Streetvibes August 15-31 Edition

Hope, Health Care, Sloppy Joes

School Bored Page 6

‘Homeless’ Millionaire

Page 10

Page 3

STREETVIBES

$1

August 15-31, 2009 • Advocating Justice, Building Community • Issue 159

Celebrating This Thing We Do Street-paper conference shares ideas for improvement and growth

‘Streetvibes’ staff and volunteers along with representatives from 20 other street papers in North America attended the 2009 NASNA Conference in Denver, Colo. Photo courtesy of NASNA. Staff Report Denver, Colo. – The North American Street Newspaper Association (NASNA) held its annual conference July 30-Aug. 2 at the University of Denver. Forty-two people from 18 different organizations attended.

The conference, hosted by the Denver VOICE, was both a celebration of the burgeoning

street-paper very poor and movement “It is very gratifying to have this story the wider public by helping and an oprecognized in this way because it goes people to unportunity for to the very heart of what we do – we who participants work for street newspapers and care about derstand the to share ideas people who are homeless, marginalized, issues and the for improving disenfranchised and so often despised.” personal stotheir editorial - Gregory Flannery ries of those content, venon the lowest dor programs rung of the and fundraising. ing the conversation around economic ladder,” said Andy “Street newspapers across poverty and homelessness by Freeze, executive director of North America are chang- building a bridge between the NASNA. Freeze is the former

education coordinator for the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless.

The coalition, which publishes Streetvibes, sent four staff members and contributing writer Margo Pierce to the conference. Pierce, a 2009 Peter Jennings Fellow, was one of two presenters at a workshop on the theme, “The

See Celebrate, p. 9

First the Banks, Now the Rest of Us Federal Reserve officials hear victims of housing crisis

By Dave Scharfenberger Contributing Writer Last year, in a plan designed by the Department of Treasury and the Federal Reserve, the federal government, bailed out major banks in this country. Yet home foreclosures are still rising and communities are reporting more vacant properties Federal Reserve officials came to Cincinnati July 21 for a meeting sponsored by Working in Neighborhoods (WIN) and Communities United for Action. Community leaders and homeowners packed the room to get answers about their mortgages and the vacant houses that blight their

neighborhoods.

Mary Bridges of Kennedy Heights was one of the residents who went to the hearing looking for answers.

When she and her husband refinanced their home several years ago, they ended up with an adjustable-rate mortgage.

Her mortgage payment has jumped from $824 to $1,500 a month. Last year her husband died, and Bridges lost her job.

She is now facing foreclosure and is asking for a plan to help her keep the home where she has lived for 19 years “I think that my mortgage company can do better,” she said at the hearing. “I like my home and my neighborhood.

There has to be some hope

out there. I cannot get my mortgage company to work with me.”

Bridges was one of many who attended the meeting with Fed officials to tell their stories of the horrors of lending practices and the effects of foreclosures.

Others complained about the number of foreclosed, vacant properties in their neighborhood.

“The house next door to me is vacant,” said Pat Hendricks of North College Hill. “Behind me is a vacant house. Two doors up from me is vacant, the corner house is vacant and the house around the

See Banks, p. 5

Marilyn Evans, executive director of CUFA, talks to Federal Reserve officials about expanding the Community Reinvestment Act. Photo by Rev. Joe Fozenlogen.

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The Vibe

By The Numbers

Streetwise

By Gregory Flannery Editor

8,000

the number of police hours spent enforcing the city’s marijuana ordinance (See page 13.)

10

the number of community meetings called by the Federal Reserve (See page 1.)

6,373

Freecycle’s Cincinnati membership (See page 8.)

13

the number of years Jason Haap has been teaching (See page 6.)

300

the size of Grailville’s acreage (See page 14.)

6

the size in ounces of terrorist toothpaste (See page 2.)

18

the number of years Anthony volunteered at the Over-the-Rhine Kitchen (See page 4.)

175

the number of vendors selling the Denver VOICE (See page 5.)

116:8

James Brown’s favorite verse in Psalms (See page 6.)

6

the hour at which Dan La Botz had breakfast in Sacramento (See page 11.)

1989

the year Rick Barnes started working in downtown Denver.

(See page 2.)

Keeping Us Safe from Terrorist Toothpaste I was packing a six-ounce tube of Close Up toothpaste when I tried to board a flight at Dayton International Airport July 30. But the vigilant staff of the U.S. Department of Fatherland Security was on to me. They knew exactly what I was up to, and they disarmed me. Lest we forget, we live under an orange terrorism alert; and no liquids, aerosols or gels in quantities greater than three ounces may be transported in carry-on luggage on commercial airlines. It is well established that terrorists need at least four ounces of toothpaste to take down a jetliner.

Five people from Streetvibes attended the annual conference of the North American Street Newspaper Association in Denver, and our experiences with airline security point to the inanity of the rules that now govern air travel: • One of my colleagues forgot that she had a canister of pepper spray in her carry-on bag.

The X-ray machine at the Dayton Airport failed to detect it. All her dentifrices, however, were within the rules, and we landed safely.

• Another colleague had illegal contact-lens solution in her carry-on bag. Bad enough that it was a four-ounce container. More shocking still was the fact that she had placed the liquid in a gallon-size plastic bag, even though the rules clearly specify quart-size bags.

Fatherland Security, however, waved her right onto the plane.

• In May, I boarded a plane in Cincinnati, stopped in the Detroit International Airport, then in Amsterdam on my way to Bergen, Norway. The flight home took me the same route. At each checkpoint, I took from my pants pocket a Zippo lighter given me by my son several years ago. No problem. In Dayton, however, Fatherland Security decided that the very same lighter was as dangerous as my toothpaste and confiscated it. When I asked if I could retrieve the keepsake upon my return from Denver, I was informed that I had lost it forever. That little business of the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution – no person shall “be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law” – seems to have fallen by the wayside.

Not to worry, though. Another colleague, a savvier traveler than I, told me how to fool the system. Having bought a disposable lighter in Denver, I stuck it inside a shoe in my carry-on bag. The X-ray machine in Denver didn’t catch it. Using this method, I could have bought a huge tube of toothpaste and smuggled it home, but I made my point by not brushing my teeth for several days. I figured the Fatherland Security staff had earned the bad breath to which I exposed them before boarding the flight home.

The Streets – and the Law – Are Unforgiving In recent weeks two Streetvibes vendors encountered the cruel reality of homelessness in Cincinnati. One man found himself in need of a toilet late one night. With no public facilities available, he did what any human being would do: he urinated in an alley. Cincinnati Police caught him, cited him and he had to pay a $104 fine. Streetvibes vendors make 75 cents for each copy of Streetvibes that they sell. This infraction meant he had to sell 138 copies of the paper just to relieve himself.

Kenneth Stonitsch had a more serious run-in with the law. He was sleeping on the third floor of an abandoned building on Wade Street when the police showed up July 24.

“They were trying to get my attention but I couldn’t hear them,” Stonitsch says. “I’m almost deaf, and I was on the third floor. The next thing I knew, I woke up and a dog was in the room.

There were four cops in there. They said something, and the dog bit me several times on the right leg. I was in pain pretty bad. All they had to do was tell me to get up and leave. They didn’t have to put the dog on me. It was pretty painful – humiliating, too.”

Next thing he knew, Stonitsch was facing a felony charge of burglary and the prospect of a prison sentence.

“You’re going to put a felony on me for being homeless?” he says. “Now I’m looking at one to five years in the penitentiary.”

A Hamilton County grand jury fortunately saw the issue in a different light, passing over the burglary charge and indicting him instead on the misdemeanor charge of trespassing. The case is still pending.

Letter To The Editor To the editor: I was shocked recently on a Sunday in July after coming back from a Poor People’s Conference in Louisville and needing an emergency bathroom stop because of a stomach virus. My friend John drove me to the Drop Inn Center after getting back to Cincinnati, and a staff person that afternoon refused to allow me to use the bathroom at the Drop.

I barely made it to the White castle on Central Parkway to use their bathroom, and thanks to John. I am in complete support that agencies and businesses should allow people to use the bathroom with dignity. Right on, Lynne Ausman! (See “Justice, Toilets and Bill Cunningham,” issue of Aug. 1-14.)

A Former Homeless Person in Cincinnati (Editor’s note: The Drop Inn Center now requires all non-resident visitors to show identification. This could explain the writer’s difficulty during his visit.)

STREETVIBES August 15 - 31, 2009 Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty.

Distributed by people who are or once were homeless, in exchange for a $1 donation, Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless.

Address: 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 Phone: 513.421.7803 x 12 Fax: 513.421.7813 Email: streetvibes2@ yahoo.com Website: www. cincihomeless.org Blog: streetvibes. wordpress.com Streetvibes Staff Editor Gregory Flannery Art Director Lynne Ausman Vendor Coordinator Jeni Jenkins Contributing Writers Lew Moores, Dave Scharfenberger, Margo Pierce, Paul Kopp, Jeremy Flannery, Michael Henson, David Heitfield, Alecia Lott, Larry Gross, Stephanie Dunlap, Angela Pancella, Will Kirschner, Ariana Shahandeh, Elizabeth Heath, Dan LaBotz, Jason Haap Photography/Artwork Aimie Willhoite, Lynne Ausman, George Ellis, Jeni Jenkins, Rev. Joe Folzenlogen, Jim Montgomery, Anthony Williams, Berta Lambert Proofreaders Jennifer Blalock Ranjit Rege The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati through coordination of services, public education, grassroots advocacy and Streetvibes.

We are members of:

STREETVIBES August 15 - 31, 2009

Column

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Eight Minutes with a

‘Homeless’ Millionaire

How a finance guy befriended the homeless and gave them a newspaper and hope

By Margo Pierce Contributing Writer

were politicians, and Barnes was appalled.

