3 10 291 https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/f38cb82a2a10a2f46b8844fc49376eb8.pdf e81eddc932e7469c71d8d4f104e1cb7f PDF Text Text J u n e 1 3 t h - J u n e 2 7 t h 2 0 1 9 | Vo l . 2 3 I s s u e 1 2 ( N o . 4 0 9 ) advo cating justice | building communit y Any opinions in this issue are of the authors and don't necessarily represent Streetvibes or The Homeless Coalition. Pride Issue THIS SPECIAL PRIDE MONTH ISSUE FEATURES LGBTQ WRITERS AND TOPICS This Issue is sponsored by Cecilia and Tom Kloecker Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.com Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 12 �2 COALITION N o v 13 2 - -NJune o v 19, 18 | |NNo. o . 393 June 27,2 02019 409 From The Editor: Ohio and the LGBTQ Community Gabriela Godinez Editor-in-chief There are many LGBTQ people in Ohio, and there are many Pride festivals held around the state to celebrate them. In Cincinnati, Second Sunday on Main featured Pride-centric decorations and the official Pride festival is set to be held June 22nd. All over Cincinnati you can see pride flags, many featured in bars and in restaurants. While this is great and wouldn’t have even been conceivable 50 years ago, that doesn’t mean we get to wipe our hands clean from the past, or ignore the fact that there are issues still to work on to this day. On June 8, 2019 members of the nationalist socialist movement showed up to a pride event in Detroit. They came with the intention to ignite fear and incite violence. There is footage of these Nazis ripping up Pride and Israeli flags while chanting and yelling obscenities. One of the issues that the internet found specifically with this footage was how the police were escorting them seemingly to protect them, the Nazis, rather than the more vulnerable folks who were being verbally harassed by this group. If you want to read more about the police and the LGBTQ community be sure to read Dr. Mark Mussman’s article featured on page 8. This is a very clear example of how much America still has to grow. According to the Federal Bureau of investigation 17.7% of hate crimes were from bias against sexual orientation and 1.7% were from gender identity bias as of 2015. In 2017 there were 1,338 individual victims of official hate crimes because of their sexual orientation. Although same-sex marriage has been legal in the United States since 2015 that doesn’t mean that the LGBTQ community is treated the same way as cisgendered heterosexuals in the United States. Only 15 states allow second parent adoption within same sex couples. Ohio is not one of those states. Statewide Ohio has no protections for discrimination against the LGBTQ community this means it is legal for employers to fire workers, landlords can deny housing, business owners can refuse goods and services, all on the basis of sexual orientation. Though federally there are marginal protections according to Ohio law hate crimes fall under bias against race color religion or national origin this leaves out gender identity and sexual orientation. There are no explicit state wide anti-discrimination laws to protect the LGBT community. Gay conversion therapy is still legal in Ohio, although six individual cities now ban this abuse. While having cities take a stand in favor of the LGBTQ community’s basic human rights, it is important that it be in our state legislation. All of this isn’t to say that we aren’t allowed to celebrate. We should be allowed a chance to take a moment and breathe. The LGBTQ community has come a long way in our society. No one can argue that it is worse today than it was 50 years ago, but that isn’t the point. We should strive to change more legislation, change more within our society, so that future generations can say they have it better than we did. Go out and celebrate pride month, it’s good for the soul. Camaraderie and engaging in festivities helps recharge us. Allies just have to remember that the fight isn’t over. If you’re going to party with us, you have to be ready to fight with us as well. Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org www.cincistreetvibe.com EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor-in-chief: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: Mona Jenkins Director of Education: Dr. Mark Mussman Volunteer Editors: Katelyn Lusher, Chris Wilkey Distributor Program Manager: Sallie Mascus Layout: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Reception: Bonita Batton, Larry Johnson Maintenance: Pete Roper ------------------------------------------CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Writers: Gabriela Godinez, Bill Woods, Alison Young, James Petty, Kathleen Hinkel, Mawethu Nkosana, Aliza Saunder, Dr. Mark Mussman, Raya, Quiver Watts, Key Beck, Clarity Amrein, Maya Stockman, Cleo Wombles, June Alexander, Willa D. Jones, Kim Green, ------------------------------------------- S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Photography/ Artwork: canva.com, Gabriela Godinez, INSP.com, Dr. Mark Mussman, ---------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition do not endorse candidates for public office. �No. 39 Nov 227, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 June 133-|June | No. 409 HOMELESSNESS 3 Carelessly linking crime to being homeless adds to the harmful stigma and disadvantage he faced. This was in stark contrast to the wealthy privilege of his killer, Easton Woodhead, who The Conversation was found not guilty of murder because he news of Courtney of mental impairment. Herron’s death has shocked There is therefore an entrenched Melburnians. While full duality at work, in which homelessness details are yet to emerge, leads to victimisation and yet also both she and the man charged with causes offending. This is inaccurate and murdering her have been widely simplistic. reported as being homeless. It’s The roles of the law and the media revealing how news media use this Why is the association of information in framing their coverage homelessness and crime so strong? of what happened. There are two main factors. Media use of the term “homeless” First, many behaviours made is rarely neutral. This is not to say necessary by homelessness are someone’s housing status should never criminalised. Simply trying to survive be included in reporting such events. puts people who are experiencing However, we should be wary of how homelessness in direct contact with the media coverage connects homelessness criminal justice system. to violent crimes. In Victoria, for example, begging Before continuing, we should is a criminal offence. Other laws that say we have relied entirely on the unfairly target the homeless include indecent exposure laws, which result in homeless people being arrested for going to the toilet or washing themselves in public (because they lack the option to do so in private). The second factor is the persistent linking of homelessness and crime in the media. News stories proliferate in the tabloid media about aggressive beggars, foreign backpackers pretending to be homeless to make money and people who exploit their pets as they beg for donations. Coverage of the homeless camp at Flinders Street Station in Melbourne during the 2017 Australian Open tennis tournament routinely described inhabitants as drug dealers, criminals and professional troublemakers. Being homeless means being vulnerable When reading about any event involving people experiencing homelessness, we should remember that being homeless involves serious vulnerability. Homelessness is better understood not as a condition itself, but as a manifestation of multiple vulnerabilities: mental illness, Jon David Guerrero, 40, appears at a competency hearing charged with attacking five homeless men by driving railroad spikes into the heads of his victims, chronic ill-health, unemployment, killing three of them in San Diego, California, U.S., March 20, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Blake disadvantage, lack of education, histories of trauma or neglect, substance information reported in the media to For readers, knowing Herron was hobo” alongside Miller’s mug shot on dependence and, always, poverty. This write this article. homeless helps us understand her the front page. remains the case regardless of whether Connotations of homelessness vulnerability. Women experiencing The equation of people experiencing the person in question is a victim, an For victims of crime who lack homelessness face a range of risks and homelessness and criminal behaviour offender, or a bystander. stable housing, news media use their challenges, such as higher risks of sexual can appear natural or logical. However, Alison Young is a professor of homelessness as evidence of their violence, exploitation and assault. it is anything but: people experiencing criminology at the University of vulnerability. For perpetrators without In contrast, Hammond’s homelessness are more likely to be Melbourne housing, media use their homelessness homelessness has been reported in a victims of violent offending, not its James Petty is an honorary fellow as a context and explanation of their way that frames the act of violence he perpetrators. of criminology at the University of behaviour. has been charged with. Yet how does Also in 2014, Morgan Wayne Melbourne On the Monday following Herron’s it help us understand this horrific act? “Mouse” Perry was killed while sleeping Courtesy of The Conversation / death, The Guardian ran the headline: Housing status is not generally included rough in Melbourne. His homelessness INSP.ngo “Homeless man appears in court in reporting: we don’t see headlines like revealed the intense marginalisation Alison Young and James Petty T charged with murder of Courtney Herron”. Including the adjective “homeless” in the headline means the accused, Henry Hammond, 27, is from the outset defined by a lack of housing, and by any adverse associations that might relate to individuals experiencing homelessness. In this context, the expression “homeless man” indicates how “homelessness” can be read as shorthand for criminal offending. It’s striking that news reporting of Herron’s homelessness has tended to use expressions such as “of no fixed address”, rather than “homeless”, perhaps indicating an awareness of the adjective’s negative associations. The Age quotes an acquaintance as saying Herron should be “remembered for the lovely woman she was and not just another homeless person who died on the streets”. “Man who lives in renovated Victorian terrace accused of murder”. In fact, criminal behaviour by homed people, in the form of family violence, is the main driver of homelessness in Australia. The relationship between homelessness and crime is thus more complex than media coverage suggests. Hammond’s homelessness may well be an aspect of what has happened, but news headlines like The Guardian’s tap into a longstanding association in some people’s minds between homelessness and criminality. Victims and perpetrators Following the 2014 killing of Renae (Yuk Ling) Lau by Scott Allen Miller in King’s Domain, Melbourne, the media depicted Miller as a dangerous monster. His homelessness was central to this framing. One news outlet (The Advertiser) ran the headline “Killer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �4 ADVERTISMENT N o v 213 - N v 19,27, 2 02019 18 | N| oNo. . 393 June - oJune 409 May 17 - June 2, 2019 For tickets please call (513) 381-2273 Purchase tickets online at www.cincyshakes.com AD Donated by Mark and Sue Ann Painter season sponsored by the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 ov 2 27, - N o2019 v 19, | 2 0 18409 June 133 -| N June No. PRIDE MONTH 5 50 Years After Stonewall: The Most Marginalized Still Face Oppression Kathleen Hinkel StreetWise A t the heart of the story of the Stonewall Rebellion are homeless LGBTQ youth, transgender people of color and a threatened place of refuge: a gay bar that welcomed the outcasts of society. The Stonewall Inn was a community center of sorts for drag queens and queer youth rendered homeless by familial or societal rejection. Admission at the Stonewall Inn was not expensive and homeless youth could easily scrounge up their admission through panhandling. Once they were in, they could socialize and have a sanctuary for the night. Dick Leitsch, a gay journalist who was the executive director of the Mattachine Society in 1969, once described the Stonewall saying: “It catered largely to a group of people who are not welcome in, or cannot afford, other places of homosexual gathering. The ‘drags’ and the ‘queens,’ two groups which would find a chilly reception or a barred door at most other gay bars and clubs, formed the ‘regulars’ at Stonewall. The Stonewall became ‘home’ to these kids. When it was raided, they fought for it. That, and the fact that they had nothing to lose other than the most tolerant and broadminded gay place in town, explains why the Stonewall riots were begun, led and spearheaded by ‘queens.’” This month we proudly celebrate the 50th anniversary of the uprising at the Stonewall Inn and the 50 years of making strides towards equal rights and acceptance for the LGBTQ community. The Stonewall Rebellion is arguably the most pivotal event in queer liberation’s history; it fired up the modern LGBTQ rights movement, which continues its march towards equal rights and acceptance of LGBTQ people today. Conversations around gay rights in the United States are often divided into two eras: before and after Stonewall. Before Stonewall, LGBTQ individuals faced harrassment, discrimination and potential prosecution for living their lives openly. Because of this, few queer people lived their lives openly. There were several laws that criminalized homosexual behavior and there were no protections in place that would prevent an employer from firing someone who was queer. The American Psychiatric Association even listed homosexuality as a disorder; a person could be institutionalized for being gay. Multiple accounts acknowledge the Stonewall Rebellion as the beginning of gay pride. “Being gay before Stonewall was a very difficult proposition. We felt in order to survive we had to look and act as rugged and manly as possible in order to get by in a society that street kids essential to the Stonewall individuals. was really against us,” says Geanne Rebellion were several trans people The heroes at the heart of the Harwood, who had been in a gay of color including Marsha P. Johnson, Stonewall Rebellion unfortunately relationship with Bruce Merrow for Sylvia Rivera and Miss Major Griffin- remain among the queer communities’ 40 years in 1969. “When Stonewall Gacy, who continued as renowned most marginalized populations happened, Bruce and I were still in the activists for trans rights for decades. today. LGBTQ youth still represent closet, where we’d been for almost 40 Since police raids were common at a disproportionate amount of the years. But we realized this had been a gay bars in 1969, there has been a lot homeless youth population at 40 per tremendous thing that had happened of discussion about why the uprising cent. The reason for this is the same at Stonewall - it gave us a feeling we happened at the Stonewall Inn versus reason that queer youths landed on weren’t going to be remaining closeted another establishment. A commonly the streets in the late 1960s: societal for very much longer. Soon thereafter spread (and debunked) myth is that and/or familial rejection. Trans people we did come out of the closet.” the coincidence of Judy Garland’s today, especially trans women of color, New York City, home of the funeral earlier that night across town continue to be disproportionately Stonewall Inn, had numerous laws on its had inspired the city’s drag queens subjected to harassment; five books in 1969 that criminalized queer to revolt. A more legitimate reason is transgender women have already lifestyles. Two members of the same sex that the Stonewall was the only place been murdered in 2019. On top of were not permitted to dance together. that allowed people to dance with each violence and harassment they also face If people did not wear a minimum of other. Still, the most likely explanation discriminatory government policy such three clothing items that matched their for why the uprising happened at the as the recent ban on military service. supposed gender at birth, they could be incarcerated for “sexual deviancy.” Bars were not permitted to serve alcohol to gay people and therefore the New York State Liquor Authority would not give out licenses to gay bars. Gay bars still existed, but most operated without a license and were controlled by the mafia, who saw an opportunity to profit off a marginalized community that needed a place to gather. The mafia would open establishments without a license as “bottle bars” or private clubs and bribe police to stay away. Between operating without a license and the criminalization of gay lifestyles, police raids were common at gay bars in 1969. The Stonewall Rebellion, also often referred to as the Stonewall Uprising, happened in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969. New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn without Demonstration at City Hall, New York, 1973. Courtesy of New York Public Library, Manuscripts and warning, violently hauling patrons Archives Division. Photo by Diana Davies. out of the bar and arresting 13 people. Crowds gathered on the street and Stonewall Inn is that the bar uniquely Fifty years after Stonewall, gay instead of dispersing, as was common welcomed the most marginalized bars still serve as sanctuaries for the at these raids, they fought back against members of the queer community and queer community and will continue to the police, throwing bricks, bottles when their only refuge was threatened, do so. In addition to gay bars, LGBTQ and other objects, as six days of queer they fought for it. community centers such as Chicago’s resistance ultimately ensued. Since Stonewall, there has been Center on Halsted exist to offer refuge The oral history of what sparked a lot to celebrate in terms of LGBT and a welcoming space that offers the riots features great anecdotes about rights. On its first anniversary, June 28, services for the LGBTQ community. what kicked off the melee that night 1970, queer New Yorkers celebrated When reached for comment on the in the Village. A popular account is “Christopher Street Liberation Day” concept of queer safe spaces and that the first punch was thrown by a and marched from the Stonewall Inn the challenges facing the LGBTQ black butch lesbian resisting arrest. to Central Park in New York’s first gay community today, Mariah Emerson of This person is believed to be Stormé pride march. A day before the New the Center on Halsted had this to say, DeLarverie, a well-known drag king York march, on June 27, 1970, Chicago “In a climate where hate language fuels who had been performing popular activists hosted their own gay pride hate violence, and the essence of “safe shows at places like the Apollo Theatre march to commemorate the Stonewall spaces” could be compromised in the for years. After being beaten in the anniversary. They marched from blink of an eye, community is our refuge. head with a baton by an officer, she Washington Square Park to what is As the most comprehensive LGBTQ punched the officer back and shouted now Daley Plaza, where they gathered community center in the Midwest, to lingering bystanders “Why don’t you around the Picasso chanting “Gay it is our honor and responsibility to guys do something?”; catalyzing their power to gay people!” Pride is now uplift and create space for the LGBTQ counterattack on the police. celebrated by millions across the globe community— in all of its intersections.” The crowd swelled to hundreds of annually with many cities celebrating Safe spaces for queer people to gather, people that night who threw bottles and on the anniversary of the Stonewall dance and meet similar people remain chanted “GAY POWER!” Hundreds Rebellion. The uprising paved the way essential to healthy growth for the continued to return for six days in for activism that has led us to marriage LGBTQ rights movement. a massive demonstration of queer equality, mainstream representation Courtesy of StreetWise / INSP.ngo resistance. Among the drag queens and and workplace protections for LGBTQ THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �GLOBAL PRIDE 6 N o v 213 - N v 19,27, 2 02019 18 | N| oNo. . 393 June - oJune 409 LGBTQI Rights in the Balkans: A Perpetual Struggle Mawethu Nkosana The Conversation R omanian Adrian Coman and his American-born partner Clai Hamilton had two major reasons to celebrate when they tied the knot last June. One of course, was their marriage. The other was the historic legal victory they scored when their case before Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) led to the recognition of same sex marriage for the purpose of freedom of movement in the European Union (EU). The case, challenging current law, represented a significant victory for LGBTQI rights, in particular in Eastern Europe. The couple had married in Belgium in 2010 and later decided to settle in Coman’s native Romania. But Hamilton was denied residency rights because the civil code does not recognise same-sex marriages. So, they took the matter to the Romanian courts, which referred it to the CJEU. Romania currently ranks 35th out of the 49 countries assessed by the European region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA-Europe,), in terms of its equality laws and policies. Romania compares fairly favourably – when it comes to protecting and promoting LGBTQI rights – to many other Balkan states. But there is an apparent disconnect between the Romanian government’s intentions and public opinion. While the government adopted anti-discrimination legislation in 2000 and decriminalised consensual samesex relationships the following year, it did an about-face in 2008 when it changed the civil code to ban same-sex marriage and civil partnerships. But 10 years later, referendum voters rejected an attempt to enforce this prohibition at the Constitutional level. In this, Romania is not alone. Uncertainty over LGBTQI rights manifests in a variety of ways across the Balkan region, a massive swathe of territory stretching across Eastern Europe from Turkey in the south to Romania in the north. This uncertainty is a breeding ground for further discrimination, the non-implementation of more liberal civil regimes and the official apathy toward the commission of crimes against members of the LGBTQI community. For example, in 2015, Slovenia’s parliament passed a same-sex marriage bill with a vote of 51-28. But Slovenians disagreed: nine months later, they rejected the new law in a referendum, by a margin of 63 to 37 per cent. Across the Black Sea from Romania, an incident in Armenia demonstrated the challenges that still lie ahead for LGBTIQ rights in this general part of the world. Last week, around 100 demonstrators gathered outside the national assembly in the capital, Yerevan, to protest a speech in parliament by a transgender activist: Lilit Martirosyan’s address at a hearing organised by the United Nations and the Armenian Human Rights Defender’s Office. While fuelled by party politics, the protests were clearly transphobic. In some places a more liberal legal framework has been established but greater tolerance is not guaranteed. Croatia passed the Life Partnership Act in 2014, granting same-sex couples the same rights as their heterosexual counterparts – except for adoption, although a parent’s life partner can become a child’s partner-guardian. This was despite an opinion poll the previous year, showing that almost 60 per cent of Croats thought that marriage should be constitutionally defined as being between a man and a woman. This raises questions around the enforceability and public acceptance of the Life Partnership Act. Greece presents a more extreme example of public opinion rising against political decisions. Despite its parliament approving civil unions for same-sex couples in a landslide 194-55 vote four years ago, when polls showed that only a third of citizens supported such a reform, public attitudes toward the LGBTQI community remained hardened. In its 2019 review of LGBTI rights, ILGA-Europe reports the prevalence of homophobic and transphobic speech in Greece, in particular by clergy. It notes also the an International LBTQI youth and student organization ranks Greece as one of the least inclusive countries around LGBTQI issues in education. The ILGA-Europe review also describes the shocking 2018 murder of LGBT+ and HIV activist Zak Kostopoulos, who was fatally beaten by an Athens jewellery shop owner, a second person and police officers. Despite videos of the incident being made public, the media made later-discredited claims that he had been trying to rob the shop and had been under the influence of drugs. REUTERS/Antonio Bronic THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED The other side of the coin is where authorities, even when they are not backed by legislation, foment hatred and violence toward the LGBTQI community – as in Turkey, where homosexuality has been legal since 1858, although sexual orientation, gender identity and same-sex relationships are not recognised in civil rights laws. In November 2017, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declared the empowering LGBT people to be “against the values of our nation”. A week later, the governor’s office in the capital, Ankara, banned all LGBT cultural events in that city. Deep-seated prejudice towards the LGBTQI community in the Balkans – in contrast to Western Europe, where studies and polls consistently show more liberal attitudes – have been further inflamed by the influx over several years of refugees from conflict zones in the Middle East. LGBTQI refugees from countries like Iraq and Syria escape sexual orientation or gender discrimination and persecution in their homelands, only to face it once again in the Balkans. Fearful, many do not report their sexual orientation or gender identity when applying for refugee status. This invariably leads to their applications being rejected and them being repatriated to their home countries. If they stay, or move to another country, their illegal status means they are often forced to support themselves through high-risk occupations such as sex work. And because they enjoy no legal rights, they are at risk of official persecution and have no recourse should they be victimised by the general public. The win for LGBTQI rights in the Coman-Hamilton judgment is without doubt important, and it stands proudly among other small victories in the Balkans region. But what positive changes there have been are incremental, and often negated by continued prejudice and a lack of will to implement reforms. Until public and official attitudes undergo a paradigm shift in every one of the Balkan states – irrespective of whether or not their civil regimes are currently transforming – the region’s LGBTQI community will continue to be denied basic human rights and disproportionately suffer indignity, discrimination and violence. Mawethu Nkhosana is an LGBTI activist and the crisis response fund administrator at CIVICUS, a global alliance of civil society organisations. Courtesy of Inter Press Service / INSP.ngo �No. 39 3 |- N ov 2 -27, N o2019 v 19, |2No. 0 18409 June 13 June GLOBAL PRIDE 7 'This time is real': Taiwan counts down to Asia's first same-sex weddings Aliza Saunders Street Roots L esbians Chu Pei-syuan and Liang Tsung-hui will this week tie the knot for the second time - this time at home, after Taiwan became the first place in Asia to allow same-sex marriage. Taiwan's parliament legalised gay marriage last week, reinforcing its reputation as a beacon of liberalism in Asia, but the move has divided the selfruled island. The bill, which offers same-sex couples similar legal protections for marriage to heterosexuals, will take effect on Friday and Chu and Liang will be among the first to wed under the new law. "Finally we are no longer strangers in the eye of the law - we will be recognised as a couple," said 32-yearold Chu, a part-time retail worker in the capital Taipei. The pair, who met 12 years ago when they volunteered at an LGBT+ charity and fell in love, married in Canada in 2012, using up three years of savings to travel there. But the marriage was only "symbolic" as it was not recognised back home, said Liang, a 35-year-old social worker. This Friday, they will join about 200 gay couples who have booked to register their marriages on the first day of the law being in force, with mass weddings also planned. Limitations The bill passed just days before a deadline set by a top court which ruled in 2017 that Taiwan must legalise samesex marriage by May 24 - and it was not without controversy. Two-thirds of voters in a November referendum voted to retain the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman under the current civil law. Same-sex marriage in Taiwan will be allowed under a separate new law - a move the government said respected both the court ruling and the referendum results. Even then, conservative and religious groups tried to stage a lastditch attempt last week for a watereddown version of the bill which offered less protections, but failed. There will be limitations under the new law, however. It allows same-sex marriages only between Taiwanese, or with foreigners whose countries recognise same-sex marriage. Same-sex couples will only be allowed to adopt children biologically related to at least one of them. "It's still a compromised version (of what we wanted) but it's the closest to our ideal expectations," said Jennifer Lu, the chief coordinator of the Marriage Equality Coalition Taiwan, an alliance that spearheads the gay unions campaign. "This is the best scenario for us at the moment," said Lu, who has a longtime lesbian partner, describing the move as "historic". A push for same-sex marriage has been slow elsewhere in Asia, where socially conservative attitudes still prevail. Thailand has drafted a civil partnership bill that would legally recognise same-sex couples as civil partners, but LGBT+ activists said it does not grant marriage equality. The same-sex marriage issue has become a political hot potato for Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, who campaigned on a promise for marriage equality in the run up to 2016 polls. It had become divisive even within her ruling Democratic Progressive Party, which suffered a poll defeat last year that was blamed partly on Tsai's reform agenda. The new measure could also undermine her bid to seek a second term in elections next year. The Coalition for the Happiness of Our Next Generation, which has campaigned against gay marriage, warned the public would "strike back" at the next general election in 2020. "The will of some seven million people in the referendum has been trampled," the group said in a statement. Pink economy But on the Aiguo East Road dubbed the "Bridal Street" in downtown Taipei, bridal shops welcomed the news, expecting an uptick in gay couples signing up for wedding photoshoot packages that can cost more than $3,000. LGBT+ group Marriage Equality Coalition Taiwan said legalisation could spur the "pink economy", with couples spending at least $23,000 on weddings. "Once it is legalised it will not be controversial anymore and people will be much more open about their sexuality," said Fanny Pan, a manager at Lishe Wedding, one of more than 10 bridal shops on the street. "It really shows Taiwan does not discriminate against anyone," she said. Chu and Liang said they now felt their rights as a couple were protected. Chu recalled how when she was treated for depression a few years ago, Liang was not allowed to stay because hospital authorities did not recognise their relationship. On Friday they will join others at a mass wedding ceremony in the city centre, wearing tailor-made matching shirts. "We have married before, but this time it is for real," said Liang. Courtesy of Reuters / Thomson Reuters Foundation / INSP.ngo A same-sex marriage advocate holds a rainbow flag before rendering signatures to call for a referendum over equal marriage, outside Central Election Commission in Taipei, Taiwan September 4, 2018. