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ISSUE 51
fighting addiction
real letters from prison
change via community
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–
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for
the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge
fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Proverbs 31:8-9
The magazine is sold by people f ighting to get and stay
off the streets. It gives them a voice and a job.
THIS COPY WAS SOLD BY:
WRITERS COPY EDITORS ARE YOU HOMELESS?
Fredrick, Danielle Krolewicz, Phil Felten, Peggi Knowe, Or on the streets? You can
Liz Logan, Matt Shaw, Lana Shaw sell Speak Up Magazine! Call
Vince Shumate 980-938-2839 (Amber) or come
to our address on Thursdays at
ARTISTS EDITOR / DESIGNER 2:00pm. Ring into the office.
David Alan Goldberg, Matt Shaw SPEAK UP María José Gómez
WE ARE LOOKING 501 Hawthorne Lane
Charlotte, NC 28204 PHOTOGRAPHERS for volunteers to help with
writing, transcription, interviews, Barbara Banks, Matt Shaw, SPEAKUPMAG.ORG research, photography, design, Randy Rivera, Peggi Knowe, 704-900-1836 and illustration. If interested, Maddie Toro, Brian Kelly send an email to:
mag@speakupmag.org.
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I AM VINCE – 4
my road of homelessness
QC FAMILY TREE – 8
make communities better, not different
WORDS OF JUSTICE – 13
wisdom for all
LETTERS FROM PRISON – 14
don’t forget me | remember me your old friend | please
BEANS ZINE – 16
subscribe to words, sketches and wit from the streets
MEET SPEAK UP VENDORS – 18
friend advocate writer worker
EMPWR COATS – 20
warmth and work in one cozy coat
EDITOR LETTER – 22
updates and invites
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HOMELESS I am Vince.
FRIDAY•THE MEDICINE OF GRATITUDE
I was first diagnosed with depression when I was 13 years I thought the player was a busker sitting on a bench playing
old. At that point in my life, I did have a lot of stuff going for donations. I saw no one sitting on the benches. As I got
on in my life that truly was depressing. My doctors and I, closer and the music was louder, I tracked the location of the
throughout the years, could never quite figure out which came sound. A guy, Michael, was sitting on a branch of a live oak,
first—the drinking or the depression. It was a toss up. just playing away. He had no cup for people to pitch money
Eventually, a doctor talked me into taking Zoloft. I couldn’t into. He didn’t care. He was just sitting on a branch of a tree
tell if it helped, so another doctor suggested and prescribed enjoying playing music.
Celexa. Still no effect. Then I learned a trick about how to Of course, I approached him, then he climbed down, and
ease my depression. we spoke for about 45 minutes. I told him I did some writ-
When I was living in Wilmington, NC, I was sleeping ing for Speak Up and showed him some [writings] in my
rough and found myself feeling really down thinking stupid composition book. He took a picture of a page to send to
thoughts like, “I can’t take this pain anymore. Is life really friends, which I had no exception to. He is a waiter, I think, at
worth living?” Like I said, stupid thoughts. Then one day, I a five-star restaurant at the foot of Main Street. We are com-
was writing in my journal and decided to list the things I was panions now. He buys Speak Up from me. All this happiness
grateful for. It was like a Gomer Pyle, Shazaam! moment. My was brought on by me striking up a conversation with the
feelings of despair, depression, and anxiety were gone. “Guitarist in the Tree.”
I sort of perfected my gratitude list routine. Monday
through Friday at approximately 8:30 am, I would walk over SUNDAY•THE TRUTH HURTS to a wooden bench across the street from the courthouse, plop
I was walking around this morning, hating life as usual as I down, pull out one of my journals and an ink pen, and look at
always do at about 5am. At 5pm, things are always better. But the hundreds of people wrapped three sides around the court-
as I was walking the streets, I jumped on a train of thought house waiting for the deputies to open the doors.
about loneliness in relation to my alcoholism. The train was Sometimes, I would have trouble starting my gratitude list.
the one I was supposed to be on. I got to thinking about when I found that if I just wrote at the top of the page, “Thank heav-
and where the intense drinking began. en I have no business in that building today,” that sparked my
I’ve been drinking since I was 13. It didn’t pose too many list. I never knew if I was going to run out of ink or run out
problems until about 1986. That was the year I found myself of paper. Neither ever happened, fortunately. But some days
really lonely. It got bad really fast. I had just left California. I my list would go on for five pages or more. By the time all the
had to sell my boat hull cleaning contracts due to osteoarthri- people filed into the courthouse, I was finished writing and
tis in my back. I wasn’t able to clean 60 to 70 boat hulls in a had my journal packed away. I was also smiling deep down
week without being in extreme pain. My parents offered me inside.
the choice of going to the college of my choice if I returned to My little gratitude list trick works better than pharma-
West Virginia for “a while.” So, I sold my boat, diving equip- ceuticals and is a whole lot cheaper. I hope this can benefit
ment, and basically everything of any worth. I did keep my someone.
Suzuki 250 dirt bike. I disassembled it enough so it would fit
into the back of my ‘65 Baja Volkswagen, and I headed off to
SATURDAY•GUITARIST IN THE TREE West Virginia.
