StreetSense_forWeb_7.21.10

S treetS ense.org

July 21 - August 3, 2010

Where the poor and homeless July 21 - August 3, 2010

earn and give their two cents

D STE GE ON G I S U N AT DO

Volume 7 Issue 19

65 cents for the Vendor

35 cents for Production of the Paper

Kicking & Healing Bird Art Takes Flight Pages 8-9

A Blast From the District’s Musical Past Page 13

See Page 4 National Street Soccer Tournament Brings Hope to Homeless Players Pages 4 5

A Tent City Makes a Stand Toward City Government Pages 6-7

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July 21 - August 3, 2010

Our Mission

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Street Sense aims to serve as a vehicle for elevating voices and public debate on issues relating to poverty while also creating economic opportunities for people who are experiencing homelessness in our community.

Do you want to continue to support Street Sense throughout the year?

Order a subscription today!

Not only will you receive 26 issues packed with all our latest news, poetry and photography, you will also help raise awareness about poverty in the D.C. area.

___ YES! I want to subscribe to Street Sense for just $40 a year for 26 issues. ___ YES! I want to give half of the cost of a subscription to my favorite vendor: ______________________________ Name:_________________________ Address:_______________________ City:____________State:__________ Zip: ___________________________ Phone: ________________________ E-mail: ________________________ Please make checks payable to: Street Sense.

Mail to: Street Sense, 1317 G St. NW, Washington, DC 20005.

The Story of Street Sense Street Sense began in August 2003 after two volunteers, Laura Thompson Osuri and Ted Henson, approached the National Coalition for the Homeless on separate occasions about starting a street newspaper in Washington, D.C. A street paper is defined as a newspaper about poverty, homelessness and other social issues that provides an income to the homeless individuals who sell it. About 28 street papers operate in the United States and Canada in places like Seattle, Chicago, Montreal and Boston, and dozens more exist throughout the world.

After bringing together a core of dedicated volunteers and vendors, Street Sense came out with its first issue in November 2003, printing 5,000 copies. For the next three years the paper published on a monthly basis and greatly expanded its circulation and vendor network.

For the first year, Street Sense operated as a project of the National Coalition for the Homeless, but in October 2004, the organization incorporated and moved into its own office space.

In March 2005, Street Sense received 501(c)3 status, becoming a nonprofit organization.

In October 2005 Street Sense formed a full board of directors, and in November the organization hired its first employee, a full-time executive director.

A year later in November 2006, the organization hired its first vendor coordinator and began partnering with several service providers.

In February 2007, the paper started publishing twice a month and to support the increased production brought on its first full-time editor– in–chief in April.

As of January 2010 the paper had 72 active vendors and prints about 30,000 issues a month.

Vendor Code of Conduct 1. Street Sense will be distributed for a voluntary donation of $1. I agree not to ask for more than a dollar or solicit donations for Street Sense by any other means.

2. I will only purchase the paper from Street Sense staff and will not sell papers to other vendors (outside of the office volunteers).

3. I agree to treat all others – customers, staff, other vendors – respectfully, and I will not “hard sell,” threaten or pressure customers.

4. I agree to stay off private property when selling Street Sense.

5. I understand that I am not a legal employee of Street Sense but a contracted worker responsible for my own well–being and income.

6. I agree to sell no additional goods or products when selling the paper.

7. I will not sell Street Sense under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

8. I agree to stay a block away from another vendor and respect the space of all vendors.

9. I understand that my badge is the property of Street Sense and will not deface it. I will present my badge when purchasing the papers and display my badge and wear my vest when selling papers.

10. I understand that Street Sense strives to be a paper that covers homelessness and poverty issues while providing a source of income for the homeless. I will try to help in this effort and spread the word.

1317 G Street, NW Washington, DC 20005 Phone: (202) 347–2006 Fax: (202) 347–2166 info@streetsense.org www.streetsense.org BOARD OF DIRECTORS Lisa Estrada Ted Henson Brad Scriber Michael Stoops Manas Mohaptra Sommer Mathis Kristal DeKleer Robin Heller Jeffery McNeil Jordan Rummel John Snellgrove Dameon Philpotts

We are proud members of:

North American Street Newspaper Association

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Abby Strunk EDITOR–IN–CHIEF Mary Otto ONLINE/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR International Lisa V. Gillespie Network of VENDOR MANAGER Street Papers Amy Vokes INTERNS Mary Yost, Jon Howell, Eric Falquero, Mary Jean Chan, Adam Sirgany, Cathy Bueker, Priya Anand FOUNDERS Ted Henson, Laura Thompson Osuri VOLUNTEERS/WRITERS Robert Basler, Jane Cave, Robert Fulton, Steve Gilberg, Jane Goforth, Joanne Goodwin, Roberta Haber, Erica Hall, Annie Hill, Dan Horner, Phillip Hoying, Maurice King, Brenda K. LeeWilson, Kim O’Connor, Gabriel Okolski, Michael O’Neill, Katinka Podmanickzy, Lisa Razzi, Diane Rusignola, Willie Schatz, Jesse Smith, Sara Kruger, Jami-Lin Williams, Marian Wiseman

VENDORS Charles Armstrong, Jake Ashford, Lawrence Autry, Daniel Ball, Donna Barber, Cyril Belk, Kenneth Belkosky, Tommy Bennett, Phillip Black, Reginald Black, Emily Bowe, Andre Brinson, Melody Byrd, Cliff Carle, Percy Carter, Peggy Cash, Conrad Cheek, Virginia Clegg, Aaron Conner, Anthony Crawford, Louise Davenport, Charles Davis, James Davis, David Denny, Ricardo Dickerson, Muriel Dixon, Alvin Dixon-El, Roger Dove, Charles Eatmon, Deanna Elder, Richard Embden, James Featherson, Craig Fleming, Samuel Fullwood, Roger Garner, David Ger, Barron Hall, Dwight Harris, John Harrison, Patricia Henry, Shakaye Henry, Phillip Howard, James Hughes, Richard Hutson, Margaret Jenkins, Carlton Johnson, Donald Johnson, Alicia Jones, Mark Jones, Clinton Kilpatrick, Hope Lasister, Brenda Lee-Wilson, Michael Lyons, Jonnie Malloy, Kina Mathis, John Matthews, John C. Matthews, Charlie Mayfield, Herman Mayse, Robert McCray, Marvin McFadden, Jermale McKnight, Jennifer McLaughlin, Jeffery McNeil, Kenneth Middleton, L. Morrow, Tyrone Murray, Charles Nelson, Sammy Ngatiri, Evelyn Nnam, Moyo Onibuje, Franklin Payne, Edward Perry, Gregory Phillips, Tracey Powell, Ash-Shaheed Rabbil, Ed Ross, Melania Scott, Chris Shaw, Ronald Simms, Veda Simpson, Gwynette Smith, Patty Smith, Franklin Sterling, Warren Stevens, James Stewart, Garland Stroman, Leroy Studevant, Beverly Sutton, Sybil Taylor, Paul Taylor, Steve Thomas, Larissa Thompson, Deborah Tibbs, Carl Turner, Christopher Walker, Jeanette Walker, Joseph Walker, Martin Walker, Robert Warren, Lawless Watson, Paul Watson, Gregory Wells, Michael Welsh, Edna Williams, Wendell Williams, Susan Wilshusen, Ivory Wilson, Charles Woods, Tina Wright

S treetS ense.org Iowa’s Homeless Numbers Rise A report from the Iowa Institute for Community Alliances shows that Iowa’s homeless population is on the rise, the Associated Press reports. According to the study, there are 23,808 homeless individuals in the state. More than 15,350 persons were classified as being at-risk to become homeless in 2009.

