Page 1

$2.00
100% of the cover
price goes to the
magazine vendor

Food.

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BUILD A
BETTER
MAGAZINE

Join the campaign to publish a longer, larger,
full-color, professionally-printed magazine.

With the change, Speak Up’s street vendors
will triple their income, earning $3 per copy
instead of $1.

Goal: $1,450 monthly increase
speakupmag.org/better

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A Voice for the Voiceless

Speak Up is written by and about people battling
homelessness.

The magazine is sold by vulnerably-housed or homeless street
vendors who keep 100% of the profits (they buy copies for a
$1, sell them for $2, and keep the cash).

Through the process, these ambitious individuals develop a
passion for entrepreneurship, get back on their feet financially,
and become advocates who proudly give a voice to the
voiceless.

SPEAK UP CREDITS
501 Hawthorne Lane Matt Shaw, Visuals + Editing
Charlotte, NC 28204 Peggi Knowe, Editing

speakupmag.org

WRITING WORKSHOPS
Thursdays at 2pm

Speak Up Magazine is a 501(c)3 non-profit.
Give at speakupmag.org/donate

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FOOD
ISSUES

A day in a life of having nothing to eat.
There’s too many streets to walk on starving.
Food banks are much like money banks—empty to me.
I don’t see anything but a referral
To a soup kitchen du jour.
Who knows what we’ll get.
I didn’t mean to be here.
Yet I’m thankful for all the possibilities,
It is hard.
I want so much for better.

—Anonymous

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A DAY’S
EATING
By Bruce Lentz II

Breakfast
Coffee (2 cups) (instant) for breakfast

Elongated Dinner Over Hours
1 (8 count each) and hot dogs (1 package) (raw)
4 flour (self-rising) and simple-batter pancakes (12-inch diameter)
1 cup milk (Vitamin “D” full-fat content)
½ cup Cran-Grape juice (Welch’s?)
Some syrup on pancakes
1 tray (small) dark chocolate fudge

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AT LEAST I ATE TODAY…

What I was able to eat was a biscuit from McDonalds and I ate it fast. I was
going a long time trying to get my dailay things done I finally eat again at dinner
two tacos one beef and one rice taco and a bean taco. I enjoyed my beef and rice
taco, even though If I had made it I think It would have been better but oh well,
I said to myself eat the food and be grateful.
—Amy D.

Today I ate a cheeseburger and fries, mac and cheese, chicken tenders, chips,
lasagna, salad, fruit and desserts. (Note: Some of my favorite foods are American
food, Mexican food Chinese food and Japanese food.)
—Joshua Caldwell

For breakfast I ate a sausage biscuit and had a coke to drink from McDonalds.
I had a pack of crackers and powerade to drink from the plasma center before
donating plasma. For dinner I had a burrito and a quesadilla from Taco Bell and
a coke from McDonalds. The food from Taco Bell near the airport wasn’t very
good at all and if I had the time I would’ve taken it back. That’s what I had to
eat today.
—Matt C.

Banana, raspberries, blueberries, coffee, vegetable wraps, chicken tofu, baked
chicken, green beans.
—Ruth H

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REAL FOOD
FOR REAL
PEOPLE

Angela Gray &
The R.I.C.’s Market Foundation

Angela Gray was born in Mississippi and
later moved to Detroit. During her childhood When did you plan on opening your grocery
there she discovered the idea behind R.I.C.’s store?
Market Foundation. A lot of the major grocery I told myself that I would open it once I retire
store chains moved out of the city back in the and now in my forties and having the store, I
seventies, which made all food become skeptical never knew why I wanted to wait so long.
to the locals. Angela would often ask her mom
why all the grocery stores were smelly, but the What changed your mind?prices we high? At that time, if you drove out of
the city, most stores we clean and a lot cheaper. “Besides a co-worker telling me not to wait,
just do it now, I work at a company that was
considered a smart store at the time. There weWhy do you think it was like that? discussed the current market of grocery delivery
When you live in an area where less is and self-check-out. I had the opportunity to
expected than less is given. Once you notice work with and for some top executives from top
that what you are giving is as good as needed, companies such as Coke and Pepsi. From that
you will not try harder.” That’s the moment I experience as a young adult, I told myself that I
realized what I wanted to do and that is to open could use this experience to help with my idea.”
a grocery store for poor people.”