“All of these city ordinance started getting passed about no feedings, can’t sleep out, to urinate in public was a sex offence. At the same time Mayor (John W.) Hickenlooper won an award – all mayors nationwide were up for it – for his homeless campaign. The first thing that came to my mind was the hypocrisy: He wins this award and they’re passing all these ordinances that make it illegal to be homeless. The amount of hypocrisy is just disgusting. People going to church every Sunday but not practicing what’s being preached to them – I just wonder if people go to church and hear anything.

“About 80 percent of the panhandlers were wheelchair-bound. What I found out was that these were all people on disability, but that disability doesn’t pay your bills. When you’re on disability, you can make other income; but if your other income exceeds a certain level, then you lose your disability.

It’s a crock, a catch 22.”

Barnes was fired up and happy to support the original Denver VOICE with a monthly donation when the paper fell on hard times. But after 10 years, the paper closed its doors in 2006. Described as “a grassroots newspaper created in large part by homeless people for homeless people” by the paper’s Web site, the Denver VOICE got a second chance from Barnes, who took it over in 2007.

The guy holding the door wore a yellow baseball cap with a cowboy riding a horse stitched on it, a lime-green T-shirt, cargo shorts and flipflops. People were trickling in and he just stood there, holding the door. It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon and he was in no hurry. He seemed content to stand there all day if asked. There was no hint of arrogance or impatience, the tell-tale signs most people equate with a millionaire, and I had no idea I just walked past the man who rescued the Denver VOICE from oblivion.

Rick Barnes is the guy others will hold the door for in hopes of getting a few moments of his time. As the president and CEO of six financial companies hired by likes of Merrill Lynch and Citi Group Rick Barnes is the publisher of the Denver VOICE and on the board of the North to sell some of their “mortAmerican Street Newspaper Association. Photo by Lynne Ausman. gage platforms,” he’s the kind of man who could easily igCity Hall hasn’t panned out can get by having a homeless tion, I don’t believe people nore the homeless woman in the way he anticipated. The paper versus just handing out have to be taught to take care the wheelchair on the corner new Denver VOICE, which put 20s all day long on the street of their neighbor, especially in favor of the eager suits folout its first edition in August corner, the impact on the if somebody is really, really, lowing in his wake. But he 2007, focuses on arts and hu- consequences are so much really fortunate,” he said. “So doesn’t. man-interest better.” why does somebody who’s “I’m born features that With the rise of laws tar- really, really fortunate have “I’m the type of guy who will throw 20s out to and raised aren’t printed geting homeless people, it’s to be taught that they should a panhandler. I don’t care if they go shoot it. I in Denver, a n y w h e r e difficult to understand how take care of the guy that’s less don’t care if they go drink it. I don’t care if they so I have else, but not a person in a business that fortunate? That part will algo eat it or go buy a pair of socks, whatever.” w o rk e d a c t i v i s m . trades heavily on reputation ways confuse me.

- Rick Barnes downtown That’s OK would take the risk of getting “Looking at it from a pure since 1989,” with Barnes involved with such an un- business perspective, I think he said. “I’m because the popular cause. Barnes offered I can completely remove mythe type of guy who will throw “I get this paper … then it economic impact for the a simple explanation. self from any contributions 20s out to a panhandler. I dawned on me that I didn’t vendors is where he sees the “Because it’s right,” he said. to the paper after the 36th don’t care if they go shoot it. know one person that had biggest bang for his philan- “In my heart I feel like you’re month.

I don’t care if they go drink it. any journalism background,” thropic buck. supposed to take care of the “To me that seems like a I don’t care if they go eat it or he said. “I had no idea how “In the month of August homeless, and you’re sup- pretty simple model; if peogo buy a pair of socks, what- to secure funding for it, and 2008, the Democratic Nation- posed to take care of the poor ple can’t find beauty in that ever. From a spiritual per- the answer is there is no way. al Convention was in Denver and you’re supposed to feed model from a business perspective, I felt like it was none There’s no one out there that … we sold 17,000 copies,” he the hungry and you’re sup- spective, then you can’t find of my business. If somebody wants to back a paper for the said. “And this is when I start- posed to clothe the naked. I beauty in a field of flowers. was asking for help, I’d extend homeless. I wasn’t in a posi- ed looking for feedback. Most just believe it.”

You can’t tell me that the city a helping hand. tion to afford it, so I borrowed vendors average $2 a paper.

Barnes is convinced others of Cincinnati doesn’t have “After a while I’d just stop $50,000 from my 401K. That That’s $35,000 that we just know what’s right, too. any one of 50,000 people who and talk with them. Some of was the seed capital. And then put into the poor communi“Do you believe that people could cough up that money them became friends and I all of a sudden my businesses ty’s pockets. have to be taught that hunger and never even miss it.” helped some of them to get started booming. I never once “The last three consecutive is a crime? With that quesinto housing. Sometimes, if thought about giving home- months we’ve sold between they were in a jam, I’d help less people a job through this 16,000 and 17,000 papers, so Many people work hard to make a difference for the them out of a jam. But all of project – my main intention we’ve been putting between less privileged in the Queen City. “Eight Minutes” is an a sudden all of my friends was always to be an activist $30,000 and $35,000 into opportunity to learn who those people are and what started disappearing because and to challenge head on the the pockets of the poor and motivates them to be a positive influence. they were getting run off.” city government.” homeless community. I’m a Those doing the chasing His intention to take on businessman; the mileage I

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Community News

STREETVIBES August 15 - 31, 2009

Walking and Imaginary Chats & Smoking Real Compassion A few random encounters

Soup kitchen offers unexpected opportunities

By Angela Pancella Contributing Writer

Smokers have a community of their own that is centered around their ‘cancer sticks.’ Photo by George Ellis.

By Larry Gross Contributing Writer Take a cigarette out of your pack, light it, then take a walk in downtown Cincinnati.

You might have a few odd encounters and experiences along the way.

I’ve seen this guy for years downtown, mostly on Race Street. He’s older and often well dressed. He’s come to know I’m a smoker and whenever I pass him, without fail, he asks for a cigarette – sometimes two. Lately, when he asks for two, I tell him he’s lucky that he’s getting one.

This woman I pass on Vine Street on occasion could be a prostitute. Smiling, she’ll ask for a smoke and a light. As I light her cigarette, she usually puts her arms down my back, stroking it. If she were prettier, I might want to take this to another level. When I think this, I often wonder what that says about me.

The other day, while walking down Elm Street, a homeless man asked for one of my Camel Lights. In a plastic bag, he had a pair of shoes he wanted to sell me for only five bucks. They weren’t bad looking shoes, but they weren’t my size.

Coming out of the downtown library one day, a man in a wheelchair asked me for a cigarette. After he took it, he had a question: “Do insects sleep?” It was a good question, and I didn’t have an answer. When I got home, I did a Google search. You can do the same.

In front of the CVS Pharmacy on Seventh Street, a young woman walking down the sidewalk, laughing and talking with another young woman, saw me smoking and said, “Hey, dad, give me a cigarette.” “I’m not your dad,” I replied as I kept walking. Her approach to “asking” pissed me off.

Another time, also in front of CVS, a young woman wanted a smoke. After I lit it for her, she looked at me and said, “Oh, I love your hair!”

The next day I got a haircut.

There’s a homeless man who’s usually standing on the corner of Sixth and Main. He’s always holding a cardboard sign that’s too faded for me to read. He always has a backpack planted next to him on the sidewalk, with an old paperback book on top. I always stop, give him a cigarette and a buck if I have it and we talk for a little bit about what he’s reading. He’s always anxious to fill me in, sometimes wanting to talk too long about his book. I sometimes want to ask him what went wrong, why is he homeless, but so far I haven’t.

Once I was at Government Square, smoking and pacing, waiting for a bus to take me to Clifton. When the bus pulled up, my cigarette was only about half smoked, but I decided to drop it on the cement at my feet and put it out. A guy runs up to me and says, “Hey, hey! I’ll finish it for you.”

Some weeks back, a guy stopped me on Eighth Street wanting a cigarette. After I gave it to him, he then wanted money to help out with bus fare. I gave him a dollar.

He then waned to know if I had a car and could take him across the river to Newport. I told the guy I was busing it. It occurred to me to ask him if he had any household chores he wanted me to do, but I kept my mouth shut.

Standing at the corner of Sixth and Vine, waiting for the light to change so I could cross the street, an older woman was standing with me. I was smoking. She looked at me in disgust and started waving her arms around, signaling that the cigarette smoke was bothering her. Proud of myself, I resisted the temptation to put the cigarette out. As the old bag crossed the street, I thought to myself, “What a bitch.” I was also proud of myself that I didn’t say those words out loud.

See what you’re missing? If you’re not walking and smoking, try it.

Pat Wakim is executive director of the Over-the-Rhine Kitchen and the Walnut Hills Kitchen and Pantry. For about 18 years a gentleman named Anthony offered his assistance at the Over-the-Rhine Kitchen as volunteers and staff prepared noon meals at this, the oldest soup kitchen in Cincinnati.

“He passed away recently, God rest his soul,” Wakim says. “He was schizophrenic.

He was often talking to several people at the same time.

When volunteers came, I would explain to them, ‘Now, he’s going to talk to himself, but he’s harmless.’ ” One day Wakim and Anthony were working by themselves. As was his custom, Anthony was carrying on conversations. Wakim wasn’t listening all that closely until she heard him say, “She’s all right. She has a good heart.”

“Are you talking about me to somebody?” Wakim asked.

He wouldn't answer directly; Anthony, who recently passed away, was he just laughed as Wakim a longtime volunteer at the Over-the-Rhine mock-warned, “You betKitchen. Photo courtesy of Over-the-Rhine and Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry. ter not be talking about me again” Few situations are compa- Hills and opened a kitchen cause I was supposed to rable in value to overhearing and pantry there. He also make amends. Nothing was someone talk about you to founded Tom Geiger Guest right, and then I came in and the voices in his head. But House, now a number of learned that it’s not all about at places like the Over-the- houses offering transitional me. I enjoyed being tested to Rhine Kitchen, these situ- and permanent housing for get things done quickly. I just ations become learned to come the norm of dayout of myself.’

