Zine 03 – Speak Up Magazine

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01 $1.00

what does
a homeless
person look
like?

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More than a Magazine

Speak Up Magazine is a 501(c)3 non-profit
based in Charlotte, NC. The purpose is
two-fold: to give a voice and to provide
employment for vulnerably-housed and
homeless individuals.
You can get involved with Speak Up in
a variety of ways. Volunteers and interns
are welcomed for creative areas (like
photography, editing and video work),
administration, development, social
services and more. Your tax-deductible
donations are essential to Speak Up.
Businesses not Beggars

Speak Up offers an income opportunity for Board of Directors
homeless and vulnerably-housed people. John Clarke
They become micro-business owners who Phil Felten
buy copies of Speak Up for a low price and Lisa Koons
then resell them, keeping all the cash and Bill Shaw
reaping a generous profit. As a result, these Cesar Silva
enterprising street vendors learn to manage Bruce Simpson
their resources and grow their businesses.
This legitimate alternative to begging More About Speak Up
and social handouts creates a livable speakupmag.org
income, increases self-respect and renews
hope for the future. Meet the Zine Creative Team
speakupzine.com

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A Pivot for Speak Up

The publication of this little booklet in your sells for $4. Although vendors will make
hand is the most significant thing we’ve a smaller profit on each sale (sixty cent
done since launching the first issue of the profit versus $3), our hypothesis is that
magazine over two years ago. You may they’ll sell so many more that their overall
have read Speak Up Magazine, the larger profit will jump considerably.
format full-color magazine that we’ve been We’ll see.
publishing for awhile now. If so, you know In the meantime, the next large-format
this is a pivot in a new direction. issue is in the works. Moving forward, we’ll
The Zine was born in response to two be publishing both Speak Up Magazine
questions. How can we better give a voice and Speak Up Zine. While clearly different
to our friends on the streets? How can we in format and execution, they are driven by
increase circulation so the street vendors the same heart and distributed according
selling the magazine will earn closer to a to the same empowering model.
livable income? By buying this Zine, you’ve become
The Zine answers those questions. part of the solution. You’ve said yes
First, everything in here (except for a to someone working to reclaim his or
couple intro letters) was written by people her life and become a productive and
who’ve been homeless. Many still are. contributing member of society. You’ve
Some are Speak Up street vendors; others said yes to getting past the stereotypes and
just attend one of our weekly writing listening to real people. You’ve said yes to
workshops. This is their uncensored voice. second chances and hope for the future.
Second question, how can this lead to Thank you!
more income for the hardworking street
vendors who sell Speak Up, many of them –Matt Shaw
still homeless? Well, we think the easier Executive Director
entry point of a lower-priced publication
will mean more yesses, more sales. The mattshaw@speakupmag.org
cover price of this is just one dollar. In
contrast, the full-size magazine currently

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Teacher’s Note

THIS IS HARRY

I’ve been writing for a while now ing can change lives. It has changed and
and I have been so happy to be offered a invigorated every aspect of mine, and it
chance to lead Speak Up’s writing work has become my adopted mission to share
shops. The workshop meets on Tuesday that message with the world. Hear these
afternoons at 2:30 at the Speak Up offices words from folks who have been or even
and Mondays at 10 a.m. at the 24-7 Prayer right now are experiencing homeless
Room. We’ve been doing it for a year now. ness. We need to commit to help them,
Some weeks we have only two or three and to encourage them, and to love them,
participants and others there are as many not avert our eyes when we see them. You
as fifteen. We write together to prompts; would want no less for yourself.
to as many as we can get to in an hour and
a half. All pieces in this first edition of the –Harry Griffin
Speak Up Zine are by street writers who Street Editor
have attended the workshops.
What a joy it is to work with these in harrygriffin@speakupmag.org
dividuals, to hear their thoughts, and to
help them to write. I firmly believe writ

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These next pages
were written by
people who know
what it is like to live
on the streets.