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What other experience did you obtain to help great customer service because they don’t feel
with your idea? they need to do their best. When things aren’t
expected, then they are forgotten. “Twelve years ago, I went back to school to
earn my MBA to learn more about non-profits.
From there, I moved to Charlotte as part of a What’s your overall goal?
program through Bank of America.” “Our goal is to move people to be healthier.
We need to give people access and affordability.
Did you have doubts? We also need to educate people about healthy
food. If we focus more on fresh food rather than “Yes, because once I googled non-profit
packaged food, then it would help encouragegrocery stores only two links appeared. So, I
people to eat healthier because that is what wedecided to talk to SCORE. At that time, I was
are offering.”rejected. After six months, I received a call back
from them and the retired CEO of Small Foods
was interested in my idea.” What are some things you want to do to accom-
plish those goals?
What has happened since then? “We will offer classes on healthy eating and
living. We will also reach out to communities “I’ve been working within the Charlotte area
to get involved. My husband graduated fromand their communities discussing helping with
Johnson and Wales University as a chef, so wethe ground work. We’ve discussed locations and
plan on reaching out to Johnson and Walesbringing other non-profits together to expand
University for volunteer cooks. From there wethe idea.”
can come up with ideas on how to give away
the food to the homeless and if other shoppersWhat type of feedback did you receive? would like to purchase, they can. We will not
“Lots of communities are interested and we only have already cooked food, but regular
are seeking outsourcing and in house help to grocery.” [not sure if this is detailed correctly]
help us expand. We have our foundation set as
a 501C3 and we also have an LC3. This gives is What should we look forward to?the opportunity to have a non-profit and a for
“We recently had a fundraiser, which was ourprofit business. Our goal is to intertwine the
first. I was able to speak more on my idea andtwo.”
shoot videos to help promote R.I.C.’s Market.
I will continue to reach out to the communitiesWhat is the one thing you would like to focus on and those who can help me with expanding theonce you find a location and thing started? grocery.”
“I like the Public’s affect. To have great
costumer service. When most people come —Interview by Myeka Johnson
into low-income areas they forget about having
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WHEN FOOD IS
MORE THAN FOOD

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he steam billowed out of the styrofoam out to you, “I see you and I care.” Gandhi once
to-go box as I cracked it open. Inside said, “There are people in the world so hungry
was a delicious rack of barbeque ribs that God cannot appear to them except in the
and golden cheddar biscuits. I felt equal warmth form of bread.” It is sobering but true. There areTin my heart as the steam hit my face. Thank those who are clinging onto next to nothing.
God—food. There are those who don’t know where their next
Forty-five minutes earlier, I was sitting on the meal will come from or where they will sleep
side of the highway—soaking wet, crying out to tonight. In fact, you pass these people everyday
God for something to eat. In that moment, I on your way to work, walking to lunch, and at
couldn’t even remember my last hot meal. Was stoplights. It is tempting to provide, to give what
it on Tuesday? No wait, those were leftover would be sufficient in the moment. But what
sandwiches. Monday? No, those eggs were if we believed in gifts? What if we believed in
cold. Somehow, this hot meal sent from heaven giving non-contractual and unearned gifts? Part
encountered me like an embrace. I no longer felt of me wonders if the world changes a little more
cold or wet. More importantly, I no longer felt for the better each time a gift is given and again
hungry. when it is received.
Why does this happen? How does a hot meal I sat back down in the puddle full of rainwater
completely turn our perspective on life? Sure, we mixed with motor oil. It was a little warmer than
enjoy eating—we must eat. I am positive that I remembered. I think the sky was beginning to
there are biological and chemical effects on our clear up as well. In that moment, as I bit into
body that I could only explain in elementary that cheddar biscuit, I realized that God didn’t
terms. I am also sure there is a psychology of just know that I existed, He cared that I existed.
the effect of food on our mind and body. As I It gave me the strength for today and a hope for
crouched over on the curb to extend my hand, tomorrow. Every time I sit down at a restaurant
something happened that cannot be explained and dig into a basket of cheddar biscuits, I am
in physical terms. reminded that God cares for me and that He is
Ah, the science of a gift. It seems that the in the business of providing and giving gifts on
greater the need, the more significant the gift His timeline.
becomes. In our moments of utter dependence, Who would have thought that something as
it appears that anything will do. We don’t need simple as a hot meal would come to represent
the world, we just need our next meal, our next a stone of help, that a cheddar biscuit would
rent payment, our next electric and gas payment become my Ebenezer?
so that we can sleep in one blanket instead of
three. Keep your mansion, we need manna.
But then, as if out of nowhere, a gift appears.
Not simply provision, but a gift, a freely-given,
unearned, more-than-sufficient gift. It meets
more than our physical needs. It is as if it calls

