H.O.M.E. Word – A blog from Project H.O.M.E.

On May 16, Project H.O.M.E. held our annual Young Leaders Event, which was a fund-raiser for our youth programs.  Our Executive Director Sister Mary Scullion greeted the crowd of over 350 friends and supporters with these words:

When I see the energy in this room, I am hopeful; hopeful about the future.  An event like this symbolizes the best of our City – all sectors and generations coming together to meet some of our toughest social challenges in a way that makes Philadelphia a more humane, just, compassionate and hospitable city for all.  

We have over 350 people here tonight, and seeing so many of the younger generation supporting the youth and residents of Project H.O.M.E. reinforces our belief that Philadelphia can end homelessness.  So, please continue to stay involved with us – volunteer at one of our residences, write your elected officials  to advocate for those who are vulnerable; spread the word through social media.  We need your generation to lead the way H.O.M.E..

Bernard Conner and Terrell Williams from Project H.O.M.E.'s Teen Program perform at the May 16 Young Leaders Event.

I am deeply drawn to a quote by actor Christopher Reeve, who became a quadriplegic following a terrible accident:  “Once you choose hope, anything’s possible.”  Tonight is a gathering of people who have chosen hope.  All of you believe that, despite enormous odds and countless obstacles, we can pool our collective vision and talents and energy to create a brighter future for our city.  We can build a city where no one is forced to live on our streets, where every child gets a quality education, where all citizens have genuine opportunities to flourish. 

Thank you all for being part of this special gathering and for being part of the Project H.O.M.E. community.  Thank you for your investment in our youth.  And, most of all, thank you for choosing hope – because with that hope, anything is possible.

The following article was published on the Philly Police Blog on May 1.  It does an excellent job of capturing the powerful spirit of one of our elder staff members, the beloved Miss Helen Brown, the Community Organizer in our neighborhood.  We are also grateful to oru friends in the 22nd Police District.

In 1958 an 18 year old woman named Helen Brown moved on to the 1800 block of North 23^rd Street. That young woman had no idea that she would become the de facto mayor of North Philly and the adopted Grandmother to three generations of children. On this day, her protégé, Albert Chestnut, bursts in to her office, “Grandma, somebody just got shot on Cecil B.” Miss Helen’s face changed. She sat down with a sigh, “It gets less surprising, but it doesn’t get easy.”

Miss Helen at the 2006 Annual Day in the neighborhood

For over a quarter century, Miss Helen had been the unofficial community organizer in North Central Philadelphia, an area in the northeastern part of the 22^nd District; leading street cleanings, mentoring children, becoming a trusted leader in her community. In 1995, she got a call from Sister Mary Scullion, co-founder of Project H.O.M.E., homeless and women’s advocate, and, according to TIME magazine, one of the World’s Most Influential People. These two women talked and laughed over a simple ice cream cone and by the third time, Miss Helen accepted Sister Mary’s offer to become the official Community Organizer for Project H.O.M.E.

One of her first projects as the official Community Organizer was to start the North Philly Foot Stompers. Now in their 18^th year, the Foot Stompers are an award-winning step team. They have travelled the country amassing four state championships and two national titles. More important to Helen, the children are taught discipline, respect, and teamwork. The kids to whom Miss Helen refers as family, have gone on to become nurses, accountants, and business owners.

Miss Helen recalled shedding tears of joy watching “her girls” from her office window marching around the neighborhood after winning a national championship. “It was one of the most proud moments in my life.” She couldn’t say enough about their success, “those kids travelled on SEPTA and had a homemade banner. The drummers were self-taught and the steps were choreographed by the girls themselves.”

In an office full of pictures of Miss Helen with public figures such as President Clinton and Bill Cosby, she is a bit of a celebrity in her own right. After donating money to Project H.O.M.E., Jon Bon Jovi walked the neighborhood with Miss Helen. As they wandered up and down the streets, residents ran up to them to hug… Miss Helen Brown. “There are times when I had to roll-up my car windows because people kept calling my name," she said blushing.

She is not just popular with the neighborhood kids; she also has built an alliance with local police officers. Miss Helen values her relationship with the 22^nd District, especially Captain Branville Bard, the Commanding Officer and Officer Shannon Moore, the 22^nd District Community Relations Officer. “I love Miss Helen,” says Office Moore enthusiastically. “We talk all the time about what’s going on in the neighborhood. She really supports what we do.” Miss Helen also gives much credit to the foot beat officers in the 22^nd District. “Having the chance to get to know those officers makes our children feel safer. I love to take the new officers under my wing and show them the ropes of the neighborhood. They keep the bad guys on their toes too! People who don’t like the cops are the ones doing bad things. We love our cops.”

While talking with Miss Helen, it is striking how much credit she gives to others, when it is she who is owed an enormous debt. After several lifetimes’ worth of ups and downs, good and bad, this amazing woman gets out of bed with a sense of mission and purpose for her kids and to her community. Twelve hour days, weekends, bus trips, street cleaning, countless hugs, and dedication that has inspired an entire city.

