The Baltimore Area Faces of Homelessness Speakers Bureau is proud to announce:

Everyone has a story.
Everyone deserves a home.

The Danger of a Single Story: A Night of Monologues
On Thursday, July 12, 2012 from 6-8 pm the Cork Gallery will host a set of performances by people who have experienced homelessness aimed at sharing a piece of that individual's story through poetry, spoken word and heartfelt anecdotes.
Media and popular culture often depict people experiencing homelessness as one face, with one story, when they acknowledge this community at all. The truth is that people experiencing homelessness are not such a diminutive part of society; these experiences are growing and so is the diversity of people who have these encounters.

The title of this event: “Danger of a Single Story,” is borrowed from a talk by novelist Chimamanda Adichie, presented on TEDTalks. Adichie states, “The single story creates stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story.” The “Faces of Homelessness” Speakers’ Bureau is asking for a suggested donation of $10 per person to provide an honorarium for the presenters, and to raise funds for Speakers’ Bureau activities and local affiliated organizations: Beans & Bread Center, Project PLASE and Health Care for the Homeless.

The event will be held at the Cork Gallery, located at 302 East Federal Street in the Greenmount West Community. Tickets will be sold at the door or online through WePay. You can reserve your ticket here.

We want to thank you for your support, and we look forward to seeing you at the event!

Questions can be directed to the comment section or to Jesse McDermeit.

THE HOMELESS VET

You see me but you will never take the time to know me.

You view me as a problem.

I assure you I'm not.

I'm just a homeless vet that this nation's forgot.

I marched into gunfire for our freedom.

I did three tours to come back to a country that doesn't recognize me anymore.

I'd give my left arm if was still there for some MREs and to be out of this wheelchair.

Soup kitchen food ain’t doing it for me.

What's happened to my liberty?

People used to stop and salute me.

Now they just stare at my unshaven face and second hand clothes.

My future as a soldier was certain.

Kill or be killed.

I watched my friends get blown to bits before my eyes.

How is this justified?

Uncle Sam was all I knew.

I gave it all I had for the red, white and blue.

How can I possibly relate to you?

Even now I fight, but it's a different kind of war.

I fight so men like me aren't looked down upon so much anymore.

As long as I can speak or write with my one good arm, I have a voice.

I've made my choice.

As long as I have my mind, I'll keep fighting for the rights of my compatriots until I die.

By: Bonnie Lane

The Maryland chapter of BBYO, a Jewish youth and teen community, held a conference of 650 teens from different states in the area this weekend and invited the “Faces of Homelessness” Speakers’ Bureau to present two sessions.  The Speakers’ Bureau presented to about 120-150 youth and received an overwhelmingly positive response.  Issues touched upon include the causes of homelessness, the large number of veterans experiencing homelessness, substance abuse, health care, and LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness.

Congratulations to Rita Williams from Project PLASE & James Crawford Jr. from B’More Housing for All & Healthcare for the Homeless, on a great presentation!

(Photos to follow)

On Friday, March 23^rd, St. Francis of Assisi School& the Better World Club held a coffeehouse to raise awareness of social issues in Baltimoreand around the world.  The program included information from service providers from the community, musical entertainment from local performers, and Damien presenting for the “Faces of Homelessness” Speakers’ Bureau.  The event had great turnout and Damien received a very positive response from the audience.  Great job Damien! Stay tuned to our Facebook and Twitter pages to hear about upcoming public events like this one!

This is the story of the one of the speakers, Patricia, who received services from a local nonprofit, St. Vincent de Paul, Beans & Bread Center.  Patricia shares some of her story and talks about her struggles and the services she receives.  Patricia also mentions speaking for the “Faces of Homelessness” Speakers Bureau and other advocacy work she would like to do in the future.  Check out Patricia’s story!

Big "Thanks!" to the students of the University of Rochester and their Newman Center for hosting two speakers on Friday, March 16. The group was in Baltimore for an Alternative Spring Break working in local schools and food pantries while learning about life in Baltimore City.
Mark and Garry shared their experiences with homelessness and battling poverty growing up to confronting the same issues in adulthood while raising a family.
"What can university students do?" was one of the big questions. What our speakers decided was to volunteer, get to know people that are different from yourself. Share your ideas and talk about issues in our society! People become marginalized because they become ignored. Ignoring problems does not make them go away. This group has already taken such large strides toward change simply by spending their spring break in Baltimore working to create change.
Thank you for your service, and thank you for your wonderful questions! We hope you had a wonderful time in Baltimore! Come back and visit!