One evening, I was sitting at the park waiting to hear the Looking back, it was one of those coulda’, shoulda’, woulda’
sizzle as the sun sat on the water. I had fed the squirrels all my situations. In Long Beach, California, I was in the proverbial
peanuts. I felt like making one last lap around the park before frying pan. There was no way I was going to be able to afford
making my journey back to the spot where I rested. rent without diving. So I took what appeared to be the high
I heard beautiful music coming from a guitar. As I walked, road…2,404 miles directly into the fire. Within 60 seconds
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the courage and surprising
wisdom of man’s f ight against
homelessness and addiction
WORDS: VINCE SHUMATE
PHOTOGRAPHY: BARBARA BANKS
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of entering my parents’ house, I real- sober to buzzed, all 14 minutes of it is be seen. But at least if I am offered a
ized why I moved to California to begin what I and many other people are al- drink, I’ll have a time and place ready at
with. My father was still drinking and ways chasing. After that 14 minutes of the forefront of my thoughts of a better
my mother was taking Valium to put up serenity is used up, the chase for another path to take.
with his drinking. 14 minutes of it is always on. That 14
They were both loving parents and minutes feels so good, my mind refus- THURSDAY•SUCCESwould do anything for me. But drugged es to understand that it’s the transition
Sober now for the fourth day. Feelingparents are what they are. Turned out that felt so good. It doesn’t understand
really good.my “college of choice” ended up being that fact. It believes, “I drank some and
one of two local colleges, both of which really liked the elation brought on by
would require me to live in their house. the change, so I’ll just drink more and FRIDAY•STILL THIN ICE
My dream and presumption of going to bring on more elation through more My fifth day sober landed on Cinco deFlorida Institute of Technology to study change.” Mayo. Never even thought about tequi-marine biology was nixed. I had left a What an incredibly vicious cycle of la, not once, until a friend said she waslife, friends, and business in California. I reasoning, or lack thereof. I’m not a bad going to have a shot after she finishedwas truly lonely. That’s when I got to the person trying to do better. I’m a sick babysitting her grandson. I realized thatpoint of, “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.” person trying to get well. I knew all day it was Cinco de Mayo butWithin weeks, I was shaking so bad I tequilla never entered my mind. Usually
couldn’t hold a spoon steady enough to WEDNESDAY•BETTER on this date I would be plastered beforeeat soup. lunch. Third day sober. Woke up feeling rest- Now, getting back to my origin of This reminds me of the beginning ed and slightly energetic, and this wasstory. When I get lonely, I call on the of my last 19-month sobriety period. at 4:30 AM. After getting up andonly “friend” I have—alcohol. He/ When it began, much like this one, moving about, I realized a couple ofshe is always there. One problem with I never really had the desire to stop pleasant things I’m not accustomed tothat. The alcohol dulls the loneliness drinking. I just stopped drinking long at this time of the day. I had no racingfor awhile. But as I was still riding that enough to let life start to slip in and thoughts or thoughts of anxiety and im-train of thought, I realized the alcohol fill the void of not drinking. Because pending doom. It felt really good. It waswas not easing the loneliness but actu- when an alcoholic stops drinking there a change for the better. My most dan-ally causing it. After all, who wants to be is a huge void. What normally took up gerous drinking game today will be toaround a drunk? Only other drunks, un- most of the time and energy of a day is see how long I can go without a cup oftil the money runs out. Then they don’t now gone. There’s a huge vacuum there. coffee.even want you around. Like last time, I’m giving life a chance When I would get up after a drink- This morning’s train ride was sort of to slip in and fill that void. It feels good ing binge, I would be shaking froman epiphany. The truth sometimes hurts. to think clearly, sleep well, and regain withdrawals and the only thought that
an appetite. But I’m still on thin ice and would fit in my mind was, “Where can
I know it. Living in a sober house lastMONDAY•SOBRIETY I get a drink?” It would be sort of like
time helped tremendously. I had struc-I’ve been sober all day today. waking up with a migraine and only one
ture and responsibility. thing mattered—where can I get an as-
This time I don’t have that. I’m on the
TUESDAY•THE CYCLE pirin? streets. It will be difficult to pass up a If I was to walk down the street 10
This is the second day sober. I’ve had a shot if one is offered to me tonight. But minutes from now and someone offered
lot of these second days. I’d like to try to I think I’ll be able to. Why? It’s because me a drink, I would be hard pressed to
get to the point where I can say second I’ve reconnected to a good childhood pass it up. It’s just the nature of the beast
year. The last time I could say I had two friend that I haven’t seen in 40 years. known as alcoholism. Realizing that
years sobriety was about 45 years ago. We just reconnected through Facebook fact, I remember I have an AA meeting
Sleeping on the streets gets pretty a couple of days ago. I really care for this list in my back pocket. Before I do walk
tough at times. Liquor makes it better person, a lot. She’s not the reason I de- down the street, I’m going to pull out
for me – for the grand total of about 14 cided to try sobriety again, but she may that list and find a meeting. Whether or
minutes. That transitional period, from be the key to me maintaining it. not I make it to that meeting is yet to
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She told me she had been trying to locate me for years. SUNDAY•TODAY IS A MILESTONEYou see, when and where I grew up, very few people knew Made it a week so far! A milestone in my sobriety! Slept bet-my real name. When I was brought home from the hospi- ter than usual because I finally got some cardboard betweental after I was born, my older brother nicknamed me Chuck. my bottom and the concrete. The only thing that kept meThe name followed me for at least 19 years, until I moved to restless for a while was an invitation I received from a friendCalifornia. All through school I was known as Chuck, even in West Virginia. That invitation was to come and see her formy report cards said Chuck. She had been looking for Chuck at least two weeks with me staying at her place. I’d love toShumate, not Vince. She must have learned my real name see her. I love the geography of WW. I’d love to have a roofthrough a mutual friend. She sent me a friend request and it over my head, home-cooked meals, and access to a showerfloored me. any time I felt like taking one, even if it’s for only two weeks. We are starting to catch up and learn about each other’s Sarasota’s Homeward Bound Program would more thanpast 40 years. It felt odd at first, like opening your heart and likely pay for the bus ticket. One of the problems is I have amind to a complete stranger, but we slowly are getting to thing about busses. I dislike them. The travel time would onlyknow each other again. I could tell at first that neither one of be 27 hours, which isn’t too bad. Another thing is that theus wanted to jump in and spill our lives out. Slowly we are town she lives in is so small that Greyhound does not evenseeing we’re the same people we once were, just older. make a stop there, which means I would have to get off the I believe our paths crossed for a reason, a good reason. bus in my hometown and she would have to drive about 25
miles to come and pick me up.
