Streetvibes October 2004 Edition

October, 2004

STREETVIBES

Miami University Design Program Held in Over-the-Rhine Photos by Jimmy Heath Last month in Cincinnati, Miami University’s Center for Community Engagement in Over-the-Rhine and Architecture for Humanity (AFH) hosted a design charrette to link design advocacy with social movements addressing homelessness, poverty, and civil rights. The charrette was held at the MU Center for Community Engagement at Buddy’s Place, 1300 Vine Street.

The program was an opportunity to galvanize creative processes in a city that is a flash point for rethinking a reinvigorated civil rights movement. Over-the-Rhine and Cincinnati constitute important

sites for learning.

Participating in the charrette offered the occasion to link art and architecture to social change: to place aesthetic Elizabeth Linville work within movements for social justice and civil rights.

Leaders of national and international Writers! importance - Kweisi Mfume, Harry Belafonte, Submit your Poetry to Rev. Al Sharpton, Dennis STREETVIBES Kucinich, Manning Marable, Robin D. G. Streetvibes@juno.com Kelley, Barbara Ehrenreich, Martin Luther Bonnie Neumeier addresses architects and students during intro session at Buddy’s Place in Over-the-Rhine King III, Ron Daniels, Walter Fauntroy, Cynthia the-Rhine People’s Movement, have all traveled to the area to McKinney, Damu Smith, Eric examine the political and social and other groups. The Mann and Lian Hurst Mann Charrette concluded with situation in Over-the-Rhine.

The Cincinnati Freedom Summer charrette promised to provide a creative synergy around charrettes, artistic installations, and design/build opportunities among Architecture for Humanity, artists, activists, neighborhood institutions, and Miami University and the University of Cincinnati.

Participants had the opportunity to gain knowledge of the history of civil rights in the area and the issues facing Cincinnati today through talks and workshops with the Cincinnati Black United Front, Cincinnati Progressive Action, the Over-

Event organizer Tom Dutton speaks to assembled crowd

completed works of design to be shared with the public.

Charrette teams consisted of local citizens with memories of the local movement, local artists, students from Miami University and University of Cincinnati, local architects, visiting artists, and visiting members of Architecture for Humanity from around the country. Each team was co-led by one local citizen and a visiting artist-designer.

Participants received a packet of information about Over-theRhine, the ongoing movement,

Design... cont. on page 9

Drop Inn Center Report Washington Park is the public space which is at the heart of the southwest corner of our neighborhood, Over-theRhine.

In August, the Cincinnati Park Board, which owns and maintains Washington Park received news that they were receiving a cut for the current year (2004) of $216,000. As a result, they had to eliminate 40 positions of workers who cleaned City Parks. The impact on Washington Park is devastating. Before, we had two positions just focused on the park. Now, the Park Board is only able to pick up trash twice a week.

Through the month of

August, Washington Park was slowly becoming more piled with trash. The gazebo in the center of the park was piling up with benches and furniture.

This week we got to the point where we couldn’t take it any longer. Together with the Park Board, about a dozen Drop Inn Center residents and workers volunteered to clean the park yesterday morning, September 14th. Pictures of the event are on our groups’ website: http:// photos.groups.yahoo.com/ group/dropinncenterupdate/lst .

How can city leaders afford to fly people in from Manhattan to study the park, but fail to provide the workers to pick up trash there? Quality of life begins with the basics.

photo by Jimmy Heath

City Budget Cutback Causes Washington Park Trash to Mount

Washington Park, Over-the-Rhine’s largest public greenspace Please call Cincinnati council/pages/-4126-/ . The City Council and urge them to time to act is now. The restore funding for our park forecasted cut to the Park workers. Here is their website: Board for 2005 is another http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/ $700,000.

Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless

Streetvibes

A Tragic Milestone

by Jimmy Heath

Streetvibes, the TriState’s alternative news source, is a newspaper written by, for, and about the homeless and contains relevant discussions of social justice, and poverty issues. It is published once a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless.

Becoming a Streetvibes Vendor is a great way for homeless and other low-income people to get back on (or stay on) their feet. Streetvibes Vendors are given an orientation and sign a code of conduct before being given a Streetvibes Vendor badge. All profits go directly to the vendor.

The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a group of shelters, agencies and individuals committed to ending homelessness in Cincinnati through coordinating services, educating the public and grassroots organizing.

GCCH Staff Georgine Getty - Executive Director Allison Leeuw - Administrative Coordinator Andy Erickson - Education Coordinator Rachel Lawson - Civil Rights VISTA Kate McManus - Civil Rights VISTA Janice Faulkner - Receptionist Mary Gaffney - Receptionist

Streetvibes Jimmy Heath - Editor, photographer

Streetvibes accepts letters, poems, stories, essays, original graphics, and photos. We will give preference to those who are homeless or vendors.

Subscriptions to Streetvibes, delivered to your home each month, can be purchased for $25 per year.

Address mail to: Streetvibes Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 421-7803 e-mail: streetvibes@juno.com web: http://homeless.cinci.com

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rid ourselves of perceived enemies. Many would say that “Every gun that is made, in a violent world, we have no every warship launched, every choice but to strike with anger rocket fired, signifies in the and violence. The world is a final sense a theft from those dangerous place; certainly it is who hunger and are not fed, with humans in charge. those who are cold and are not The youth of our culture clothed.” President Dwight D. are the ones being placed in Eisenhower, April 16, 1953 harms way. They are strong and easily trained. Military The tragedy of the Iraq television commercials tell our war can be felt here at home in youth, with fancy editing and the numbers of American cool music, that the armed soldiers killed since the forces are an adventure, a way beginning of the conflict. We to grow up, and a way to get an see the destruction of Iraq and education. It is offered as a way the loss of young lives everyday “out.” Killing is what these on the evening news. youth really get. That is the Most of the deaths of “job” these kids are signing up American soldiers have come for. We treat our youth like after the official cannon fodder, and end of hostilities; the dead or injured over 1,000 soldier’s family is American soldiers left with the have been killed so grieving. far with more than This so-called war 800 killed during on terrorism has the insurgency that devastating flared after the consequences for Americans brought the needy here at down the Saddam home too. Nearly Hussein 200 billion dollars government. There Jimmy Heath has been spent on were 66 deaths in the war and the efforts against the month of August alone. terrorism. We need to protect The vast majority of U.S. ourselves, (mostly from hatred deaths - all but 138 - came after promulgated by our own President Bush’s May, 2003 imperialism) but there are other declaration of an end to major ways to measure security. combat operations. “Mission The cutting of social Accomplished,” read a banner programs, while military and on an aircraft carrier where Patriot Act concerns receive Bush made the announcement in monetary priority, undermines front of the ships crew and a the future of this country. national audience.

Crumbling under-funded public In addition to the schools, low birth survival-rates American casualties, almost among the poor; hunger, 7,000 Iraqi citizens have been homelessness and crime wounded and an estimated permeate our collapsing inner14,000 have been killed since cities. There are other children the beginning of the war. left behind struggling to survive The Bush administration as others go to war. has long linked the Iraq conflict Our youth here at home to the war on terrorism. The are faced with a war of their September 11 Commission, own. An insidious and deadly however, concluded that Iraq struggle faces our lost youth on and al-Qaida did not have a “collaborative relationship” before the 2001 attacks on New York and Washington, and some have questioned to what extent foreign terror groups are involved in the anti-U.S. insurgency in Iraq.

War and killing is the human solution to conflicts, and has been for thousands of years.

War’s origins are complex: they are found in the imprecise and emotional systems of thoughts generated in cultures over time.

With all the advancement in human technology and knowledge, we still use death as a means of resolving differences, to gain control or Casualties of the war

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the streets and the children in our public schools. Some young men on the streets turn to dope dealing because they have no other discernable skills, their future denied.

There are over 2 million people locked up in our nation’s prisons. There are over 35 million people living in poverty in this country. An Urban Institute study states that about 3.5 million people, 1.35 million of them children, are likely to experience homelessness in a given year in this country.

The best way to build security in this nation and with friends around the world is to provide health, education, safety and opportunity to each and every American citizen. A happy and healthy nation of American citizens is the best security.

The money spent on teaching our youth how to kill with detachment and technical sophistication could be used to train them here at home for jobs and opportunity, hope and peace.

Out of the 200 billion dollars spent on the war and its ancillary conflicts, over 120 million dollars could have been used by Cincinnati alone.

(Based on the contribution of each state’s residents to the total tax collection, according to the IRS. www.nationalpriorities.org/ issues/military/iraq/ CostOfWar.html) Recently, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said, “We lack metrics to know if we are winning or losing the global war on terror.”

I know we are losing the battle here at home to save our youth. We need a major shift in our priorities, to ensure that more young people don’t die here and abroad. We need to build security for our nation by building our youth.

