The most recent projects of the Southeast Learning Partnership, SELP, concern the community calendar and a survey of parking in the Fountain Square commercial district. The calendar, funded by Making Connections Indianapolis, provides an up-to-date resource for regular and special events in the Southeast area of Indianapolis. Listed events include monthly neighborhood meetings, educational courses, and special activities for children and families. Although Making Connections Indianapolis has managed the community calendar in the past, SELP, whose members are residents/partners in this area will be publishing the resource now. The calendar benefits many groups in the southeast. Community organizations receive free marketing for their events, and the printed version of the calendar can be especially useful for residents who don’t have consistent access to the internet. The calendar is published every month. Those who wish to submit information for the calendar should contact Scott at southeast.community.calendar@gmail.com. Pick up copies of the community calendar through out the commercial district along Virginia Avenue, Shelby Street, Prospect Street, East Street, State Street and the Twin Aire retail strip. Copies will also be sent to schools and Neighborhood Association Presidents as well as Garfield and Bethel Park.
Southeast Neighborhood Development Corporation, (SEND) requested the survey of parking available in the Fountain Square commercial district. The survey provided counts and categorized the supply of parking available in the area. The survey will be incorporated into a larger parking study by Development Concepts, Inc. (DCI) to better use existing parking and to plan for future demand.
The study will:
· Identify where additional parking is needed and can be accommodated.
· Assist to reduce parking conflicts between the Fountain Square commercial district and surrounding neighborhoods.
· Benefit the overall area by increasing attractiveness to business, patrons and residents.
· Identify a strategy for implementing a comprehensive parking strategy for Fountain Square.
This project was completed over several days in the middle of February 2010. Generally parking on-street, off-street, and in private/restricted areas were counted along Virgina Avenue from the Interstate to the fountain, along Shelby from Pleasant Street to the Interstate overpass, along Prospect Street from the Interstate to State Street, and along Woodlawn Street. The results numbered 2,961 parking spaces in this area. For more information about the use of this project, contact Bryan Conn at SEND. This project fits into SELP’s purpose through the organization and collection of data.
The SELP meets on the second Monday evening of every month at 5 PM on the second floor of the SECS building at 901 Shelby St. All people interested in the progress of Southeast Indianapolis are welcome to attend. Snacks and childcare are provided. For more information, contact Jerry Keys, chairperson at southeastorganizer@gmail.com.
By Susan Beauchamp
beauartnow@yahoo.com
Friday, April 9, 2010
The Vegetable Juice Can Massacre
By Phyllis Nash
I had a difficult time last week. All I wanted to do was pour some V-8 juice over two stuffed peppers. Since I try to go vegetarian as much as I can, this is one of my favorite dishes along with tofu stir-fry with fried rice.
The expression, “No wine before its time.” makes for successful dining, but shabby kitchen gadgets couldn’t care less and they like to fail at the worst time and sour an other wise gala event.
We’d never gotten a superior can opener or vegetable peeler for years, nor did my Mom or Dad. I remember the difficulty that my Mom went through with her can opener. It had a wooden handle with red paint peeling off and a claw on the end. One levered it up and down around to can to open it. I still have a metal opener with a claw that might punch a hole in a milk can in a pinch.
I don’t know of a household today that never had a metal can opener with the rotary wheel that turned while one cranked around the handle. These work a while and likely keep people from starving for lack of open cans, but they will eventually freeze up too—for spite, I always suspect. There must be legions of them in landfills, secreted away in the backs of drawers. Maybe in frustration they have been flung violently out of vehicle windows into cornfields or even tossed into out houses.
I ardently hoped for a less inferior opener and peeler, so I was pleased when my oldest son got me an electric can opener that worked well until it wore out!
Before Indy became my home, my husband had gotten me a pair of wonderful manual openers from a thrift sore. We only needed to use one of them, which we mounted on the side of wooden cabinet. It cranked easily and never wore out. Possibly I have them somewhere, but don’t know if they should be mounted on a metal cabinet. My youngest son was dubious about an electric opener from a thrift store. He thought that I could only use it temporarily.