Families accounted for 14,068 of Iowa’s homeless and at-risk populations.

On average, homeless families earn about 43.7 percent of what is necessary to support a single-parent family with two children in Iowa. Single adults receiving homeless services make nearly 30 percent of what they need to survive in Iowa, the Quad-City Times reports.

South African Wine Seller Defends Homeless Magazine Homeless advocates are upset with a South African wine brand selling ads in the United Kingdom’s top homeless newspaper, AFP reports.

Fairhills, the wine company, signed a $90,000 deal that requires The Big Issue’s street sellers to wear the wine’s logo on new red tops. The sellers of the magazine say it promotes alcoholic stereotypes and seems like a “bad, ironic joke.”

“We suffer enough in Bath as it is without stereotyping homeless people as drug addicts or drinkers, when we’re not,” said seller Shane Hayton. “Now we are going to be walking around with wine advertisements, which is going to make everybody think we’re alcoholics.”

Fairhills founder Bernard Fontannaz told AFP that sponsoring the vendors shows support for the treatment of alcohol misuse. They are opening an alcohol treatment center in South Africa, he said.

July 21 - August 3, 2010 “We are a wine company which takes responsibility for alcohol abuse, to do more than put a health warning on the back of our bottle,” Fontannaz said.

Group to Serve Venison to Homeless in Milwaukee A program to help feed the homeless with donated game meat and fish is coming to Milwaukee, the Associated Press reports. Media group Sportsman Channel said it anticipates feeding hundreds of people at Milwaukee’s St. Benedict Community Meal as part of the Hunt.Fish.

Feed. initiative. The Sportsman Channel will travel to 10 cities in the United States this year to feed the homeless.

Indiana Gets $15 million for Homeless The Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded $15 million to Indiana for housing projects for the homeless, senior citizens and people with disabilities, the Associated Press reports.

About $5.6 million will go to the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority to house homeless individuals. Projects in Gary, Michigan City and the southeastern Indiana communities of Lawrenceburg and Batesville will each receive more than $1 million.

College Student Lives with Homeless in Summer Brian Seeley, a student at Southeastern University, began voluntarily living on the streets last May, the Lakeland Ledger

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reports. Seeley, 24, said he started doing it to show solidarity with the homeless individuals he has come to know.

“It doesn’t parallel being homeless at all,” Seeley said.

“The emotions are not the same. I’m not pretending to be homeless. I’m being present with my homeless friends as they walk through it.” Though he did not intend for his months spent on the streets to become part of his schooling, Southeastern is counting his experience as an internship.

Seeley said he spent most of his days wandering around the city, looking for meals and seeking shelter during times of inclement weather.

South African Community Grieves Murdered Vendor Police have still not identified any suspects responsible for the murder of Homeless Talk newspaper vendor Mbali Nkbinde more than three weeks after the 19-year-old was gunned down on her way back from celebrating the World Cup kick-off match on June 11.

“Mbali is the daughter of one of our vendors. She sold the paper during the holidays,” said Cindy Tshabalala, manager of Homeless Talk, the Johannesburg-based street paper. “We did not expect this, we are all very sad about it.”

Tshabalala said she thinks the murder was related to a robbery, but she and Nkbinde’s family are still in the dark, as the police appear to have not investigated the charge further.

Captain Jetro Charlie at the Kempton Park police station failed to respond with comment.

Nkbinde’s funeral was held on July 10 and her family is still struggling to cover the outstanding costs of the burial.

Compiled by Dianna Heitz from previously published reports.

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July 21 - August 3, 2010

Scoring Goals on the Field and in Life

A defender stalks the ball carrier as he drives toward the goal during an afternoon practice.

Street soccer players use teamwork as a model to address homelessness

By Mary Yost, editorial intern Sports teach participants lessons about trust, teamwork and responsibility. The D.C. Knights, a street soccer team in the District, gives homeless soccer players the opportunity to be students.

“We teach life lessons through soccer,” said Jeremy Wong, a coach of the D.C. Knights. “Therefore, we don’t have to bang those lessons over their head.

That’s not our role because they get enough of that at the shelter.”

Street soccer is a mini-version of soccer played on a sport court surface in an area the size of a basketball court. Players compete in fast-paced, four-versus-four soccer action. In each 15 minute game, an average of eight goals are scored. The D.C. Knights are composed of players associated with Neighbors Consejo, a nonprofit, social service agency in D.C. that ensures members of the Hispanic community receive necessary services.

“This is a motivation for homeless people to see a different way of life,” said Antonio Hernandez, a D.C. Knights player who began playing soccer when he was 10 years old in El Salvador. “We are busy with meetings all day at Neighbors Consejo. “When we come to play, we think better things because our minds are free. It is a break from everything.”

Teammate Solomon Alemu has similar thoughts about the importance of street soccer. “I am happy

to get the chance to play and interact with people through my all-time favorite sport,” he said. “I always have fun at practice, and it has been a great way to socialize. Also, when I’m playing soccer, I forget about my worries and missing my family. I just get to enjoy having a good time.” Alemu began playing soccer when he was six years old in Ethiopia. He moved to the United States in 1997 and became a citizen in 2009.

“We are now seeing the fruits of three months of hard work,” said Omar Abdul-Baki, founder of the Neighbors Consejo D.C. Knights team, which began practicing in late March. “It is great to see all the team’s members talking to each other, to see what they have learned and to see their behavior change.

Most of the players joined at different times, so it is interesting to see how they are all mingling.”

Fellow coach Wong agrees. “We were a really ragtag bunch at the beginning,” he said. “It is amazing how quickly they progressed. They have come a long way toward understanding what’s going on in the game.” Wong hopes that the D.C. Knights become a sustainable team and that a street soccer league is created in the District so that numerous teams can compete.

D.C. Knights is one of 20 teams in an 18-city league operated by Street Soccer USA (SSUSA), a

nonprofit organization whose mission is to use soccer as a tool for social change, moving homeless men, women and youth off the streets and into homes.

“Our soccer players come to us overwhelmed by the challenges of poverty and in many cases substance abuse and the trauma from their childhood,” said Lawrence Cann in a press release. “Through street soccer, they set goals, get a positive community and begin to make plans for their own future.

We are proving that ending homelessness is a team sport.”

Cann founded SSUSA in 2004 with the belief that ending homelessness is a team sport. He sees homelessness as a byproduct of the breakdown of community and points out that homeless individuals have few relationships of trust, are isolated, have low levels of self-esteem and are overwhelmed by the obstacles that their situation presents. SSUSA is attempting to reverse that.

To encourage participants to score goals both on the field and in their lives, SSUSA requires participants to set three-, six- and 12-month life goals.