Write to Jimmy at jimmy@jimmyheath.org

Save the Date You are cordially invited to attend the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless’ Annual Dinner

HOMES, DIGNITY AND HOPE A 20 YEAR CELEBRATION December 9th, 2004 6:00 pm @ Xavier University, Cintas Center

Including Dinner, a Silent Auction, Raffle Prizes, Awards, and Entertainment For tickets, please send $25 to GCCH at 117 E 12th Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Makes checks payable to GCCH and write ‘ticket’ in the memo....

(If you are a service provider, please send $20 for your ticket.

The discount is our way of saying Thank You!) FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL 421-7803, EXT. 16

Reserve a table for your church or company for $200 (10 seats) Sponsor dinner for a homeless individual for $25 Donate an item for our silent auction Streetvibes

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Homeless News Digest

by Jimmy Heath Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg began to flesh out his promise to reduce the number of homeless people on the streets and in New York’s shelters, committing the city last month to a series of precise deadlines for his administration’s goals.

In February 2005, the city will introduce automatic housing applications to homeless shelters citywide, administration officials said. In June 2005, the city will begin a pilot project aimed at reducing the number of men who are released from jails and sent straight into the shelters. By 2007, the number of homeless families with children in city shelters is to be cut in half.

In Buffalo, NY an effort to end long-term homelessness began last month over plastic trays of chicken casserole and steamed greens, with volunteers surveying soup kitchen visitors about services they receive and others that they need.

Later, volunteers would fan out across parks, shelters and under bridges as part of a 24-hour effort to give a voice to the people who will be most affected by a county homelessness plan to be developed next year.

“We’re grounding our effort in the voices of the folks that we want to serve,” said Katie McHugh-Connolly, director of the project dubbed PRISM; Prevention, Resources, Independence through Housing, Services and Maintenance.

The three-page surveys administered by 160 volunteers began with questions about age, race, education level, marital status and physical or emotional conditions that limit the ability to work.

The goal is to pinpoint the reasons behind chronic homelessness and to tailor service plans to combat it.

Current social safety nets aren’t working for this segment of the homeless, McHugh-Connolly said, “They keep returning.”

In Grand Junction, CO local agencies and community groups came together last month to provide food,

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clothing, and many other services to help the homeless veterans and their families in the Grand Valley. There were free haircuts, medical care and employment information available. The event, entitled “Stand Down,” also gave items to the general homeless population. The senior sock hop held during the Sttand Down at Mesa View Retirement residence also benefited the event.

Cincinnati held its Standdown on October 1st in Over-the-Rhine’s Washington Park providing similar services to area homeless.

Los Angeles County would sharply refashion homeless services over the next decade, adding 7,000 emergency shelter beds and 40,000 units of affordable housing under a plan to be debated by area civic leaders.

The 10-year strategic plan to end homelessness is the result of a yearlong effort by a task force called Bring LA Home, whose members include Mayor Jim Hahn, Sheriff Lee Baca, Cardinal Roger M. Mahony and other government, religious, philanthropic and business leaders, the Los Angeles Times reported last month.

Members of the task force will decide whether to adopt the guidelines and pursue funding for the proposals, which include setting up a region-wide housing trust fund.

The preliminary plan would institute a comprehensive approach to preventing homelessness, as well as addressing the immediate needs of the estimated 80,000 men, women and children who are homeless on any given night in Los Angeles County, The Times reported.

Booming property prices have contributed towards a huge leap in the number of people who are registered as homeless in Calderdale, Novia Scotia.

Those most in need of accommodation went up last year by 37 per cent and in a bid to keep pace with demand, the council is now having to rent privately-owned houses and flats in Leeds. A similar system

could be set up in Calderdale because of the shortage of emergency living space.

A total of 1,460 people turned to the council last year claiming to be without a permanent roof over their heads, compared to 1,183 the previous year.

Lowell, MA State Sen. Steven Panagiotakos looked at a massive pile of bricks that had been dislodged from an old building on Middlesex Street.

“One man’s pile of bricks,” he said, can be turned “into another man’s castle, sanctuary and home.”

The bricks will go back into a $2.8 million project to convert an old boardinghouse into a new homeless shelter, right next to the current Lowell Transitional Living Center, which is drab and crowded.

Some 90 officials and social service workers and a few homeless clients gathered to break ground yesterday.

Ninety is also the number of beds the shelter now has and the number of beds the new facility will provide when it opens next year.

Officials praised state and city agencies for working to help society’s most disadvantaged people at a time when Lowell wants to focus on economic development.

The Lowell Transitional Living Center will expand into this building next door to the current shelter on Middlesex Street.

Mark Cote, the shelter’s executive director, said the new arena and baseball park were vital for keeping the city vibrant. But by building a “state-of-the-art” shelter featuring an elevator, handicapped access and central air Lowell shows compassion and character.

In the days just before Fair St. Louis, city jail workers fretted over where to fit the disorderlies whom police typically round up whenever St. Louis hosts a large outdoor event where lots of beer is served. All the system lacked were some offenders.

In a federal lawsuit heard in recent days in St. Louis, a group of civil rights lawyers, including the American Civil Liberties Union, argued that St. Louis police found those offenders that weekend by sweeping the homeless from downtown.

The lawyers told U.S.

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District Court Judge E. Richard Webber that police had arrested dozens of homeless people without any other cause than the beautification of downtown and the comfort of fairgoers.

The lawyers told Webber that they were particularly galled by the charge issued to many of the homeless defendants: drinking in public.

How many thousands of fair visitors drank downtown with impunity, they asked.

In a Detroit Michigan neighborhood, a pair of homeless men were found living among bags of evidence and other police materials inside a vacated Highland Park public safety building.

A Highland Park public safety officer, who asked to remain anonymous, took a local TV news team on a tour of one of two former police buildings that have reportedly become a place for squatters.

The front door on the building on Gerald Street was locked, but people have gained access through a back entrance and through windows, the station reported.

Bags of evidence, a firefighter’s uniform and an old police log with names and addresses were among the items discovered.

“The city needs to contain this building or get everything out of it,” said the public safety officer.

The officer added that some have reported finding drugs that were previously confiscated, guns and other police equipment in the buildings.

“Anything that a police department could use - ID cards, service revolvers. You can play police if you come here,” the officer said.

Electricity still flows through the Gerald Street building. The homeless men were found watching TV.

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know how I feel from my articles each month about the people who visit our office. early years when he was Although you are not attending Woodward High with us, your family or friends, School and the Youth Church Oscar Garner Jr., people speak and the lectures of St John A. about how you gave to our M. E. Zion Church. He was a friends. I know one person, a member for over fifty years. former member of the church, On October 24th I brought to who benefited from the office a copy of your advice and got his funeral a job, and finally announcement and moved away. It was to my surprise some not too late for him, of my homeless and his life is new in friends in the office a lot of ways. knew him. They As I close this confided in me month, as always I some of the advice say, it doesn’t take he had tried to give much to give a smile them; they did not to someone. heed it.

Oscar Garner Jr. Regardless of When I sit creed or color, we with those that visit our office are all God’s children who have here in Over-the-Rhine it is best a place in the garden of life. to listen, and not ask questions.

Have a good and safe month.

There was a lot of gratitude and (smile) concern for this man. Although Oscar Garner had a busy life, A man receiving charity serving in his church and always hates his working at the Post Office. But benefactor - it is a fixed to hear from my homeless friends at the Greater Cincinnati characteristic of human Coalition for the Homeless, he nature. George Orwell always had time for them. You

Never Too Busy To Care

by Mary Gaffney Here it is October and soon autumn will be greeting us. Thank you to my friends who purchase the Streetvibes paper each month to help the less fortunate survive.

We are blessed that the hurricanes did not reach Cincinnati. But please take time to say a prayer for the one’s that were caught up in it.

We can never say that it can’t happen here.

This month’s article I’d like to dedicate to the memory of the late Oscar Garner Jr. whom I had known from his

Miss Mary Gaffney

20 YEARS SERVING THE Over-the-Rhine NEIGHBORHOOD

Empowering our neighborhood children through peace, art and education Peaslee Neighborhood Center 215 East 14th Street Over-the-Rhine Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

(513) 621-5514

Homeless Coalition Welcomes New Staff

ST

which focused on the study of a Hello Streetvibes! My name is Rachel Renee Lawson and variety of cultures from around the world. Culture Anthropology also I am 21 years old. became my passion and I decided At the age of 2, my family to combine these two interests. relocated to Cincinnati from I would like to eventually Missouri. I graduated from Sycamore High School in 2000 and receive a PhD in Anthropology with a focus on African Studies. I attended the University of Dayton with the hopes of gaining a B.A. in would like to use this degree to teach at the pre-med. However, collegiate level after 3 months of as well as to science and math perform a study classes that I found on the different boring and an ways African excruciating pain, I American decided that I culture stems needed to find a from West different direction Africa. that suited me, Although my rather than what I Rachel Lawson deep passion is assumed people to study expected of me. In different cultures from around the turn, I declared English my major, world and how they interact, I am since I have always had a passion also deeply interested in civil rights for writing and reading any and issues. everything.

