Streetvibes March 2009 Edition

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M a r c h 2 0 0 9 • I s s u e 1 5 2 • C i n c i n n a t i ’s A l t e r n a t i v e N e w s S o u r c e

Keeping Babies Alive The secret is helping the mothers succeed

By Stephanie Dunlap Contributing Writer

A

nita Brentley had been waiting for the 16-year-old emancipated youth to arrive.

“Is this your first? How far along are you?” she asks the young woman, “Neshia.”

Yes, it’s her first, and Neshia doesn’t know how long she’s been pregnant.

“Have you had prenatal care?” Brentley asks softly.

“Have you been to the doctor?”

No to both.

Brentley guides Neshia through enrollment into the Every Child Succeeds program: “When we say ‘mother,’ we’re talking about you, because you’re going to be a

mother now,” she says gently.

There is no judgment in Brentley’s voice or bearing.

Later she will tell me that Neshia has developmental problems.

Maybe it’s that kind of complete acceptance that’s made ‘Ms. Anita’ beloved as a team leader for the Avondale/Every Child Succeeds Partnership program. Or something about the way she’s relentlessly cheerful or how she freely gives out her cell phone number so young mothers can text her. Or maybe the way she’ll call them first.

What happens next is that an Every Child Succeeds (ECS) home visitor will start calling on Neshia once a week or every couple weeks to walk her through every step of pre-

Mothers and children at Every Child Succeeds are defing the odds and beating the high infant mortality rate among African-American children in Cincinnati. Photo by Andrew Anderson.

natal care, child development and parenting until her child is 3 years old.

‘No long-handled spoon’ The thrust of the 10-yearold program is reducing Cincinnati’s high rate of infant

mortality rate by focusing on at-risk, first-time mothers. In 2001 the national infant mortality rate was 6.8 deaths by age 1 per 1,000 live births; in Cincinnati, the rate was nearly twice as high from 19992004, with 13.1 deaths per thousand, according to ECS. The agency says the primary

causes of infant mortality are birth defects, low birth weight and premature birth, smoking, SIDS, accidental injury and abuse and neglect.

Through home visits and a meticulously plotted, measured and analyzed curriculum

See Babies, p. 5

Spring Time at the Homeless Coalition New director takes the lead

By Gregory Flannery Editor

rugged individualism and focusing on the fact that we all need each other.”

Spring succeeds Georgine Ending homelessness requires changes in policy but Getty, executive director of also in the American ethos it- the Homeless Coalition for self, according to Josh Spring, the past six years. Getty is new executive director of the now executive director of the Interfaith Greater CinHospitality cinnati Co“Having a home alition for the should be viewed as Network.

Homeless.

For the a right – food, water, “I think past two h o m e l e s s - shelter and clothing. years Spring, On a moral level, I ness is somea Xavier Unithing that’s think this is a right.” versity graduate and licompletely ~ Josh Spring censed social solvable and worker, has it doesn’t have to exist,” he says. “We been resident services coordineed more affordable housing nator at Over-the-Rhine Comand a living wage. These are munity Housing.

“I’m interested in the issue the two immediate symptoms.

I think, in terms of a broad an- of homelessness because it’s a swer, it’s giving up the idea of vast symptom of other broken

systems we have in America,” he says. “Having a home should be viewed as a right – food, water, shelter and clothing. On a moral level, I think this is a right. Legally, everybody should have housing.

All entities, private and public, should be trying to make that work. I would say that it should legally be the case that a person has what he or she needs to get by in life.”

The personnel change at the Homeless Coalition doesn’t portend a change in its opposition to the city of Cincinnati’s efforts to restrict new lowincome housing and socialservice agencies. Nor does Spring believe the election of President Barack Obama and a Democratic Congress will necessarily end homelessness.

“I would like to hope it

Josh Spring, executive director of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Photo by Aimie Willhoite.

See Spring, p. 5

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The Vibe

News Briefs Chris Bortz Should Try This CHARLESTON, W. Va. — Unlike Cincinnati City Councilman Chris Bortz and other Cincinnati officials who seem to want to move homeless people out of view downtown, West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin wants to draw attention to the plight of people who have no stable housing. Last month Manchin proclaimed Homeless Awareness Day. He signed the proclamation in the state capitol in a ceremony attended by advocates for homeless people.

Cincinnati City Council is taking the opposite tack, trying to restrict the location of social-service agencies that help homeless people.

New Idea: Don’t Take People’s Stuff COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Colorado Springs City Council is considering a proposal that that could make it easier for homeless people to keep possessions such as prescription drugs during police sweeps of homeless camps. The plan follows an outcry by advocates for homeless people who accused Keep Colorado Springs Beautiful of confiscating or trashing people’s property during sweeps of campsites, accompanied by city police officers. The complaints led to a temporary moratorium on the sweeps. The proposal would also require mental-health outreach workers to accompany cleanup crews. Homeless people reported that, among the items taken from them, were clothing, a tent and family photos.

Not Exactly a Workhouse BOSTON — The Commonwealth of Massachusetts wants homeless families to have to work and save money in order to stay in shelters.

The new rules — scheduled to take effect, it’s worth noting, on April Fools Day — requires homeless adults to work a minimum of 30 hours per week and save 30 percent of their earnings. Advocates for homeless people want the state to drop the rules, arguing that the recession, growing unemployment rate and foreclosure crisis indicate this is a bad time to make it harder for homeless people to get shelter.

Streetwise

By Gregory Flannery

The Things Mallory Didn’t Say Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory delivered his annual State of the City address Feb. 25. The speech included more than 4,000 words. These are some words that didn’t get used: “poverty,” “poor,” “homeless,” “Drop Inn Center,” “hunger,” “food,” “FreeStore,” “addict,” “recover,” “literacy,” “mental health,” “health care,” “human services.”

Mallory thanked and praised 15 private companies — PNC Bank, US Bank, Duke Energy, Prestige Audio Visual, Procter & Gamble, Kroger, Cintas, HDR, Ameresco, TranSystems, dunhumbyUSA, Humana Insurance Company, Medpace, NuTone and Goodwin-Williams Benefits Consulting. The word “volunteers” got a single mention, although that was partly a nod to US Bank. The word “non-profit” likewise appears once, in connection with Mallory’s push for a streetcar system, which he argues will spur economic development, with help from “non-profit service providers and lending professionals to educate citizens in entrepreneurship.”

Mallory said nothing about agencies that provide food, housing, clothing, medical care and counseling to the needy, nor about organizations that work to protect civil rights.

Mallory saluted progress in reform of the police department, noted city initiatives to protect the environment and promised to work to reduce predatory lending.

“In fact, almost 42,000 citizens of the greater Cincinnati region do not have adequate access to traditional banking,” Mallory said.

That is almost like taking note of poverty in Cincinnati, because the usual reason for lack of access to “traditional banking” is a state known by banks as “being broke.”

In closing, Mallory didn’t urge people to help at soup kitchens or volunteer at a shelter for homeless people but he did suggest using mass transit, recycling and being active in community councils.

“And,” Mallory said, “brag about the greatness of Cincinnati everywhere you go.”

The Republican Money Trail Let’s review. When the Republicans controlled Washington, they launched a war in Iraq that has cost $1.2 trillion without apparently actually defeating an enemy that wasn’t even armed in the first place. Last year the Republican president agreed to spend $750 billion to bail out Wall Street banks without actually improving the economy. But this year, when the new Democratic president wanted to spend $787 billion to repair American infrastructure, create jobs and help the people suffering unemployment and the loss of their homes as a result of eight years of Republican economics, the now-minority party in the U.S. House decided the country can’t afford to spend so much money. Not one Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives voted for President Obama’s economic-stimulus package. Not one. Doesn’t it say in the Bible or somewhere, “By their appropriations you will know them”?

The stimulus bill, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, includes nearly $1.6 billion in assistance for homeless people. More than 6,000 programs throughout the United States will benefit. Grants announced by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) include &1.68 million for Cincinnati and Hamilton County. The local funding is part of $24 million to create new pilot programs in 23 communities to rapidly re-house homeless families with children.

The additional funding provided in the recovery plan is a dramatic increase in funding to support local programs to keep persons and families from becoming homeless, including the large number of low-income renters who are at high-risk of becoming homeless because their landlords' properties are foreclosed upon. This funding will have an immediate impact by offering these families short-term rental assistance, housing relocation, or security and utility deposits.

‘Streetvibes’ Writer Makes Good Streetvibes contributing writer Margo Pierce has been named a 2009 Peter Jennings Fellow. The Peter Jennings Project for Journalists and the Constitution is an annual event hosted by the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, with support from the Annenberg Foundation. Its mission is to help professional journalists understand constitutional issues more deeply. Pierce, a staff writer for CityBeat, is among the award-winning professional journalists who contribute their work to Streetvibes, published by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Her weekly column, “Eight Minutes,” focuses on people and organizations who "work hard to make a difference for the less privileged (see page 3.). The Jennings Fellowship is the latest journalism award Pierce has received for her work. In addition to honors by the Cincinnati Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, she was a finalist for the 2008 Margolis award.

STREETVIBES March 2009 Streetvibes is a newspaper that provides relevant discussions of homelessness, poverty and other related social justice issues. It is published monthly 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 Contributing Writers Stephanie Dunlap, Margo Pierce, Lew Moores, Paul Kopp, Alecia Lott, Adam Clark, David Heitfield, Jeremy Flannery, Jeni Jenkins, Dave Scharfenberger, Angela Pancella, Alexis Gordon, Mike Henson, Dede Stoops, Matt Holcomb Photography/Artwork Andrew Anderson, Lynne Ausman, Paul Kopp, Anthony Williams, Aimie Willhoite, Dave Scharfengerger, Slyvia Pisczor Advisory Committee Joe Wessels, Steve Novotni, Andrew Freeze, Georgine Getty, Michael Henson, Stephanie Dunlap, Steve Gibbs The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Programs include Streetvibes, “Voice of the Homeless” Speaker’s Bureau, Cincinnati Urban Experience (CUE), Homeless Curriculum, and Homeless Civil Rights Organizing Project. All donations support these programs and are taxdeductible to the full extent of the law.

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STREETVIBES March 2009

Eight Minutes with an

‘Abolitionist’

Working hard to end modern slavery

industry or part of an industry that is poorly regulated or has little over-sight, you’re going to have human trafficking.”