Many of you have already received in the mail our May Dwelling Place newsletter, which focuses on Project H.O.M.E.'s Employment Services program.  For those who haven't, here is the front page article.  if you don't received the newsletter, and want to, email nicoletell@projecthome.org. 

Yvonne Bailey has to rise pretty early in the morning on a work day.  She gets her daughter ready for school, then heads to Center City, where she is responsible for opening the H.O.M.E. Page Café at the Main Branch of the Free Library on the Parkway.  It takes about 45 minutes to do the inventory, set up and clean, brew the coffee and tea, get the espresso machine going, and make the Café ready by 8:30 for the day’s first customers.

Three proud employees of the H.O.M.E. Page Café (left to right): Walter Broadnax, Yvonne Bailey, and Peak Johnson.

Yvonne, who spent 17 years on the streets before landing at Project H.O.M.E.’s Rowan Homes, has worked at the Café since its opening in 2008. She waxes enthusiastic about her job:  “It’s a blessing.  It keeps me focused and helps me keep my priorities in order.  I have a sense of responsibility, knowing what I have to do.”

Work and employment are not only critical to a person’s economic sustenance, they are a building block of human meaning and dignity.  Since our earliest days, Project H.O.M.E. has understood that employment is critical to helping people break the cycle of homelessness and poverty.  It is part of our name:  “O” is for Opportunities for Employment.  In fact, access to sustainable employment is the single most important factor in a person’s ability to stay housed. Over the years, we have developed education and employment programs to meet the particular needs of our residents and community members. 

Project H.O.M.E.’s Employment Services program has evolved over the years, as we have learned from experience and undertaken best practices.  We recognize that the process of re-entering the work world cannot be separated from the overall journey back from homelessness.  For many residents, this entails rebuilding the foundation of their lives in order to reclaim their independence and dignity.

Our model is called “supported employment,” which provides a set of appropriate supports tailored to persons who have experienced chronic homelessness and such special needs as addiction and mental health struggles, to help them make the transition to competitive employment and permanent independence and self-sufficiency.  We work closely with each of our residents and our alumni to set goals and create a strong employment plan, based on the person’s strengths, interest, and experience.

The supported employment model is rooted in a commitment to recovery.  While the economic part of employment is clearly one of the goals, the program addresses the whole person and integrates the process of employment within that person’s journey of recovery (from either addiction or mental illness). This creates more complexities in the employment process, but also more possibilities.

 “There is a restorative dimension to our employment program,” says Ed Speedling, who oversees the Exelon Veterans Training and Employment Program.  “Almost universally we see the power of being employed – as a person has a role to play and a paycheck comes in, other things begin to happen:  there is an increase in social integration.  People begin to reengage with their families.  They build relationships.  They get involved in things. They face up to things in their past that need to be amended.”  Many of the participants in the Vets Program, for instance, as they are learning responsibility in the workplace, also take responsibility in other aspects of their lives – facing up to long-standing obligations like child support or old debts. 

Our Employment Services Program staff work with all residents and program participants on many fundamental aspects of work readiness, including basic business literacy, workplace etiquette, computer skills, and professional attire.  At the same time, we work with private-sector employers to seek positions in clerical work, customer service, custodial maintenance, hospitality, and a variety of other fields. 

Some of the specific components of our Employment Services Program include:

·      Our Daily Threads Thrift Store, located at 1515 Fairmount Avenue, allows many of our residents to gain retail and customer relations skills.  It is often a first step back into work and a launching pad for the transition to competitive employment.

·      The H.O.M.E. Page Café is a social enterprise located at the Parkway Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia, which is designed both to make a profit and to provide a stable work environment for current and former residents.  The Café is supported by many local vendors, including Starbucks, Metropolitan Bakery, the Green Line Café, Soup’s On of Salvation Army, Del Frisco’s Steakhouse, and Pequea Valley Yogurts.

·      The Bathroom Attendant Program of the Free Library of Philadelphia, also located at the Library Parkway Branch, employs formerly homeless men and woman as attendants in the public bathrooms – for light cleaning, but more importantly for peer counseling.  When those without a place to call home spend time in the Library bathrooms, attendants are there to speak with them, refer them to services, and support their efforts to move off the streets into housing.

·      The Exelon Veterans Training and Employment Program, a partnership between Project H.O.M.E, Exelon Foundation, and PECO, aims to empower formerly homeless veterans to reach their fullest potential through employment and educational opportunities that are based on the principles of recovery.  The program has provided a job training opportunity to 20 veterans over the last two years.

As with just about every aspect of our work, the success of our Employment Program is possible because of a broad community of support.  We are grateful to many local businesses that have partnered with us, and we hope to develop more partnerships.  Special thanks to Jim O’Brien for the important networking and mentoring he has done to expand our employment opportunities for residents and alumni.