At the University of Dayton My sophomore year I took I was the membership chairperson a class on cultural anthropology, for the N.A.A.C.P and co-editor of the monthly newsletter, The Black Perspective. Both of these organizations focused on introducing diversity and respect on a variety of levels, in particular political.

I love talking and meeting Support new people and I look forward to Your my year as a Vista at the Coalition Vendor for the Homeless (I will be working primarily with civil rights issues).

RE

ET

VIB

ES

If you’ve stopped by the me what I really wanted to be Coalition office recently, you studying. I continued working might have wondered, “Who is on that degree and ended up that girl with bright red hair?” taking many social justice and Well, that new person is me, social work classes as a result.

Kate McManus. I am one of These classes solidified the two new AmeriCorps my feelings about the VISTA’s taking over for importance of advocacy and Elizabeth Linville for the next working for social justice. year.

These classes The main and the project I’m activities I working on is the was a part of National Civil during Rights Organizing college, Project, but I’ll particularly also be involved in volunteering several of the more at The Other local projects, Place in including work Dayton, with the Affordable Kate McManus helped me to Housing Advocates realize my and the Homeless Outreach passion for social justice and Group. I look forward to my desire to work on advocacy meeting and working with you and civil rights in the future, over the next year. possibly as an attorney.

I come to Cincinnati I was graduated this past from northeast Ohio, from a May from UD with a degree in suburb a little south of Sociology with a focus on Cleveland. I grew up there and social justice and a minor in lived in the same house for French. Uncertainty about virtually my entire life, but I what I wanted to do next and ended up in southwest Ohio my passion for social justice led when I decided to go to the me to AmeriCorps and the University of Dayton for Coalition. college.

I look forward to the I went to school year ahead and I’m excited to undecided about which degree I meet everyone and to work on would pursue, but a sociology all kinds of projects in Overclass my freshman year showed the-Rhine.

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Fire Cat Review

This is the “salute to autumn” version of the Fire Cat Review.

The Fire Cats are a group of furry, incognito social justice activists, living in a town near you. . .

Caramel Apple Pie (Perkins): Fire Cat Blue: Sooooo good. So very good.

Fire Cat Clear: Perkins does two things well – muffins and pies. The caramel apple pie is top-notch.

Fire Cat Orange: Clear! When did you get here? I luv pie, especially caramel apple. I really enjoyed the creamy filling. It wasn’t tarty, which I dislike.

Yummy in my tummy.

Fire Cat Red: Why don’t we have cherry pie? (stamps furry paw in anger) Fire Cat Magenta: Caramel apple pie rocks my world. The best part was that there was no peanut butter in it.

Red Delicious Apples: Fire Cat Blue: So I’ve read that they’re breeding out all apples besides Red Delicious because they’re the prettiest and easier to market.

Fire Cat Red: I like Granny Smith.

The green ones. They’re crunchier.

Fire Cat Clear: They’re way better than Red Delicious.

Fire Cat Red: Yeah.

Fire Cat Magenta: Red Delicious apples are the worst. I hate them.

There is nothing good about them.

Fire Cat Orange: I personally like apples. All of them. Just hate the skin. Sometimes I gag on it.

Fire Cat Clear: Red Delicious apples suck. They shouldn’t even count as apples. They’re squishy on the inside and taste like crap.

Garden State (movie) Fire Cat Magenta: This movie is amazing. There is nothing bad about it. It has everything: awesome music, acting and cinematography. I’ve seen it three times; you should too.

Fire Cat Orange: Is this the movie with Denzel Washington?

Fire Cat Clear: Uh, no. Natalie Portman and that one guy from “Scrubs.” They were both really good.

Fire Cat Blue: Yeah, I like that guy from “Scrubs.” I don’t know about Natalie Portman though. . . did you see that Wal-Mart movie she was in? Terrible. I didn’t see Garden State though. The commercials are good.

Fire Cat Magenta: Don’t forget about Bilbo Baggins.

Fire Cat Clear: The movie is better than the commercials though. I’d recommend seeing the whole thing. It’s good.

Fire Cat Orange: I want to see the movie with Denzel Washington.

He’s very attractive.

Conclusion: The two Fire Cats who saw the move Garden State,

loved it. The two who did not are troubled by Natalie Portman and intrigued by Denzel Washington, respectively.

Things that have piqued the Fire Cat’s interest: 1. Naughty, naughty Mike Allen.

2. Open Water (a.k.a. the shark movie or 2 hours of floating and screaming) 3. Fire Crackers and the singed fur that results if you’re hit by one.

4. Squishy apples. Squishy politicians.

5. The reality show “The Next Great Champ.” Actually, this has only piqued Fire Cat Blue’s interest, who loves it enough for the whole furry bunch. Did we mention that “Eye of the Tiger” is the theme song???

6. The Shins - not just a trend, they’re actually awesome.

7. Halloween and the great Fire Cat costume contest.

8. The Republican National Convention, Zell Miller and the protests: what kind of Armageddon is this?

9. Gorilla costumes: for ultrasecret identities.

Spiritual Inspiration: an interview with Linda Corey

by Rachel Lawson I recently interviewed Linda Corey to talk about what inspires her to continue in her daily struggles, as she is “carrying the message to the still suffering addict” “I was under the bridge and I didn’t want to do rules and I had a drinking problem and everyone told me.” A victim of physical, verbal, and emotional abuse Linda Corey has come very far, literally.

A few years ago Ms. Linda was homeless and living in the woods in Daytona Beach, Florida. After that she hitchhiked with an acquaintance to Jacksonville, Florida where she lived in a shelter and worked for different temporary positions. Eventually she found herself deserted in Ohio and a long way away from home.

On the first day here she became acquainted with the Drop Inn Center. At one point she was living underneath a bridge by the ballpark arena and the US Bank. Her breaking point came when she was under the bridge one day with two full beers, but her foot was almost completely frozen. Reasoning that “drinking didn’t change my life” and it caused her more pain and trouble, she asked for some type of spiritual intervention. Always a Christian, something told her to go to the St. Xavier church and the first lady she saw gave her a cup of coffee. No longer

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Slowly but surely desiring to drink she contacted things have been getting better Brent and the Center for Chemical Addictions Treatment for Ms. Linda. One of the moments that made her proud on Ezzard Charles and was when she was panhandling discovered they had a bed and her minister and his wife available. walked by and at first she was On January 26th she hesitant but he told her he was entered the Drop Inn Center proud. Continuing to treatment program, where she met Ms. “ I w a s u n d e r strive, Ms. Linda recently graduated Annie, who she the bridge and I from the Drop Inn lovingly refers to as “Mom”. Although didn’t want to Center Treatment program for women. it’s been hard along do rules and I In the end, Ms. Linda the way, Ms. Linda has definitely had had a drinking feels that she helps others because she some guardian angels pro b l e m a n d demonstrates that if to help her along.

She remembers that everyone told you try anyone can succeed, especially at her first group me.” with a little spiritual session she said, “it intervention. Ms. feels like a jail”, but Linda’s advice is to “hold on Ms. Annie assured her that it and wait for the miracle to would be all right. As a matter happen” and “don’t pick up no of fact whenever Ms. Linda matter what”. needed her, Ms. Annie has Ms. Linda would like to always been there. thank everyone who has helped Ms. Linda began her along the way but in attending the Salvation Army, particular: “The whole staff at where one of the ministers is the Drop Inn Center are angels, also a recovering addict. This kind, helpful, and have good was also a source of inspiration sound advice” Ms. Annie-Drop that she could also handle Inn Center counselor –“always things. One of her favorite motto’s has become “Let go and has a kind word, helpful, and full of solid sound advice that let God”, “change is difficult will help you in your but not to change is fatal” and “learn to listen, listen to learn”. recovery”… “The sunflower is Ironically, Ms. Linda looks back the seed that still continues to at her past and says the tide has grow” (in dedication of Ms. turned because at one point she Annie). Brent - Block by Block “gets people from being was going to church to collect homeless to being in treatment cans and now she’s going there or housing by working long to pray.

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hours. If you’re tired of your addiction he can help you.”

Ms. Deborah - “a very kind, good-hearted and helpful lady,” The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, Mrs. Georgine; “She is a beautiful woman when it comes to public officials. Kind, considerate, caring, always there when you need her…Superwoman,” Andy; “Kind, considerate, caring, always there when you need him.” Jimmy; Elizabeth, Allison, Rachel - “Kind, considerate, caring, always there when you need them.”