The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution outlawed slavery in 1865 with two simBy Margo Pierce ple sentences: “Neither slavery Columnist nor involuntary servitude, exost people think slav- cept as a punishment for crime ery is a thing of the whereof the party shall have past, but Jessica Donohue-Di- been duly convicted, shall exoh knows better. She’s an abo- ist within the United States litionist who wants to see slav- or any place subject to their ery end in the United States jurisdiction. Congress shall and around the world. More have the power to enforce this people are enslaved today than article by appropriate legislation.” at any other The 14th time in histo- Anywhere there’s an Amendment ry – approxiindustry or part of required mately 27 an industry that is states to promillion adults poorly regulated or tect the rights and children of all citihas little over-sight, worldwide. “ H u m a n you’re going to have zens with an equally simtrafficking a human trafficking. ple directive: form of mod“No state ern day slavery,” says Donohue-Dioh, a shall make or enforce any law coordinator for End Slavery which shall abridge the priviCincinnati. “People – adults, leges or immunities of citizens children, males, females, citi- of the United States; nor shall zens, foreign nationals – who any state deprive any person are put in places of work … of life, liberty or property, and through force, fraud or without due process of law; coercion, are being held there nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal proagainst their will.

“We’ve actually had a tection of the laws.”

The problem is that that handful of cases (in CincinnaCongress didn’t pass any laws ti) that are being looked at by defining slavery and punishlaw enforcement mostly in lament for the crime until 2000, bor trafficking, involving both foreign nationals and U.S. with the Victims of Traffickcitizens. Anywhere there’s an ing and Violence Protection Act. The act was renewed and

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Community News

revised in 2004 and 2008. The most recent update includes specific language regarding U.S. citizens who are forced into slavery here or abroad.

“With a U.S. citizen, you might end up with someone who has a debt to pay off or finding themselves on hard times and maybe a little bit desperate for work, really looking for any opportunity that’s coming along,” Donohue-Dioh says. “A trafficker finds them, befriends them and preys upon that desperation, preys upon vulnerability. They need the work, they need the income.”

She compares a trafficker’s actions to what happens in domestic violence. A sense of trust is established, and then the victim is made to believe that the situation she is in is her own fault.

Disbelief is the most common reaction Donohue-Dioh says she gets when she makes a presentation about human trafficking, so she uses practical examples.

“The folks after Katrina -they have no home, they have no job, they have no place to go. They’re desperate,” she says. “They’re looking for any opportunity, and a trafficker’s going to prey on that. They’re going to give them an opportunity they think they want, and then the circumstances will change.

“It could be the folks after Enron. They lost their jobs,

Many people work hard to make a difference for the less privileged in Greater Cincinnati. “Eight Minutes” is an effort to learn who they are and what motivates them.

What is Human Trafficking?

After drug dealing, trafficking of humans is tied with arms dealing as the second largest criminal industry in the world, and is the fastest growing, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Understanding the definition of human trafficking is essential to identifying potential victims: Human trafficking is the transportation, harboring, selling or employment of a person through the means of force, fraud or coercion for the purposes of forced servitude.

Transportation: A person doesn’t have to be moved across state lines for human trafficking to take place. A child can be enslaved in her hometown just a few neighborhoods away from her home.

Force: Restraint can happen in a number of ways: if a person is unable to leave because he is tied down or locked in a room, violence is used when he attempts to leave or he is kept in a place where he cannot leave. Confiscating a person’s ID, money, social security card and any other personal items can make it impossible for her to get away.

Fraud: When a person is promised one thing when making a choice but the commitment isn’t kept and she is told she must do something else, fraud is being used. One example would be when a woman is offered a job as a hostess at a restaurant and agrees to go with a trafficker but upon arrival is told she’ll be a prostitute.

Coercion: This includes threats of violence against family members, threats of shaming the victim, forced isolation or lying about potential consequences for leaving, for example saying a prostitute will face arrest and jail time or cops won’t believe she was forced. their life savings, they’re going to be losing their homes if they can’t make ends meet -- anybody who is in desperate need of one thing or another.

With some of the minors involved in commercial sex, we see (the children) looking for non-materialistic stuff – a relationship, a father figure, a mother figure, someone to

take protect them, membership in a group.”

Being aware is essential because almost one-third of all victims who are rescued result from tips offered by “good Samaritans,” according to Donohue-Dioh.

“Whenever people talk to someone who is needing help, who is vulnerable, be aware enough to think, ‘Is this person being exploited? Is someone taking advantage of their circumstances and their vulnerabilities?’ If they are, make a call and err on the side of caution. It doesn’t hurt to make the call, even if you’re not sure,” she says.

“If everyone in this community is just aware enough to take it one step further and ask some more questions, we’ll have that many more people being rescued and have the opportunity to rehabilitate from this crime.”

To report someone you believe might be the victim of trafficking, call the Trafficking in Persons and Worker Exploitation Task Force Complaint Line at 1-888-428-7581 or call the local YWCA hotline at 513-872-9259.

Community News 4 Booming Market: Women’s Bodies

STREETVIBES March 2009

New drama highlights horrors of sex trafficking tion is 14, according to the

By Jeni Jenkins Coalition Against Trafficking Staff Writer Women. This reading, directed by award-winning filmmaker An eclectic cast of women and novelist E.E. Charltonperformed a staged reading Trujillo, was a fervent reply to of The Global Lovers Feb. 17 those statistics. at the Aronoff Center for the Pettit began the project as Arts. The subject of the new a manuscript of poems about poetic drama, a fictional sex

by University of slave in reacIt is estimated Cincinnati Engtion to editorithat between lish Professor als about young 17,000 and Rhonda Pettit, is women forced 50,000 women sex trafficking into brothels. and children are As Pettit's pasFor thousands of years women sion about the trafficked each and children have subject intensiyear into the fallen victim to fied, the poems United States. sex trafficking. progressed into Worldwide Although many a one-act draestimates range laws were enma. The readacted in the past between 700,000 ing was the first century, efforts and 1.75 million a phase of a femito decrease the nist project that year. numbers have is evolving into failed. Millions a full-length are kidnapped, while others play. Pettit submitted the piece are sold by their families and as part of the Cincinnati Playstill others are lured into traf- wrights Initiative’s New Voice ficking out of economic ne- Series through the Cincinnati cessity. While the numbers of Arts Association. human bodies trafficked vary Throughout the drama, a depending on how “sex traf- Kentucky woman, played by ficking” is defined, it is esti- Bett Kooris, sits reading a mated that between 17,000 newspaper. She is inundated and 50,000 women and chil- with advertisements as she dren are trafficked each year contemplates purchasing variinto the United States. World- ous commodities. Elsewhere, wide estimates range between in a distant place, a young 700,000 and 1.75 million a girl (Erin Howett) is sold by year. her parents into a brothel. The Variant though they might audience became spectators to be, the numbers are shock- a physical and psychological ing. Just as shocking, across journey that converts her nathe world, the average age of iveté into the accepting “girl” girls' entrance into prostitu- (Colette Thomas), whereby

Photo by Aimie Willhoite.

‘The Global Lovers’ at the Aronoff. Photo by Aimie Willhoite.

she undergoes various phases of “initiations” presented as a series of climatic episodes, brought on by ghosts of other trafficked women.

Tension rises as the Kentucky woman turns page after page, gradually becoming conscious of the reality of both brothels and of the girl herself. The paper serves as a catalyst as reality penetrates until she is transformed, and the distance that separates their two worlds dissolves.

“The language and imagery of the advertisements that keep the newspaper (or any media source) viable so that it may report on such horrors is also the language and imagery that distracts and placates us, and that commodifies through artificial sexualization of the

female body,” Pettit says.

Charlton-Trujillo says. “It was The cast included 10-year- a very real thing for me even old Natalia Sezer, a student at before that. I remember stories Summit Country Day School, growing up near the border as well as 15-year-old Howett, in South Texas about women a freshman who would “It was a very at Ursuline go missing. real thing for me A c a d e m y.

After readTheir ages reing Rhonda's even before that. I flect the realpoetic drama, remember stories ity that womthere was no growing up near en of all ages doubt I wantthe border in South are bought ed to be part and sold into Texas about women of the staged who would go the global sex reading. The market. Tolanguage was missing.” gether with ~ E.E. Charlton-Trujillo dynamic, the seven other stories vivid." cast members, Pettit's these women were empow- piece is a part of an extenered to bring the horrors of sive discourse on the comsex trafficking to light. The modification of bodies across piece is an exploration of “our the globe. In the past two deculture’s use of language as it cades, numerous scholars and regards the female body and activists have been working sexuality,” Pettit says. around the globe. End SlavThe reading elicited varied ery Cincinnati exists to apply responses from the audience federal anti-trafficking laws of 150. at the city level. Nationally, “The mythological and groups like the National Humodern double entendre re- man Trafficking Resource verberated the message of in- Center and the Human Rights nocence and loss to a young Watch Campaign work to help girl living in another world as protect and serve victims as compared to a modern Ken- well as enact legislation to tucky woman not seeing her,” combat trafficking. Organizasays Julia Sezer, Natalia’s tions around the world include mother. “The powerful mes- the Coalition Against Trafficksage this piece brings left the ing in Women, which works to audience empowered to ques- eliminate all forms of sexual tion this reality." exploitation; the International The meaning behind the Justice Mission, an agency piece ignited passion for those that rescues victims of sexual involved. exploitation; and Shared Hope “I had seen a powerful film International, which rehabilititled Trade that dealt with tates victims of trafficking. the human trafficking issue,”

If you like what you read, but don’t live in the Cincinnati area, you can subscribe to Streetvibes. Call us at 513-421-7803 x 12 to learn more about subscribing to Streetvibes.

STREETVIBES March 2009

5

Community News

Keeing Babies Alive based on a Procter & Gamble Carmel Presbyterian Church, model, ECS has effected a pre- which houses the Avondale/ cipitous drop in infant mortal- ECS Partnership. “The famiity rates: between 1999 and lies understand the importance 2004, ECS of this.”

In 2001 the national participants Of Brentley, experienced infant mortality rate he says, “You was 6.8 deaths by an infant morcan mix all tality rate that age 1 per 1,000 live kinds of conwas just 2.8 births; in Cincinnati, coctions, but deaths per the rate was nearly if you don’t 1,000 births. have anyone twice as high from to stir it … I These results 1999-2004, with and the dozens think she has of agencies a sense of car13.1 deaths per involved won thousand, according ing and nurEvery Child turing that is to Every Child Succeeds the without peer.”

