Faces of Homelessness Speakers'
Bureau
Since 1999, the DC-based Speakers’ Bureau has given over 3,300 presentations to a combined total of over 180,000 audience members. Speakers' Bureaus nationwide under the umbrella of NCH's AmeriCorps Project have also given thousands of presentations across the country.
Have you attended a presentation? If so, please let us know what you thought by taking this quick survey. Don't forget to Like NCH on Facebook !
If you are interested in bringing the Faces of Homelessness Panel to your school or group, please do the following:
1. Fill out an event form and be sure to include the date and time of the event.
2. Once NCH receives your event form, a staff member will follow up with you to confirm that NCH is available at the date and time you have requested.
3. Thanks for your interest in bringing a panel to your group.
The Faces of Homelessness Speakers Bureau is a program
of the National Coalition for the Homeless that is comprised of people
who are or have been homeless and works to educate the public about homelessness
and what can be done to end it. This approach is a unique and necessary
tool because it establishes a significant platform for those whom homelessness
affects directly to talk personally about their experiences. Additionally,
the Speakers' Bureau creates opportunities for members to advocate for
themselves and others, as well as build the necessary bridges with the
rest of society so that we may work cooperatively to end this disgrace
called homelessness.
Ending
homelessness must begin with the understanding that people who are or
have been homeless are our neighbors and members of our community. Public
perceptions and attitudes toward persons experiencing homelessness or
in danger of becoming homeless need to change in order for positive, long-term
solutions to be realized. Most Americans rarely interact with people who
are or who have been homeless. The lack of interaction between different
groups of our society, combined with impersonal or inaccurate descriptions
of homelessness posed by the media and public officials, contributes to
a distancing of those who have housing from those who do not. As a result,
homelessness is perceived as an abstract social problem. Those who experience
homelessness are seen as the sources of their own misfortunes, and the
socio-economic policies and practices that give rise to homelessness are
then too easily ignored. This abstraction, in turn, lessens the degree
of urgency and commitment needed to work strategically and consistently
toward solutions to end homelessness that are long-term, outcome-based,
and not simply responses to crises. The Speakers Bureau is both
an accurate and dynamic tool to teach and challenge tomorrows leaders
as well as empower those who have experienced homelessness first-hand.
By fostering an environment of self-worth, respect, and understanding
for all people, the Speakers Bureau challenges us to believe that
we can and should end homelessness.
We need your help to set up
new Speakers Bureaus across the country, include people experiencing
homelessness in your presentations, and spread the word about the importance
and effectiveness of "Faces of Homelessness" panels. Please
explore the following links to learn more about the Faces of Homelessness Speakers Bureau, and how you can get involved with it.
The Basics...
The
Speakers
Learn about their lives how they became homeless, what it was like,
and what they are doing now.
The
Presentations
Find out what the actual presentation is like and how you can bring
a "Faces of Homelessness" Panel presentation to your school,
church, synagogue, conference, organization or event.
Local Event Request Form (DOC) (PDF -cannot save info, must be printed)
Request a Speakers' Bureau panel at your local (Greater Washington DC metropolitan area) event.
Out of State Event Request Form (DOC) (PDF -cannot save info, must be printed)
Request a Speakers' Bureau panel at your event.
( Click to download the free version of Adobe Reader)
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Speakers' Bureau Coordinator
202.462.4822
speakersbureau@nationalhomeless.org
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