I’ve heard that a couple of prison inmates invented the pop-top cans, so for a time now openers are rarely needed. Whoever it was that invented the pop top cans saved home cooking from becoming extinct. If not for these pioneers, cooks enmasse would have left their kitchen stoves and country to visit Borneo or some other country or at the least hole up at Wal-Mart never to return home! Many times I’ve given up on a can or jar and just fixed something else!
So going back to the stuffed pepper supper day, it turned out to be a long evening. Somehow I’d failed to position the 64 oz. juice can properly underneath the opener. It only pushed the can and would do no more than open a small hole. I next turned the can upside down, hastily sticking a bowl underneath the can as the juice squirted into the sink and I pushed the lever. The opener whined and got stuck on the can and wouldn’t release no matter how I pushed and pulled. I got most of the juice out of the can, through the small hole, but it was tough going. Eventually, I got the peppers prepared and refrigerated them. The juice can stayed stuck on the opener all night.
My son came over next day and easily released that can. I pushed the lever and the opener missed a few beats like it always does, but then it made cooperating noises after the rough start. Funny how I’m soothed by knowing the opener seems to be rejuvenated and that I can keep it!
The stuffed peppers turned out well, but no one but me seems to like vegetarian Mexican rice stuffed peppers with pepper jack cheese.
Now, whenever possible, I buy pop-top cans. It used to be that was all one needed. I want to avoid buying a “soda can opener’, which was advertised as “a safe easy way to lift pull-tabs!” God knows that I’ve tried, but a tin can lid graze and cut stings and can take forever to stop bleeding, just like a paper cut! Not to mention plastic and cardboard container packaging that can cripple a person trying to open them!
Things are looking up though. There is something out called a “jar opener” being sold in hardware and building supply stores. More and more Aladdin like packages can be opened like magic! Many more times when I pull up the plastic tab on the half & half carton or the bleach bottle it lifts neatly off the container oftener instead of separating from the seal (whereby one has to poke with a spoon handle to get at the product.) I find comfort that all can be opened for now!
I had a difficult time last week. All I wanted to do was pour some V-8 juice over two stuffed peppers. Since I try to go vegetarian as much as I can, this is one of my favorite dishes along with tofu stir-fry with fried rice.
The expression, “No wine before its time.” makes for successful dining, but shabby kitchen gadgets couldn’t care less and they like to fail at the worst time and sour an other wise gala event.
We’d never gotten a superior can opener or vegetable peeler for years, nor did my Mom or Dad. I remember the difficulty that my Mom went through with her can opener. It had a wooden handle with red paint peeling off and a claw on the end. One levered it up and down around to can to open it. I still have a metal opener with a claw that might punch a hole in a milk can in a pinch.
I don’t know of a household today that never had a metal can opener with the rotary wheel that turned while one cranked around the handle. These work a while and likely keep people from starving for lack of open cans, but they will eventually freeze up too—for spite, I always suspect. There must be legions of them in landfills, secreted away in the backs of drawers. Maybe in frustration they have been flung violently out of vehicle windows into cornfields or even tossed into out houses.
I ardently hoped for a less inferior opener and peeler, so I was pleased when my oldest son got me an electric can opener that worked well until it wore out!
Before Indy became my home, my husband had gotten me a pair of wonderful manual openers from a thrift sore. We only needed to use one of them, which we mounted on the side of wooden cabinet. It cranked easily and never wore out. Possibly I have them somewhere, but don’t know if they should be mounted on a metal cabinet. My youngest son was dubious about an electric opener from a thrift store. He thought that I could only use it temporarily.
I’ve heard that a couple of prison inmates invented the pop-top cans, so for a time now openers are rarely needed. Whoever it was that invented the pop top cans saved home cooking from becoming extinct. If not for these pioneers, cooks enmasse would have left their kitchen stoves and country to visit Borneo or some other country or at the least hole up at Wal-Mart never to return home! Many times I’ve given up on a can or jar and just fixed something else!