With the help of coaches and volunteers, each play-

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July 21 - August 3, 2010

Continue from page 4 er is required to meet and exceed their vision to improve their lives. SSUSA has also created the Job Academy, where participants are matched with services that can provide them with access to educational and employment opportunities. Within a year of joining the program, 75 percent of players have moved off the streets.

The annual SSUSA Cup will take place at the Washington Kastles Stadium from July 30 to August 1. More than 200 players from across the country will take part in the tournament.

At the end of the tournament, the national men’s and women’s teams will be chosen to

represent the United States at the Homeless World Cup in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which takes place September 19-26. The eight males and eight females who are chosen will travel to the 56-nation tournament, connecting the homeless problem in the United States to the global problem of homelessness.

“The goal is to choose the players who have had the most impact on the program and have had the most advancement within the program,” Abdul-Baki said. “We want to choose people who represent the program best.”

For more information on SSUSA, visit their website at http://www.streetsoccerusa.org/.

When we come to play, we think better things because our minds are free.

It is a break from everything.

-Antonio Hernandez A street soccer player dribbles the ball while waiting for his turn in ongoing drill.

With deep concentration, this player approaches the ball.

The team members wait as their coach explains the next drill.

PHOTos by jon Howell.

Two players jockey for control of the ball.

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July 21 - August 3, 2010

Battlefield Shaw

Parcel 42 in Shaw turns into a live-in after alleged failed promises by city government Parcel 42 was once an unassuming plot of land, devoid of any buildings on the corner of R and 7th NW in Shaw. It suddenly became a battleground and a symbol on July 10, when protesters began a live-in to fight for their right to affordable housing.

Now, Parcel 42 is a microcosm of Washington’s greater ongoing struggle to provide shelter for all.

Organizing Neighborhood Equity DC held a block party that afternoon, prior to the occupation. The celebration had a serious angle: neighbors enjoyed not only refreshments and music, but speakers on equal land development and books to borrow about successfully arranging protests.

Someone chalked a hopscotch with seven squares of “Fight” and “Fight some more”, then two squares saying “WIN”, culminating in “Housing for All People”.

For the grand finale, attendees marched down the block to Parcel 42 at 5 p.m and began pitching tents and erecting signs under the watch of neon-green capped legal observers and two police officers. “Fenty Broke his Promise,” said little plaques and big banners on the fence enclosing 42.

The occupation is the crest in ONE DC’s struggle in that classic vein: pressuring a government to make good on its pledges.

They once believed that this space had a future to be developed like its sibling, Parcel 33, into a mixed-income apartment building. Yet they found what they considered a settled agreement soon vanished.

The effort stretches back to 2002 when the group began working with Shaw residents to form a strategy to develop new housing. The team surveyed other neighborhood residents and explored vacant area lots’ ownership. Once they identified their targets in 2003 they began to meet with possible partners, such as similar activist groups and developers committed to affordable housing. The next four years saw land surveys, negotiations with a potential development team, appraisals and cost estimates.

By June 2007, even with specific plans to present, ONE DC and its Shaw partners could not secure a meeting with the D.C. government to seek their commitment. After many weeks of asking, the specter of a sit-in was raised instead, which prompted officials to meet with ONE DC members at once about an assurance to make Parcel 42 affordable. The next month, Deputy Mayor Neil Albert agreed to a $7.8 million government subsidy for the development.

In September, a coalition called Parcel 42 Partners was formed of the only bidders that

PHOTos by jon Howell.

by Cathy Bueker, intern

met two requirements: a readiness to create rental properties for households making less than $50,000 a year and receptivity to community input. Members brought petitions door-to-door in support of the partners and collected over 500 signatures. Many residents called and e-mailed the Deputy Mayor to express their support. The campaign led to Mayor Fenty announcing Parcel 42 Partners as official developer of Parcel 42 on November 14, 2007.

With the Partners’ position cemented, ONE DC members met them in December to draft a Community Benefits Agreement

and review the first draft of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) the Partners had submitted. It was drafted on terms similar to the MOU for Parcel 33, a parallel development in the neighborhood. In it, they summarized their dedication to providing affordable rent appropriate for renters and ways the development would integrate with the Shaw neighborhood, from Shaw-targeted jobs to 10 percent community ownership and even perhaps a community center.

At this point, the collaboration began to yield disappointment. The MOU was successfully signed for Parcel 33, but had

Left: A banner marks an area where these protesters can obtain a sense of “liberty.”

Above: An anonymous resident of the tent city performs maintenance on the group’s main tent. accepted less-than-desirable terms for it, with the expectation that better conditions would be met in Parcel 42’s agreement.

The city came to them in negotiations, said Rosemary Ndubuizu, a community organizer for ONE DC. “It was sort of a, ‘You take this on 33, we’ll do that on 42,’” she said. For the former, the city agreed on tiered affordability rates for just 45 of 180 units, which was far below ONE DC’s target. Nevertheless, they cooperated, thinking they’d reach a better agreement for 42, up to ninety-four units on another tiered scale.

In April 2008, Parcel 42 Partners reported that they had been presented a government subsidy of just $4.98 million. Rents could only start at 60 percent of AMI, instead of 30 percent, and there would be no other community benefits. According to ONE DC, certain officials strongly suggested the Partners end communication with them, which was advice the developers took. The Parcel 42 Project would not return requests for comment. (When contacted by Street Sense, a representative for Mayor Fenty,

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Continued from page 6 Mafara Hobson, affirmed the government’s continued commitment, saying, “The Administration is and will continue to stand by its agreement to include affordable housing in this project.”)

In May 2008, members met with Neil Albert, who restated his devotion to greater affordability, yet the submitted rents and subsidy did not change. In September, they received word that Albert would not attend a previously-proposed roundtable of groups involved with the 42 project.

Though the necessary elements for success on 33 were transpiring, all promises about 42 evaporated.

“We now know, don’t trust this administration,” Ndubuizu said, noting the possible presumption of understanding where there truly was none.

Previous instances of direct action failed, including a protest at Fenty’s home doorstep in 2008. A construction start date for 42 was nonexistent, the city’s apparent promises shunted.

ONE DC resolved to air their ill-use by the administration and inveigh against Washington’s acute shortage of affordable housing in one gesture.

The live-in was born.

Protesters set up their encampment swiftly and efficiently on that crucial afternoon. A list of rules, including prohibitions on drinking and stealing, was drawn up. Leaders created a schedule of meetings twice daily at 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Sentinels at the gate handed out flyers explaining the protest’s motives and goals.

As the work week began, so did outside attempts at removal. Monday brought a police captain from the third district and then beat cops. On Tuesday, the property manager whom the city had assigned to 42 arrived. He tried to cajole them into leaving, but ceased after 45 minutes, estimated protester Ron Harris.

Property maintenance workers came Wednesday to eject the protesters, who would not budge, replying that such an act was not in either the crew’s or owner’s authority. ONE DC marked its last day of leading the protest, Thursday, with a party marking the handover of 42 from exclusively ONE DC leadership to

One of the many signs in Parcel 42 that visualizes the residents protest.

a committee of local leaders. As an affiliate of the Take Back the Land Movement, ONE DC wanted the occupation to be in keeping with its principles of empowering impacted communities and giving neighborhoods their own local control.

