Zine 18 – Speak Up Magazine

1 / 24

Read as text

Page 1

VOL 2 | ISSUE 2 | $2.00

CHARLOTTE’S VOICE
FOR THE HOMELESS

Page 2

“Speak Up for those
who cannot speak for
themselves, for the rights
of all who are destitute.”
Proverbs 31:8

More than a Magazine Get Involved

Speak Up Magazine is a 501(c)3 non-prof- Volunteers and interns are welcomed for
it that gives voice to and offers an in- creative areas, such as photography, ed-
come opportunity for homeless and vul- iting, teaching, production and design, as
nerably-housed people. They become well as fundraising, social services and
micro-business owners who buy copies of more. Please contact us to help out.
Speak Up for a low price and resell them,
keeping all the cash and earning a profit.
As a result, these enterprising street ven-
dors learn to manage their resources, grow Speak Up is Local
their businesses and change their lives with
dignity. Unique editions of Speak Up are pub-
lished monthly in Traverse City, MI, andSpeak Up is a member of the International
Charlotte, NC.Network of Street Papers, which connects
and supports over 100 such organizations To explore bringing Speak Up to your re-
worldwide. gion, visit speakupmag.org/local.

This Zine Team Contact

Editing & Writing Clinics Charlotte Oﬃce (NC)
Matt Shaw, Sabrina BP, Peggi Knowe, Matt (704) 980-9885
Shaw, Ben Shaw, Nate Casey, Robb Astor, speakupmag.org
office@speakupmag.orgLana Shaw, Harry Griffin, Melissa
1515 S Mint St,Sprenkle, Bill Shaw, Mary Pierce, Mickey Charlotte, NC 28203
Grooters, Deborah Shaw, Leah Burnett
Traverse City Chapter (MI)
Visuals speakuptc.com
Photos: Deb Shaw, Matt Shaw billshaw@speakupmag.org
Design: C.Bay Design

Page 3

VENDOR
PROGRAM

Frequently
Asked
Questions

What is a Speak Up vendor?
“Vendor” is the title for the hard-working individuals who distribute Speak Up. Most likely,
they are experiencing homelessness or are vulnerably housed. Your purchase of this maga-
zine is part of their journey out of poverty. You can learn more at speakupmag.org/vendors.

How does someone become a vendor?
1. Sign up for & come to an interview
3. Attend the training day
4. Sign the Code of Conduct
5. Get 20 free Zines and temporary badge
6. Reinvest and attend weekly meetings
Look for a valid Speak Up badge

What if I give money but don’t take the magazine?
Always take the magazine. This individual is working hard, please don’t make them take a
hand out. Feel free to tip, but always take the product. This gives dignity, not just money.

But I don’t have any cash!
A few smartphone-equipped vendors can accept a credit card payment. For now, the best
option is to plan ahead and bring cash.

How can I help?
Here’s one way: Be a friend to the person that sells the magazine. Sit down with them for
coffee, buy them lunch, get to know them. Keep it simple. Healthy and encouraging relation-
ships are crucial as people build new community and grow in opportunity and perspective.