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woke this morning around 5:30 as usual. I was slightly hungry but not
so much due to anxiety associated with “sleeping rough.” When I get
really anxious, I have little or no appetite. I really can’t tell you how
much I’ve had to eat in the past week except that it was very little. My food Istamp benefits were used up, and my benefits don’t get recharged until the
11th. Yesterday, I had several packs of peanut butter crackers, then a can of
tuna fish around 9pm. That was it.
Today, someone offered me some crackers and coffee. I accepted
the coffee and passed on the crackers. I went to a resource center
today to change into some fresh clothes. They were serving some
type of pasta and cheese stuff. I had to pass on that too. Most of the
food at soup kitchens has been donated and is way past the “best
if used by” date. I was handed a bag of food the other day at one
of the soup kitchens. The potato chips were dated 2015 and the

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willing to share

Skittles were dated 2014. They were both roast duck that was superbly cooked and
probably safe to eat, but you can imagine seasoned. Just thinking about how good it
what two-year-old potato chips taste like. was is causing me to salivate.
I don’t have to imagine, they were very One thing is for sure. If I get extremely
stale. hungry tonight, there will be another
To tell the truth, if I do get hungry residentially-challenged person out on one
later this evening, I’ll take my chances on of the sidewalks willing to share any food
finding some food recently placed in the they may have.
sidewalk trash cans in the ritzy area of —Vince S.
town. The other day, I found a styro tray
of sushi. Later that same day, I found a
styro tray with about half a roast duck, not
chicken, not turkey—but clearly marked
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Interview by Amber IrvinTHE BULB

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t’s a warm clear Spring day at Birdsong
Brewery, the atmosphere is abuzz with
people intermingling with different
organizations setup around the patio. For a fewIminutes, we are able to talk with woman behind
this wonderful event, Alisha Pruett.
This Bulb Market, is a pop-up market,
in collaboration with other likeminded
organizations, in order to raise awareness about
food deserts, promote education on health and
wellness, food waste, and food insecurity.

What is The Bulb’s mission?
We provide access to local food sources and
education on health and wellness as it relates
to nutrition. We have to rely on partners such
as local farms, food not bombs, The Life Space,
Friendship Trays, Pop- Up Produce, and many
other great organizations that we keep adding
to the markets.
Alisha Pruett making peanut butter and jelly
sandwhiches at The Bulb Pop-Up Market at
What were some of the influences that led you to Birdsong Brewery.
start The Bulb?
I’ve been a social worker for about 10 years and using their SNAP or food stamps to buy food
working with the homeless has given me insight from the local convenience store which tends to
into some of their daily lives. I’ve worked as a be junk food lacking proper nutrition.
case manager for people that have transitioned
from being on the streets into housing and it can What is the model for The Bulb markets?
be a big change for people. People go from going I do one market for the general market into soup kitchens and food pantries, having meals order to get donations to service another reducedprepared and given to them, to being housed price or free market for the more vulnerable. It’ssometimes far away from those food sources. the same market for both, which is why this isSome are in food deserts because that’s where huge, I feel like the community as a whole needswe are able to find housing for them. Many don’t these markets, it’s really about bringing theknow how to even cook for themselves, they are
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The Bulb Market at Moore Place
community together and providing education in knock on doors and ask people if they were in
both settings. At these events, we get a lot of need of food and posting flyers saying if you
people that want to get involved, we’re able to need food I would get you connected and get
get donations, volunteers, and partnerships. people to transport it to you. Hickory, NC, was
really where I first noticed this issues, there
was a guy that was housed out there was noHow are you choosing where you go with your
transportation and it was the only place that wemarkets?
could find to house him after months of looking. I started learning about food deserts during I just started delivering him food and got othermy job as a social worker with cases spread across people on board to help bring him food or go13 counties. Some of the places that people are pick him up to get food.housed are in the middle of nowhere, with no
transportation, and not close to any food source.
Were people receptive to your help or was thereThey have to rely on friends and family to bring
any push back in the beginning stages?them food, some would go days without food.
I started doing research online, but a lot of the Surprisingly, people are receptive. It is just all
food desert statistics are 2-3 years old. I would about approach, I . I would bring these “weird”
just drive around on my own and kind of just produce, but when I got in their kitchen and

