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Speak Up is a 501(c)3 nonprofit.

It exists to serve the community by providing
income opportunities and a voice for people facing homelessness.

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The first issue of the magazine was published in October 2011.

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People on the streets buy copies of the magazine for a low price and resell
those copies one-by-one in public places.

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They keep all the cash from their sales, using the money earned to cover
basic life expenses and work their way out of homelessness.

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Over the years, as the magazine has taken many different looks, the main
purpose always remained consistent: provide people on the streets with a
voice-giving product that they can sell to earn money.

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The current style of magazine is what you hold in your hands: small book­
let that features a single story by an author who has been homeless.

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The purpose of Speak Up is to support the “vendors,” which is how we
describe the hardworking people wbo buy and sell the magazine in order to
work their way off the streets.

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This is not a handout. In order to make money, they have to be salespeople
who bravely invite the public to buy a copy. Most people say no.

It takes diligence and hard work to be successful. It is not easy.

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Selling the magazine produces more than just money.

For many vendors, the money earned is often the sidebar to a significant
transformation that occurs. Selling Speak Up gives a taste of hard work,
dignity and ownership—it develops the belief that diligent effort leads to
lasting results.

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Here’s a story about a courageous man who had been jobless and homeless
for over four years.

A month after he started selling magazines, he was able to afford rent for
an apartment. Two months later, he bought a car. A month after that he
bought lawn care equipment, stopped selling magazines, and started his
own small business. Shortly after that he hired his first employee.

Through Speak Up, he want from jobless to job-creator in just six months.

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Earlier this year we changed the magazine release schedule from monthly
to weekly and increased the cover price. This has resulted in a significant
increase of income to homeless vendors.

They now earn over four times as much money!

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Speak Up’s funding comes mostly from individual donors like you.

Here’s what this year’s income has looked like so far:

First six months of First six months of First six months of
2018 actual 2018 budgeted 2017 actual

$20,484 $35,400 $29,313

We need to hit certain financial goals into order to continue to provide a
weekly publication. As you can see, income is 40% under budget for 2018
and well below last year’s numbers.

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To keep this going, we must catch up financially.

This is an urgent need.

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The purpose of this issue is to invite you to donate so Speak Up can contin­
ue to publish new magazines each week that give a voice to the voiceless
and provide an income opportunity that allows people to work their way
off the streets and be transformed in the process.

If you give often, please consider a special donation.

If you’ve given before, please give again.

If you haven’t given yet, please start now!

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PLEASE GIVE

BY MAIL

SPEAK UP
501 Hawthorne Lane
Charlotte, NC 28204

ONLINE

SPEAKUPMAG.ORG