Page 4

SPEAK UP VENDORS
BRING INSPIRATION ONE
MAGAZINE AT A TIME
Dear Friends,
There’s a good chance that you bought this You may have encountered Tom in Char-
magazine from a Speak Up vendor. The lotte, NC, during the eight months he sold
vendor who sold it to you is either home- Speak Up. Well loved by many, Tom would
less, vulnerably housed, or recently home- often say during his office visits, “I can’t talk
less. Right now, all across the world, street long. I’ve got customers waiting!” Then out
papers and magazines like Speak Up are he would run – literally run – up the sidewalk
celebrating these magazine-selling vendors. toward Uptown. He’s now happily living in
It’s a big community and a huge celebration: a veterans’ residency program in Asheville,
114 street papers in 35 different countries NC, that provides room, board and job train-
are read by six million readers like you. And ing. This is the result of Tom’s remarkable
each day, these papers are faithfully distrib- work ethic and persistent desire to better
uted and sold by 14,000 vendors across the himself.
globe. Perhaps you’ve purchased magazines from
Frank in Traverse City, MI. “I have 1,250 cus-Although there are thousands of vendors
tomers, for sure,” he said. Jubilant, outgoing,selling magazines right now, I believe that
and full of lyrical passion, Frank leveragesthe most significant figure is the smallest:
his artistry and physicality when selling mag-one. Street magazines impact individuals
azines. He hops, dances and calls out wittyand communities in groups of one. One
sayings and puns to passersby. “Excuse me,vendor, bravely stepping out to change his
sir, have you been Zine’d today?” he’ll ask,or her circumstances. One sale, the start of
holding up the latest copy of Speak Up Zine.a cycle of self-sufficiency. One magazine,
When the weather is good, Frank is out earlyinforming and deepening the public conver-
in the morning and works for many hours.sation about homelessness. One customer,
you, buying a magazine and giving back dig- Speak Up vendors, we are proud of you!
nity and opportunity. What you are choosing when you go out to
sell your magazines is the harder and moreWe are immensely proud of the men and
honorable way of personal responsibility andwomen who sell these magazines every respectable work. You are doing great. Youweek. Doing so is not easy. When individu- deserve our respect and honor. Keep look-als enter Speak Up’s vendor program, they ing up–the best is yet to come!are given a “seed” of 20 free magazines.
However, fewer than half of them will return Thank You,
to reinvest and buy more magazines. There
are no promises of quick, easy money; Matt Shaw
and being successful requires consistency Executive Director
and tenacity.

Page 5

I love the beauty of feeling like the whole
center city is literally my home. Each
block is a different room with several
being different bedrooms. Wake up
to the best and brightest of Charlotte,
right? Busy, busy bees, smartly dressed,
and, man, I get to be there to perturb
people. Where is the beauty in that?
Tom, page 14

Homesteading 06
An Interview with Earleen Mingo 08
Attitude 09
Alzheimer’s Disease 10
In Their Words 11
Sign 12
A Beautiful Thing Experienced on the Street 14
Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow 15
Trials and Tribulations to Resilience 16
Finding Forgiveness on Death Row 17
East Jordan High School Sells Speak Up Zine 20
Love in a Pot 22
Sponsors 23

Page 6

[GLIMPSE]

HOMESTEADING
Interview by Bill Shaw in Traverse City, MI
So you want to protect your identity. had enough, this is what I like to do. I get
Do you have an alias we could use? away from it all, regroup, get my spiritu-
ality in order, and try it all again.Yep, Swamp Thing. My friends will know
who that is, and the rest will have no idea. I’ve been in a tent since last spring. I
used to live in a cabin I had built between
Cedar and Traverse City. I lived there five
Swamp Thing, did you years. It wasn’t my property though.
grow up in Traverse City?
Yep, born and raised here. I grew up on How has the wintryThree Mile across from the East Bay El- weather affected you?ementary School. I graduated from Tra-
verse City High School in 1976…should Bring it on. Bring it on. The colder the
have been ‘75. I have family here, two better. I have wrapped this place with five
daughters, one in Traverse and one in layers of 30# felt, or maybe it’s 60#, the
heaviest they make, and two layers of iceBuckley. They would like this place, es-
and water shield.pecially my grandchildren. I am waiting
to bring them out until I have it fixed up
a little more. What do you eat here?
Is this your first year camping out? Just about everything. This is my refrig-
Oh no, all my life. Back to the basics. erator. I’ve got hot dogs, ham, milk, bolo-
Well, not all my life; but whenever I’ve gna, olives, chicken…

Page 7

Where do you shop? things. I have blood clots in my lungs.
What do they call that, pulmonary embo-Family Fare. Not Walmart, definitely not. It
is too big a place for me. lism? I shouldn’t smoke, but I’d probably
die if I quit.
So you’re building this
“squatter” home, and What do you need living here?
people know you are here.
How long do you think it will last? Well, I need a box stove. You can’t really
go to sleep with this thing [chiminea]. It’sIf it lasts until tomorrow, it will be too long.
great on a deck, which is what it was de-People know I’m here. At this point no one
signed for, but it’s just a fireplace and em-has said anything. I try to stay low.
bers pop out and you have to be on the
stick to get them out. That’s all I need, a
What would you do if small box stove. I know February will be a
someone made you leave? kick in the butt.
Well, I’d probably get my stuff out and
have a big bonfire. I don’t worry about to-
morrow. I could die tonight. What would you tell others who are
How is your health? experiencing homelessness?
Not good. I have diabetes and other It’s out there if you want it bad enough.