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �PRIDE MONTH 8 N o v 213 - -NJune o v 19, 2 02019 18 | N o . 393 June 27, | No. 409 No Pigs at Pride Dr. Mark Mussman Staff Writer H ave you ever had a nightmare that was so stressful that you consciously woke yourself up? In my experience, these are the dreams where the cops show up. The police force has been a destabilizing factor in American life for far too long. The Appalachian experience in Cincinnati has been to avoid the police, because they split up our families. Police are an offshoot of so-called slavecatching, they enforce unjust laws, and they have no place in Pride. Total institutions are processes where individuals are indoctrinated into the institution by means of removing identities and supplanting them with the institutional viewpoint. Boot camp, insane asylums, jail, and police academies are all considered total institutions. Individuals who go into these institutions are socialized and acculturated into cogs in a machine. Your name is removed, your connection to the outside is hindered, your body is the property of someone else and is often adulterated in some way (prohibition of certain hair styles, for instance.) The purpose of total institutions is to make sure that the inhabitants work for the machine, rather than against it, by placing a new identity onto those on the inside. This is why there are no good cops, as they are all working to protect wealth and criminalize poverty. This is done by criminalizing difference; therefore, all people who are outside a certain profile become the enemy of the state. Pride has its origin in the Stonewall Rebellion of June, 1969. The Stonewall Inn had been an important, inclusive, nightclub for the community of LGBTQIA+ (or queer) people in New York City. Many cities, including Cincinnati, had laws against queer people. In fact, some sodomy laws have been recently repealed (although “sodomy” is not just an act done by queer people, as most laws intended to hurt some people end up hurting all people.) In Cincinnati, it was illegal to do business as a trans person, because they feared that there was some type of dishonesty occuring, just in how someone presents themselves. The night of the rebellion was not the first time, nor the last, that police forces have harassed queer people who are just trying to live, but it was a flashpoint that garnered attention. When Stonewall was raided, it was the youth experiencing homelessness who pushed back first, and began to fight the police officers. The police were humiliated and hurt, as they fell back and were taunted by a spontaneous chorus-line of trans women women who mocked the police. Seeking liberation from the police oppression, Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson were both key players in the rebellion. It’s important to remember the contributions of trans women of color experiencing homelessness who essentially started the rebellion. Without them, we would not have Pride today. It’s also important to remember that Stonewall was a rebellion, not a riot. Queer people were being systematically erased from society, unless you were wealthy and recieved some kind of social status. When the police raided Stonewall Inn, it was at a time when there were no other queer bars that allowed trans people and people who were experiencing homelessness in their establishments. A clear injustice is that queer people face homelessness at a higher rate due to family rejection and other discrimination. Just like in Cincinnati in 2001, Stonewall was a rebellion, not a riot, as they were fighting against injustice. Today, the Cincinnati Police Department has one LGBTQI+ liaison. One out of 1000 officers has specialized training to “deal” with queer people. The police have been notoriously harsh to queer people, by misnaming, misgendering, and brutalizing us. Just the part of police culture that refers to people by adjectives (“male,” “female”) rather than pronouns or nouns, is so dehumanizing, yet it part of the police culture. In the early 2000’s, Cincinnati Pride warranted lines of police in riot gear hiding in alleyways downtown. It was clear that they were not there to protect us, but to turn on us as soon as they got the order. Today’s police THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED presence at Pride may be “friendly” but have no doubt that they will turn on us if given the order. Even with the constant threat of brutality that queer people face, it is not the police who find solutions, but the community who comes together to support us. Police don’t make communities of color, queer people, or women safer, as they often are the very people who brutalize us, but rather, they are threats to our very liberation. Within the historical and contemporary context, it is clear that the police have no place at Pride. They are in constant conflict with our desire to be free and to live our lives without fear. No police officer has stopped a hate crime against us, and they actually provide no remedy. If anything, it’s the courts who could provide some remedy, and police are just a part of the system as an accessory. If you do encounter a police officer, remember that you do not need to offer them any information, even if you are being accused of a crime. You can ask them if you are free to go, or if you are being detained. Tell them that you do not consent to a search. Ask to see the search warrant. Tell them that you will not speak. Demand to speak to your lawyer. Remain calm. Police will find anything that you do criminal, so it’s very important to remain calm and to know your rights. Ask for their badge number, then ask them to leave. We can turn our nightmare into a dream by removing the cops from Pride. �No. 39 Nov 2 27, - No v 19,| 2 0 18409 June 133 -| June 2019 No. 9 PRIDE MONTH Stonewall 50 Years On: Stop The Commercialization of Pride Raya Contributing Writer I n 1969 police raided a gay bar and patrons fought back. Tired of being kicked around by abusive officers and frustrated by the everyday brutalities of capitalism, queer people took their fate into their own hands in a spontaneous outburst of resistance. Spontaneity quickly gave way to organization; it was the era of the Gay Liberation Front, the Lavender Menace, and the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR). In those early days, the most oppressed were in the lead. STAR became the model: it fought for trans rights, embraced socialist ideas, attacked mass incarceration and police brutality, allied itself with the Black Panthers and the Young Lords, and became a center for homeless activism. Mass action and socialist organizing was the order of the day, and it worked. The queer liberation movement began to grow and make gains. With growth, however, ‘respectability politics' began to gain a foothold. Wealthy cisgender white gay men, saw trans liberation as an embarrassment and fear black liberation and socialist demands as a direct threat to their power. And when right-wing attempts to weaponize the AIDS crisis were met with the fury of ACT UP, co-optation and commercialization became a deliberate strategy of some sections of the ruling class. Today police, who spend 364 days a year brutalizing queer people, are invited to attend celebratory Pride Parades (not even protests!) sponsored by major corporations. To add injury to insult, it is perfectly legal in Ohio for those very same corporations to fire queer employees simply for being queer and for landlords to refuse to rent to queer tenants. Doctors can refuse to rest queer patients, queer children can be tortured through state sanction conversion therapy, and state’s hate crime law provides no protections based on sexual orientation or gender identity. 50 years after Stonewall queer people in Ohio and elsewhere remain disproportionately homeless, arrested, raped, suicidal, unemployed, and impoverished. Pride is an achievement of our community’s refusal to be ashamed of our existence and live our lives underground, but as it stands today it is also a vehicle for the capitalist class to subvert our movement into the safe channels of consumerism. It’s time we took it back. We need a protest not a party, and we will make our voices heard at Cincinnati Pride and across the country. Marxists, from Bebel’s 1898 protest against German homophobia to the Bolsheviks decriminalization Pride flag listing different brands of alcohol hangs outside of a local Over-the-Rhine bar that reads, "Proud Supporters of Cincinnati Pride." of homosexuality in the early Soviet state (Stalin re-criminalized it when he killed the Bolsheviks), have always fought for LGBTQ+ rights and today’s socialist movement is no exception. The Democratic Socialists of America, the International Marxist Tendency, and other left-wing organizations are fighting for a vision of queer liberation premised on a rejection of the capitalist takeover of Pride and it’s implicit assumption that queer people are valuable only insofar as they have money to spend. Only by abolishing capitalism, by seizing the commanding heights of the economy and bringing them under democratic control, can we build a society free of all types of oppression and exploitation. Only through a socialist revolution led by the most marginalized and oppressed people in society can we finally tear down the capitalist systems of homophobia and transphobia. Today our demands are: No corporations or cops at Pride, end housing and employment discrimination, establish a universal healthcare system, and ban conversion therapy. Tomorrow they will be for the socialist revolution and a building of a new world. Amplifying the voices of LGBTQ prisoners Quiver Watts Street Sheet C asper Cendre’s small apartment has stacks of letters, envelopes, and artwork in every corner. On their monitor is a spreadsheet with hundreds of names, a chronological record of every letter received and the order in which to respond. A decorated frame holds a brightly colored depiction of David Bowie, who looks on with twinkling eyes. This is the home of ABO Comix, a prisoner solidarity collective and small press based in Oakland working to amplify the voices of LGBTQ prisoners throughout the US and to assist them with financial, legal, mental and emotional help and solidarity. The project started in 2017 when a group of friends got together in a community garden to look through some comics, and the conversation moved toward prisoner solidarity work. “I’ve been working with prisoners for about a decade, and Io and Woof had been working on comic projects for about as long,” said Casper. “And we thought it would be cool to kinda just bridge the two things.” They took out ads in papers that were distributed in prison across the nation inviting submissions of comics and stories, not knowing if they would hear back from anyone. They received hundreds of letters in response from people who were really excited about it. “We went from thinking ‘maybe someone will submit a comic to us’ to having just like, so much mail and so much art and like, tons of new friends.” Over the next year they worked with a few dozen artists to refine their work and eventually raised enough funds to publish their first LGBTQ+ comic anthology. Once the book was published they paid out to all of the artists who had been part of the collection, sending money into the commissary accounts of more than twenty comic artists. All the funds from book sales go to assisting queer people in prison. “Because our mail load is so overwhelming and the need is so overwhelming, we receive hundreds and hundreds of letters, and generally it’s just me writing back to people,” says Casper. “I’ve thought about like, yeah I need to create some boundaries. But I haven’t, because you get really emotionally invested in people, and they generally don’t have anyone else on the outside. So when you get letters from people saying you’re the only person they’ve had contact with during their whole length of incarceration, it’s really hard to just say no.” The need is very clear, as queer incarcerated folks have so little support, and often face serious bigotry while in prison. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Casper tells me that his friend Joseph Oguntodu, a queer man of color who has been writing to him since 2017, was recently killed by his cellmate in Texas. ABO Comix hosted a service for him on 7 April at the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center. Courtesy of Street Sheet / INSP.ngo ABO Comix logo �10 PRIDE MONTH N o v 213 - -NJune o v 19, 2 02019 18 | N o . 393 June 27, | No. 409 Black and Proud or Black and Loud? Key Beck Contributing Writer P ride is a celebration with a long history of violence, liberation, oppression and freedom. For some folx (folx is a gender neutral word for “people” or “a group”), these terms aren’t consistent with their experiences, but for others this truly illustrates their conflicted experiences with pride. I think it is essential to acknowledge that the experience of pride celebrations like that of LGBTQ2SIA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and/ or Questioning, Two-Spirit, Intersex and Asexual) experiences, are not a monolith. Everyone within the LGBTQ+ community experience their sexual orientation and gender identity in different ways, so it is understandable that Pride, a number of summer celebrations meant to highlight the positive impact of LGBTQ+ identities in society, is experienced in different ways as well. Just a historical note; the original Pride was based in civil unrest due to police harassing LGBTQ+ people (especially people of color) and requiring bars to pay a sum of money to avoid arrest and/or harassment. When the bars refused to pay police off an additional time, the officers chose to arrest many transgender and gender non-conforming patrons of the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village. During the arrest, the infamous “brick heard around the world” was thrown at police leading to a couple days of civil unrest in the New York community. There was a series of spontaneous demonstrations over the next couple days, all with the purpose of securing queer liberation. It is important to understand this history to understand why some LGBTQ+ may have a distrust of police, pride celebration organizations and police taking part in pride celebrations. As an openly out, queer, nonbinary person of color who wears makeup, my experiences with pride celebrations are starkly different from my homo-normative, white, cis-gender, straight-passing LGBT counterparts who imbibe on queer-themed libations, consume strategically marketed rainbow capitalism, and participate in festivities free from community abuse and oppression. At a recent pride parade, this experience was felt as I walked around to onlookers gawking at my clothing and makeup because “I was BRAVE to wear my outfit and makeup.” I literally would notice people looking me up and down and making a sour face, as if they drank spoiled milk, before they broke out in laughter with friends. At one pride celebration, a group of people followed me around the celebration pointing and snickering at my gender expression. Not all pride celebrations are bad though. Some organizations are starting to get it. They are highlighting the most marginalized of our communities and yielding space for them, their stories and their experiences. They are trying to understand the roots of Pride; a celebration of the diversity, resistance, belonging and liberation within the LGBTQ+ community. One example happened with Indianapolis Pride. There were multiple points in the celebration where pansexual, bisexual, transgender, non-binary, and asexual folx were specifically called out and were told they were loved. Lizzo, a feminist, body-positive female singer made a point to stop her show and share her love of the LGBTQ+ community saying, “Trans live matter, black lives matter, LGBTQ lives matters.” This small statement had such an impact for many LGBTQ+ folks of color in the crowd. We felt seen. We felt heard. We felt acknowledged. It is this kind of intentional work that needs to be done for allies, LGBTQ serving organizations and community members. We should be at a point in society where we understand the impact of rejection and non-affirming communities. Researchers from the Family Acceptance Project, an organization focused on studying family rejection, shares data yearly. They found that family rejection leads to 30% of LGBTQ youth experiencing abuse and leading to around 43% of youth experiencing homelessness. Some other health disparities to think about would be that LGBTQ+ youth are three times more likely to experience elicit drug use, three times more likely to engage in safe sex, six times more likely to experience depression and eight times more likely to have suicide idea or death by suicide. These statistics clearly show that LGBTQ youth are experiencing a lot of trauma based on their identity. When you add other experiences of poverty, oppressions and other prejudice, or identity-based rejection, LGBTQ+ folx experience a very unique and specific type of rejection. It is important to point this specific type of rejection out to fully acknowledge the ways multimarginalized folx within the LGBTQ community experience even higher rates of rejections from those who may blend or conform to societal norms. Pride should be a time of celebration, remembrance and liberation. We need to move away from infusing our celebration with capitalism, exclusion and disparity. We all have work to do, but it shouldn’t rest on the shoulders of the multi-marginalized. The job of liberation should be on those in the majority, those with power and those who hold privilege. We need to directly say the words, “black lives matter and trans lives matter.” It is on all of us to ensure that pride is what it was meant to be: a rebellion against oppression and a pathway to freedom. Numbers and Figures Clarity Amrein Contributing Writer A m I the sum of my experiences? Am I the result? My first kiss is in the woods by my house from a boy who held his mohawk up with Elmer’s glue. My next kisses and the first time I ever have fingers inside of me is from my friend, a girl, whose skin smells like cinnamon and whose parents fight a lot. A year later, just shy of fourteen, I am held down and raped by my neighbor’s younger brother. Is this my first time or was she? Maybe they cancel each other out and I’ve been a virgin this whole time? Am I the ongoing calculation of my experiences – a ledger updated regularly? I have boyfriends throughout high school, but only the last one ever hit me. I was stuck on someone else when I met Audrey my sophomore year of college and I wish I would’ve gone to her instead. After a year in a new city, my long-term partner announced that they were transitioning genders and we stayed together for another year. During my last months of undergrad, my college girlfriend and I initiate a threesome with a guy from the band we saw that night. After graduation, I fall for a greying older man when he calls me “kiddo” because it’s easy to mix the feelings of sexual attraction and the longing for a father I never had. This year, new and unfamiliarly strong feelings arise for a brilliant woman I worked with. I move through life person by person, moment by moment. Am I the sum of my experiences? Is my life all the more rich by the brief or complicated loves I’ve experienced with men, women, and non-binary people? Or am I the cheating, greedy pansexual they all warned you about? Am I the piece of tape they hold up in abstinence-only sex education class that doesn’t stick to anything anymore because it’s been used so many times? How come when I ask Kristen out at a house show in college she tells me I’m not even gay enough to be there, let alone go out with her? Are there too many boys on the ledger and I have to sleep with more girls to even the count? But if I sleep with more people, will future partners cringe at the total? How come they called me a whore before I ever touched anyone and why do they still say it no matter how many people I’ve slept with? Why do they think I have diseases when I’ve always used a condom? Am I the sum of my experiences? Am I queer enough to be at this meeting? At this protest? At this bar? Do I have to show my list of names to get in? Do I have to lie about my list of names to get in? Am I a shirt with too many stains on it, a flower with all the petals plucked off? Am I liberated, a free spirit, or a silly girl going through a twelve-year-long phase? Do I have to cut my hair? Do I have to keep my armpits and pubic hair unshaved to prove I’ve loved someone other than a man? Should I apologize for the past or wear it like a war medal? Am I only the sum of my experiences? Am I only the sum of the people I’ve had sex with? Does the answer depend on who’s doing the math? I’ve had an abortion, been seriously ill, dabbled in sex work, and been strapped to a hospital bed against my will. I’ve had poems published nationally, got my degree, traveled some of the world, and became a budding activist and artist in my city. Do these factor into my ledger? Do I come out in the positive or negative? Am I good enough yet or do I still owe? It’s June again and Pride month becomes more and more important to me every year (despite its rampant commodification). I am reminded that I fall somewhere on the spectrum and within the rainbow, and by extension THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED this month is for me too. For once, I am reminded that I am not the sum of my personal or sexual experiences, and I don’t have to apologize for them to be here. I am reminded that I do not have to quantify my queerness and provide the receipt to be here. I am reminded, rejuvenated to fight for true radical queer liberation, for the lifting of painful stigmas about sex, gender, and sexuality that have plagued me all my life, for the socioeconomic and political equality of the most marginalized LGBTQIA+ people because this month is about all of us - and it demands the unification and solidarity of our whole community. On this particular day in June, I feel proud to be pansexual and sexually fluid. I am not an arithmetic sum of my sexual experiences; I am defined by the love and effort I am capable of giving to other human beings and by the acts of service I perform for the world around me. I am defined by being honest about and accountable for my past. I am defined by what I learn and utilize from every experience. I am not a ledger, a worn out piece of tape, or a series of regrets. I am pansexual because my head and heart know no limitations. For me, rigidity does not compute. �No. 39 Nov 2 27, - No v 19,| 2 0 18409 June 133 -| June 2019 No. PRIDE MONTH 11 The Intersection of LGBTQ, Students, and Music Maya Stockman Contributing Writer T he music community consists of almost anyone you can think of; very few people can say that they neither consume nor produce music in some way. At some capacity, almost everyone in the world might passively listen to music, actively seek out types of music they like, attempt to create music for leisure, or make their career out of music. Music is mass consumed by almost any type of person, many of which identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community. The LGBTQ+ community is broad, but it’s still a minority. A 2017 survey by gallup.com found that the LGBT population consisted of 4.5% of Americans at the time, though it’s important to notice this number is not reliable. Coming out about ones identity can be uncomfortable, dangerous, sometimes even life-threatening. Many LGBT youth don’t come out until later in life in fear of being abandoned by family. LGBT culture is noticeable and open in pop culture, and sometimes the lines are blurred. Many pop culture references like the phrases “yaas,” “queen,” “slay,” or “werk” are all terms that have been gleaned from queer culture and have become daily phrases for young people, whether or not they identify as members of the community at all. This is all fun and games until the LGBT community looks for inclusion and equality and gets rejected. One of these areas of life that is important to feel included in is the arts. Music can be the way that people express their emotions, and it can also be the way that some people get involved outside of themselves. Music might help a gay teen who is in the middle of discovering themselves find a space where they feel safe. According to the Music Educators Journal, “LGBTQ students in many parts of the United States often experience hostility on the part of other students, teachers, and administrators.” Music does so much for the LGBT community, but the music community often rejects them. As in all forms of media, representation in music is important. The biggest wave of LGBT growth hasn’t just been musicians coming out as gay, but the fact that society is becoming increasingly more comfortable with talking about the fact that their favorite musicians, such as David Bowie, Elton John, Leonard Bernstein, and many others, were most definitely members of the LGBT community. However, just because these two communities interact doesn’t mean that the LGBT community is being adequately represented in music. Every year, more pop stars like Lady Gaga, Janelle Monáe, and Sam Smith come out as being LGBT in some way. With each popular musician who does this, many young LGBT students in music classrooms are instantly validated and they’re given more of a voice than they had before. When these adults that LGBT youth identify with come out, speak out, and make art that they can relate to, it speaks volumes to these kids and reassures them that they can be who they are unapologetically. All too often there’s a pop tune released by an artist, and the lyrics make it abundantly clear that heterosexuality is always the implied default. It’s hard for LGBT youth to relate to that. In an interview with “queer pop” artist Be Steadwell, she makes a point to mention that “being queer, a song where a woman is talking to a woman is exciting. I don't have that many of those songs in my life, and it's exciting and I identify with it.”3 These two communities, the music community and the LGBT community, have so much overlap. The LGBT community has more cultural influence than people realize, and music is one of their main ways of communicating and connecting with other communities. If this is the case, why isn’t there enough representation? Why does it have to be a big deal when a musician brings their LGBT-ness into their music? What can people do to foster more inclusivity in music? It might not be hard to believe, but the best way to foster a positive musical experience for LGBT youth starts in the music classroom. According to William Southerland, “Music classrooms may be uniquely supportive educational environments for LGBTQ students because by their very nature, group music-making may lead to greater social understanding.” The classroom can foster many different types of environments for children. Whether this be a positive environment or not is up to many important adults: parents, teachers, administrators, secretaries of education, congressmen, senators, etc. Anyone who has a minor influence on the way American classrooms are conducted has a significant impact on those students. The decisions these Very Important Adults make can be as impactful as life or death decisions. Southerland also mentions in his article that homophobia is still rampant in classrooms, despite the growing awareness of that community. Part of being in the LGBT community is knowing that there are many people who might wish horrible things upon you. LGBT children cannot do anything about this fact except to accept the fact and hope they can find a safe space. For many of these LGBT children who are newly rejuvenated by the music of Lady Gaga or Sam Smith, the music classroom is where that happens. Music class might be the only class where certain LGBT students feel they are able to express themselves. In an interview with my friend Morgan Bates, who is an independent graduate student in Eugene, Oregon studying trumpet performance, I asked her about how her queerness had affected her music making. She answered eloquently, “Being openly queer involves being vulnerable every day of my life. I think that coming out helped me let my guard down, and the more comfortable I am with myself, the better I sound [when making music]” For many other students like Morgan, being openly LGBT can open up a whole new world of music making. Conversely, making music can help students identify themselves because of how vulnerable music making can be. The music classroom has a beautiful opportunity to become a safe space for these students. Participation is vital to a music classroom’s environment and to the success of the students. Students’ willingness to fully participate depends on the attitude of the teacher and how much the students feel they can trust and respect that teacher. When teachers create an emotional safe space for their students, they immediately set up a classroom in which students will look forward to taking risks, expressing themselves, and unlocking their full creative potential. Even though the LGBT community continues to grow and become a hot topic of discussion each day, the music community stays closed off. Music has been around for as long as humanity. Unfortunately, the music community continues today to be almost exclusively cisgender, white THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED men. These members of the music community are targeted most often and pandered to, are the producers or composers who are often financially supported more or talked about more, and are critics who “decide” what is musically relevant or “good” about music at the time. Women, children, people of color, and members of the LGBTQ+ community are rarely talked about at all. Providing this tiny minority where the music community and the LGBTQ+ community overlap with the recognition and the representation it deserves will have such worthwhile results. Studies have already shown that giving people the support they need and deserve can do wonders for mental health – why doesn’t this carry throughout this specific community? Morgan Bates, when asked about the rewarding aspects of being a member of the music and the LGBTQ+ community at the same time, said “I love the fact that playing the trumpet sets my identity free. I play one of the loudest, most dominant instruments in the orchestra while being an underrepresented individual in this industry … Playing the trumpet gives me power when society tends to strip it away.”4 It’s becoming more and more prevalent to the leaders of our nation that these LGBT-identifying musicians need our attention, support, and help. The two communities, the music community and the LGBTQ+ community, have an overwhelming amount of overlap in multiple areas, so we need to stop pretending this overlap doesn’t exist within people, too. �12 Baby Girl STREETVOICE N o v 13 2 --N o v 19, 0 18 | |NNo. o . 