Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Long story--Short
She is ecstatic! Homeless 20 years, she's a heartbeat away from shelter. You may wonder why it took 20 years for one to receive shelter. Long story-short, you got to want it. When she came into the office today, her arms outstretched for a hug, she said, "Mama, I'm moving in Monday!" I could hardly believe my ears. Oh, I know that she had began to work with a behavioral health specialist; but I know that crack has a way of canceling out the best plans. Yet, she was sticking to the plan--making appointments and keeping them....As she turned to leave, she said, "Mama, I'm so happy. See how clean my clothes are. I'll be able to wash!" I told her she looked lovely and I was so proud of her determination and then she said, "so and so and so and so (street guys) tried to get me to come with them to get high. I told them,'I'm not trading 20 minutes for a lifetime. I'm going back to the porch. I'll be in my sleeping bag by 7PM. I'll see you tomorrow." Before she went into the cold drizzle, we held hands and prayed that she would be strengthened to withstand the temptation. Long story-short, Wednesday to Monday is forever on the street but here's hoping.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
I'M BACK!
I've been away from the blog for months; but I've not been away from 31st Street for more than a weekend. Did I tell you that I love being on 31st Street. It is dynamic--moving, changing constantly. As sure as autumn follows summer, 31st Street, at least some segments, are changing from a blighted, trash strewn, drug infested place to what I foresee as a well-watered garden. Oh, there is only so much one can do with buildings that are old and long neglected; but fixing up is happening too. Most impressively, the change is happening slowly in the hearts and attitudes of the people. The seeds of change are taking root s l o w l y. I don't know if you remember my telling you about the shell of a building that used to be the Walt Disney studio on 31st Street, but something magical happened this summer. The open windows were boarded up and some group painted the boards bright white and painted cartoon characters on the boards. Believe me, that group gave dignity to that old building where Walt entertained a little mouse and the seed for ever popular Mickey Mouse was planted.
Shane Evans, our good neighbor at Dream Studio, and one whom I call my son, planted a dream on 31st Street about 3-4 years ago. Maybe, one day it will be as great as Disney. Many weekends, Shane host talented musicans and poets at his studio for audiences ranging from parents with children to seniors--good, clean entertainment. How's that for a street one might have been reluctant to walk after dark a few years ago. He's a special young man!
Speaking of walking, I met a very young woman 6 years ago on 31st. She was walking several feet in front of a young man. I stopped the man to tell him I was new in the neighborhood and extended an invitation to church. He listened and called for the woman to join him. She came back but was visably displeased. Later she told me, "I had a mouth full of crack and he wanted me to meet some preacher; I couldn't even talk." She lived on the street, sometimes slept on the Holy Family House porch and walked that customary path around the blocks of 31st and Linwood and I kept talking and planting seed until she came into the Emancipation Station and a changed life. She, intelligent, entrepenurial, now at home and reconciled to family, is volunteering 5 days a week. Those seeds have taken root.
Oh, that well-watered garden is a dream and sometimes seems as improbable as seeing the Disney Studio renovated and hosting tourist from far away places; but when I see Dream Studio rise from the dust of a vacant, unattractive place to host beautiful people and hear a once crack filled mouth espouse dreams of what the future will look like, I know change is coming to 31st Street as sure as autumn follows summer in beautiful Kansas City, Missouri.
Shane Evans, our good neighbor at Dream Studio, and one whom I call my son, planted a dream on 31st Street about 3-4 years ago. Maybe, one day it will be as great as Disney. Many weekends, Shane host talented musicans and poets at his studio for audiences ranging from parents with children to seniors--good, clean entertainment. How's that for a street one might have been reluctant to walk after dark a few years ago. He's a special young man!