Page 8

[COVER VENDOR INTERVIEW]
An Interview
with Earleen Mingo
Interviewed by Matt Shaw in Charlotte, NC
Where are you from originally?
I was born and raised in New York. We would
come down here [to Charlotte] when I was
about 13. I have been on and off, back and
forth, from New York all my life…that is my city.
Where are you living right now?
I’m living with a friend. I am trying to get out on
my own. Tired of staying with people.
What is the best memory you
have from growing up?
Playing Double-Dutch Jump Rope with I fill my bag up with sandwiches, gloves, andmy sister. We used to play it all the time in
whatever they might need.New York.
Have you been homeless?What person has meant the
most to you in your life? Yeah, but I always wind up keeping myself off
the streets. It isn’t easy, but I try to stay safe.I have always been close to my mother. I
I’m working toward getting my own homestayed with my mother all of my life. We were
right now.always close.
Tell me about your family.How did you learn about Speak Up?
My nieces and nephews are awesome. TheyOne day, I was downtown, really struggling
don’t even know that I am in this situation. I’mand trying to figure out what I was going to
trying to build myself up on my own withoutdo next. This lady asked me what was wrong.
their help. Whenever I get to that situationI said, “I don’t know what I am going to do.”
where I can’t do it on my own, I will ask themAnd she said, “Do you want a job?” She
for help. My family is nice, good, strong-mind-brought me to Speak Up.
ed, and all of them are church-going people.
Where do you sell your magazines?
What’s a recent accomplishment?
I sell my magazines just about everywhere,
My very good friend was in a tough situation,but I sell mainly downtown. I have a lot of cus-
and I had the resources to him help out. Nowtomers there. They really like me a lot.
he is with his family in Georgia.
What has been your most positive
During this time of transition,experience while selling Speak Up?
what gives you comfort?
Meeting a lot of nice people. I love meet-
Basically, getting up every day and going toing people, and they have given me a lot
sell my magazines. It keeps me motivated.of inspiration.
Where do you see yourself in five years?How do you like to give back to the
community and help out others in need? As the editor of Speak Up.

Page 9

[REMODELING]
ATTITUDE
by Sean Laura in Traverse City, MI

my old job mowing lawns.
The first day, while working
on the first lawn, I wasn’t
sure I would be able to make
it back to the truck with the
weed whip. I almost didn’t. I
held on and made it through
the week. I saved every
penny, stayed at the shel-
ter, and constantly looked
for extra work. My girlfriend
and I moved into a motel for
a month, and then a friend
decided to let us rent a room
in his basement.
Things were tight. I remem-
ber arguing over spending
$5 on an ashtray. My girl-
friend was working nights
at Burger King. For almost
a year, I ate the burgers that
were left over at the end of
each night. I managed to get
my driver’s license back—it
had been revoked for 17
years. It took months and
every penny I had saved,
but I got it. Then someone
loaned me a truck for a few
months until I could get a
car.
I spent the next few months
trying to get some basic
tools and started my own
Getting back on your feet is not an easy business. Now I’m getting into high-end
thing, but it is not impossible. Five years carpentry, and I own my own house with
ago, I was homeless and barely able to my fiancee and 10-year-old son. The
walk. I got into the shelter, but I had been truth is, anything is possible—and a big
in the system for so long that nobody part of it is your attitude.
wanted to help me. I just focused on be- If you believe that you can do something,
ing able to walk again. At first, it took me and work as hard as you can, and main-
all morning to walk around the block; but tain a positive outlook, anything can hap-
eventually I was able to get around. pen. You never know what’s around the
I talked my old boss into giving me back next corner.