For all the frustrations leading to this event, participants feel it was a constructive and positive episode.

“It’s been very empowering for a lot of people,” said one supporter. “We just hope something can come out of this.”

A great number of protesters share the disillusionment Ndubuizu voiced.

“Fenty has a lot of tricks up his sleeve,” said Kim, a Shaw resident of over 30 years who did not give her last name. She found inconsistency in his actions, citing that though he has forced the closure of many go-go clubs, a part of the culture of neighborhoods like Shaw, he allowed the funeral of go-go legend Benny A. Harley, aka Little Benny, to be held at the convention center. “He’s not about the community. He’s not about the people.”

Perhaps if Fenty made good on his word, she suggested, the deaths of two boys in a shooting days ago on the Kennedy playground could have been prevented.

It was sort of a, ‘You take this on 33, we’ll do that on 42.’

-Rosemary Ndubuizu

“Build something for kids to do,” she said. “How can you expect them to aspire to be something when there’s nothing?”

ONE DC member Virginia Lee found it regrettable that they could not form a coalition of other organizations, who could not join the endeavor, being too occupied with different issues in their own purviews. “We wanted to bring into our own community the teachers, the firemen, who could make it a more diverse community, in addition to longtime Shaw members.”

The failed aspirations of 42 resulted in one concrete move by the government: introduction of legislation by Councilman Michael Brown to change the current method for determining AMI. A representative of his predicted the bill would be heard in September after the summer recess, but said he felt the councilman’s office was not in a position to comment on the government’s actions.

AMI is currently determined not from salaries earned by residents of the District alone, but by what residents of the greater metro area earn, such as incomes from wealthy suburbs in Maryland and Virginia. This method yields a figure of $103,500 a year for a family of four when the surrounding suburbs are taken into consideration. If AMI were computed from incomes of only District

residents, as the Brown bill proposes, the result would be lower.

As ONE DC notes, fewer than 20 percent of D.C.’s housing units are affordable for those making under 50 percent of the D.C. Metro AMI. Such a disparity is especially glaring, said Harris, when one considers the December 2008 city council proclamation that D.C. is a human rights city.

Though the live-in is currently flourishing, with classes and workshops scheduled for this week, the future of 42 is unclear.

“I don’t know what their intentions are, only what the reality is,” Lee said.

It’s been very empowering for a lot of people. We just hope something can come out of this.

-Encampment Supporter

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July 21 - August 3, 2010

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Miriam’s Kitche

by Cathy Bueker, editorial intern

There were bird’s nest cookies and “silly goose” p for refreshments as guests partook in activities, su folding paper cranes and demonstrating their know of bird facts. Alongside them were exhibits of thei ations: colorful paintings, drawings, clay ducks, wo sandpipers, rainbow birdhouses and watercolor spar Members of Miriam’s Studio culminated their mon bird-themed art with a party last month.

Returning people’s bird calls sounding in the air, erine Crum, a member of the Miriam’s Kitchen case agement staff, was especially enjoying herself. “If you please excuse me for a moment,” she said, turnin conversation partner, “KA-KAW!” She then resumed ing special feathered name tags for the party’s guest The studio, which is a branch of Miriam’s Kitchen offers homeless persons a range of creative outlet ceived a grant from Cornell University’s ornitholog partment. As part of Cornell’s “Celebrate Urban B project, the funding allowed Miriam’s Studio not on ability to provide materials for visual art, but also to its guests on bird-watching walks around the city.

The previous Friday, several studio regulars had go an expedition, led by Crum, to the Thompson Boath in Georgetown, where they observed four of the 16 An agenda for the day maps out the fun to be had.

The paint covered aftermath of a day full of creation.

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July 21 - August 3, 2010

en goes to the Birds

punch uch as wledge ir creooden rrows. nth of

Cathmancould ng to a d makts. n and ts, regy deBirds” nly the o take

An edible nest topped off with jelly bean eggs.

photos by Jon Howell

one on house 6 spe-

cies specifically identified by the Urban Birds project. They even saw a peregrine falcon.

Paul Taylor said what he learned from the trip enhanced his skills observing other areas of city wildlife habitat, especially in Anacostia Park. “I usually see blue jays and storks there, but also sometimes deer, badgers and even coyotes,” he said. “The development going on nearby might be driving them away, more to the east side of the park.”

After a bird poetry recital featuring works by both the guests and poets like Mary Oliver, it was time for the finale: a bird call contest. The crowd hushed to hear convincing imitations of robins, mourning doves and even birds of a human variety. “I would like to do for you my impression of a jailbird. ‘Let me out; let me out!’” Oliver said.

Soon, the party ended and dinner was served. Just as on all other weekdays, Miriam’s Studio was scheduled for a full day. To supplement the three daily meals it serves, the organization offers art classes, case management and exercise classes like yoga to the organization’s guests. This day, before the party, there had been blood pressure checks, free studio time, a talk on advocacy from the People for Fairness Coalition, craft time and a resume workshop.

Looking at the bubbling enthusiasm, one could only hope the people here would continue taking the freedom of birds to heart.

Miriam’s kitchen volunteer Paul Taylor concentrates on the folds of his origami crane.

A colorful phoenix painted by Paul Taylor, also pictured above.

One of the healthier snacks at the party, a lettuce base with carrots and raisins.

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Street News Service

World Cup Highlights Africa’s Bigger Changes From pulsating slums to the lavish mansions of the new rich, celebrations for the first World Cup in Africa also highlight a dramatic change driven by forces more powerful than football. “It will help clear age-long beliefs that Africa and Africans are still in the stone age,” said Larry Izamoke, veteran Nigerian sports broadcaster.

While the competition may help change Africa’s image in the minds of any outsiders still fixated on cliches of bloodshed and famine, those in the know long ago spotted Africa’s emergence from no-go zone to frontier market and are seeing the returns and benefits of those changes.

If you had put $1,000 in Nigerian or Kenyan stock markets at the start of the year, you would have made a profit of around $150. If you had done the same with the United States benchmark S&P 500 index, you would be nursing a loss.

Global fund trackers EPFR reported a 40th consecutive week of inflows to African equity funds this week. India’s Bharti Airtel completed a $9 billion purchase of Zain’s African operations in another vote of confidence in the continent.

“It’s not to denigrate the World Cup for a moment, but it’s not what defines Africa in 2010. What should really be defining Africa is Zain buying Bharti’s assets,” said African affairs commentator Joel Kibazo. “I think there is still a false image of Africa even in South Africa, never mind the rest of the world, about the rest of the continent. The fact is, it has really been getting ahead and there are more people with money to spend.”

Half of the world’s 10 fastest growing countries will be in Africa in 2011 according to the International Monetary Fund.

Better economic management, increased political stability, debt relief, higher production and prices for export commodities and technology—mobile phones in particular—have all helped improvement.

The huge symbolic power of the World Cup, as the globe’s most watched sporting event, will consolidate the image makeover, Africans believe.

The fact is, it [Africa] has really been getting ahead and there are more people with money to spend.