Project H.O.M.E. seeks partner employers, like recent partner Independence Blue Cross, to increase the opportunities available to residents and alumni, especially those that have demonstrated years of solid work habits.  As an employer, Project H.O.M.E. understands what professional development skills people need to be successful in any workplace, and also what our residents and former residents have to offer in terms of their talents, abilities, and determination. You can help up create more opportunities for meaning and dignity.

Help Project H.O.M.E. make work work!  If your company is interested in partnering with our Employment Services Program, please contact Gina Plata at 215-232-7272 ext 3003

Edith Ann and her big chair. Ernestine the rude telephone receptionist. Trudy the bag lady. Ms. Frizzle from Magic School Bus series. 

These are just a few of the classic characters actor and comedian Lily Tomlin has crafted over the years. But they hardly outshine her role as advocate for and supporter of society's most vulnerable, making her a worthy recipient of this year's Golden Heart Award at a May 2 private fundraising event.

The Golden Heart Award was established in 2009 to celebrate and pay tribute to those individuals who, by the force of their character, the power of their values, and the generosity of their heart, honor the mission of Project H.O.M.E. These individuals strive to make an impact in breaking the cycle of homelessness and poverty – empowering adults, children and families to attain their fullest potential.

Past honorees are Jon Bon Jovi, 2009 and General Colin L. Powell (Ret.), 2011. Tomlin, a long-time friend of Project H.O.M.E., provided her first service to the Project H.O.M.E. community when she peformed her one-woman show, "The Search for Intelligent Life in the Universe", for residents of our women's shelter. 

This year’s event raised $200,000 to help formerly homeless men and women – including veterans – re-enter the workforce and find meaningful permanent employment opportunities.  Specifically, it will expand Project H.O.M.E.’s highly successful Exelon Veterans Training and Internship Program that places formerly homeless veterans in internships and mentors them to re-enter the workforce. We have seen how employment coupled with housing can change people’s lives and their futures. This substantial support truly makes a huge difference in our work, and most importantly changes the lives of the people and families we serve. 

Speaking at the luncheon, a recent graduate of the internship program, Stanford Broadwater, Jr (pictured above with Tomlin) – who formerly served our country as a United States Marine Corps Sergeant – credited the program with not only giving him important job skills, but also helping him reconnect with his family, friends and take on personal obligations that he had previously shirked. Broadwater and six other program participants recently gathered to celebrate their graduation – and their newly-secured employment. PECO, an Exelon subsidiary, was so impressed with the 100 percent success rate they presented a check to Project H.O.M.E. to ensure continued funding for the program. (Read more about the graduation here.)

Thanks to Lily Tomlin, the luncheon co-hosts (Christine Connelly, Jeffrey Gordon, Daniel Hilferty, Lynne Honickman, James and Sharon O’Brien, Lynn Salvo and Susan Sherman), the program sponsors (Exelon/PECO and Independence Blue Cross), and attendees of the 2012 Golden Heart Luncheon. 

Vernon Jordan III is pumped.

The high school senior, bound for Muhlenberg College in the fall, has been afforded the opportunity to end his high school experience with style as the Master of Ceremonies at our May 16 Young Leaders Event at Urban Outfitters Headquarters at the Navy Yard.

“I’m looking forward to giving excitement to the crowd, helping to promote all the wonderful youth that are part of the event, and joining a host of young professionals – my future peers – in their endeavors to leave their marks,” said Jordan.

The event will provide the enterprising students of our H.Y.P.E. (Helping Youth Pursue Excellence) Teen Program at the Honickman Learning Center and Comcast Technology Labs the opportunity to showcase their varied talents and interests, a platform on which they intend to shine.

"The event is going to be our largest audience yet," said MC Bernard Connor, a member of the student-operated Inner Power Records. "This is good because we want to share our message that hip-hop music can be about the youth making positive choices. We are challenging stereotypes every time we get on stage."

The entrepreneurial skills of the H.Y.P.E. students will also be on display during the event, and middle-school student Khalef Williams is excited about the possibilities. "It is going to be a good night to make money," he said. "We made these new products people are going to want to buy."

As any good entrepreneur knows, self-promotion is a key component to any successful commercial enterprise – a lesson the H.Y.P.E. students have learned experientially as they have been integral in helping to plan and promote the Young Leaders Event. Dobbins High School student Chante Smith designed the logo that is emblazoned on all of the event's promotional materials, and students in our Harold A. Honickman Young Entrepreneur Program (situated within the larger H.Y.P.E. program) worked closely with the Young Leaders committee to select products for sale and craft special event deals. Students in the film class even created a short piece promoting H.Y.P.E. and their experiences within it.

When the students visited the Urban Outfitters Headquarters to prepare their product displays, they were pretty wide-eyed. "The space is huge," said Khalef Williams. "People working there can get really good-looking snacks, lift some weights, read books, or just look at – but not feed – the fish."

So, if you plan to attend the event, please heed Khalef's warning and do not feed the fish.

It's not too late to register for the event – visit us here to get your tickets for the May 16 event at Urban Outfitters Headquarters at the Navy Yard. Click here for a full list of items available for bid at the event auction.