Page 10

[FAMILY]
ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
by Earleen Mingo in Charlotte, NC
I could not get help from DSS for my to pack and put my stuff in a storage
mother. I remember sitting in the park- unit. After a few months, everything
ing lot, and I just cried. I couldn’t be- was gone.
lieve they would not help my mom. My
I cried, prayed, cried, and prayed.mom turned to me and said, “What is
Wherever I went, my mother went. So Iwrong, baby?” I shook my head and
did the best I could until I couldn’t do itsaid, “Nothing. It’s okay.” I went back
any more. I was all alone. No one wasto the apartment, and she told me, “I’m
there but God. I continued to care forgoing home.” I told her not to wander
my mother and lived with my cousin forout there or someone was going to
a year. I then called my sister to comeget her. She turned around and came
and take my mother. My sister movedback. I knew my mother was sick, so
my mother to New York. After that, II took her to the doctor. They told me
she was in the first stage of Alzhei- was all by myself with no place to turn.
mer’s Disease. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t have
a place to stay. There was no one to
My job had been paying good mon- help me.ey–paying all my bills and I was liv-
ing very well. Then everything started One day, I was downtown and a lady
going downhill. I could not believe it asked me what was wrong. I told her.
was happening to me. I could not put She said, “Do you want a job?” I said,
my mother into a nursing home. I had “Yes.” She told me about Speak Up,
promised her that I would not put her and here I am.
in a home after she asked me not to This job at Speak Up helps me, and I
do that. don’t feel alone. I am living again. I’m
I had to quit my job, so I had a month trying to get back on my feet and get
to move out of my apartment. Then I my life in order. I hope that I will. So,
lost my apartment. I still remember the for everyone who is reading this, don’t
day that I moved out. I had beautiful give up. God is good all the time. Try
things like mink coats, oak tables, and to do the right thing, and God will do
over 100 pairs of shoes. I paid a guy the rest.

“I had beautiful things like mink
coats, oak tables, and over 100 pairs
of shoes . . . after a few months,
everything was gone.”

Page 11

[LIFE LESSONS]
IN THEIR WORDS
When the temp hits below zero, you must get
inside or you may die! That is the cold hard fact
of living on the street. — Frankie
You enjoy your cable TV, your heat, AC or
fridge, and safe home. Me, I just have my tent,
blankets, and guitar. — Mike
Life is a learning experience. I am learning
to put trust and faith in God and let Him
handle it. —Tawanna
The world can’t give me happiness; it’s what I
have from Jesus Christ. — Ruth
I have slept on rocks and stones, on dirt, sand,
grass, and concrete. — Renee
I just try to live every day like it is my last. I want
to take advantage of the time I have, and take it
one day at a time. —Troy
It’s hard to say, “I am scared. I am alone. My
teeth hurt. I feel dirty.” I know, because this is
my experience. —Matt
I have seen the fear in the eyes of those
who are homeless for the first time—even
military veterans who have seen the horrors
of war. — Mark
11

Page 13

Up
Speak
about
more
learn
to
smartphone
your
with
Scan beggar
nota

Page 14

[SCENERY]
A BEAUTIFUL THING
EXPERIENCED ON THE STREET
by Tom Carter in Charlotte, NC

I enjoy the skyline of Charlotte at night. So, I have seen the beauty in the city of
The best view I have ever seen is at “the Charlotte’s architecture and many lighted
docks,” an abandoned location right by towers—much nicer than Minneapolis, if
the train tracks. My favorite place is the you ask me. Well, maybe not much nicer;
Hearst Tower. but Minneapolis’ tallest (or close to tallest)
building is rather disappointing.I keep wanting to tell the security guys there
to tell William Randolph that I said, “Hello,” More of the beauty is in the experiences of
or that the Hearst Tower is a monument true humanity that occurs when things get
to Citizen Kane’s eternal victory over really desperate. This is tricky for obvious
Boss Gettys. reasons from various angles.
It has been observed that the Bank of Things really don’t get as desperate for me
America tower and the Hearst Tower usually because food is reasonably plentiful
resemble the king and queen of a chess and the lack of shelter seems to be more a
set, respectively. reflection of a pathetic spirit of sloth in light
of the fact that there are shelters available—Perhaps the metaphor could be extended
if you are willing to do certain thingsfurther by saying the View Tower resembles
to get in. The beauty comes in thea rook, the Duke Tower a bishop, and the
genuine experiences.one with the rounded top, a knight.
But I saw beauty the last time I ate at theThe beauty of Charlotte is in the lights
County Service Center (also known as “Theand the architecture—maybe in the power
Morgue”), what with all the children millingthey represent as well. I am no different
about and the church doing their quietfrom the average American in my love of
evangelical service, but sometimes it’s ugly.the visceral thrill of power, winning, having
Sometimes there is a fight.something that can do something useful,
and accomplishment. Sometimes I never want to go back. But I
would much prefer them to see the MilkyI don’t mind so much that they’ve torn
Way over and behind the city skyline, if thatdown the odd building. They decided to do
was somehow possible.something differently, and good for them!
I guess.
I love the beauty of feeling like the whole
center city is literally my home.
Each block is a different room with several
being different bedrooms. Wake up to the
best and brightest of Charlotte, right? Busy,
busy bees, smartly dressed, and, man, I get
to be there to perturb people. Where is the
beauty in that?

