THINK Together Students, Homelessness, and You

On November 19th, I will be taking the students from my after school program to Exposition Park to participate in the United Way’s HomeWalk. We have been doing this for a few years, and the United Way is one of our community partners. The following information is lifted right off the HomeWalk LA website for your convenience. We will see you there.

What is HomeWalk?
HomeWalk is United Way of Greater Los Angeles’ annual 5K Run/Walk to End Homelessness. Each year thousands join together to do their part by fundraising and spreading the word that homelessness is a solvable problem.

Why HomeWalk?
In Los Angeles County 51,000 people are homeless. Wages have not kept up with housing costs. Over the past 20 years, only the top 1% of salaried workers have seen significant income growth. Our percentage of working poor is higher than the U.S. as a whole. We’re the homeless capital of the nation. The number one reason for homelessness is losing a job, and L.A. County unemployment is in double digits for the first time since May 1993. The HomeWalk funds focused on ending homelessness among 2 populations; the chronically homeless, who are the most costly segment, and families who represent the fastest growing segment.

How does the United Way help?
All money raised through HomeWalk is distributed back into the community to help quickly re‐house homeless families and provide permanent supportive housing to our most vulnerable, chronically homeless individuals and veterans. Over the past 4 years, HomeWalk has mobilized 18,000 walkers, raised $1.7 million and funded organizations that have moved 9,000 people into permanent housing.

The United Way believes that our community must focus on housing people first while giving them access to support services such as health and mental health treatment. This “emerging model” was designed to move people into housing quickly while giving them the supportive services necessary to stay there. In this model shelters are used as very short-term housing only. Housing homeless families and individuals will do more than manage the problem, it will solve it.


How Can We End Homelessness?
The number one reason for homelessness is loss of a job. With our region’s unemployment at the highest it’s been in a decade it’s not surprising that we are the homeless capital of the nation and that 40% of the homeless population are women and children.
We can end chronic, veteran and family homelessness by moving people into housing quickly while giving them the necessary services to remain there. This permanent supportive housing model has drastically reduced homelessness in cities like New York and Denver, and it’s 43% more cost effective with an 80% success rate of people staying off the streets for good. HomeWalk is an opportunity for our community to come together to raise funds and hope for a better future. Join us by participating, volunteering and/or recruiting others. Together we will end homelessness.

Register To Walk and Fundraise
Go to www.homewalkla.org to register online and start fundraising by asking ten people for $10.

Event Information
Saturday, November 19th
Exposition Park
700 Exposition Park Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90037

Important Info
Registration Opens: 7:00am
Opening Program: 8:30am
Run/Walk Begins: 9:00am
Registration fee for walkers and runners is $25.
Minors (under 18) are free.

Employment August

This summer I had the privilege of working for THINK Together’s summer program in Santa Ana again. Despite the long commute I had a positive experience working out there last summer. Last year I was faced with an experience I called “Unemployment August.” For one month after the summer program I did not have a job until the new school year started. This was a difficult month financially, but it was a great month for Jackie and I because we got to spend a lot of time together. This year, I was not faced with the prospect of unemployment. Instead I was promoted to a full time position.
I recently became a Site Coordinator at a Middle School in Baldwin Park. The school year will start August 30th. I am spending the next month hiring my staff and getting ready. For my first month as a site coordinator I helped run a summer program in Santa Ana. I was actually assigned to be a program leader at this site, but when I was hired on for my new position I got to help run the site instead.
This was a great experience. I was paired with another LA site coordinator, Mark, and he showed me the ropes. He was a great help and we had a great staff. Here are some pictures from this summer’s program.

Engagement!

So I know I have all but ignored this blog for a while now. I’ve not just gotten lazy. I have been writing some personal projects that people will probably never see and the blog has taken a backseat. But now I have a reason to come running back to writing in a medium others can read...
We are engaged!
Jackie and I have decided to get married. We are planning on setting the date for sometime next spring. That would be March, April or May of 2011. I love this woman, and spring sounds like an eternity away, but there are some practical considerations, like location, for us to figure out before we set a date. When we do I will let everyone know. So for the next year much of what you read on my blog, if you are unfortunate enough to be following it, will be about this task of planning a wedding. Hopefully I will still have a life and write about other things. A lot has happened in the past few months that I have not bothered writing about here. I probably won’t spend the time catching you up on all that. I am too excited about the future.

Francis Chan on Safe Christianity

"The Girl" by City and Colour

I wish I could do better by you,
'cause that's what you deserve
You sacrifice so much of your life
In order for this to work.

While I'm off chasing my own dreams
Sailing around the world
Please know that I'm yours to keep
My beautiful girl

When you cry a piece of my heart dies
Knowing that I may have been the cause
If you were to leave
Fulfill someone else's dreams
I think I might totally be lost

You don't ask for no diamond rings
No delicate string of pearls
That's why I wrote this song to sing
My beautiful girl

First time having my photography published (sort of)

One of my photos from the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach has been used in some sort of online travel guide. I'm not sure if this counts as being published, especially since I've never even heard of Schmap, but it's still kind of cool.

I also learned from this website that the plural form of the word aquarium is aquaria. Who knew?

Union Station with Jaclyn

On Monday Jackie and I went to Union Station in LA to take some photos. We had a great time. These are just a few. I'm going to save most of them for other projects. You might see them at some point. There are more on my facebook profile. Here are a few of my favorites:

Everyone! Come see how good looking my girlfriend is!






This one is one of me that she took. She's a better model and a better photographer.







This one is probably my favorite from the day.







This one might be a bit dramatic, but it was fun to take.
That's it for now.