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“The Shelter Tour” Dayton OH Shows Up Big Time

Who says my 2002 Grand Am with 150,000 miles can’t do road trips anymore? Not me. I packed my car up with giveaways, candles, flyers and a change of clothes for a couple of days and headed down I-75 S to Dayton last week. Traffic wasn’t heavy at all. I was careful to leave after rush hour as to make this journey to Dayton as trouble free as possible. Thoughts of the women in Dayton area shelters began to cross my mind so I became more and more eager to arrive at my destination.  I turned my mp3 player on and tuned in to my driving music in hopes that time would pass by more swiftly.

 

My first presentation was scheduled at 5pm before a group of entrepreneurs at the kick-off of their “Networking among the Stars” event at Canaan Community Conference Center. Stacey Coleman, a young lady who I connected with on Facebook a couple years ago was the director of the community center. It was Stacey who recommended me to Mrs. Jackson from Mt Carmel Missionary Baptist Church to be the guest speaker for their “Love Unlimited” community outreach day. Stacey later explained as we chatted in the community center kitchen after my presentation, that a judge who I met in D.C. while attending the National Conference on Ending Homelessness in 2009 had suggested she contact me for future speaking engagements.  Wow, you never know how God is going to divinely hook you up for another blessing.

Gotta stay focused and keep my eyes on the road so I won’t make a wrong turn. That’s the last thing I need because the schedule is already tight. I’ll arrive at the hotel and check-in by 3:30. I’ll change clothes, grab a bite to eat because who know what they will be served at the event, probably chicken wings again, which I no longer indulge in. My plan was to arrive at the center no later than 4:30pm to get my table set-up and relax a bit before my presentation. What would I talk about to the Dayton entrepreneurs? They probably don’t want to hear about homelessness I thought. Maybe, I can share a little bit of my story and how the terrorist attacks of 911 changed my business for ever and how being unprepared with a contingency plan caused my business to close down. Maybe, they would like to hear how I combine giving and supporting the homeless into my current business model. Maybe I’d just arrive without a plan and see how the Holy Spirit would lead me?

It was 2:58pm when I saw the signs that said Dayton Ohio 8 miles. I pulled my directions out again and followed them until I got to a point where they didn’t help me any longer. You see sometimes Yahoo and MapQuest will have you going to streets that don’t exist anymore. I forgot about that little glitch. I pulled over to a gas station and asked the friendly attendant for assistance with my directions and sure enough that was the case. The street name had been changed but I was only 2 blocks away. I turned around got back on the right track and in 3 minutes was in front of the Courtyard by Marriott. If you read about my last trip, then you remember this was one of the hotels that would not allow me sit in the lobby after I missed my bus and was stranded in Pittsburgh. Yeah, I forgave them. Probably because I trust the Marriott brand and get a friends and family discount on my stay. Gotta forgive and keep it movin. I think that’s chapter 3 in my book “Thank God for the Shelter: Memoirs of a homeless healer.”

Just as planned, I arrived at the center at 4:30p. Got everything set up and mingled with some of the other entrepreneurs. I was excited that they purchased my books and DVDs before the program even started. It appeared they were eager to hear what I had to say. I even got to do a mini-social media workshop which is what led me to speak on the topic of social media and its role in building successful businesses. After speaking about my fight to become self-sufficient after becoming homeless, I urged the entrepreneurs to embrace social media as a growing part of their marketing and advertising plans. I sited several examples of how it has worked for my business and how it allows me to reach global audiences that would have taken hundreds of thousands of dollars to do otherwise.

I knew my presentation was successful when one entrepreneur who had purchased my book and DVD before the presentation came to me and asked for her check back. I reached into my bag and returned it to her. As we talked about being obedient to the Holy Spirit, she wrote another check which included an additional $100. God is awesome! My continued acts of faith are always rewarded.  You see, taking two days off work and traveling to speak when only 15% of your expenses are covered in sponsorships is an act of faith. If I thought only of the cost of this road trip, I would not have made it. Instead, I thought of the benefit to those who would be present and those who would read this post afterwards and be encouraged to not give up on their business ideas. It was worth it!