Page 15

[FUTURE PRESENT]
YESTERDAY, TODAY
AND TOMORROW
by Randy Parcher in Traverse City, MI

Yesterday, I was your neighbor. Today I’m Tomorrow is a hope not yet born.
not seen. Tomorrow is a dream that slips Yesterday belongs to me—the one thing
away just a little more each day. no one can take from me. Today, I may let
Yesterday, I was a worker, homeowner, and you see a glimpse, but only a glimpse, of
part of the community. Today, I’m lonely in who I really am. Tomorrow—what drives
us forward? Is it the will to struggle on orcrowds, a ghost upon the street, or seen as
the dream that the future will be better thana monster to be chased out of town. Tomor-
yesterday and today?row will bring more pain and regret.
It is hard to think of tomorrow when one isYesterday, I felt good about both myself and
numb just trying to get through today, forhow I feel. Today, I’m sick more and more. tomorrow is far away and just a sweet dreadTomorrow—what will tomorrow bring? held upon the wings of angels. Tomorrow
Yesterday, I was safe. Today, I’m lost and makes all our yesterdays and todays worth
numb with nowhere to lay my head and cry. the struggles.

Page 16

[VIOLATED]
TRIALS & TRIBULATIONS
TO RESILIENCE
by Niko in Charlotte, NC
My name is Niko, and my story is a com- my mental medication, so I didn’t see
plicated one. I’m not here to write about them coming.
how I became homeless. That’s a story A group of men pinned me against the
for another sunrise. Instead, I want to wall and held a rag over my mouth to
write about the great, the bad, and the muffle my cries for help.
horrible—the shelter.
I was [raped and] kicked around like yes-
I went there after getting out of the hos- terday’s trash. I wanted to black out. I
pital for depression. I was left like an in- was feeling weak and woozy. It hurt to
fant on the floor having to learn to crawl breathe.
and then walk. It was new to me, yet
familiar, after living in a shelter most of I couldn’t sleep, and I spiraled even
my life in Brooklyn. I’ve heard the stories deeper into the shadowy damp pit. CJ
and seen the eclectic mix of characters. knew something was up that morning. I
But I still wanted to avoid it all. had the bottle of pills and was mumbling
to myself.My thought was to sleep the days away
in the shelter, and keep the people at He informed the shelter’s director of my
bay. I slept more, ate less, and immersed actions. I had to have a sit down with her
myself in my music and books. and my case manager.
I was alone—no family, no friends, just a They listened to what I had to say—
man plagued with this stigma of home- only half true because I was too scared
lessness. I remained in a small cubicle and ashamed to let the whole truth be
area with another man, CJ, who also laid known. I told them I’d be okay.
in bed. One day, I decided to say hello. I was now under the watch of CJ and JR.
It was on that single hello that I started to One morning, JR dragged me out of bed
claw my way out of the murky abyss that and made me get dressed.
is depression. CJ and I then began to He took me to see a movie. It was a won-
chat with the man in the next cube whose derful time because he treated me like
name was JR. The first week I knew JR, a son and gave me words of wisdom
I didn’t realize that he was blind because like a father.
most days he walked without his cane.
I learned about him and learned from
I related to both CJ and JR. They be- him. It felt so surreal to be out of that
came family to me in a matter of months. place and to get a sense of normalcy.
The depression and mental issues all
I was recently released from the hospi-seemed beatable now that I had these
tal for the second time in the last yeargreat guys in my corner.
after a mental breakdown. Thank you to
Then that night happened. CJ and JR for providing the laughs and
It was 2 a.m. in the shower room. I thought words of wisdom that have helped me
I was alone. I was fairly woozy from learn to crawl again.