Mrs. Mary; “Kind, considerate, caring, always there, intelligent, good sound advice when you need her.” Pastor Fudge and Mrs. Fudge (Salvation Army), St. Joseph - on Ezzard Charles, her support Group, St. Xavier Church, Benita; bible study teacher, Ms. Kim Kemp; CD educator of the Women’s Treatment Program, Ms Ruby Lucas; CD educator of the Women’s Treatment Program, Mr. Brown; DIC Men’s Treatment Program. Mr. Amos; DIC Men’s Treatment Program, Center for Chemical Addictions Treatment-“where recovery is within reach.” Stephanie Dunlap; writer for City Beat “for giving us hope, inspiration, encouragement, and teaching us how to write, an overall kind sweet loving lady” ...all my love and friendship, Linda...

Homeless man works to get back life he lost

by Mark Hansel, Cincinnati Post staff reporter For the last 10 years, Grady Cook has alternated between being homeless and living in rundown apartments and hotels in downtown Cincinnati.

In July, he took what he hopes will be the final step in his permanent return to mainstream society.

Cook registered to vote for the first time in his 42 years during a homeless voter registration drive sponsored by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless.

“I want to be an example for people that are in that situation (homeless),” said Cook. “I want to let them know that you can get off the streets if you want to bad enough.”

Cook does not fit the image of a typical homeless person. He does not wear shabby clothes or sit on a street corner with a tin cup and a cardboard sign seeking money.

He is a well-groomed, articulate man who has strong ties to his family and community and high hopes for the future. He recently found an apartment in North Avondale, he is clean and sober, and he said his days of living on the streets are behind him for good.

His life has been a rollercoaster ride since his teen years, and he said he is finally ready to add some stability to it.

As a young man growing up in Bond Hill, Cook fell victim to the same temptations that trap many inner-city youths. He dropped out of school in the ninth grade and fathered his first child at the age of 15. Over the next several years he became a

Deathly Silence

by Rachel Lawson When you think of the month of October many things may come to mind, from Halloween to the beginning of the harsh cold weather that surrounds the city.

However, the month of October is also dedicated to a sometimesoverlooked subject, “Domestic Violence Awareness”.

According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline (NDVH) website (http:// www.ndvh.org/) “Nearly one-third of American women (31 percent) report being physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives”.

(Commonwealth Fund survey, 1998) Although that statistic is horrific enough, I cannot help but to think about those who remain silent and feel that they are alone.

This silence not only impacts their emotional and physical well being, but it also can cost them their family stability and their life.

“Even when he was at the father three more times and started absolute bottom, he never took it out doing drugs and drinking. Despite on anybody else,” she said. “You his family obligations, meager just felt like he needed something to education and substance problems, get him over the hump.” he managed to achieve some For Cook, who has stayed in success. contact with his children, that He worked steadily as a something came two years ago when trucking company dispatcher and he found out his oldest daughter was was making “good money” before his drug and alcohol problems drove him out of work and onto the streets 10 years ago.

“I was so disappointed when I quit that job because the people I worked for treated me like family,” he said. “I left because I wanted to do drugs and drink more than I wanted to work.”

Cook hit rock bottom and stayed there for a long time. He began his relationship with the Coalition for the Grady Cook Homeless because of his suffering from kidney failure and frequent visits to shelters and other needed a transplant. agencies the organization sponsors.

Cook was eager to help, but Occasionally, through the doctors told him that he would have help of one organization or another, to get clean before they would even he would find a place to stay for a consider him as a donor. While it while. Inevitably, however, his hasn’t been easy, Cook said he gave penchant for drugs and alcohol up booze and drugs cold turkey and would land him right back on the has never gone back. street.

“It’s hard,” he said.

“That’s the way it is with a “Sometimes I dream about the drugs. lot of homeless people,” said But I know if I backslide just a little, Georgine Getty of the Coalition.

“They’re basically good people who, I’ll be right back where I was, and I won’t be able to help my child.” because of one problem or another, Since getting clean, Cook has cannot make that permanent move managed to find work through the off of the streets.”

Getty has known Cook since coalition. He sells the coalition magazine Streetvibes and contributes she came to the Coalition two years as a writer and photographer. He ago.

also works at a retail store in Corryville.

He is a member of the coalition’s speakers bureau and travels throughout the city drawing attention to the plight of the homeless. In November, he will be tested to see if he is a compatible donor for his daughter.

Cook said he would like to follow in the footsteps of Donald Whitehead, director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, who spent several years as an addict on the streets of Cincinnati before a visit to the Drop Inn Center started him on the road to recovery. He became the first African-American and the first homeless person elected to the post of director. He has been instrumental in bringing the problems facing the homeless to the national spotlight.

“I saw him last year and told him I was going to have his job some day,” said Cook.

For now, Cook’s goals are more modest. He just wants to be able to help his daughter and work to improve the situation of the homeless in Cincinnati.

“If you had asked me five years ago where I thought I’d be today, I would have said I’d be dead,” he said. “I thought these streets were going to kill me.”

Now that he is a registered voter with a job and a place to call home; he feels like he has a future.

“When you’re homeless, you feel like you’re on the outside looking in,” he said. “Now I feel like I belong, and I’m ready to make a big impact on this city.”

This story originally ran in the September 13th, 2004 edition of the Cincinnati Post

would be considered felonies if committed by strangers are filed as misdemeanors (a lesser crime)”.

(News from U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, September 2, 1993) In turn, it appears that not only are the victims of domestic

violence remaining silent but so are the law-makers, prosecutors, and judges. It has become apparent that not only will a deathly chill surround the city of Cincinnati, but so will tolerance for ignorance through acceptance of abuse.

According to the NDVH website “Family violence costs the nation from $5 to $10 billion annually in medical expenses, police and court costs, shelters and foster care, sick leave, absenteeism, and non-productivity ”(Medical News, American Medical Association, January, 1992).

Unfortunately that means sometimes more money is spent on post Domestic Violence, rather than preventing and eliminating it.

Even though the first women’s shelter, Women’s Advocates, was opened 20 years ago in Minnesota, the laws that are applied to domestic violence offenders are still extremely lenient.

“90% of all family violence defendants are never prosecuted, and one-third of the cases that

DJ and Adam, Two of God’s Miracles. Both were born with cerebral palsy. Their mother explained the differences.

Children with low-weight birth’s sometimes have cerebral palsy and sometimes don’t. DJ has attended college showing that even if you have a handicap it doesn’t mean you can’t achieve. Just look at Adam and DJ. Submitted by Julie, Streetvibes Vendor.

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How Important Is Your Voice?

by Rachel Lawson I recently walked along 12th Street in Over-the-Rhine and asked lower income and homeless individuals three specific questions: how they felt about voting, how is the housing in Cincinnati, and if they could say one thing to President Bush what would it be. I had a lot of eye-opening responses; however, I think the most important realization was that a lot of people do not realize how important their voice and their vote are in this upcoming election.

How do you feel about voting?

First of all, voting in my opinion is basically fixed. The reason for that belief is that the last presidential election

wasn’t fair. Bush took it!

- Mr. R It won’t get us nowhere - Someone who cares They’re going to do what they want and I don’t even know who the best candidate is - Cody Brown They (politicians) are going to put in there who they want to be in there. The votes don’t mean nothing. It’s the housing electoral votes that carry weight. All politicians are liars.

- Tony Smith How do you feel about the housing situation and how it affects you: Rich help rich. Poor stay poor.

Don’t get anything. Even if you have a job, try to get ahead you are struggling.

- Mr. R Look around you. There are

By The Numbers - who votes...

Every four years, voters head to the polls to select our nation’s president. The process begins with a series of primaries and caucuses in the winter and spring and culminates with the general election in November.

To mark the start of the 2004 presidential election season, the Census Bureau has culled from previously released statistical reports the following facts: State Turnout Trends In both Iowa, home of the firstin-the-nation political party caucus, and New Hampshire, home of the first-in-the-nation party primary, 67 percent of citizens voted in the 2000 presidential election.

percent registered in 1996.

In 2000, the highest voting rates were found in the District of Columbia, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Maine and Minnesota, each at or about 70 percent.

72% - Percentage of citizens ages 65 to 74 who voted in the 2000 presidential election. This age group has the highest voting participation of any age group.

National Turnout Trends 60% - Percentage of eligible voters who cast their ballots in the November 2000 presidential election, slightly higher than the 58 percent who voted in 1996.

21% - Among people who said they were registered to vote in 2000 but did not actually vote, the percentage who gave as a reason that they were too busy or had conflicting work or school schedules. This was the most common reason given for not voting.

