother was working for the public-school system as a lunchroom aid, she would tell me that they had to according to the law, throw away just about as much food that actually was eaten by the students.

Organized labor should proclaim that, in the name of our Constitution and of international working-class solidarity, it will boycott Trump’s vanity project and will not assist in any way with its construction. You can’t build a wall with bayonets! YOU CAN’T BUILD A WALL WITH BAYONETS

BY: ERIC HAMELL

Oh, say can you see, by the dawns early light…Oh say does that star-spangled banner yetWhatwave?astreaming popular question that has been now rendered. Is America truly the great? Does power reign over morals? Humanitarian respect has been stuffed in the back pockets of millions and millions of the so called patriotic American citizens. Please do not get me wrong or take these comments with a one-track mind. How can a bond-servant that has been physically, and morally whipped, raped, and rated as an animal remain respectful to one’s master or authority figures? Like a prisoner awaiting judgment for his negative acts, I truly believe that the United States of America will be the first in line for sentencing. But one thing I do agree with regarding America. And that’s the monitoring of our, or should I say, their borders to illegal immigrants that slither into the U.S. only to kill and destroy. But at the same time, America needs to clean its own backyards of discrimination against its own citizens. Such as immoral unions, stereotypes, racisms, oppressions, and many, many more of the monstrosities citizens have to endure here in thisAlthoughcountry.this may not be a popular topic for most Americans, but truth will prevail. Even through hallways of long sufferings. As a young lad in my elementary days of public school, we always had to take pledges of allegiance to that star-spangled banner (the American flag). It was taught to us in history class, or as I should say, American history class, that this country we live in is one of pride, integrity, honor, and all the other accolades that as a learned adult I truly have to beg the differ. They left out the true details of how an overseas culture was unfairly stolen and taken against its own will by American patriarchs. They left out the fact that their actions that was deemed legal back then, planted seeds of oppression in the spirits of minorities today. In this next statement of immorality, I’m not at all stating that I look down on any human being. However, I truly indeed love the person.

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And I turn on my television only to see the bloated stomachs of sickly hungry babies and adults around the world. These are only just a few of the inhumane and immoral deeds of our government now as well as then. I pray in tears for America. A modern version of Sodom and Gomorrah. You know that region that was divinely destroyed for its vast immoralities. “Make America Great Again”. That’s the slogan our current president has uttered since his seat in office. But as little does he knows. To make America great again, it will have to indeed start with love without question. Because love will protect, love will heal, love will feed, love won’t steal, love is fair, love is kind, love is moral, love will respect, love is sharing, and love is just. But until then, love will indeed judge! So, in closing. To all those athletes that kneeled during the allegiance to that tainted banner; until this country turn and repent, I’d have to strongly agree with them. America, please do not hate me for this editorial. Ponder the facts. And if you really have a heart in your body, true love will surely surface. And then, and only then, will the healing begin. May God bless you all.

So, President Trump has now (not for the first time) made a mockery of his Constitutional oath of office, by declaring a totally phony emergency in order to get his border wall built without having to deal with all that checks-and-balances nonsense.

This is an attack on America’s working-class majority in two different ways. First, notwithstanding its imperfections, the US Constitution embodies major democratic conquests of the Revolution of 1776, made possible by the laborers, artisans, and farmers who fought for a

A frosty tree still stands there bare Its boughs stretching past Patios,power-linesbenches, and fences too While flowers dance, sing, cry, then die Under frigid stormy skies

Now that fall has passed.

And a frosty tree still stands there bare Its boughs jutting out past Benchespower-linesand fences too While flowers dance sing, cry, then die Under frigid stormy skies

To learn more about the artist and order his book, Messenger Blues, go https://bit.ly/2HGPJDw.to:

Carrington’s book Messenger Blues 1 9 5 4 6 2 8 3 7 8 4 3 9 5 7 2 6 1 2 7 6 1 8 3 4 5 9 4 2 9 8 1 5 6 7 3 3 1 7 2 9 6 5 4 8 6 5 8 7 3 4 1 9 2 5 8 2 6 7 9 3 1 4 7 3 4 5 2 1 9 8 6 9 6 1 3 4 8 7 2 5 SUDOKU 1 7 8 2 4 6 5 1 3 9 4 1 9 7 3 2 6 5 8 5 6 3 1 9 8 7 2 4 2 5 4 8 7 1 9 6 3 9 7 8 3 5 6 4 1 2 6 3 1 9 2 4 5 8 7 8 2 6 5 4 7 3 9 1 1 9 7 6 8 3 2 4 5 3 4 5 2 1 9 8 7 6 SUDOKU 2 U N I X G S M T P V I R U S Y S R W I F I Q T L K E D T A G P P L X G G F M I V A 3 B U L Y S A C P N X W R M P E G S I W J S M O A W E B M P B D N S A S Q L R T S T S O C A B M D R H I T T U I R P O S T I O N E W O R A R P O D C A S T D N S W H S L E A L J T P L M E P P W T S T B D L P L A I A M E I N T E R L A C E D C N P T R D C P A V O I P G B H K I B L E F V C A C H E P L E S I M P R A T W K K E Y W O R D T S H J Q P P L O G I N G C H A T P WORD SEARCH A D H O C S O S O I M A M L I A N A A X E L S E R A E A S E L R E A D O N I T S T I C K I N T H E M U D D U O S A G E L A V A L A M P T A R T A R U Z I I L I U M D I O D E G U R U A R R A S C R I B E R U P T V I G I L S O U R E S T O N M I L E P O S T O P U S O N O U N D E R C L A S S M A N A N O A S A I L C A R E T K I L T E R O S A D I E U A X L E R E N O P E A R T CROSSWORD LAST ISSUE’S SOLUTIONSPUZZLE

OSAPHILLY.ORG 27

To find out about upcoming exhibits, or purchase his framed photos, you may contact him com.Eugenetheartist@gmail.here:

Now that fall has passed

As an artist myself, I am committed to support the evolution and work of other artists. I recently met Eugene Carrington at a Business Building Workshop. I interviewed him to learn more about his work. Here is some of his story and some examples of his work Eugene (Gene) grew up in Queens, NY. He’s held many jobs including temp jobs, security guard, cab driver, NYC bike messenger, and yes, street vendor, until he began to approach his life as an artist. In the 1980’s he went around the city of New with his 35mm Minolta to develop his “conservationist style”. He says that he found the art community for photographers at the time not very inclusive but didn’t let that stop him. He says that photography taught him to see things more deeply. These observational skills led him to writing where he joined the NY Writers Coalition. He writes short stories and poetry. I asked him how he sees the difference between the two forms. He said that poetry is a compressed brief statement of reality: of familiar emotions about our environment and society. However, a short story is more expansive: focused on characters, a struggle, a dramatic high point and a conclusion.Whenasked what brought him to Philly, he said he was finding that life in NYC was becoming more difficult. A very difficult place to stand out as an artist with so much talent, so much competition, and a rising cost of living. Gene became homeless for a time —couch surfing. A friend described Philly to him as more helpful and respectful of artists. Having come here and settled in Gene says he finds Philly to be “a very livable place”. He says he finds it to be very “live and let live” here. And an easier place for artistic talent to be recognized.Mostrecently Gene has become as member of The Philly Tenants Union. He wants to do a short film asking, “Why did the Tenant’s Union form?”, “What are the challenges facing tenants and small property owners?” And “How is the city addressing the issues?” Let’s stayed tuned to see what Mr. Carrington will be doing next. Eugene Carrington with his art pieces. Eugene

As Eve’s garden floats away Oh,slowly,so, so, slowly And now those songbirds are long, long gone Since hostile winter winds strike again

WINTER’S WIND OF CHANGE BY: CARRINGTONEUGENE

SOMEONE YOU MAY WANT TO KNOW BY: MARILYN BLAKE Girard Avenue Trolley framed photo.

It’s the little things in life, that always get me by. Like glancing at you across the room, into that twinkle in your Theeye. suddenness of your swag sounds the gentle winds. Like prayers that were answered, of sending me a friend. My mind’s all in this daze, not knowing truly the next move. Will I miss out on this too, am I using the right tools. Earth underneath my feet, with thoughts to call mine. A pondered thought of you, that’s calmer all the time. It’s the little things in life, that always get me by. Like glancing at you across the room, into that twinkle in your Falleneye. dreams and memories, we get back up again. Your vision is sealed in my head, I never want it to end. First words were first heard, in the crossing paths of life. The permanent ink that stroked those scribes, officiating you my wife. I never meant to be too forward, don’t want this to slip through my hands. Romeo is what I want to be, to you the fairest of the land. Quiet streams and gems that gleam, always makes my day. The little things that reflect your beauty, gave me these words to say. I thank God for the little things, that always get me by. Like glancing at you across the room, into that twinkle in your Bernadetteeye. Davis you are so special, my heart can tell no lie. The little things in life in which God uses, with that twinkle in your eye. And so I’ll end this ode with terms of the heart, and all that I pen is true. There’s no other woman on the face of this earth, that moves me the way that you do.