About Being a Bellringer [ESSAY] 06
Bell Yes [SKETCHES] 07
Dragonflies [POETRY] 08
Reasons [EXHORTATION] 09
Hitchiking [MEMORY] [ART] 10-11
Big Dreams [AMBITION] 12
My Name is Franklin [BIOGRAPHY] 13
A Long Night + Signs [MEMORY] 14-15
The Uniform [OPINION] [ETC] 16-17
Q & A [RESPONSE) 18
What’s In Your Bag? [EDC] 19
Call me Sidewalk [HOPE] 20
Journeying [BIOGRAPHY] 21
Potter’s Wheel [PERSPECTIVE] 22

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[ESSAY]

RINGING THE
holiday bell

To make a long story short, the reason ducive to boredom. I swore more than
I became a Christmas Kettle Worker once that it would be my last day. In fact,
(bellringer) for the Salvation Army in one morning I said “I quit!” right there
Minneapolis was to earn enough money to in front of everybody. Then head honcho
get back to Charlotte. I signed up Dec. 3rd Envoy Miller himself stopped me, which
and started two days later. No job interview, felt good I must admit.
just two forms of ID and I was on! It’s no I bellrang for about 110 hours all told,
secret that many of the bellringers are so I became somewhat talented at ringing
paid, and furthermore, are residents at the a small, annoying bell. I would do one-
Salvation Army homeless shelter. note versions of “Jingle Bells” quite a bit.
It turned out to be the coldest Decem A few times they left extra bells for fam
ber there in quite a few years. The average ilies that were volunteering later during
temperature for the month was 13 degrees the day, so I would ring them all at once,
Fahrenheit and there were a few nights up to five. This produced a nice sleigh
that were a little below zero. I wore three bell-like sound, and seemed to be mildly
coats and four pairs of socks with two entertaining (if a bit cheesy).
plastic grocery bags between the socks. It was interesting seeing people’s facial
I ended up ringing most of the time at expressions. I remember one lady word
a big box store called Fleet Farm, some lessly putting money into the kettle with
thing like a Home Depot with guns. I a look that I would describe as perceptive
wasn’t allowed to go inside at all for some sympathy. Many thanked me for ringing,
reason. Before long I started taking off which felt good but uncomfortable since
my red apron and sneaking into the re I was getting paid $8/hour. But I definite
stroom. It was mercifully located near the ly “earned my keep.” One day, I noticed at
front door. Luckily I was blessed with a least four $20’s go in. Somehow I worked
conscientious van driver that would pick every day minus one (when they had
me up about every two hours to warm up plenty of volunteers) ‘til the end of the
and get coffee. campaign on Christmas Eve.
Otherwise it was a great location with
lots of foot traffic and thus donations, –Tom Carter
which is good for a job that is easily con

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[COLORING SHEET] [PUN] [SKETCHES]

–R.B. –C.S. –I.S.

–P.K. –L.S. –B.B.

Bell
Yes

–M.S. –I.S.

–T.G. now you draw a bell –S.M.

–H.M. –K.H. –L.S.

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[POETRY]

Sitting in The Garden

I have dragonflies in my garden

with my pretty rose

my life is filled with dreams of another day

I am beginning to change into a lovely rose for all to see

my goal is to change the world hunger

so I said there no reason to cry

I have hope for the future

for the world to change and live in peace and harmony.

because I have hope for the future.

–Andrea Garland

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[EXHORTATION]

There Are Many Reasons

If you have never been homeless you will I was homeless because I chose to live
never know the answer to the question, anywhere else but home. I used substances
“How does a person become homeless?” to suppress my pain. Like many, the streets
You have heard the stereotypical answers, didn’t look so bad compared to the present
I’m sure, but there is more. People become situation. Some make it off the streets and
homeless for many reasons: some develop the skills needed to live
They could’ve had a bad home life. homeless. I was a manipulator and con man
They could’ve lived with addicts and for years.
felt like they took second to the addiction. Once after walking around all night I
They could’ve gotten tired of living in went to a fire station, checked the doors
poverty and filth. Drug and alcohol be and found one open and went in and slept
comes a form of medication for them to on the couch. The police awakened me. I
block out the pain and hurt. told them I thought it was a safe place and
Maybe they never heard the words, “I that I would be welcomed to stay. They let
love you!” Maybe they were never hugged me go.
as a child. Maybe they were abused and My family abandoned me. I had no real
told they were worthless. friends. I did what I had to do to make it.
There are many different reasons one In the end, people hold signs to survive
becomes homeless. and beg for money. Before you judge a
Maybe they were victims of divorce man, why don’t you ask to hear his story?
or served in the military and things went
south after they finished their tour of duty. –Matt Warren