70% - Percentage of citizens who were registered to vote in 2000, compared with the 71

“Teach a child to read and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test.”

George Bush February 21, 2001

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111 million - The number of people who voted in the 2000 presidential election, short of the record high of 114 million set in 1992.

86% - Among citizens registered to vote in the 2000 presidential election, the percentage who reported they cast ballots, up from 82 percent in 1996.

61% - Percentage of eligible women voters who voted in the 2000 presidential election.

That is higher than the 58 percent of men who voted.

building lofts for successful people. That’s why you see more homeless people.

- Someone who cares I myself have been to prison and I have trouble getting subsidized housing due to the fact that I have a felony. I have been turned down four times. I think once you paid your debt it should be done. Everyone needs a house.

- Tony Smith If you could say one thing to the President what would it be: Your time is come to go. No more screw-ups.

- Mr. R Pray more. Pray for forgiveness.

- Someone who cares He’s a liar.

- Tony Smith

Ask a man which way he is going to vote, and he will probably tell you.

Ask him, however, why, and vagueness is all. Andrew Lack All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or backgammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and wrong. Henry David Thoreau Half of the American people never read a newspaper. Half never voted for President.

One hopes it is the same half. Gore Vidal

Poor, Homeless – But We Have a Voice, We Have a Vote

by Pamela Wynn of New Brighton, MN pamwsynn@yahoo.com Low-income means living on the edge. My apartment rent creeps steadily upward while my name has stagnated on the waiting list for Section 8 housing over the last three years. A crisis and I could end up on the streets again. I’ve been there. It was traumatic and frightening. Daily countless others find themselves in similar devastating circumstances as the gap grows between those who have their basic human needs met and those who do not. In the 2004 elections, we have an opportunity to turn the tide with our votes.

In God’s eyes we are all created equal, and yet, federal and state legislative bodies ignore this fact as they continue to cut vital programs for housing, health care, child welfare and education. The poor are being cast aside. Over time, the vote has been denied to the poor and people of color in this country by the enactment of laws requiring land ownership, literacy, and most recently, a permanent address. Many continue to be silenced. According to our own Declaration of Independence, governments derive “their just powers from the consent of the governed.” As citizens of this country, the government’s powers are derived from you and me.

When we exercise our right to vote, we refuse to consent to a government that supports unequal treatment of its citizens.

In the Gettysburg Address in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared that, “this

Streetvibes

nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” You and I are the people to which this government must answer. It is our duty to hold our government and ourselves accountable to acting in the manner of a compassionate, caring nation that does not perish from the earth.

We can do this in part with our vote.

For many years, I didn’t vote. I can’t say that my one vote would have made a difference in any particular political race. The fact remains, however, that I didn’t take advantage of the one tool most readily available to me in making my voice heard by my government. For the last twenty years, I continue to live on the edge, but I vote, even when the odds are against the candidate of my choice, even when it feels pointless. Because I am poor, I sometimes feels as if nothing I have to say or can do is of any consequence in this society. For that reason alone, it is imperative that I vote, for when I vote, I choose hope over despair. When I vote, I am active instead of passive. We need to participate in the political process. Politics in and of itself is not a bad thing.

It is the way we order ourselves as a society. We must elect politicians willing to work towards and equitable distribution of resources.

Vote – neither you nor I can change the system alone.

Together we can!

Design... cont. from page 1 relevant articles, and local information to prepare them for the weekend.

The weekend was designed as a learning experience to benefit multiple groups. The charrette provided a space for local citizens to use the skills of artists and design professionals to give voice to their concerns. Local design professionals could gain a deeper understanding of the Over-the-Rhine community. As a workshop for Architecture for Humanity, the Charrette allowed AFH members to come together in one location for the first time. Architecture students from Miami University and the University of Cincinnati will saw an alternative design process in action.

People and institutions participating in the program were: Jimmy Heath, Literacy Through Photography Program, Peaslee Neighborhood Center;

Kurt Gohde and Bruce Burris, Con/Temp Galleries, Lexington, Kentucky; 3D Shadow Creative Studio, Oxford, Ohio; ReSTOC, Over-the-Rhine; Drop Inn Center, Over-the-Rhine; Overthe-Rhine Housing Network, Over-the-Rhine; Rev. Damon Lynch III and Juleana Frierson, City of Hope; Miami University Office of Service Learning & Civic Leadership The weekend program coincided with the “Voices of Freedom Summer Reunion Conference” held at Miami University. Miami University which now incorporates the Western College Campus was where the Freedom Summer participants trained before traveling to the Deep South to pressure the U. S. government to stop the brutality of the KKK and the local police. This year marks the 40th anniversary of Freedom Summer.

An example of many of the projects undertaken that weekend was an examination of the Cincinnati Center City

Cameron Sinclair, excutive director of Architecture for Humanity

Help STREETVIBES Celebrate 100 Issues!

How has STREETVIBES touched your life?

Streetvibes will soon be celebrating its 100th issue and nearly 10 years of publishing in Greater Cincinnati.

Do you have a Vendor story or thoughts on this milestone that we could share with our readers?

Do you have a favorite story from a previous issue?

Please contact us at the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, 117 East 12th Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 or send us an email. www.Streetvibes@juno.com We would love to hear from you!

Rev. Damon Lynch III, of New Prospect Baptist Church Development Corporation (3CDC), Drop Inn Center, and Washington Park. Hardly any version of community development today is theorized outside the ideology of corporatism. And perhaps no better example exists than the machinations currently underway with the Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3-CDC) founded in July 2003. 3-CDC is a private corporate-based development group “created to accelerate development activities in Center City Cincinnati as recommended by the Cincinnati Economic Development Task Force.” The specific goal for Over-theRhine? To “revitalize Over-theRhine as a vibrant, economically and racially diverse mixed use neighborhood.”

As the summer comes to an end, it will be interesting to see if this corporate-driven process can live up to its own words. Current rumblings suggest otherwise. 3-CDC’s first foray into Over-the-Rhine targets Washington Park, home

of Cincinnati’s Music Hall (symphony, the ballet, and opera) as well as the Drop Inn Center (the second largest homeless shelter in the state).

Is there room for a homeless shelter in an “economically and racially diverse mixed use neighborhood”?

3-CDC recently announced its plan for the Washington Park area, a plan that abruptly transforms the results of three significant planning processes, affecting the location of three public schools as well as recommendations of the Overthe-Rhine Comprehensive Plan (June 2002).

Worse, the danger is quite real that the Drop Inn Center may soon be in a war over its land. Ever since the publication of the ULI Report in the fall of 1996 we have known that “social service agencies in the Washington Park should be moved.” This is code for the Drop Inn Center.

The weekend concluded with a public sharing of the designs and plans of the various working groups.

Berta’s Art Corner Pumpkin face in air conditioning window cage, Over-the-Rhine

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The Peace Village I have been wondering about the meaning of the Peace Village during the last few days of “awe.” The vigil at our local mosque and church and the peace walk on the following day were days that, like the Jewish Holy Days, opened my heart and mind to the simple experience of wonder.

I wonder why we have not understood the gentle and humble meanings of peace in the Koran and the Bible and the ways, beautiful and simple ways, it can be expressed with people of faith in peace. I wonder how to make our hearts stop fearing each other or that some of us pray without shoes and with a head covering. So silently we slipped out of our shoes and into the mosque’s quiet colors of beauty. Some of us felt comfortable, almost as it this was itself a lesson in humility and worthy of meaning. Others felt frightened without coverings for our feet, as if we were stepping on some kind of sacred ground that would pierce our feet-hearts with danger. People came into the mosque and sat where their spirits told them. Quite amazing, really. A large circle formed, not a perfect roundness but perfect in other ways, as we stretched out a form of inclusion. No head to the form, only persons strewn in a friendly structure, formed into a group for peaceful discussion.

The light seemed low and

comfortable to some of us, warm grays and black. To others it seemed as too structureless, too stark and without any clear sign of where and how to sit.

Almost without urging we began readings, talking sacred words, translating, rising sounds, falling utterances, and slow statements of how and why peace and remembrance were so deeply tied on a night before and during the awful

Dr. Steve Sunderland

moments of September 11.

Sounds of Arabic were heard, Hebrew, too.

The elders added to our wonder, telling stories that recalled early hopes for peace, deeply held prayers that if had been answered just a little may have prevented the tragedy.

Ministers spoke of old peace friends who had tried to warn of the failure to treat the disease of evil. Rabbi Joseph reminded us of the long reach of human kind and the still preliminary success in moral education. A Catholic teacher kept us connected to where we

were when the first planes crashed into the towers and reminded us that towers fell in every city where eyes blindly watched. We wondered how our spirit of solemnity could have been so weak at that time.