Thank you so much Lord for bringing me through A little bit of me and a whole lot of That’syou the way it needs to be One24-7 soul is saved, and all rejoice in Onceheavenimmature, thanks to you I Sogrewglad you love me, and I love you too You having my back means I need no weapon I followed your scripture since the days of unleavened Bread, back when it was still significant Glad to know that you bless the wise and the ignorant Because in the drawer I am not the sharpest knife I did stupid things that could’ve cost me my whole life Just like that what if I rolled on the train tracks One big splat I would’ve never got my brain back

GOLDENTOUCH BY:CALDWELLZACHARY

Listen to Him He’s telling some of y’all you’re ticking me off Make God mad I’d rather have the sun on my back It burns a little compared to hell and ain’t no running from that Make God mad I’d rather wrestle blue whales Dive right in the water praying that I do well And if you think about it who would I be praying to Don’t wanna hear it I’m sorry if I’m delaying you

Speaking of brain back what’s up with them brainiacs Not believing in you they’re deranged like a maniac

POETRY:

The devil playing you don’t listen to what he says to do Remember he’s a liar he doesn’t plan on paying you He got people thinking they will be FocusmillionairesontheLord He wouldn’t lie in a billion years It’s not another down, it’s another day Giveupit up for the one that’s higher than a layup Cleanliness is next to Godliness so keep it nice and tidy Always give praise to the Lord God Almighty.

28 ONE STEP AWAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kareem is a One Step Away vendor, who began writing poetry this year and wrote his first article “No Child Left Unprotected” published in Issue 2. He is going to continue to submit monthly to the One Step Away Magazine. Kareem can often be found in Old City distributing the magazine. UNCOVERED ISSUES WHAT MATTERS MOST BY: KAREEM JONES

Living soul, a touch of Sometimesgold, when l feel Thatinfernally,allIhave touched Crumbledhas into dust and nothing more. Either a delusion or Andillusion,nothing more. But at times, relief, respite, and livingJustNotAspiritualrevelationAnmortalstateshortIfAndattainAndhoweverfordreamsmyIntervenesrejuvenationintothoughtsandandIgraspitwheneverandIcan.howeverIcanitsustain,maintainitIwill.Ionlycanallowarecessfromthisofworryandtrepidation,epiphanyoraorevenaintercession,goldentouch,muchbut,enoughtoliftasoulfromdust.

THETHINGSLITTLE BY: BRYANT E. CULPEPPER, SR.

Speaking of maniacs how about the dudes that left me for dead I didn’t die though I healed quite well That’sinsteadthepower of the Lord Almighty God Our testimony means we all have a job Yes, I know I’m blessed that death chalk ain’t tracing me I will praise loud I don’t want a rock replacing me If He wanted, He could make a rock dance and a tree walk He could make the clouds harden up and make the sea talk If He wanted, He could put a sea-hawk on a seesaw

Actually, I’m self-taught. What got me into it was one of my mentors, he, well I never really met the man, his name was Murray Turner. He created the comic strip “Wee Pals” featured in Ebony Magazine, back in the day — and that got me into drawing and what have you. From there I actually bought comic books, I was always checking out the comics, I had comics all over the wall on my side of the room. Even into adulthood I collected his stuff, plus the Sunday comics and daily comics, because I would study them. I got the books on anatomy, comics, and so on, to study them.Iused to draw in my homework. The teacher would know it was my homework or my book report because I had drawings along the borders of my papers. Why did you start drawing and choose the subject matter you do? I chose drawing because I was bad at playing the trumpet. I listen to jazz, blues, and gospel and wanted to play music when I was younger. I had this love for Louise Armstrong. If I didn’t teach myself how to draw, I would definitely play horn or trumpet in my own jazz group. I draw everything from monsters to science fiction, which is my favorite. I have a variety of things I do or enjoy. The situations in “Easy Streak” [the comic Douglas draws for One Step Away] I’ve been on the edge of homelessness on more than one occasion. Looking for apartments and I was hanging on the thread. So, I know from experience if you’re calling or checking out apartments, people really don’t have apartments for Section 8. Landlords think that the tenants will tear the apartment up. But there are people, including myself, who appreciate a roof over their heads. I’ve been there. The subject matter in “Easy Streak” I take seriously because my family members and classmates have died of drugs. They were wiped out by drugs. There was only a small group that was alive to attend the class reunion. I never really attend class reunions because I don’t want to look at them, it’s just horrible.