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[MEMORY]

There I was in
my rubber soled
hiking boots
There I was in my rubber-soled hiking breezy. I had rested well before the bacon
boots shuffling backwards, on the safe and eggs hit the skillet. I was in no hurry.
side of the gravel-lined breakdown lane, Skidding to a halt on the gravel behind
facing the steady traffic of Hwy. 62. In my me was my first ride which came as a big
left hand was a cardboard sign that read, surprise to me. It was a 1940’s K-model
“Truth” with an olive branch drawn be International Harvester bus painted cold
neath the greeting. The thumb of my right gray with a jackrabbit stenciled on the
hand pointed toward the western horizon rear and a Texas license plate with a pas
serrated with scotch pine trees. The rib sel of registration stickers keeping it up
bons of alizarin crimson that had scored to date. The big surprise was the first im
the coral blue sky earlier in the morning pression of the driver, this old cat who cut
had suddenly cleared, opening up the his eyes toward the sun as he lowered the
most radiantly beautiful field of periwin visor, approaching me. I thought he was
kle blue I have ever seen. yet another motorist on a mission to get
I was headed west, hopefully Califor somewhere, like so many others. No wor
nia. This, my friends, is Hwy. 62 in Oak ries. No sweat. Now, here he was waiting
Ridge, Tennessee. I had just come down on me. Sweet! The door swung open and
from Norris Dam State Park. I had no revealed this skinny septuagenarian with
idea the Clinch River was so wide and a voice not unlike “Mule Variations”-era
proud and ran so thick with life. To hear Tom Waits, just a little smoother around
that river breathe is an honor. Ideally, the edges and understandably twangier.
today I would like to make it to Mem “Git on in, son!” he growled with a
phis. If I make it as far as Cookeville, I gold-capped grin, shaded by his Asleep at
will be satisfied. the Wheel hat. “Plenty of room in this here
Cars and trucks had been zipping by spaceship!” Then the funk of marijuana
about a dozen per minute. I had settled smoke hit me along with the sight of the
on that patch of the berm for maybe less multi-colored Tibetan prayer flags strung
than half an hour of kids yelling obsceni along the windows.
ties at me, flipping me off, and scared old “This is gonna be a good ride!” I re
ladies looking at me, terrified of the po sponded, nodding.
tential voodoo my eye contact may lev
el against them. None of it brought me –David Alan Goldberg
down, though. The air was warm and facing page art also by DAG

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[AMBITION]

MY DREAM:
to have a small
room and share
a kitchen

Since last fall I have been working at the My dream also includes a stable place to live.
Farmer’s Market as a salesperson. They I wish to have a small room and to share a
trained me and gave me a weekly schedule. kitchen and bathroom. Find a nice place
It is so exciting to have two jobs. The person to live a quiet and productive life. Maybe
who hired me is very nice lady. Her name is I can have some birds, dogs and cats as my
Pat. She was very patient when she trained pets. My mental state is not well enough to
me. She is teaching me organic farming. take care of animals right now because of
My daughter came to visit me diabetes and depression. In the past I did
November 8th to 11th last fall. I was so own two domestic cats. Puppies, cats, and
excited. She is a very beautiful girl. I gave birds; they are all precious in my sight.
her up for adoption when she was a baby. I want to get my finances stable. I hope
I had not seen her for 23 years. I can own a small Chrysler car and drive
My dream is to become a respiratory around town. I would be able to go any
technician in the hospital to save people’s where I want to go. Be able to have a car
lives. It seems impossible but that’s been and drive to work again instead of catch
my dream since I was a young child. I the bus. Bus is not on time most of time;
never did study at school well. I skipped it is delayed most time. It will be nice if I
school and did not show up for classes and can be self-sufficient to help myself again.
did not work enough on the homework My diseases make me sad; my depres
many years ago. sion and diabetes, and my physical and
I filed a lawsuit against my family, mental health make me sad. They are at
claiming abuse; I sometimes think my a stable condition, but my emotional state
Mom died of a broken heart because of it. right now makes me sad. Sometimes life
I wish I hadn’t done that. I guess I am try has ups and downs. I have good days and
ing to make up what I did to my Mom and sometimes I have bad days. I try to think
family members. Try to make life some more positive most times. Try not to
thing better. If I reach out to other people think too much. Do the best I can.
and save their lives by being a respiratory
technician, maybe I will feel much better. –Ruth Hsieh