The church waited for us, but, quite amazingly, a wedding rehearsal had taken longer than was planned. The sanctuary was housing a party going through the final steps, preparing for a merry event.

We gathered at the door of the church in good spirits, forming a circle in the darkness, hearing beautiful guitar and banjo music provided by two of our guests.

Spirits were lifted as we made ourselves comfortable and continued with talks and sharing about memories of September 11 and prayers for today and tomorrow.

The inability to gain access to the innards of the church raised good questions about our own impatience with plans, with our own reluctance to see that this whole experience was a part of the wedding, of the partnership with the passion of hope.

Where was our bride and groom?, we wondered and then, quite simply, discovered that each one of us carried the seeds of this union with and for a peace that would be lasting.

Sister Alice became our ring

bearer, carrying the special ring of faith that even we could make a peace that would have influence in our Cincinnati family. She spoke with her traditional lightness and humor on this warm night of rehearsing for peacetime, for what others might have called “Jubilee.” Her eyes reflected that special light of awe, of finding just the right words to bless this event. She spoke for many in shadows, long dark places that were filled with strange and difficult memories, perhaps the look of Ground Zero the first nights after the buildings fell. But Sister Alice is a cheerleader for justice and peace, and called up her special words of joyous hope.

By midnight we had reached a time for pausing.

The wedding party we had become had space and time for a few poems of Mike Murphy, given in his youthful and splendid voice. But we had run out of energy but not out of hope. Our vigil had been transformed into a night of devotion, an expression of the awe of love realized.

Dr. Steve Sunderland, professor of Social Work at the University of Cincinnati, is the Director of The Peace Village, a group of individuals from the national and international community committed to examining all issues of Peace in the world. Dr. Sunderland also heads up Posters-forPeace which engages people in expressing their visions of Peace, in their own words, through the creation of posters.

There is no trust more sacred than the one the world holds with children.

There is no duty more important than ensuring that their rights are respected, that their welfare is protected, that their lives are free from fear and want and that they grow up in peace.

Kofi A. Annan, SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations Peace is the work of justice indirectly, in so far as justice removes the obstacles to peace; but it is the work of charity (love) directly, since charity, according to its very notion, causes peace.

Thomas Aquinas

Page 10

Streetvibes

Grace Notes

by Colleen Johncox Grace Place, as ever, is a diverse community of varying ages, sexes, ideologies, and socioeconomic circumstances.

The roof is covering everyone from the unborn to grown-ups, and the Workers and Guests continue to evolve individually just as the house gracefully changes as a unit.

Although we may not realize it every moment of our time here, it is necessary to sit back and meditate on the fact that we are really engaged in a miraculous rendering. Grace Place is somehow in a divine plan for all the residents, Guests and Workers alike. And by extension, our community is situated in a divine plan for you, the Benefactors, Volunteers, and just plain Friends of this community.

Not connected by blood or familial ties, we are all called to encounter each other, not only when it is convenient or when it is practical, but also when it is simply necessary. Love is not always practical, and, though try as we might, either are we sometimes. Thank you for the continuation of your labor, compassion, and prayers for this, our Grace Place Catholic Worker Community. As you will see in the

following, we have been busy.

You may recall that in our summer issue of Grace Notes we reported on a new Cuban family coming to the house as our Guests. Since then, two new Workers and seven new Guests have come on board. Sadly, we also had to say goodbye (for now) in August to our beloved Worker Kim, as she has moved on to work for the causes of orphans. Thankfully, Mary Ellen has decided to stay on at Grace Place longer than originally planned and is thus working diligently as house educational advocate and expert translator of Spanish. Additionally, we have a new Worker, Matt, a Kentuckian who will be living next door and attempting to temper his insatiable appetite for projects, as well as reconciling himself to living in the state of Ohio.

I got here from Washington, DC in July to join the community as a Worker.

Studying towards a master’s degree at Xavier University, I am enjoying getting to know the Cincinnati area and its quirks (aka goetta).

Rosa and Jose Luis, our newest couple from Cuba, have a gift for artfully designed foods.

Both of them, are taking English classes during the day. Energetic and good-spirited, they

Grace Place Catholic Worker Community celebrated their first wedding anniversary with us in their first weeks here.

Charlotte is our resident mother extraordinaire. We appreciate her presence here, as well as her undeniable faith. She is a master at pureeing tomatoes.

Sydney and her family just arrived. The three girls are undeniably cute and inquisitive and it will be an adventure getting to know each of them better.

Erwincito and Eli started school and now have plenty of homework for practicing their emerging English skills. Erwin has been doing construction work during the day, and Maribel has been taking classes in the mornings, as well as cooking amazing Cuban food. Last but not least, Joyce has been keeping herself busy since getting back from her adventures Down Under with both the daily and not-so-

daily goings-ons of the house, and doing it all with a touch of grace.

GRATEFUL THANKS...Grace Place could not function without our house assistants, meal angels, bread volunteers, and donors of clothing, food, skills, household furnishings, advice and financial support. May God bless you abundantly. Grace Place Catholic Worker Community 6037 Cary Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45224-2461• Phone: 513/ 681-2365 • Fax: 513/542-5778 • E-mail: graceplacecw@fuse.net

We have all known the long loneliness and we have learned that the only solution is love and that love comes with community...

Dorothy Day

Buy Streetvibes From Badged Vendors Only!

Streetvibes Vendors are required to sign a code of conduct and agree to abide by all the rules of the Streetvibes Vendor Program. If a Vendor misrepresents or breaks the rules, she/he may be removed from the Program.

To report a Vendor, call 421-7803. ext. 16

Know Your Rights Brochure Available!

The Know Your Rights Brochure is now available at the Coalition’s office. The brochure is a legal guide for Cincinnati’s homeless and covers a person’s basic rights when interacting with the police, as well as some local laws that might be of interest to the homeless population. If you are a homeless person or if you work with homeless people and would like to obtain free copies of the brochure for yourself or your agency, please call 4217803, or stop by the Coalition office and pick one up.

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Streetvibes Vendor Code of Conduct About the Greater Cincinnati All Vendors Sign and Agree to a Code of Conduct Coalition for the Homeless and Report Any Violations to GCCH - 421-7803 Streetvibes....

This program has helped 1. Streetvibes will be distributed honest in stating that all profits go for a $1 voluntary donation. If a customer donates more than $1 for a paper, vendors are allowed to keep that donation. However, vendors must never ask for more than $1 when selling Streetvibes.

2. Each paper purchased from the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) costs 30 cents. Papers will not be given out on credit. Old papers cannot be traded in for new papers.

3. Streetvibes may only be purchased from GCCH. Never buy papers from, or sell papers to other vendors.

4. Vendors must not panhandle or sell other items at the same time they are selling Streetvibes.

5. Vendors must treat all other vendors, customers, and GCCH personnel with respect.

6. Vendors must not sell Streetvibes while under the influence.

7. Vendors must not give a “hard sell” or intimidate anyone into purchasing Streetvibes. This includes following customers or continuing to solicit sales after customers have said no.

8. Vendors must never sell doorto-door or on private property, unless given permission from the owner of that property.

9. Vendors must not deceive customers while selling Streetvibes. Vendors must be

to the individual vendor. Vendors must not tell customers that the money they receive will go to GCCH or any other organization or charity. Also, vendors must not say that they are collecting for “the homeless” in general.

10. Vendors must not sell papers without their badge. Vendors must present their badge when purchasing papers from GCCH. Lost badges cost $2.00 to replace.

Broken or worn badges will be replaced for free, but only if the old badge is returned to GCCH. 11. Streetvibes vendor meetings are held on the first weekday of the month at 1pm. The month’s paper will be released at this meeting. If a vendor cannot attend the meeting, he or she should let us know in advance. If a vendor does not call in advance and does not show up, that vendor will not be allowed to purchase papers on the day of the meeting or the following day. Five free papers will be given to those who do attend.

12. Failure to comply with these Rules and Regulations may result in termination from the Streetvibes vendor program.

GCCH reserves the right to terminate any vendor at any time as deemed appropriate. Badges and Streetvibes papers are property of GCCH, and must be surrendered upon demand.

The mission of the North American Street Newspaper Association (NASNA) is to support a street newspaper movement that creates and upholds journalistic and ethical standards while promoting self-help and empowerment among people living in poverty. NASNA papers support homeless and very low-income people in more than 35 cities across the United States and Canada.

Streetvibes Vendor: 70 cents

Printing and Production: 30 cents

Page 12

The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) was formed in May of 1984 for one purpose: the eradication of homelessness in Cincinnati. What started out as a coalition of 15 volunteers meeting weekly in an unheated church basement has since grown into a Coalition of over 45 agencies and hundreds of volunteers dedicated to improving services for homeless individuals, educating the public about homelessness and empowering homeless individuals to advocate for their civil rights and housing needs.