Page 17

[FORGIVENESS

FINDING FORGIVENESS
ON DEATH ROW
by Amanda Haggard for the Contributor in Nashville, TN
Cynthia Vaughn rises each morning with a in Nashville. He rarely leaves his cell. He
full day in front of her. Vaughn is a mother gets three meals a day, and at 9 p.m., it’s
of three and works as a full-time police lights out. Johnson spends much of that
dispatcher in a Memphis suburb. She’s time in prayer.
also attending Northwest Mississippi Johnson is one of 11 death-row inmatesCommunity College to become a social with execution dates in the state ofworker, and she pulls shifts at a second
Tennessee. Johnson and the other 10part-time job at a gas station. She crawls
inmates are involved in a complex courtout of bed at 4:30 a.m., and depending
battle with the state regarding the secrecyon whether she has to go to her second
surrounding execution protocol and thejob at Circle K, she can be home as late
constitutionality of the electric chair, whichas 10:30 p.m. Needless to say, she often
spends more time away from her home Tennessee’s legislature brought back in a
than in it. controversial decision earlier this year.
Her father, Don Johnson, who adopted Cynthia Vaughn was seven years old when
Vaughn when she was less than two years her father was convicted of murdering
old, spends his days much differently. He her 30-year-old mother, Connie Johnson,
wakes every day around 5:30 a.m. in Unit three weeks before Christmas in 1984.
2 at Riverbend Maximum Security Prison Vaughn, now 37, remembers her mother

Page 18

“It just came over me childhood ever, and I wanted him to know
about it,” Vaughn said. “I got denied by
that I couldn’t keep hating the prison. They told me that since I was
also the victim’s daughter that it created
him . . . And I realized that conflict. I was crushed.”
my hatred wasn’t affecting Inwho2006,wasthein statehis mid-60sdid not executewith grayingJohnson,hair
him. It didn’t, and wouldn’t and2012,a Vaughnslumpingsaidfigure.she Sixreceivedyears alater,phonein
ever, change what callwanted“outtooflettheher blue.”in to seeRiverbendher father.Prison
“I had a list of things I wanted to say,” happened. I told him that
Vaughn said. “I accepted the invitation to
come, and I went up there with the mindset day I forgave him.”
of going off on him and letting him know
how he affected my life in all these terrible Cynthia Vaughn ways…and I did that. I wanted him to know
what our childhood was like, what it’s likedropping her off at the babysitter’s house
to be the daughter of a death-row inmateon December 8. Vaughn recalls her father
who killed his wife.” But when Vaughn gotcoming that evening to tell her and her
there, she was surprised by a feeling thatbrother that their mother had “gone to live
came over her when she looked into herwith the angels” before he was arrested.
father’s eyes as he listened to her explain
“The next thing I remember is all of my her hatred and anger.
aunts and grandmother talking in low “It just came over me that I couldn’t keepwhispers,” Vaughn said. “They told hating him,” Vaughn said. “And I realizedme to leave the room when a television that my hatred wasn’t affecting him. Itbroadcast came on, but I still remember didn’t, and wouldn’t ever, change whathearing the people on the news and happened. I told him that day I forgavewondering, ‘Why are they saying my him. I said: ‘I can’t keep hating you. Idaddy killed my mama?’ Then I was sent forgive you.’ He started crying.”
to live with one of my mom’s sisters, and
from then on out, it was very hard.” Johnson remembers that day, too. “My
adopted daughter came in 2012 to tell
In the aftermath of her father’s arrest and me off, but she ended up forgiving me
subsequent death-penalty conviction, instead,” Johnson said. “She said she
Vaughn found her childhood in Tunica, didn’t come in here to forgive me.”
Mississippi, very difficult. “This was
In correspondence with The Contributor,Tunica before the casinos,” she said.
Johnson said his daughter told him she“Nothing was private. Everyone knew my
had hated him her entire life. It stung. “Butstory. This was the kind of town that if you
as she was in here talking to me, she saidchecked the mail in your pajamas, your she realized I wasn’t making excuses [forphone would ring as soon as you walked how hard her life was],” Johnson said.in the house asking why you were outside “And [she saw] that I looked her in thein your nightgown.” eye when she talked to me. So something
Skip ahead to 2006. Vaughn heard on changed…and she realized she wanted to
television that Johnson had an execution forgive me.”
date. Two decades had passed since she After deciding to forgive her father,last saw her father. She decided then and Vaughn had questions. “I just basically
there to finally face him. wanted to know the little things that kids
“My brother and I (he was four when my know already about their mama,” Vaughn
mama was killed) didn’t have the best said. “What kind of perfume did she

