If I could use one word to describe the Backpack for Hope experience, it would definitely be REAL.
I use this word, above all others, because that's exactly what it was. At least that's what it was for me: an over-privileged kid from suburban SoCal. And although it felt like a slap of reality to the face, I must say that it was a good one.
I'll admit that on the ride to the photo studio where we stayed I was not excited at all. Knowing that I was just going to have my backpack and that I couldn't take a shower wasn't very appealing to me. Looking back on it though, I know that I wouldn't have traded that experience for anything else. I know it's hard to imagine picking sleeping on a cold photo studio floor over sleeping in a warm bed, but if I hadn't spent the night on that floor then I would have never heard the epic words spoken by Mike Juloya: "I'm miserable! Even homeless shelters have heaters!" I would have never been able to experience being scared of going to the bathroom because of being scared of the stories told by my fellow backpackers. And most of all, if I had chosen to sleep on a warm bed instead of that floor, I would have never experienced what it was like to be in the homeless condition (even though we had it even better than they probably did anyway). It was such an eye-opener, and for that I am truly grateful.
For me, the most humbling experience of all was carrying my backpack around with me all weekend. It forced me to understand the people that I was serving. It was weird, because if we brought a lot of things, it meant that we were hurting when we lugged all of our stuff all over LA. If we didn't bring a lot, it meant that we had little to live off of during the weekend. Either way, it was a lose lose situation, but it was a real one. People in the homeless condition face that kind of thing each and every day, but still find ways to live and to smile the same way that people in better living conditions do. That, to me, was the most enlightening thing of all: realizing that people in the homeless condition are just like me, and face decisions that I could easily be facing if I wasn't born into suburban life. And even though that might be heartbreaking, it just made me want to be an even bigger part of organizations like 25/35 so that maybe I could help the people that I'm just beginning to understand.
I'm truly grateful for the experience that I had at Backpack for Hope. It was one of the most real experiences that I've ever gone through, and I pray that one day many more people can experience the same thing.
- Katrina
4.16.2009
4.15.2009
"Backpack for Hope" Reflection by Noel Blanco
I learned to appreciate the many luxuries that we take for granted: a car to easily transport from place to place; cell-phones to communicate with friends and family; comfortable furniture to relax on; and a variety of food to enjoy. Because of this experience, I have realized that I myself do not want to own to many possessions and just to keep the basic necessities: clothes, my sports equipment, my laptop, a car, and my ipod. Regardless of age, culture, ethnicity, or economical class, I want to further help the needy.
People should realize that there are many people that we can help with a simple meal or donating a few hours to put a smile on a person’s face.
People should realize that there are many people that we can help with a simple meal or donating a few hours to put a smile on a person’s face.
3.13.2009
Non-Profit Presentation @ Cal Poly Pomona
Melinda and Meagan attended a presentation at Cal Poly's Career Center featuring Louie A. Lujan, M. Ed and mayor of the city of La Puente. We received really great information regarding networking and logistics. We also told Mr. Mayor about 25/35 Foundation and he seemed very interested.
* We will be in contact with him as he offered to send us a step-by-step guide on how to fill out the 501(c)(3) paperwork.
Quite possibly, a great connection!
* We will be in contact with him as he offered to send us a step-by-step guide on how to fill out the 501(c)(3) paperwork.
Quite possibly, a great connection!
3.12.2009
Collaboration with Love, Resonate and Kabalikat Society
One of the beautiful things happening right now, amidst our friends and neighbors in this Chino Hills community, is the rise of people who are taking action to make the world a better place. At our meeting today, we invited Love, Resonate and Kabalikat Society representatives to attend. Everyone shared about their mission and updates on their progress. We decided we NEED to work together because WE ARE ALL trying to make things happen...WHY NOT?!?
It was productive and motivating! We were pretty much all pumped up to make things happen.
It was productive and motivating! We were pretty much all pumped up to make things happen.
3.11.2009
Backpack for Hope Developments
We met up with a friend of Melinda's, a man named Ali. He owns a Dance Studio in Los Angeles, about 5 miles from Skid Row. We hoped to tell him about our mission and wanted to subtly mention our need for a videographer to document Backpack for Hope...maybe even ask him to use his studio as our place of refuge for the event. Just before we asked him, he said in his wonderfully heavy accent, "Melinda, what can I do for you. I want to help you."
Melinda responded by saying, "Well, we would like someone to document our even..." and before she could finish, he said "I'll do it!"
She also slightly began to mention, "And if there's any place you know around here where we might be able to stay for free, a community center of sorts, which is safe."
"Why don't you do it here!" he exclaimed.
"Really? Are you sure?", Melinda hesitantly asked, but hoping he was being serious.
"YEAH, of course!"
A huge load of bricks felt like it was lifted off Melinda's shoulders. All this time stressing about a place to stay for the weekend, and all it took was a short little visit with a good ol' friend. The meeting revealed the beauty of networking. "Quality is always better than quantity."
Melinda responded by saying, "Well, we would like someone to document our even..." and before she could finish, he said "I'll do it!"