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[BIOGRAPHY]

This is my story.
When I was young growing up in Brooklyn,
New York, I was about 13 years old and Iwas coming home from school and a guy This is my story.
asked me if I needed a ride home. I told him,
“No, I don’t know you.” But I got in the caranyway and he raped me and then took me This is my story.
home and gave me a $100 bill.
When I got home I told my mother andthen my father came home and he beat me This is my story.
and we got into a fight, and my mother
told him I was raped and then we went tothe hospital. Then three months later, we This is my story.
moved down to North Carolina and I did
not like it down here at first so I ran away living a good life now, and I thank “God”
from home at 16 years old and went back Jehovah for my new life in his son “Je
home to Brooklyn, New York. sus” Christ! My whole life has changed.
And that’s when I started being home I thank God for the room I have now. To
less off and on. For the next of 22 years him be the Glory, and I know one day I
of my life I was in and out of the mental will have my own house or apartment.
hospital and in and out of jail and prison. I My name is Franklin Shields and this is
did not have a place to stay so I’d do some a true story of my life. I do my best to take
thing to go to jail or prison to have a place care of my daughter Christina. That’s all I
to stay and this is the truth. want to do is to take care of my little lady.
I was a fool for the devil and I did not God gave her to me, and it’s my job to take
know better at the time. But when I gave care of her.
my life to God the Father and his Son, Je God bless you, Speak Up Magazine.
sus, my life got better and I left the worst
behind me. I’m still homeless, but I’m –Franklin Shields

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[MEMORY]

I Could Tell It
Was Going To
Be A Very Long
Night

At an interstate off-ramp on the outskirts of
Savannah, Georgia, is a Mobil gas station.
Behind the station was a dirt road cut as
the beginning of a residential subdivision. It
was like most days in the middle of summer
in the deep south, hot and humid. My Great
Dane, Thor, rode in the back of my Toyota
Celica Convertible. We were crammed in
with the remnants of my house. Which
wasn’t much, but after all was a sports car. As the dog and myself with one hundred
night fell we pulled out of the station. Drove percent DEET. Leaving a nasty chemical
down the dirt road without headlights taste in both our mouths. We settled back
around a curve and tried to get some sleep. and tried to sleep. Thor with his head
Within a half an hour I could tell it right next to mine panting heavily trying
was going to be a very long night. The to shed his heat. Mostly directly into my
mosquitoes were in a feeding frenzy. ear which was very annoying and not
Savannah is pretty much a swamp. I dosed conducive to sleep for either of us.

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Eventually I opened the rag top and let the Having to roll up the windows was
mosquitoes and air in. Thankfully the pure horrifying. Soon we found ourselves in a
DEET covering everything kept the blood body heat sauna. Thor panting as if he ran
feast to a minimum. Again we tried to sleep. a few miles and me sweating salt stains
Finally sweet dreams fell upon both of us. unto the fabric of the seat.
Sometime in the early morning we We both gave up sleeping that night.
awoke to rain falling on our heads. Having
to close the rag top was frightening. –Mark Gansert

The real art to flying the cardboard lies in the sign
itself. Humor and honesty are surefire messages that
get people digging in their ashtrays for change.