So going back to the stuffed pepper supper day, it turned out to be a long evening. Somehow I’d failed to position the 64 oz. juice can properly underneath the opener. It only pushed the can and would do no more than open a small hole. I next turned the can upside down, hastily sticking a bowl underneath the can as the juice squirted into the sink and I pushed the lever. The opener whined and got stuck on the can and wouldn’t release no matter how I pushed and pulled. I got most of the juice out of the can, through the small hole, but it was tough going. Eventually, I got the peppers prepared and refrigerated them. The juice can stayed stuck on the opener all night.
My son came over next day and easily released that can. I pushed the lever and the opener missed a few beats like it always does, but then it made cooperating noises after the rough start. Funny how I’m soothed by knowing the opener seems to be rejuvenated and that I can keep it!
The stuffed peppers turned out well, but no one but me seems to like vegetarian Mexican rice stuffed peppers with pepper jack cheese.
Now, whenever possible, I buy pop-top cans. It used to be that was all one needed. I want to avoid buying a “soda can opener’, which was advertised as “a safe easy way to lift pull-tabs!” God knows that I’ve tried, but a tin can lid graze and cut stings and can take forever to stop bleeding, just like a paper cut! Not to mention plastic and cardboard container packaging that can cripple a person trying to open them!
Things are looking up though. There is something out called a “jar opener” being sold in hardware and building supply stores. More and more Aladdin like packages can be opened like magic! Many more times when I pull up the plastic tab on the half & half carton or the bleach bottle it lifts neatly off the container oftener instead of separating from the seal (whereby one has to poke with a spoon handle to get at the product.) I find comfort that all can be opened for now!
Keeping Pleasant Run....Pleasant
By Kelli Mirgeaux
The Pleasant Run Greenway Trail, with its vast reach and connectivity to several community parks, is a southeast staple for residents to enjoy biking, walking, running, rollerblading and simply interacting with nature. However, unwelcome trash along the trail and in the stream and as well as an overgrowth of invasive plants limit the trail experience for pedestrians. As an extension of public space beautification efforts in the area, SEND formed a committee that solely focuses on Pleasant Run. The committee has several goals in place:
· Organize regular volunteer days to beautify the greenway
· Coordinate with IndyParks and City Maintenance
· Raise awareness of the greenway trail amenity and issues related to pollution of the stream
· Promote trail improvements during the re-purposing of the Citizen’s Gas Coke Plant and advocate for a connection with the Cultural Trail
Since the committee’s inception in 2007 there have been an average of 3 clean-ups per year, hundreds of trees and shrubs planted in the greenway and massive invasive plant removal efforts. In its most recent accomplishment, over 50 people from SEND, neighborhood residents, Indy Parks, and Community Courts worked together to clean up trash and plant of trees on March 20th. The next volunteer effort will be part of the White River Clean-Up on May 1. If you would like to get involved in the committee, it meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at noon in SEND offices. As always lunch is provided.
The Pleasant Run Greenway Trail, with its vast reach and connectivity to several community parks, is a southeast staple for residents to enjoy biking, walking, running, rollerblading and simply interacting with nature. However, unwelcome trash along the trail and in the stream and as well as an overgrowth of invasive plants limit the trail experience for pedestrians. As an extension of public space beautification efforts in the area, SEND formed a committee that solely focuses on Pleasant Run. The committee has several goals in place:
· Organize regular volunteer days to beautify the greenway
· Coordinate with IndyParks and City Maintenance
· Raise awareness of the greenway trail amenity and issues related to pollution of the stream
· Promote trail improvements during the re-purposing of the Citizen’s Gas Coke Plant and advocate for a connection with the Cultural Trail
Since the committee’s inception in 2007 there have been an average of 3 clean-ups per year, hundreds of trees and shrubs planted in the greenway and massive invasive plant removal efforts. In its most recent accomplishment, over 50 people from SEND, neighborhood residents, Indy Parks, and Community Courts worked together to clean up trash and plant of trees on March 20th. The next volunteer effort will be part of the White River Clean-Up on May 1. If you would like to get involved in the committee, it meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at noon in SEND offices. As always lunch is provided.