-Joel Kibazo

reuters/siphiwe sibeko

by Matthew Tostevin, © Reuters www.streetnewsservice.org

South African fans sing during an international soccer friendly match between Thailand and South Africa in preparation for the World Cup at Mbombela stadium in Nelspruit.

“With this World Cup, Africa will show that it can organize world-class events,” said Moussa Dieme, a 47-yearold banker in the Senegalese capital Dakar.

Africa’s fate these days is also less linked to handouts from former colonial powers, who are struggling under debt burdens proportionally bigger than Africa’s. It is more closely tied to Asian and other dynamic economies.

“We need to wipe out that smug Western view of more risk in Africa,” said David Murrin, chief investment officer at UK-based Emergent Asset Management. “As Western belts tighten and we start to deal with fiscal situations, the political risk differential is closing rapidly.”

Although Africa is seen in a much more positive light than for decades, its growth is from a low base and countries face challenges from bogus democracy to shambolic services to ethnic division.

“At the World Cup, we will become one. That love will show. In Nigeria, people from the West, East, South, North will forget tribalism,” said 36-year-old electrical engineer Oriyomi Ayunlere in Lagos.

But neither Nigeria nor any other African country would have the capability to host the World Cup

yet and it is hard to forecast when that might be the case.

Infrastructure such as power and roads are dire and Africa needs an estimated $93 billion a year to improve it.

South Africa has appalling crime levels, but its police and justice system are efficient compared to those in much of the continent.

Egypt lost out to South Africa for the 2010 contest, but some Egyptians doubted it was really ready for such a challenge.

“I don’t think we had the capabilities,” said student Mohamed Nabil in Cairo. “It’s good for South Africa. They’re way ahead of us. But it’s nice that the World Cup is held in Africa in general. That is progress in itself.”

We need to wipe out that smug Western view of more risk in Africa.

-David Murrin

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July 21 - August 3, 2010

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Happy Birthday Street Sense Vendors!

Louise Thundercloud (7/5) Ronald Simms (7/7) Peggy Cash (7/5) Shakaye Henry (7/10)

Thank you to our June 2010 donors, whose commitment to Street Sense has helped to bring on a new Community Development and Program Manager, implement a technology upgrade and send Street Sense professionals to the North American Street Newspaper Association Conference.

Alysha Chadderdon Amy Sareeram Anne Dellinger Brian Tefft C. Peter Magrath Cassandra J. Malone Cope Inc. David Kessel David Martin-McCormick James C. O'Connell

John Kerwin Kirubel Seifu Lara Thornely Hall Lisa Estrada Manas Mohapatra Margaret & Robert Blair Melani McAlister Melissa M. Collins Michael Mavretic Mike Justus

Patricia Taylor Peter Johnson Raymond Avrutis Sam Zivin Sandra Hoffman Susan Gail Scheck Valorie Lee Vonetta Young

Thank you to those who generously donated to the 2010 David Pike Excellence in Journalism Awards!

Abigail Marshall Cuisine Voila!

Daniel & Kitty Gustafson Denise R. Warner Emily L. Phelps Ethel & Harley McGhee FRESHFARM Markets Gary & Mary Ellen Abrecht Josh Israel Karen E. Lashman Linda Greenhouse

FOUNDRY

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Manas Mohapatra Marie France Mathis Martha F. Mothershead Mary Beth Ray Mary Boresz Pike Mary Krulia Mary G. Lynch Mina D. Denigris Robin Heller Rose Nan-Ping Chen Susan B. Davidson

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Marvin McFadden (7/28) Anthony Crawford (7/29)

Invites you to join us in worship on Sundays at 9:30 and 11:00 AM Homeless Outreach Hospitality: Fridays 9:00 AM

Foundry United Methodist Church 1500 16th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036 (202) 332-4010

www.foundryumc.org

If you are a federal or state employee, please consider supporting Street Sense through the Combined Federal Campaign today.

CFC# 28233

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July 21 - August 3, 2010

Bayou Man, in Antoine’s Own Words Antoine Carmouche (Car-moocher), a third generation fisherman living in Grand Isle, La., is of Creole descent and has fished since he was born. His father was a shrimper and his grandfather was a commercial fisherman. Fishing is in his blood. When he was young, little Antoine would troll for shrimp and other shellfish. He cherished the opulence and beauty of the bayous and wetlands that flowed from the Mississippi River into the Gulf of Mexico.

Antoine’s family depended on the Gulf as a source of food and as a place for recreation. His grandparents would cook fresh Creole shrimp, jambalaya and other fish caught in the Gulf. After evening meals, Creole-style festivities, such as dancing, beer drinking and peeling shrimp, began as local Creole and Cajun bands played music late into the night.

Antoine would slip away until the wee hours of the morning to watch the sunrise in the marshes, taking his skiff and roaming through the bayous as the alligators peeped their heads above the surface, then lowered them back into the murky waters as he approached.

Antoine marveled at the sky as blue herons skillfully hunted minnows to feed their chicks, which indicated the start of fishing season.

His favorite birds were the brown pelican and the roseate spoonbills, which vacationed in the wetlands to mate and rear their chicks. The Gulf is important to humans who depend on fish and wildlife, but is also a vital part of an ecosystem that is home to many species of birds and fish that are found nowhere else.

Antoine considered himself the shepherd of a delicate ecosystem that existed millions of years before the first man settled in the Gulf. He told fish tales and his favorite story was about fighting a yellow fin tuna for three hours, only to have his fishing line snap.

Antoine loved telling the history of Grand Isle and how a Creole spirit protected his family from powerful storms, including hurricanes Camille and Katrina. He let tourists know that

FLICKR/IBBRRc

by Jeffery McNeil, vendor

he stayed to rebuild his home after others fled to the inland to seek better refuge.

Despite harsh living conditions on the bayous, Antoine managed to save $5,000 to buy a fishing boat which led to a $1 million company that employs more than 500 people.

Grand Isle’s economy relied on Antoine’s company, which made local businesses prosper when the fishing industry thrived. Jobs were created in Grand Isle and local businesses used Antoine as their exclusive supplier of seafood because he offered the most reasonable prices. Although Antoine was a businessman, he worked with many nonprofits and churches that fed poor and homeless individuals.

He provided fish so no one in Grand Isle would starve.

Not a capitalist who focused solely of profit, Antoine was active in the community and spoke against the sleaze of unprincipled politicians who wanted to turn the bayous and wetlands into an industrial park. He was a visionary who saw the perils in allowing Fortune 500 companies to seek a sanctuary for tax breaks in Grand Isle. Antoine felt that the people of Grand Isle would not benefit from these businesses because large companies sought poor immigrants and minority workers willing to work for cheap wages.

Antoine ran for mayor as an in-

dependent maverick outsider who could not be bought like a politician.

His opponent, a Republican named David Bujeau (Bu-jo), owned an oil drilling company named Greasy Oil. David illustrated potential profits with charts and graphs, exhibiting the potential millions of dollars that could be pumped into Grand Isle’s economy if an oil rig was drilled outside the wetlands. He assured voters that this oil investment would be safe and those who lived in Grand Isle would be considered first when the company hired employees.