393 June June 27,22019 409 THANK YOU BETHANY HOUSE Hi my name is Cleo Wombles. At age 18 years old I was Bethany House, thank you for being there when I involved in a relationship. My girlfriend got pregnant. I got needed you. I was sent to Cincinnati from a battered a job and got married. Every day for 14 months I would women’s shelter in the Deep South. I needed protection walk to see my baby daughter. from some dangerous people who I had confronted She had all together 19 operations. Not enough intestines- about child abuse. The battered women’s shelter was started out with 8 inches. Supposed to be 8 or 100 or more. not a fit for me, but Darlene Robinson (the director With saddens and grief she passed after 14th months. It then) took me in. Darlene, her staff, and her family-- was a hard time. including her sister Beverly and their mother Ms. Vee- Got divorced. After 9 years I went to Good Samaritan -sheltered and championed a very frightened woman Hospital- on the 9th floor they had a plaque of her on the who had no family and no other place to go. For a wall. person who felt punished for doing a good deed, these I started sketching it. a nurse opened the door. women made sure I felt welcome and safe. She said, “do you know that girl?” The Sisters of Charity, who I believe started I told her that she was my daughter. Bethany House, decided that no child and their mother She was the nurse who used to take care of her. I told her I would hear those same words another famous mother did not have any pictures of her. heard: There’s no room at the inn. In contrast to a state To my surprise she opened a file cabinet. She handed me a file folder that had 9 large pictures of her. I asked the nurse if I could hug her. We embraced each other with tears and compassion. As I left I told her God bless. Out of my sorrow came joy. Cleo Wombles Contributing Writer Streetvibes Distributor that goes on about God and Jesus the Charities, Darlene and her staff and family actually served the “least of these.” I challenge you, members of Cincinnati City Council, to help these people keep these beds so the world will not remember this city years later as the city that told mothers and babies, “There is no room at the inn.” Don’t be another group of people whose faith starts and ends with that hour or two in church. Tell the whole world, “Here in Cincinnati, there is room at the inn and that room includes Hope! JUNE ALEXANDER ContributingWriter Streetvibes Writing Circle If you would like to submit a story for publication in streetvibes, come join Katelyn Lusher, Chris Wilkey, and Alex McIntosh for a group writing session! THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 Nov 227, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 June 133- |June | No. 409 STARTING OVER STREETVOICE After being homeless and living on the street for five years After the loss of all i had i owe a lot of my recovery to my peers After the talbert house, bethany house and the drop inn center I found the off the street program only then did my life remove the bender They taught me how to communicate and speak without doubt, fear or shame They gave me all the insight needed and if i failed only i would be the blame I felt reborn and started singing ain’t no stopping me now TRUMP VERSUS PLANET EARTH In its usual, arrogant acts of defiance, The Trump Administration debunks Science. Do you find it more than a little strange, That Trump flatly denies climate change, And that he has made it a primary cause To dismantle EPA's environmental laws? Is Trump measuring his own self worth, By his efforts to destroy planet earth? BILL WOODS an i stop looking back Contributing Writer I found a place of my own where i could be alone and get NO LOVE INSIDE my life back on track Next i found cincinnati homeless coalition who liked and What a scary world appreciated my poetry Let me know that i was not homeless alone and for them caring i have loyalty They introduce me to the street vibe paper for the Take a lok at yourself from inside Do you see a dr. Jekyll and mr. Hyde? cincinnati homeless coalition Saying my being homeless my poetry needed to be shared sounds like a mission Finally i found myself on findlay market where my life found a new direction Is it true? There's no love inside of you To love your neighbor as yourself The day the coalition told me that findlay market agreed to give me a section So many new friends, mr. Pottery man, mr. Popcorn man an the seasoning lady Talking about how we all must pay bills, save money and be happy now not maybe I've learned starting over is the will within yourself where there is power With the belief and faith that you have in yourself you 13 We are all sisters and brothers We're supposed to love each other Didn't you listen as a kid to your mother? To love yourself and each other Love inside, starts within yourself will change hour by hour Willa D. Jones Contributing Writer Streetvibes Distributor THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �PUZZLES 14 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 106 Across 1. Under-water breathing device 6. Domesticated animal companion 9. Unexpected slide 13. Ravine 14. In the past 15. Blank area 16. Relating to birds 17. Swindle 18. Claw 19. Pull back 21. Item of clothing 23. Father 24. Name of the plantation in Gone with the Wind 25. Astern 28. Molten volcanic rock 30. Homopterous insect 35. Snare 37. Saucy 39. Bulbous herb with single showy flower 40. A slow pace of running 41. Religious doctrine 43. Cleansing agent 44. Herbaceous plant with aromatic seeds 46. Annoy 47. Basic knitting stitch 48. Potent 50. Spline 52. Staining substance 53. Strong sweeping cut 55. Weep 57. Flower merchant 61. Legislator 65. Woven fabric 66. Simian 68. Gauntlet 69. Entertain 70. Pitch 71. Common 72. Persistently annoying person 73. Female sheep 74. Ahead of time PUZZLE SOLUTIONS CROSSWORD #105 Down 1. Evidence of previous injury 2. Grotto 3. A single undivided whole 4. Supervisory committee 5. Toughen steel or glass by gradually heating and cooling 6. Treaty 7. Self 8. Polynesian country 9. Junk e-mail 10. Coarse curly-leafed cabbage 11. Symbol 12. Depression in a surface 15. Narrow sea channel 20. Adjust or conform 22. Part of a circle 24. Sully 25. Book of maps 26. Anterior 27. Perissodactyl mammal 29. Swerve 31. Point formed by two intersecting arcs 32. With relatively high volume 33. Personal journal 34. Fruit, malus pumila 36. Currency of Cuba 38. Relate 42. Taunt 45. Motor 49. Fuel 51. Part of a shoe below the laces 54. Condition 56. Lightweight wood 57. Excited state of agitation 58. Acidic fruit 59. Burden 60. Remainder 61. Scorch 62. Enlistment term 63. Elliptical 64. Depend 67. Foot of an animal Nov 2 o v 19, 18 | N o . 393 June 13- -NJune 27,2 02019 | No. 409 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 397 - EASY SODOKU PUZZLE NO 396- EASY PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 Nov 227, - N2019 o v 19,| No. 2 0 18409 June 133-| June Central Access Point 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children RESOURCES Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside Bethany House 557-2873 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 591-2246 FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 Salvation Army 762-5660 St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 131 E. 12th Street 45202 1125 Bank Street 45214 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men Shelter: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Shelterhouse 721-0643 2121 Vine Street 45202 411 Gest St. 45203 Prospect House 921-1613 1437 Walnut Street 45202 Starting Over 961-2256 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Women St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Parkway Center 661-4620 First Step Home 961-4663 Shelter: Youth 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Sheakley Center for Youth (18-24 y/o) 2522 Highland Ave. 45219 569-9500 Lighthouse Youth Crisis Center (10-17 y/o) 3330 Jefferson Ave 45220 961-4080 Shelter: Family Interfaith Hospitality Network Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Both AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Joseph House (Veterans) 471-1100 1522 Republic Street 45202 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street 45202 Talbert House 221-HELP Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street 45202 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Food/Clothing First Lutheran Church 421-0065 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Seraph Ministries 549-0542 St. George Food Pantry 2554 Dennis St. 45219 751-8771 St. Anthony Center 1615 Republic St. Advocacy Catholic Social Action 421-3131 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Franciscan JPIC 721-4700 Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 241-2965 Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board 946-8000 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 221-HELP Housing: 15 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 Health Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 Other Resources Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 215 E. 14th St. 45202 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 381-0111 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. 579-8547 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 1223 Main St. 45202 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 The Caring Place 631-1114 Talbert House 751-7747 United Way 211 Women Helping Women 977-5541 Off The Streets 421-5211 Hamilton County Office of Reentry 946-4304 138 E. Court Street Room # 101 First Floor Cancer Justice Network 404-3882 Hamilton/Middletown St. Raephaels 981-4200 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 Northern Kentucky Brighton Center (11-17 y/o) 859-491-8303 ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary 859-572-6202 Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky 634 Scott St. 41011 859-291-4555 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? You can support our mission and spread the word about your business. For more information contact Gabriela Godinez Feregrino, 961-0600 email streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Center for Respite Care 621-1868 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 386-7899 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 NAMI of Hamilton County 351-3500 PATH Outreach 977-4489 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �16 N o v 213 - N o v 19, 2 02019 18 | N . 393 June - June 27, | oNo. 409 S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. ALFRED WOOLFOLK SINCE 10/2003 ASRES AYENAW SINCE 2012 BERTA LAMBERT SINCE 1997 BETTIE BAILEY SINCE 10/2017 BRANDON NELSON SINCE 4/2008 BRIAN ADAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHARLES WILLIAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHRISTOPHER KAIHATSU SINCE 7/2017 CLEO WOMBLES SINCE 10/2003 CRANDALL COBB SINCE 2004 DARREL ROZIER SINCE 7/2017 DAVID MCCANE SINCE 2017 ERIC VALDEZ SINCE 2/2017 GERALD FRANKLIN SINCE 7/2017 GRADY COOK SINCE 1997 HENRY BRELAND SINCE 7/2017 JAMES BROWN SINCE 3/2009 JAMES DAVIS SINCE 8/2000 JENNY BURTON SINCE 7/2017 JIMMIE GIPSON SINCE 2001 JON DARBY SINCE 2/2006 JOHN HORN JOSEPHINE BASKERVILLE SINCE 9/2008 J’TORI TYMAN SINCE 5/2014 KIM NGUYEN SINCE 7/2017 KENNY BUSSELL SINCE 10/2009 KAREN COLLETTE SINCE 7/2008 LARRY BROWN SINCE 10/2007 LEE MCCOY SINCE 7/2009 LEONARD JACKSON SINCE 2/2005 MARY MUELLER SINCE 5/2005 MARK SHEARS SINCE 4/2012 MAURICE GOLSBY MELISSA MOSBY SINCE 9/2014 MIKE CARANO SINCE 4/2016 RAESHAWN GIPSON SINCE 3/2009 RAYNARD JONES SINCE 10/2008 RICKY WOODS SINCE 4/2015 RICCARDO TAYLOR SINCE 1999 RONNIE PHILLIPS SINCE 10/2009 SAMUEL JACKSON SINCE 10/2006 STACIA HOLLANDER SINCE 2017 STEPHANIE EAKES SINCE 7/2017 SYLVESTER WALKER SINCE 7/2017 TALINA HILL SINCE 2/2011 VICTOR MUMPHRY WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WINNIE RICE SINCE 7/2017 QUEENACELASTINE SINCE 7/2017 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 VIOLET COLLINS SINCE 2017 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2019 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource June 13-June 27, 2019 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: Ohio and the LGBTQ Community Pg 3: Carelessly Linking Crime to Being Homeless Adds to the Harmful Stigma Pg 4: GCHC Pg 5: 50 Years After Stonewall Pg 6: LGBTQIA Rights in the Balkans Pg 7: “This Time is Real” Pg 8: No Pigs at Pride Pg 9: Stonewall 50 Years On Amplifying the Voices of LGBTQ Prisoners Pg 10: Black and Proud or Black and Loud? Numbers and Figures Pg 11: The Intersection of LGBTQ Students, and Music Pg 12: Street Voice Pg 13: Street Voice Pg 14: Puzzles Pg 15: Resources Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource June 13-June 27, 2019 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gabriela Godinez Bill Woods Alison Young James Petty Kathleen Hinkel Mawethu Nkosana Aliza Saunder Dr. Mark Mussman Raya Quiver Watts Key Beck Clarity Amrein Maya Stockman Cleo Wombles June Alexander Willa D. Jones Kim Green Canva.com INSP.com Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Alison Young Aliza Saunder Balkans Bill Woods Canva.com Clarity Amrein Cleo Wombles Dr. Mark Mussman Gabriela Godinez INSP.com James Petty June Alexander Kathleen Hinkel Key Beck Kim Green LGBTQ+ Mawethu Nkosana Maya Stockman Ohio Pride Pride Month Prisoners Quiver Watts Raya Stonewall Students Taiwan Willa D. Jones https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/c896327de8f22e9965a621c5571067dd.pdf 6022060a6cc541e5167260abdae84e01 PDF Text Text M ay 3 0 t h - J u n e 1 3 t h 2 0 1 9 | Vo l . 2 3 I s s u e 1 1 ( N o . 4 0 8 ) advo cating justice | building communit y Any opinions in this issue are of the authors and don't necessarily represent Streetvibes or The Homeless Coalition. INVISIBLE Disability Article on Page 8 This Issue is sponsored by (Retired) Judge Mark P. Painter Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.com Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 12 �2 COALITION N o v 30 2 - -NJune o v 19, 18 | |NNo. o . 393 May 13,2 02019 408 From The Editor: KKK Rally In Dayton Gabriela Godinez Editor-in-chief A KKK affiliate group received a permit in Dayton, Ohio to rally on May 25th, 2019 in front of the city courthouse. Left wing groups such as the Democratic Socialists, the Black Panthers, and Antifa, along with many others, decided they would not sit idly by while a KKK group celebrated their racism. Activists decided to organize a counter protest at the same time as the KKK demonstration, making Dayton officials nervous they would become the next Charlottesville. When the day came, there were police on foot, horses, and bicycles surrounding the closed off rally and counter protest area, some police carrying rifles. There were about 4 people on the roofs of two different buildings, watching intently, as well as a helicopter that seemed to circle the area from time to time. Needless to say, the entire event was heavily policed. People protesting the KKK were fenced off from the original racist demonstration, making it difficult to see what the other side was doing or saying. Though, once the event officially began at 1pm no one seemed interested in looking at the KKK but instead were enjoying each other’s company. The environment was over all positive, folks chanting in unison and creating a sense of solidarity. Once it started to get later in the event, people started to wonder where exactly the KKK was. People started to gather around the fence and faced the area that was sectioned off to the KKK, were only about 9 members stood with racist propaganda. Their sign, “diversity = genocide” was barely visible from the other groups viewpoint. At this time, there were about 300 people counter protesting the KKK which apparently couldn’t get anyone to show up. The protesters headcount peeked at about 600, while the KKK group never got any larger. At this point all the counter protestors realized what a colossal failure the KKK rally had been and it seemed that people started to utilize their time to talk to like minded strangers. There were people from Cincinnati and Columbus, as well as other areas, that had gathered to show solidarity for one another against racism, and they were taking this opportunity to have a positive time. If you were at the center of the rally, you were surrounded by chanting, people passing water bottles and fruit, and had an overall sense of safety. However, if you looked at the edge of the protest you would see the intense police presence that might have left you a bit on edge. The city of Dayton estimates that all the police presence and resources they took for the protest ended up costing over $600,000. What can we learn from this protest/rally? Activist groups need to collaborate more often and show up for each other, because it might not just be 9 people we’re facing next time. The KKK is a threat to the black and brown community, and there weren’t just racial groups at the event. There were different socialist and communist groups as well as faith groups. When we show up for each other we are a force to be reckoned with. No one group brought hundreds of people, and no one group should be expected to. Each individual activist group needs to continue existing and working on their specific issues and passions. However we need to continue showing up for our neighbors when they ask us to, and May 25th was a beautiful example of what happens when we do. Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org www.cincistreetvibe.com EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor-in-chief: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: Mona Jenkins Director of Education: Dr. Mark Mussman Distributor Program Manager: Sallie Mascus Layout: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Reception: Bonita Batton, Larry Johnson Maintenance: Pete Roper ------------------------------------------CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Writers: Gabriela Godinez, Bill Woods, Johannes Lehard, Aliza Saunders, German Orizaola, Josiane Kougheu, Dr. Mark Mussman, Simon Bland, David Cortright, Depthstroke the Cypher, June Alexander ------------------------------------------- S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Photography/ Artwork: canva.com, Gabriela Godinez, INSP.com, Dr. Mark Mussman, ---------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless do not endorse candidates for public office. �No. 39 Nov 213, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 May 303- |June | No. 408 HOMELESSNESS 3 Homeless People Aren’t Just Sitting Around – They Actively Strive To Improve Their Lives Johannes Lenhard The Conversation W hen I first met Daniel* in front of Shoreditch High Street station in London, I didn’t know how exhausting begging was. He was constantly moving, often through cold and rain. He addressed random passers-by all day long, mostly facing ignorance from their side if not verbal and physical aggression. He told me: “Many people think, that if they give, that keeps me on the street – but it really makes life bearable. It’s not all about money … What I appreciate is respect. Respect and understanding make me feel like a human being.” Daniel was hustling to survive – in search of resources, like money and food, but also respect. Begging is a means to this end and hard labour in every sense of the word, both physical and emotional. It isn’t just a passive activity of passing the time to get through the day but an active form of engagement that is often reflected on and thought through. As a long-term unemployed homeless person, it was one of the only ways for Daniel to survive. This kind of activity – and others such as finding and making shelter – are forms of labour and work that are worth taking seriously, both in order to support people like Daniel on an immediate, personal level, and ultimately to adapt government policies accordingly. An active process Homelessness is exploding across the West. Rough sleeping in the UK alone has risen by almost 170 per cent since 2010. Altogether, one in 200 people is homeless in the UK. Similarly, in France, according to official government statistics, the number of homeless people rose by 50 per cent between 2001 and 2011. Based on six years of work on homelessness in London and Paris, most recently two years of full-time fieldwork in the French capital, my research has tried to generate a bottomup understanding of how homeless people survive and make a living. My research has shown me that most homeless people are not passively suffering but that they often actively try to make their lives better. Two examples of men – Pascal* and Carl* – help to demonstrate this. Pascal, a Congolese man in his early 20s. I met him in Paris in summer 2015, and found he had a well thought-through daily work routine to earn money through begging. In the mornings, he was trying to catch the commuters coming into the Gare de l'Est. At lunchtime, he stood in front of a specific, busy boulangerie in the ninth arrondisement, a rather well-off residential area of the city. In the afternoon, he was at Gare de l’Est waiting for the trains bringing German tourists he could easily relate to in a language he speaks. Pascal had developed these different spots where he could approach different groups – lunchgoers he would see several times a week, random but compassionate tourists, people that likely speak his language – with different tactics. For every group, Pascal also had a specific way of addressing them, a specific spiel touching on different points: he needed money for the train, or wanted to buy food, or to get himself a night in a shelter. He knew from experience that different groups are more likely to give when they hear a certain narrative. Pascal was the norm rather than the exception of the homeless people I engaged with on the streets around the city’s train stations. For him and the others, begging was not just sitting around, but an active process of labour, often a first step to order and routine. Seeking shelter Homeless people also don’t blindly rely on social services for housing, a process that can take from months to years. Many of them actively choose spots, collect material and symbolically construct shelters for themselves within the cities they live in. Carl, a young German I met early in 2015 in Paris, was one of them. “They call me the train man – even though I don’t even sleep there anymore. But I found it,” Carl explained to me with pride when I asked him about his shelter. He took me to see the train he was talking about, close to the metro stop Créteil in the south of Paris. It was an old inter-city train waiting to be moved to where it would eventually be recycled. “This used to be my job – intelligence, finding things – and finding this train was easy,” he said. “I just used Google maps, and a day later I started sleeping here … I just ripped out the old curtains and used them as a blanket. The compartments are perfect, a little home.” The fact that the trains were easy to reach, less than 30 minutes from the Gare du Nord, and were available for stable intervals of time, made them the perfect mid-term shelters for people like Carl. Many others followed Carl to the train in the months after his discovery. A different group of people I spoke Photo by Tom Parsons on Unsplash THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED to slept in a spacious parking lot under the banking district. Others preferred the security of a public place surveyed by the police such as the area directly around train stations. Most of them would come equipped with cardboard, blankets, duvets or plastic bags to keep their laundry and other utensils. All of them were actively trying to make a home on the street while being homeless. Daniel, Pascal and Carl are only three of the many people I have observed over my years of working with people on the street. Many are struggling to survive within both physical and institutional structures which in many cases try to support them, but in many others keep them on the street. Understanding the efforts these people go to to make their lives better will help institutions such as homeless charities, NGOs and government agencies to support them by building on their own efforts – rather than imposing new, and at times alien, initiatives on them. *All names have been anonymised to protect the identity of interviewees. Johannes Lenhard is a PhD researcher in social anthropology at the University of Cambridge Courtesy of The Conversation / INSP.ngo �4 ADVERTISMENT N o v 230 - N o v 19, 2 02019 18 | N . 