SATURDAY•A PRODUCTIVE DAY I have people-baggage in my hometown. I don’t want to
Today has gone quite well. Slept pretty good last night. Woke go there. Can I get past these thoughts? I hope so. I realize
with energy and a ‘What can I get done today?’ attitude. I’m letting my past interfere with my future. It’s something
Didn’t have much food stashed away in the bushes, so I de- I’m going to have to work on. It’s like driving a car and trying
cided to walk around and see what was on top of trash recep- to get from point A to point B while constantly staring in
tacles. I ran across a styro of broiled fish that was still hot. It the rear view mirror. It’s going to lead to missed scenery or a
was delicious. It didn’t taste delicious because I was hungry, crash, or both.
it tasted delicious because it was. It wasn’t placed on a bench I am Vince.or above the receptacle so it could be shared with someone
who might be hungry, it was tossed inside. Anyway, the fish
was fantastic. For an update on Vince, read the letter on page 22.
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COMMUNITY
here is a growing problem in Charlotte and the prob-
lem is growth. It’s not that we are growing that’s the
problem, necessarily, but how. As the shining towers JUST BE GOOD of technology, banking and industry shoot up around us, the voicesTof cultural and historical significance that once lined
our streets run the risk of being drowned out. Growth often
happens in a way that is of no consequence to those who are
moving in and pushing out indigenous residents from every NEIGHBORS
neighborhood.
We’ve seen the growth in NoDa, the expanding arts-centric
QC Family Tree approaches corridor running up North Davidson Street through Optimist
community betterment in Enderly Park, Belmont, Villa Heights and NoDa proper. We’ve seen a steady push of progress up Central Avenue toward Eastway,
Park with a distinctive humility: by edging out historic businesses, churches and communities in
respecting the culture, neighborhood exchange for trendy mid-rise apartments and every craft beer
and burger business possible to meet the needs of the grow-
and history already there—and ing population of these once-small urban areas. Houses that
once cost at or around $100k and below are now settling in at not trying to change it.
$400k and above with profit rolling in for the faceless devel-
WORDS: LIZ LOGAN opers behind this fast and supposed progress.
The newness is infectious, attracting transplants from PHOTOGRAPHY: RANDY RIVERA
across the nation to get a bite of what Charlotte has to offer—
the amenities are growing—and the opportunities that come
with a booming urban landscape.
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A COMMUNITY MEAL AT QC FAMILY TREE
Opportunities for some, that is. What is seen as opportune ing systematically renovated and restored. Publications like
for the demographic Charlotte is attracting—mostly white, Forbes and Business Insider are taking notice of Charlotte’s
young adult, college graduate—is seen as a demise of an en- rapid growth and development, lending weight to the idea
tire group of people that is often forgotten by our City’s lead- that this is, in fact, exactly what our city needed.
ers and most powerful voices.
This forgotten group of people is being slowly pushed out n 2010, I met a couple who are a living and breathing
of neighborhoods edging the Uptown Charlotte area. They pulse of the insiders with a different perspective. An art-
have been pushed out of NoDa, Plaza Midwood, Elizabeth, ist incubation community (Area 15) in the Optimist Park
with these neighborhoods expanding as fast as building per- neighborhood was hosting Shane Claiborne, an author andmits can be signed. Iactivist to whom many young progressive Christians, having
Among these growing neighborhoods is the Historic West found themselves fed up with the traditional church, flock.