David was colorful and charismatic as he painted a picture of the prosperity that accompanied oil drilling.

Although Antoine was passionate about the environment, he could not compete with the Bujeau machine.

He lost the fight against corporate polluters. Greasy Oil was coming and could not be stopped.

Bujeau won the election, eliminating many of the politicians who vetoed drilling on wetlands and the regulations that restricted oil drilling. He allowed one corporate ally to build a landfill adjacent to one marsh.

Soon after the landfill was built, residents complained about sickness from chemicals seeping into estuaries. Those whose livelihood depended on fishing saw dead fish lying on

beaches at an alarming rate. Catches became smaller and smaller, while oil prices for running boats increased.

The final nail was hammered into the coffin when the Bujeau administration lifted a ban preventing foreigners from fishing in the Gulf, causing overfishing that endangered many species of fish and wildlife.

The Bujeau administration finally obtained the permits to drill and Greasy Oil set up rigs. It was not long before residents realized what was happening to their way of life. Today, Grand Isle is no longer a natural treasure. It is now an industrial park where factories and building contractors tear up the wetlands to pave roads and highways.

Tears fill Antoine’s eyes when dead pelicans float up from the water.

Their death is caused by the oil running through the marshes. Because of the strain on his family since it is no longer profitable to fish, Antoine visits a therapist. However, he sees hope. After everyone noticed what was happening to the wetlands, people from all around the country protested to kick the companies out.

In the next election, the people of Grand Isle will vote for a progressive leader who does not allow polluters into their community. They are presently trying to preserve the wildlife that has been damaged by capitalism.

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July 21 - August 3, 2010

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Feathers: Part 2 “1, 2, ah, ah, macarena!”

A Vendor’s Snapshot of D.C.’s Music Past

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Early that same morning, Joyce set up her movie camera. Joyce is such a professional that before she leaves for work each day, she stands in front of the camera as practice.

Then, she plays it back to see how she looks. This morning, Joyce hurried off to work and forgot to turn the camera off.

The camera is set up pointing directly across the street where Feathers landed. It captured Feathers leaving and saw him land on another balcony where a man named Judge Brooks tried to catch him. Feathers escaped and flew back to the condo with the gold ink pen in his claws.

The nasty divorce between Judge Samuel Brooks and Kathy, his wife of 40 years, has been the front page news in the Washington Post for a few weeks. It seems Kathy hasn’t been seen for two days. Judge Brooks has been telling the press his wife went on a trip around the world and he doesn’t know when she’ll return. Kathy’s friends and family found it odd that she left without telling someone where she was going.

The next morning, Joyce got dressed and walked to the camera to turn it on.

She then discovered that she had left it on all day. The batteries were dead. Joyce took the film out and put it on the table so she could put in new batteries. This time, before she left for work, she made sure to turn it off. Joyce lived at The Clara Barton for five years and raised Feather since he was a baby. Joyce left for work and said, “Bye, Feathers.” He repeated, “Bye, Feathers.”

Feathers began his day by looking across the street on his balcony. He then flew around the city. The sun was very hot.

Feathers saw a couple of cocktails from the night before and hurried to drink them.

He began to get dizzy from them and flew to another balcony where the TV was showing the macarena dance. Feathers mimiced the dance and spread his wings, while me moved his head from side to side and shook his body. He repeated the words, “1, 2, ah, ah, macarena.” He did this while trying to balance on one claw, which caused him to slip and fall. Feathers then

PHOTO BY jon howell.

by Ivory Wilson, vendor

flew home in a zig-zagged fashion.

Joyce came home with a friend named Becky, a DA. Becky knew Kathy Brooks well. Joyce walked in and said, “Hi, Feathers,” expecting to hear his reply, but she didn’t. She looked at his cage and doesn’t see him. She saw the balcony door open.

“Oh, no,” she said. “Feathers has flown away.”

Becky went to her bedroom and found Feathers lying on his back with his claws pointing straight up. “Oh, no!,” she cried.

“Feathers is dead.” Feathers slowly turned his head toward them and burped and said, “1, 2, ah, ah, macarena.”

Becky laughed and said, “He’s not dead.

He’s drunk.”

To be continued…

www.listentothebody.com

Massage Therapy Elizabeth Bourne, LMT Adams Morgan 202.253.0941 30% off 1st massage with this ad

by Chris “Sky” Shaw, vendor ’Twas a lively “bull session” enjoyed by all on the Saturday afternoon of June 26. It took place in the former City Museum media theatre, which is now the auditorium of the Historical Society of Washington. The theatre is located in this writer’s favorite surviving downtown haunt, the former Central Library at Ninth and K. Media wizard and all around “D.C. history freak” Jeff Krulik moderated a panel that included John Pagones, longtime Washington Post nightlife columnist, Mike Baker, bon vivant, and Vance Garnett, former nightclub entertainer. A continuous flow of images from days gone by, such as ads from Benny’s Rebel Room, the Blue Mirror and Casino Royal on 14th Street (“GIRLS! GIRLS! GIRLS!!”) flashed on a screen above us. These garish blurbs alternated with menus from Bassin’s, the Neptune Room and other places where sirloin steak and roast chicken hovered around $2 for a complete dinner!

The program was topped off with an amazing series of gorgeous, thought somewhat washed out, photos by Emil Press, who worked for decades as an inspector of D.C. sewers.

Talk about “covering the waterfront!”

Many in the audience recalled fond memories, including Capitol Rock author Mark Opsasnick, who reminded the rest of us that “Lizard King” Jim Morrison, leader of the ‘60s band The Doors, once held forth at an early art and poetry “slam” in Coffee and Con-

fusion at 10th and K, and John Kelly, “Answer Man” at the Post, chimed in with fond recall as the vivid image of the ornate old Gayety Theatre came into view.

All of this re-informed this writer’s zeal to pursue his muse. For over 25 years I have struggled through privation and plenty to record the saga of the New York Avenue bus depots, Dolly’s Famous, the Terminal and Astoria Hotels, the Ro c k e t Ro o m , the Plain Brown Wrapper Bookshop and Kojac’s Carry-Out, the old marble lunch counter at F & W Grant’s 5 & 10 Cent Store and the rattle-trap Atlantic Building elevator. What’s it all about? Only a full-length feature film script about a Delaware rube named Billy Luck who stumbled into the D.C. nightworld one night in 1977 and catalyzed the whole dying beautiful scene.

The reference point for all this bizarre seething petri dish of the underworld seldom discussed even in scholarly works (with the exception of the amazing PORN ROW by sociologist Jack McIver Weatherford-Arbor House 1986) is that much of Billy’s story is taken from personal observations made at that time by Christopher Sky Earnshaw!

A continuous flow of images from days gone by... flashed on a screen above us.

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July 21 - August 3, 2010

VENDOR PROFILE

Tommy Bennett

You’re Never Fully Dressed without a Smile

by David Rubin, vendor When asked to express my own experience with homelessness during the Street Sense writers’ group, I practically had to think twice about what truly applies to my situation.

First, I do not qualify for the section on housing, which ends homelessness. I cannot obtain food stamps and do not have health insurance or other small, but useful, benefits given to other homeless individuals.