Succeeds.

2008 AmeriAs Walcan Hospital lace’s grandAssociation Nova Award for mother used to say, Brentley community health collabora- doesn’t use “no long-handled tives. spoon,” he says.

From its home at Children’s “It’s not easy to come and Hospital, ECS works through- ask people for things,” Brentout the Greater Cincinnati ley says. “It’s important to me area, but in Avondale the pro- that we smile for individuals gram has taken a more inten- and greet them with warmth sive approach thanks to addi- and compassion.” tional “place matters” funding Brentley also started Avonfrom United Way. dale Moms on a Mission Brentley saw that the young (AMOM), a monthly support mothers in Avondale couldn’t group for the caretakers of begin to focus on their own young children. What began or their babies’ health while with five women has grown as they struggled through crisis large as 60. A new men’s group after crisis, so she set up the already has four fathers.

Avondale Caring Network Once police brought in a Pantry for any family with a grandmother whose daughter child age 3 or younger. Once had left her newborn on the a month these families can go floor and run off. to the pantry to load up for “We loaded her up with free on such essentials as dia- all kinds of things,” Brentley pers, wipes and new clothes says. for growing children. When ‘Hold her hand’ there’s a need for big-ticket items — say, a training toilet Efforts such as the pantry, — Brentley puts the word out which is fueled largely by doto her extensive network.

“What’s really unique is nated items and bake sales, families that came here, they and the support groups have are bringing things back,” says brought 60 first-time moththe Rev. Clarence Wallace, for ers into the Avondale Every the past 30 years pastor of Child Succeeds program since

(continued from page 1)

Stuffed animals available to the children of mothers working with Every Child Succeeds.

Photo by Andrew Anderson.

2006. But the goal is 100, so Brentley found a way to hire ECS graduates as community liaisons.

The luxury of bringing your child to work is one of the perks of working with Every Child Succeeds. It’s 19-yearold Leah Scott’s second day on the job, and she’s brought 3-month-old Kalliah. Lafawnda Sanderson, 35, has brought her 15-month-old son Trayvon. He’s busy answering a toy cell phone.

Volunteer and ECS graduate Jenica Dowell, 30, says she learned about ECS from a brochure at the hospital where she gave birth to Ximen, now 4.

“ECS literally became my family,” she says. “I decided I should hook myself up if I’m gonna raise this kid.”

Ask these graduates about Brentley and she flees the room while they talk over each other.

“She cares,” Dowell says.

“Not only does she say it, but her actions show it. She never complains.”

“She always shows a smile,” Scott says. “She wants to be here. For the mothers.”

“If we don’t have it, she’ll take your phone number and call you when we get it,” Dowell says.

Sanderson says her first contact with Brentley came in a phone call early one morning as she lay in bed, exhausted from staying up all night with her son. Brentley wanted to know what Sanderson needed from the pantry.

“She rattled off like over 100 items on the phone,” Sanderson says. “I’m like, ‘Yes, no, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.’ We walked out of here with four bags full of items.”

Later Brentley called Sanderson again, this time to offer her the job as community liaison just as Sanderson’s hours at work were being cut.

“Ms. Anita’s a true bless-

ing,” Sanderson says. “A godsend.”

Brentley doesn’t much want to talk about herself. She has a husband and two sons, spent 10 years as a first-grade teacher in Cincinnati Public Schools and then another 10 years as injury-prevention coordinator at Children’s Hospital before starting at ECS in 2005. When she’s not in Avondale, Brentley’s in charge of ensuring all children in ECS are getting immunized and have a medical home.

“I’m humbled,” Brentley says of the attention. “It’s not about me. I told the young ladies that, it’s not about us. It’s about the families.”

And about the children.

I remember how Brentley called after Neshia’s friend, a young mother departing with her 3-year-old daughter trailing behind.

“You want to hold her hand because she walking with you, OK?” Brentley said.

Spring Time at the Homeless Coalition (continued from page 1)

helps,” he says. “Actually, I That includes an ongoing don’t put much stock in any lawsuit by the Homeless Copolitician. A lot of it comes alition against the city for using the zondown to what we do ing code to “We represent limit sociallocally. The thousands of people service agennew presiwho are homeless cies in Overdent and and who possess Congress the-Rhine. undeniable strength, can say a “The zonand that should not be lot if things ing issues are a definibut really overlooked.” tive attack on it comes ~ Josh Spring down to people who what we do are poor and here. I don’t specifically think it’s time to put a lot of people who are homeless,” stock in what’s going on in the Spring says. “Zoning in this capital. We have to hold them case is an attempt by people accountable and hold our- in this city and by business selves accountable for what’s to zone where people can and going on in Cincinnati.” can’t receive services, really

to separate people from getting what they need.

“Much of what we’ve done in this country for a long time is to push people away: ‘Maybe if we don’t see it, it’s not there.’ ” Spring intends to make sure homeless people are seen.

“We don’t need to be on the defensive,” he says. “We don’t need to prove to city council or anybody that it’s OK for us to exist. We need to move forward and do what we’re going to do. It is important that, when these issues come up, we present a united front and let council, the planning commission and whoever know that we’re not OK with this.”

That was the case Feb. 10 when more than 200 people

showed up for a hearing by the planning commission on the proposed restrictions on churches and social-services agencies. Sixty people spoke, only 11 of them in favor of the proposal, Spring says.

“It was a real show of strength,” he says.

Homeless people have a personal strength and a sense of community – borne of the need to survive without stable housing or food – that not only bode well for the Homeless Coalition’s work, but also illustrate the possibility for a larger social change, according to Spring.

“We represent thousands of people who are homeless and who possess undeniable strength, and that should not

be overlooked. We come to the table with a lot of hands and hearts. There is no doubt that people who are homeless turn off rugged individualism.

For people who experience homelessness, it is a necessity to work together. There’s a strong sense of community.”

At age 24, Spring is already experienced in the local struggle and says he’s ready to continue advocating for housing for everyone.

“I am ‘young,’ ” he says. “I have been given the opportunity over the past few years to join in as well as take from the strength of those involved in the movement. I am ready to go.”

Local News 6 What’s Next for the Resistance?

STREETVIBES March 2009

The anti-war movement after Obama’s election

By Lew Moores Contributing Writer

T

his month marks the sixth anniversary of the war in Iraq. What might the reaction be in terms of antiwar protests?

What will the election of an antiwar candidate in November during the course of an unpopular war — something that didn’t occur in 1968 and 1972, during the height of the Vietnam War — mean to a U.S. troop presence in both Iraq and Afghanistan?

While the antiwar movement has perhaps become less strident since the election of President Barak Obama, it is still alive and well, according to Sister Alice Gerdeman, coordinator of the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center.

A group still conducts a vigil on the traffic island near Central Parkway and Vine Street downtown on some days.

Others stage peaceful protests once a month at various locations, including Newport near the Peace Bell, the Cincinnati neighborhood of Northside and the city of Mount Healthy.

A rally is planned in New York in a couple of months.

“There certainly still is an antiwar movement,” Gerdeman says. “We still have people who once a month stand out in various areas.

That’s down somewhat, but it’s still there. Other ones pop up in different areas. We are working on the sixth anniversary now. While things have calmed down some, there is not peace there yet.”

A rally is planned for 4 to 6 p.m. March 19, at Calhoun Street and Clifton Avenue in Clifton Heights, near the University of Cincinnati. On March 14 a teach-in on the Iraq war is planned on the campus of Xavier University.

The numbers at past ob-

servances have been impressive, Gerdeman says. During the fifth anniversary last year, hundreds showed up at Calhoun and Clifton, stretching north on Clifton to Ludlow Avenue – in a pouring rain, she points out – and hundreds showed up as well on Fountain Square.

What numbers might appear this month at protests, with a new administration, is up in the air.

Bumped by recession The differences between this war and the Vietnam War are stark; militarily, of course, but more to the point, in terms of antiwar dynamics. Not only was Vietnam a war that involved much larger troop commitments – and casualties – it also touched the American public much more intimately.

There was a draft, which exposed those young men with-

“You can talk about this in out college and other deferments, to conscription. two ways. There are the hardBut it’s not just the differ- core folks for whom this is the issue. And that ence between number probthose two Now we have an wars and the antiwar movement ably hasn’t election of a changed that is very well much. And professedly organized but it’s not just antiwar canunwilling to fight. this war. didate that might tend to There was activism around subdue this antiwar movement, says Gene the Israeli-Palestinian conflict Beaupre. It is also what has as well. There are people for become another overarching whom I think it is an ideological imperative. There are othissue – the economy.

“It occurred to me that even ers who care about the issue, before the election, the issue but have other concerns in of the war, even among young their lives.

“Except for a headline, the people, had taken a spot behind the economic issues,” war is reduced to a news disays Beaupre, director of gov- gest. GM (General Motors) ernment relations at Xavier closing plants — that’s the University and a professor headline that scares people.”

Dan La Botz, a Cincinnatithere. “Among young people, it was behind the economic is- based teacher, activist and sues, but not maybe as distant writer (he’s a contributing from first place as with the writer to Streetvibes), is somegeneral population.

See Resistance, p. 8

The Truth About Military Enlistment Center wants students to know what they’re buying

By Paul Kopp Contributing Writer

T

he life of an enlisted soldier in the U.S. military once seemed fairly simple: Go to boot camp, maybe go to war, come home, go to school or raise a family with monetary assistance and acknowledgment from the government for a job well done.

Unfortunately things are getting more complicated for today’s enlistee. Because of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the military needs more young men and women. The economic crisis means young people might be more interested in joining. Recruiters are able to find them in high schools, where promises of money for college and job security sound very good to students who are low on opportunities.

The Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center (IJPC) believes the military isn’t standing behind those promises and in some cases has been lying to students. IJPC held a training session Feb. 14 for volunteers in a project to counter military influence in Cincinnati schools.

This is the second session the group has held since October. Participants visit school guidance counselors, provide information and check back periodically to gauge whether the approach is influencing student decisions or recruiting

efforts. can Friends Service CommitThe project is modeled af- tee believes recruiters should ter a successful effort by Co- give. One question is whether lumbus peace churches to the military can make somegive information to guidance one stay longer than what his counselors about non-military contract stipulates. The anoptions after high school. swer on the card is yes.