A New Reading Room for SENSE
By Jamie Fahrner
Southeast Neighborhood School of Excellence (SENSE), a mayor sponsored charter school in the southeast, received one of six Ben Carson Reading Room Grants in Indianapolis. The Carson Scholars Fund (CSF) is a non-profit organization started by well-known pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson and his wife, Candy. Through CSF and its partners over 4,000 scholarships have been funded and more than 45 reading rooms. The funding for the six Indianapolis Reading Rooms has been provided by Indiana University’s Medical School and the Indianapolis Colts. The CSF reading rooms are places for children to kickback and enjoy reading. In one of Dr. Carson’s books, Gifted Hands, he wrote about how his life changed once he realized the joy of reading. Until receiving one of these grants, SENSE Charter School students did not have a comfortable relaxing space where they could independently read.
When the students found about this project, they wanted a voice in the future of their reading room. By an overwhelming vote, the students chose “Wonderland” as their theme. William Phillips, local artist and SENSE art teacher, definitely had a task ahead of him. After hearing more from the students about what they wanted “Wonderland” to look and feel like, his imagination took off. Mr. Phillips has turned an ordinary room into a place filled with wonder and creativity. With sloth-esque characters, fairies, and a dreamy eyed dragon reading books, his central mural has captured the original vision of “Wonderland.” Mr. Phillips stated that he is so excited to see what the kids think of this work. He is looking forward to them feeling like that they have been given a place that transports them to the fictional worlds they are reading about.
The SENSE Reading Room opened May 3, 2010. All six reading rooms in Indianapolis opened that day. Dr. Carson spoke via teleconference to each of the schools and answered questions from students. The Grand Opening was a celebration for SENSE as well as the community.
Southeast Neighborhood School of Excellence (SENSE), a mayor sponsored charter school in the southeast, received one of six Ben Carson Reading Room Grants in Indianapolis. The Carson Scholars Fund (CSF) is a non-profit organization started by well-known pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson and his wife, Candy. Through CSF and its partners over 4,000 scholarships have been funded and more than 45 reading rooms. The funding for the six Indianapolis Reading Rooms has been provided by Indiana University’s Medical School and the Indianapolis Colts. The CSF reading rooms are places for children to kickback and enjoy reading. In one of Dr. Carson’s books, Gifted Hands, he wrote about how his life changed once he realized the joy of reading. Until receiving one of these grants, SENSE Charter School students did not have a comfortable relaxing space where they could independently read.
When the students found about this project, they wanted a voice in the future of their reading room. By an overwhelming vote, the students chose “Wonderland” as their theme. William Phillips, local artist and SENSE art teacher, definitely had a task ahead of him. After hearing more from the students about what they wanted “Wonderland” to look and feel like, his imagination took off. Mr. Phillips has turned an ordinary room into a place filled with wonder and creativity. With sloth-esque characters, fairies, and a dreamy eyed dragon reading books, his central mural has captured the original vision of “Wonderland.” Mr. Phillips stated that he is so excited to see what the kids think of this work. He is looking forward to them feeling like that they have been given a place that transports them to the fictional worlds they are reading about.
The SENSE Reading Room opened May 3, 2010. All six reading rooms in Indianapolis opened that day. Dr. Carson spoke via teleconference to each of the schools and answered questions from students. The Grand Opening was a celebration for SENSE as well as the community.
Gravy—Is it the State Beverage?
by Chef Wendell Fowler
“By gosh, gravy is my downright birthright.”
Traditional, albeit fatty foods make us feel good…temporarily, at least. With its big round molecules, ethereal greasy gravy feels good on the tongue as it carries the meats flavors and luscious, rendered mammalian body fat. (Cue salivation)
If gravy was not on the Sunday table as we grew up, we whimpered in disappointment. Growing up I observed my beloved grandmother as she fried chicken in an Iron skillet, pulled out the browned pieces, tossed in a handful of flour, cooked and stirred the roux, added chopped organ meat, and finally milk to create thickened, creamy giblet gravy: delicious magic.