Few situations are comparable in value to-day life, not If the kids are to overhearing someone talk about you the exception. lucky, they do get to the voices in his head. But at places And now there is a lot out of it.” like the Over-the-Rhine Kitchen, these an opportunity As will the persituations become the norm of day-toto step into this son who will be day life, not the exception. world: Wakim is manager at the on the lookout for Over-the-Rhine a new manager at Kitchen.

The the kitchen; the current man- battered and homeless wom- atmosphere is established ager is retiring. en and children or homeless at the door, where staff and The Over-the-Rhine Kitch- individuals and families with volunteers welcome guests en is easy to spot on Vine disabilities. Geiger, now de- and tell them, “Thank you Street across from St. Francis ceased, was a volunteer in for coming.” Wakim, who is Seraph Church; it's the build- the earliest days who lived in Lebanese, says the culture of ing with cornucopias painted the back room of the kitchen. hospitality in her heritage inon the doors. Local author The place is still often called spires her to welcome guests and professor Rev. Thomas “Tom’s Kitchen.” “just as if my mother was welBokenkotter founded it in “A staff of five runs three fa- coming them into her home 1976 with the help of his cilities,” Wakim says. “It takes to eat.” mother Gertrude and with all of us to make this happen, “The people are the fohis sisters helping to cook the and the volunteers are the key cus,” she says. “We get a lot meals. to everything. We get volun- of elderly folks here. They’re Inspired by a visit to Doro- teers when somebody gets a just looking for a good smile. thy Day’s House of Hospitality tug on their heart from above, (They'll tell us,) ‘Show your in New York City, Bokenkotter and they can get involved teeth!’ ” came back asking, “Who is with the meals, with painting The new manager will have helping the poor in Cincin- a wall, with building some- to have “a heart for the poor,” nati?” Once Over-the-Rhine thing. ... We’ve had so many Wakim says. “If you don’t, it’s Kitchen was established, Bo- young people. One young not going to be worth it. But kenkotter saw the great need man wrote us the nicest let- it’s the best job you could that also existed in Walnut ter. He said, ‘I came in be- ever have.”

Applicants can contact Wakim at aposervice@juno.com or 513-961-1983.

STREETVIBES August 15 - 31, 2009

Community News

Street Papers Grow Across USA Circulation keeps growing as larger newspapers struggle

By April Dudash Contributing Writer Three men with three difficult pasts stand in the streets.

One didn’t have enough money to pay rent, and he couldn’t afford to find a place to sleep at night. A second struggled to find housing while he received money for his disability, but it wasn’t enough to get by. The third has been homeless for nearly five years. He was in a crash on his Harley, tore up his shoulder and destroyed his ability to find decent work.

Despite having different stories, these men all share a similar struggle with homelessness, and they have all found work as vendors selling street newspapers.

Street newspapers, which provide an income for homeless people and spread awareness of homelessness, are becoming increasingly popular in the United States.

The papers publish news articles, poetry and advice, and vendors who are homeless or formerly homeless make a profit by selling them in the streets.

“I’m not homeless no more,” says Carlos Valdez, a vendor for the Denver VOICE. “I feel like I can contribute because they’ve done a lot for me.”

Staff members of street papers hope to provide opportunities and resources to vendors so they can find housing and income. Dale Harbour, a 52-year-old vendor with the Denver VOICE, has been homeless for about five years

Many cities in North America have street newspapers. Photo by Lynne Ausman.

Flannery’s 28 years of jourafter losing his job due to in- Cincinnati, Ohio. “We’ve sold juries from a motorcycle ac- out two months in a row and nalism experience has shaped had to increase our print run. Streetvibes into a publication cident.

“I do well enough to get by It’s really unusual in that a lot that focuses on civil rights for now,” he says. “I feel some- of newspapers are going out and pinpoints poverty issues and success stories. where I’ve got to keep going, of business right now.”

“This little street newspaA year ago, Flannery says, and it’s a day-by-day thing most of the time. Eventually, Streetvibes printed 5,000 cop- per put out by a small nonies per month and sold out profit exemplifies what I I’ll recover from it all.” think journalism Street newsis really about, papers gentelling the sto“This little street newspaper put out erally rely on ries of everyday by a small non-profit exemplifies what subscriptions, people and their I think journalism is really about, tellgrants or donastruggles and ing the stories of everyday people and tions to keep their successes their struggles and their successes in a publishing. At a in a world that world that can often be very cruel.” majority of the can often be very - Gregory Flannery papers, vendors cruel,” Flannery pay 25 cents for says. an issue and sell The paper has published it for $1. They keep what they of papers. It has now begun bi-weekly publishing, print- stories that reveal the exearn. ing 4,000 copies every two ploitation of Puerto Rican workers when they arrive to Rising circulation weeks.

“A lot of the success in the Cincinnati as well as the city Despite the struggling U.S. paper is due to generosity,” council’s motives to drive economy, street newspapers he says. “People know the homeless people out of the have been thriving. The num- vendors are homeless. They downtown area.

“When you’ve got nothber of papers sold has in- buy the paper just as an act creased across the nation. of kindness. I’m hoping that ing at all and you’re desper“It’s been pretty astonish- people are now starting to ate just to survive, it can be a ing, really,” says Greg Flan- buy the paper because they pretty cruel world,” Flannery says, “especially in Cincinnery, editor of Streetvibes in want to read it.”

5

nati.”

Other newspapers are also triumphing during the economic crisis. Vendors of the Denver VOICE sold 3,000 newspapers in January, and they were selling up to 16,000 only three months later.

“Our vendor numbers have gone up, and I think that’s a direct correlation to the economy,” says Gretchen Crowe, vendor program director for the Denver VOICE. The paper has about 175 vendors selling the paper each month.

Street Speech in Columbus, Ohio, was selling about 600 papers in August 2008. Now, the paper is selling around 4,000 copies per month, according to Shea Davis, AmeriCorps VISTA and Street Speech coordinator.

“Most of them (the homeless vendors) really believe in the mission of the paper and they want to get the word out,” Davis says. “They’re happy to feel that they have a voice in the media and that they have a way to share their stories.”

Street Speech has given the homeless new opportunities, such as jobs in the community. A local restaurant was hiring, and the owner decided to employ one of their vendors, Davis says.

“The owner had seen him standing out there in terrible weather,” she says. “He just saw his perseverance and dedication and work ethic and realized he would be a great employee to have.”

All of these street newspapers are members of the North American Street Newspaper Association (NASNA), an organization that supports self-sustaining street newspapers around the country.

About 25 U.S. street papers are members.

“The news, the informa-

See Papers, p. 10

First the Banks, Now the Rest of Us (Continued from page 1)

corner is vacant. These vacant properties are in a constant state of deterioration and I feel like no one cares how my neighborhood is affected.”

“We told the Federal Reserve that they needed to hear from homeowners and community leaders who were feeling the effects of foreclosures,” said Marilyn Evans, executive director of Communities United For Action (CUFA). “We know that they are hearing from the banks, but they also need to hear from us. We told them they needed to expand and modernize the Community Reinvestment Act and the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act.” The meeting in Cincinnati was one of 10 meetings that Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke agreed to hold around the country. Representing the Fed were Joseph Firschein, assistant director and community affairs officer, and Anna Alvarez Boyd, associate director of analysis and communications.

If Federal Reserve officials wanted stories, they heard plenty in Cincinnati.

“Your stories really put a face on what this crisis is about,” Boyd said.

She and Firschein promised to take the stories and issues raised by WIN and CUFA back to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.

“When you’re talking to us, you’re really talking to them,” Boyd said.

Other public officials who attended were State Rep. Denise Driehaus, Hamilton County Commissioner David Pepper and Cincinnati City Council members Roxanne Qualls and Cecil Thomas. Also in attendance were representatives from U.S. Bank, Fifth Third Bank, PNC Bank and Spirit of America.

The recommendations that community leaders presented were: • updating the Community Reinvestment Act and the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act to include all mortgage institutions; • access to good mortgage loan products, including 30 year fixed rates, without prepayment penalties, yield-spread premiums and

high closing costs; • requiring lenders to make affordability modifications to loans or to prove why they can’t; • maintaining vacant properties and encouraging lenders to give or sell them at reduced prices to neighborhood development corporations; • and developing banking fees and small loan products to provide an alternative to predatory lending.

WIN and CUFA representatives along with National Peoples’ Action plan to meet with Bernanke at the conclusion of the 10 meetings to discuss the results of the hearings and possible action to address issues raised.

CUFA President Roger Davis is looking for results.

“They saw and heard what is going on because of foreclosures and how people are hurting,” he said.

“Now we will see what the Federal Reserve will do.”

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STREETVIBES August 15 - 31, 2009

Guest Column

No Media Buzz for Textbooks But the school-board race affects all of us Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here are not to be perceived as an endorsement or reflecting the views of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, which publishes Streetvibes.

By Jason Haap Guest Columnist

board seem nearly invisible.

The candidates pull fewer campaign stunts and so end up with less news coverage.

News readers talk less. The buzz doesn't generate. Candidates spend less money on races. All this means less visibility.

Still, this year, the Hamilton County GOP has decided to turn the school board race into a partisan affair – endorsing candidates and a platform opposed both to school levies, as well as what they call the bad leadership of the Democrats they say have occupied the board for too long.

Given the state of the economy, I'd bet the Republicans

Is that the school board or the school bored? Do you pay attention to the school board race? I'm going out on a limb and guess you do not. I know I've never given the school board much thought – at least not until recently.