She also slightly began to mention, "And if there's any place you know around here where we might be able to stay for free, a community center of sorts, which is safe."
"Why don't you do it here!" he exclaimed.
"Really? Are you sure?", Melinda hesitantly asked, but hoping he was being serious.
"YEAH, of course!"
A huge load of bricks felt like it was lifted off Melinda's shoulders. All this time stressing about a place to stay for the weekend, and all it took was a short little visit with a good ol' friend. The meeting revealed the beauty of networking. "Quality is always better than quantity."
"One Way"
After our successful visit with Ali, we decided to head over to LAMP, a community shelter which provides immediate housing and lifelong supportive services for homeless men and women living with severe mental illness. For 23 years, Lamp Community has improved health, built self-sufficiency, and awakened and nurtured the tools necessary for people to transform their lives.
Each night, nearly 74,000 homeless people in Los Angeles County seek shelter on streets, in encampments, or in vehicles. An estimated one-third to one-half of L.A’s homeless people struggle with severe mental illness, making mental illness, by far, the most serious health problem affecting the homeless. (www.lampcommunity.org)
We heard about this place from the novel we've been reading, The Soloist. A Los Angeles Times Columnist, Steve Lopez, decides that he was going to try to help a homeless man he encountered one day walking to work. His name is Nathaniel Anthony Ayers. Having made connections with various music companies who wanted to donate instruments to Nathaniel, Lopez decides to store instruments at LAMP in hopes that it would lure him to come and receive help. Unfortunately, he suffered from Schizophrenia and had many mental issues. However, Nathaniel did eventually receive help, but it was, and still is, a long, and arduous journey. More about his amazing story can be viewed on youtube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7ovt3vSFi8. The movie is also coming out in April featuring Roberty Downey Jr. as Steve Lopez and Jamie Fox as Nathaniel. Please, if you are reading this, check out the book and get interested.
Continuing on, on our way to LAMP, we drove past it the first time around. We were confused and were obviously unsure of where the place was. There was a little sign that read "Lamp Village" and one door open. Could that be it? It had to be because the surrounding buildings were industrial buildings and Crocker street ended at the next block. There wasn't much activity so we had our doubts orginally, but we decided to drive around again confused and uncertain. However, attempting to turn around we mistakenly turned right instead of left.. ON A ONE WAY STREET! Realizing the mistake immediately, we were in a bit of shock as we could see the oncoming traffic heading straight for us. Quickly, we turned into a small sidewalk opening and caught our breath. A homeless man saw the whole thing and, was laughing, almost in embarassment for us. However, seeing that there was a blindspot caused by all the parked cars on the street, he guided us and helped us turn ourselves around before we got into any major accident. Thank God for that generous man!
Getting back on track safely, we went around the block again and found parking. We were still a little shaken up from that ordeal. "Let's just go inside, get some information, and leave." All we could focus on was the fact that we almost encountered death and/or a really bad accident. As we were walking towards the entrance of LAMP, Melinda noticed we had driven right past a homeless man across the street. The man was playing his violin and was lost in his own world. She told Mike almost jokingly, "Mike what if that's him, Nathaniel ?!?" And before she really could gather her words, Mike shouted out "Hey Nathaniel!" and began walking across the street towards him. He recognized him immediately because he had watched the clip from YouTube during the past week. IT WAS HIM.. THE NATHANIEL ANTHONY AYERS.
He was exactly how Mr. Lopez described in his novel, but real and humble as ever! We stayed with him for the next few hours... just listening to him, getting to know him, watching him get lost in his music. It was extremely beautiful! He was endeering and extremely sincere. We could not believe the man we were reading about was actually real...I mean, there he was, violin and all. He wrote our names down in his five-star memo book, "Michael.. M..I..C..H..A..E..L and Melinda.. M..E..L..I..N..D..A" spelling it out carefully as he routinely does. We didn't want to leave, but we still had to follow our agenda for the day. We attempted a couple times to mention that we had to go inside and talk to people, but failed because he was entranced in his music. As Mr. Lopez described, " Music [was his] anchor, a connection to great artists, to history and to himself. His head is filled with mixed signals, a frightening jumble of fractured meaning, but in music there is balance and permanence...Music is meditation, a reverie, a respite from madness. It is his way to be alone without fear." (Lopez, 38-39)
Finally, we convinced him that we had to get going, but invited him to come inside with us if he wanted. He told us he had to try to talk to the "head honcho" anyway. He gave us a little tour of LAMP. We couldn't believe the intensity of this man... So humble, so down to earth, so genuine. He knew everyone by name, even the interns. A lovely lady we met gave us a brief tour and told us some updates on Nathaniel's progress. He actually moved out of LAMP last year and lives by himself in an apartment.
Nathaniel became our new friend that day. He wrote us down in his notebook and labeled us as "nice people." We assured him we will come to visit. It was the greatest gift of affirmation we received...all because of a mistake. Had we not driven down that one way street, we might have walked right past him. Everything happens for a reason.