‘God's gravy’ describes juices that emanate from meat joints during roasting served; i.e., au jus, similar to what is served with Prime Rib. Gravy originated in England. It was described as a sauce made from greasy pan juices that naturally flow from meat and vegetables during cooking. Before the advent of refrigeration sauces were created to disguise the foul taste of partially decomposed meats.
When I see gravy today, I’m grateful for a 2008 NY Times article quoting the world’s most esteemed cardiac specialists warn that eating animal fat is tied to colon cancer as well as heart disease. Treating animals with varies types of man-made hormones, illegal and nefarious compounds are a widely accepted practice within the miscreant U.S. meat industry. Tasty hormone pellets are regularly inbred in virtually all cattle. There’s a mind-blowing amount of growth hormones, antibiotics, insecticides, DEA residue, and a nightmare of unnatural aberrant compounds used in animal husbandry and milking procedures. www.factoryfarming.com) Like heroin, DEA is now illegal, however, clandestinely obtained. These toxins are stored for life in body fat, so, the more body fat you have, the more charming cancer-causing toxins you're storing.
The New England Journal of Medicine, reports that 88,751 women from 34 to 59 years old filled out questionnaires describing their diet and medical history. The women, all nurses, were followed for six years, and 150 of them developed colon cancer. The more animal fat the women ate, the more likely they were to get colon cancer. Those eating the most animal fat were nearly twice as likely to develop colon cancer as those eating the least animal fat. Book em’, Danno.
The viscous medium drowned whipped potatoes, stuffing, and anything that impeded its forward flow. Sure, it’s cool to cheat for one day, but the long term damage from such a poisonous sauce made from saturated fat take time to surface. Are you prepared to expose your holy temple to such risks?
Grandpa freaked us out by pouring gravy onto his pie and cottage cheese. Grandpa succumbed to cancer. As more naughty toxins from food and environment accumulate in our body's jiggling fat tissue, sooner or later our holy temple reaches the point of diminishing returns in specific areas of the body. Literally, the body is so satiated with toxins throughout its fat cells that these specific areas of the body are unable to reproduce or regenerate normal cells; big time trouble.
Is it time to derail the Gravy Train? Keep what comes into your body in its purist state. Curtail your ability to store toxic chemicals in fatty tissue and promote the regeneration of normal, vigorous cells by eating an abundance of fresh fruits and veggies, drink plenty of pure water or fresh juices, eat foods which are low in animal fat and high in fiber, breathe clean air, stay trim and fit, and exercise regularly. That’s what the Cosmos intended.
If you would like Chef Wendell to address your group or organization call (317)-372-2592 and visit www.chefwendell.com
“By gosh, gravy is my downright birthright.”
Traditional, albeit fatty foods make us feel good…temporarily, at least. With its big round molecules, ethereal greasy gravy feels good on the tongue as it carries the meats flavors and luscious, rendered mammalian body fat. (Cue salivation)
If gravy was not on the Sunday table as we grew up, we whimpered in disappointment. Growing up I observed my beloved grandmother as she fried chicken in an Iron skillet, pulled out the browned pieces, tossed in a handful of flour, cooked and stirred the roux, added chopped organ meat, and finally milk to create thickened, creamy giblet gravy: delicious magic.
‘God's gravy’ describes juices that emanate from meat joints during roasting served; i.e., au jus, similar to what is served with Prime Rib. Gravy originated in England. It was described as a sauce made from greasy pan juices that naturally flow from meat and vegetables during cooking. Before the advent of refrigeration sauces were created to disguise the foul taste of partially decomposed meats.