The political landscape is so flooded with controversies everywhere: Maybe you've been debating Obama's health care plan with friends over coffee Jason Haap is running for Cincinnati School Board. Photo courtesy of or beer; maybe you have an Jason Haap Campaign. opinion on Strickland's plan for education reform; maybe Public Schools’ (CPS) budget ties already issued endorse- protected by the pyramidal you've been writing City Hall is unstable. If faced with cuts, ments before I pulled my first power structure that shields as they have threatened once what kinds of policies should petition. I want more people the interests of those at the again to the district to pay attention to the race, top. If the district must cut, cut human adopt to put and I want to advance policy the people at the top can dicservices If ever the district must make cuts to services kids first? concepts that protect our stu- tate cuts from on high, taking first. that affect kids, those cuts should be reflected How can we dents and our schools from things away from kids – such But at proportionally in the budgets of the high-paid make sure divisive partisanship. I have as busing or extracurricular the level administrators who make such decisions. the interests ideas that can work, ground- activities or arts and music of critical of students ed in the actual roles and re- programs. But nothing remass – in are placed sponsibilities of the school quires these decision-makers terms of what gets covered by are banking on the general ahead of partisan games and board – and my hallmark to share in the cuts themthe daily papers, the televised population not wanting to political showmanship? plan is something I call “Pro- selves! That's why I want to news, the frenzy of bloggers think about tax increases.

That's why I entered the portional Cuts.” adopt a policy for “Proporcommenting on hot items Board members have al- race, even though the ticket Typically, high-paid cenSee Media, p. 7 – races like those for school ready claimed the Cincinnati is full and both major par- tral-office administrators are

Stay Motivated, Keep Selling ‘Streetvibes’ vendor is also a community volunteer

By Jeremy Flannery Contributing Writer Motivation must be difficult to find when you’re unemployed and homeless. But James Brown is now neither.

He has stable housing in Buddy’s Place at 1300 Vine St. and sells Streetvibes to earn an income while seeking steady employment.

“It’s the first time I have my own place in a long time,” he says.

Brown has been unemployed from a steady job since January 2008. Though he has been applying for work, he has been denied employment prospects because of his past drug convictions, he says.

Brown, 38, moved to Cincinnati from Detroit, Mich., with his wife in 2002 when she was hired at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. While in Detroit, Brown worked part time for the Chrysler Corp. “(Cincinnati) is slower than Detroit,” Brown says. “Cincinnati could do better things

with its construction and vendor for three months and the police. They need to give most often sells the newspapeople second chances with per around 13th Street and felonies to get jobs and stay Vine streets.

“I sell to businesses around off the streets selling drugs.

Change the negative into a there and to people walking by on the street,” he says. “I positive.”

Brown stayed at the Drop have a lot of regular customInn Center from October 2008 ers there now, and they seem to really to February love the pa2009 and per. I do get would like “It’s a blessing to some good to return wake up every day sales.

I there to and be motivated even made volunteer. to live life and keep $20 after “I used going, because you a couple to sell cigadon’t know what might of hours rettes and happen tomorrow.” once. But, washing - James Brown you know, bottles at there are the DropInn Center – that’s how I some people that just walk made my living,” he says. “I’d right past you.

“It’s amazing how the palike to go back and volunteer there to help the people there per gets people to come back to get up and get motivated to to the vendors. People say find work and have hope. It’s a the articles are good and it blessing to wake up every day tells the truth about homeand be motivated to live life lessness. People talk about and keep going, because you homelessness, but you don’t don’t know what might hap- really know it without the pen tomorrow. They need to firsthand experience. Streethelp people who are really ill vibes could do more articles and help people get a change on homelessness, and I know they’re doing that now, but it of clothes.”

Brown volunteers for Our would be great to see more of Daily Bread, a food and hos- it because it’s important.”

Brown says he attends pitality ministry in Over-theRhine, assisting the organiza- church on Sundays to keep tion with mailings, he says. himself motivated. He would He has been a Streetvibes also like to write poems for

James Brown has been a Streetvibes vendor for three months. Photo by George Ellis.

Streetvibes, he says. He quotes Psalm 116:8 from the Bible: “He has saved me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.”

Brown says the passage inspires and motivates him.

“It’s a passage about life and helps keep me going,” he says.

STREETVIBES August 15 - 31, 2009

Local News

Dear Uncle Jimmy, My Friend

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Remembering an editor who turned his life around

visit with my mom, she would try to bite me. You would yell at her but it wouldn’t do any good. I asked you what D.D. meant and you said, laughing, “Dumb Dog.” Your brown eyes lit up when you laughed, and your laughter was contagious.

By Elizabeth Heath I never knew you were an Contributing Writer alcoholic until later on in my life. I always wondered why I'm sitting here trying to we didn’t see you much anywrite something for Street- more. You became a distant vibes, but all I can do is think relative. You spent less and about you. Send me some- less time with us and more thing, Jimmy. Send me some- and more time drinking. I thing good. This might be the missed you. I tried to find you. only time I None of our get to see my family knew words in print.

You picked me where you I do it for you, up out of the car were. in memory of and spun me I was 17 you, a man I around before when you put loved so much pulling me close yourself in but barely and squeezing me. the hospital. knew.

“My little Bethie,” You tried to Most of my you said. drink yourself memories of to death at you are when I Aunt Janeen’s was a child. I remember your house. The first time I came black TransAm with T-tops. I to the hospital to see you, think you had the first mobile you slept the whole time. The phone ever made. You came second time you cussed at all to visit us when you first got of us and told us to get out. it.

None of us did. The third time You yelled to my mom, I came to visit, when I walked “Hey, Jane, come check out into your room, you said, “My my mobile phone!” I ran out little Bethie,” with tears in the door as fast as I could, your eyes. I just hugged you right past you and into your as tightly as I could. It had car to check out the mobile been so long since I saw you. phone. I had never seen any- You didn’t remember me bething like it before. I picked ing there before that day. The up this thing that was bigger drinking had taken its toll on than my head. It was attached you. You looked older than to a black box about triple the you were. You looked like an size of the actual phone. old man lying in that hospital You picked me up out of bed. It made me so sad. the car and spun me around After you got out of the before pulling me close and hospital you went right back squeezing me. “My little to drinking. None of us saw Bethie,” you said. I giggled you once again. You stayed and squirmed until you put away for years. Why did you me down and went on to talk do that, Jimmy? Was it the and laugh with my mom, booze? Was it shame? Did my your sister. mom keep you away? I asked We would go to Grandpa’s about you all the time, and all to visit. I remember you be- I ever got was, “I don’t know.” ing there a lot, you and your You didn’t get to see my beaupoodle named D.D. I didn’t tiful daughter. You didn't like that dog. She was mean know that, despite my diffito me. Every time I came to cult life and getting pregnant

Jimmy Heath was the editor of Streetvibes until his death in December 2007.

Photo by Jim Montgomery when I was still a child myself, I finished high school and went on to college. There was so much of my life I wanted you to be a part of. I missed your warm brown eyes, sweet smile and contagious laughter. I missed you spinning me around before the big hug.

The next time I saw you, you were in the hospital again. You had not been drinking in years, but it still made you sick. I walked into the room and straight to your bedside. I leaned over and whispered in your ear, “I love

No Media Buzz tional Cuts.”

It's a simple concept: If ever the district must make cuts to services that affect kids, those cuts should be reflected proportionally in the budgets of the high-paid administrators who make such decisions. In other words, these administrators should never be able to take away from kids without also taking away from themselves.

I've discovered this concept has broad appeal across the political spectrum. When the Green Party endorsed me, they liked the concept. As I've been out on the street collect-

ing signatures, everyone with whom I’ve spoken said they liked the idea. My Republican friends and my Democratic friends like the idea. It rings with the independents, too.

I believe this is a commonsense solution for uncommon economic times. It might not solve all our economic woes, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction.

OK, so I guess it won't generate the same kind of buzz as Jeff Berding’s disgusting campaign stunt when he wanted to require our most desperate citizens to pay a “panhandling tax,” while forcing them

you, Jimmy.” I fully expected to hear, “I love you, too, my little Bethie.” I heard nothing.

I felt like a child again, like I always did in your presence.

You had the ability to make me feel that way although I was almost 30. All I could do was cry.

Your warm eyes and sweet smile are only in my mind now. You are gone and I don’t have any answers to why you stopped coming around. You were a great man, Jimmy. You did good in the world. You helped people. You left me

feeling like I missed out and wishing I would have known you better.

I still see your warm eyes and sweet smile. Every day I will always remember you fondly, my sweet uncle Jimmy: your laughter, your hugs, your amazing ability to turn your life around. I wish I could have spent more time with you as an adult, but I know you are watching over me. Smiling as I write. I love you. I miss you.

Jimmy Heath, former editor of Streetvibes, died in 2007.

(continued from page 6)

to hold city-issued signs stating how much money the city spends on human services.

That sounds more like North Korea than Cincinnati, but unfortunately is the kind of thing that gets public attention on a large scale.

Nevertheless, we must continue to advocate for our schools, and one way to do so is to raise the general awareness of the school-board race. School-board members can make decisions concerning the acquisition of materials and approving courses of study. On the one hand, it sounds like boring stuff. How

excited can anyone get over the prospect of approving textbook purchases?

But if you are a parent or a prospective parent and know about the long lines and waiting lists at certain magnet-school programs, then maybe you should think about what kinds of new programs the district adopts. The school board has the ability to direct the district in such regards. I love that CPS has Montessori programs in some magnet schools. I’d like to see more creativity, like a Waldorf-methods public high school, for example. The edu-

cational establishment has grown increasingly aware of the Waldorf method over recent years, and the growing research is persuasive.

Would changes like this improve our system and by extension our city? I think so, and that’s why I'm running.

I have new ideas that are not just sound bites, but the kinds of things upon which the board could actually act.

I live in Mt. Airy with my wife of 10 years and our two sons.

I have been teaching for 13 years, and my platform arises from those experiences.

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STREETVIBES August 15 - 31, 2009

Local News

Don’t Dump it; Freecyle it Sharing unwanted items helps to save the environment

By Paul Kopp Contributing Writer

Green and frugal

This rule is indicative of the initial idea behind Freecyle.