End. Businesses have been slowly lining West Morehead Claiborne speaks a message of community, growth, inten-
Street and Freedom Drive as the neighborhoods of Camp tionality and advocacy with more clarity than the traditional
Greene, Enderly Park, Biddleville, Severville, and Smallwood church. Claiborne’s message encourages believers not to rely
have gotten a taste of the inevitable growth of encroaching on outreach programs and ministry budgets but to go forth
urban development. Houses are being renovated and ex- themselves by living life alongside those marginalized and
panded, dwarfing the original architecture, new families are oppressed by our current society.
moving in, breweries—a sign of this generation’s economic I’d shown up to this event after finding myself in the
growth and development—show up seemingly without no- aforementioned demographic after reading Claiborne’s “Jesus
tice. Drive-through craft coffee shops appear in a neighbor- for President,” eager to hear about this lifestyle so foreign to
hood where many do not have cars, excluding them not by the comforts of my small-town upbringing and stereotypical
words or intention but in the unspoken realm of privilege. southern church. These ideas—open door policies, hospitali-
From an outsider’s perspective, this is fantastic. Business ty houses, community meals—were romantic and foreign to
is booming, the city is thriving, entire neighborhoods are be- me, seeming to take place only in far-away historic cities like
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Philadelphia where Claiborne’s intentional community, The before supper. From time to time, this type of living—people
Simple Way, is found. of different backgrounds sharing life and responsibilities in a
I was introduced by a friend to Greg and Jennifer “Helms” less-than-shiny part of town—is too much for these young
Jarrell, a couple who in 2005 silently and with little fanfare college students to bear, with the occasional departure just a
bought a house and opened its doors to the West End neigh- few days in.
borhood, known to most residents as “Tuck,” of Enderly Park. Then, there’s the neighbors. Kids of all ages and back-
Alongside another couple who have since moved on, the Jar- grounds come to the Jarrells’ home daily for dinners, pottery
rells founded Hyaets, which would later become QC Family classes in a shed-turned-studio, Bible lessons on Wednesdays,
Tree (QCFT) as it is today. field trips on teacher work days. What QC Family Tree offers
To find a community thriving as those I’d only then read these kids, and often their families, is a sense of home.
about in Claiborne’s writings and others of the New Mo- When the Jarrells moved in a little over 11 years ago after
nastic movement in the heart of our city was everything I’d having attended seminary in Richmond, VA, they made the
hoped for. To see this type of community lived out so close to choice to land in Charlotte not because of what they liked but
home was encouraging and exciting, lighting a fire in a way because of what they didn’t. Having grown up in the Raleigh
that only newly-discovered ways of thinking can. area and attending college at Appalachian State, the Jarrells
QCFT was then a pick-up station for The Simple Way’s felt a draw back to North Carolina but longed for the arts and
magazine, Conspire. I would stop by to pick up new editions culture found in cities like Richmond.
as they came out, hoping for a glimpse of true community When recalling her initial reaction to Charlotte, Helms
living without having to commit to this lifestyle myself. At says, “It seemed stripped clean in comparison to Richmond,
the time, I viewed community living with the awe of an out- like the culture had been wiped away and replaced with in-
sider, as though it were a form of art of that I could walk away dustry.” What they’d found was that big business seemed to
from, digesting it for a few days but then slowly and surely rule all, meaning that money—not culture, not people, not
forgetting its wonder. community—was Charlotte’s main drive in growth, and they
The night of the Claiborne reading, Aaron Stone, leader of wanted to counteract this.
a former community house on 18th Street, said, “Most of the So where the tricky part of community, the reality of dedi-
time, people like the idea of community more than the com- cating your life to opening your home and yourself, is coming
munity itself.” That is to say that there is an understanding to the realization that it’s going to be more than dinner-host-
that community—true community—has a way of attracting ing and Bible studies, going to be more than pottery kilns and
bright-eyed hopefuls to a romantic world of harmony and swimming trips. With the population surge and westward ex-
tranquility by way of kind neighbors and simple living. Once pansion of the city, through various organizations and, again,
truly entering a community, however, it is not long before you faceless developers, the intentional community of QCFT had
begin to see the needs, the trials, the frustrations of living to take a few steps back in order to help propel their neigh-
openly. borhood forward.
QCFT is not immune to this type of communal reality. The neighborhood of Enderly Park has existed long before
As I followed them around from year to year, inviting myself Greg and Helms began dreaming of being planted there. The
to evening dinners, served promptly at 5:30 p.m. daily, and community was thriving without them, city planning or a fair
watching as our children grew into being great friends, the distribution of neighborhood funding. When the Greg and
reality of community became very apparent. Helms moved in, they wanted only to be a part of this and
First, there’s the interns. Each summer, QCFT hosts four live together, to be a voice for the voiceless and to hear what
or five interns to help with Freedom School, a summer read- those voices have to say, year after year.
ing program for children in marginalized communities like “Your lifestyle matters,” Helms says. “In the South, racism
Enderly Park. These interns come from colleges around the is structural and embedded in our society through our laws,
country and have stayed, up until this summer, in the up- city planning, school systems.” The Jarrells see this from the
stairs-turned-bunk of the Jarrells’ Parkway Avenue house, and inside as their schools, roads and parks are consistently over-
are now hosted in an adjacent home on Tuckaseegee Road looked from the standpoint of funding and their community
called, fittingly, The Tuck House. of QCFT lives alternatively as a way to combat this.