Flying the cardboard as it’s known is a fine I once sat on an embankment off a
and time honored form of homeless survival. California expressway and sold my clever
It’s panhandling, that’s true, however it isn’t handmade signs to passing drivers for a
forcing yourself upon someone. The truly buck. I made $50 in an hour.
savvy do it from Interstate off-ramps. It just But usually I keep and use my marker
makes sense; a vehicle choke point where creations. Here are some favorites:
the drivers have to look at your pitiful self.

I’m way too sexy my sharpie to be homeless. marker and
need $ for cardboard habit plastic surgery is getting
to be ugly. expensive

MY Entirely PANHANDLING dysfunctional ADDICTION
& IS OUT OF completely
CONTROL honest

Yep, I’ve used all those.
–Mark

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[ADVICE] [LECTURE] [COMMENTARY] [RANT] [FASHION]

WEARING
THE UNIFORM

When I was on the streets, I never wore
the uniform of a bum. I dressed for the life
that I wanted!
What do you consider a uniform? Is it
clothing you are told to wear for your job? Now ladies, I’m not letting you off the hook.
Is it what you wear for school? Or is it I have been seeing some mighty bad dressing
what you wear for doing you chores or for patterns with you too. You too wear beat up
hobbies? Let’s take this one step further. jeans, tee shirts and sneakers. This look is
What about the beat up clothes you wear not a flattering look either. People, all you
every day and in public, like the beat up are doing are wearing the UNIFORM of
jeans, tee shirts, and sneakers? who you want to be.
Now I might be dating myself, but I Now I know you might be thinking,
was always told that tee shirts are under “What about what I see on TV, where the
wear, and, yes, even if there is some sort of fashion experts are telling me that what
graphic on it, it is still underwear. I’m wearing is fine, and the pictures in the
Have you ever noticed grown men newspapers, store circulars, and TV ads?”
wearing their pants oversized, and they Well, the stores are putting the ads out
are so low that they have to hold them up there because they want to sell the clothes.
because if they don’t their pants will fall to As for the fashion experts you see on TV,
their knees and ankles? have you noticed what they’re wearing?
Men, come on now, you know that this Now really, how can they tell you how to
is not the most flattering look! It doesn’t dress when they don’t know how to dress
look good on young boys, and it doesn’t properly themselves?
look good on you. If you don’t believe me I tell you I don’t know where they got
just look at yourself in a full length mirror their education from to be classified as ex
and you’ll see what I mean. FYI, if you perts. I don’t claim to be a bonafide expert
buy pants that fit properly, they cost less. myself but I am very well educated in the

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When you start dressing better, you will see the
world is a better place. People that didn’t even pay
attention to you will suddenly look your way.

Shaw
Lana
Illustration:

field of fashion. So I am going to give you talk to you and respond to you in a bet
some basic guidelines to follow. ter manner. Doors that were closed with
Ladies, start your new wardrobe with a padlock on it will suddenly be opened.
some casual dressy pieces of clothing: You will feel better about yourself and feel
slacks, skirts, blouses, dresses, shoes, like you are able to do much more than
pumps in flats, heels (they don’t have to you ever have before.
be stilettos); heels can be 2 ½ inches high. If you follow a few more simple rules,
Ladies, if you are wearing a blue skirt, putting your stylish ensembles together
use a lighter blue blouse, with pantyhose, will be much easier.
blue handbag, and blue shoes, although First, don’t mix prints.
black will work too. Remember always to Second, If you have a print on your
use the same color handbag and matching shirt or blouse, choose one color from the
shoes. Just remember these simple rules shirt or blouse and that will be the color of
and you will find yourself with a whole you slacks or skirt.
new wardrobe and a whole new life. Third, Use tone on tone colors. For
Men, start your new wardrobe with example, men, if you are wearing brown
some casual dressy pieces of clothing slacks and jacket use a tan shirt and brown
like slacks, shirts, neck ties, sports jacket, tie. Use brown socks and shoes, although,
shoes, and a good hair cut. again, black shoes are acceptable here too.
Don’t be afraid of your new look. Don’t So now I’m going to challenge you to
look back! Don’t even think of going back try this new way of life, and embrace all
to the old slacker uniform. the fun you will have exploring and dis
When you start dressing better, you covering all the great styles and colors.
will see the world is a better place. Peo
ple that didn’t even pay attention to you And don’t forget: get a good hair cut.
will suddenly look your way. People that
wouldn’t even talk to you will suddenly –Iris Berkowitz