Freecyle has three groups Rather than operating as a Sometimes it seems that, in Cincinnati, corresponding forum for people to get free in our consumer-based cul- to the city’s neighborhoods: stuff, Freecyle is at its core an ture, we have forgotten how west side, east side and cen- environmental and humanito share. People seem to be tral. The central group, which tarian effort. constantly buying new items includes areas within the city Frequently offered items to replace older ones, and of- limits, has 6,373 members. include baby and children’s ten those things end up in the Don Freeland, one of the accessories, clothing, furnigarbage when someone else group’s five moderators, says ture and household items. could still use them. the membership has nearly The central Cincinnati group Now there is a doesn’t allow system that might pets to be postoffer a solution, “The majority of people offer items that ed, because helping people others need. It keeps them out of our animals aren’t share while at the landfill, and it is a deterrent to more something same time benespending for those items. However, that would go fiting themselves it also points out our obsession with into a landfill, and the environ‘new.’ Many people offer items that and including ment as well. are working well, serviceable and in them wouldn’t Freecyle.org is good condition just because they are fit with the a non-profit comredecorating, or are bored with the item. group’s goals. munity network At least those items are getting used to The decision that was created the end of their life span, and that’s an on whether to as a forum for important function of Freecycle.” include pets people to give and - Laura Hasenstab is decided rereceive things for gionally. free. Founded in In Cincin2003 in Tempe, Ariz., to pro- doubled in the five years nati, two different cultures mote waste reduction and since he joined. make up the city‘s Freecyle lessen desert-landfill usage, it Freeland, who lives in base, according to Kim Dye, has quickly become an inter- Hamilton, found out about the Central Cincinnati modnational movement. the group through word of erator.

There are now 3,500 mouth. As a moderator, one “There is a green group Freecycle groups throughout of his duties is to review new and a frugal group, and they the world, administered by members’ posts to make sure have kind of come together,” local volunteers from each they understand and are fol- she says. group’s area. Membership is lowing the guidelines.

Because society is becomfree. Each group has an on“One of the things that we ing greener in general, people line forum for posting items are very particular about is have become more conscienthat members want to give that the subject lines of the tious about putting things in away and items they’d like postings are consistent,” the landfills, Dye says. They, to receive. No money is in- Freeland says. “These would along with people who can’t volved, and each group has be ‘wanted,’ ‘taken,’ ‘offer,’ afford to buy new things, moderators to make sure that ‘received,’ ” he says. need to save money or want members follow the group’s Another key rule is that to help someone in need, are guidelines. there must be a 2-to-1 ratio of finding Freecyle a simple so“offer” to “wanted” postings. lution.

“Some people are more on the environmental side, some feel it’s right to give things away to those who have the need for it and some are just out there because they want to get something for free,” Freeland says. “It’s a pretty wide spectrum, but the majority of people are probably a combination of all of those.

Nobody does it for any one specific reason.”

Jess O’Rourke, a nurse who has been a member for two years, gives examples.

“I cleaned out my friend’s basement last year, and he told me to just throw everything away,” O’Rourke says.

“Instead, I used Freecyle, and nothing was thrown away at all, at least by me. That was a lot of stuff! When I moved, I really needed moving boxes.

I put up a ‘wanted’ post and I received moving boxes galore, packing paper, bubble wrap, etc. When I was done with them, I used Freecyle for everything I had received. It was great.”

Help for non-profits

Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless acquired two boxes of old editions of ‘Time’ magazine from Freecycle, to be used by high school students in creating photo books documenting urban poverty and social justice issues. Photo by Lynne Ausman.

! ? t a h W y a

Most participants arrange to pick up items at the donor’s home, usually left on a front porch. That way participants don’t have to worry about scheduling conflicts.

“When I go to pick something up, it always gives me that Christmas feeling, to have a little gift with your name on it,” Freeland says.

Using Freecyle is beneficial for families who have no way to take items somewhere to donate, Dye says.

Non-profit organizations have also made use of Freecycle. Dye, who is the human-resources manager for a non-profit agency that works with inner-city youth in the Cincinnati Public Schools, says she has received expensive graphing calculators for students through Freecyle.

Organizations that donate items are also able to receive a receipt for tax purposes.

Laura Hasenstab, a Freecyle member and retired highschool English and specialeducation teacher, says the movement says both good and bad things about society: “The majority of people offer items that others need,” she says. “It keeps them out of our landfill, and it is a deterrent to more spending for those items. However, it also points out our obsession with ‘new.’ Many people offer items that are working well, serviceable and in good condition just because they are redecorating, or are bored with the item. At least those items are getting used to the end of their life span, and that's an important function of Freecycle.”

Though the group’s membership seems to be steadily growing Dye thinks there is still much work to be done.

“If you are driving down the street and still see things sitting out for the trash, then we’ve not done our job good,” she says. “As long as you see useable things on the curb, the group has not got its mission out to people yet.”

“Overcoming poverty is not a question of charity.

It is an act of justice.”

- Nelson Mandela

S _____________________

STREETVIBES August 15 - 31, 2009

Community News

Celebrating This Thing We Do

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(Continued from page 1)

Challenges of Advocacy Journalism without Preaching to the Choir.” The workshop featured a spirited discussion on journalistic ethics and practice.

A highlight of the conference was the second annual North American Street Paper Awards. Streetvibes Editor Gregory Flannery received the Best Feature Story Award for “We Are Their Slaves,” published in 2008, which documented the exploitation of Latino workers in Greater Cincinnati.

“It is very gratifying to have this story recognized in this way because it goes to the very heart of what we do – we who work for street newspapers and care about people who are homeless, marginalized, disenfranchised and so often despised,” Flannery said.

The story included information about the maltreatment of workers at a meatpacking plant that processes pork for the Kroger Co. When the Denver VOICE reprinted the story earlier this year, its vendors were barred from selling the paper at King Soopers stores, a subsidiary of Kroger.

Other awards were: • Best Interview – “Revolution,” by Israel Bayer of Street Roots, Portland, Ore.; • Best Series – “The Man Who Stood on the Bridge,” Real Change, Seattle, Wash.; • Best Vendor Essay – “Welcome Home – A Transitional Tale,” The Contributor, Nashville, Tenn.; • Best Cover Design – What’s Up Magazine, St. Louis, Mo.; and • Most Improved Newspaper – Street Sights, Providence, R.I. NASNA, launched in 1997, now has 27 member organizations in 14 U.S. states and four Canadian provinces. NASNA members have a combined monthly circulation of over 287,000, according to Freeze. The organization is likely to continue growing. Among the participants at the conference was Amanda Faith Moore, who is about to begin publishing Toledo Streets.

“Street newspapers have for the most part avoided drops in circulation as other print media have seen,” Freeze said. “In fact, street newspapers are bucking the trends and are increasing circulation, increasing the frequency of publication and being recognized for their quality content.”

For more reports on the NASNA conference and the street-paper movement, see “Eight Minutes with a ‘Homeless’ Millionaire” on page 3 and “Street Papers USA” on page 5.

Andy Freeze (left), executive director of NASNA, with Gregory Flannery, editor of Streetvibes. Streetvibes won NASNA’s “Best Feature Story” award for Flannery’s article ‘We Are Their Slaves’ about exploited Puerto Rican workers in suburban Cincinnati.

Photo by Lynne Ausman.

Vendors’ Artwork

Artwork

By Anthony Williams

Berta’s Art Corner

Photo by Berta Lambert

“Ronald McDonald and My Shadow,” South Fairmount, Cincinnati, Ohio

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Community News

STREETVIBES August 15 - 31, 2009

Street Papers Grow Across USA (Continued from page 5) tion that is being covered by our papers, is not being covered by other media outlets,” says Andy Freeze, NASNA’s executive director.

Street newspapers generally focus on poverty and homelessness, Freeze says, whereas big media outlets tend to focus on these issues only when triggered by a larger event.

The content and location of a newspaper can also affect the amount of papers sold.

“If you have a quality product, people will buy a quality product,” Freeze says. “What makes some cities more successful than others is a large downtown and a large walking population.”

The business model of street newspapers, allowing the homeless or formerly homeless to sell copies, makes people feel “empowered,” he says.

“They are their own boss,” Freeze says. “They can choose their own hours.”

‘Changed their mind’ Other papers have a different approach. Making Change, a street paper in Santa Monica, Calif., relies on homeless or formerly homeless individuals to publish issues.

“We haven’t published regularly and that’s because I’m not homeless and I’m not the voice of homelessness,” said Moira LaMountain, business manager of Making Change.

“Unless the newspaper is published by someone who’s homeless or formerly homeless, it doesn’t get published.”

A street newspaper gives the homeless credibility and a sense of validation by having them take part in a business, according to Jennafer Yellowhorse, editor of Making Change. She also can relate to the people she has worked with.

“I started the paper in the back of my truck when I was

living in my truck,” she says.

Besides continuously looking for contributors and volunteers, some papers have to work with a tight monthly budget.

“We don’t know month to month if that money is going to be there,” says Tasha French, director of The Contributor in Nashville. “My immediate goal is that we get our non-profit status and get some grants so that this paper is sustainable. This paper becomes sustainable where it’s going to stay around, regardless of whether $100 is there or not.”

Papers also take the time to train vendors before they sell in the streets. Training includes teaching policies on etiquette, showing vendors where they can sell and explaining how to interact with police officers.

One of the main goals for street newspapers is to stimulate conversations between vendors and pedestrians.

“There are some people that walk right by you and act like you’re a ghost, that you don’t exist,” says Valdez, the vendor with the Denver VOICE. Many people, however, have walked by and have given him multiple donations, he says “I hear from customers where they didn’t want to give this person a chance,” says French, of The Contributor. “Once they read the paper, they changed their mind about this whole interaction.

Those are huge moments.”

About once a month, French hears from a customer about how the paper positively changed his or her cynical opinion of the homeless vendor.