Speaking of walking, I met a very young woman 6 years ago on 31st. She was walking several feet in front of a young man. I stopped the man to tell him I was new in the neighborhood and extended an invitation to church. He listened and called for the woman to join him. She came back but was visably displeased. Later she told me, "I had a mouth full of crack and he wanted me to meet some preacher; I couldn't even talk." She lived on the street, sometimes slept on the Holy Family House porch and walked that customary path around the blocks of 31st and Linwood and I kept talking and planting seed until she came into the Emancipation Station and a changed life. She, intelligent, entrepenurial, now at home and reconciled to family, is volunteering 5 days a week. Those seeds have taken root.
Oh, that well-watered garden is a dream and sometimes seems as improbable as seeing the Disney Studio renovated and hosting tourist from far away places; but when I see Dream Studio rise from the dust of a vacant, unattractive place to host beautiful people and hear a once crack filled mouth espouse dreams of what the future will look like, I know change is coming to 31st Street as sure as autumn follows summer in beautiful Kansas City, Missouri.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
People Need People
Monday, she stood, big smile, full of excitement, keys dangling from slim black fingers, interrupting conversations with a gleeful, "I got it, I got my apartment!" A week or so ago, she was discouraged. She'd been walking around, worrying about how she would pay the almost $600 electric bill. When she came into the Emancipation Station as down as down could be and expressed her concern--concern about giving up--concern about going back to....whatever, she found that a "Good Samaritan" had left a check.
Tuesday, Lisa and her girls stopped by. It was too busy! Seventeen people gathered for the class--chopping, dicing, boiling among the bags of food waiting to be taken home. In the midst of organized chaos, Lisa and her girls, much taller now, a small island of tranquility chatting about delivering meals to seniors and even more importantly, being a familiar face and smile and providing a little conversation--a personal touch.
Wednesday, he came to the door-- cold. "Do we have a coat? And some pants so I can look for a job? I just got out of jail." I exclaim, "This is not the men's clothing day! Oh well, come on in anyway." "I found pants and some shirts is it okay?" Yeah! God bless!
She's in her apartment sleeping on the floor. Already, she's invited another homeless women to sleep on her floor too--away from the cold and uncertainty until she can find another shelter. Almost at the dollar store she says, "You have a kind heart. When I didn't have no place to sleep this lady took me in and fed me. After I had eaten I asked her name and she mine. The next day,I told her where I was going and she said, 'I know that lady. She picked me up from the bus stop when I had so much stuff and took me to my burned apartment, helped me gather what I could and moved me to my new place.' " I think that quotation mark is in the wrong place but that's not the point. The point is people need people. We are connected in ways we can't imagine. I had forgotten that women, never to remember her face, the corner, the scorched apartment nor the fatigue of loading all that stuff in my car but she had not forgotten me. Yeah, we need each other.
Tuesday, Lisa and her girls stopped by. It was too busy! Seventeen people gathered for the class--chopping, dicing, boiling among the bags of food waiting to be taken home. In the midst of organized chaos, Lisa and her girls, much taller now, a small island of tranquility chatting about delivering meals to seniors and even more importantly, being a familiar face and smile and providing a little conversation--a personal touch.
Wednesday, he came to the door-- cold. "Do we have a coat? And some pants so I can look for a job? I just got out of jail." I exclaim, "This is not the men's clothing day! Oh well, come on in anyway." "I found pants and some shirts is it okay?" Yeah! God bless!
She's in her apartment sleeping on the floor. Already, she's invited another homeless women to sleep on her floor too--away from the cold and uncertainty until she can find another shelter. Almost at the dollar store she says, "You have a kind heart. When I didn't have no place to sleep this lady took me in and fed me. After I had eaten I asked her name and she mine. The next day,I told her where I was going and she said, 'I know that lady. She picked me up from the bus stop when I had so much stuff and took me to my burned apartment, helped me gather what I could and moved me to my new place.' " I think that quotation mark is in the wrong place but that's not the point. The point is people need people. We are connected in ways we can't imagine. I had forgotten that women, never to remember her face, the corner, the scorched apartment nor the fatigue of loading all that stuff in my car but she had not forgotten me. Yeah, we need each other.
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