393 May - June 13, | oNo. 408 May 17 - June 2, 2019 For tickets please call (513) 381-2273 Purchase tickets online at www.cincyshakes.com AD Donated by Mark and Sue Ann Painter season sponsored by the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 ov 2 13, - N o2019 v 19,| 2 0 18408 May 303 -| N June No. HOMELESSNESS 5 Stress On The Streets Aliza Saunders Street Roots S treet Roots wanted to learn more about what being able to relax means when you don’t have a home. We shouldn’t have been surprised that this exploration turned into conversations about the experience of stress on the streets. An intense job interview or narrowly catching the bus might cause an immediate and even thrilling dose of stress, which called acute stress– according to the Mayo Clinic. Not all stress comes in small spurts, however. Chronic stress is defined by the American Psychological Association as being a “grinding stress that wears people away day after day, year after year.” It’s a form of stress that can be debilitating. This form of stress can result in serious psychological and physical health consequences, such as anxiety, insomnia and a weakened immune system. The American Institute of Stress has compiled an exhaustive list of 50 common symptoms of stress that includes difficulty in making decisions, depression, trouble with learning, lack of care in appearance, and rapid and mumbled speech. Like many psychological conditions, chronic stress manifests in diverse and sometimes non-linear ways. In addition to daily uncertainties, such as finding the next meal or staying dry during a rainy night, people who are or who have recently been homeless have often also experienced childhood trauma, which can contribute to deep and sometimes crippling stress in adulthood. For 13 years, Mykel Garner lived on the streets and faced immeasurable amounts of stress. He was abandoned by his grandmother to Child Protective Services when he was 8 years old, and, since then, Garner has lived in more than 10 group homes, struggled with addiction, been shot three times, and spent time in a psychiatric hospital. “When I was on the streets, I didn’t have a choice,” Garner says. “I had to just be submissive and admit that I had been beaten and, basically, in the end, I just wanted to die. I tried so many times to just give up.” Despite these challenges, about three years ago, Garner felt the most relaxed he had in a long time. He was clean and sober with a sponsor and attending recovery meetings. Garner felt accepted, hopeful, and a part of something. Around that same time, Garner was also moving into his apartment, where he has lived for the past two years. While it alleviated many of the stressors he had faced on the streets, moving into an apartment also introduced new ones. According to Garner, the owners of his housing unit have tried to evict him four times, and now he has been getting ill and feels that he has not been effectively diagnosed. “Now, with housing, it’s like someone has control over me, and they basically have control over … (my) life or death,” Garner says. “If I go back to the streets the way I am, I don’t think I’ll make it without going to prison or getting killed,” he continues. “I just don’t see myself making it because it took everything I had to make it through everything I did this far in life.” Heather Harrington has been living on the streets for two years, and, like many homeless individuals, she faces the daily stress of making enough money, the struggle of keeping warm despite harsh weather conditions, and protecting her belongings from theft. She also has to navigate those living around her. “I’ve never seen so many people who seem lost, and they need help,” she says. “They’re just wandering around ... talking to themselves or sleeping in the middle of the sidewalk or screaming at the top of their lungs to someone who’s not there. It’s stressful. It puts me on edge.” Like Harrington, Amy Turco, who has been living on the streets for about two years, also finds it difficult to navigate other people living on the streets, especially with heightened noise levels under the Morrison Bridge and the lack of privacy. “When there’s more than a few people in the same area that [my boyfriend and I] are at, that becomes a little stressful because the privacy breaks,” she admits. Turco, though, has been able to find relaxation in both nature and through her job at Starbucks. Turco recently went to the Japanese Rose Gardens and visited The Grotto. Turco says that she loved experiencing nature – the streams, birds and flowers – as well as the peaceful church music. At her job, Turco is also able to relax and enjoys spending time with her coworkers. “I laugh a lot at work,” she says. “I like the people I work with, and they bring the laughter out of me, especially when I’m really feeling down. One of my co-workers brings in this Bluetooth speaker, and when we’re washing dishes and cleaning up at night, she’ll play it, so I dance.” Turco and her boyfriend are currently looking for apartments, but they both enjoy the occasional times that they can spend a night in a motel and relax while watching television. Finding that his health had become compromised after living in shelters for about 12 years, John Smith began living on the streets last year. Smith currently takes medication for high blood pressure, which he attributes to both his family history and the extreme stress of being homeless. “Being out on the streets, you never let your guard down because that’s when you end up getting hurt,” he says. Sometimes, he is able to spend time at his wife’s home, as well as visiting his daughters’ homes, where he can finally let his guard down and relax indoors. About a year ago, Smith went to his hometown, Sweet Home, Oregon, to spend his birthday with his high school friends. “I was in a safe place,” he recalls. Jerrick Harrenstein currently lives in a shelter, where he has gone every night this past winter. Harrenstein Photo by Christian Erfurt on Unsplash THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED battles daily with mental health issues and often feels like his stress is inflicted on him by his surroundings. “I’m stressed out all the time,” he says. “It’s part of life – my life.” He says that he is able to relax in the shelter in the evenings, after his day is over. Leo Rhodes, a homeless advocate, has been homeless for 30 years and has been in housing for the past eight. Rhodes was met with violence when living on the streets. “I fell asleep on the waterfront, and I got hit over the head three times with a pipe,” he tells me. “That brings a lot of stress on you.” Since he has been in housing, Rhodes still feels extreme stress, specifically due to several projects he is working on to aid and advocate for homeless individuals as a part of Right To Dream, Too and other similar organizations. Those who are or have been homeless often live with lingering and sometimes chronic stress due to the combination of years of trauma with the difficulties of daily stressors. Even so, these folks frequently show resilience in the way they are able to cope. However, many people living on the streets have been through so much trauma and loss, leading to this chronic stress, that they are now unable to simply relax. “I don’t ever feel relaxed living on the fucking streets,” Harrington says. “It takes a while to even feel relaxed again. I could go from here into a house, and I won’t be relaxed. I’ll never be the same. It’ll never be the same. It’s called PTSD, I think.” Courtesy of Street Roots / INSP.ngo �GLOBAL 6 N o v 230 - N v 19,13, 2 02019 18 | N| oNo. . 393 May - oJune 408 Chernobyl: How The Site Of A Nuclear Accident Has Become A Refuge For Wildlife 33 Years Later Germán Orizaola The Conversation R eactor number four of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant suffered an explosion during a technical test on 26 April 1986. As a result of the accident, in the then Soviet Union, more than 400 times more radiation was emitted than that released by the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima (Japan) in 1945. It remains the largest nuclear accident in history. Decontamination work began immediately after the accident. An exclusion zone was created around the plant, and more than 350,000 people were evacuated from the area. They never returned. And severe restrictions on permanent human settlement are still in place today. The accident had a major impact on the human population. Although there are not clear figures, the physical loss of human lives and physiological consequences were huge. Estimates of the number of human fatalities vary wildly. The initial impact on the environment was also important. One of the areas more heavily affected by the radiation was the pine forest near the plant, known since then as the “Red Forest”. This area received the highest doses of radiation, the pine trees died instantly and all the leaves turned red. Few animals survived the highest radiation levels. Therefore, after the accident it was assumed that the area would become a desert for life. Considering the long time that some radioactive compounds take to decompose and disappear from the environment, the forecast was that the area would remain devoid of wildlife for centuries. Chernobyl wildlife today But today, 33 years after the accident, the Chernobyl exclusion zone, which covers an area now in Ukraine and Belarus, is inhabited by brown bears, bisons, wolves, lynxes, Przewalski horses, and more than 200 bird species, among other animals. In March 2019, most of the main research groups working with Chernobyl wildlife met in Portsmouth, England. About 30 researchers from the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Belgium, Norway, Spain and Ukraine presented the latest results of our work. These studies included work on big mammals, nesting birds, amphibians, fish, bumblebees, earthworms, bacteria and leaf litter decomposition. These studies showed that at present the area hosts great biodiversity. In addition, they confirmed the general lack of big negative effects of current radiation levels on the animal and plant populations living in Chernobyl. All the studied groups maintain stable and viable populations inside the exclusion zone. A clear example of the diversity of wildlife in the area is given by the TREE project (TRansfer-Exposure-Effects, led by Nick Beresford of the UK’s Centre for Ecology and Hydrology). As part of this project, motion detection cameras were installed for several years in different areas of the exclusion zone. Ian Bancroft/Flickr Creative Commons Henrik Isamrker/Flickr Creative Commons The photos recorded by these cameras reveal the presence of abundant fauna at all levels of radiation. These cameras recorded the first observation of brown bears and European bison inside the Ukrainian side of the zone, as well as the increase in the number of wolves and Przewalski horses. Our own work with the amphibians of Chernobyl has also detected abundant populations across the exclusion zone, even on the more contaminated areas. Furthermore, we have also found signs that could represent adaptive responses to life with radiation. For instance, frogs within the exclusion zone are darker than frogs living outside it, which is a possible defence against radiation. Studies have also detected some negative effects of radiation at an individual level. For example, some insects seem to have a shorter lifespan and are more affected by parasites in areas of high radiation. Some birds also have higher levels of albinism, as well as physiological and genetic alterations when living in highly contaminated localities. But these effects don’t seem to affect the maintenance of wildlife population in the area. The general absence of negative effects of radiation on Chernobyl wildlife can be a consequence of several factors: First, wildlife could be much more resistant to radiation than previously thought. Another alternative possibility is that some organisms could be starting to show adaptive responses that would allow them to cope with radiation and live inside the exclusion zone without harm. In addition, the absence of humans inside the exclusion zone could be favouring many species – big mammals in particular. That final option would suggest THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED that the pressures generated by human activities would be more negative for wildlife in the medium-term than a nuclear accident – a quite revealing vision of the human impact on the natural environment. The future of Chernobyl In 2016, the Ukrainian part of the exclusion zone was declared a radiological and environmental biosphere reserve by the national government. Over the years, Chernobyl has also become an excellent natural laboratory for the study of evolutionary processes in extreme environments, something that could prove valuable given the rapid environmental changes experienced worldwide. At present, several projects are trying to resume human activities in the area. Tourism has flourished in Chernobyl, with more than 70,000 visitors in 2018. There also plans for developing solar power plants in the area, and for expanding forestry work. Last year, there was even an art installation and techno party inside the abandoned city of Prypiat. Over the past 33 years, Chernobyl has gone from the being considered a potential desert for life to being an area of high interest for biodiversity conservation. It may sound strange, but now we need to work to maintain the integrity of the exclusion zone as a nature reserve if we want to guarantee that in the future Chernobyl will remain a refuge for wildlife. Germán Orizaola is a researcher at the University of Oviedo Courtesy of The Conversation / INSP.ngo �GLOBAL No. 39 3 |- N ov 2 13, - N o2019 v 19, |2No. 0 18408 May 30 June 7 How the world’s largest democracy casts its ballots Emmanuel Eteme Biolo, a girls' U17 team coach, talks with his team during half-time of the match at the Rail Foot Academy field in Yaounde, Cameroon, May 4, 2019. The academy currently trains around 70 girls, most of whom come from poor backgrounds and would otherwise not be able to afford even their own soccer boots, said Biolo. "Here they have everything: coaches, jerseys, training equipment, a physiotherapist, and the guidance we give them all the time. Gaelle Enganamouit really wants these kids to be the next generation," he said. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra Josiane Kouagheu Reuters W hen Gaelle Asheri first started playing soccer in the dirt streets near her home in Cameroon's capital, she was the only girl on the informal neighbourhood teams which used stones for goal posts and kept score by chalking results on a wall. Asheri, 17, and her teammate Ida Pouadjeu, 16, are now among the first wave of girls being trained by professional coaches at the Rails Foot Academy (RFA) in Yaounde. It was set up in January to foster female soccer talent in a country where many still see the sport as a man's game. "I used to train with boys, so with boys there were some exercises I was not allowed to do because I am a girl," Asheri said, describing how she was seen as more fragile than her male counterparts. "But reaching here it was just another world, I was forced to do abdominal exercises, forced to do all harsh work so you reach a level where tears usually come out with sweat." The academy gets its name from the train tracks that hem the playing ground and turn into informal stands for the local spectators, who gather to watch the girls' teams play all-male sides. Global interest in women's soccer is growing and FIFA hopes over a billion viewers will tune in to watch the Women's World Cup in June. Cameroon's national side, known as the Indomitable Lionesses, was one of three African teams to qualify. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra Gaelle Enganamouit, the founder of Rails Foot Academy (RFA), is depicted on the facade of a hairdressers' shop in Yaounde, Cameroon, May 2, 2019. Enganamouit, the star player of Cameroon's team known as the Indomitable Lionesses, one of three African teams to qualify for the Women's World Cup in June, was the brains behind RFA - the West African country's first female soccer academy. Her own experience as a young player in Yaounde showed her that it was important for women to have their own space to train, she told FIFA in January. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra Its star player, Gaelle Enganamouit, was the brains behind RFA - the West African country's first female soccer academy. Her own experience as a young player in Yaounde showed her that it was important for women to have their own space to train, she told FIFA in January. The academy currently trains around 70 girls, most of whom come from poor backgrounds and would otherwise not be able to afford even their own soccer boots, said coach Emmanuel Biolo. "Here they have everything: coaches, jerseys, training equipment, a physiotherapist, and the guidance we give them all the time. Gaelle Enganamouit really wants these kids to be the next generation," he said. Asheri attends the academy on Saturday mornings and after school on Wednesdays, changing out of her uniform - a belted blue knee-length dress - into her team's matching kit. She is studying for her final baccalaureate exams, but the dream for her and Pouadjeu is to play soccer at a professional level like their benefactor. "I've seen Gaelle (Enganamouit) play on TV. I've never missed one of her matches. She plays so well, I want to be like her," Pouadjeu said. Both girls initially faced opposition from family members who were worried that the sport was unfeminine. But neither have been deterred by such prejudice. "I picked up the ball, I kicked it and I never looked back," Asheri said, recalling the childhood street soccer games with her male cousins and neighbours. Courtesy of Reuters / INSP.ngo REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �FEATURE 8 Nov 2 o v 19, 2 02019 18 | N o . 393 May 30- -NJune 13, | No. 408 Invisible Disabilities Dr. Mark Mussman Staff Writer T here is a saying floating around the internet that goes something like “Be kind to people, everyone is fighting an invisible battle.” This idea, that people are struggling, seems to be particularly true in some neighborhoods. If half of Cincinnati’s children live below the poverty line, and 75% of Black children living below the poverty line, the struggle is not invisible, it is more than palatable. Institutional racism and structural violence are seemingly “invisible” to affluent, or even marginally wealthy, white people. We just can’t see the barriers that are put in the way of people who have a different experience than us. That is how the system is designed: create separate realities so that the discord between the groups is more visible than the structural, or systemic, violence that hides just below the surface. We are seeing this type of conflict play out today with the abortion (so-called) debate. Some people just want to be in control of their own bodies, while some people think this is debatable. the rest of the day to relax and selfcare. Selfcare isn’t a luxury for me, it is a matter of health. Invisible disabilities are wideranging and may affect more than 10% of the American population. Different conditions that cause chronic pain, fatigue, mental illness, and dizziness often lead to invisible illnesses. People are often accused of lying about their condition because it’s not possible to see the pain that someone is in, just their reaction. People with invisible disabilities often hide their pain because it is hard for other people to We see the same thing when looking at disability. One out of five Americans will have a disability at some time in their life. This statistic comes from my work 15 years ago, so I wonder if the number is actually higher today. I cannot imagine what life would be like without my disability. Every decision I make literally depends on what my disability will allow me to do. How much water I drink, what I eat, what type of exercise I can do, how many spoons I have, are all dependent on my disability. But from the outside, my disability isn’t very visible, so it is known as an “invisible disability.” I’ll let you in on a few disability secrets, like what I mean by the number of spoons I have. There is a metaphor that I was resistant to the first time I heard about it called the spoon theory. This idea says that when we wake up each day, a person has a set number of spoons, or energy that they can devote to simply just living. When you have a disability, the number of spoons you have varies from day-to-day, and each activity you do takes a spoon away. So for some, just getting out of bed and getting ready for the day may use up all the spoons that person had for the day. I may have days like that from time to time. My spoons are based upon the amount of pain I am in. I constantly experience discomfort, and most of the time, I am in pain. If I use up all of my spoons in the morning, I must take THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED understand what they go through on a daily basis. It would be impossible to feel what someone with fibromyalgia feels in their bones, or what someone with vertigo experiences when the world starts moving around them. We can only see how they respond to those feelings, and we must trust them. �No. 39 Nov 213, - N 2019 o v 19,| 2 0 18408 May 303 -| June No. FEATURE 9 the doctor more often and be forced to pay more co-pays, just by virtue of needing to go to the doctor more. Costly blood tests are paid out of pocket, because even though you’ve hit your deductible, it somehow doesn’t cover certain costs, like blood tests and physician charges in hospitals. When I bring up a health issue with my primary care physician, who generally listens, it often boils down to “it’s probably from your chronic illness, just showing up in this way.” Everything that is wrong with me is somehow connected to my invisible disability, which is frustrating because I want to get help, but also part of the reality - I will never be apart from my invisible disability. I am fortunate that my family has been so supportive of me over the years. They help me financially and morally. They give me hope that things can get better, and they also share with me the suffering they go through, so that we can commissurate on our experiences. When my doctors show compassion towards me, even through my disability, they make me feel important and worthy of their care. (I have had very bad encounters with doctors, who have misdiagnosed me, refused to look me in the eye, and had bad bedside manner.) My coworkers at the Homeless Coalition are also very supportive; they are willing to step in and help out when I need it, and to carry the load for me when I am too weak to carry it myself. I am forever grateful for the support that I receive, but I also have to struggle with autonomy as I am the one most affected by my invisible disability. One of the biggest stressors that people with invisible disabilities face is the medical industry itself. When someone is lucky enough to finally get a diagnosis, all other issues are often attributed to that condition. Our medical system then places this disability as a “pre-existing condition” which can raise our premiums, deny coverage, or even supplant “free” disease screenings with full-cost procedures. As someone who has been in and out of medical care for two decades with my chronic illness, I can say that our medical system is truly broken. The amount of time that I have to spend dealing with insurance companies, hospitals, doctor’s offices, billing, etc., is a heavy burden. Getting the insurance company to cover necessary procedures and medication can take months. A healthy person might be surprised at the out-of-pocket costs that I run each month. Medications that cost $7000 a dose, with 4 doses a month, is certainly a broken system. This amounts to $338,000/year in medication alone. What kind of world puts that cost on life-improving medication that prevents issues down the road, while simultaneously increasing the risk for other health issues? The system is clearly broken. Doctor visits can be difficult with invisible illness. First off, you will visit THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED At times I hear people talk about complaining as if it’s a bad thing. I know that I complain all of the time, and sometimes you just need someone to hear you. When it feels like the inside of your body is screaming, why should you be the only one to hear it? I don’t always complain, but I also don’t hold back when I want to say something. I recently was pulled over for speeding, and I made a point of telling the police officer that I was in severe pain, not as an excuse, but as a way to humanize myself. Ultimately, however, people with invisible disabilities like myself, should be in therapy for the pain and experience, but also for society’s inability to understand the extent in which we are suffering. Sadly, the access for mental health care is often difficult to navigate and is certainly expensive. When you only have so many spoons, how many can you use on fighting a system of inequality? �10 U.S. NEWS Nov 2 o v 19, 2 02019 18 | N o . 393 May 30- -NJune 13, | No. 408 Us Is Already Fighting A Conflict With Iran – An Economic War That Is Hurting The Wrong People David Cortright The Conversation Many are worried about the risk of war with Iran after the Trump administration leaked discussions of a troop deployment in response to claimed threats to U.S. warships in the region. And in recent days, the rhetoric has only gotten more heated, with President Donald Trump saying a war would be “the official end of Iran.” Iranian officials responded in kind. But the truth is, the U.S. has been fighting a war with Iran for decades – an economic war fought via sanctions that has intensified over the past year and has already been devastating to innocent civilians in the country. Not only that, it’s also undermining long-accepted principles of international cooperation and diplomacy, a topic I’ve been researching for the past 25 years. Carrots and Sticks Many nations have recognized that sanctions work best as tools of persuasion rather than punishment. Sanctions by themselves rarely succeed in changing the behavior of a targeted state. They are often combined with diplomacy in a carrots and sticks bargaining framework designed to achieve negotiated solutions. Indeed the offer to lift sanctions can be a persuasive inducement in convincing a targeted regime to alter its policies, as was the case when successful negotiations involving the U.S. and Europe led to the Iran nuclear deal in 2015, which ended sanctions in exchange for Tehran shutting down much of its nuclear production capacity. A year ago Trump withdrew the U.S. from that accord and not only reimposed previous sanctions but also added further restrictions, including so-called secondary sanctions that penalize other countries for continuing to trade with Iran. Multilateral vs. Unilateral Sanctions In an increasingly globalized world, unilateral sanctions like these – in which one country goes it alone - are rarely effective at achieving their end result, which in this case in regime change. Multilateral sanctions involving several or many countries have greater impact and make it more difficult for targeted individuals or regimes to find alternative sources of oil or other goods. And getting authorization through the United Nations or regional organizations provides legal and political cover. When the U.N. Security Council imposed targeted sanctions on Iran in 2006 over its illicit nuclear activities, for example, members of the European Union were able to join the U.S. and other countries in applying pressures that brought Iran to the bargaining table. That’s what led to the negotiated nuclear deal nine years later. The U.S. circumvented this voluntary multilateral process when it withdrew from the accord and unilaterally imposed “extraterritorial secondary sanctions.” These barred nations or companies that buy Iranian oil or other sanctioned products from doing business in the U.S. Although most countries disagree with the U.S. withdrawal from the Iran deal and some reject such sanctions as an infringement on their own sovereignty, they are powerless. They cannot afford to lose access to dollar financing and the U.S. economy and thus are forced against their will to do Washington’s bidding. Iranians pay the price Oil exports and national income are dropping, inflation is rising, and economic hardships are mounting. The Iranian rial lost more than 60% of its value in the last year, eroding the savings of ordinary Iranians. Life is becoming increasingly difficult for working families struggling to make ends meet. There are indications that the new sanctions are inhibiting the flow of humanitarian goods and contributing to shortages in specialized medicines to treat ailments such as multiple sclerosis and cancer. Cargill and other global food giants have halted shipments to Iran because of the lack of available financing. Punishment of the Iranian people seems to be a deliberate policy. When asked recently how the administrations expects sanctions to change the behavior of the Iranian government, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo acknowledge they won’t be to do that and instead suggested it’s up to the people to “change the government.” In other words, the pain of sanctions will force people to rise up and overthrow their leaders. This is as naïve as it is cynical. It reflects the long-discredited theory that sanctioned populations will direct their frustrations and anger at national leaders and demand a change in policy or the regime. Sanctions have never worked for this purpose. The more likely result is the classic “rally around the flag” effect. Iranians are critical of their government’s economic policies, but they also blame Trump for the hardships resulting from sanctions. Governments subject to sanctions are adept at blaming economic hardships on their external adversaries, as Iran’s religious and elected leaders are doing now against the United States. Tehran is likely to respond to tightening sanctions by giving greater authority to companies associated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, a major branch of the Iranian military, further empowering the very hardline forces Washington claims to oppose The White House is ignoring these realities and pressing ahead with draconian trade sanctions, hoping to increase the pain until Iran’s leaders cry uncle. There is no sign of surrender yet from Tehran, nor is there likely to be, but over time pressure may build on both sides to reach a settlement. The damage done to the institutions of diplomacy will remain, however, along with the need to restore confidence in the principles of international cooperation. David Cortright is director of policy studies, Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame. Courtesy of The Conversation / Insp.ngo Men shop at a store in Murshid Bazar, the Iranian market in the old part of Dubai, United Arab Emirates November 5, 2018. Picture taken November 5, 2018. REUTERS/Christopher Pike THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 Nov 213, - N 2019 o v 19,| 2 0 18408 May 303 -| June No. 11 U.S. NEWS Public shaming, private grief Simon Bland Big Issue North A misjudged tweet and a wave of social media hate led to the 2017 suicide of porn star August Ames. But as author Jon Ronson discovers in his new audiobook The Last Days of August and its accompanying stage tour, the truth surrounding her death – and who’s to blame – is a much murkier tale. Ronson spoke to Big Issue North about his reporting, the porn industry and the dangers of social media. The Last Days of August is your second podcast set on the fringes of the porn industry, following 2017’s The Butterfly Effect. What keeps you coming back? When I finished The Butterfly Effect I thought that would be it. But when August Ames died I just thought that given I’m probably the only person in the world to have done stories about porn and also public shaming on the internet, that I should approach August’s husband Kevin because I’m uniquely qualified. What was it about the story that you wanted to uncover? My ambition was to be small. I thought I was going to write a 3,000word article for The Guardian where I would bring August to life, but also bring to life the people who tore her apart. I wanted it to be an equal opportunity exercise in empathy. It was only during fact checking that suddenly this whole new mysterious, extraordinary story presented itself. That’s when we decided to make The Last Days of August. You wrote extensively about the dangers of Twitter in your 2015 book So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed – but you’re still on Twitter. Has your vigilance increased? I’m definitely Eve after eating the apple. I have no embarrassment in comparing myself to Eve but I try to always be positive, kind hearted and upbeat on Twitter. It’s been my little contribution to slightly rebalancing the tone of Twitter away from constant rage and judgement to something just a little bit more empathetic. Since you released Publicly Shamed, we’ve had the #MeToo movement. Do you think people are taking more responsibility for their actions on social media? I think there’s still a problem. Since Publicly Shamed came out, we’ve had shaming campaigns like Black Lives Matter, #MeToo, Oscars So White and a bunch of others, which have been incredibly positive, but the negative side of things like that – the pulling someone out of the crowd who doesn’t deserve it and giving them a huge punishment for almost no crime – still exists too. What do you think the solution is? The really important thing people need to think about now is: how do you retain the really positive stuff while trying to eliminate the really negative stuff? We have power now in certain circumstances. It’s up to the people to decide how severe somebody’s punishment should be. We’re basically all judges but there are no leatherbound books on our shelves setting a thousand years of precedent. That’s the problem. There are detective elements to your investigative storytelling. Do you think you could have been a private investigator in another life? My producer Lina Misitzis could have been a private investigator because she loves that stuff and is brilliant at it. I think in another life I would have been a psychologist. When I work with Lina, she brings the investigative feel and I bring the psychology and humanness to it. Many of the conspiracy theorists you wrote about in your 2001 book Them now have a platform, thanks to Trump. Are you keeping an eye on that? Totally. At one point I thought I’d write a book about how the people that I wrote about in Them now have so much more power, but I decided not to because I just find it really hard to return to the same stories. If the mystery isn’t there then I don’t feel impassioned enough to do the story but I think I’m going to do an audio story soon about that – about the newfound power of these people I interviewed back in the 1990s. As someone attracted to extreme stories, have you ever considered writing about Brexit? I wouldn’t be the right person to do Brexit because I’ve been living in America for nearly seven years. I could do Mastermind when it comes to Trump – I know everything about what’s happening with Trump, Mueller and collusion. I honestly know less about Brexit than anybody living in Britain so I would not be the right person to do it. You’re a self-described anxious person but you’re regularly on tour. Is it difficult stepping out on stage every night? It’s increasingly difficult. I used to love being on stage. It used to feel like a place where nothing bad can happen, a safe space. I don’t feel that anymore. My anxiety levels have gone up. I had one bad show in London where I was jet-lagged and I’d taken a bit too much melatonin to try and get over it and I was a little too groggy and slightly disassociating. That became quite a traumatic memory and, as a result, being onstage did make me more anxious. The main reason why I do it is because most writers don’t do it well and I know that I can do it pretty well. It’s not because I love it – because I find it quite exhausting and anxietyinducing these days. What can audiences expect from your upcoming live show? I’ve got high hopes for this new show. I think The Butterfly Effect stuff is really funny but then the show will get increasingly dark and sad in a way that hopefully will be moving for people. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED It’s going to be a big range of emotions. I had a little bit of a mental collapse making The Last Days of August and I want to talk about that. I have these funny bespoke porn clips that I want to show too. It’s the summation of where I’m at in terms of my thoughts on journalism, mental illness and work. I feel like I’ve got a lot to say and that’s going to make it different to my other shows. Jon Ronson – ‘Tales From the Last Days of August & the Butterfly Effect’ is at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, 18 May, Leeds Town Hall, 19 May and Albert Hall, Manchester 22 May. The Last Days of August is available as a podcast Courtesy of Big Issue North / INSP. ngo �12 STREETVOICE N o v 30 2 -- N o v 19, 0 18 | |N o . 393 May June 13,22019 No. 408 Weeping May Endure For A Night, I’m remembering my Mother; and my Mother’s mother; and my Mother’s mother’s Mother who was born into slavery. I use to wonder, “How?!” How could this gentle woman who always fed me bananas and cookies from a small paper bag still smile. Knowing someone chose to see her as property, livestock, and less than human didn’t make her hate; indeed, it made her more loving. I asked her how could she still be so hopeful. In her simple words she replied, “Weeping may endure for a night, but Joy is going to come in the morning They never told me what they meant. They never told me while they were alive, anyway. Then that day came. That day when The Black man and his Black wife, and his Black children, and their Black grandmother stood on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington D.C. The day young and old alike found hope. Women took notice of The wife’s power and intellect. Although this family was its’ own altarpiece, The wife could stand alone, a forever masterpiece. A painting that called upon the “joy” of all in these United States. At that moment Hope My mother’s Mother (when she was young) sat in the living beaconed. Dr. King’s dream may not be fully realized, but it is no room of a white lady she knew and had nursed back to health. longer an impossibility. The elderly white lady took one look at my Grandmother and scoffed, “I never thought I would see the day a Nigger would sit That great morning cultivated and nurtured by centuries of up in my living room.” tears and death and struggle not only empowered those so long My Grandmother’s cool reply was, “...and you still haven’t seen forgotten, but it frightened the Plantation. ..Once I was blind but one.” After the telling of this story, I asked, “Grandmamma, why now I see…or rather once you were blind but now you see. did you ask God to forgive that woman? She laughed, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy is going to come in the morning. You, the Plantation saw a mighty river of colors and creeds. You finally saw the sheep and the lion side by side chanting: we My Mother’s life was made harder by Jim Crow, misogyny, will no longer accept your excuses; we will not accept “someday”; and “you’re not as pretty as me.” I remember all the times we we will not accept “not enough”; we will not “know our places”; would go to eat out and white people got served before us. My we will no longer hide our dreams in closets. Hand in hand we Mother left these places screaming at the owner or manager will stand in this morning. A morning bought with the centuries while simultaneously hauling hungry and disappointed children of our Mother’s tears. Yes, they wept in the moonlight, they back into a hot Alabama summer, no air conditioned car. She prayed in the silence of the dark, transforming their tears to chanted her prayer, “No child of my will bow down to a white amniotic fluid protecting and growing a new Blackness: a true man. These white people don’t know, I’m the wrong Negro. They collective of many nations standing in the rays of a glorious might not overcome, but y'all will.” morning proclaiming this is our time! She took odd jobs during the day and went to school at night. So..? For all of you seeing and living through midnight and Yet, she still took care to make sure we were well dressed; well nightmares remember most of us, including the original tribes of groomed; well educated; well cultured and well mannered. A this land had no voice and were murdered trying to Vote. chorus of after school classes filled with educational games, Bible study, and stories of our people. After daddy was killed Mamma Weeping may endure for a night, but joy is going get us to managed to get us to college all on scholarships while she only vote in the morning! had one good Sunday dress. Whatever it took for her to see our black heads held high so we could look any white person in the eyes. And under her breath she would mutter, “I’m not raising JUNE ALEXANDER slaves. You get an education so you can be free!” I asked her was ContributingWriter all the sacrifice worth it? She took a deep cleansing breath and sang, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy is going to come in the morning.” Streetvibes Writing Circle If you would like to submit a story for publication in streetvibes, come join Katelyn Lusher and Chris Wilkey for a group writing session! THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �13 STREETVOICE No. 30 39 3- |June Nov 213, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 May | No. 408 J. C. TOLD D. C. TO MOVE TO CINCY No father… No Mother… Sibling rivalry Rivals sanity As I question My first lesson… “Family comes first.” You know what hurts? Having a dependency On inconsistency… There is a light at the end Of the tunnel but all I see when I look into the abyss Is the kiss That would relieve me of my pain… Sleep was greeted by Local law’s lullaby Of unjustified colors yet serene. Knowing that I was clean, This false comfort was home to me. My heart remains silent And accept the violent Acts of circumstance Remain in a lustful trance With events that some who call trauma… Reality TV has predetermine drama While my life is film in karma Yet I don’t feel balanced. Jersey City Made me. Resiliency Was from DC To JC Who will be a strong woman in her own right Some day. At the age of 8, that night When I was at an emotional low, Her suggests encourage my courage to grow… Moving closer to my happiness Was all that matters regardless Never visiting Cincy Outside of Who Dey on TV. Is unforgiving In this salary based economy… Words of encouragement Reminds me of the detriment Of what I have not achieved. I did believed However, Forever Entangled in compelling Arguments agree on telling My confidence Is nonsense… At the same time, I find Empty promises saying How she loves me While No child Here for the huggie… So my self esteem Has been impounded My motivation is grounded And anyone can drive me… CRAZY!!!!! Where is sanctuary For the broken, bruised and wary? Where I could take time? Make time For desires that I use to have… Depthstroke the Cypher Contributing Writer Is it helpful to have a loving pet to get you through these stressful times? May be I expect Too much Wanted people to treat me Like I treat them yet all I see Are reasons... Reasons to snap Reasons to take a forever nap Because bills, you can’t take them with you. If I apply For SSI I should qualify however These barriers are not forever. Poll Dog The cash assistance Offers limited existence And the quality of living Poll Question By Bill Woods THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �PUZZLES 14 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 106 Across 1. Under-water breathing device 6. Domesticated animal companion 9. Unexpected slide 13. Ravine 14. In the past 15. Blank area 16. Relating to birds 17. Swindle 18. Claw 19. Pull back 21. Item of clothing 23. Father 24. Name of the plantation in Gone with the Wind 25. Astern 28. Molten volcanic rock 30. Homopterous insect 35. Snare 37. Saucy 39. Bulbous herb with single showy flower 40. A slow pace of running 41. Religious doctrine 43. Cleansing agent 44. Herbaceous plant with aromatic seeds 46. Annoy 47. Basic knitting stitch 48. Potent 50. Spline 52. Staining substance 53. Strong sweeping cut 55. Weep 57. Flower merchant 61. Legislator 65. Woven fabric 66. Simian 68. Gauntlet 69. Entertain 70. Pitch 71. Common 72. Persistently annoying person 73. Female sheep 74. Ahead of time PUZZLE SOLUTIONS CROSSWORD #105 Down 1. Evidence of previous injury 2. Grotto 3. A single undivided whole 4. Supervisory committee 5. Toughen steel or glass by gradually heating and cooling 6. Treaty 7. Self 8. Polynesian country 9. Junk e-mail 10. Coarse curly-leafed cabbage 11. Symbol 12. Depression in a surface 15. Narrow sea channel 20. Adjust or conform 22. Part of a circle 24. Sully 25. Book of maps 26. Anterior 27. Perissodactyl mammal 29. Swerve 31. Point formed by two intersecting arcs 32. With relatively high volume 33. Personal journal 34. Fruit, malus pumila 36. Currency of Cuba 38. Relate 42. Taunt 45. Motor 49. Fuel 51. Part of a shoe below the laces 54. Condition 56. Lightweight wood 57. Excited state of agitation 58. Acidic fruit 59. Burden 60. Remainder 61. Scorch 62. Enlistment term 63. Elliptical 64. Depend 67. Foot of an animal Nov 2 o v 19, 18 | N o . 393 May 30- -NJune 13,2 02019 | No. 408 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 397 - EASY SODOKU PUZZLE NO 396- EASY PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 Nov 213, - N2019 o v 19,| No. 2 0 18408 May 303-|June Central Access Point 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children RESOURCES Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside Bethany House 557-2873 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 591-2246 FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 Salvation Army 762-5660 St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 131 E. 12th Street 45202 1125 Bank Street 45214 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men Shelter: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Shelterhouse 721-0643 2121 Vine Street 45202 411 Gest St. 45203 Prospect House 921-1613 1437 Walnut Street 45202 Starting Over 961-2256 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Women St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Parkway Center 661-4620 First Step Home 961-4663 Shelter: Youth 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Sheakley Center for Youth (18-24 y/o) 2522 Highland Ave. 45219 569-9500 Lighthouse Youth Crisis Center (10-17 y/o) 3330 Jefferson Ave 45220 961-4080 Shelter: Family Interfaith Hospitality Network Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Both AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Joseph House (Veterans) 471-1100 1522 Republic Street 45202 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street 45202 Talbert House 221-HELP Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street 45202 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Food/Clothing First Lutheran Church 421-0065 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Seraph Ministries 549-0542 St. George Food Pantry 2554 Dennis St. 45219 751-8771 St. Anthony Center 1615 Republic St. Advocacy Catholic Social Action 421-3131 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Franciscan JPIC 721-4700 Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 241-2965 Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board 946-8000 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 221-HELP Housing: 15 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 Health Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 Other Resources Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 215 E. 14th St. 45202 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 381-0111 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. 579-8547 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 1223 Main St. 45202 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 The Caring Place 631-1114 Talbert House 751-7747 United Way 211 Women Helping Women 977-5541 Off The Streets 421-5211 Hamilton County Office of Reentry 946-4304 138 E. Court Street Room # 101 First Floor Cancer Justice Network 404-3882 Hamilton/Middletown St. Raephaels 981-4200 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 Northern Kentucky Brighton Center (11-17 y/o) 859-491-8303 ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary 859-572-6202 Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky 634 Scott St. 41011 859-291-4555 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? You can support our mission and spread the word about your business. For more information contact Gabriela Godinez Feregrino, 961-0600 email streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Center for Respite Care 621-1868 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 386-7899 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 NAMI of Hamilton County 351-3500 PATH Outreach 977-4489 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �16 N o v 230 - N o v 19, 2 02019 18 | N o . 393 May - June 13, | No. 408 S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. ALFRED WOOLFOLK SINCE 10/2003 ASRES AYENAW SINCE 2012 BERTA LAMBERT SINCE 1997 BETTIE BAILEY SINCE 10/2017 BRANDON NELSON SINCE 4/2008 BRIAN ADAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHARLES WILLIAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHRISTOPHER KAIHATSU SINCE 7/2017 CLEO WOMBLES SINCE 10/2003 CRANDALL COBB SINCE 2004 DARREL ROZIER SINCE 7/2017 DAVID MCCANE SINCE 2017 ERIC VALDEZ SINCE 2/2017 GERALD FRANKLIN SINCE 7/2017 GRADY COOK SINCE 1997 HENRY BRELAND SINCE 7/2017 JAMES BROWN SINCE 3/2009 JAMES DAVIS SINCE 8/2000 JENNY BURTON SINCE 7/2017 JIMMIE GIPSON SINCE 2001 JON DARBY SINCE 2/2006 JOHN HORN JOSEPHINE BASKERVILLE SINCE 9/2008 J’TORI TYMAN SINCE 5/2014 KIM NGUYEN SINCE 7/2017 KENNY BUSSELL SINCE 10/2009 KAREN COLLETTE SINCE 7/2008 LARRY BROWN SINCE 10/2007 LEE MCCOY SINCE 7/2009 LEONARD JACKSON SINCE 2/2005 MARY MUELLER SINCE 5/2005 MARK SHEARS SINCE 4/2012 MAURICE GOLSBY MELISSA MOSBY SINCE 9/2014 MIKE CARANO SINCE 4/2016 RAESHAWN GIPSON SINCE 3/2009 RAYNARD JONES SINCE 10/2008 RICKY WOODS SINCE 4/2015 RICCARDO TAYLOR SINCE 1999 RONNIE PHILLIPS SINCE 10/2009 SAMUEL JACKSON SINCE 10/2006 STACIA HOLLANDER SINCE 2017 STEPHANIE EAKES SINCE 7/2017 SYLVESTER WALKER SINCE 7/2017 TALINA HILL SINCE 2/2011 VICTOR MUMPHRY WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WINNIE RICE SINCE 7/2017 QUEENACELASTINE SINCE 7/2017 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 VIOLET COLLINS SINCE 2017 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2019 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource May 30-June 13, 2019 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: KKK Rally in Dayton Pg 3: Homeless People Aren’t Just Sitting Around Pg 4: GCHC Pg 5: Stress on the Streets Pg 6: Chernobyl Pg 7: How the World’s Largest Democracy Casts its Ballots Pg 8: Invisible Disabilities Pg 9: Invisible Disabilities Continued Pg 10: Us is Already Fighting a Conflict with Iran Pg 11: Public Shaming, Private Grief Pg 12: Street Voice Pg 13: Street Voice Pg 14: Puzzles Pg 15: Resources Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource May 30-June 13, 2019 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gabriela Godinez Bill Woods Johannes Lehard Aliza Saunders German Orizaola Josiane Kougheu Dr. Mark Mussman Simon Bland David Cortright Depthstroke the Cypher June Alexander Canva.com INSP.com Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Aliza Saunders Bill Woods Canva.com Chernobyl David Cortright Democracy Depthstroke the Cypher Disabilities Dr. Mark Mussman Gabriela Godinez German Orizaola INSP.com Iran Johannes Lehard Josiane Kougheu June Alexander KKK mental illness Simon Bland Voting https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/9abbc67e6d0fa1bef32756ec4b59171f.pdf 0be75669333ca39bf82a0c94c8e471c6 PDF Text Text M ay 16nd - M ay 30th 2019 | Vo l . 23 Issue 10 (No. 407) advo cating justice | building communit y Any opinions in this issue are of the authors and don't necessarily represent Streetvibes or The Homeless Coalition. Affordable For What? Article on Page 8 This Issue is sponsored by Cecilia and Tom Kloecker Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.com Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 12 �2 COALITION N o v 16 2 - -NMay o v 19, 0 18 | |NNo. o . 393 May 30,2 2019 407 From The Editor: Money Over People GABRIELA GODINEZ Editor-in-chief O n Thursday, May 9th, 2019 tenants from Wade Street and Central Avenue held a press conference. The Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition, FightBack Cincinnati, and faith leaders were in attendance and advocated for the rights of Wade Street and Central Avenue Tenants United. The tenants continue asking for their demands to be met by FC Cincinnati in a timely matter, calling out FCC directly at the press conference. Tenants, along with several faith leaders, gave short statements about their opinions and frustrations regarding the subject. It is clear that the tenants feel lost, forgotten, abandoned, and it isn’t difficult to see how they arrived at such emotions. One speaker said they felt that FCC was saying, “I see you, and I don’t care.” A sentiment echoed by many others in their speeches. What many people pointed out was the fact that this is not simply a money issue, but also a moral issue. This is not only about the demands the tenants are making that FCC is refusing to fulfill, it’s also the fact that anyone has to make any demands at all, that anyone has to go through this in the first place. The group is demanding that FC Cincinnati renovate 1559 Central Avenue and “give ownership to Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses, allowing those currently residing in 1559 to stay there and for those residing in 421 Wade Street to move once completed.” Knowing that some folks will still be displaced, this is still a compromise that the tenants are willing to make. While FC Cincinnati keeps dancing around the demands, coming up with halfhearted rebuttals and counteroffers, the rest of us have a front seat to the chaos that our local leadership has allowed. Our local political leadership has chosen FC Cincinnati money over people. The moral issue that plagues Cincinnati is that our city has decided that lives don’t mean as much as the money corporations can bring. Pastor Ennis Tate put it well when he said, “FC Cincinnati can only do what they are allowed to do.” Many of us who live in Cincinnati feel that we are not directly affected by this issue, but we have the power to affect this issue. The burden that is put on tenants being evicted affects their mental and physical health; as neighbors who don’t feel personally burdened, it is our responsibility to be there for them however we can. There is no such thing as “this isn’t my fight to fight.” Wade Street and Central Avenue Tenants United are helping themselves but they still need our support. We all need to put pressure on our City Council and FC Cincinnati to do the right thing and put the rights and concerns of people first. It is ridiculous that eviction is a legal option in our city. It is ridiculous that displacement is accepted by our City Council. Since we already know that displacement is going to happen in this case, the Tenants United are demanding that FC Cincinnati pay “any associated moving costs and financial compensation to each Tenant.” It is sad that this is even a demand a person has to make to be able to continue living their lives, but it is infuriating that FC Cincinnati can’t just accept and comply with the demands. This is a corporation made up of individuals that are uprooting the lives of those living in the West End, and they don’t even have the moral capability to fulfill these demands. This is an egregious example of greed and blatant disregard for human lives. Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org www.cincistreetvibe.com EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor-in-chief: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: Mona Jenkins Director of Education: Dr. Mark Mussman Distributor Program Manager: Sallie Mascus Layout: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Reception: Bonita Batton, Larry Johnson Maintenance: Pete Roper STOP SUPPORTING FC CINCINNATI S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED ------------------------------------------CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Writers: Gabriela Godinez, Bill Woods, Jordi Cornella Detrell, Katelyn Lusher, Poorvi Vora, Robert Park, Dr. Mark Mussman, Aliyah Cole, Kim Green, Willa Denise Jones, June Alexander ------------------------------------------Photography/ Artwork: canva.com, Gabriela Godinez, INSP.com, Dr. Mark Mussman, ---------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless do not endorse candidates for public office. �No. 39 Nov 230, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 May 163-|May | No. 407 3 COALITION Ohio Reformers Notch A Victory: Gerrymandered Congressional Districts BILL WOODS I Board Member n the struggle to restore the health of democracy, reformers gained another victory last week. A three judge panel of the U.S. District Court of Southern Ohio found that the Congressional Districts that were adopted by the Ohio General Assembly in 2011 were drawn to create results that greatly favored one political party. The Court ruled that new districts be established, and it gave the General Assembly until June 14th to draft them. The League of Women Voters of Ohio, the A. Phillip Randolph Institute, and citizens representing the state's sixteen Congressional Districts filed the suit that led to this ruling. The American Civil Liberties Union provided the legal team for the plaintiffs. As reported in the April 4th edition of Streetvibes, the case took place over a two-week period this March in a courtroom in the Potter Stewart Federal Building in downtown Cincinnati. The three-judge panel led by District Judge Timothy S. Black heard ACLU lawyers make the case that the 2011 Congressional Districts were so blatantly gerrymandered that they violated the Constitutional rights of Ohio voters. Attorneys for the defense (Republican State officials) argued that Congressional redistricting that year had been carried out in the traditional manner, and that the results adequately represented Ohio residents. The ACLU legal team focused much of its time on highlighting the testimony of expert witnesses. One of the witnesses, William Cooper, a demographer, provided maps that he had drawn for Ohio that were both more compact and less partisan than the districts that were adopted in 2011. Cooper specializes in using Census data and geographic realities to draw up fair and compact political districts for states. Other redistricting experts hammered away at the complete disregard for compactness by the 2011 map makers that led inevitably to the twelve Republican held Congressional seats compared to four seats for the Democrats. Usually judged to be a swing state with an even number of Republican and Democratic voters, Ohio was carried by President Obama in both 2008 and 2012. On the other hand, defense witnesses attempted to portray Ohio's 2011 Districts as entities that accurately fit a Republican leaning state. The very large number of split counties, cities, and townships that were made in order to draw the current Congressional District maps seemed be a major factor in determining the three judge panel's decision. Seventythree municipalities and twenty-three counties were split to come up with the 2011 districts. An alternative plan that was shown to the judges included fourteen county splits and twentyseven splits of other municipalities and townships. The judges wrote in their decision: "Either the Republicans were exceedingly lucky, or their map drawers made exceedingly expert use of political data to manipulate district lines to secure the most seats and the least amount of competition possible." Republican state officials plan to appeal the decision. Attorney General Dave Yost hopes the U.S. Supreme Court will overturn the District Court's order to prepare new Congressional District maps in time for the 2020 Congressional elections. As readers may recall, the Supreme Court heard two anti-gerrymandering cases last month, but no verdicts have yet been announced. Ohio reformers are naturally pleased with the U.S. District Court's decision. Until the results of this case, most activists thought that they would have to wait until 2022 to have fair Congressional elections in this state. New districts will be drawn in 2021 using the reform guidelines included in the Ohio Constitutional Amendment that was passed by the voters a year ago. Alice Schneider, a board member of the Ohio League of Women Voters, is hopeful that the Court's ruling will give Ohioans fair and competitive Congressional elections in 2020. These are critical times, she noted, and people need to be able to believe that representative democracy works. STREETVIBES SOIRÉE SPONSORED BY URBAN ARTIFACT M A Y 3 1, 2 0 1 9 @ 8 : 0 0 P M HOSTED BY THE GREATER CINCINNATI HOMELESS COALITION THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �4 ADVERTISMENT N o v 216 - N v 19, 2 02019 18 | N o . 393 May - oMay 30, | No. 407 May 17 - June 2, 2019 For tickets please call (513) 381-2273 Purchase tickets online at www.cincyshakes.com AD Donated by Mark and Sue Ann Painter season sponsored by the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 ov 2 30, - N o2019 v 19,| 2 0 18407 May 163 -| N May No. U.S. NEWS 5 To Make It On The Streets, I Had To Look Like You: Not Homeless HELEN HILL Street Roots W aiting in line sucks. We’ve all had to do it, and we will again. It’s exasperating and humbling, and it robs us of a precious, finite commodity: time. But when you are living in poverty and in need of the basic tools of survival, such as food, shelter, health care and access to hygiene, the hours of a day lost to waiting in line can rise to a demoralizing, soul-crippling level. I asked our vendors to talk about waiting in line early one Friday morning, while we were all waiting in line outside Street Roots for the lights to come on and the doors to open. Vendor Erik Sweger commented: “That’s all we do. Being homeless, you have to wait in line constantly. You go for housing, you wait in line. To get a mat to sleep on, you wait in line. To get food, you wait – and not even for good food. We’re always being told to wait. We are spending a hell of a lot of time waiting in line. And because we’re homeless, we have a couple bags we’re carrying, so that makes it harder. “It’s really frustrating,” Erik said. “You think, ‘I could be doing something else more productive’. Why is it taking so long? When I was growing up, they would show news clips about people waiting in line in Russia because of food shortages. Now it seems like that’s what we’re doing here. From what I hear, we’ve surpassed Russia; they don’t wait in line so much anymore. It’s getting like the Depression. I imagine we are nearly equal to what the lines during the Depression were like.” Jennifer Bradford has a different perspective about waiting in lines from her wheelchair. After years of being housed, she had a stroke this past year, and four days later, her leg was amputated due to a blood clot. She speaks very slowly; her speech was affected by the stroke. “For me, it’s really hard because I used to walk everyplace and do everything for myself,” she said. “Now that I’m in a wheelchair, people kind of push past me and cut in front of me, and because I’m homeless, they think it’s OK. I wait for the MAX, and when it comes, I try to press the button, but they don’t open the door, and they take off. Every place I go, there’s always a line for something, and I have a hard time explaining, saying what I need.” New vendor Gabriel Bradford is a young man experiencing homelessness for the first time. He’s been on the streets only a few months. “I lost my ID, lost my job, lost everything. It just kind of led me here,” he said. “I used to have a lot of judgment about homeless people. Why aren’t they out there getting a job? They have all day. But what people don’t understand is how busy you actually are when you’re homeless. If you are an addict and want to stay clean, you need to go to a meeting. You need to be at a shelter at a certain time for a shower. You need to be at certain places to eat three meals a day. So you’re constantly busy and running around all day. It’s a challenge. “It’s good for us to learn to be patient, waiting in line. It’s a spiritual journey. When we lose everything, we can focus on God instead of Netflix or our new couch. I feel more blessed homeless than I have ever with all my stuff. It was a challenge to look at it that way, especially when it was cold out. But if you can make it through that, you can make it through anything.” Kerry Anderson put it very simply: “You stand in line to wait for everything. At the end of the line, you get nothing. If you are trying to pursue something, it takes up most of the day,” he said. “You can go to the Red Door and get free clothes and free food, but that’s a long line you have to get in to wait,” Billy Turner said. “I can stand at my corner for that hour and sell papers.” For Magpie Blue, waiting in line is a physical challenge, as well as a mental one. “I don’t do well physically standing for long periods of time,” she said. “Waiting in line is time consuming. Waiting for a bathroom is No. 1. Food is No. 2. And I do a lot of waiting for the streetcar, for MAX.” Magpie estimates she spends 20 per cent to 30 per cent of each day waiting in line. Leah Filar has wanted to write a poem for some time about waiting in line. “You know the song ‘Signs, signs, everywhere a sign’? Well, I want to write a poem that goes ‘Lines, lines, everywhere a line.’ When you are homeless, it’s double the lines,” she said. “You get up in the morning and stand in a line to use the bathroom, and you get five minutes, usually two minutes until someone starts banging on the door. If you’re lucky, you get to pee and brush your teeth. You have to get in line to sign up for a shower. Then you have to show back up and wait in another line to get in the shower. Then you’ve got 15 minutes to shit, shower and shave. Then Photo by Hal Gatewood on Unsplash THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED you have to get in another line if you want clean clothes to wear. And then mealtime, and a lot of times these feeds, the lines are around the corner. Blocks long. When they open up new Section 8 housing, people camp out and wait through the night.” Raven Thickett spoke of the unending focus needed to get through her days. “Housing, food, showers – you have to pick one, and that’s all you’ll be able to do that day because of the long lines. What goes through my head is the fact that I’m not getting anywhere. In order to get out of the homeless position, you have to have all your ducks in a row, everything together. You technically can only take care of one task at a time. “I’ve been stuck in this predicament because of that. It’s like a merry-goround with nothing merry about it,” Raven said. “The wait for a typical food bank is an hour or two hours to get basic pantry food,” vendor Lori Lematta said. “Waiting for buses, looking for housing, waiting for your doctor. I have appointments all week long to get better, but you’re just worn out chasing survival. That’s what it feels like.” Courtesy of Street Roots / INSP.ngo �GLOBAL 6 N o v 216 - N v 19,30, 2 02019 18 | N| oNo. . 393 May - oMay 407 Opting In: The Value of Vaccines THARANGA YAKUPITIYAGE Inter Press Service S ince the introduction of vaccines, diseases such as measles and polio were quickly becoming a thing of the past. However, the world’s progress on immunisation is now being threatened. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 85 per cent of the world’s children received basic vaccines, including the measles and diptheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccines, which can protect them from infectious diseases that cause serious illness and even death. In fact, measles immunisation resulted in an 80 per cent drop in measles-related deaths between 2000 and 2017 worldwide. Still, access to vaccines remain elusive for many out-of-reach communities. In 2017, an estimated 20 million infants did not receive the DTP vaccine, 60 per cent of whom live in just 10 countries, including Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, and Nigeria. A rising anti-vaccination movement is also threatening to dismantle progress. In the United States, there are now more than 700 cases of measles across 22 states making it the highest figures the country has seen since 2000. The phenomenon has prompted some states to not only make immunisation mandatory, but also to ban unvaccinated children from public spaces. IPS spoke to WHO’s Coordinator of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation Dr Ann Lindstrand on the challenges of immunisation and the way forward. Inter Press Service (IPS): How is the overall global picture regarding immunisation, and why does immunisation matter? Dr Ann Lindstrand: Immunisation matters because it is one of the most effective health interventions that we have, and it has saved millions of lives. I don’t think there is any other health intervention that works that well, with such high coverage, worldwide. Just looking back at what we have gained from immunisation—back in 1963 when we didn’t have any vaccine for measles, there were about 2.6 million deaths every year due to measles. Now, that figure has reduced by 95 per cent. The last figures we have are from 2017 with an estimated 110,000 deaths—so there has been a tremendous health gain. Same with polio—30 years ago, we had widespread polio crippling people but now it’s only endemic in two countries Afghanistan and Pakistan with only 33 cases confirmed cases last year. Now the newer vaccines like HPV [human papillomavirus] will help us reduce numbers of cervical cancers and new vaccines on the horizon like the Ebola vaccine which is used in outbreaks in Africa right now has really played a critical role in stopping the spread of the current outbreak in the DRC. Just this month, the first ever malaria vaccine is being piloted in routine immunisation programs in three countries. We still need to reach more. We still need to reach the last 15 per cent and we need to close equity gaps to reach those furthest away. WHO and others have pointed to the anti-vaccination movement as one of the biggest health threats in the world. How concerning is the move away from vaccinations, and what does this mean for people around the world? Is this a new challenge for WHO? It is an area of concern, yes. But it is not the global picture. We do not have the data to say that hesitancy has increased but we have seen that with social media and the internet, misinformation is spread more widely and easily. That’s something we are really worried about. In some areas, there is a resurgence of disease because of unacceptably low coverage rates or that people are refusing vaccines. We need to see this in a historic perspective. Anti-vaccine messages have been around for just as long as vaccines have been around—these things come and they go. But it worries us and we need to be right there to tackle to spread of vaccine misinformation. It is really important to put out the right messages. I work as a paediatrician and I have talked to a lot of parents who have had these concerns and it takes a lot of effort. At the heart of it, it is really the health worker who is sitting there with the [parent] who have concerns or have heard something on the internet or media, and they need to be able to respond to their questions and to listen and respect the concerns of parents. And that those health workers actually have the capacity and time to respond, both with the social ability to listen to the parents’ real concerns and A young boy in Pakistan receives an oral polio vaccine (OPV). Over the last 30 years huge progress has been made against polio and it is now only endemic in 2 countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan, with only 33 cases confirmed cases last year. Credit: Ashfaq Yusufzai/IPS also provide the scientific evidence. There is a lot of work in training healthcare workers which is ongoing and we need to keep doing that. We need to equip healthcare workers with the right methods, words, scientific evidence to reassure parents. The bigger picture for us to improve health is for children everywhere to get vaccinated on time and every time. We need to increase access so that vaccine services are made convenient and welcoming so people want to go there, that we are good at putting out credible information from the beginning including what are the facts, what is the evidence. Some U.S. states are enacting mandatory immunisation laws or even barring those who have not received vaccines from certain public spaces. Do you agree with these steps, or does more need to be done? The only disease where WHO actually recommends mandatory proof of vaccination applies to yellow fever and for international travellers in certain countries. Beyond that, it is up to every country to make decisions based on existing disease epidemiology, their laws and regulations, and if it is the best way to go. Many countries have achieved high immunisation coverage without mandatory immunisation. It is a complex area—how do you sanction parents? How far do you go to enforce laws when they are in place? That is a conversation that every country needs to have before even considering any of the mandatory vaccinations. I think it is important to encourage THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED countries to invest in and protect their individuals and communities from vaccine-preventable diseases and then remove barriers—have few access barriers when it comes to cost and convenience. Make it simple and easy. Make the choice of vaccines the social norm. What is your message for people around the world regarding the importance of immunisation? Immunisation is a fantastic health intervention. It is a right for all children, and it is also a shared responsibility. As we have seen with the recent outbreaks, no country and no individual can afford to be complacent about vaccines. It is important that we look at not just putting out fires or responding to outbreaks after they have happened—that’s expensive, ineffective and it costs lives. What is more important is to have sustainable prevention, thinking and ensuring that everyone everywhere is vaccinated at the right time with the right vaccines and throughout their life course. It also important to see that vaccines are not just for saving lives, it helps children to learn, grow, keep them in school instead of sick, avert disabilities and long-term consequences. It reduces the health care costs for a country, and protects families and communities from sliding into poverty. There is no debate to have on the benefit or the risk between vaccines and the vaccine-preventable diseases. We need to continue to protect people also in the future, and we really need to invest in trust in vaccines and in our healthcare system. Courtesy of Inter Press Service / INSP.ngo �No. 39 3 |- N ov 2 30, - N o2019 v 19, |2No. 0 18407 May 16 May GLOBAL 7 How the world’s largest democracy casts its ballots People wait in queues to cast their votes at a polling station during the third phase of general election in Guwahati, India, April 23, 2019. REUTERS/Anuwar Hazarika POORVI VORA The Conversation A bout 600 million Indian citizens are expected to cast their votes over a period totalling 39 days and ending 19 May, in the ongoing election for their country’s parliament. There are roughly 900 million eligible voters, and the country has typically seen about two-thirds of them turn out to polling places. I have been working on the security of electronic voting systems for more than 15 years, and, along with other colleagues, have been interested in understanding how a nation can tally that many votes cast over such a long period. India uses a domestically designed and manufactured electronic voting machine – as many as 4 million of them at 1 million polling places, at least some in extremely remote locations. The first version of the Indian electronic voting machine debuted in the state election in Kerala in 1982. Now they’re used in elections throughout the country, which happen on different days in different areas. How does it work? When a voter arrives at the polling place, she presents a photo ID and the poll officer checks that she is on the electoral roll. When it’s her turn to vote, a polling official uses an electronic voting machine’s control unit to unlock its balloting unit, ready to accept her vote. The balloting unit has a very simple user interface: a series of buttons with candidate names and symbols. To vote, the voter simply presses the button next to the candidate of her choice. After each button press, a printer prints out the voter’s choice on paper and displays it to the voter for a few seconds, so the person may verify that the vote was recorded correctly. Then the paper is dropped into a locked storage box. The whole system runs on a battery, so it does not need to be plugged in. When it’s time for the polling place to close at the end of the voting day, each electronic voting machine device and paper-record storage box is sealed with wax and tape bearing the signatures of representatives of the various candidates in that election, and stored under armed guard. After the election period is over and it’s time to tally the votes, the electronic voting machines are brought out, the seals opened and the vote counts for each control unit are read out from its display board. Election workers handtally these individual machine totals to obtain the election results for each constituency. Security protections – and concerns The Indian electronic voting machine primarily runs on specialized hardware and firmware, unlike the voting machines used in the U.S., which are software-intensive. It is intended for the single purpose of voting and specially designed for that, rather than relying on a standard operating system like Windows, which needs to be regularly updated to patch detected security vulnerabilities. Each machine requires only a connection between a balloting unit and a control unit; there are no provisions to connect an electronic voting machine to a computer network, much less the internet – including wirelessly. This design does offer some Polling officials seal a Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machine at a polling station after the end of the third phase of the general election in Kochi, India, April 23, 2019. REUTERS/Sivaram V protections against possible tampering with how votes are recorded and tallied. The Election Commission of India has repeatedly claimed that the electronic voting machines are tamperproof. However, a scholarly study has demonstratedthere are ways to rig the machines. In particular, the simplicity of the design allows for simple attacks, such as intercepting and modifying the signal carried over the machine’s cable. The Election Commission has not made public any independent security evaluations, so it’s unclear exactly what is – or isn’t – possible. Parties that lose elections often suspect malfeasance and question the equipment. Manufacturing the machines As I and others have observed, when the machines are being made, there are a number of opportunities for someone to physically tamper with an electronic voting machine in ways that preelection device testing might not detect. The machines’ software is designed, written and tested at two electronics companies owned by the government of India: Bharat Electronics Limited and Electronics Corporation of India Limited. The chips for the machines are manufactured outside India. In earlier versions of the machine, the chip manufacturer also wrote the machine code into the chip; today the electronics companies do it themselves. At any time during manufacture, testing and maintenance, it may be possible to introduce counterfeit chips or swap out other components that could let hackers alter the results. The Election Commission of India argues that any manipulation or error would be detected because the electronic voting machine is tested frequently and candidate representatives have opportunities to participate in mock THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED elections immediately before a machine is used in a real election. However, it is possible to make changes that will not be detected. Testing can reveal only some problems, and the absence of problems during testing does not mean that problems do not exist. Auditing the machines’ results There is, however, a mechanism for detecting attacks – that printedout paper bearing the vote and stored securely with the electronic equipment. A 2013 Supreme Court directive asked the Election Commission to create that process to protect the integrity of the balloting process. In each constituency, five electronic voting machines will have their results audited by comparing a manual count of the printouts with the electronic tallies. (This means about 1 or 2 per cent of each constituency’s machines will be tested.) Opposition parties have asked the Supreme Court to order audits of half of all electronic voting machines, but that may not happen with this year’s election. While the electronic voting machine system is useful and functional, officials and observers shouldn’t assume there’s no way to tamper with the results. The Election Commission should certainly continue to improve testing and provide public reports of independent testing. However, because no technology can be tamper-proof, each election outcome should be verified by a manual audit, to ensure that the results are correct, whatever they may be. Poorvi Vora is professor of computer sciences at George Washington University Courtesy of The Conversation / INSP.ngo �FEATURE 8 N o v 216 - -NMay o v 19, 18 | N o . 393 May 30,2 02019 | No. 407 Affordable For What DR. MARK MUSSMAN Staff Writer W e are in the middle of an affordable housing crisis. The crisis is not just in Cincinnati but it is widespread throughout Hamilton County and the region. With over 40,000 units of affordable housing missing in Hamilton County alone, we are facing an unprecedented housing challenge. They're many different ways to calculate whether or not someone is paying too much for their housing, but commonly we believe that if you pay more than 30% of your income towards your housing, you are then paying too much and are rent burdened. When families are rent burdened, they are just one paycheck away from a crisis that can negatively impact their lives. In Cincinnati, we have many different organizations that are fighting to make sure that we have affordable housing available to all, but they haven’t stopped the free market from creating a very difficult situation for many families. We are fortunate in Overthe-Rhine to have organizations that are ensuring that some families are able to remain in the neighborhood. Unfortunately, over the past 15 years, we have lost more than 2,400 units of low income affordable housing in our neighborhood alone. Organizations like Over-the-Rhine Community Housing enable us to not only sustain units of affordable housing but also bring new units online. Over-theRhine Community Housing has been partnering with other organizations, like Tender Mercies and Community Matters, to create new housing in Overthe-Rhine, the West End, and Lower Price Hill. Tender Mercies works with adults with developmental disabilities (and histories of homelessness) to ensure that the most vulnerable in our community have stable housing. They use a “housing first” model to get people into housing while they deal with mental illness or addiction. Tender Mercies has a couple of buildings on 12th Street, and a few more throughout the neighborhood. They have been a model for SRO housing (single room occupancy housing) throughout the region and perhaps the country. Tender mercies and Over-theRhine Community Housing have partnered on new housing in the West End. This new building, on Ezzard Charles, will provide housing for people who are today housing insecure. Combined with the nearly 500 units of affordable housing that Over-the-Rhine Community Housing provide, we are lucky to have such a comprehensive organization in the neighborhood. Over-the-Rhine Community Housing not only provides affordable units of housing, but it also runs the Jimmy Heath House and the Recovery Hotel. The Recovery Hotel gives people a chance to get through drug and homelessness recovery while not giving them a time limit to do so. The Jimmy Heath House provides wrap-around services, such as social workers, to make sure that people will be successful in recovery and out of homelessness. The Jimmy Heath House also houses the employment pipeline, which gives people an opportunity to work toward full-time employment at several local organizations including Nehemiah Manufacturing, Building Value, and the City’s Parks Department. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Another organization in the community that provides affordable housing is the Preservation of Affordable Housing, or POAH, which has taken over many of the formerly Brickstone properties. Brickstone was a part of the developer Model Group. Brickstone was known for creating and sustaining high quality affordable housing throughout the city. Many Brickstone buildings are scattered throughout Over-the-Rhine, Mount Auburn, and other surrounding neighborhood including Walnut Hills and Avondale. POAH manages Brickstone and some Model Group buildings. One of the buildings that Model Group owns and POAH is the manager, is Parkway Towers. Parkway Towers has been a building for older adults and people with disabilities for many years. Over the last few years, there have been some changes at Parkway Towers, which have been concerning to the residents. Not only has management changed, but also ownership. Residents are now being forced to leave the building for a renovation to widen the hallways. The Parkway Towers’ tenant organization has been negotiating through the whole process. They have created a survey of the residents to ensure that the people who are most vulnerable will be able to return to the building. This process started with a 45 day notice for residents to vacate a couple of years ago, but with the organizing of the tenants, and with Legal Aid and the Homeless Coalition, they’ve been able to remain in their home so far. Other organizations in the neighborhood, that help create and sustain affordable housing, are very limited. There is some organically occurring affordable housing in Overthe-Rhine, but many are disappearing very quickly. �No. 39 Nov 230, - N2019 o v 19,| No. 2 0 18407 May 163 -| May FEATURE 9 barriers between communities who are in need and those who are able to facilitate those needs. Ultimately, however, it is the responsibility of our government to make sure that people have safe and affordable housing. The way to calculate whether or not you are paying too much, is by taking 30% of your take home pay and applying that to your housing, including your utilities. There is also a nationally recognized fair market value for one, two, and three-bedroom apartments. The fair market value is determined by the cost of living in any given area. For our area, a onebedroom at fair market value is about $645 per month. The amount for a two-bedroom apartment is about $800 per month. And the fair market value for a three-bedroom apartment is a little bit more than $1,100 per month. This fair market value is essentially what the federal government would pay if you were receiving a subsidy for your housing. Certain governmental programs will pay approximately 120% of the fair market value for a unit. Those who receive these subsidies might be receiving a Section 8 voucher, where they are able to find housing in the private market. Other people might be receiving a subsidy through the organization that owns the building or on their own. Many years ago, the federal government decided to move away from project-based housing and into the subsidy of private units. The idea was deconcentrate poverty, but little data has shown that this effect has been positive for the community. To look at it from another perspective, think about the concentration of wealth in certain neighborhoods in our community, and consider whether or not low-income subsidized housing would be welcome in that community. Chances are pretty high that that community of concentrated wealth would work hard to block low-income affordable subsidized housing in their community. So whether or not poverty has been deconcentrated is still up to further research. We do know that concentration of wealth has created THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Fortunately, in Cincinnati, we have an organization called Affordable Housing Advocates, who is advocating for affordable housing throughout our region. But when it comes down to it, housing is always a question of affordability. When a low-income unit is taken offline, chances are it will never return. Without advocates working day and night throughout the year to create more affordable housing, we will never chip away at our 40,000 units shortage of affordable housing. While organizations listed above are doing housing work to ensure that affordable housing is available, each one of these organizations has a waiting list that means that people can take months, to even years, to getting safe and affordable housing. This is a structural issue that needs a systemic solution through local, State, and federal governments. The market will not solve this problem, so a reliance on the market will only make the issues worse, and affordable housing will be even more difficult to obtain. �10 LOCAL N o v 216 - -NMay o v 19, 18 | N o . 393 May 30,2 02019 | No. 407 Archiving 22 Years of Streetvibes KATELYN LUSHER Contributing Writer S treetvibes has been a fixture in Over-the-Rhine for over 20 years. Veteran distributors are often contributing writers in the paper and over 400 issues have been produced since its inception. However, while Streetvibes has documented a rich history of activism in Cincinnati for quite some time, it is nearly impossible to explore this history because it is simply not available to the public. For the past year, I have been attempting to change that. In May 2018, I was asked to join a community book project committee at Peaslee Neighborhood Center. This project is a collaborative effort with activists, academics, and community members in Over-the-Rhine and the objective is to gather writing from grassroots organizations, writing groups, and neighborhood residents from the 1960s onward. Chris Wilkey (Northern Kentucky University English professor and longtime activist in Over-the-Rhine) and I volunteered to gather significant Streetvibes articles to include in the book since we are at the Homeless Coalition once a week for our writing group. We both knew that past Streetvibes issues are stored in filing cabinets upstairs at the Coalition, but we had no idea what we might find up there. In June, we started sifting through the print issues manually, with very little results. It was hot and humid and there is no air conditioning on the second floor, so looking through these archival materials meant that there was very little air circulating and news print was getting all over our hands. We tried to find very specific issues that other committee members requested, but the archive is difficult to accurately search in print form. Twenty five years ago—or longer— it was expected that archival work was often dreary, dirty, and tedious work. Today, we possess technologies and tools that aid archival research and make it accessible to all. Streetvibes, however, has yet to have a consolidated, digital archive that anyone can easily look up and search. After several days of “old-fashioned” archival work in that stuffy attic, I asked Chris, “Aren’t any of these issues digital? Why are we doing this?” To my surprise, I found out that the Streetvibes archive has never been fully digitized or made accessible to the general public. At our next meeting, I half-jokingly said that I would apply for a grant to fully digitize the Streetvibes archive. About four months later, I did exactly that. In October 2018, I received a grant from the Cincinnati Project to fund the Streetvibes archive project. With the funds from this grant, I started digitizing the archive in early February 2019. So far, I have made PDFs of all the issues dating from 1997 to 1999. This summer, I will continue digitizing the issues which are only available in print (1997 to 2004) and continue building the archive’s internet presence. When it is finished, the archive will be accessible to anyone with internet access on a computer, tablet, or smartphone. Katelyn Lusher posing with an old issue of Streetvibes, working on the archiving process. On The Front Lines: Lessons For Trouble-Makers ROBERT PARK Contributing Writer B oot camp for Congress people: Rashida Tlaib, a new Congresswoman, was part of a group invited to Harvard University after the 2018 election to learn about how government works and how to do their new job. Guess who was teaching? It was CEOs from General “Close the Auto Plants” Motors, from Johnson & “Drug Profiteer” Johnson, and Boeing “Sorry About The 737 Max” Aircraft Company. The best example from this Harvard “bipartisan, preeminent educational and preparatory” program of how the U.S. ruling class engages in political manipulation was provided by Mr. Gary Cohn, former President/CEO of Goldman Sachs, who informed the eager students that “you guys are way over your head” and “you don’t know how the game is played.” Not even subtle. He could have added “our lobbyists are ready and waiting to help you draft legislation.” This guy is precisely why we need progressives in Congress. This story was laid out in an email fund-raising letter from Congresswoman Tlaib. That letter is a fine example of how progressive fundraising should be done: it should always inform and teach, not just complain that some self-imposed fund-raising target deadline isn’t being reached. Lesson: Do good acts and the money will follow (Bernie showed that). Elizabeth Warren in Mississippi: When she took progressivism to a Town Meeting at a college campus in the Deep South, students there asked some great questions. Questions often provide valuable teaching moments. In Mississippi, Warren dropped the ball. One young man worried that he was from a very “red” area where almost everyone voted for Trump; “how do you propose to reach these people who vote against their own interests?” he asked with earnest concern. Warren responded like a stump robot, listing all her great positions that address these people’s interests (Medicare for all, bust the big banks, consumer rights, etc.). That was the whole point of the question: it doesn’t matter that she aligns with their true interests; something is keeping them from hearing it. Is it the past failure of the Democratic Party to fight for workers’ rights in the South? Is it racism, the bludgeon than enabled the catastrophic Civil War, that forced lower class white farmers and workers to have to compete against cheap slave labor, that has successfully derailed universal health care in America since the 1950s, that has kept the South anti-union forever, that has empowered corporate flunkey politicians in the South for generations? THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED These are huge issues that must be confronted and openly examined by progressives otherwise we will all lose. Another student’s question: how to stop the flow of unwelcome immigrants into our country from South of the border? Warren’s answer: we must act on our values of compassion, empathy and diversity (would have warmed the hearts of Boston liberals). Not a word about 75 years of neocolonial policies in Central and South America in support of U.S. businesses and their local collaborating thugs. Decimated societies now riven with drug networks; dysfunctional client states (Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Brazil…) or ex-client states (Venezuela). Difficult questions are great opportunities. Lesson: Draw the big picture of class power and its consequences. �No. 39 Nov 230, - N2019 o v 19,| No. 2 0 18407 May 163 -| May LOCAL 11 “The Tribune Of the People”: Marxism and The Struggle Against Oppression ALIYAH COLE ContributingWriter P risons are making our youth suffer. Being incarcerated can make trauma even worse. The American Criminal Law Review Journal defines trauma as, “an experience that threatens a person’s life, safety, or wellbeing.” There are 549 young people, between 11 and 20 years old, incarcerated in Ohio; 11.7% of these young people come from Hamilton County. The Ohio Department of Youth services released the Monthly Fact Sheet for March 2019 and the report reveals that an astounding amount of them have a mental health case open: 61%. Trauma can present itself in different ways. The Journal of EvidenceInformed Social Work published in 2016 that trauma presents itself in ways such as “posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, addictive behaviors, emotion dysregulation, reactive aggression, dissociation, and/or serious offending behaviors.” Now imagine yourself as teenager being charged for a crime. You face being taken away from your family, placed in a locked down facility, confined to that space, and being physically restrained from time to time. Imagine adding trauma to this already stressful equation. This is a reoccurring experience happening all over the United States to our young people. According to a report from the U.S. Department of Justice, there are over 45,000 kids locked up in the United States on any given day. Arrest rates for youth have been decreasing but young people who have been locked up before are still returning to these facilities at high rates, says the Urban Institute. Some may say that prisons are needed to scare youth straight to get their behavior to change. But if kids are traumatized by being locked up, and are returning to these facilities’ multiple times, what needs to change? What is needed for a successful reentry for kids with trauma? 