Streetvibes is a tool of GCCH used to help us achieve our goal of ending homelessness. On the one hand it is a self-sufficiency program geared towards the homeless and marginally housed individuals who are our vendors. Streetvibes vendors buy the paper for 30 cents per copy and sell it for a suggested one-dollar donation, keeping the profit that they have earned.

hundreds of people find and maintain housing. The vendors also sign a code of conduct stating that they will behave responsibly and professionally and they proudly display their official Streetvibes badge while selling the paper. Our vendors put a face on “the homeless” of Cincinnati and form lasting friendships with their customers.

On the other hand, Streetvibes is an award-winning alternative newspaper and part of the international street newspaper movement.

Focusing on homelessness and social justice issues, Streetvibes reports the often-invisible story of poverty in our community.

Streetvibes is also proud to include creative writing, poetry, articles, photography and interviews written by homeless and formerly homeless individuals. Streetvibes enjoys a loyal reader base that respects the honest portrayal of the joys, sorrows, and challenges facing the people of Cincinnati.

Streetvibes is a member of the:

The International Network of Street Papers (INSP) unites street papers sold by homeless and people living in poverty from all over the world. INSP is an umbrella organization, which provides a consultancy service for its partner papers and advises on the setting up of new street papers and support initiatives for marginalised people.

Where Your Dollar Goes...

The Streetvibes program maintains a minimal overhead cost so that our vendors can keep as much of the proceeds as possible.

Please call our office at 421-7803 for more information about the program. Many thanks for your support.

Streetvibes

Help STREETVIBES Celebrate 100 Issues!

How has STREETVIBES touched your life? Streetvibes will soon be celebrating its 100th issue and nearly 10 years of publishing in Greater Cincinnati. Do you have a Vendor story or thoughts on this milestone that we could share with our readers? Do you have a favorite story from a previous issue?

Please contact us at the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, 117 East 12th Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 - or send us an email.

We would love to hear from you!

if the election is decided Put Away Your Hankies... says on “9/11” (the fear of

by Michael Moore Enough of the handwringing! Enough of the doomsaying! Do I have to come there and personally calm you down? Stop with all the defeatism, OK? Bush IS a goner - IF we all just quit our whining and bellyaching and stop shaking like a bunch of nervous ninnies. Geez, this is embarrassing! The Republicans are laughing at us. Do you ever see them cry, “Oh, it’s all over!

We are finished! Bush can’t win! Waaaaaa!”

Hell no. It’s never over for them until the last ballot is shredded. They are never finished - they just keeping moving forward like sharks that never sleep, always pushing, pulling, kicking, blocking, lying.

They are relentless and that is why we secretly admire them - they just simply never, ever give up. Only 30% of the country calls itself “Republican,” yet the Republicans own it all - the White House, both houses of Congress, the Supreme Court and the majority of the governorships. How do you think they’ve been able to pull that off considering they are a minority? It’s because they eat you and me and every other liberal for breakfast and then spend the rest of the day wreaking havoc on the planet.

Look at us - what a bunch of crybabies. Bush gets a bounce after his convention and you would have thought the Germans had run through Poland again. The Bushies are coming, the Bushies are coming! Yes, they caught Kerry asleep on the Swift Boat thing.

Yes, they found the frequency in Dan Rather and ran with it.

Suddenly it’s like, “THE END IS NEAR! THE SKY IS FALLING!” No, it is not. If I hear one more person tell me how lousy a candidate Kerry is and how he can’t win... Dammit, of COURSE he’s a lousy candidate - he’s a Democrat, for heavens sake! That party is so pathetic, they even lose the elections they win! What were you expecting, Bruce Springsteen heading up the ticket? Bruce would make a helluva president, but guys like him don’t run and neither do you or I. People like Kerry run.

Yes, OF COURSE any of us would have run a better, smarter, kick-ass campaign. Of course we would have smacked

each and every one of those phony swifty boaty bastards down. But WE are not running for president - Kerry is. So quit complaining and work with what we have. Oprah just gave 300 women a... Pontiac! Did you see any of them frowning and moaning and screaming, “Oh God, NOT a friggin’ Pontiac!” Of course not, they were happy. The Pontiacs all had four wheels, an engine and a gas pedal. You want more than that, well, I can’t help you.

I had a Pontiac once and it lasted a good year.

And it was a VERY good year.

My friends, it is time for a reality check.

1.

The polls are wrong.

They are all over the map like diarrhea.

On Friday, one poll had Bush 13 points ahead - and another poll had them both tied. There are three reasons why the polls are b.s.: One, they are polling “likely voters.” “Likely” means those who have consistently voted in the past few elections.

So that cuts out young people who are voting for the first time and a ton of non-voters who are definitely going to vote in THIS election. Second, they are not polling people who use their cell phone as their primary phone. Again, that means they are not talking to young people.

Finally, most of the polls are weighted with too many Republicans, as pollster John Zogby revealed last week. You are being snookered if you believe any of these polls.

2. Kerry has brought in the Clinton A-team. Instead of shunning Clinton (as Gore did), Kerry has decided to not make that mistake.

3. Traveling around the country, as I’ve been doing, I gotta tell ya, there is a hell of a lot of unrest out there. Much of it is not being captured by the mainstream press. But it is simmering and it is real. Do not let those well-produced Bush rallies of angry white people scare you. Turn off the TV! (Except Jon Stewart and Bill Moyers - everything else is just a sugar-coated lie).

4. Conventional wisdom

terrorism), Bush wins. But if it is decided on the job we are doing in Iraq, then Bush loses.

And folks, that “job,” you might have noticed, has descended into the third level of a hell we used to call Vietnam.

There is no way out. It is a full-blown mess of a quagmire and the body bags will sadly only mount higher. Regardless of what Kerry meant by his original war vote, he ain’t the one who sent those kids to their deaths - and Mr. and Mrs. Middle America knows it.

Had Bush bothered to show up when he was in the “service” he might have somewhat of a clue as to how to recognize an immoral war that cannot be “won.” All he has delivered to Iraq was that plasticized turkey last Thanksgiving. It is this failure of monumental proportions that is going to cook his goose come this November.

So, do not despair. All is not over. Far from it. The Bush people need you to believe that it is over. They need you to slump back into your easy chair and feel that sick pain in your gut as you contemplate another four years

Streetvibes

of George W. Bush. They need you to wish we had a candidate who didn’t windsurf and who was just as smart as we were when WE knew Bush was lying about WMD and Saddam planning 9/11. It’s like Karl Rove is hypnotizing you “Kerry voted for the war...Kerry voted for the war...Kerrrrrryyy vooootted fooooor theeee warrrrrrrrrr...”

Yes...Yes...Yesssss....He did! HE DID! No sense in fighting now...what I need is sleep...sleeep...sleeeeeeppppp...

WAKE UP! The majority are with us! More than half of all Americans are pro-choice, want stronger environmental laws, are appalled that assault weapons are back on the street - and 54% now believe the war is wrong. YOU DON’T EVEN HAVE TO CONVINCE THEM OF ANY OF THIS - YOU JUST HAVE TO GIVE THEM A RAY OF HOPE AND A RIDE TO THE POLLS. CAN YOU DO THAT? WILL YOU DO THAT? Just for me, please?

Buck up. The country is almost back in our hands. Not another negative word until Nov. 3rd!

Then you can bitch all you want about how you wish Kerry was still that long-haired kid who once had the courage to stand up for something. Personally, I think that kid is still inside him.

Instead of the wailing and gnashing of your teeth, why not hold out a hand to him and help the inner soldier/protester come out and defeat the forces of evil we now so desperately face.

Do we have any other choice?

Page 13

The Day Is Coming

by Mike Henson The day is coming.

Put on your hat.

The blastula earth swells; It crackles with nerve.

A light flickers through the east.

Strange molecules rattle in the air like gravel.

The goat sniffs once and trots to the edge of the meadow.

Something new is birthing.

The day is coming.

What are you doing?

Put on your nativity.

Luv the hardway

by Anthony Watkins Gril don’t u know my sprit is lehale and my pen a raw fuss. So babe don’t cross me and I won’t cross u. Gril stressin too clean up my name before I defame our legancy so chew on the depth of my soul. Luv the hardway Take notice of the veiw the camera in your eyes.me and u. So I beg too be your flick too kiss those honsty lips. Everyday I’am bless by your life godess water esscene. Are children the growth of laughter wrap in priceless peals of stone. I’M Sick of confussion lyrics in conbat with fists and tugs. Luv the hardway I moun for peace too exsit I got too pay more attention when u express your veiws why question pain when we both live by sin soak and wet between the sheets with every horry we meet.

The day is coming.

Put on your jacket.

A child walks into the desert with his death in his arms.

Smoke drifts across the valley floor.