That simple interaction is sometimes considered more important than actually reading the content of the newspaper. Tom Wills, director of vending for The Contributor, says that whether people read

the paper or not, they get the experience of conversing with a homeless person.

“You really can’t get to know homelessness without getting to know homeless people,” Wills says. “You can’t really get to know poverty if you don’t know someone experiencing it or experiencing it yourself.”

People who volunteer at street papers also tend to volunteer at local homeless coalitions and shelters. Pam Cordray, who works at the Salt Lake City Mission, is also working to put together the first issues of the Salt Lake Street News. She hopes that people will treat homeless people in Salt Lake City differently once this paper is published.

“They treat them (the homeless) less than human,” she says. “That breaks my heart, too. People are people.

We are all God’s children.”

Hope, Health Care, Sloppy Joes Anthony House helps homeless youths find homes

By Will Kirschner Contributing Writer Six teenagers sit in the living room of a home chatting, browsing Facebook and eating sloppy Joes. What breaks the normality is when Tom Curran, who manages Anthony House, a drop-in center for homeless teens and young adults, enters the room and tells the teens that the clinic upstairs will offer free HIV tests.

Kevin Finn of the Health Resource Center of Cincinnati founded Anthony House seven years ago. It serves as a place for homeless young people, up to the age of 24, to hang out, have their medical needs taken care of and get a warm meal. Six years ago it came under the auspices of Lighthouse Youth Services.

Anthony House serves young people who are “couch-surfing,” traveling between the homes of friends and sleeping indoors when they can, sometimes squatting in abandoned houses.

These young adults often go uncounted in surveys of homeless people.

Among the services provided by Anthony house is providing homeless certificates.

These cards, which certify that a person has spent the night at an emergency shelter, allows the holder to apply for transitional and permanent housing.

Anthony House helps create a support system for these

Tom Curran, manager of Anthony House.

Photo by Jeni Jenkins. young adults.

“They do not know how to get up with an alarm everyday necessarily,” Curran says. “They do not know how to do their own laundry a lot of times. We have to go over those life skills. They do not know how to make a budget or plan for a savings account.”

Anthony House uses a variety of methods to help homeless young people. One is harm-reduction services.

These include bleach kits and condoms. Bleach kits allow users of intravenous drugs, who might not have the re-

sources to get their own needles, to clean a needle and share it.

“We understand that people are making mistakes and people are choosing to continue their use and continue to have sex for that matter,” Curran says. “The idea behind that is in the future they will come to us to get these kits, and then when they are ready to move on with their lives and do something different, they will know who to come to.”

Anthony House also provides laundry facilities and access to the Internet. Though

its clients are homeless, the says. He was also robbed of Internet plays a large part in the $500 needed for rent, he their lives. By giving them a says. tool to network with friends Anthony’s experience and family, it allows them to points to the fact that homecoordinate with whatever lessness can affect anyone, support system they might even a college graduate. He still have in is a graduate place. It also of Ohio State “They have a lot allows them to University of hope, which search online with a degree is a lot of time for job openin psychology different from the ings. and a minor homeless adult Anthony in journalism. population. They House uses the His experistill have a lot Internet to atences led him of friends and tract homeless to advocate acquaintances. A young people for homelot of that is the and inform less youths. imperviousness them of what He is now the of youth.” is going on at president of - Tom Curran the house or the Cincinnati where their chapter of the outreach vans Youth Empowwill be. The agency’s Web site erment Program and credits includes the events that are Anthony House with helping going on that day. him get back on his feet. The Anthony (a pseudonym), Youth Empowerment Pronow too old for the services gram, or YEP, is a statewide provided by Anthony House, council of homeless youths became homeless as the re- ages 12 to 21 that advocates sult of a bad decision and a for all children. series of unfortunate events.

Curran says the biggest He decided to allow some difference between homepeople he describes as “crack less young people and older heads” to stay in his place for homeless adults is their dif30 days. They took advantage ferent perspectives.

“They have a lot of hope, of his hospitality and used his house for questionable which is a lot of time differactivities, he says. At the end ent from the homeless adult of the month, he put their be- population,” he says. “They longings out onto the street, still have a lot of friends and except for their valuable acquaintances. A lot of that electronics. When Anthony is the imperviousness of returned home, his guests youth.” had called the police, and he was charged with robbery, he

STREETVIBES August 15 - 31, 2009

Editorial

The Iraq War Still Goes On, Now With Corporate Sponsorship

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So does homelessness in U.S. cities

By Dan La Botz Contributing Writer

and religion, robbery of the land, famine and starvation, exploitation of labor, massacres and more masIn early June I flew to Sacramento sacres of the Irish by the English and for an interview with the Argentine the struggle to build a movement to Discovery Channel. They’re doing resist and fight back. a documentary on César Chávez, After a good night’s sleep, I awoke, about whom I wrote a biography. It still on Cincinnati time, at 5:30 a.m., was on their dime, and I thought it had breakfast at 6:00, and by 7:00 had would be fun, though it turned out gone for a walk down to the bridge to be less entertaining than I had near where the American River joins expected. The flight home became the Sacramento River. A few fishera series of delays and missed conmen were out on the river. It was a nections leading me on a circuitous beautiful morning. Walking along the journey from Sacramento, to San river, I passed here and there homeFrancisco, to Chicago, and finally less men, wrapped in their blankets home to Cincinnati a day later than and still asleep. Sacramento, you I expected. But it was, in the end, may remember, achieved some noeducational. I learned on this trip toriety recently for its Hooverville — that not only does the war goes on, we should say Bushville, I suppose but so does the corporate sponsor— a tent city of the homeless. After ship. the national news media featured As I boarded the United flight the village, California Governor Arfrom Cincinnati to Chicago, I nonold Schwarzenegger and Sacraticed four rather serious looking mento Mayor Kevin Johnson took young men with short-cropped hair quick action to provide temporary dressed in military camouflage unishelter for the homeless. forms. I always feel like going up Well, that was then and now many and saying, “Don’t let them send of them are back sleeping out-ofyou there.” I was, however, unpredoors, some down by the river walk pared to offer them the name of a where the bicyclists and joggers pass local anti-war counselor of conscithem, ignoring or unaware of the entious objectors, and they looked human bundles in the bushes along worried enough as it was without the path. me haranguing them.

I continued to walk down the bank I was not the only one who had of the Sacramento River for a mile or noticed them. When the plane land- President Obama ordered that Stephen Colbert’s head be shaved while he was in so to the California State Railroad ed in Chicago, the captain came on Iraq entertaining active-duty soldiers.

Museum, where a few of the doand told the passengers, “We want cents were busy polishing up one of In the lobby was a display of Af- the locomotives, getting ready for the to thanks the troops on board for advertisement encouraged tipplers their service to our country” and for to “Raise a glass” in support of the rican art, and a poster announced day’s series of short railroad tours. Be“defending our freedoms.” Perhaps a troops. Some inside were already rais- that June was dedicated to gay and hind the museum loomed up the old third of the plane applauded vigorous- ing glasses well before lunch, though lesbian rights, and buildings, some of them ly, though dating back to the 1860s, of I don’t know if both of those made Well, that others eithe Sacramento Locomoit was patrio- me think about the Had it not been for the Africanwas then and ther didn’t tive Works of the Southern tism that mo- impact of the moveAmerican civil rights movement now many hear or igPacific Railroad. Once the tivated them. ments whose most and the Mexican-American farm of them are nored the largest industrial complex Some had public figures were workers movement, we might back sleeping c a p t a i n ’s in the West, employing that perma- Martin Luther King, never have had the anti-war, out-of-doors, encomium.

7,000 people — and even as nent sunburn Jr. and César Chávez. women’s or GLBTQ movements. some down I have to late as the 1950s more than p r o d u c e d Had it not been for the by the river say — na4,000 people labored there by the fierce African-American civil walk where ïve as this — today it is a collection glare of a rights movement and the Mexican-American the bicyclists might sound — that I was somewhat whiskey bottle. of enormous abandoned and joggers surprised by the captain’s remarks. buildings awaiting some Later while waiting at the termi- farm workers movepass them, Hadn’t we had a national election just nal gate with its ubiquitous televi- ment, we might never post-modern future. ignoring or eight months ago, which was a kind of sion screens and inescapable noise, have had the anti-war, If you are walking along unaware of referendum on the war? Hadn’t much I noticed CNN broadcasting the cer- women’s or GLBTQ the river, just after you pass the human of the public expressed its opposition emonies commemorating the D-Day movements. the museum, you come to Well, the crew of half bundles in the to the war, and among those who vot- landing in Europe. Commentators Old Sacramento, some hisbushes along ed weren’t there many who knew quite naturally linked the allied landing to a dozen 20-something toric buildings preserved the path. well that our troops abroad don’t fight other American wars and “heroes.” I Argentines met up with to create a typical town “defending our freedoms,” but on the wondered, are the guys in New Jer- me and under the glare of the old West for tourcontrary carry out a mission aimed at sey or Nebraska or wherever they are of their lights and the ists, its wooden sidewalks taking away the freedom of others? watching the screens and playing prompting of the young interviewer, leading to mock nineteenth century No. The war goes on. Obama con- with the joystick that commands the we made the tape. I went back to the shops filled with twenty-first century hotel and got back into the book I’m cuisine and what passes out there for tinues the war in Iraq and promises drone also "heroes"? reading. I like memoirs and this has a haute couture. I stop to watch what to leave tens of thousands of troops The Sacramento River long title: Rossa’s Recollections, 1838 to looks like a scene out of a 1930s movthere as an occupying army if the con1898; Childhood, Boyhood, Manhood; ie, a man in uniform, either a sheriff flict should ever end. He has also sent and the homeless Customs, Habits and Manners of the or park ranger, I’m not sure which, more troops to Afghanistan. And he Let me make a kind of aside here Irish People; Erinach and Sassenach— brings a bindlestiff, sand still in his sends U.S. drones to bomb Pakistan.