When I see gravy today, I’m grateful for a 2008 NY Times article quoting the world’s most esteemed cardiac specialists warn that eating animal fat is tied to colon cancer as well as heart disease. Treating animals with varies types of man-made hormones, illegal and nefarious compounds are a widely accepted practice within the miscreant U.S. meat industry. Tasty hormone pellets are regularly inbred in virtually all cattle. There’s a mind-blowing amount of growth hormones, antibiotics, insecticides, DEA residue, and a nightmare of unnatural aberrant compounds used in animal husbandry and milking procedures. www.factoryfarming.com) Like heroin, DEA is now illegal, however, clandestinely obtained. These toxins are stored for life in body fat, so, the more body fat you have, the more charming cancer-causing toxins you're storing.
The New England Journal of Medicine, reports that 88,751 women from 34 to 59 years old filled out questionnaires describing their diet and medical history. The women, all nurses, were followed for six years, and 150 of them developed colon cancer. The more animal fat the women ate, the more likely they were to get colon cancer. Those eating the most animal fat were nearly twice as likely to develop colon cancer as those eating the least animal fat. Book em’, Danno.
The viscous medium drowned whipped potatoes, stuffing, and anything that impeded its forward flow. Sure, it’s cool to cheat for one day, but the long term damage from such a poisonous sauce made from saturated fat take time to surface. Are you prepared to expose your holy temple to such risks?
Grandpa freaked us out by pouring gravy onto his pie and cottage cheese. Grandpa succumbed to cancer. As more naughty toxins from food and environment accumulate in our body's jiggling fat tissue, sooner or later our holy temple reaches the point of diminishing returns in specific areas of the body. Literally, the body is so satiated with toxins throughout its fat cells that these specific areas of the body are unable to reproduce or regenerate normal cells; big time trouble.
Is it time to derail the Gravy Train? Keep what comes into your body in its purist state. Curtail your ability to store toxic chemicals in fatty tissue and promote the regeneration of normal, vigorous cells by eating an abundance of fresh fruits and veggies, drink plenty of pure water or fresh juices, eat foods which are low in animal fat and high in fiber, breathe clean air, stay trim and fit, and exercise regularly. That’s what the Cosmos intended.
If you would like Chef Wendell to address your group or organization call (317)-372-2592 and visit www.chefwendell.com
Trusted Mentors Moves to Southeast
Trusted Mentors is a non-profit organization that uses the power of mentoring to help at-risk adults stabilize their lives and avoid homelessness. Now the agency has a new home in the Fountain Square neighborhood. Founded in 2003 as a program at Immanuel UCC, Trusted Mentors was launched to assist adults at-risk of homelessness by providing mentors to strengthen their support network. Preventing homelessness remains a key element in the agency’s mission, but in addition to expanding its office space, it has also expanded its mission to assist ex-offenders through mentoring.
Recognizing an opportunity to join the efforts to end homelessness, Jeri Warner serves as Executive Director at Trusted Mentors and says that the program is making a difference in the community. Though she notes that mentoring is usually seen as “youth-centered”, she believes that adult mentoring is just as effective. “Mentoring is highly valued in the corporate and professional worlds and our work is proving that mentors are just as important outside of a professional environment.”
Since 2003 the agency has grown to serve more than 125 at-risk adults from 12 different referral agencies across the city. By 2009, Trusted Mentors had outgrown its office space and found itself in search of a new home, and last July relocated to 872 Virginia Avenue in Fountain Square. A decision that Warner says has turned out to be a great fit. “Trusted Mentors is an up and coming organization and we’re excited to be in an up and coming neighborhood. We’ve already met some wonderful people and made some great connections and we look forward to growing in the Southeast community and involving our neighbors in our work. “
Trusted Mentors provides training for all of its mentors and hopes to develop its current location into a destination spot for mentors and mentees in the program; a place for them to share coffee, access the internet, and spend time together. “It’s important for people to have a place where they feel welcome, Warner said, “and we are in the right spot for that.” Trusted Mentors has bright future, much like the neighborhood it now calls home.
For more information about Trusted Mentors, visit their website www.trustedmentors.org, call the office at 985-5041, or stop by (872 Virginia Avenue).