A woman flings dust by the handful into the barren air.

The raven watches from his post.

He calls, three times, five times, seven.

Some new thing suffers.

God Is On Vacation The day is coming.

by Linda Corey What are you dreaming?

The angels are watching over us Put on your poverty. while God is gone and protecting us. We have the The day is coming. bible to read and we can go to Put on your shoes. church and worship together in We walk toward the distant mountains.

God’s house. We hope and Monks chant away the dark hours. pray that he is not gone too A woman builds a song, stone by stone. long, and keep Him in our Even the mole has found a voice. hearts until he gets back.

(Put your ear to the mouth of his tunnel; Practice the spiritual principles; you will hear him grumble.)

Hope, Surrender, Faith, Some new story tells itself.

Tolerance, Patience, Humility, The day is coming.

Unconditional Love, Sharing, What are you speaking?

Caring, Willingness, Honesty, Put on your wisdom.

Open-mindedness, Acceptance.

And accept the fact we are The day is coming. powerless and hope he gets Put on your red shirt. back real soon. God has The spears of night rattle in the alley. unconditional Love for us.

Listen, a sound of grinding steel.

Listen, a sound of dying leaves.

A man takes his place against a wall.

A woman takes her place in a field of refugees.

Some new cross takes its nails.

The day is coming.

What are you dying?

Put on your resurrection.

Shutter Speed

Love

by Linda Corey Love is patient, Love is kind, Love does not envy, it does not boast, it is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs, love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth, always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves, Love never fails, Faith, Hope and Love, But the greatest of these is love.

Street performers, Havana Cuba Page 14

Streetvibes

The Ocean

by Linda Corey I am sitting on a lawn chair on the beach and I can see the waves. The waves are choppy and the tide is coming in. You can smell the salty air.

I can see the seagulls flying around, speaking to each other.

I can hear the waves crash as they come in on the shore.

I’m sitting on my lawn chair without my shoes. The sand feels so good on my bare feet.

As I walk down the beach I can see the shrimp boats out getting their best catch of the day. They then come in and clean the shrimp and get them ready to deliver them to all the nearby restaurants.

by Jimmy Heath

FRAC News (FOOD ACTION AND RESEARCH CENTER) Food Stamp Participation Tops 24 Million Persons in June (“Food Stamp Participation Increases in June 2004; Tops 24 Million Persons,” Food Research and Action Center, September, 2004) Participation in the Food Stamp Program in June 2004 (the latest data available) increased by 187,901 persons from the previous month, to 24,163,504 persons. The June 2004 level of Food Stamp Program participation represented a rise of nearly 2.4 million persons compared to the June 2003 level and more than 7 million persons since July 2000 (when program participation nationally reached its lowest point in the last decade).

Food Stamp Program Exanding, But Many Not Reached (“Explaining Changes in Food Stamp Program Participation Rates,” U.S. Department of Agriculture, September 2004) The Food Stamp Program served about 54 percent of those eligible to receive benefits in FY 2002, reflecting a combination of increased participation, expanded eligibility standards designed to help working poor families, and improved techniques that yield more accurate estimates, according to a new report from USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service Office of Analysis, Nutrition and Evaluation. New rules replacing outdated limits on the value of vehicles food stamp households could own added about 2.7 million low-income individuals to the eligibility pool in 2002. Technical improvements in estimating the number of people eligible, including that meet the program’s asset test, added another 2.3 million to the number of eligibles. Looking ahead, USDA expects the Food Stamp Program to serve an average of about 23.7 million people in 2004.

Voters Want Better-Paying Jobs (“Labor Day Outlook: Low-Wage Workers Want Better Jobs Not More Jobs,” Corporate Voices for Working Families, September 3, 2004) There is widespread concern over the worsening problem of low-wage work, according to a new research report entitled “Struggling to Make Ends

Need Help or Want to Help?

If you need help or would like to help please call one of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless members listed below.

SHELTERS: Women and Children YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 (Toll Free) 1-888-872-9259 Bethany House 557-2873 Salvation Army 762-5660 Welcome Hse. 859-431-8717 Women’s Crisis Center 859-4913335 SHELTER: Men City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Garden St. House 241-0490 Joseph House (Veterans) 241-2965 St. Francis/St.Joseph House 381-4941 Mt. Airy Center 661-4620 Volunteers of Amer. 381-1954

Formed in 1984, The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a membership organization. Our member groups serve the homeless through emergency shelter, transitional living facilities, permanent housing, medical services, social services, soup kitchens, and mental health/addiction services.

The Coalition also consists of individual citizens who want to take an active role in ensuring that Cincinnati is an inclusive community, meeting the needs of all of its citizens. Join the fight to end homelessness; contact the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless at (513) 421-7803, 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Meet: Low-Wage Work in America” by Corporate Voices for Working Families. There is an overall belief that the best antidote for a low-wage job is a good job. Seventy-one percent feels that improving conditions for low-wage workers and their families will also benefit the rest of society. The Labor Department expects the economy to create more than 7.5 million new jobs between 2002 and 2012. However, almost 6 million of those new jobs will be low-wage jobs (those jobs that require limited education and provide minimal training).

School Lunch Costlier This Year (“School lunch prices increase,” Newark Star Ledger, September 7, 2004) The rising cost of milk, fuel, fruit and labor has forced a nationwide spike in school lunch costs, with one school district in

SHELTER: Both Anthony House (Youth) 357-4602 Caracole (AIDS) 761-1480 Friars Club 381-5432 Drop Inn Center 721-0643 Haven House 863-8866 Interfaith Hospitality 471-1100 Lighthouse Youth Center (Teens) 961-4080 St. John’s Housing 651-6446 HOUSING: CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 Miami Purchase 241-0504 OTR Housing Net. 369-0004 ReSTOC 381-1171 Tender Mercies 721-8666 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Dana Transitional Bridge Services, Inc 751-9797 TREATMENT: Women First Step Home 961-4663 Full Circle Program 721-0643 TREATMENT: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Prospect House 921-1613 Starting Over 961-2256 TREATMENT: Both N.A. Hopeline 820-2947 A.A. Hotline 351-0422 C.C.A.T. 381-6672 Talbert House 684-7956 Transitions, Inc 859-491-4435 VA Domiciliary 859-559-5011 DIC Live-In Program 721-0643 OTHER SERVICES: AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati 421-2437 Appalachian Identity Center 621-5991 Beech Acres 231-6630 Center for Independent Living Options 241-2600 Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 Cincinnati Health Network 961-0600 Community Action Agency 569-1840

California raising cafeteria prices a full dollar. The average cost of a high school lunch in America is $1.66.

Middle school lunches average $1.61 and elementary school lunches are $1.43. Higher costs mean schools have a harder time meeting mandates to curb obesity because healthier foods, such as low-fat cheese for pizza, cost more.

Being Poor Makes Healthy Eating Hard (“Can you eat well on food stamps?,” San Antonio Current, September 9, 2004) Being poor often means eating poorly, not only because healthy food is expensive, but also because unhealthy food is cheap. “When you have only $300 in food stamps for the month, and you’re confronted with spending 79 cents for a loaf of white bread or $1.09 for a loaf of whole wheat, you’re inclined to buy mushy paste,”

Streetvibes

Contact Center 381-4242 Emanuel Center 241-2563 Freestore/ Foodbank 241-1064 Fransiscan Haircuts 651-6468 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 Hamilton Co. Mental Health Board 946-8600 Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 Hamilton Co. TB Control 632-7186 Health Rsrc. Center 357-4602 Homeless Mobile Health Van 352-2902 House of Refuge Mission 221-5491 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Madisonville Ed. & Assis. Center 271-5501 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 Project Connect Homeless Kids 363-1060 St. Vincent De Paul 562-8841 The Emergency Food Center 471-4357 Travelers Aid 721-7660 United Way 721-7900 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Women Helping Women 872-9259 MIDDLETOWN/HAMILTON (Butler County) St. Raphaels (Food Bank/Soup Kitchen) 863-3184 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 New Life Baptist Mission (Soup Kitchen) 896-9800 Hope House (Homeless Families/Singles) 423-4673

writes Lisa Sorg, the author.

The article includes a comparison of two shopping lists. “Regardless of income, people deserve to eat healthily, which doesn’t mean extravagantly. A diet low in preservatives, salt, sugar, and pesticides shouldn’t be reserved solely for the middle-class and the wealthy,” concludes Sorg.

To subscribe to the weekly FRAC News Digest go to: http://capwiz.com/frac/mlm/ For questions, comments, and news tips, please contact: Helen Yuen Food Research and Action Center 1875 Connecticut Avenue, NW Suite 540 Washington, DC 20009 (202) 986-2200 x3019 Email: hyuen@frac.org

Page 15

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