The war goes on and on. And though from my discussion of the war to Catholic and Protestant—Englishman eyes, into the donut shop and buys a few months ago it seemed the touch on another issue. In Sacra- and Irishman—English Religion— him a cup of coffee.

American public had turned against mento, after checking into my hotel, Irish Plunder; Social Life and Prison Obama’s clown the war, the corporations continued I took a cab to the Sacramento Pub- Life; The Fenian Movement; Travels in to produce commercials for it at every lic Library where the interview was to Ireland, England, Scotland and Amerbe done in the beautiful Sacramento ica by O’Donovan Rossa (1898).

The next morning I read student opportunity.

The story of the Irish reads like the essays — quite good the lot of them I walked through the Chicago air- Room, a classic reference and reading port to catch the flight to Sacramen- room saved from the old library when story of the Guatemalans: foreign conquest, suppression of the language See War, p. 12 to, passing a bar where a Jim Beam it was remodeled.

12

Editorial

STREETVIBES August 15 - 31, 2009

The Iraq War Still Goes On (continued from page 11)

— and then in the afternoon go out to the airport to catch my plane to Denver. The board says, “delayed,” so my itinerary is changed to San Francisco, then to Chicago, where finally I arrive near midnight to be put up at the Doubletree Hotel (the one where they give you the chocolate chip cookie with your room key).

At the registration desk there is a sign on the counter asking us to “Support Our Troops.” I sleep restlessly for five hours, shower, dress and leave my room just as a man is dropping a copy of USA Today on the threshold. Going downstairs to wait for the shuttle, I read the headline: “Live from Iraq: comedian Colbert delivers laughs to American troops.” Speaking to a crowd of 300 U.S. servicemen and women, Colbert tells them, “By the power vested in me by basic cable, I officially declare we have won the Iraq war!” General Ray Odierno tells him that his declaration of victory might be premature. When the general notices that Colbert’s hair is too long, President Obama appears on the big screen TV and tells the general to give him a haircut, which he does. Colbert, whose show carried out a scathing criticism of Bush, has now, it appears, become Obama’s clown.

In the end, the trip to Sacramento to do the interview was probably not worth the time and effort — except for the beautiful river walk — but it was educational. I learned that the war goes on in Iraq, in Afghanistan, and via drone bombers in Pakistan, with commercials from United Airlines and Jim Beam, and from CNN, the Comedy Network, and the Doubletree Hotel. I also learned that even in today's America, occasionally a man in uniform will buy a cup of coffee for a fellow without a job or a home.

Dan La Botz is a Cincinnati-based writer, teacher and activist.

Read the Streetvibes blog for stories between issues at streetvibes.wordpress.com

Crossword

Sudoku

Across 1. Examine thoroughly 4. Brushes 6. Inhabitant of Saudi Arabia 9. Self-confidence 10. Overturn 11. On the top 15. Become firm 16. Clenched hand 19. Easy stride 20. Social insects 21. Irish county 22. Friendship 23. Synchronize 25. Female name 27. Bouquet 28. Soft food for infants 30. Three at cards 31. Island in the Bay of Naples 33. Irregularly operated court 34. Rigid 35. Approaches 36. Destroy by immersion

Down 1. Pertaining to the post office 2. Son of Isaac and Rebekah 3. Former county in SE England 4. Grime 5. Perfumes

Fill in the blank squares so that each row, each column and each 3-by-3 block contain all of the digits 1 through 9.

7. Serpents 8. Musical composition for two 12. Capital of Japan 13. Unfolds 14. Male name 16. Lacking brightness 17. Bury 18. Genre

23. Oral 24. U.S. gangster 26. California town 28. Whittle 29. Career golfers 31. Felines 32. Chilled

The fundamental goal of a Sudoku puzzle is to use the provided numbers, or givens, to discover which numbers logically fill in the empty squares. The only rule of Sudoku is that each of the nine rows, each of the nine columns, and each of the nine 3x3 subsections must contain all of the numbers from one to nine, and each number consequently can occur in each row, column and subsection only once.

Solutions on Page 15

STREETVIBES August 15 - 31, 2009

Local News

Teacher, Parent, Independent

13

Anitra Brockman wants to make a difference on city council

By Ariana Shahandeh Contributing Writer Anitra Brockman, a teacher at Southwestern College, is running for Cincinnati City Council as an Independent candidate. She recently sat down for an interview with Streetvibes.

Q: What inspired your decision to run?

Brockman: I see that there are so many people in the community that need assistance, whether it’s single parents or veterans or divorced or widowed. There are so many residents that need help. It’s really funny.

My friend and I were on our Anitra Brockman is running for Cincinnati City Council. way to a meeting and we were Photo courtesy of the Anitra Brockman Campaign. just talking about running for council, and I said, “I think I’ll are very intelligent and very ber that has theft felony and wait.” She said, “Well, we are capable, but they can’t (get they can’t get a job. What’s driving right past the board hired) because of that blem- frustrating is that I know that of elections. We can go right ish on their record. So I’d like family member can do excelin.” Something possessed me to implement a program sim- lent in the workforce, so I’m to get out of the car definitely in supand I went in, and port of programs once I did it I was I’m definitely in support of programs that help get peolike, “Oh Goodness, that help get people get geared in ple get geared in did I just do that?” I the right direction so that they can the right direcdon’t have a political start making a livable wage and get tion so that they background, but I’m back on their feet. can start making willing to represent a livable wage the residents of the and get back on city and make a difference in ilar to Mayor Mallory’s Young their feet. the community.

Professionals Program for exQ: In an interview with the Q: Are you making any felons to get them the train- Cincinnati Beacon, you dispromises right now? ing and skills they need (for) cussed the city’s marijuana Brockman: I’m not coming a successful rehabilitation. ordinance. What led to your right out and saying when I Q: Streetvibes has published modified response? get into office I’m going to do pieces profiling the struggles Brockman: Well, I say now this. What I’m doing instead former sex offenders experi- take it off the books until we is outlining some things ence through rehabilitation, come up with something betthat I would like to see take how they are labeled and ter. My previous position was place. For example, I’d like they don’t really get to move “Keep it on the books but to promote a second-chance on. What is your position on come up with something betprogram for non-violent ex- that? ter.” I knew it wasn’t working, felons. That’s something that Brockman: I support any but I don’t think at that time I deal with at Southwestern initiative that helps people I was prepared to say, “Take College. A lot of the students succeed. You know, I realize it off the books,” because I’m had one or two incidents in that people make mistakes, completely anti-drugs. I was life that were non-violent and I support helping anyone very strong on that position and it blemished their record, that is trying to better them- initially. Then when I met with so they can’t get a job. They selves. I have a family mem- (Paul Green) from Prioritize

Only purchase Streetvibes from BADGED vendors.

Vendors wear their WHITE badges while they sell the paper.

Cincinnati, he brought sta- I put education on the back tistics to me showing that the burner. (Brockman is now police are actaking courstually spendes online for ing triple the her doctor“My senior year time making ate.) It’s just in high school, we arrests.

So a struggle stayed in a hotel 8,000 hours every day to or motel.” of the police make ends - Anitra Brockman force time are (meet) with spent makmy kids. I’m ing arrests. The ordinance paycheck to paycheck; I’m doesn’t let them say, “I’m just not going to hide that. going to give you a ticket.”

Q: How do you want to be (Officers) have to write the remembered? ticket, take them in and book Brockman: I’d like to be rethem. So it essentially takes membered as someone who about an hour to get back on is genuine, someone who patrol. That’s just too much, makes an effort to support especially with the budget the residents and the city. I cuts. I don’t see the city justi- just want people to say, “She’s fied in spending the money one of us. She’s not someone for an ordinance that really who thinks she’s better than isn’t generating any revenue us.” I love Cincinnati, and I for the city, and we are cut- just want to see it flourish. I ting 200 plus police jobs. want to see people come back Q: In previous interviews, to Cincinnati. I want to see you mention you’ve been people walking in Over-thethrough some struggles. What Rhine. We had our Stop the were some of those circum- Violence rally in Washington stances?

Park and a lot of my friends Brockman: I lived in a two- were like, “I don’t know if parent household. My father I’m coming.” I said, “That’s had a gambling issue so we your choice; I’m not changmoved around a lot. My se- ing the location.” The reason nior year in high school, we I wanted to have it there was stayed in a hotel or motel to show people I don’t care (due to foreclosure). My mom where you are from. I don’t wanted me to go to a private care what your background high school, but (we) couldn’t is, what your color is. I wasn’t afford it, so I ended up work- raised like that. ... That’s what ing at the convent with the makes it so great ... living in nuns. Being a single parent the United States. … a lot of people think that Q: You’re trying so hard not you made the choice. I didn’t to be corny. choose overnight to become Brockman: I am! I just want a single parent. But the one people to know that I’m not thing that I think I can relate running for any type of perto with some of the residents sonal gain. I’m not running in the city that may be sin- for a power trip or anything gle parents as well (is) that I like that. I’m running because struggled with trying to figure I want to make a difference. I out what I wanted to do with really do. my life. Once I had kids, I Editor’s Note: This is part just said I need to work, don’t of a series of interviews with need to do anything else but candidates for Cincinnati City work and take care of my kids. Council.

Interested in volunteering with Streetvibes?

Contact Greg Flannery at 513-421-7803 x 12 or by e-mail at streetvibes2@ yahoo.com

14

What’s Happenin’

STREETVIBES August 15 - 31, 2009

New Events Garden Volunteer Day Learn about gardening while volunteering Saturday, Aug. 29, at Grailville, a retreat and program center on an organic farm in Loveland. Learn various aspects of growing vegetables that you can apply in your own backyard.

Participants will plant fall crops and clean garlic with expert gardener Mary Lu Lageman. The program is from 9 a.m.-noon. Grailville Garden Volunteer days are the last Saturday of each month through October. Volunteers work in Grailville’s kitchen and herb gardens. To reserve a spot or for more information, call 513-683-2340 or visit www.grailville.org.