Describing myself as a black male of African descent who is Jewish, poor, homeless and an illegal immigrant, I never found anything to say about homelessness, since my

By Priya Anand, editorial intern Tommy Bennett, former member of the United States Navy, has been working as a Street Sense vendor for the past six years. Bennett said he became homeless by “doing the wrong thing,” but has since been working to turn his life around, one smile at a time.

Born in Tennessee, Bennett came to Washington, D.C. at the age of three and currently attends school in an effort to earn his GED. Prior to becoming homeless, he completed a two-year term in the Navy and worked as a security guard for a number of years.

Bennett said he became homeless while “trying to be a hustler,” but got caught. During his time in jail, he was placed into a Narcotics Anonymous program and has been clean for seven years.

Six years ago, his friend Jose told him about Street Sense. Hesitant and skeptical to join the team, Bennett agreed to let Jose train him.

“I was discouraged, but then I made my first sale,” Bennett said. “Street Sense keeps my mind occupied.”

Bennett said he is thankful for and sends love to his best friend, Christine, who has stood by his side through the ups and downs. He is also very close with his family and, although they remain in Tennessee,

My Habeas Corpus

he frequently talks to his six siblings on the phone.

Bennett said he hopes readers will look into their hearts and try to help Street Sense vendors because they are more alike than different.

“I try to make people happy and smile on the street to make their days go better. For some people, it makes a difference,” Bennett said. “If people don’t want to talk, I just tell them to have a good day.”

In February, Bennett moved out of homeless shelters after fighting for housing through the Department of Veterans Affairs and into a permanent residence. He hopes to, as a clean alumnus of NA, become a drug counselor after earning his GED. He usually sells at the corner of 11th and G streets.

description defines odiousness to a civilized society since history began to be recorded.

Thus, homelessness is only a small part of the troubling life I have experienced since I arrived in the United States 14 years ago. If there truly is something to mention about homelessness, I could say it is the lost legal word of habeas corpus, for it defines the last government of the United States and the present under the name of homeland security.

I believe I have a home in Kenya and have requested for voluntary deportation, due to extreme circumstances which indeed violated the standards of the U.N. human rights abuse charter. In summary, my homelessness is equal to habeas corpus.

In God We Trust

by David Rubin, vendor Time surely makes a fool out of our short life, Lighten mind to seek tool, that cuts mortality to life, Learning death is not cool, sets us to find wife, Progeny continuity of life pool, but higher power high five, Endless happiness greater than googol, in immortality, music of God’s fife.

CORRECTION: In an article about the Feds, Farmers and Friends Feed Families food drive in our July 7 issue, an incorrect telephone number was provided for Rhonda Brown, faith-based and neighborhood partnerships outreach coordinator with USDA Rural Development. Brown can be reached at 202-692-0298 or via e-mail at Rhonda. brown@wdc.usda.gov.

A new issue comes out every two weeks, but you can stay connected to Street Sense every day:

Follow us on

acebook : www.facebook.com/streetsense : www.youtube.com/streetsensedc and witter : streetsensedc ...and, as always, find us online at www.streetsense.org.

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The District SHELTER

Calvary Women’s Services 110 Maryland Ave, NE (202) 289-0596 (office) (202) 289-2111 (shelter) www.calvaryservices.org Central Union Mission (Men) 1350 R Street, NW (202) 745–7118 www.missiondc.org CCNV (Men and Women) 425 2nd Street, NW (202) 393–1909 users.erols.com/ccnv/ Community of Hope (Family) 1413 Girard Street, NW (202) 232–7356 www.communityofhopedc.org Covenant House Washington (Youth) 2001 Mississippi Ave SE (202) 610–9600 www.covenanthousedc.org Housing, education, job prep

July 21 - August 3, 2010 9:30-11, all welcome/dinner for women and children, Mon-Fri, 3-6 pm) St. Stephens Parish Church 1525 Newton St, NW (202) 737–9311 www.thrivedc.org Food and Friends 219 Riggs Road, NE (202) 269–2277 www.foodandfriends.org Miriam’s Kitchen 2401 Virginia Avenue, NW (202) 452–8089 www.miriamskitchen.org The Welcome Table Church of the Epiphany 1317 G Street, NW (202) 347–2635 http://www.epiphanydc.org/ ministry/welcometbl.htm

MEDICAL RESOURCES Christ House 1717 Columbia Road, NW (202) 328–1100 www.christhouse.org

John Young Center (Women) 119 D Street, NW (202) 639–8469 www,catholiccharitiesdc.org

Unity Health Care, Inc. 3020 14th Street, NW (202) 745–4300 www.unityhealthcare.org

My Sister’s Place PO Box 29596 Washington, DC 20017 office (202) 529-5261 24-hour hotline (202)-529-5991 shelter and other services for domestic violence victims

Whitman–Walker Clinic 1407 S Street, NW (202) 797–3500; www.wwc.org

N Street Village (Women) 1333 N Street, NW (202) 939–2060 www.nstreetvillage.org 801 East, St. Elizabeths Hospital (Men) 2700 MLK Avenue, SE (202) 561–4014 New York Ave Shelter (Men 18+) 1355–57 New York Avenue, NE (202) 832–2359 Open Door Shelter (Women) 425 Mitch Snyder Place, NW (202) 639–8093

FOOD Charlie’s Place 1830 Connecticut Avenue, NW (202) 232–3066 www.stmargaretsdc.org/charliesplace Church of the Pilgrims (Sundays only) 2201 P Street, NW (202) 387–6612 www.churchofthepilgrims.org Thrive DC (breakfast Mon-Fri,

OUTREACH CENTERS Bread for the City 1525 Seventh Street, NW (202) 265–2400 AND 1640 Good Hope Road, SE (202) 561–8587 www.breadforthecity.org food pantry, clothing, legal and social services, medical clinic Community Council for the Homeless at Friendship Place 4713 Wisconsin Avenue NW (202) 364–1419; www.cchfp.org housing, medical and psych care, substance abuse and job counseling Bethany Women’s Center 1333 N Street, NW (202) 939–2060 http://www.nstreetvillage.org meals, hygiene, laundry, social activities, substance abuse treatment Father McKenna Center 19 Eye Street, NW (202) 842–1112 Green Door (202) 464–9200 1221 Taylor Street NW www.greendoor.org

housing, job training, supportive mental health services Friendship House 619 D Street, SE (202) 675–9050 www.friendshiphouse.net counseling, mentoring, education, youth services, clothing Georgetown Ministry Center 1041 Wisconsin Avenue, NW (202) 338–8301 www.georgetownministrycenter. org laundry, counseling, psych care Martha’s Table 2114 14th Street, NW (202) 328–6608 www.marthastable.org dinner, education, recreation, clothing, child/family services Rachel’s Women’s Center 1222 11th Street, NW (202) 682–1005 http://www.ccdsd.org/howorwc. php hygiene, laundry, lunch, phone and mail, clothing, social events Sasha Bruce Youthwork 741 8th Street, SE (202) 675–9340 www.sashabruce.org counseling, housing, family services So Others Might Eat (SOME) 71 “O” Street, NW (202) 797–8806; www.some.org lunch, medical and dental, job and housing counseling