“We're really concerned Though it might seem that with the presence of military some of these materials could recruiters in the schools at this be biased against the military, time, and we’re recognizing the IJPC says that’s not the that there is a lot of pressure case. being put on young people,” “The important thing is says Kristen Barker, a staff the information provided is member at IJPC. “Also there not opinion-based,” says Ned are things not being described Hamson, an IJPC staffer. “It's (by recruiters), like the full taken out of the Defense Depicture of what the military is all about isn't being shared very frequently.”

The packet distributed by IJPC includes information about options for job training and funding for college that don’t involve the military, as well as help in understanding the terms of enlistment. The American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker organization active in the national counter-recruitment movement, created some of the materials.

A laminated card lists 17 questions for military recruiters on one side and, on the Kristen Barker of IJPC. other side, provides Photo by Aimie Willhoite. answers the Ameri-

partment’s own ranks.”

Barker says the project isn’t anti-military, but simply an effort to help students know all their options.

“Lots of people get into the military because they feel like they don't have another way to pay for an education or they can't think of other job opportunities available to them," she says.

Volunteers originally tried going to schools to pass out fliers but felt they weren’t making an impact because they had no relationships with the students, Barker says.

Getting the information into the hands of guidance counselors, whom students know and trust, is the project’s new strategy.

IJPC wants schools to be aware of the deceptive means that military recruiters can employ to get students to sign up.

“There's pressure for (recruiters) to do whatever they have to do to make their quotas,” Hamson says.

“They aren't inherently evil people, but when you have quotas to meet, that's how you keep your job.”

Like other sales people, recruiters try to advertise their product in the best way possible, even if

that means lying or giving a student a false impression.

“We heard one story where a student was told that because of his entrance exam scores, he would receive a position as a courtroom sketch artist,” barker says. “That position doesn't even exist in the Marine Corps."

Stephanie Gentile, a guidance counselor at Clark Montessori School, is worried about the way she sees army recruiters view the students.

“I feel very protective of these kids,” she says. “I'm looking at them as people who have possibilities and who can contribute to society in some way, and they are looking at them as a number."

IJPC says its campaign is similar to consumer protection, making sure a customer knows all the facts before buying. One example is its breakdown of the college benefits that the army promises new recruits. With the G.I. Bill being cut more and more each year and the qualifications to receive money for education getting increasingly difficult to meet, the army's promise of paying for college doesn't seem to be all that truthful to IJPC. “You only get $9,000 a year, and there are many ways in which you can be disqualified from receiving that money,” Barker says.

STREETVIBES March 2009

7

Reviews

The Dance of the Losers

‘Homeland Security USA’: Entertainment in brownface

By David Heitfield Contributing Writer

man in Cincinnati named either Jim Duff or Jim Crow.

The song became so popular ost people know of that it engendered minstrel the Jim Crow laws, shows as a popular entertainthe “separate but equal” leg- ment option later in the cenislation that codified segrega- tury. tion in education, voting, eatWe (at least, publicly) now ing, sleeping and other little admit that making fun of people based nuisances “The First on color (and up until the gender, alCivil Rights Amendment is Act and Votthough we no longer about still have a ing Act of a marketplace of ways to go 1964-65. But ideas, the vigorous there, witdid you know debate of which the origins of nessing the makes a democracy last election) “Jim Crow” were in pop stronger, but about is bad. But we culture, with Ann Coulter calling miss the white elephant in a local bent? people names like the room: At A white an immature and its heart, this comedian, unimaginative.” issue isn’t just Thomas Dartabout race (or mouth “Dad~ Holden Caulfield dy” Rice, did gender); it’s heartlessly a song and dance number in 1828 called, making fun of people who “Jump Jim Crow,” allegedly have nothing. based on a song and dance he I confess I was even taken saw by a handicapped black in on viewing episodes of

M

ABC’s new series, Homeland Security USA (8 p.m. Tuesdays). I’d read mostly scathing reviews, charging the series with jingoism, xenophobia and overt propaganda. I thought the criticism overwrought: After all, many, if not most, of the “good guys,” the officers and agents working for the Department of Homeland Security, were of Hispanic origin. How can one charge that the series is engendering fear against a particular ethnicity while it also Red Skelton as a hobo. shows that ethnicity who possessed a quiet dignity protecting the borders?

And then I remembered Clar- – say, Charlie Chaplin’s Little ence Thomas and thought ... Tramp character, Red Skelton’s hobo, or Carol Burnett’s oh, yeah, right.

One of the most disconcert- bag lady – into objects of deriing developments in pop cul- sion and scorn.

I grew up when country ture in my lifetime has been the transformation of poor bumpkins ruled the airwaves: people from objects of humor The Beverly Hillbillies, Green

Acres, The Andy Griffith Show, Petticoat Junction, Gomer Pyle and Hee Haw, to name a few. Money didn’t change Jed Clampett a whit, because he possessed a strength of character that money couldn’t buy. I had a hard time recently understanding people being surprised that Wall Street investment bankers would act in greedy, selfish and unscrupulous ways: Hadn’t these people ever met Milburn Drysdale?

These shows resonated with my upbringing, which from the maternal side was deeply influenced by Appalachian culture, areas of Kentucky such as London, Corbin and Hazard – a very strong sense

See Dance, p. 11

Life is a Battlefield ‘Wounded Warrors’ captures the effects of everday combat

clusively about the individual and collective struggles of war veterans. The book is a collection of Sager’s magazine articles examining all kinds of types of “warfare.”

He writes about HiQ intellectuals battling the mundane, celebrities and activists working to overcome negative media coverage, children seeking

By Jeremy Flannery entertainment on the streets Contributing Writer of Philadelphia and families fighting for the safety of Some wounded Iraq War neighborhoods where police veterans hope to return to officers dare not tread.

Iraq, to their brothers in arms, In their plots and characdespite the traumatic brain in- ter development, the articles juries they suffered from im- have some of the qualities of provised explosive devices. fiction. This is journalism that At least these wounded pulls you into a spot next to Marines now have a barracks the subjects. to overcome their physical Corp. Jeff Leeman is one wounds and their mental an- of the wounded Marines in guish together, according to Camp Lejeune hoping to reWounded Warriors by Mike turn to Iraq. Sager describes Sager. The the concern Sager reminds us to Wo u n d e d that LeeW a r r i o r look beyond superficial man’s wife Barracks at has about characteristics Camp Lejeher husthat dictate our une, N.C., band being classifications of provides wounded people. a facilagain, while ity for the they both wounded Devil Dogs of the grip the notion of the job seMarine Corps to remain ac- curity that comes with militive, instead of recovering at tary service. a Veterans Affairs hospital “ ‘And besides,” Leeman until being discharged from continues, “going back over military service. Their orders there a second time – it’s are to support each other and gotta be different. It’s like dorecover together. ing anything the second time.

Wounded Warriors isn’t ex- I’ve already been hurt. I know

what to do. I know the drill.

I know what the processes are now, so it won’t be as bad if I’m hurt again.’

“He looks at her. She looks at him. Neither seems convinced.”

Sager spent a few days with the Rev. Al Sharpton in New York City. Sharpton and a group of volunteers joined a construction workers’ protest, demanding more opportunities for homeless people as well.

“A few minutes ago, Sharpton penetrated borough limits in a white Pontiac Grand Am,” Sager writes. “He hoisted himself out of the passenger seat, trundled across three lanes of traffic and entered the park, where he was swallowed in a chanting, teeming mass, 12 busloads of followers, gathered as planned under the camouflage of the protest permit issued to the construction workers.

“Now they head south, Sharpton and 600 marchers, led by a phalanx of police attended by a gaggle of press.”

Sager describes the New Alliance Party’s assembly as it plans to occupy Liberty Island. Afterward, Sharpton and 13 volunteers held hands and awaited arrest for refusing to disperse, while chanting “No Sandwiches, No Peace.”

Even what seems ridiculous has a deeper story, and Sager aims to tell it. Each article provides a portrait of warriors wounded in different kinds of combat, ranging from the mocking laughter directed at a 650-pound man in a California parking lot to people ducking for cover from bullets fired from a rival gang.

Sager’s most daring report came after becoming part of a street gang for two weeks. He describes how impoverished gang members live and why they’re involved in such dangerous, sometimes criminal activity. Readers can almost see, hear and taste what Sager experienced, even though most won’t be smoking crack at the time, as Sager did with the V-13s before the Culver City gang ambushed them.

“The rounds sizzled the air above our heads,” he writes.

“Small bullets can do a lot of damage; they get inside your body and ping around, tearing up organs. Yogi rolled on top of Linda. Margarita rolled on

top of Lil’ Sleeper. Everyone else hit the dirt.”

Sager reminds us to look beyond superficial characteristics that dictate our classifications of people. Their homeland might not be suitable after the war for every veteran, as “Thailand’s Home for Wayward Vets” explains.

The nightclub bouncer might be a genius, like Christopher Langan in “The Smartest Man in America.”

“He is certainly the smartest nightclub bouncer in America, endowed with an IQ that has been measured at 195, a score that puts him on par with the likes of Leonardo da Vinci, Ludwig Wittgenstein and Rene Descartes, three of the brightest minds in human history,” Sager writes. “Chris is six feet tall and weighs 275 pounds, a great Minotaur of a man with a basso profundo voice. A former cowboy, construction worker, and Park Service firefighter, he has a 52-inch chest, 22-inch biceps, a cranial circumference of 25 and a half inches – a colossal head, more than three standard deviations above the norm. Known in his younger days to play a mean lead guitar, he has light blue eyes, a dry-look Elvis pompadour, and a large chip on his shoulder, something you come to understand once you hear his story.”

Who wouldn’t want to?

Local News 8 Enfleshing the Dream

STREETVIBES March 2009

Making King’s ‘beloved community’ a reality

By Alecia A. Lott Contributing Writer

On Nov. 3, 1979, a caravan of Ku Klux Klan members and Nazis attacked a small group In his books and speeches, of activists, led by Rev. Johnthe Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. son, gathered in a low-income popularized the term “beloved neighborhood in Greensboro. community,” a global vision in The group was marching for which all people share in the racial and economic justice. wealth of the earth. In King’s Although police had full prior Beloved Community, pover- knowledge of the march, they ty, hunger and homelessness “went to lunch,” as Johnson would not be tolerated be- puts it, and withheld proteccause international standards tion. of human decency would not The racist attackers killed allow it; racism and all forms five demonstrators and woundof discrimination would be re- ed 10 others in what became placed by an known as the all-inclusive Greensboro The group was spirit of broth- marching for racial M a s s a c r e . erhood.