Were you involved in the Civil Rights Movement?

I grew up hearing it on the radio and watching it on TV along with the Vietnam conflicts — I had family in Vietnam. All it takes to begin addressing these issues is talk, but people don’t want to talk about it. In terms of Vietnam, nobody really knew where it was [located] at. I knew where it was because my Grandma had a subscription to National Geographic. I used to read the magazines and study different locations and cultures. I can draw people from all different cultures across the world. I saw Planet Apes and saw the Statue of Liberty sticking out of the ground, and I turned to my parents and asked, “what were you people thinking bringing up children in an era where people don’t care if they blow up the world.”

Douglas Pope Wilson

The page where the two characters talk about the boss sleeping in the car — I’ve seen people sleeping in their cars with all of their possessions. I’ve lived in Delaware all of my life and I’ve seen it here in Delaware.

“In today’s world, people are polluting the air, waging war on each other, they really don’t care if we blow up the world. This is the only planet we have.”

Do you feel that your comics are more social awareness or advocacy? Social awareness. You don’t need to be a politician to understand what’s happening. If you have Sean Penn and other celebrities going to different countries to help out there it makes a statement. Shouldn’t the politicians see that and think about how that’s something they should have done. Especially regarding Hurricane Katrina & the fires in California I ask politicians: “don’t you know how to get off your butts in Washington and act on those emergencies?” Instead of just

OSAPHILLY.ORG 29 Meet The Artist: “ STREAK”EASY

I’m speaking about issues that I grew up with, in the 1960s — I know of the problems I speak of — racism and economic issues could’ve been resolved during and after the Civil Rights Movement, and they didn’t.

The homeless issue could’ve been solved ages ago — just all the problems could have — but the politicians don’t want to do anything. You have celebrities trying to solve problems — some putting their lives in danger — to solve problems the politicians should have solved ages ago.

I take my comics seriously. The cat character that works in the diner in the comic says he “eats the scrapes of other people” and lives above his work in a one-room apartment. I know from experience, I lived in a one-room apartment and it’s not really a good place. The landlords don’t care how they keep up the building, they just want their money.

When did you start doing comics? When I was 12. What are your comics based on? Real life. How did you start drawing?

If they can grease someone’s palm to get into a college, they can grease someone’s palm to pay for a homeless shelter or a drug center to help people get clean. Or an education system to help those who are desolate.

“Easy Street” is the mirror of what America is, and Easy Street is what some people do to survive. And One Step Away is one of the many programs or magazines that give people a hand-up instead of a hand-out. And that’s what I do believe.

How would you like to be thought about? What has a reader gotten out of my comics? Please write in and let us know. Sometimes I run into people who were upset with what I’ve drawn. It’s there, if you don’t want to read my comics, then don’t — just move on. But I do appreciate what readers send to me.

My message to politicians: Get off your derrière and get involved. Involved

What do you want people to take away from your work?

I want people to see themselves from my work. Pick any character — the duck or the dog who paint on the side and hang out together. Or the cat character who works three jobs and lives in a motel, and who once lived above the diner. But now he lives in a motel. See if you see yourself in a character in Easy Streak, and what character do you see yourself as? And how would you better yourself?

The difference in this country is [the misconception that] women can only remain barefoot and pregnant. Well I disagree. I may be a bachelor from the 60s and black, but I know it takes two to make a tribe and not just one. It really is insulting to people to see a man always in [those positions], and women think they can’t do it. They shouldn’t have to think that way.

collecting a check and sitting there [in Washington]. Then you character assassinate Omar, Hillary, and all of the other women. Yet in other countries many women hold [political] positions every year. What’s the difference in this country? Why aren’t we doing the same thing?

During the 70s they had Gloria Steinem, Jane Fonda, and Angela Davis. They had all of those activists at the head of the train. They were ahead of the train and we should have kept that steam going into now. But you had some women who want to go through the glass ceiling, some who want to get out of the situation but are misinformed, and some who really don’t care. Everybody has a dream, and everybody should have a chance to be President, and that’s how I feel. What do you want people to learn or realize from your comics? That something has to be done now. Not when 2020 gets here. Something needs to be done right now about homelessness, people panhandling. When the [One Step Away] headline read 168 people died on the streets I was shocked - that was uncalled for. The politicians should have fixed that. We can vote them in, and we can vote them out. But the problem is that some people don’t vote. Why the hell are you in this country if you don’t vote?