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started cooking with them it turned into a family we provide all of the soil and starter plants or
event and it was like “oh yeah I didn’t know you seeds, they decorate the containers as a creative
could do this with that.”. If some people are outlet, and we educate them on caring for the
totally turned off and just take the bag and want plants that they grow. We’ve partnered with
you to leave, then you at least know you tried. Sea Level, a new restaurant in Charlotte, which
But a lot of people are happy, because I have shows them how to make meals on a budget.
access to giving out some pots and pans and all This last time they taught them how to make
off the things needed to make the meals, when healthy tacos and how to turn leftovers from
you give people that love and care they are really tacos into chili, not only how to make meals on
receptive to the help and education. a budget but how to prolong it throughout the
week, which saves up hundreds of dollars.
You’ve formed a relationship with Moore Place,
can you tell us about that? What’s next?
Yes, Moore Place is a permanent supportive I am very excited about a new partnership
housing residency and we do a market in the with Friendship Gardens; we are going to join
lobby of that residence. I’ve been involved in on the Mobile Markets starting May 18th in
with them in the past doing an art talk, where uptown Charlotte at the CATS Transit Center.
I would go in with crafts and help them with I look forward to collaborating with more
creative outlets. The markets that we’re doing farms, agencies, and locations to set up the Bulb
now combine the two. I’ve helped them to Markets.
create container gardens for their apartments,

The Bulb’s Kale Salad

1 large bunch kale greens (stems removed and leaves torn)
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 cup beets
1 cup shredded carrots
Crumbled Bleu or Feta Cheese
2 Tbsp. local honey
3 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
More Recipes at thebulbgallery.org

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I SAW A HOMELESS
GUY EATING OUT
OF THE TRASH CAN
On one of my working days, I was selling my Speak Up magazines.
What I saw on that day was amazing. I saw a homeless guy eating out
of the garbage can! I had to stop and really look. I said to myself, am I
really seeing this? I’ve heard about people eating out of the trash, but
to actually see it was so sad. When he was looking in the trash can,
I thought to myself that this guy is really hungry. Before I could say
anything to him, he found some food and was sitting down eating.
When he found it, he was smiling like he was so happy to have found
the food. It was some salad/half sandwich, and he sat down and was
eating like he had not eaten in awhile.
I sold a magazine, and when I looked up, he was gone. I said to
myself, I wish I could catch him. I could have maybe given him a job
with Speak Up, but he had left. One day, I hope I see him again. I will
not forget him because of what he was wearing. He had on a lot of
clothes. It was not cold–it was pretty warm–and he had on two coats,
two pants, a hat, and boots. They were really dirty, so I know he was
homeless–looked like he had not taken a bath in a while; but that’s
okay. God will be with him, and I pray for him that he will be blessed.
—Earleen Mingo

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BUILD A
BETTER
MAGAZINE

Join the campaign to publish a longer, larger,
full-color, professionally-printed magazine.

With the change, Speak Up’s street vendors
will triple their income, earning $3 per copy
instead of $1.

Goal: $1,450 monthly increase
speakupmag.org/better