Johnson was and economic The Rev. stabbed durjustice.

Although Nelson and ing the melee, police had full Joyce Johnwitnessed by son, founders his wife. Two prior knowledge of the Beloved of the march, they criminal cases Community “went to lunch,” as failed to conCenter (BCC) vict the attackJohnson puts it, and in Greensboro, ers — despite N.C., spoke withheld protection. the fact that Feb. 19 at the much of the National Underground Rail- event was videotaped v but a road Freedom Center. Married federal civil suit found Klan nearly 40 years, the Johnsons members, Nazis and Greenshave spent decades working to boro police liable for one bring about significant social death. change in the South as well as “What happens to a commutoward healing their commu- nity when you no longer benity, ripped apart by a tragic lieve what you see?” Johnson event 30 years ago. asked at the Freedom Center.

Students speak with Rev. Nelson Johnson about King’s ‘beloved community’.

Photo by Andrew Anderson.

“What do you do when the instruments of justice fail you?”

In the years that followed the incident, Greensboro’s low-income African-American communities struggled against discrimination, inadequate housing and police misconduct. Many Greensboro residents preferred not to discuss the killings, leaving their legacies unacknowledged.

Although survivors continued to fight for justice, they found that the memory of that day

in 1979 was rapidly fading, becoming just another part of Greensboro’s tumultuous history.

Inspired by King’s teachings, the Johnsons wanted to ensure that something positive came from the tragedy.

In 1991 they helped establish the Beloved Community Center. Not only does the BCC in Greensboro work to inspire dialogue about the killings, promote healing and keep the victims’ memories alive, but

it also also fights for the wellbeing of the entire community, regardless of race, economic status or age.

Joyce Johnson spoke with pride about the center, where she is director of its administrative support and fundraising entity and her husband is executive director. For their “homeless neighbors,” the

See dream, p. 11

What’s Next for the Resistance? (continued from page 6)

what skeptical of what effect supposedly rescuing is not a the month-long Obama presi- nation at all but rather a deepdency will have on achieving ly divided, semi-failed state peace and ending war in Iraq with an incompetent, corrupt and, especially, Afghanistan. government held to be ille“The first big problem is gitimate by a large portion of the antiwar movement declin- its population…Meanwhile, ing to take on Obama,” La neighboring countries may Botz says. “There is a creep- see a chance to bog America ing gentleness in the antiwar down in a costly war. Last, movement, which is unfortu- there is no easy way out.” nate.”

He cites a disturbing story Co-opted by Obama? in the Feb. 9 issue of Newsweek about the war in AfghanThe problem with this “anistan. The story, by John Barry tiwar” president, as La Botz and Evan Thomas, wonders sees it, is that his adminiswhether Afghanistan, where tration blunts, dilutes, even Obama co-opts wants to “While many of the things the movecommit ment’s enthat President Obama thousands said during the campaign ergy and m o r e singlegave us some hope, we troops, will minded b e c o m e also know you have to be focus. La constantly vigilant with Botz finds “Obama’s Vietnam.” alarmpolitical systems.”

To d a y ’s ing that ~ Sister Alice Gerdeman “surge” is Obama the dirty continues word “escalation” of four de- to surround himself, in his view, with hawks, such as Decades ago.

“Vietnam analogies can be fense Secretary Robert Gates, tiresome,” Newsweek says. continued from Bush admin“…The nation that we are istration; Secretary of State

Hillary Clinton, who voted for the Iraq war; and retired Marine Gen. Jim Jones, Obama national security adviser.

“He’s chosen a group of people who are hawks on the war,” La Botz says. “He’s chosen to expand the war in Afghanistan.

U.S. foreign policy hasn’t funda- Protesting the invasion of Gaza in February on Fountain Square. mentally changed. Photo by Andrew Anderson.

The United States tics of the Democratic Party says. “But I’m not aware of an hasn’t given up one iota of its and to Obama. So now we Obama exit strategy.” desire to occupy and control have an antiwar movement Gerdeman, too, is cautious, the countries in the Middle that is very well organized but even after the election.

East and Central Asia.”

“We’re constantly vigilant,” unwilling to fight. And I think He calls the further troop that severely weakens us. We she says. “While many of the commitment to Afghanistan a need to have people who say things that President Obama “slippery slope of escalation.” we’re fighting against war and said during the campaign gave He was, in short, not encourmilitarism no matter who is us some hope, we also know aged by Obama’s election. president. That might take a you have to be constantly vig“I never was encouraged,” shake-up in the leadership of ilant with political systems.

La Botz says. “From a civil the antiwar movement.”

We give a little bit of leeway rights point of view, the elecXU’s Beaupre also won- and understand that things tion of Obama was a remarkders, especially about Iraq. take time. So we’re hopeful able change in American poli“You know, the criticism but vigilant.” tics. But that’s it. of Bush was he didn’t have “The antiwar movement an exit strategy,” Beaupre subordinated itself to the poli-

STREETVIBES March 2009

9

Poetry/Artwork

The Lump?

By Holly Parker

As I sat there and listened I tried to figure it out A lump they said it was Had crept into her breast First off what is a breast?

I don't understand That's my aunt they have in there She don't have breast She's my aunt A lump?

I get one caught in my throat every time I remember Cancer, I don't understand They say she did nothing wrong So why did this have to happen to her It got bigger and bigger they say Till one then both her breast they had to take

By Anthony Williams Berta’s Art Corner

I still don't understand everyone is all upset I am crying too Because today we laid my aunt to rest As a child I remember her sweet voice Calling me in for a snack She was all flat up top Not like most women Cancer did it they said Why did it have to take my aunt It's a thief they say She didn't have the money Or insurance back then She worked hard every day Taking care of my cousin Till Breast Cancer took her slowly away I remember her smile, her strength Never give up she said God has it all in control He knows someone one day Will find strength because of me And you know she was right Because today I write this poem In my aunts honor And all that have won the fight Or in the fight Against Breast Cancer That slips in they call it The lump.........

“Mural in Snow,” Jackson Street, Over-the-Rhine

My Friend

By Dede Stoops I have found a friend, who is pure and true. He loves me always, as a friend should do.

He’s by me always, day and night. All men are equals in his sight.

His smile is in a child’s face; it’s captured in a warm embrace.

His gentleness is in a golden flower; his strength is a mountain’s towers.

His love is like an endless sea. He loves all men, whatever creed.

His sorrows are the withered sod, my friend. You see, His name is God!

God used them to teach us Get tested Take care of yourself Don't suffer alone

1128 Walnut St Pizza by the Slice

She said it wasn't a thief It was a test She won For now with our father she is home.......

Tues and Thurs Buffet($7.00)-11AM-2PM Wed-Thur-Fri-Sat 9PM-3AM

Column 10 Power and Powerlessness

STREETVIBES March 2009

We don’t have to do to others as others have done to us At the bottom of Vine Street hill in Cincinnati is the five-point corner where Vine, McMicken and Findlay streets come together. On the various corners are a fire station, a carry-out, an apartment building, an empty wedge-shaped two-story that has been shut up for as long as I can remember and an abandoned storefront church painted over with a mural in which the hand of the Lord reaches down with what appears to be a string of sausages for the hungry.

There is to be a lot of hunger at this crossing.

***** As often as not, at least one prostitute trolls up and down McMicken. So even on this bright, bitter-cold day, as I wait out the red light on Vine, I am not surprised to see a young woman stalking up the street toward the corner. This one is small and slender, with blonde hair that falls to her shoulders.

From the angle from which I see her, the hair hides her face.

She wears a black leather coat and has a purse slung from her shoulder and she walks slowly with her hands in the pockets of her coat.

Two black men accost her at the corner. They know her, it seems. They smile, and their arms are open. They are tall, athletic-looking men and the taller of the two raises his arms to embrace her. She does not want his embrace and she tries to walk past him. So he bear-hugs her from behind.

She tries to keep going, and she does. She drags him to the corner and turns the corner, even though he hangs on her

erlessness. But to my mind, Michael Henson is author of Ransack, A Small Room with there are two sorts of power- Trouble on My Mind, The Tao of Longing and Crow Call. This lessness. column is part of a monthly series on poverty and addiction.

One is the sort of powerlessness involved in the First is under the power of others.

Step of Alcoholics Anony- At the moment I saw her, she ***** mous and is part of the com- was under the power of those mon language of recovery, in men. Her addiction — if she The Brazilian educator which the addict or alcoholic is an addict — might have Paolo Freire calls this “the recognizes he or she is only opened the door for whoever horizontal violence of the ophuman and surrenders to a has her under his thumb, and pressed.” Power in society is Higher Power capable of re- she might bear responsibility exercised along a vertical line directing his or her life. for putting herself there. But in which those with the greatThis is the real powerless- what she faces on this street est power direct this force ness, hard-wired is more than what the middle- downward toward those less into our human- class addict faces. She is un- empowered. At progressively ity. It is part of our der the thumb of others as a lower levels, the tendency is birthright and our nail is under a hammer. She is to direct this pressure further condition in the not only powerless; she is dis- downward until it gets to the

By Michael Henson world. The notion empowered. bottom levels of society where that we are powerWe could also say the same there is nowhere else to take less over people, of the men who are likely to it. So the people at the bottom places and things is a tough be impoverished and unem- direct it toward each other.

The men laugh.