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Academy of Hope GED Center 601 Edgewood St NE 202-269-6623 www.aohdc.org Bright Beginnings Inc. 128 M Street NW, Suite 150 (202) 842–9090 www.brightbeginningsinc.org Child care, family services Catholic Community Services 924 G Street, NW (202) 772–4300 www.ccs–dc.org umbrella for a variety of services D.C. Coalition for the Homeless 1234 Massachusetts Avenue, NW (202) 347–8870; www.dccfh.org housing, substance abuse treatment, employment assistance DC Food Finder Interactive online map of free and low cost resources. www.dcfoodfinder.org Community Family Life Services 305 E Street, NW

(202) 347–0511 www.cflsdc.org housing, job and substance abuse counseling, clothes closet Foundry Methodist Church 1500 16th Street, NW (202) 332–4010 www.foundryumc.org ESL, lunch, clothing, IDs Gospel Rescue Ministries drug, alcohol program (Men) 810 5th Street, NW (202) 842–1731; www.grm.org Hermano Pedro Day Center 3211 Sacred Heart Way, NW (202) 332–2874 http://www.ccs–dc.org/find/services/ meals, hygiene, laundry, clothing JHP, Inc. 1526 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE (202) 544–9126 www.jobshavepriority.org training and employment Jubilee Jobs 1640 Columbia Road, NW (202) 667–8970 www.jubileejobs.org job preparation and placement National Coalition for the Homeless 2201 P Street, NW (202) 462–4822 www.nationalhomeless.org activists, speakers bureau National Student Partnerships (NSP) 128 M Street NW, Suite 320 (202) 289–2525 washingtondc@nspnet.org Job resource and referral agency Samaritan Ministry 1345 U Street, SE , AND 1516 Hamilton Street, NW (202)889–7702 www.samaritanministry.org HIV support, employment, drug/ alcohol addiction, healthcare St. Luke’s Episcopal Church 1514 15th Street, NW (202) 667–4394 http://stlukesdc.edow.org food, counseling St. Matthew’s Cathedral 1725 Rhode Island Avenue, NW (202) 347–3215 ext. 552 breakfast, clothing, hygiene Travelers Aid, Union Station 50 Massachusetts Avenue, NE (202) 371–1937 www.travelersaid.org/ta/dc.html emergency travel assistance Washington Legal Clinic for the

Homeless 1200 U Street, NW (202) 328–5500 www.legalclinic.org

WVSA Literacy for Life 1100 16th Street, NW (202) 296-9100 www.wvsarts.org GED preparation and work force education

MARYLAND SHELTER Interfaith Works 114 W. Montgomery Avenue Rockville (301) 762–8682 www.iworksmc.org The Samaritan Group Inc. P.O. Box 934, Chestertown (443) 480–3564 Warm Night Shelter 311 68th Place, Seat Pleasant (301) 499–2319 www.cmpgc.org

FOOD Bethesda Cares 7728 Woodmont Avenue Bethesda (301) 907–9244 www.bethesdacares.com Community Place Café 311 68th Place, Seat Pleasant (301) 499–2319; www.cmpgc.org Manna Food Center 614–618 Lofstrand Lane, Rockville (301) 424–1130 www.mannafood.org

MEDICAL RESOURCES Community Clinic, Inc. 8210 Colonial Lane Silver Spring (301) 585–1250 www.cciweb.org Mobile Medical Care, Inc. 9309 Old Georgetown Road Bethesda (301) 493–2400 www.mobilemedicalcare.org

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Catholic Charities, Maryland 12247 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring (301) 942–1790 www.catholiccharitiesdc.org shelter, substance abuse treatment, variety of other services Mission of Love 6180 Old Central Avenue, Capitol Heights (301)333–4440

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www.molinc.org life skills classes, clothing, housewares Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless 600–B East Gude Drive, Rockville (301) 217–0314; www.mcch.net emergency shelter, transitional housing, and supportive services

VIRGINIA SHELTER Alexandria Community Shelter 2355 B-Mill Road, Alexandria (703) 838–4239 Carpenter’s Shelter 930 N. Henry Street, Alexandria (703) 548–7500 www.carpentersshelter.org The Arlington–Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless 3103 9th Road, North, Arlington (703) 525–7177 www.aachhomeless.org

FOOD ALIVE!, Inc. 2723 King Street, Alexandria (703) 836–2723 www.alive–inc.org Our Daily Bread 10777 Main Street #320, Fairfax (703) 273–8829 www.our–daily–bread.org

MEDICAL RESOURCES Arlington Free Clinic 2921 11th Street South Arlington (703) 979–1400 www.arlingtonfreeclinic.org

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Abundant Life Christian Outreach, 5154 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria (703) 823–4100 www.anchor–of–hope.net food, clothing, youth development, and medicines David’s Place Day Shelter 930 North Henry Street, Alexandria (703) 548–7500 www.carpentersshelter.org laundry, shower, workshops, hypothermia shelter

Shelter Hotline: 1–800– 535–7252

THE LAST WORD

July 21 - August 3, 2010

by Mary Yost, editorial intern

You helped your country.

Now your country can help you.

Have you served your country in the military? You could qualify for no-cost health care, housing and employment assistance, and other benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Call 1-877-222-VETS (8387) or visit one of these local VA facilities:

I was too excited to sleep the night before the big day. I packed a lunch, organized my backpack and performed numerous other small tasks to pass the time, unable to wait until the next morning. The Metro ride felt like it lasted an eternity. I hopped out of my seat when I heard the conductor say, “This is Metro Center. Doors opening on the right side.� Thirty minutes early, I paced the block, trying in a futile effort to take note of the stores and restaurants by the office.

Finally, I made it to the steps, through the door and was ready to embark on my internship at Street Sense. I’ve wanted to work with this organization since I began reading the newspaper a few years ago.

This is my dream internship. I have looked forward to this position for months upon months, and now, 10 weeks later, I cannot believe this experience is coming to a close.

On my first day on the job, Jesse, a vendor and office volunteer, said, “You’d be amazed what can happen if you just accept people for who they are.�

This quote seemed to be exactly what I needed to hear at that moment. These words remind me that everyone has a story. If we just love people for who they are in the moment, then we affirm their lives

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and encourage them to use their talents to treet ense.org benefit the community.

Working at Street Sense has taught me the power of words and how they can be used for social change. I plan to apply this knowledge to my classes at school and my future plans. I also intend to continue working with homeless individuals, with the hope that this social issue will be greatly mitigated and eliminated in my lifetime.

I want to thank everyone I interviewed, my co-workers, the vendors and all of my new friends for their patience while I learned about reporting during this experience.

To the vendors: Thank you for working hard and always sharing your interesting perspectives about life with me. Becoming your friend and learning about your experiences was always the highlight of my day.

To Lisa, Mary and Abby: Thank you for always encouraging and providing me with valuable feedback on how to improve my storytelling skills.

I am leaving this internship experience with hope. These are not the last words I will write because I plan to continue using my writing talents to educate the public on social issues that are related to homelessness and poverty.

Yours, with gratitude, Mary Yost

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