Recognizing an opportunity to join the efforts to end homelessness, Jeri Warner serves as Executive Director at Trusted Mentors and says that the program is making a difference in the community. Though she notes that mentoring is usually seen as “youth-centered”, she believes that adult mentoring is just as effective. “Mentoring is highly valued in the corporate and professional worlds and our work is proving that mentors are just as important outside of a professional environment.”
Since 2003 the agency has grown to serve more than 125 at-risk adults from 12 different referral agencies across the city. By 2009, Trusted Mentors had outgrown its office space and found itself in search of a new home, and last July relocated to 872 Virginia Avenue in Fountain Square. A decision that Warner says has turned out to be a great fit. “Trusted Mentors is an up and coming organization and we’re excited to be in an up and coming neighborhood. We’ve already met some wonderful people and made some great connections and we look forward to growing in the Southeast community and involving our neighbors in our work. “
Trusted Mentors provides training for all of its mentors and hopes to develop its current location into a destination spot for mentors and mentees in the program; a place for them to share coffee, access the internet, and spend time together. “It’s important for people to have a place where they feel welcome, Warner said, “and we are in the right spot for that.” Trusted Mentors has bright future, much like the neighborhood it now calls home.
For more information about Trusted Mentors, visit their website www.trustedmentors.org, call the office at 985-5041, or stop by (872 Virginia Avenue).
OK…Give Credit Where Credit Is Due
The last article, which I wrote about homelessness in this publication, wasn’t given any credit to the writer. The mayor’s office or the city of Indianapolis took credit for getting half of the homeless people who were driven out and away from the Davidson Street underpass into shelters. As a matter of fact, only one of these homeless neighbors went into shelters; most scattered to the wind in many directions into many neighborhoods.
I realize the political spin of the official statement. Don’t make our leaders look callous or ignorant. Certainly not! The truth is that many hard core homeless are those who are mentally ill, alcohol or drug addicted, or ex-felons. Most of these individuals do not want to go into shelters and are also not accepted by shelters.
Most of the night time shelters are crammed full and the people’s time there is short and restricted in several ways. One of the restrictions in Indianapolis is that the shelters are Christian backed and funded and all within must attend and follow all Christian programming. There aren’t non-denominational or secular night shelters. The Horizon House, a day shelter, is funded by United Way and is a secular resource, which assists and welcomes many people.
This writer shall continue to strive for more humane accommodations for the ill and addicted. They do not belong “out of sight, out of mind”, but where help can be provided.
I’ll be working with the Coalition for Homeless Intervention and Prevention (CHIP) to continue to provide resources for all our neighbors. The Homeless Connect event at the Indianapolis Convention Center on March 23, 2010 was an opportunity for over a thousand people to obtain services including counseling for employment, housing, mental health, physical health, veterans services, legal aid, and a lunch. Many organizations had representatives to assist our residents. I hope that this event can be repeated regularly. What can you do to help?
Richard Campi
beauartnow@yahoo.com
I realize the political spin of the official statement. Don’t make our leaders look callous or ignorant. Certainly not! The truth is that many hard core homeless are those who are mentally ill, alcohol or drug addicted, or ex-felons. Most of these individuals do not want to go into shelters and are also not accepted by shelters.
Most of the night time shelters are crammed full and the people’s time there is short and restricted in several ways. One of the restrictions in Indianapolis is that the shelters are Christian backed and funded and all within must attend and follow all Christian programming. There aren’t non-denominational or secular night shelters. The Horizon House, a day shelter, is funded by United Way and is a secular resource, which assists and welcomes many people.
This writer shall continue to strive for more humane accommodations for the ill and addicted. They do not belong “out of sight, out of mind”, but where help can be provided.
I’ll be working with the Coalition for Homeless Intervention and Prevention (CHIP) to continue to provide resources for all our neighbors. The Homeless Connect event at the Indianapolis Convention Center on March 23, 2010 was an opportunity for over a thousand people to obtain services including counseling for employment, housing, mental health, physical health, veterans services, legal aid, and a lunch. Many organizations had representatives to assist our residents. I hope that this event can be repeated regularly. What can you do to help?
Richard Campi
beauartnow@yahoo.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