The light changes and I sell, but once we accept it, the ployed and are black men in a Humiliated, they humiliate concept becomes great gift, racist society. They might not those around them. Victims, have to move on. a core requirement for liv- be so directly under the thumb they victimize each other. ing comfortably in the world. of others as the prostitute. The ***** Or, as addicts will often do, Though practiced differently hammer that beats them down they direct it toward themWhat just happened? in each might not be selves. Where else can this I can only guess. I don’t group, the But it seems to me that so heavy for woman on the street take this know these people and I don’t notion is now as the rage that is killing her? these men, at least know their story and had all of c o m m o n hammer over for that moment, felt 30 seconds to watch the whole to nearly this woman. ***** scene unfold in front of me. all reli- they had the power or But they are the right to taunt and under it noneAnd it may just be that some- gious and This might be heresy, but I one was having a bad day. But s p i r i t u a l humiliate that woman theless. Their believe the person in recovery it seems to me that these men, traditions. and that the woman, for turn for rage is empowered. Remember that at least for that moment, felt It is an inat least that moment, and shame in the 11th Step, the addict or they had the power or the right escapable might come alcoholic prays for “knowlwas powerless to do to taunt and humiliate that part of husoon. edge of His will for us and anything but curse. woman and that the woman, man culSo they the power to carry that out. for at least that moment, was ture. do what dis- “By accepting powerlessness powerless to do anything but But the empowered people often do. in one realm, he or she comes curse. other sort of powerlessness is They take it out on someone in touch with a power greater Which brings me to a a condition imposed by one even more vulnerable. Denied than themselves. The recoverthought about power and pow- human or set of humans on real power, they look for the ing person drops the illusion erlessness. another human or set of hu- illusion of power that comes, of power in order to become mans. The prostitute at the at this moment, in their abil- empowered. ***** five-point corner is power- ity to raise that rush of rage No more victims; no more less as a human being — all and shame on the face of that victimizing. Humbled, the We say that an essential for humans are. But she is also woman. addict/alcoholic casts off hurecovery is to accept pow- powerless in the sense that she No one wins in this game. miliation. and begins to pump his hips at her in imitation of doggystyle sex. She struggles and flings off his arms. He laughs and lets her go. He puts an arm across her shoulders, as if to say, No harm intended.

She flings that away as well.

She turns and walks the other way.

And now I can see her face.

Her brow is stormy; she spits curses; her face is red with rage and shame.

ammered H

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STREETVIBES March 2009

The Dance of the Losers

(continued from page 7)

of clan, a sense that God put replaced by hatred of liberals, where a lot of people get inyou in your place because of who are the guardians of the sulted and look stupid and His reason that you don’t need shiftless and lazy. Jim Crow cry; and The Biggest Loser (an to understand. There is noth- laws are replaced by pleas of American original!), where a ing worse than unchecked am- “states’ rights” and “original lot of people get insulted and bition; it is not just an insult intent” in interpreting laws. look fat and cry. The message to the family, it is an insult The First Amendment is no seems to be “Even losers can to God. To think you could longer about a marketplace become winners,” ignoring change your lot in life might of ideas, the vigorous debate the obvious implication that in be part of Americana lore, but of which makes a democ- order to create a winner, you it is an affront to those who racy stronger, but about Ann need to create many, many feel you should be grateful for Coulter calling people names more losers. what you have. Life itself is a like an immature and unimag* * * blessing. Don’t covet. inative Holden Caulfield – in Today, of course, the most other words, free speech is not Originally titled Border Paubiquitous insult you can call about encouraging debate, but someone is a “loser” – not stifling it. Just read comments trol USA, Homeland Security enough stuff, not the right to the Enquirer on the inner- USA begins with a title screen job, not the best-looking or webs, the technology that is of an aerial shot of a coastline richest spouse. Hell, even the supposed to democratize our with dark storm clouds obChristians today often preach debate even further; it’s not scuring the horizon. There’s a message of abundance, from a debate, it’s just really angry an appropriately menacing, Joel Osteen to Rick Warren to people telling everyone with minimalist score to make you feel some homeP.D. Jakes – be less shark might a good ChrisIt seems safe to say that in this age of tian, and God post-ironic-postmodernism, it’s perfectly be coming out of the water to will make you, OK for all of us to ridicule and be eat your leg. if not rich, at least very ma- entertained by those who have nothing, as Several stories terially com- long as we don’t qualify it by race, creed, are intertwined in each episode fortable. It’s gender or national origin. to ensure a minilike a bizzaro cliffhanger for Calvinism: If you ain’t wealthy, obviously a differing viewpoint to shut each commercial break.

There are bad guys, of God hasn’t chosen you, so up. what the hell do expect us to Maury, Springer, Cops and course, but the most disturbdo about it? We’ll say a prayer scores of shows like them are ing parts are when the series and take away your right to all about amusing ourselves at tries to actually show some abortion so you don’t make what others lack: education, compassion: A boatload of any more bad decisions. money, opportunity, common refugees caught by the Coast Methinks hatred and preju- sense. Shows in the same time Guard (they end up detaindice itself is not so much ex- slot as Homeland Security USA ing 10 of the 93 migrants as tinguished as it is displaced. include American Idol (based bad guys), is listing in rough Hatred of people of color is on the British show Pop Idol), seas. The show explains that

Enfleshing the Dream center provides a place where they can be seen as part of the community. Almost daily 150-200 homeless people eat breakfast in the center‘s

11

Column

Homeless Hospitality House.

Showers, a mail delivery address and a telephone for those seeking work are also provided. Periodically, gath-

Joyce Johnson, co-founder of the Beloved Community Center in Greensboro, N.C. Photo by Andrew Anderson.

the boat people were at first upset that they were spotted, but then they were grateful to be rescued because they feared for their lives, even though it meant they would go back to the life they were willing to risk their lives to leave in the first place.

Is it propaganda?

Of course it is, but Jed Clampett from The Beverly Hillbillies what isn’t? We us, because they don’t have it. crossed that border back when the Voice Why save New Orleans when of America changed its pro- you’re just saving people who gramming from an objective have nothing? They’re losers. international news source, not People in prison are losers. unlike what you can hear at People without health insurnight on WVXU through the ance are losers. The homeless BBC World Service, to jingo- are losers. If you don’t see istic feel-good stories about your recent layoff as an “opAmericans all living the high portunity for growth,” you’re just a loser. life.

It seems safe to say that in At its root, the state-apthis age of post-ironic-postproved message is the same: modernism, it’s perfectly OK Fear people who have nothing. It amuses me in a sick for all of us to ridicule and way that a culture that prides be entertained by those who itself on a “free market” sends have nothing, as long as we people to jail for driving with- don’t qualify it by race, creed, out purchasing car insurance gender or national origin. I – it’s the fear of people with think it’s fair to ask, in today’s nothing, codified. The terror- snarky rhetoric: How’s that ists are jealous of what we working out for us? have, our last president told

(continued from page 8)

erings are hosted to discuss social issues.

The Johnsons believe social change is often sparked by young people; the center invites Greensboro youth who are dedicated to social change to gather and discuss current and past events.

“Young people don’t see themselves in history books — or if they do, the view is distorted,” Rev. Johnson says.

The Beloved Community Center works with local schools to transform the education system into one that is accountable to the community and encourages parental involvement and works with gangs to encourage their members to sign a pact for peace.

The center is also involved in a workers’ center that provides information on labor laws and helps people find employment and a clergy network that has been a key part of several campaigns for worker justice in North Carolina.

“Economic justice is the path to peace,” and is a value that is crucial to a beloved community, according to

“You will always be a crippled community, whether you like it or not … as long as you refuse to face up to your past.” ~ Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa Joyce. Johnson says.

The organization has won numerous awards and national recognition for its efforts to ensure policy changes that improve the lives of minorities and low-income people.

The healing that began in Greensboro because of the Beloved Community Center gave the Johnsons the motivation and strength to face the city’s devastating past on a deeper level. In 2004 they helped form the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Commission (GTRC), the first commission of its kind in the country.

Devoted to, as Rev. Johnson says, “unearthing the falsehoods of our yesterdays so our yesterdays won’t be our tomorrows,” the group’s mission was facilitating truth, understanding and healing in their community.

Using similar commissions

in South Africa and many Latin American countries as a guideline, the commission researched statements given to them about the Greensboro Massacre as well as court documents and produced a report of its findings in 2006. The report included recommendations for the Greensboro community for how to make strides toward healing, reconciliation and justice. The findings have been published online to inspire other communities, and the Johnsons are involved in starting truth commissions for other cities in the South.

In a speech to the GTRC, Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa said, “You will always be a crippled community, whether you like it or not … as long as you refuse to face up to your past.”

For more information, visit belovedcommunitycenter.org and greensborotrc.org.

Local News 12 A Call To Care for Our People

STREETVIBES March 2009

A progressive campaign for community values

By Dave Scharfenberger Contributing Writer A local coalition of community, labor and church organizations recently decided to take the initiative to present their own agenda to Congress and the Obama administration.

The group met Jan. 22 at the Contact Center in Overthe-Rhine with Brooke Hill, director of U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown’s regional office.

“We know that President Obama and Congress supported a bailout for Wall Street,” said Lynn Williams, spokeswoman for the Contact Center. “We need help for ordinary people.”

The campaign, “Call to Care for Our People,” is about “corporal works of mercy,” according to Stephanie Beck Borden, a member of Catholic Alliance for the Common Good.

The Contact Center brought the coalition of groups together to discuss issues they want addressed by Congress during the first 100 days of the new administration. They presented their agenda for economic recovery to Hill, who promised to deliver it to Brown.

Organizations represented at the meeting included Communities United for Action,

the Interfaith Worker Justice Center, Local 9 of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and Cincinnati ACORN. “As Congress considers an economic-stimulus package, we must ensure that the needs of communities and ordinary people are included,” Williams said. “We are hopeful for change but we can’t afford to wait to see what they will do.”

Health care was one of the issues that evoked the strongest support. Several participants shared personal experience about difficulty in getting health coverage, especially if they had a pre-existing condition.

Mary Causey, with Mature Services, said her health insurance ran out when she lost her job.

“Because I had cancer previously, I couldn’t find another health-insurance policy,” she said.

Cassandra Barham was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“I was fortunate that my cancer was treatable,” she said. “The problem that I ran into happened when I had to find other health insurance. I could not find another company to cover me.”

Other issues presented to Senator Brown’s staff in-

Matt Ryan, Mary Causey, and Lynn Williams present their concerns at the coalition.

Photo by Dave Scharfenberger.

cluded Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), stopping foreclosures, vacant and blighted properties, funding for the Home Energy Assistance Program and weatherization, the Employee Free Choice Act and humane immigration reform.

The main theme of the meeting was values and where ordinary people fit with the federal agenda.

“You need you to do more than help the banks,” said Marilyn Evans, executive di-

Crossword

rector of Communities United For Action. “We need a moratorium on foreclosures so we can stop people from losing their homes. This foreclosure crisis is affecting everyone. Families are losing their homes. Our communities are suffering because of all the vacant buildings.”

