Dignity and Respect
Some of the meetings that we have had (Friday meetings) have really turned out well. About a month ago we had a meeting in which all we did was share something special with the group. Some people brought in readings, some people brought in pictures and others simply brought in stories to share. A lot of people came and just about everyone had something to bring to the group. What I thought was the best part of the deal was that people opened up like I have not seen before. The things that they brought to the group really meant something to them, and I could tell. I think the group could tell too, because as soon as one person opened up others felt comfortable too. I walked home beaming, knowing that something really good just happened.
Today we had a meeting in which the guys got to talk about self-advocacy. They are getting the chance tomorrow to speak with people from the conferences, representing the Center as well as homelessness in general. Today was our pregame meeting, a chance to prepare thoughts and ideas. The guys opened up, just as before, and we discussed many topics. What we wanted to do was talk about the things that make people homeless and the things that keep them there. A number of ideas came up, such as legal problems and the type of behavior that the streets promote (stealing, lying, etc.) More importantly we discussed the relationsip between the haves and have nots. That is, those with money and resources to help and those who are homeless. There were two main ideas that came from these brainstorms.
The first is the idea of respect. One man said that above anything he would teach his fellow peers self-respect. This before mathematics, biology, economics, etc. That is how important the idea of respect is. It is the idea of having a little bit of pride, not too much but enough to promote self-sufficiency. In addition to this idea is that the guys want to feel respected by everyone else. Not just each other but by the rest of society. They want people to know and understand their stories. They want to be able to wear acceptable clothes and have better teeth. In sum, they want to be respected. If others can see that homeless people are human too, then the gap that separates them becomes that much smaller.
The second idea is related, and if not more important than the first then at least more foundational. It is the idea of sharing experiences. The idea of inviting those with the money and resources to walk with the homeless guys. It is only in sharing with each other that we can really understand each other. If people would actually come down to the Center and see for themselves what is going then maybe that would ignite the flame to help. If only people were forced to put themselves in the shoes of the homeless, then they would understand what it takes to prevent people from becoming homeless and in addition how to help them get out of homelessness. I say that the two ideas are related because when people come together and walk together, and therefore start undertanding each other, then they can start to respect each other.
So today was a good day and I hope that tomorrow goes just as well, with some actual results. It seems to me that if we can get the homeless together with those who have some resources, we all have enough common sense and altruism to figure out a way to help.
Today we had a meeting in which the guys got to talk about self-advocacy. They are getting the chance tomorrow to speak with people from the conferences, representing the Center as well as homelessness in general. Today was our pregame meeting, a chance to prepare thoughts and ideas. The guys opened up, just as before, and we discussed many topics. What we wanted to do was talk about the things that make people homeless and the things that keep them there. A number of ideas came up, such as legal problems and the type of behavior that the streets promote (stealing, lying, etc.) More importantly we discussed the relationsip between the haves and have nots. That is, those with money and resources to help and those who are homeless. There were two main ideas that came from these brainstorms.
The first is the idea of respect. One man said that above anything he would teach his fellow peers self-respect. This before mathematics, biology, economics, etc. That is how important the idea of respect is. It is the idea of having a little bit of pride, not too much but enough to promote self-sufficiency. In addition to this idea is that the guys want to feel respected by everyone else. Not just each other but by the rest of society. They want people to know and understand their stories. They want to be able to wear acceptable clothes and have better teeth. In sum, they want to be respected. If others can see that homeless people are human too, then the gap that separates them becomes that much smaller.
The second idea is related, and if not more important than the first then at least more foundational. It is the idea of sharing experiences. The idea of inviting those with the money and resources to walk with the homeless guys. It is only in sharing with each other that we can really understand each other. If people would actually come down to the Center and see for themselves what is going then maybe that would ignite the flame to help. If only people were forced to put themselves in the shoes of the homeless, then they would understand what it takes to prevent people from becoming homeless and in addition how to help them get out of homelessness. I say that the two ideas are related because when people come together and walk together, and therefore start undertanding each other, then they can start to respect each other.
So today was a good day and I hope that tomorrow goes just as well, with some actual results. It seems to me that if we can get the homeless together with those who have some resources, we all have enough common sense and altruism to figure out a way to help.
posted by Ryan at 11:38 AM
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