“It only takes one person to put their foot down and say they had enough, and they want to change a wrong into a right. And I do believe that, and I hope that gets across to people.”

To the voter: If you can tune into some reality show on cable and assume it’s real life, then you can tune-in and drop a dollar or two to a church or an organization to help someone in need. What would you like to say about your work?

30 ONE STEP AWAY

OSAPHILLY.ORG 31 PUZZLES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 ACROSS 1. 41.36.dogs,34.32.You”29.27.options26.25.24.a22.20.19.18.17.dwelling16.14.be”13.8.4.systemBlood-typingDownerPlantfungi“___alender___andaahedCliffside“TheGreatest”BatpooInexperiencedStartseatingAlwaysplayingsimilarroleRevisedOnone’sguardListoffoodSphere“___Loves(Beatleshit)KindofdriveGoingtothee.g.TextontabletsBurgertopper 42. Some tides 43. Cooking meas. 44. Lawman Earp 46. Attired 50. Brown ermine 52. Slips 54. a67.a66.units65.64.compound63.62.61.59.58.57.brandPhonographDutchcheeseItmaybebidCoachChitBristlesNitrogenKnightAsianweightKnockedoff,inwayAbsorbed,ascost DOWN 1. Wreath for the 2.headMeteor that explodes in the 4.3.atmosphereAncestryNeglected calf 5. Type of bowling popular in cricket in the 1800s 6. “Bingo!” 7. Bodyguards of the 34.33.31.30.29.Hung.28.23.material21.member15.12.11.compound10.9.8.MonarchBritishWiserCompassionFertilizerAssociationsMailedGroup’sseniorBuilding___greenNeighborofWrath,e.g.AlltherageDashlengthsFamilyheadBabysitter’s 35.handfulCatch sight of 36. “Sesame Street” 37.watcher“Star Trek” rank: Abbr. 38. Nibble 39. After expenses 40. Longtime NBC conference45.44.showCourtW.W.II site 47. Highfalutin’ 48. Went to a 49.restaurantRiverin a Strauss waltz 50. Appropriate 51. Aligns 53. Extend, in a 55.54.wayGigantic“Ihadno ___!” 56. Quote 60. Have a bug CROSSWORD FOR ANSWERS PICK UP OUR NEXT ISSUE OF ONE STEP AWAY! CONTRIBUTED BY STREET ROOTS, PORTLAND, OREGON. 2SUDOKU 6 1 5 4 2 7 1 2 3 2 8 9 9 3 6 7 5 5 4 1 9 1 9 5 2 1 5 6 4 1SUDOKU 6 1 5 3 7 9 5 3 4 6 5 7 4 6 1 2 4 4 8 9 3 7 9 6 3 WORD SEARCH S A C A U D A L J O I N T E D P M U N I V A L V E J R E Z Q I E V A G I L E D O E N P X G D T F A N G U I N E I T N U N E A S O S D G A R R F A V A M R B L U C N D O E N I O I A U Y O W U A I I S A H L V V R B C L O R L R N C C C A I I A I J I A E E A S A B A R P P N V C C N T D E R U S N I A A E A U N S B W T L D C I I R R I L A O C M A N R A A N D O O D V P I A B M A N T L E V U U A E P A L L I U M E E Q G S S L D R Z Y Q F R K D Y P E D A T E BivalvedBatrachianAvianAraneidalAnserineAnnelidanAnguineAmetabolicAlularAcaudal PedatePalliumOviparousMantleJointedFilariidColonialCaudatedCarangidCanine ViviparousVagileUnivalveSpideryScalyScaleyScaledPosterior The object of a Sudoku puzzle is to fill in the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. Good luck!

One Step Away is a program of Resources for Human Development (RHD), a 501(C)3 nonprofit.

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32 ONE STEP AWAY Friday, May 10, 2019 6 pm Champions Celebration 5 pm VIP Wine & Beer Tasting

Proceeds support One Step Away ’s mission of creating economic opportunities for individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty through our monthly street paper.

PARTY | SILENT AUCTION | AWARDS CEREMONY | CELEBRATION

COCKTAIL

an evening to celebrate One

Overlooking the City of Philadelphia from the 52nd Floor, One Step Away ’s Champions Celebration will feature a silent auction, raffle prizes, hors d’oeuvres, slider station, pasta station, and an open wine & beer bar.

FROM THE STREETS TO THE 52nd FLOOR…

Join us for Step Away ’s Champions

THE PYRAMID CLUB PHILADELPHIA 1735 Market Street, 52nd Floor Philadelphia, PA 19103