Page 19

MOVING BEYOND THE DEATH PENALTY
Vaughn said she thinks the state’s
focus should turn away from the death
penalty and executions to support for
the people that the crimes left behind.
She recounts the passing of her father’s
several execution dates—he’s had more
than three since 2012 alone.
“My problem with the death penalty is
that every so many years the inmate
gets an execution date and it throws
the families into a complete and total
whirlwind: It’s driving me crazy,” Vaughn
said. “And then they always get a stay
of execution and then it lasts another
seven years. And then by the time
I’m able to get back to normal life—I
mean, I’ll always be a victim’s family
member—they’ll put another date on it,
and I become the death-row inmate’swear? What kind of car did she drive?
daughter again.”What kind of movies did she like? What
was her favorite band? What were her After 30 years of watching her father sit
hobbies? What kind of mom was she? on death row, she has serious doubts
You find yourself questioning every little that the execution will ever actually
thing when your mama was not around.” take place.
Something else surprised Vaughn when “I really don’t know where I stand
she left the prison. She felt compelled morally and ethically when it comes to
to turn to God for the first time in years. just straight-up death penalty,” Vaughn
“There’s that saying that people find said. “It’s not so black and white, cut
Jesus in a jail cell,” Vaughn said. “Well, I and dry to me. I do know that they can’t
did too…just not in the same way.” keep messing with families this way.
It seems like there’s always a focusVaughn started praying daily and on justice and execution and not onattending church. “The murder consumed how to better our relationships andme at many points of my life,” Vaughn community.”said. “It was all I thought about every
moment that there was a free moment Vaughn still has a lot of questions about
outside of work and taking care of my her mother’s life and often thinks about
kids and homework. It was all about him how her life may have been completely
and her and what happened. But the way different if not for one tragic day in 1984.
I handled my pain changed dramatically After their reconciliation, Don Johnson
after that visit with my dad.” couldn’t give his daughter her mother
Johnson said people often “conjure up back nor the 30 years she spent
wondering, but there was one thing hethe image of Charles Manson” when
could do for her:they think of death-row inmates. “That’s
not us,” he said. “There was a group of Connie wore Chanel No. 5. Her first
preachers who came in here who said car was a ‘73 Ford Torino. She enjoyed
they were apprehensive before coming romantic comedies. She loved the
in, but they said they saw the love of Rolling Stones. She reveled in country
God in our eyes. They said, ‘We didn’t cooking. “And he told me she was just
expect this.’” the best mom ever,” Vaughn said.

Page 20

[YOUTH INNOVATION]
EAST JORDAN HIGH SCHOOL
SELLS SPEAK UP ZINE

by Stephanie Buckholtz, a Senior, at EJHS in East Jordan, MI

Page 21

It is so empowering and valuable to know the first school to sell magazines in a
that anyone can make a difference. When community.
Corban and Matt Shaw, past graduates When the Shaws came to our school and
from East Jordan High School, spoke at our asked us to contribute to this program to
high school about Speak Up Zine, a street benefit the homeless and needy students in
magazine written by and benefiting home- our community, our eyes were opened to a
less people in northern Michigan, many growing problem in the East Jordan com-
of us were excited about contributing to munity. All of the NHS members wanted to
that effort. help in any way possible.
The National Honor Society students have EJHS National Honor Society was present-
agreed to sell and distribute the Zine— ed with ten wooden stands that each hold
which makes East Jordan High School about twenty-five Speak Up Zines with a
slot to donate $2 for each magazine. Each
Zine stand was adopted by a pair of Na-
tional Honor Society members who then
placed the stands around the town of East
Jordan. The two students committed to vol-
unteer their time to look after the stand and
refill it when needed—even when school is
not in session.
The stands were placed all over the com-
munity—from restaurants to dental offices
to salons. One student is in charge of col-
lecting the money and then pays 80 cents to
Speak Up in exchange for more magazines
and making sure there are always enough
to refill the stands. From each two-dollar
sale, $1.20 will be given to the EJHS princi-
pal to be distributed to needy students.
When the students who adopted the Zine
placements graduate from high school, the
stands will be passed down to younger
members of the National Honor Society.
They will then be in charge of taking care
of the magazine stands until they graduate,
and so on and so on.
Kristen, the National Honor Society Presi-
dent at East Jordan High School, stated;
“It’s an honor to have been given the priv-
ilege to be the first school to lend helping
hands towards the homeless by selling
Zines. It was great to see all the students
so excited about getting involved in this
project! We, the National Honor Society, are
happy to be part of the solution.”
It is empowering to know that we are and
will be making a difference in people’s
lives. We could have not done this without
the help of Speak Up Magazine. It’s about
those in need.

