This is the power of the men and women of the Faces of Homelessness Speakers’ Bureau:
In February, the 6th Grade class of Alice Deal Middle School, here in Washington, DC, listened to T. Sanders and John Harrison talk about their experiences with homelessness. T with her Master’s Degree and John, a clean-cut soft-spoken man, do not fit the stereotype of someone who is homeless. They are both eloquent and motivational speakers, and boy did they motivate.
Every year, students at Alice Deal Middle School dedicate one day near the end of the year to giving back. The students decide what they’d like to do for the day, often volunteering for a low-income meal program or environmental project.
For the last several months, 6th grade students have been working with local homeless advocates to plan a rally in support of a measure that would add housing status to Washington, DC’s anti-discrimination ordinance.
‘I want it to be a chance for the community to stand up for someone more. For people to actually do something.’ Has this project motivated the students to work for homeless rights in the future? ‘Absolutely.’
The rally will be held at Freedom Plaza in downtown DC, Wednesday, June 3rd at 10am.
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