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[RESPONSE]

My Questions

What is your biggest barrier?& Answers

Well, I am my biggest barrier to pursuing
and achieving my dreams.
The funny thing about that is, I know
it’s me. It’s my fear of failure…but what if I
don’t fail? Well, I also fear success.
Some of the time, I don’t realize I’m
sabotaging myself until afterward; during
the thing I’m convincing myself it wouldn’t
have worked out anyway.
As life is a learning experience, I am
learning to put trust and faith in God and
let Him handle it.

What do you remember?

I remember when I was a child, there were
no worries. When I got to stay with grandma
for a while I didn’t know I was homeless, I
didn’t know mama just scraped up her last
dollars to feed us.
I remember the summers we would
play at the park and get free lunch.
I remember when we would pile up in
one bed and sleep together to stay warm.
I remember living at grandma’s house
or my cousin’s house.
I remember when I had no worries.
I remember when I didn’t know I was
homeless. We were just staying with
relatives. I remember the summer playing
in the park all day and getting free lunch.

What do you affirm?

That I am going to help and change the
lives of a multitude of people!

–Tawanna Glass

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[EVERY DAY CARRY]
What’s In Your Bag, Tawanna Glass?

My wallet Bus schedule
rarely contains money to get there on time
Speak Up wristband Cigarette case
to spread the word trying to kick the habit, love the case
Bus transfer Cellphone
now expired like being on an island without it
My bracelet Wet Ones wipes
I like it Must. Keep. My. Hands. Clean.
Earphones Lottery ticket
transport me wishful thinking
Speak Up outreach cards Coins
to help the next man yep, that’s my life savings
Breath strips Pencil
can’t sell mags with bad breath for when technology fails
Scented lotion Keys
I love to smell good to everything I own…storage unit
Lipstick + chapstick Speak Up Magazine
yeah… gives me income and others a voice

Page 20

[HOPE]

Call me Sidewalk.

My passion is
playing music.

At first being homeless was one of the
scariest situations I had ever dealt with.
Where to go, where do I eat, where do I
sleep? Full of random scary questions. These
where my my first thoughts. Where do I go
now that I am homeless?
But after time I figured it all out.
Now some they may think my
homeless life is sad. But it turned the other
way, it became a new lifestyle. Yes, I said
it. Imagine having a life with less things
to worry about? Okay, not everything
is better about my life. But then again
neither is your life 100% better than mine.
I come and go as I please. I wake up my talent. A God-given talent that I am
when I want, the same choice I make when thankful for.
I go to sleep. Maybe you have a nagging Wherever there’s a sidewalk you just
boss, funny, I don’t. Did you remember to might find me. So if you got an extra
pay the light bill? I have candles. minute you might just wanna stop and
Being homeless is not all it’s cracked take a listen. Because it may change your
up to be. You enjoy your cable tv and your life, like it changed mine.
heat or AC or fridge and safe home. Me, I My dream is to let my music be heard
just have my tent and blankets. when I’m gone. Not to be a legend but
But I also have my guitar. just to be remembered. My music is like
I was walking down North Tryon back a book of my life lessons, experiences
in 2007 when I ran into a friend who good and bad. Basically my music is a
changed my life. He taught me a new way look inside me and my dream is my music
of living that continues today: busking. will be what I’m remembered by…not by
Busking, AKA, being a street musician. all the stupid idiotic stuff I’ve done, but by
At first I was nervous, then that quickly my passion.
changed into a passion. A passion for
freedom, expression, the freedom to share –Mike Kendrick

Page 21

[BIOGRAPHY]