Matt Ryan of SEIU called for Congress and the administration to “rebuild our economy where everyone is built up.” Dave McDonald talked about his experience of being

threatened with losing his job because he joined the union.

He said Congress should pass the Employee Free Choice Act to protect workers.

The Cincinnati coalition is part of a nationwide effort of community organizations in 38 states working to push the “people’s agenda.” They requested a meeting with Brown and plan to contact other representatives as well.

“We really need to get our representatives to listen,” Williams said.

Sudoku 35. Collective security organization 36. Authoritative statement 37. Help 38. Fake

Down

Across 1. Recreational vehicle 4. Silly 8. Tonsillitis bacterium 13. Own 14. Ring 15. Wild card 16. Dagger-like weapon

18. Divorce center 19. Look closely 21. Look closely 23. Smooth-tongued 27. Official symbols of a family 31. Advantage 33. Extinction 34. Far away

2. Winter 3. Ruler of an empire 5. Unskilled laborer 6. Man’s wig 7. Paying stone 9. Womanizer 10. Smooth 11. Poultry house 12. Top of a volcano 17. Strive 20. Russian security organization 22. Sorrow 24. Finds out 25. Dope 26. Legume 28. 500 sheets 29. Consort 30. Intoxicated 32. Amphibians

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.

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.

Answers on Page 15

STREETVIBES March 2009

For Women Only

A chance to talk in the yellow room

By Angela Pancella Contributing Writer

A

bout one-third of the guests who come to Our Daily Bread are women.

Last year Our Daily Bread started a women’s group as a way to connect with these guests who are facing unique challenges.

Monday mornings at 10 am, staff member Lucinda Foster checks in the dining area to see which women might like to join that day’s gathering. The women then meet in the “yellow room,” a conference room in the administrative office area. It’s a smaller room—the ideal size for sharing conversations about whatever the women have on their minds that day. And they can eat their lunch as they talk, away from the bustle of the main dining area.

Everything said in the group meetings is kept confidential; as in Las Vegas, whatever happens in the yellow room stays in the yellow room.

Judy Frankel, who retired nine years ago as a psychology teacher, is the group’s facilitator.

“The first thing I did was find these women are utterly marvelous,” she says. “They are so spiritual. They’ve given me support in times of difficulty. They are the strongest women I know. Life has dealt them all a hand that’s overwhelming; they’re pushed down with it but they keep on going. They are so good to each other when they can be. I just am amazed by their strength.”

Sometimes the women who participate vent their frustrations in the group in less than pleasant ways, but Frankel says she understands.

“Their own pain is overwhelming them,” she says.

“It’s not really personal.

“And they know so much.

They help each other. (They know when) to talk or not talk, to support each other or just be there.”

Women who are interested in the women’s group are invited to check in with Lucinda at Our Daily Bread on Monday mornings before 10 am.

13 Fire Damages Grace Place Community News

Rebuilding effort needs volunteers and donations

possibly a wiring problem.

Only the room where the fire originated had severe fire damage, but several A fire Jan. 18 caused seriother rooms had water damous damage at Grace Place age and other damage from Catholic Worker House in the fire-suppression effort.

College Hill.

The time since the fire The fire, which started in has been spent talking to a crawl space on the third the insurance company, refloor, caused about $30,000 ceiving bids for repair work in damage. A smoke alarm to be done, sending clothing woke residents of the house and furniture to be cleaned and they safely exited beand finding places for the fore firefighters arrived. residents to stay. Immedi“They got here very fast” ately following the fire, the says Joyce Asfour, who has Red Cross placed four of been in charge of the home the five guests at a motel on ever since she purchased it Grace Place prior to the recent fire. Photo courtesy of Grace Place Colerain Avenue, and the as a modest farm house four Catholic Worker House. fifth went to stay at a neighyears ago. “The fire truck bor’s house. room and board only for those In addition to providing from the station around the Four of the residents have who can afford it. The facility housing, Grace Place works corner was there in minutes — since moved on as some of houses single women as well to increase awareness of the although it seemed like a long them were as women with children who causes of time. The women themselves scheduled “The fire truck from have been to an emergency poverty and were very calm.” to, but many the station around shelter and are working to try homelessness Firefighters later took each needs remain. the corner was and get secure stable housing. in the hope of the residents back in one Because the If a guest has income, she is that it will there in minutes — fire displaced at a time to retrieve what they asked to make a rent payment, incite action. although it seemed a lot of the could. which is held and then re- The program like a long time.”

Grace Place, part of the residents at turned to her when she leaves is moving toCatholic Worker movement, once, it pro~ Joyce Asfour the home, for use as a kind ward a more is a multi-faceted transitional vides an opof emergency fund or down v o l u n t a r y, home that allows guests to stay portunity to payment for her next place of simple and for up to one year, charging work on the house. residence. organic lifestyle more in tune Grace Place needs volunwith the earth. teers who are willing to scrape The staff prays daily and paint walls. The house also to provide an environneeds donations of food of ment of spiritual growth. any kind but preferably packGrace Place draws on aged and canned. The fire also Catholic values and increased the house’s utility kindness; none of the bill because of heat escaping resident staff receive pay, through the roof and increased and some give their own electricity use during repairs. money to the betterment Those costs aren’t covered by of the house. insurance, and Grace Place The cause of the fire is accepts no receive governbelieved to be linked to a ment funding. furnace on the third floor,

By Adam Clark Staff Writer

A bedroom at Grace Place after it was damaged in the fire.

Photo courtesy of Grace Place Catholic Worker House.

To donate or to volunteer, call Grace Place at 513-681-2365.

Aiken Students Celebrate Giving Annual gift program for needy kids is in 12th year

By Alexis Gordon Contributing Writer

T

he Aiken High School staff and leadership team shared because they cared this past holiday season.

Students and staff were asked to buy gifts listed on the “giftgiving” tree at the school. The gifts were to be wrapped and donated to the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless for distribution to needy children this Christmas.

The school collected more than 175 presents. This was the 12th year that Aiken has

donated gifts.

Every year someone new to the school comes to the giftwrapping party and is amazed at how seriously the participants treat it. One student continually reminded students and teachers to bring in the gifts.

When we do things like this, we do it out of kindness.

We do it because we know that every child deserves to have a gift under the tree on Christmas morning. On Dec. 18 we finished wrapping the gifts and helped load them into the car.

After taking plenty of pictures, we went around and discussed how we felt, why we donate

every year and what doing so nut Hills and also to kids at means to us. With every per- the Bethany House. To put son we asked, we pretty much one smile on a child’s face is heard the same response: “We the greatest, most perfect gift do it because we care.” Some one can receive. students have said they would want someone to buy nice gifts for them if they were in the same situation.

The gifts went to children staying at First Step Students load gifts to be delivered.

Home in Wal- Photo courtesy of Aiken high School.

14

Local News

STREETVIBES March 2009

The Ghetto Isn’t What You Thought It Was And other lessons for people who haven’t been there

By Gregory Flannery Editor Unexpected lessons present themselves when relatively affluent college students spend four months living and working in Over-the-Rhine.

The sound of gunfire in the night is always informative, but participants in Miami University Over-the-Rhine Residency Program uniformly come away almost awed at deeper realities they observe.

A compilation of student evaluations shows the intensity of the experience.

“This experience has altered my life.

I can’t leave here knowing what I’ve learned and not give something back. … I feel empowered after this semester. … I’ve vacationed in Europe, studied in Africa but can honestly say I was not affected the way I have been here.”

Several students contrast their expectations of life in Over-the-Rhine — violent crime and degraded living conditions — with the sense of cohesive community they encountered once they were there.

“Coming from a predominantly upper-middle class household, I previously dismissed people as drug dealers, homeless guys and drunks without fully comprehending how they came to live in their situation,” writes student Amanda Stacy. “There has been a complete transformation in my thought processes concerning inner cities and

Over-the-Rhine in particular.”

Twelve students, with majors ranging from architecture to international studies, participated in the program in the fall 2008 semester. Weekly communal meals, journal writing and meetings with community organizers joined the more conventional academic work of reading and writing papers.

But the core of the semester is the work the students do in the neighborhood.

Some designed a new second-story, steel balcony for an apartment owned by Overthe-Rhine Community Housing. Others worked at the Peaslee Neighborhood Center, the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center, the Workers Center and Rothenberg Preparatory Academy.

Ben Romero (L) and Doug Morgan (R) reflecting at the Miami University Center for Community The program is not about the Engagement. Photo by Sylvia Pisczor. fortunate helping the wretched, according to Tom Dutton, The first is student frustration representations that previous- affordable housing, services director of the Miami Univer- at learning how slowly social ly served their middle-class for the homeless, the growth sity Center for Civic Engage- change actually occurs. The biases.” in the size of police forces and ment in Over-the-Rhine. second is the development of That lesson can work both the number of prisons, segre“The residency program empathy as students develop ways, according to student gation and economic trends. constitutes a particular model relationships with people in Alex Libengood. The students Dutton has been active for community engagement the neighborhood. apparently aren’t the only in community organizing in that distinguishes itself from “These re- people learning from the cul- Over-the-Rhine for several programs based l a t i o n s h i p s tural exchange. decades. The residency proon charity, “These relationships t y p i c a l l y “Coming into this semester, gram aims to change student v a n g u a r d i s m typically disarm the disarm the I think everyone had general- perceptions about individuand noblesse students and help students and izations,” he writes. “People als but also to make them see oblige,” he them take steps to help them criticized these white, rich larger connections and to act. says in a report take steps to Miami students coming into “The richness of this kind deconstruct their on the semesdeconstruct the neighborhood for an ‘exof experience, moving from ter. “Students privilege, precisely their privi- cursion,’ while many of us stu- critique to action, is all the in the program because they come lege, precise- dents, including myself, really more amplified when students work collab- to see their privilege ly because didn’t know how to approach and faculty come to see the oratively with as a kind of learning they come to or even what to think about the issues in Over-the-Rhine as neighborhood see their priv- homeless, the addicted and the something more than being disability.” organizations ilege as a kind traffickers. But as soon as the problems of the community,” ~ Tom Dutton and residents of learning street interactions moved to a Dutton says. “Over-the-Rhine — through d i s a b i l i t y, ” personal level, the stereotypes is a global phenomenon.” courses, reDutton says. “It may sound plastered on our foreheads beTo the degree that student search, and active service — naively simplistic but the stu- came irrelevant. … When it evaluations can gauge the in order to assist that which is dents are shocked to find that came down to it, everyone, in- long-term effect of a single already in movement, oriented the homeless on the streets, cluding us, had a story to tell, semester, Katie Shipman’s asto developing the community the children in the classroom, and experience to share and a sessment is one of the most without displacement.” the day workers waiting in heartfelt bond to forge.” promising, certainly among Dutton says he’s noted pat- line, and the neighbors next The educational goal goes the most eloquent. Summarizterns in the three years the pro- door are full, sentient beings beyond tender feelings, of ing her experience in Overgram has been in operation. far removed from the stereo- course. The curriculum in- the-Rhine, she writes, “I want types and media cludes study of gentrification, to live differently.”