The interns are of great help to the community, assisting Community dinners are advertised on a chalkboard out-
with gardening, cooking dinner, cleaning, like an urban Green side the Parkway Avenue house. “Community Dinner, This
Gables with farm hands earning their keep and washing up Friday, 6:30 p.m.” Around 6:30 or so (times are loose around
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NEIGHBOR MARY HOUSTON
here), chairs are set up in the Jarrells’ ed,” a young female youth leader from at the Tuck House, which gives a dif-
front yard, tables are unfolded and line Tennessee admits, as she quickly chang- ferent approach to commerce and con-
the front porch. Greg, Helms, neighbors es topics to discuss an art project they sumerism. Their progressive steps toward
and interns hurry around making salads proudly taken part in. inclusivity involve a yard sale—where all
and setting out meals typically prepared Greg can often be found deep in con- items are given away—a lunch catered
and donated by churches and organiza- versation with community hopefuls, in- by local businesses (also free) and classes
tions. Often, the groups who have donat- dulging curious minds, while Helms ral- on pottery, gardening, chicken-raising,
ed stick around but sometimes it is easier lies the troops and gives them the “Only all from the perspective of spirituality
if they don’t, “then we”—the Jarrells and one plate until everyone has eaten” talk and sustainability. This contrast from our
their neighbors—“don’t have to be ‘on’ that she delivers gracefully and kindly society provides a space of welcome and
and can just be ourselves without feeling at each meal. From time to time, peo- oneness as opposed to a culture of finan-
a need to entertain,” says Helms. ple will move to the neighborhood with cial hierarchy.
These dinners, though, can be a great the initial intention of “outreach,” eager “To see someone as ‘less than’ is not
educational experience for the churches to become involved in the Good Work fact. ‘Fortunate’ does not equal monetary
when they choose to stay. Neighbors and happening on Tuck, only to find it to be value. These labels are created by us to
community members pile their plates, challenging and wearisome. QCFT kin- identify ourselves and connect to those
kids play soccer across the street in an folk don’t have this option. whose values are the same and differ-
open lot, older folks sit down and share The openness they’ve created follows entiate ourselves from others,” Helms
stories. The yard is packed, 50 – 100 them even into their home. When neigh- explains in response to the idea that the
community members sharing a meal to- bors are displaced, the upstairs bunks be- concept of their lifestyle and this free
gether. The opportunity to observe this come what the QCFT calls a “Nesting economy is “an outreach to those in need
beautiful portrait of community and Place.” Visitors can stay in these living or less fortunate.” “We need to think be-
humanity changes bystander’s outlooks. quarters as they find a way to be rooted, yond consumerism, against these values
Most visiting folks I talk to clam up experiencing Biblical hospitality in the that vary by class. Within the middle
when asked what they thought of their most genuine of ways. class, ‘things’ are valued, ‘stature’ is val-
time at QCFT. “It’s not what I expect- Each April, a “Share Day” takes place ued. Within the traditionally considered
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‘lower’ class, value is seen through family members and re- filtration and acquisition of property and profit for oneself is
lationships. To say ‘less fortunate,’ we are just hoping to feel in conflict with the ways of God, says Helms. Around town,
politically correct and mask the word ‘poor’.” you’ll see signs that read “We Buy Houses.” To bring aware-
One of the subtle dangers of missionary work, local and ness to the harm of this growth, the signs are often remade
abroad, is that the workers end up trying to change people with taglines such “Our community can’t be bought” or the
and culture just as much or more than they bring spiritual phone number covered with a giant sticker reading “Nope.”
Light. This cheaper version of transformation leaves commu-
nities without a sense of self and identity as they are forced ell-meaning visiting churches and middle class
to take on the identities of the influential people who have white people who come to this neighborhood
moved in and taken hostage their culture in exchange for to tour and sit in on community meals are often
their souls. challenged when they stick around and see what true com- The QCFT ministry is a paradigm shift from how many munityWliving looks like. It’s not always pretty or ideal. In fact,
of us grew to understand ministry—they do not go in to it rarely is. There is death, oppression, violence, sadness. But
change: they go in to be changed and for that change to move there is also goodness, and hope, and a dinner table ready to
them forward. They hope to be a part—not the whole—of host anyone who walks through the doors.
the neighborhood maintaining its cultural integrity in spite But most importantly, there is shared ownership in the
of fears of being lost in the city’s wake. The Jarrells moved in mission. This is not about QCFT coming in to take control
and became one of the neighbors. and lead the blind. This is about growing together, each one
offering of themselves to the other and taking on a place of
aking steps back to see the respect and cultural beau- commonality and equality.
ty of this historic neighborhood filled with loving Greg, Helms and the others that comprise QCFT are
families, incredible artists, and growing children, the reaching out to the church, hoping to teach them that there
Jarrells and QCFT had to reassess the needs of their neigh- are real needs that go beyond the well-protected missionsbors.TTypical church ministry relies on prayer and on Chris- outings and Sunday morning pews. There are real people,
tian outreach, both of which the Jarrells do. Each day is built with real needs and real stories, and QC Family Tree is a place
around a prayer schedule where the community can come for them to call home.
together and they bring Bible teaching into all they do. But To love the community beyond just the idea is to open
where many churches end, is just the beginning for QCFT. yourself and your doors. To love the community beyond just
Over the last few years, because of encroaching develop- the idea is to do the work, start the organization, step in for
ment, there has been an undecided fate for the West End your brothers and sisters. To love the community beyond the
communities. To combat this, QCFT has taken their time, idea is letting go of yourself and your home, being sometimes
passion and connections and began West End Community crowded, frustrated and discouraged. To love the community
Land Trust, a non-profit organization within their organi- beyond the idea is to stay with a community, to not give up,
zation designed to combat the growth steamrolling towards and to help direct the change in a way that is positive, a light
their neighbors. The hope is to find individuals capable of in the darkness.
buying land and then adding it to the trust, which would have When asked by traditional churches, “How many have
full say over what is either built or rebuilt, with the hope of been saved by your ministry?” Greg always responds: “Me.”
community preservation.