" A man's errors are his portals of discovery." - James Joyce
Each night, nearly 74,000 homeless people in Los Angeles County seek shelter on streets, in encampments, or in vehicles. An estimated one-third to one-half of L.A’s homeless people struggle with severe mental illness, making mental illness, by far, the most serious health problem affecting the homeless. (www.lampcommunity.org)
We heard about this place from the novel we've been reading, The Soloist. A Los Angeles Times Columnist, Steve Lopez, decides that he was going to try to help a homeless man he encountered one day walking to work. His name is Nathaniel Anthony Ayers. Having made connections with various music companies who wanted to donate instruments to Nathaniel, Lopez decides to store instruments at LAMP in hopes that it would lure him to come and receive help. Unfortunately, he suffered from Schizophrenia and had many mental issues. However, Nathaniel did eventually receive help, but it was, and still is, a long, and arduous journey. More about his amazing story can be viewed on youtube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7ovt3vSFi8. The movie is also coming out in April featuring Roberty Downey Jr. as Steve Lopez and Jamie Fox as Nathaniel. Please, if you are reading this, check out the book and get interested.
Continuing on, on our way to LAMP, we drove past it the first time around. We were confused and were obviously unsure of where the place was. There was a little sign that read "Lamp Village" and one door open. Could that be it? It had to be because the surrounding buildings were industrial buildings and Crocker street ended at the next block. There wasn't much activity so we had our doubts orginally, but we decided to drive around again confused and uncertain. However, attempting to turn around we mistakenly turned right instead of left.. ON A ONE WAY STREET! Realizing the mistake immediately, we were in a bit of shock as we could see the oncoming traffic heading straight for us. Quickly, we turned into a small sidewalk opening and caught our breath. A homeless man saw the whole thing and, was laughing, almost in embarassment for us. However, seeing that there was a blindspot caused by all the parked cars on the street, he guided us and helped us turn ourselves around before we got into any major accident. Thank God for that generous man!
Getting back on track safely, we went around the block again and found parking. We were still a little shaken up from that ordeal. "Let's just go inside, get some information, and leave." All we could focus on was the fact that we almost encountered death and/or a really bad accident. As we were walking towards the entrance of LAMP, Melinda noticed we had driven right past a homeless man across the street. The man was playing his violin and was lost in his own world. She told Mike almost jokingly, "Mike what if that's him, Nathaniel ?!?" And before she really could gather her words, Mike shouted out "Hey Nathaniel!" and began walking across the street towards him. He recognized him immediately because he had watched the clip from YouTube during the past week. IT WAS HIM.. THE NATHANIEL ANTHONY AYERS.
He was exactly how Mr. Lopez described in his novel, but real and humble as ever! We stayed with him for the next few hours... just listening to him, getting to know him, watching him get lost in his music. It was extremely beautiful! He was endeering and extremely sincere. We could not believe the man we were reading about was actually real...I mean, there he was, violin and all. He wrote our names down in his five-star memo book, "Michael.. M..I..C..H..A..E..L and Melinda.. M..E..L..I..N..D..A" spelling it out carefully as he routinely does. We didn't want to leave, but we still had to follow our agenda for the day. We attempted a couple times to mention that we had to go inside and talk to people, but failed because he was entranced in his music. As Mr. Lopez described, " Music [was his] anchor, a connection to great artists, to history and to himself. His head is filled with mixed signals, a frightening jumble of fractured meaning, but in music there is balance and permanence...Music is meditation, a reverie, a respite from madness. It is his way to be alone without fear." (Lopez, 38-39)
Finally, we convinced him that we had to get going, but invited him to come inside with us if he wanted. He told us he had to try to talk to the "head honcho" anyway. He gave us a little tour of LAMP. We couldn't believe the intensity of this man... So humble, so down to earth, so genuine. He knew everyone by name, even the interns. A lovely lady we met gave us a brief tour and told us some updates on Nathaniel's progress. He actually moved out of LAMP last year and lives by himself in an apartment.
Nathaniel became our new friend that day. He wrote us down in his notebook and labeled us as "nice people." We assured him we will come to visit. It was the greatest gift of affirmation we received...all because of a mistake. Had we not driven down that one way street, we might have walked right past him. Everything happens for a reason.
" A man's errors are his portals of discovery." - James Joyce
3.06.2009
Inspirational Meeting
Had an unexpectedly empowering meeting today with Agnes, one of Mrs. Michaud's friends. She is an attorney who has much experience in the field. She was sweet and encouraging! She gave us the real deal and constructive criticism. In addition, she helped us out a lot with logistics as far as our Articles of Incorporation status, 501(c)(3), and legal matters. Excitedly and passionately, she introduced a novel to us entitled, The Soloist, by author Steve Lopez. She said, "You must read this book! It will help you guys out a lot!"
*Note to remember- She mentioned that in order to gain support from organizations, sponsors, etc, we must make personal connections with people experiencing the homeless condition. Having real examples of real people, connects and relates to people directly. It all starts with one person! That is how we will begin to grow.
*Note to remember- She mentioned that in order to gain support from organizations, sponsors, etc, we must make personal connections with people experiencing the homeless condition. Having real examples of real people, connects and relates to people directly. It all starts with one person! That is how we will begin to grow.
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