Sylvia Pisczor, Beth Calvelage and Ben Romero (left to right) discuss the balcony project with structural engineer Daniel Clark.

Photo courtesy of Miami University.

STREETVIBES March 2009

15

Vendor Writings

I Don’t Forget Moving out of the depths one day at a time

By Matt Holcomb Streetvibes Vendor

W

hen God woke me up today and I got out of bed, got on my hands and knees to pray, first of all I thanked him and then asked him to help me and guide me throughout the day and to help me do his will and not mine and to help me to show me how I can better my fellow man or woman in any way that I can and to help me be a

better person than I was yesterday and in the past.

I am glad today that I have asked him to come into my life to help, to guide me and help direct me in everything I do today, because now I have no reason to ever tell him to go away. He walks beside me and helps to show me how to be a better man than I used to be. He woke me up and showed me that I am really not a bad person. I just made a lot of bad mistakes that I choose not to make anymore.

Now I know what my job is: to reach out and help the ones that want help and pray for the ones that are not ready to get help and especially the ones that don’t know how to reach

out and ask for help, just like I used to be.

I remember being out there, sleeping outside, not knowing which way to go or even have a clue, always trying to find a way to make a dollar or two, waking up every day, whole body shaking, going into tremors, walking around with piss and crap all over myself, having the same clothes on for two or three weeks, not caring if I lived or died. I ran around doing almost anything just to get a drink and a drug so I could get high, not even knowing what the outcome of the situation was going to be, like hanging out there on the corner, holding a cup and flying a sign and having and

watching the people walk by, not knowing or caring about what the people would think or say, because back then I didn’t care about anything or anybody. I was just concerned about a drink, because that is all I cared about.

It got so bad where I had to have it to stay alive. That is all I cared about. It had become me and took over my life.

Today it is different: one day at a time. I am a proud member of Alcoholics Anonymous and I have God in my life and I have a sponsor and a grand sponsor. That has helped me save my life. I am using these people and suggestions and until I hear a lie, I am going to be doing what

I am supposed to do and not what I want to do. One day at a time, because every day I was running the show by myself, I always found a way to screw things up.

I don’t forget where I come from; I just don’t want to go back. I am now moving forward, as long as I do it one day at a time. God and these people are always going to be on my side. I don’t forget those days when all I wanted to do was drink and get high until I died. Now God and these people are showing me one day at a time how to survive and stay alive.

Homeless People Look Like You’d Expect Sharing shelter with business people

By Dede Stoops Streetvibes Vendor

H

omeless people are people from all walks of life; they work in every type of job. A homeless person can be a college professor, a business president or a street kid like I was.

Most people don’t choose to be homeless, but life throws them a curve that lands them in shelters or on the streets or even sleeping in cars.

I became homeless several times in my life. There were times I chose to live on the

streets rather then live with my parents so I could get away from my abusive home. The first time I became homeless was when I was 5, then again at 10 years old. This happened three times, for a total time of four years, as a teen and five times as an adult.

It was a lot harder to bounce back when I was an adult. I saw all kinds of homeless people living with me in shelters or abandoned buildings. Some were young mothers. Others were addicts, senior citizens and young families. I was surprised when I was a child that I saw business people in the shelters. Now nothing surprises me when it comes to who can end up homeless.

There are many reasons that people become homeless.

Some are teenagers kicked out by their parents or running away from a violent situ-

ation. Others are adults who loose their jobs and homes.

There are even times when a working person gets nailed by unexpected bills and ends up homeless. This happens more when the economy is bad, but also as a result of war and natural disasters.

Some who live in poverty lose affordable housing to big business greed or government cuts in services. There has been a big decline in public services so those who depended on them to keep from becoming homeless end up there any way.

I believe everyone has some fault in the local homeless problem, from the government’s wasteful spending to big business buying up all the affordable land that could be used to make much needed housing.

I even put some blame on

my shoulder because I complain but do little to help, even though I, too, was homeless.

Yet I try to tell people where there is help and what services are available.

If we as a society work together and show compassion and love, then we can first reduce homelessness and eventually end this problem in the entire world. We could start by taking one day a month to help at shelters, feed the homeless, raise money for programs for the homeless, demand that government and big business help making affordable housing. We can help by voting for programs that will support and assist the homeless get on their feet.

Government they can make available more housing certificates, build affordable housing in better neighborhoods and create more programs

Puzzle Solutions

to get people back to work.

Government can also make programs for the mentally disabled easier to use. Plus we need to make better and safer programs for teen runaways that will not force teens to go back to abusive homes. There are few programs to work with theses kids due to ignorance and prejudice, thinking they are gang members or addicts; those attitudes force teen to make those choices. This I know from my experiences.

So next time you see a homeless person, try to help her out, even if it can only be a prayer. Hold your judgment because you never know if it could be you in that place someday. Homeless people usually don’t want a handout, just a hand up -- and definitely not you’re pity.

16

Vendors

Resource Guide

STREETVIBES March 2009

Streetvibes vendors buy the paper for 25 cents and sell the paper for $1, keeping the money they have earned. The vendors can be identified with a white badge and can be found selling the paper in downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northern Kentucky and area churches. The money they earn helps them meet basic housing, food and health care needs. Not all vendors pictured.

Josephine Baskerville

Doris Binion

Terry Ranson

Anthony Williams

Nell Williams

Grady Cook

Cleo Wombles

James Davis

Jon Darby

Dede Stoops

Julie Walker

Kenneth Stonitsch

Antonio Hodge

Leonard Jackson

Samuel Jackson

Riccardo Taylor

Alfred Woolfolk

Berta Lambert

Mary Mueller

Brandon Nelson

Mark Shears

Terrence Williams

Raynard Jones

Richard Tyree

Karen Collett

Charles Cole

Need Help or Want to Help?

Shelter: Women and Children

Central Access Point...381-SAFE Cincinnati Union Bethel...768-6907 Bethany House...557-2873 Grace Place Catholic Worker House...681-2365 Salvation Army...762-5660 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter...872-9259

Talbert House...684-7965

Treatment: Women

First Step Home ...961-4663

Treatment: Both

City Gospel Mission...241-5525 Justice Watch...241-0490 St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Worker House...381-4941 Mt. Airy Shelter...661-4620

AA Hotline...351-0422 CCAT ...381-6672 Joseph House ...241-2965 Hamilton County ADAS Board ...946-4888 Recovery Health Access Center ...281-7422 Sober Living ...681-0324 Talbert House...641-4300

Shelter: Both

Advocacy

Shelter: Men

Anthony House (Youth)...961-4080 Caracole (HIV/AIDS)...761-1480 Drop Inn Center...721-0643 Interfaith Hospitality Network...471-1100 Lighthouse Youth Center...221-3350 St. John’s Housing...651-6446

Housing:

CMHA...721-4580 Excel Development...632-7149 OTR Community Housing...381-1171 Tender Mercies...721-8666 Tom Geiger House...961-4555 Dana Transitional Bridge Services Inc. ...751-0643 Volunteers of America...381-1954

Food

Lord’s Pantry...621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Soup Kitchen & Pantry..961-1983 Our Daily Bread...621-6364 St. Francis Soup Kitchen...535-2719

Treatment: Men

Charlie’s 3/4 House...784-1853 DIC Live In Program...721-0643 Prospect House...921-1613 Starting Over...961-2256

Catholic Social Action ...421-3131 Community Action Agency ...569-1840 Contact Center...381-4242 Franciscan JPIC ...721-4700 Greater Cinci Coalition for the Homeless..421-7803 Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center...5798547 Legal Aid Society ...241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center ...421-1108 Peaslee Neighborhood Center ...621-5514 Project Connect Homeless Kids ...363-3300 Stop AIDS...421-2437

Health

Center for Respite Care ...621-1868 Cincinnati Health Network ...961-0600 Crossroad Health Center ...381-2247 Hamilton county Mental Health Board...946-8600 Hamilton County TB Control ...946-7628 Health Resource Center ...357-4602 Homeless Mobile Health Van...352-2902 McMicken Dental Clinic...352-6363 Mental Health Access Point...558-8888 Mercy Franciscan at St. John...981-5800 NAMI of Hamilton County..458-6670 Oral Health Council...621-0248 PATH Outreach...977-4489

Resources

Catholic Social Services...241-7745 Center for Independent Living Options...241-2600 Churches Active in Northside...591-2246 Emmanuel Community Center...241-2563 FreeStore/FoodBank...241-1064 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart...381-0111 Goodwill industries...771-4800 Healing Connections...751-0600 Madisonville Education & Assistance Center...2715501 Mary Magdalen House...721-4811 People Working Cooperatively...351-7921 St. Vincent de Paul...562-8841 The Caring Place...631-1114 United Way...721-7900 Women Helping Women...977-5541

Northern Kentucky

Brighton Center...859-491-8303 ECHO/Hosea House...859-261-5857 Fairhaven Resuce Mission...859-491-1027 Homeward Bound Youth...859-581-1111 Mathews House...859-261-8009 NKY Homeless & Housing Coalition...859-727-0926 Parish Kitchen...859-581-7745 Pike St. Clinic...859-291-9321 Transitions, Inc...859-491-4435 Welcome House of NKY...859-431-8717 Women’s Crisis Center...859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary...859-559-5011 VA Homeless...859-572-6226

Hamilton/Middletown

St. Raephaels...863-3184 Salvation Army...863-1445 Serenity House Day Center...422-8555 Open Door Pantry...868-3276