Page 22

[STUFF]
LOVE IN A POT

by Sheila Apperson in Charlotte, NC they were. She told them that it really
hurt because there is so much love in
There are so many memories of friends her pots.
and family in a pot. Everyone needs Later on, the woman returned to visita pot. each of her friends. When they were not
I knew this lady who had become looking, she took her pots back one at a
homeless and lost everything; however, time. One day, she called all three friends
she was determined to keep her pots. and invited them over for dinner. She had
She asked three different friends to keep a wonderful dinner prepared in all three
each of her three pots. As time went by, pots. As they sat at her table and noticed
the lady finally found a home. She went her pots, she could see how surprised
to each friend to retrieve her pots, and they looked. She looked at them and
each one said they did not know where said, “There is so much love in my pots.”

Love is in all the pots

In the world swirling

Whirling with love

Something good, something shared

Something thoughtfully prepared

Something hot hitting the spot

Love is always in a pot.

Page 23

[GIVING] [OPPORTUNITY]
Many thanks to Speak Up’s sponsors & donors.

TRANSFORMED THE COMMUNITY

CHANGED PERCEPTIONS

GAVE A VOICE
PROMOTED OPPORTUNITY

mullenpublications.com lakeshorecf.com

STARTED A CONVERSATION

FAITHFUL DONORS

Callie Acuff, Darren and Kathryn Ash, Lauren Beatty, Gary Chesson, Bonnie Collins,
Val G Cripps, Marc and Amy Dickmann, Sharon Edwards, Natalie Farrell, Phil
Felten, Troy P Felten, Jason and Kristel Finns, Jason Gilmore, Jill Rokos Gilmore,
Nikki Godfrey-Hill, Jason Goodnight, Eric Gorman, Harry Griffin, Steven Hodgen,
Chuck and Carol Jarrett, Jerry and Sandi Knode, Steve and Peggi Knowe, Ray
and Glenna Leamer, Bryan K Lewis, Joshua Lewis, Owen and Lauren Lienhard,
Charles Matthewson, Seth and Haley McCord, Ann Nelson, Bryan Norton, Mark
and Cynthia Penzien, Shannon Presler, Cal and Lea Queener, Megan Quesenberry,
Sarah Sabido, Catherine Schmitt, Joseph Toth, Karen Trigg, Gail Vermillion, Vision
Possible Ministries, Inc., Rise Ward, Julia Weissmann, Kylie Wyman, Wendy Wyman

Page 24

Become a Sponsor
Please consider a sponsorship gift today to empower those in need and publicly show your
support for jobs and opportunity in the community. All gifts are tax-deductible.

TRANSFORM THE COMMUNITY / $2,500+

“Sponsored by [Your Name]” printed on the front cover
Full page “Featured Sponsor Q & A” published in next Zine
plus everything below
CHANGE PERCEPTIONS / $750 & Up

“Meet the Sponsor” blog post profiling
your organization plus everything below

GIVE A VOICE / $500 & Up

One line of contact info included with your logo in the Zine
Thanked in a video, shared on website and on social media
plus everything below
PROMOTE OPPORTUNITY / $250 & Up

Logo included on sponsor’s page in the Zine
Thanked on social media (4,500 fans)
plus everything below
STARTED A CONVERSATION / $100 & Up

Listed in next Zine on the sponsor’s page
Identified as a sponsor on Speak Up website
“Speak Up gave me a chance
to create my own future.”
—said by a once-homeless former magazine
vendor who now owns his own moving company