The threat of being edged out is real as our thriving city Get Connected with QCFT at qcfamilytree.org.
continues to push for more acquisition of properties. This in-
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WORDS OF JUSTICE
TIMELESS WISDOM FOR LIFE
REFRESH DEFEND FEED
You insult your Maker Speak up for the peop- Generous hands are
when you exploit the le who have no voice, blessed hands because
powerless; when you’re for the rights of all the they give bread to the
kind to the poor, you down-and-outers. poor.
honor God. —Prov 31:8 —Prov 22:9
—Prov 14:31
LOVE CARE HELP
It’s criminal to ignore The one who blesses Mercy to the needy is a
a neighbor in need, others is abundantly loan to God, and God
but compassion for the blessed; those who help pays back those loans
poor—what a blessing! others are helped. in full.
—Prov 14:21 —Prov 11:25 —Prov 19:17
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PRISON
letters from prison
please remember me
Illustration: María José Gómez
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DEAR SPEAK UP, DEAR SPEAK UP,
Hello. How is the Speak Up family doing? I miss you, and We lost another inmate this weekend. The officer that was
I’m sorry. I’m in the New York State Prison in Mid-State working that day was provoking this inmate, and he got
Correctional Facility. I have two years more years to go. I’ll tired of it and threw a blanket over her head. The other in-
come home in late 2019. Please keep me in your prayers. mates tried to stop him, but things got heated. Some officers
YOUR OLD FRIEND, came in and took the inmate that put the blanket over the
FREDRICK female officer’s head and beat him to death.
The inmate died! So another inmate is dead this year.
DEAR SPEAK UP, Speak Up family, please keep that inmate’s family in prayer.
Remember that notebook I filled with my writings, I want AFRAID,
that to become a book. Can Speak Up publish it? FREDRICK
Tell everyone at Speak Up that prison is bad. The time
I’ve been here, people try to rape me and call me all kind of
names like “faggot” and “you’re gay” and “we hate you” and DEAR SPEAK UP
“we hate people like you.” I was just told by the doctor I have leukemia cancer, and I
I’m hurting right now. Sometimes I feel like killing my- may have five years to live. But I know God has me in His
self, but I don’t. The only thing keeping me alive is Jesus. care, and I’ll trust God and not man. The doctor said I was
PRAY FOR ME, battling with leukemia for two years now. I guess it runs in
FREDRICK my family. My mother died from it. But I’m okay. Just need
a lot of love and people to write me. Write me, people, so I
DEAR SPEAK UP, will not worry about my cancer. Please.
You have some good people that are in prison for the wrong I need to stay strong. I need people to strengthen me
choices. But people don’t see this. People think about the in prayer, please. My wife don’t write me. She left me for a
bad things that they done, and think they are just bad. younger man, so I’m here all alone. No one sends me a mon-
My parents taught me right from wrong. I got A’s and ey order, not even $10.00. Please ask someone to send me
B’s and some C’s and D’s in school. When I was 17 I saw soap and candy and chips and cookies. Most people don’t
my friends having fun and smoking and coming in late. I have the time for us prisoners but maybe someone reading
wanted the same things they were doing, so I ran away and this will help me.
went to New York City to try the street life. Drugs, drinking I’M VERY LONELY,
and having sex and messed up my life for 25 years. FREDRICK
I’M BEING HONEST,
FREDRICK DEAR SPEAK UP,
Please don’t forget about me.
DEAR SPEAK UP, Jesus said, “When I was in prison, you came to me or you
I’m in prison for the choice I chose to make at the time. I sent me the things I need like money or food, like candy and
chose wrong and not right. I was in New York City visiting, cookies, and chips and soap. And you said to Jesus, ‘When
and I ran out of money. Instead of asking someone for $60 have I done this to you?’ And Jesus will say, ‘When you took
so I could get on the bus back home, I went into someone’s care of Fredrick, my man of God, you did it to me, Jesus.’”
apartment and stole money. That choice sent me to prison YOUR OLD FRIEND,
for five years. FREDRICK
REGRETFUL,
FREDRICK The letters are real. Contact Speak Up to write to Fredrick.
Email: mag@speakupmag.org.
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ARTWORK
SUBSCRIBE TO BEANS
Legendary writer and artist David Alan Goldberg was
homeless for sixteen years. Now he has his own place.
He draws and writes BEANS ZINE, a printed booklet
of words, sketches and wit. Each month DAG tackles a
different topic related to homelessness and surviving on
the streets. His previous topics have included “Where to
Sleep” and “How to Potty.”
SUBSCRIBE & GET A FREE SAMPLE AT
SPEAKUPMAG.ORG/DAG
TO THE RIGHT: FRAME DAG’S ART.
Bishop Romero, of El Salvador, was a defender of the poor, a warrior against
poverty, a voice for the unfortunate, and a fighter against torture and political
violence. He was assassinated in 1980.