Cleo’s Joke Corner

New Outlet for Visual Artists Visual artists seeking experience working with live figure models can enhance their craft in a comfortable creative environment at the Northside Art District, 4015 Cherry Street, Studio 451. Artists working in sketching and painting can work with other artists seeking to take their talents to a new level. Classes meet from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Additional days or special sessions can be arranged. Guided instruction for students new to figure drawing is available. For fee schedules and other information, contact Carmen at 513-205-8673 or 513-931-4355.

Do you know why criminals do not like the subject of grammar?

They don’t like to complete their prison sentences.

A Weekend of Integral Ecology Grailville Retreat and Program Center in Loveland, in collaboration with Imago and the Michigan Grail, hosts Sustaining Spirit/Sustaining Earth: A Weekend of Integral Ecology from Aug. 21-23. Activities include meditation and reflective inquiry, group-process work, inspiration from cuttingedge ecological movements, open-space conversations to help move theory into action and opportunities to explore Grailville’s 300 acres of woodlands, pastures and organic gardens. Tuition is $300 for single occupancy, $250 for double occupancy and $200 for commuters. Limited scholarships are available. Contact 513-683-2340 or visit www.grailville.org for more information.

Healing Emotions: Bridging East and West Gaden Samdrupling Buddhist Monastery hosts a conversation between a Buddhist monk and a western psychiatrist to explore the integration of East and West in emotional healing. The program is at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, with a suggested donation of $10. The monastery is at 3046 Pavlova Drive, Colerain Township. The suggested donation is $10. For more information, call 513-385-7116.

Out of the Attic Art Sale Do you have a piece of artwork that you don't have the right spot for and just can't throw away? Donate your unwanted art to Clifton’s “Out of the Attic” art sale. This event for rescued art will be Sept. 26th and 27th at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center. Donations, which are tax-deductible, will benefit the center and the Clifton Community Fund. Donations can be dropped off from noon-6 p.m. Wednesdays and other times by appointment at the arts center, 3711 Clifton Ave. For more information, call Jinny Berten 513-961-6762 or Mary Schwetschenau t 513-348-8226.

Music Grammy-Award Winning Charles Ford Singers. August 23. 4pm. at St. Mark Christian Fellowship 820 Ezzard Charles Dr.

Art Green Spaces: Small Garden Communities of Dresden, Germany. Photographys by Ardine Nelson. Weston Art Gallery. Through August 30.

Trace: Recent Sculpture and Drawings by Carmel Buckley.

Weston Art Gallery. Through August 30.

Ongoing Events Tuesdays Acoustic Lunch Series. Piatt Park. 11:45am-1:45pm.

2nd Tuesdays Cincinnati-Ohioans to Stop Execution Meeting. IJPC Peaslee Center (215 E. 14th Street, OTR). 7-8pm.

3rd Wednesdays IJPC General Peace Committee. Peaslee Neighborhood Center.

7-9pm.

1st Thursdays Benefits Rights Advocacy Group. Contact Center (1212 Vine St. OTR). Noon-1:30pm.

Northern Kentucky Peace and Justice Group. Mother of God Church (119 W. 6th St. Covington). 7pm.

2nd Thursdays CeaseFire Cincinnati. Church of the Living God (430 Forest Ave).

9:30am.

Become a Fan of Streetvibes on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/streetvibescincinnati

STREETVIBES August 15 - 31, 2009

15

Resources

Need Help or Want to Help?

Shelter: Women and Children Central Access Point Cincinnati Union Bethel

381-SAFE 768-6907

Bethany House

557-2873

300 Lytle Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 1841 Fairmount Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45214

Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 6037 Cary Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45224

Churches Active in Northside

591-2246

Crossroad Health Center

381-2247

FreeStore/FoodBank

241-1064

Health Resource Center Homeless Mobile Health Van McMicken Dental Clinic

357-4602 352-2902 352-6363

Mental Health Access Point Mercy Franciscan at St. John

558-8888 981-5800

NAMI of Hamilton County PATH Outreach

458-6670 977-4489

4230 Hamilton Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45223 112 E. Liberty Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202

Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 3600 Erie Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45227

St. Vincent de Paul

1125 Bank Street, Cinti, Ohio 45214

562-8841

762-5660

Treatment: Men

YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter

872-9259

Charlie’s 3/4 House

784-1853

DIC Live In Program Prospect House

721-0643 921-1613

Starting Over

961-2256

Shelter: Men City Gospel Mission

1419 Elm Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202

241-5525

Justice Watch 241-0490 St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 1437 Walnut Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202

Mt. Airy Shelter

661-4620

Shelter: Both Anthony House (Youth)

961-4080

Caracole (HIV/AIDS)

2121 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202

682 Hawthorne Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45205

Treatment: Women First Step Home 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206

40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45202

1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202

Salvation Army

131 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202

5 E. Liberty St. Cinti, Ohio 45202

Other Resources Center Independent Living Options Emmanuel Community Center

241-2600 241-2563

Peaslee Neighborhood Center

621-5514

Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart

381-0111

Goodwill industries Healing Connections Mary Magdalen House

771-4800 751-0600 721-4811

People Working Cooperatively The Caring Place United Way Women Helping Women

351-7921 631-1114 211 977-5541

1308 Race St. Cinti, Ohio 45202

214 E. 14th St. Cinti, Ohio 45202

961-4663

Treatment: Both

1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202

1223 Main St. Cinti, Ohio 45202

761-1480

AA Hotline CCAT

351-0422 381-6672

Drop Inn Center

721-0643

Joseph House (Veterans)

241-2965

Interfaith Hospitality Network Lighthouse Youth Center (Youth)

471-1100 221-3350

Hamilton County ADAS Board Recovery Health Access Center Sober Living Talbert House

946-4888 281-7422 681-0324 641-4300

Hamilton/Middletown

421-3131 569-1840 381-4242

Northern Kentucky

2728 Glendora Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45209 1821 Summit Road, Cinti, Ohio 45237 217 W. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202

3330 Jefferson, Cinti, Ohio 45220

Housing: CMHA Excel Development OTR Community Housing

721-4580 632-7149 381-1171

Tender Mercies

721-8666

Tom Geiger House Dana Transitional Bridge Services Volunteers of America

961-4555 751-0643 381-1954

114 W. 14th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 27 W. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202

Food/Clothing Lord’s Pantry OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry

621-5300 961-1983

OTR: 1620 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert, Cinti, Ohio 45206

Our Daily Bread

621-6364

St. Francis Soup Kitchen

535-2719

1730 Race Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202

830 Ezzard Charles Dr. Cinti, Ohio 45214 1522 Republic Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202

Advocacy Catholic Social Action Community Action Agency Contact Center

1227 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202

Franciscan JPIC 721-4700 Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202

Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. Legal Aid Society Ohio Justice & Policy Center Faces Without Places Stop AIDS

579-8547 241-9400 421-1108 363-3300 421-2437

Health Center for Respite Care

3550 Washington Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45229

St. Raephaels Salvation Army Serenity House Day Center Open Door Pantry

Brighton Center

799 Ann St. Newport, KY

863-3184 863-1445 422-8555 868-3276

859-491-8303

ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY

859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717

Women’s Crisis Center VA Domiciliary VA Homeless

859-491-3335 859-559-5011 859-572-6226

205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011

621-1868

Puzzle Solutions

16

Double Take

STREETVIBES August 15 - 31, 2009

What time was this special session of Cincinnati City Council?

‘Streetvibes’ Needs Your Help As print media production across the county continues to decrease, Streetvibes is thriving. In the past year we have sold out of copies four times and increased our print run from 4,000 copies to 6,000 copies. Most recently, we have become a bi-weekly publication (formerly monthly). We are purchasing 4,000 copies every two weeks on the first and 15th of every month!

One might assume that we are making these changes to meet the demands of our readers, and frankly, that’s part of it. But mostly, we are making these changes to provide our vendors – individuals who have been or are homeless – with a product that will not only sell, but will sell well. A product that they can be proud of, a product that will help them make ends meet each month – or rather every two weeks.

Perhaps the greatest public success for Streetvibes this year was winning the International Network of Street Newspapers’ Best Feature Story, award followed by a similar award from the North American Street Newspaper Association. The winning article was an investigative piece about the exploitation of Puerto Rican workers in Cincinnati. The article helped to spark an FBI investigation of illegal labor practices and justice for workers who deserve better. This is the kind of story Streetvibes tries to tell – people struggling against poverty and oppression, community groups organizing against injustice. Streetvibes is the activist newspaper, advocating justice, building community.

Then there are also the daily successes: The vendor who just passed his/ her personal best in monthly sales. The new vendors who are so excited to begin selling because they know that the money they earn will truly be earned through honest, hard work. The veteran vendor who successfully recruited a new vendor and help to train him/her. The vendor who got a job at a local business making slightly above minimum wage because the manager saw his/her work ethic while selling Streetvibes.

Ultimately, Streetvibes would not be successful without our vendors, the writers and photographers who donate so much of their time and talents to Streetvibes, and you, our supporters and readers. Your support has made these changes and successes possible.

Here’s what you can do: • $50 to cover the cost of orientation and material for new vendors.

(Includes a one-hour orientation, badge, 10 papers to get the new vendor started and ongoing support and guidance) • $150 to cover the cost of delivery of one edition from the printer • $250 to cover the internal production costs. (Includes large format paper, toner, CDs, software and other computer equipment and maintenance) • $500 to pay for the cost of printing one issue • $1,500 to pay all production costs for two issues • $5,000 to purchase Streetvibes bags and/or T-shirts to give to our vendors.

Please consider giving to Streetvibes. All donations are tax-deductible.

75 cents of all paper sales goes directly to the vendor who sold you the paper. Vendors purchase the paper from the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless for 25 cents.

Please make checks payable to “Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless,” 117 E. 12th Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.

You can also donate online at http://www.cincihomeless.org