Journeying
On and Off
The Streets

I came to North Carolina fleeing a messy My first night at the shelter was beyond
divorce on a wing and a prayer. I had an horrendous right from the beginning. It
investor friend in Huntington, WV, and he was so crowded in there that more people
told me he had a friend here who needed a were sleeping on the floors than in the beds.
roofing crew because he had an overload of It took over two hours of standing in line
contracts. Well I get the crew together and outside just to get in. Then it took almost the
headed this way with high hopes. same amount of time to get into the cafeteria
Unfortunately those hopes were to eat.
quickly dashed because the man I was By the time I finally got to sit down to
working for was a crook, and within two enjoy dinner, a fight broke out at the table
weeks he disappeared with everyone’s next to mine and a guy came rocketing at
money and fled the state. He didn’t even my table from a mean left hook. Well there
have a contractors license. Well I had to went dinner and I wasn’t about to stand
spend every dime I had to send my crew in line for another two hours. Fortunately
back to WV which left me stuck here I had $3 in my pocket so dinner was a
and broke with nowhere to go. I tried the Pepsi, a bag of chips, and a candy bar from
shelter uptown but I could only handle the vending machines. Finding a spot on
that place for three days. the floor and out of the way, I sat down to
I earned some quick money handing enjoy my feast. Thankfully I got to eat that
out Nature Valley Granola Bars and meal in peace.
bought a tent and a sleeping bag. I did this Afterwards, I made my way to the
and then I landed a job at a diner and with restroom. It wasn’t hard to find, all one
their help I moved into a place within two had to do was follow the stench of urine
months of working there. Unfortunately and feces emanating from within. I walked
the whole thing became a disaster. Right in and the first thing I saw was a man in a
when that place was ending I found stall with the door ajar. He had a needle in
Speak Up Magazine. Now I earn money his arm and he was sitting in his own feces
selling Speak Up and rent a nice room on with his pants pulled down. Not a pretty
Albemarle Road. It is never far from my sight. When I told staff it took them over
mind how close I am to being back on an hour to check on him.
those streets. I must admit that I didn’t sleep that
There are more experiences than I can night and I couldn’t wait to get out of
truly count of my time homeless. I will there. It made living in a tent seem like a
attempt to scratch the surface for you dream come true after that experience.
though. Let me first explain that unless
you experience it yourself, I don’t believe –Troy Burtnick
you can ever fully understand.

Page 22

[PERSPECTIVE]
A night on the streets
is scary, abandoned, by
yourself, no family… big bad
bears, lions, tigers, dog eat
dog experiences. Death.

On The Potter’s Wheel
I became homeless when I allowed another from which my help came. And while on the
human to tell me I had no other choice but streets I needed a revival and found it.
to accept a cage. I am thankful for the last year of being
Being on the streets is a job in itself homeless because it built my character and
because if you drop your guard you will be gave me self-control while enduring life
slaughtered like a wild animal. Homeless with Christ. It gave me the attitude of being
is like being dead–dead on the inside but put back on Potter’s wheel to be made over
keeping it moving on the outside; being like clay and have God directing my life.
robbed of your stability, values, morals, Like an eagle, the Holy Spirit taught me to
self-respect, dignity, and boundaries live and walk by faith and not by sight with
makes you feel dead. genuine compassion and respect for every
Death. creature on Earth. I’ve learned to see with
The choice is was mine: Do I want to spiritual eyes the good in everything, being
live or die? was the question. a soldier for the Lord, interceding for others.
The streets are full of people who have Homelessness for me was a time to
just lost their way and souls caught in the be made over, a time to hear God’s voice,
grips of addiction, living like we want to to turn into a closer walker with God. I
instead of the way God said we can live. now have a story to tell about how God
Until I got a renewed mind, I was supplies all my needs. It’s a supernatural
powerless over the streets. Hallucinating. journey that God gets the Glory from.
Hustling was what really kept me in Every person has the choice to choose
bondage. The chains of prostitution, drugs, life over death. Make the right choice!
money, sex, came from childhood seeds that Remember to be patient with me cause
the enemy planted. God ain’t through with me yet. His will,
But I’m the one who had to make the not my will.
choice to change. I had to make an intelligent Peace be with you all.
choice, I knew these streets were going to be
the death of me if I didn’t look to the hills –Kimberly Morris

Page 23

[SUSTAINABILITY]

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