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EMPOWERED
MEET SOME OF SPEAK UP’S HARDEST-
WORKING MAGAZINE VENDORS
THE ADVOCATE THE POET THE FRIEND
Kimberly joined Speak Up in 2014. Sheila joined Speak Up in 2014. Joshua joined Speak Up in 2014.
She sells the magazine anywhere she She sells the magazine in Plaza He sells the magazine in Uptown.
has opportunity. She is an advocate Midwood. A talented wordsmith, A generous friend, he has recruited
for the broken person and a relentless she writes prolifically and has been more new vendors than any other
voice for the voiceless. published by Speak Up often. current vendor.
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THEY SELL MAGAZINES TO GET OFF THE
STREETS & GIVE A VOICE TO THE VOICELESS.
THE WORKER THE ENTREPRENEUR THE CONNECTOR
Edward joined Speak Up in 2015. He Earleen joined Speak Up in 2013. She Ruth joined Speak Up in 2012. She
sells the magazine in Uptown at the sells the magazine in NoDa, where she sells at various farmer’s markets,
corner of 5th and Tryon. Edward has says, “They love me.” Always positive including Atherton Market on
created a legacy of self-discipline, hard and always looking up—Earleen Saturdays. She is known and loved
work, and honest effort. makes it happen. by many friends.
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A N UNUSUA L COATINNOVATION
that creates
SHELT ER & JO B S
n 2010, when Veronika Scott was a
product design student at The College
for Creative Studies in Detroit, she
was presented with an assignment: create Ia product that fulfills an actual need for
society. Scott began thinking about people
experiencing homelessness, and what she
could create to serve their needs. Around
16,000 people are homeless in Detroit,
with 2,100 in shelters and 193 un-
sheltered, according to the city’s
2016 Point-In-Time survey. In
February, low temperatures for Detroit
WORDS: DANIELLE KROLEWICZ average 20 degrees, but can often drop be-
PHOTOS: THE EMPOWERMENT PLAN low the teens at night with the wind chill.
COURTESY OF DENVER VOICE / INSP.NGO Scott decided to develop a coat that turns
into a sleeping bag.
Photo: Maddie Toro
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While conducting research for the coat at a local shelter, a
woman told Scott that she wasn’t solving homelessness be-
cause the thing people needed were jobs, not coats. Scott took
this feedback to heart and created the Empowerment Plan as
a response, employing women experiencing homelessness to
produce the coats and giving them on-the-job training and
skills to do so.
The EMPWR coat is built to last in all seasons: the ma-
terial is made of water-resistant Corder fabric from Carhartt,
and up-cycled automotive insulation from General Motors—
both Detroit-based companies that donate the materials. In
the winter it functions as a coat with a bottom that unfolds
into a sleeping bag. During warmer months it can be folded
up into a one shoulder bag.
“We want people to have a garment that can instill a sense
of pride—it’s not just someone’s hand-me-down,” said Cassie
Coravos, communication and projects manager for the Em-
powerment Plan. AN EMPOWERMENT PLAN WORKER SEWS A COAT
The nonprofit works with local organizations and shelters Photo: Brian Kelly
in the area for distribution. Coalition On Temporary Shelter
(COTS), a family-only emergency shelter and a communi- who then distribute them to people living on the streets. The
ty partner from the beginning, is where the Empowerment goal of the Empowerment Plan, however, is more than ex-
Plan recruits most new employees. According to Coravos, all panding production and shipment. They aim to be a model
seamstresses at the Empowerment Plan have exited the shel- for companies in other cities to adapt similar business prac-
ter and are no longer homeless. tices.
“Everyone we hire, we hire out of shelters, and we work “We hope that beyond just working with people we can
quickly to get them housed. Our programs manager works get others to think about homelessness differently. People of-
individually with people to get them into a home when they ten have a stereotype in mind of what homelessness looks
come on board,” explained Coravos. That includes getting the like, but people are just people,” said Coravos.
home furnished and figuring out the logistics of transporta- The barriers to employment for people experiencing
tion and day care. “We work with them to get all those things homelessness and poverty are numerous: education, childcare,
in place that keep you from getting and keeping a job.” transportation, and lack of housing to name a few. Programs
Since 2011, the Empowerment Plan has produced more at the Empowerment Plan address all of these barriers.
than 20,000 EMPWR coats, which have shipped to 48 “We hope that by showing people what we’re doing we
different states, seven Canadian provinces, and even Aus- can get them to rethink their hiring processes,” said Coravos.
tralia. Thirty-nine previously homeless people have gained “Instead of just writing people off because someone hasn’t had
employment as seamstresses on the production team, with a stable job in however long, we hope employers will want to
25 currently employed. Some seamstresses have moved up figure out why that is.”
within the company, taking on roles as production special- Employees at the Empowerment Plan earn full-time wag-
ists assisting with managing production on the floor. Other es from 9-5, Monday through Friday, and are compensated
seamstresses have successfully moved on to other businesses for that time regardless of whether it is spent sewing, attend-
such as home health care, construction, and starting their own ing a class, meeting with a social worker, or at an employee
businesses, according to Coravos. lunch. According to Coravos, half of the team attends GED
“Since we’ve started, we’ve grown a lot,” Coravos said. or college classes two days a week, with professional develop-
“We’d like to double our workforce in the future, and move ment and financial literacy classes alternating weekly.
into a larger space.” Right now the entire company operates “If we’re going to keep people from becoming homeless
out of a co-working warehouse space, Ponyride, near down- again, we need to help build them up,” Piccirilli said.
town Detroit.