I was getting weary and it was time to head back to the hotel. The next morning would be demanding. I was to get up, check-out of the hotel, get a bite and head to Mt Carmel MBC where I would be speaking to 71 women in transition. I needed to rest up because after that presentation, I would speak to a group of youth about homelessness and sensitivity toward their classmates who may be struggling with this issue.  I ran a little behind schedule because I didn’t sleep well through the night. It was about 6am before I went to sleep. I tossed and turned all night long. I skipped breakfast and hoped to find something edible at the church but even the toss salad was anti-green. Of course proper eating and how it affects you ability to function optimally became a major part of my presentation that day.

I was so touched by the love and generosity that was shown by the Mt Carmel SWAP sisters at this day of pampering that I could barely sing. My audience appreciated my sincerity and open display of deep emotion so they overlooked my tears and listened eagerly to my message of hope. “I am not a victim, I am more than a conqueror” was the resounding message that we all chanted as I reminded the ladies of their human potential and how much God loved them. This presentation was another success! These women would leave the church filled with more love than they probably had felt in their lives. What was ironic is that I went all the way to Dayton to meet a sister from Detroit who was homeless and getting support from a group of women who loved and supported her.

The youth down the street at the next stop would minister to me. I did not get the opportunity to speak with them because their program which involved them pampering one another with manicures and facials and more conflicted with my need to get back on the road so I would be back in Detroit before dark.  I stayed with them for about an hour though and watched how caring they were to one another and how their parents or some adult leaders had taught them a unique system for pampering that they performed like a trained army. I now was being filled with hope. Our youth are watching us and following our lead. They are going to continue the good work that has begun in them until the day of Jesus Christ, amen.

Homeless students find hope in their principal – CBS News

Our children go to school to learn, but in this economy their education is becoming more experiential. The quiet little girl with the unkept hair who sits next to your daughter in class each day, may very well be homeless. That handsome young man with the dirty clothes could be sleeping in a car with his mom just down the street, the neighborhood motel or their waterless home which was recently foreclosed on.

It is imperative that every parent with the ability to read this email, know how to teach their child  homeless sensitivity. In order for our children to become more sensitive of this tragic epidemic,  the parent must first be sensitive to the 900,000 school children in the United States who don’t have homes.

As adults, desensitization can make us numb to what our innocent children are exposed to at school. The traumatic learning experiences they face daily could either scar them for life or with your guidance expand their perspective. Teach your children that good people sometimes become homeless. And use your homeless sensitivity time to show them how to volunteer and help other in need as well.  But don’t forget to teach your children homeless prevention strategies such as home economics. (taken out of schools when I was a child)

In a Las Vegas school where 85% of its student population is homeless, one principal goes above and beyond her job description to support her students. Homeless students find hope in their principal – CBS News I applaud Principal Gahn’s selfless acts but even if you don’t feel led to support efforts like donating to DO Foundation our non-profit homeless support partner or any other homeless outreach program, you must be a part of your child’s homeless education experience. Your child doesn’t wear blinders yet. They see the human suffering and hunger in their friends eyes at school.

Thank God for the Shelter Homeless Awareness & Sensitivity Tour

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College Students Hide Hunger, Homelessness : NPR

 

 

More Students Struggling

There’s a definite increase in the number of homeless students nationwide, according to the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth. But nobody has firm numbers.

“What we’re hearing from the college presidents and leadership [is] that more and more students are struggling,” says Michelle Asha-Cooper, of the Institute for Higher Education Policy in Washington, D.C.

“Some are taking out pretty large amounts of student loans to finance their education as well as their living costs. Some are enrolling part-time, some are even dropping out.” more from NPR