Most of the coats produced are sponsored by individuals Order a coat and learn more: empowermentplan.org.
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LETTER
IT JUST TAKES AN EAREDITOR
WORDS: MATT SHAW
ince, who is on the cover, was in North Carolina, then Vince ends with, “I appreciate you just to listen. Some-
he went back to Florida. As you’ve read, he is thought- times it doesn’t take a dollar, it just takes an ear.”
ful and eloquent. A friend gave him a Chromebook Please watch the video: it is real and humanizing and
computer, and he emails me multiple times weekly. He is one heartbreaking. (And it is a little confusing: just 20 minutes Vof many homeless writers who has journeyed through the later, he was arrested for trespassing.)
area, moved on, but continues to send letters. “Fredrick,” writ- This is obviously an unfolding story.
ing from prison, is another. You can watch the video, read more by Vince and connect
Two weeks into July, I got an email from an old friend of with him at the website we recently set up: iamvince.org.
Vince’s. She wondered if I had heard from him—I scanned
my inbox and discovered he had been silent since July 3. She
said the same was true for her. I googled “Vince Shumate AS WE MOVE FORWARD
Obituary”—morbid, I know, but homelessness kills. Nothing.
We found him in the arrest records for July 3. He’s in jail This magazine is an upgrade—both in quality and cover cost.
in Sarasota for trespassing. Over the last couple weeks, we’ve Homeless magazine sellers (vendors) buy copies for a low
continued to track his progress. Most recent: at arraignment price and sell them for the cover price, keeping the cash. Our
he pled “not guilty” and was assigned a public defender. hope with the price increase is to see them hit a “livable in-
A curious picture has developed. The arrest record indi- come” level quicker and get off the streets faster. We’d love to
cated he was told to leave a certain address because he was hear your thoughts on the changes.
disrupting a meeting. That certain address was City Hall. —
The City calendar for July 3rd showed a Council meeting In fact, we’d love your feedback on a number of things. Like,
had happened. More digging. The Council meeting’s minutes who are you? What do you think about adding a digital edi-
contains this single sentence: “Vince Paul Shumaker indicat- tion? Where and how did you get this magazine? It will really
ing Sarasota is thanked and has been good to him, no one has help us to get your insights. We set up a survey to make it easy.
ever been approached for spare change, however, a bus ticket Go to speakupmag.org/survey (and select the name of
to North Carolina is requested.” A murky line that didn’t nat- your favorite vendor so they get a free magazine to sell).
urally lend itself to an arrest—there must be more to the story. —
Then we found a video of the seven-hour meeting. Vince We do this—making magazines that give a voice and income
appears during the 22-minute mark at the open mic session to people on the streets—on a very tight budget. Our annual
for “Citizens’ Input.” He is gentle and slight and sad as he income has never been over $70K. For this opportunity to
introduces himself to the City Council. continue, we must grow financially.
“My name is Vince Paul Shumate. I’m homeless. I’ve been Most gifts come from individuals, but businesses of any
homeless for a long time. Like 30 years. I’m a writer for Speak size are also excellent partners: our homeless clients share the
Up Magazine. That can be documented—I’ve got a Chrome- same values of hard work, opportunity-seeking, and financial
book over there—I can document it: I’m a writer. I write independence instead of dependency. Please email me to dis-
about everything.” cuss sponsorship or advertising: mattshaw@speakupmag.org.
He goes on, at one point thanking a Council member for —
saying hello to him. His voice cracks as he fights back tears. NEXT ISSUE: We go out with The Watchmen—a group
He pauses long, head in hand, and the weight of loss and that reaches deep into the darkness of the homeless world to
sadness is clear—years of struggle press upon him. He seems bring support, food, and hope to people on the fringes.
not to be sober. The Council members are gracious; one points
Vince to an officer in the back for homeless services support. Join the email newsletter at speakupmag.org/contact.
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EACH MAGAZINE IS A SEED
that gives a voice to the voiceless and
creates income for a street entrepreneur.
EACH MAGAZINE STARTS A CYCLE
of personal growth, economic empowerment,
honest work, and self-respect.
YOU MAKE IT ALL POSSIBLE
thanks to your gift, sponsorship or other
financial partnership.
MAKE IT POSSIBLE TODAY.
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SPONSORS & PARTNERS
THESE FINE FRIENDS PROVIDE PARTNERSHIP AND RESOURCES
TO SUPPORT THE MISSION AND PEOPLE OF SPEAK UP.
LAKESHORE CHRISTIAN LAW FIRM OF ATHERTON MILL
FELLOWSHIP ROBERT FORQUER AND MARKET
lakeshorecf.com legaledgecharlotte.com athertonmillandmarket.com
HAWTHORNE LANE BOINGO THE HARVEST
UMC GRAPHICS CENTER
hlumc.org boingographics.com theharvestcenter.org
BARBARA BANKS SOZO RESTORATION THE VINEYARD CHURCH
PHOTOGRAPHY AND COUNSELING OF ROCK HILL
barbarabanks.com sozorestoration.org rockhillvineyard.org
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