1. Implement a Trauma Informed Care framework throughout the juvenile justice system Published in the 2016 American Criminal Law Review Journal, it was said that, “the juvenile justice system has not caught up with the contemporary understanding of trauma's impact on offending and the latest best practices for treatment of trauma.” One way to change this issue is implementing Trauma Informed Care (TIC). TIC considers the trauma people have experienced and implement services that feel safe, empowering, and welcoming. The juvenile justice system can change reentry programming to become more therapeutic and address the specific trauma needs of young people. In Cincinnati, Ohio Lighthouse Youth and Family Services is a trauma informed agency that provides alternative placement for boys who have committed a crime. At this facility the young people receive mental health services. They also have the chance to learn how to plant and care for vegetables and flowers, as well as participate in community service projects as a part of their reentry process. In addition to TIC reentry programs, direct staff members at agencies serving youth who have experienced the juvenile justice system should go through TIC trainings. Some may say that training is an additional cost, however giving direct line service staff the tools to handle trauma means less instances of retraumatizing young people. When there is unidentified trauma and limited treatment options, young people who suffer do not get the care that they need and can cycle back through the system. Giving young people with trauma the care they need means a decrease in facility population size and the money saved from the decrease could be used to fund the trainings. 2. Give young people the tools to advocate for themselves Reentry is not a one size fits all experience. Based on their experiences, living situation, and age they will have different kinds of barriers to face. The Center for Children's Advocacy has books and videos for young people that teach them the rights they have while in a detention center and how to speak up for themselves if they are in a shelter or treatment facility. This would give the young people tools they can take with THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED them as they transition back into their communities. 3. Peer support while youth are reentering Once the young person is back into society, navigation can be overwhelming. It can be hard for a young person to find a job, get reliable transportation, or even figure out how to get a new social security card. Having someone to show them the ropes can be beneficial for their wellness and overall experience while reentering. If you are a Cincinnati community member looking to provide support, The HELP Program takes mentor volunteers to work with people who are reentering. For those who still want to help but may have less time, The Voice of Black Cincinnati has created a list of 70 felony friendly job places in Cincinnati. Job referrals for people who are reentering can go a long way. During my work with homeless and at-risk young people many of them have been a part of, or recently left the juvenile justice system. When these young people shared stories of trauma, it was important to lead with compassion during my time with them. These young people want to be heard, included, and supported. Service providers and community support plays a vital role in young people’s transition back into their community. By implementing TIC in reentry programs, TIC training for direct line staff members and community peer support, we can give these young people a brighter future. �12 STREETVOICE N o v 16 2 --N o v 19, 0 18 | |N o . 393 May May 30,22019 No. 407 Forest For The Trees:trees For The Forest. Two trees, Annabelle and Carrie; Sisters; great, strong, hardwood, blossoming trees sweep through Over the Rhine Sowing seeds of “Baby, just keep working one day it will be alright.” Or “Child, tell me what you need.” Two sisters and their adopted Sister Mary feeding babies, watching, testing, guiding us with wisdom. In their steadfast foundation they held down community council and guided heavily laden souls to places like Peaslee, Daily Bread, the Drop Inn Center and God. Sisterly trees from days before I was born, made a place for protection while mending the wings of battle worn birds And Ed and Bob giving “Tender Mercies” and shelter to wingless and bewildered flocks while gentle Sister Kath made sure these birds could still celebrate holy days. And Baba and June keeping the flames of ancestral voices until the wingless, the flightless are able to soar. Great Eagle! Great Eagle swoops down with no care until a prayer filled oak screams, “You better beware! Our Home is not for Sale!” The old Clift watching the Eagle, “ you still have to take refuge from you position in the sky. You still have to land, to feed, to heal ; no there is no forever you can Tom; giant fir, O great evergreen sing your truth fly” about those who look like you. Filter the lies though your branches calling out Tall trees reach up though the canopy and protect your privilege brother's forgetfulness our progeny. Remind them of the time Tree roots turn the creeks around; let the storms They were once colored know this is still solid ground! They were once immigrants They were once poor and needed a boot strap...a Great oaks like great Mothers, spread your branches boot Lend voice to those who have been cut silent They were once New Deal and G.I. Bill! Stand for those whose limbs have been severed Ignite those flames long extinguished Dorothy and Bonnie; Bonnie and Dorothy--two Inspire, Inspire , their wings to fly higher sisters intertwined like oak and walnut. But ultimately, protect; protect them from corporate Dark and light wood growing from the same root. investors who digest our homes our neighborhood; Echoing a chorus of “our children, our children, our ancestor’s bone while pooping and peeing and our children, our beloved community” defecating coins. Because one day great Eagle you will All the while Buddy’s nourishing tree; felled, but have to land in this Hell of your own making. And I eternally feeding those creatures long forgotten. pray; I hope there is an Annabell or Carrie or Sister Alice and Chris; Jen and Jenn; Tammy, Rachel Mary there to nurse your broken wings. and John; Elizabeth and Pat and BeBe and Larry and Monica and Janet and Kathleen and Mary and Mary Once again I call. Old trees make a forest; make a and Josh and Amy; Liz and Trish and Angela; Terry home. Conjure up peace in an old witch's bones. So and David and Roxzann and so on and so on. I can sleep once more like the days so long ago when Educating the birds there were no humans to destroy our homes. Feeding the birds Housing the birds JUNE ALEXANDER Giving hope to the birds ContributingWriter Giving song, words, and prayers to the birds Streetvibes Writing Circle If you would like to submit a story for publication in streetvibes, come join Katelyn Lusher and Chris Wilkey for a group writing session! THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �STREETVOICE No. 39 Nov 2 - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 May 163- |May 30, | No. 407 Drop The Bottle World Going Around Being 61 yrs old today traveling state after state Drop the bottle just let it go Surviving being homeless i am lost at this rate Let it fall I have never knew so many things rely on politics I never knew to get a new president there would be kicks I never believed a president had time for things like twitter As the world is being divided between the rich and poor i am bitter I thought the kkk, the confederates and supremacy were in Let it break Let it crack Always try to help yourself Stay on track You don't need the bottle my history To communicate or relax But the world goes around to see today a repeat of history Let the poison go is misery And ask God for help I pray to end confused people whether you be foreign, white or black Into the realization that we all bleed red we all live to die that's a fact I appreciate upgrading but to belittle those who appreciate Just let him steer He's there all day He's always near Give it to him but can't afford And do pray Here is homelessness, hunger, immigrants and the Remember God is waiting politicians at a closed door And he does care The world goes around things from history repeat but to know who's world KIM GREEN Contributing Writer Streetvibes Distributor Is to know how to appreciate god's world an not fall into a mixed up curl Just remember the world goes around i have seen rich and the next day broke I,ve seen living and dead tomorrow i see the world today i pray for life Without misunderstanding of who i am where i come from with no strife WILLA DENISE JONES Streetvibes Distributor Contributing Writer A Youth Movement To Save The Planet Mother Goose A teenager named Janet Learned all about the planet, And global warming's impact. She joined a lot of her peers, Who voiced the same fears, Protesting it's now time to act BILL WOODS Contributing Writer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 13 �PUZZLES 14 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 105 Across 1. Limited in size or scope 6. Zeal 10. Desiccated 14. Kind of fairy 15. Stem of a tree 16. Impersonate 17. Assumed name 18. Item of footwear 19. Compass direction 20. Withstand 22. Nocturnal insect 24. Litigate 25. Helot 27. Blandish 29. Relating to heraldry 33. Epoch 34. Precipitation 35. Similar or related 37. Three note major or minor chord 41. Lodge 42. Large internal organ 44. Singing pair 45. Mix up or confuse 48. Rend 49. Portable shelter 50. Fuss 52. Embellish 54. Evil spirit (folklore) 58. Uncommon 59. Frozen water 60. Utter 62. Pale 66. Disposed of to a purchaser 68. Quality of voice 70. Near 71. Large woody plant 72. Tournament for amateurs and professionals 73. Tightly twisted cotton thread 74. Afresh 75. Tall woody perennial grass 76. Organic compound Nov 2 o v 19, 18 | |NNo. o . 393 May 16- -NMay 30,2 02019 407 Down 1. Dissonance 1. Box lightly 2. 1,760 yards 3. Center point of rotation 4. Communication channel 5. Smaller in size, amount or value 6. Flow out 7. Textile machine for weaving yarn 8. Remote in manner 9. Stinging plant 10. Simian 11. Cook with dry heat 12. Publish 13. Discourage 21. Test 23. Male red deer 26. Holy person 28. Mariner 29. Song for solo voice 30. Currency of South Africa SODOKU PUZZLE NO 396 - EASY 31. Psyche 32. Ashen 36. Not at any time 38. Notion 39. Female relative 40. Shower with love 43. Summarize briefly 46. Circuit 47. Redact 49. Latticework 51. Public speaker 53. Seer 54. Panorama 55. Fruit of the oak 56. Noisy riotous fight 57. Run off secretly to marry 61. Leg joint 63. Geographically disoriented 64. Small island 65. Cervid 67. Condensation 69. Finish PUZZLE SOLUTIONS CROSSWORD #104 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 395- EASY PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 Nov 230, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 May 163-| May | No. 407 Central Access Point 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children RESOURCES Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside Bethany House 557-2873 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 591-2246 FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 Salvation Army 762-5660 St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 131 E. 12th Street 45202 1125 Bank Street 45214 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men Shelter: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Shelterhouse 721-0643 2121 Vine Street 45202 411 Gest St. 45203 Prospect House 921-1613 1437 Walnut Street 45202 Starting Over 961-2256 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Women St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Parkway Center 661-4620 First Step Home 961-4663 Shelter: Youth 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Sheakley Center for Youth (18-24 y/o) 2522 Highland Ave. 45219 569-9500 Lighthouse Youth Crisis Center (10-17 y/o) 3330 Jefferson Ave 45220 961-4080 Shelter: Family Interfaith Hospitality Network Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Both AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Joseph House (Veterans) 471-1100 1522 Republic Street 45202 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street 45202 Talbert House 221-HELP Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street 45202 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Food/Clothing First Lutheran Church 421-0065 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Seraph Ministries 549-0542 St. George Food Pantry 2554 Dennis St. 45219 751-8771 St. Anthony Center 1615 Republic St. Advocacy Catholic Social Action 421-3131 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Franciscan JPIC 721-4700 Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 241-2965 Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board 946-8000 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 221-HELP Housing: 15 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 Health Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 Other Resources Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 215 E. 14th St. 45202 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 381-0111 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. 579-8547 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 1223 Main St. 45202 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 The Caring Place 631-1114 Talbert House 751-7747 United Way 211 Women Helping Women 977-5541 Off The Streets 421-5211 Hamilton County Office of Reentry 946-4304 138 E. Court Street Room # 101 First Floor Cancer Justice Network 404-3882 Hamilton/Middletown St. Raephaels 981-4200 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 Northern Kentucky Brighton Center (11-17 y/o) 859-491-8303 ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary 859-572-6202 Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky 634 Scott St. 41011 859-291-4555 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? You can support our mission and spread the word about your business. For more information contact Gabriela Godinez Feregrino, 961-0600 email streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Center for Respite Care 621-1868 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 386-7899 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 NAMI of Hamilton County 351-3500 PATH Outreach 977-4489 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �16 N o v 216 - N o v 19, 2 02019 18 | N o . 393 May - May 30, | No. 407 S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. ALFRED WOOLFOLK SINCE 10/2003 ASRES AYENAW SINCE 2012 BERTA LAMBERT SINCE 1997 BETTIE BAILEY SINCE 10/2017 BRANDON NELSON SINCE 4/2008 BRIAN ADAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHARLES WILLIAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHRISTOPHER KAIHATSU SINCE 7/2017 CLEO WOMBLES SINCE 10/2003 CRANDALL COBB SINCE 2004 DARREL ROZIER SINCE 7/2017 DAVID MCCANE SINCE 2017 ERIC VALDEZ SINCE 2/2017 GERALD FRANKLIN SINCE 7/2017 GRADY COOK SINCE 1997 HENRY BRELAND SINCE 7/2017 JAMES BROWN SINCE 3/2009 JAMES DAVIS SINCE 8/2000 JENNY BURTON SINCE 7/2017 JIMMIE GIPSON SINCE 2001 JON DARBY SINCE 2/2006 JOHN HORN JOSEPHINE BASKERVILLE SINCE 9/2008 J’TORI TYMAN SINCE 5/2014 KIM NGUYEN SINCE 7/2017 KENNY BUSSELL SINCE 10/2009 KAREN COLLETTE SINCE 7/2008 LARRY BROWN SINCE 10/2007 LEE MCCOY SINCE 7/2009 LEONARD JACKSON SINCE 2/2005 MARY MUELLER SINCE 5/2005 MARK SHEARS SINCE 4/2012 MAURICE GOLSBY MELISSA MOSBY SINCE 9/2014 MIKE CARANO SINCE 4/2016 RAESHAWN GIPSON SINCE 3/2009 RAYNARD JONES SINCE 10/2008 RICKY WOODS SINCE 4/2015 RICCARDO TAYLOR SINCE 1999 RONNIE PHILLIPS SINCE 10/2009 SAMUEL JACKSON SINCE 10/2006 STACIA HOLLANDER SINCE 2017 STEPHANIE EAKES SINCE 7/2017 SYLVESTER WALKER SINCE 7/2017 TALINA HILL SINCE 2/2011 VICTOR MUMPHRY WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WINNIE RICE SINCE 7/2017 QUEENACELASTINE SINCE 7/2017 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 VIOLET COLLINS SINCE 2017 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2019 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource May 16-May 30, 2019 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: Money Over People Pg 3: Ohio Reformers Notch a Victory Pg 4: GCHC Pg 5: To Make It on The Streets, I Had to Look Like You Pg 6: Opting In Pg 7: How the World’s Largest Democracy Casts its Ballots Pg 8: Affordable for What Pg 9: Affordable for What Continued Pg 10: Archiving 22 Years of Streetvibes On the Front Lines Pg 11: “The Tribune of the People” Pg 12: Street Voice Pg 13: Street Voice Pg 14: Puzzles Pg 15: Resources Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource May 16-May 30, 2019 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gabriela Godinez Bill Woods Jordi Cornella Detrell Katelyn Lusher Poorvi Vora Robert Park Dr. Mark Mussman Aliyah Cole Kim Green Willa Denise Jones June Alexander Canva.com INSP.com Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Aliyah Cole Bill Woods Canva.com Democracy Dr. Mark Mussman Gabriela Godinez INSP.com Jordi Cornella Detrell June Alexander Katelyn Lusher Kim Green Marxism Ohio Oppression Poorvi Vora Robert Park Streetvibes Archive Vaccines Voting Willa Denise Jones https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/038618098a44c6fc00567007ba8cb810.pdf 3976352d7c80afa3ef484d362db2bd9f PDF Text Text M ay 2nd - M ay 16th 2019 | Vo l . 23 Issue 9 (No. 406) advo cating justice | building communit y Any opinions in this issue are of the authors and don't necessarily represent Streetvibes or The Homeless Coalition. UnderThe Law Article on Page 8 This Issue is sponsored by (Retired) Judge Mark P. Painter Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.com Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 12 �2 COALITION N o v 22 -- N o v 19, 0 18 || N o . 393 May May 16,22019 No. 406 From The Editor: Individuals In A Society: Intersectionality and Homelessness GABRIELA GODINEZ Editor-in-chief W hen we talk about homelessness in America it is easy to go into the stereotype of a man, likely a veteran, on the streets panhandling since he doesn’t have a job. While that narrative of homelessness if far too common and can be true, it is not the only experience. Though there are people living on the streets, we have to recognize the other versions of homelessness that are not immediately visible. Many people experiencing homelessness do in fact have jobs, but don’t have their own place because of a surplus of luxury apartments and lack of affordable housing. This can lead to people doubling up, meaning two families live in one home where they would otherwise be living separately. Similarly, some people experiencing homelessness might be couch surfing, where a person might have a place to stay with friends or family but not have a permanent home to call their own. It is important to identify the different stories that come from experiencing homelessness in America, and being able to see how they manifest in our society. People experiencing homelessness can be and are of all genders, races, sexualities, etc. Ignoring the intersectionality within homelessness will only hurt the issue further. Homelessness is a race issue. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, “African Americans make up more than 40% of the homeless population, but represent 13% of the general population.” Since the United States is still largely segregated, people of color are more likely to live in areas that have fewer resources including proper education and job opportunities. Institutionalized racism still affecting our American society causes people of color from under-resourced areas to end up experiencing homelessness at some point in their lives. Homelessness is an LGBTQ issue. According to the UCLA School of Law, about 40% of youth experiencing homelessness is LGBTQ. Children who come out as queer, or are outed against their will, are likely to either be kicked out of their homes or run away if they live in a homophobic community. Many communities in America still don’t largely accept the LGBTQ community, which results in a lower life expectancy and a higher risk of experiencing homelessness for LGTBQ folks. Homelessness is an accessibility and health issue. The National Alliance to End Homelessness reported that “on a given night in 2017, 20 percent of the homeless population reported having a serious mental illness, 16 percent conditions related to chronic substance abuse, and more than 10,000 people had HIV/AIDS.” They also reference the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reporting, “People living in shelters are more than twice as likely to have a disability compared to the general population.” Homelessness is a complex, multifaceted issue. Unfortunately, the list goes on and on. When we stick to only one version of a story, we only attempt to mend that version. People of privilege, whether inadvertently or not, end up putting folks into easy to understand boxes that all look exactly the same. That not only makes it difficult for us as a society to address the issue, but also strips people of their identity. To tackle the issue of homelessness we have to tackle all social justice issues. While this might sound exhausting, it is necessary. Homelessness does not come at the fault of a single person, but at the fault of a society made up of individuals that would rather look away when others get knocked down. Of the people experiencing homelessness as of 2017: Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org www.cincistreetvibe.com EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor-in-chief: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: Mona Jenkins Director of Education: Dr. Mark Mussman Distributor Program Manager: Sallie Mascus Layout: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Reception: Bonita Batton, Larry Johnson Maintenance: Pete Roper ------------------------------------------CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE 34 % (192,875 people) lived in a place not meant for human habitation 7.2 % were veterans (40,056 people) 7.4% were unaccompanied children and young adults (40,799 children and young adults) 66.7 % (369,081 people) were single individuals 33.3 % (184,661 adults and children)were people in families Source: National Alliance to End Homelessness S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Writers: Gabriela Godinez, Bill Woods, Josh Spring, Dustin Dandliker, Jordi Conella Detrell, Emelio Godoy, Dr. Mark Mussman, Melissa Lilly, Raya, Willa Denise Jones, Martha Stephens, Alexander Monaco ------------------------------------------Photography/ Artwork: canva.com, Gabriela Godinez, INSP.com, Dr. Mark Mussman, ---------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless do not endorse candidates for public office. �No. 39 | Nov 16, 2- N o v 19, 2 0 18 May 2 3- May 2019 | No. 406 3 COALITION From The Director: Come Out and Say "NO WAY" JOSH SPRING Executive Director A s Jeff Berding and FC Cincinnati try to kick seven households out of their homes, they are also asking our City for yet another benefit. Jeff Berding and FC Cincinnati are trying to steal the homes of people from ages 99 to 5 and simultaneously are asking our city to change the zoning rules for them. Already they have the City Planning Commission and City Council approving a major zoning change, which allows them much more leeway in construction. Now, they are asking for approval of a major amendment to the original zoning benefit they received. This means, if approved, it would include 421 Wade Street. This is where they are trying to force people from their homes. Sitting close by is 1559 Central Avenue where they are also trying to remove people. Perhaps they thought the many people who care about basic human rights would not notice this, but we do. There is one more important meetings about this coming up and we need everyone to come out and demand that our City not provide another benefit to FCC Cincinnati if they still plan to displace people from their homes. A city planning commission hearing will be held Friday, May 10, 2019 at 9 am in Two Centennial Plaza on the 7th floor. On Tuesday April 30th, 2019, FightBack Cincinnati and the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition attended the Public City Planning Staff conference about Fc Cincinnati’s request for the zoning change. We still ask people to support our cause and loudly demand that FC Cincinnati agree that they will not tell any of the residents at Wade Street & Central Avenue to leave or threaten evictions. A meeting between the tenants and FC Cincinnati has to be held to be able to reach an agreement. Tenants are also asking that FC Cincinnati renovate 1559 Central Avenue and give ownership to Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses, allowing those currently residing in 1559 to stay there. We know that this would still displace those in 421 over to 1559 Central Avenue, but in an effort to reach a resolution, the tenants are offering this compromise. In order for this to happen, FC Cincinnati will have to pay any associated moving costs and financial compensation to each tenant. Last year, Jeff Berding and FC Cincinnati publicly told everyone they would not displace anybody. Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME), the region’s fair housing watchdog, told FC Cincinnati they have significant concerns that FCC is acting in violation of federal fair housing law. Federal fair housing law prohibits discrimination of people of specific races or color and people who are differently abled. The tenants say, “we are all either Black and/ or have handicaps.” Jef Berding and FC Cincinnati have not responded to HOME. As of now, even after a brief meeting with Jeff and FC Cincinnati on Friday April 26th, FC Cincinnati is still telling the tenants to leave their homes. An Overlooked Piece Of Good News BILL WOODS Board Member W ith Trump's "national emergency," the Mueller Report, and other horrendous news swirling around Washington, D.C., one positive action that took place in the nation's capital this spring received very little attention. On March 8th, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1- the For the People Act. This piece of legislation sets the gold standard for political reform in this country. It includes reforms on voting rights, gerrymandering, and "big money" in campaigns. The bad news is Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s declaration that the "For the People Act" won't even get a hearing in the Senate. The Senator from Kentucky's commentary on this bill makes it sound like any genuine effort to renew the health of democracy represents a political attack on the Republican Party. Nevertheless, this comprehensive reform deserves a great deal more attention than it has yet received in order to make people aware of its potential for improving the current political process. First of all, H.R. 1 is not just a political ploy to insure the election of Democrats. Traditional reform groups such as the League of Women Voters and Common Cause strongly support it. In fact, Common Cause worked behind the scenes with the drafters of the bill to insure that certain reforms were included in the final version. When it came up for review in the House, Karen Hobert Flynn, President of Common Cause, testified for H.R.1 before the House Oversight and Reform Committee. What is in the bill? Protecting and enhancing voting rights certainly remain a focus of the proposed legislation. Election Day would become a national holiday, and a variety of steps are put forward to make it easier for people to register and vote. For Federal elections, the proposed law attempts to minimize the impediments that states often adopt to make it more difficult for some groups to vote. It calls for the availability of Internet registration, and an automatic registration process. It revitalizes the Voting Rights Act that had been weakened in recent years, and it calls for all states to restore the right to vote for ex-offenders who have been released from prison. A redistricting reform that would essentially eliminate gerrymandering is included in the House Bill. It proposes to establish non-partisan state commissions to draw Congressional district lines every ten years. This method would do away with the highly partisan process that currently exists in many states, and such a citizen commission would also improve Ohio's new plan adopted by the voters in 2018. H.R. 1- even tackles the major problem of "big money" as a dominant factor in today's political campaigns. It calls for disclosure of major donations to candidates for Congress. Although certainly not a cure, disclosure at least gives public exposure to "Fat Cat" efforts to influence elections. The bill also provides limited public financing for campaigns. A certain number of small donations will trigger a percentage of public dollars to aid candidates who are not receiving huge THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED PAC contributions. However, Supreme Court rulings such as the Citizens United Case still make it extremely difficult to diminish the influence of "big money" on the political process. H.R.1- also establishes reforms for administering elections. It seeks to protect the voting process from any tampering by domestic or foreign organizations, and it lays out guidelines for preventing hacking and other forms of fraud. It also mandates sufficient funding to pay for administrative improvements. In conclusion, reformers need to call attention to the many needed changes that would occur if the For the People Act became the law of the land. For those who believe that a renewed democracy is critical to addressing other growing problems such as income inequality, poverty, health care, racism, and climate change, the passage of H.R. 1- would be a major step in the right direction. Who knows? If reformers make enough noise and the news media picks up the message, Republicans in the Senate might feel pressured to at least give this bill a hearing. �4 ADVERTISMENT NMay ov 22 - -NMay o v 19, 18 | |NNo. o . 393 16,2 02019 406 May 17 - June 2, 2019 For tickets please call (513) 381-2273 Purchase tickets online at www.cincyshakes.com AD Donated by Mark and Sue Ann Painter season sponsored by the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �N o. 3923-|May Nov 216, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 May | No. 406 U.S. NEWS 5 To make it on the streets, I had to look like you: not homeless DUSTIN DANDLIKER Street Roots T here are people walking around downtown Portland every day who presently are or once were homeless. You would never know based on their appearance. I am one of those people. An investigation by The Oregonian revealed that unhoused people made up 52 per cent of arrests in 2017. Far too much of the time and tax dollars spent by Portland’s law enforcement in 2017 was devoted to nonviolent, addictionrelated and other low-priority infractions. I was homeless for most of 2017, and the spectre of imprisonment for being poor was very real. To look “not homeless” is not merely a matter of pride, but also survival. To look “not homeless” meant looking like I had money. I carried only what I could fit in a backpack. I never carted a sleeping bag or extra duffel. I definitely never carried anything but food in plastic bags. Above all, I never carried a garbage bag. Doing any of the above would have painted a target on my back for harassment by cops and branded a scarlet letter on my chest, ensuring avoidance by fellow citizens and store owners. Like many other houseless citizens, I sought sanctuary at the Central Library and Portland State University. I could pass for a student or patron of the arts. I usually showered three times a week. I had to take opportunities where I could; otherwise, I had to go without. Remaining unwashed and smelly, again, meant unwanted attention. Dad had a single room occupancy (SRO) apartment at the Patton Home. I could clean up there, for a while, but once the manager got wind of me doing so, she enforced an ostensibly preestablished regulation that guests could not shower while visiting residents. After that, I could only cajole Dad into allowing me to bathe maybe once a week. He only consented when the manager or custodial staff were off shift or otherwise occupied. Doing so meant he risked losing his own housing. The unfortunate reality of poverty is desperation. Warm food, clean water, shelter, safety and hygiene are customary privileges for most people in the United States. When was the last time you missed your morning routine for a few days out of necessity? For people in poverty, however, these basic needs are never guaranteed. I showered at shelters only as a last resort because some of my peers would take clothing, shoes and anything of durable value if they had no immediate alternative; acts of desperation. Shelters are afforded only the bare minimum when it comes to amenities because ending homelessness is an unpopular cause. So, I had no safe place to stash my belongings when attending to my hygiene. If I wanted to clean up at a shelter, I had to keep one eye on my gear while keeping soap from dripping into it. Tricky and only viable if I wasn’t already exhausted. I rarely sat down to a hot meal in a safe place; certainly not in any place I felt at home. When I was alone, I bought meals exclusively at grocery stores and only if they had inside seating and accepted food stamps. I ate outside only in picnic weather. And when I did, I made sure I was at Pioneer Square or a public park during the day so as not to draw law enforcement’s attention. Other times, if I could manage my PTSD symptoms and I had someone with me, I would patronize the oftencrowded Sisters of the Road Cafe. We could buy healthy, hot meals for a buck and a quarter. They accepted food stamps and barter labor. We were waited on and treated with respect. Sisters of the Road ascribes to “gentle personalism.” As they put it, “Gentle personalism is profoundly about love.” Free meals seem segregated to acceptable “poverty sectors”, however. Most meals are offered at the shelters, usually along Burnside in Old Town. I worry the programs there may be priced out by gentrification someday. I was lucky to have family that still loved and supported me regardless of my income. Many houseless folks – especially the elderly and people with severe mental illnesses – are not. When my food stamps ran out, I could count on Dad for a sandwich or hot breakfast. When he had the money, we would go out to coffee and see a movie. Those days I felt the most legitimate like I was finally a part of the larger community again. I saw other people use disguises similar to mine, although more nuanced. A couple of men I knew from the Portland Rescue Mission wore full suits, tie and jacket included. They each had only one such outfit and they meticulously cleaned them every day. One of the two gentlemen even had a briefcase. Perhaps they had jobs that required formal wear, but they returned to the shelter every night. Dresses and blouses clogged the donation area at the Rescue Mission. However, most women I observed preferred work clothes often miscategorized as men’s apparel because they were baggy and durable. More than a few shaved their heads too. I can’t say for certain, but I imagine many of them feared the added risk of sexual assault. Conversely, I have additional layers of biological camouflage. I am a large, white male, so I passed through psychosocial barriers without detection. I have never bunked down in a doorway worried someone might sexually assault or harass me. Additionally, I walked unimpeded through stores and other public places without concern for racial profiling. Provided I kept clean and unencumbered by additional belongings, I could sometimes purchase food, sit in a coffee shop and even get away with using the bathroom without buying anything. Illustration by Kat Davis THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED People living outside are shuffled to the margins of society then blamed for falling off the edge. They send police to confine us, sanitizing the public conscience and keeping us out of your neighborhood. We ride public transit to the farthest terminals. We hide in Forest Park or the deep, undeveloped areas of the suburbs. We squat in empty houses and unused industrial areas. Yet, once found out, “your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore ... the homeless, tempest-tost” are arrested, hospitalized or segregated in shelters. Portland’s “cesspool” is ruthlessly cleaned by police sweeps, but the baby gets thrown out with the bath water. We are your neighbors, sons and daughters, grandchildren and grandparents. We try everything to look like you – not homeless – to humanize our struggle. We have a right to exist, unimpeded by prejudicial fears. Homelessness is inconvenient to store owners and commuters, but it is a lifeand-death struggle for those citizens living through it. We are doing so much just to survive, just to get by. Please, educate yourselves about the underlying causes of poverty, rather than judging on appearance. Engage in dialogue with us. I challenge you to take an elderly homeless person to lunch with you. These are creative, compassionate solutions to our mutual dilemma that are waiting for your talent and input. If you can’t contribute your time or money, at least use your voice to change the law instead of calling the cops. �GLOBAL 6 NMay ov 2 2 - -NMay o v 19, 18 | N o . 393 16,2 02019 | No. 406 Migrant Farm Workers, the Main Victims of Slave Labour in Mexico EMILIO GODOY Inter Press Service “T hey mislead the workers, tell them that they will be paid well and pay them much less. The recruiters and the employers deceive them,” complained Marilyn Gómez, a migrant farm worker in Mexico. Gómez, a member of the Mixteco Yosonuvico of Sonora Cerró Nublado cooperative and the mother of two girls, said that the migrant workers are forced to buy whatever they need in their employers’ stores – “where everything is super expensive” – because they aren`t allowed to leave the farm. “There’s no social security, no contracts, we work very long hours. They take advantage of the fact that people need work,” said Gómez, who began to work in the fields with her family at the age of 13, picking grapes and vegetables in the northern state of Sonora. The 27-year-old migrant worker and activist, who has worked sick and has frequently worked for more than 12 hours a day for just a few dollars, has harvested fruit and vegetables near the town of Miguel Aleman, part of the municipality of Hermosillo, about 1,600 kilometres north of Mexico City. Her account illustrates the working conditions of migrant farm workers, who provide substantial returns to their employers and who put vegetables and fruit on the tables of Mexican and U.S. consumers. They are generally peasant farmers who migrate temporarily or permanently from the southern states to harvest export crops in central and northern Mexico. They routinely suffer violations of labour rights, and of their rights to housing, education, health and a healthy diet. And they lack work contracts, adequate working conditions, social security and overtime pay, according to the report “Violations of the rights of agricultural day laborers in Mexico“, launched on 21 March in Mexico City by the National Network of Agricultural Day Labourers, to which Gómez belongs. In Mexico, migrant farm workers or day labourers are the main victims of slave or forced labour, according to this and other local and international studies. The National Network, made up of workers’, indigenous and academic organisations, has identified cases of labour exploitation, human trafficking and forced labour and/or services. The latest National Survey of Occupation and Employment, from 2017, placed the number of migrant farm workers at 2.9 million, while the governmental Programme of Care for Agricultural Day Laborers put the figure at 1.54 million, plus 4.41 million family members who follow them as they move about. The government of leftist President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who took office on 1 December 2018, dismantled the programme and has not yet put in place its successor. Regional context There are 1.95 million victims of slave labour in the Americas, five percent of the world total, according to the 2018 Global Slavery Index, produced by the non-governmental Walk Free Foundation, based in Australia. Forced labour represents 66 per cent and persons, especially women, in forced marriage, account for 34 per cent. The region has, on average, a prevalence of 1.9 people living in modern-day slavery per 1,000 inhabitants. And one-third of the victims of forced labour were in debt bondage, while the Latin America and Caribbean region accounted for four percent of all exploited labourers in the world. While Haiti, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic had the highest rates, Brazil, Mexico and Colombia had the absolute largest numbers of people in situations of slavery. In Brazil, Latin America’s giant, with a population of 208 million, 369,000 people were living in modernday slavery, representing 1.8 per 1,000 inhabitants. In Mexico, the second largest regional economy with 129 million inhabitants, 341,000 people were living in slavery conditions, or 2.71 per 1,000 people, while in Colombia, the fourth largest regional economy with a population of 45 million, the figure was 131,000, or 2.7 per 1,000. Modern-day slavery includes human trafficking, forced labour, debt bondage, forced marriage, and commercial sexual exploitation, according to the Walk Free Foundation. For Mayela Blanco, a researcher at the non-governmental Center for Studies in International Cooperation and Public Management, migrant farm workers in Mexico are vulnerable to falling prey to trafficking for labour exploitation. “There is a recruitment chain in which the recruiters offer people work and an advance payment to draw them in, but there is no contract. In some places, they don’t get paid until the end of the work period,” said Blanco. There are a growing number of studies on this phenomenon in the Mexican countryside, and there has been no improvement for day labourers. The “2018 List of goods produced by child labor or forced labor“, published by the U.S. Department of Labor, includes reports on people forced to work in the production of chili peppers in Mexico. “Many of these victims report being recruited by middlemen, called enganchadores, that lie to workers about the nature and conditions of the work, wages, hours, and quality of living conditions,” the document states. Cases of forced labour in chili peppers production predominantly occur on small and medium-sized farms and have been found in states such as Baja California, Chihuahua, Jalisco, and San Luis Potosi, according to the report. “Once on the farms, some men and women work up to 15 hours per day under the threat of dismissal and receive subminimum wage payments or no payment at all,” it adds. Meanwhile, “Some workers face growing indebtedness to company stores that often inflate the prices of their goods, forcing workers to purchase provisions on credit and limiting their ability to leave the farms,” the report says. In Mexico, the company stores on factories and rural estates in the late 19th and early 20th centuries were known as “tiendas de raya”, where the workers were forced to buy their provisions – just like the company stores of today. The U.S. list also includes cattle ranches and peanut farms in Bolivia, textile factories and logging companies in Brazil, and Brazil nut harvesting and the logging industry in Peru. Washington bans the entry of goods produced with forced labour, under the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act, in force since 2016 and based on the old Tariff Act of 1930. Since 2015, the governmental THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED National Human Rights Commission has issued at least six recommendations for violations of the rights of migrant farm workers, which are non-binding proposals. In one of them, issued in 2018 for violations of several human rights for trafficking in persons, such as child labour in the form of forced labour, the Mexican Commission highlighted abuses against at least 62 migrant workers belonging to the Mixtec indigenous people, including 13 adolescents. The members of the indigenous group, originally from the central state of Guerrero, were harvesting cucumbers in the western state of Colima. Of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, number eight, which promotes decent work, sets among its targets the implementation of “immediate and effective” measures to eradicate forced labour, ban modern forms of slavery and human trafficking, and ensure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour. Despite some advances and international commitments, Latin America and the Caribbean are making only moderate progress in the fight against this phenomenon. The Global Slavery Index gave the region an average rating of “B” and indicated that Argentina, Chile and Peru improved their status compared to 2016, while Brazil, Mexico and Central American countries remained the same. Blanco says the conditions faced by migrant workers in Mexico are seen as normal and that they are not considered victims. “They run the risk of losing their jobs. We have not seen a response from the authorities,” she said. Gómez, who is still a migrant worker harvesting fruit and vegetables but now in decent conditions, said the government should intervene. “The institutions don’t do what they are supposed to do; we are asking that they take action and ensure our rights,” the activist said. The National Network made recommendations such as a census of employers, the monitoring of working conditions, a comprehensive programme to address the issue and a census of migrant workers. Courtesy of Inter Press Service / INSP.ngo �GLOBAL N o. 392 3 -| May Nov 216, - N2019 o v 19,| No. 2 0 18406 May 7 Franco’s invisible legacy: books across the Hispanic world are still scarred by his censorship Photo by Alfons Morales on Unsplash I JORDI CORNELLÀDETRELL The Conversation t’s 80 years since the end of the Spanish Civil War, when General Francisco Franco’s populist forces finally overcame the leftist resistance and plunged the country into full-blown dictatorship. Decades after his death, Franco continues to cast a long shadow over Spain, from the rise of the far-right Vox party to the hundreds of mass graves of people who died in the war that are still waiting to be exhumed. One other hugely important legacy that few people are aware of is the continuing effect on books, both in Spain and throughout the Spanishspeaking world. To this day, translations of many world classics and works of Spanish literature are being reprinted using expurgated texts approved by the dictator’s censors – often without publishers even realising it, let alone readers. It has had a chilling effect on freedom of speech over the years, and must be addressed as a matter of urgency. Between 1936 and 1966, every single book published in Spain had to be submitted to a national board of censors for examination. The censors would decide whether the text should be banned altogether or was fit for publication, in which case they would stipulate any necessary changes. After 1966, when a new law that partly liberalised freedom of speech was introduced in the country, publishers could voluntarily decide whether to submit a text for censorship. However, the authorities still retained the ability to withdraw any book from circulation that they deemed unacceptable. Franco’s censorship laws sought to reinforce Catholicism and promote ideological and cultural uniformity. The censors enforced conservative values, inhibited dissent and manipulated history, especially the memory of the civil war. Sexually explicit material was banned, as were alternative political views, improper language and criticisms of the Catholic church. Spain abandoned these policies after Franco’s death in 1975, yet most of the same texts are still widely available today. Ira Levin’s Rosemary’s Baby is available in more than 20 different Spanish-language editions, for instance, including an electronic one, all of which lack two extended passages that according to the censors glorified Satan. James Baldwin’s Go and Tell it on the Mountain is only available in a version with cuts that include references to birth control and details about the sex lives of the main characters. The publication of this expurgated text is sponsored by none other than UNESCO. Many literary works by some of Spain’s most important 20th-century writers have suffered similar fates, including those by Ana María Matute, Camilo José Cela, Juan Marsé and Ignacio Aldecoa. In some cases, such as George Orwell’s Burmese Days and Ian Fleming’s Thunderball, censored parts have even survived in retranslated and restored versions. With no one under the age of 40 even alive during the dictatorship years, few people are even aware of the problem. Public libraries are encouraging people to read thousands of volumes without realising they are censored. Many of these texts have been imported to Latin America, sometimes even being republished in Santiago Abascal, leader of Spain's emerging far-right party VOX, speaks during a rally in Barcelona, Spain, March 30, 2019. REUTERS/Sergio Perez different countries with their censored parts intact. It means that a fairly large proportion of the world’s population is being routinely denied access to literature as it was intended to appear. Why censorship never ended It is a well known fact that Spaniards have found it difficult to confront their traumatic recent history. The so-called “pact of forgetting”, a tacit decision among the Spanish political elites not to question or examine the past, was seen by many as vital to make the transition to democracy possible in the late 1970s and 1980s. For years, this included a general amnesia about Franco’s cultural policies: even when books were retranslated to restore censored parts, few people said anything about it. Spain’s 2007 Law for the Recovery of the Historical Memory was a major step away from these years of forgetting. It condemned the dictatorship and established compensations for people who endured political violence during the regime. It also initiated the removal of statues and other public symbols which glorified Franco’s reign. Yet other cultural artefacts, such as books, were overlooked. The upshot is that Spain’s literary censorship problem is alive and well today. Indeed, it is arguably getting worse: it is easy to release digital versions of these classics, so Franco’s hand even reaches into Kindles and tablets. We are talking about one of the most long-lasting yet invisible legacies of his regime. The effect on culture in Spain and in other Hispanic countries is almost incalculable. Censorship has certainly distorted many people’s perception of the civil war and its consequences. Many readers will also be ignorant of writers’ real points of view regarding important social issues THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED such as gender roles, birth control and homosexuality. The question is how to deal with this complex problem – particularly now that the Vox party, which is expected to do well in the upcoming election, has promised to repeal the Law of Historical Memory on the grounds that it manipulates the past. The most important task is to raise awareness among the reading public. This needs clear support from the Spanish government, plus serious engagement from the whole literary sector, including libraries, publishing houses, translators, archives, cultural publications and writers themselves. The technologies that are giving new life to the problem could be used to help: a public database of restored texts, for instance, could become an important tool. The point is that while Spain has increasingly been addressing the impact of Franco’s regime in the country’s social and historical memory since the early 2000s, the process of coming to terms with the past is far from complete. The pact of forgetting has not only marred Spain’s democratic progress, it has severely damaged the country’s cultural heritage. Spain and the rest of the Spanish-speaking world will not be free from Franco’s censorial shadow until this issue is publicly and decisively addressed. With people on the ascendant who would prefer to turn back the clock, there is no time to lose. Jordi Cornellà-Detrell is senior lecturer in Hispanic Studies at the University of Glasgow Courtesy of The Conversation / INSP.ngo �FEATURE 8 N o v 22- -N o v 19, 0 18 | |NNo. o . 393 May May 16,22019 406 Under the Law DR. MARK MUSSMAN Staff Writer “W hy don’t the people with too much money help the people who are struggling to get out of poverty?” This is the question that a middle-schooler asked me after an Over-the-Rhine People’s Movement Walking Tour this week. The student had just been exposed to the real history of our neighborhood and was noticing the stark contrasts between the rich and the rest of us. Noting the number of BMW’s that were parked on each block, the student was confused as to how people would just ignore suffering around them as they sauntered into bars and restaurants, trying to ignore the people holding signs and asking for help. The middle school student pointed it out on every block between 12th and 14th Streets, along Vine Street. Wealth and income inequality are so pervasive in the United States right now, that some have said it hasn’t been this bad since before the Great Depression. Our walking tours provide people with a perspective that is purposefully left out of the other walking tours in the neighborhood. After yesterday’s tour with the middle school students, one of the chaperones pulled me aside to thank me for starting off with the Native American presence in the area. She told me that “most people just don’t even care about the destruction of Native American communities… they just act like they never existed.” While this is something that I understand to be true, it made me connect the dots between the person who is denial about wealth inequality who just parked his BMW and scuttled into a boutique on Vine Street and the people who believe the earth is flat, or that vaccines cause autism, or that climate change is not the fault of humans. All of these people have one thing in common - their inability to look directly at facts and accept them. But the facts behind wealth inequality reveal something even deeper about the American psyche. Wealth inequality has been an obvious characteristic of American from day one, when the wealthiest man in America was elected our first President and the people who were tabulated as his wealth, people from Africa who were enslaved, had absolutely nothing other than some fictionalized debt to pay to America’s founding. African Americans have always been held back by white people in this country through laws and practices. The laws, or de jure, have been crafted to keep African American people from obtaining and retaining wealth. Laws such as slavery in the south, and the Black Codes in the north, gave way to a legal process in which African American people are exploited for their labor, ideas, innovations, and companionshop. Students at the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition engage in a Streetvibes Shadow activity. Black Codes in Ohio required all African American people who desired to live in Ohio to have two white people vouch for them at a courthouse and pay a large sum of money. The state of Ohio was literally built using these funds, as the law went into effect within a year of statehood. Other northern states, such as Illinois, also used laws to make it legal to sell the labor of African Americans who were otherwise residing in a “free state.” These laws continued through the end of slavery and into the Jim Crow era. Jim Students host Willa Jones from the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Speakers Bureau. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Crow was marked by segregation and laws that kept African Americans out of the housing market and forced them into segregated communities that were disinvested in for decades. The ability to create generational wealth that was given by federal policies to white people was forbidden by law for Black people. These laws didn’t end with the era of Jim Crow, they were just replaced by the era of mass incarceration, in which we currently reside. America has never been meritocracy, and we have never had a level playing field. At a speaking engagement this week, we heard from Melissa M. who shares her story of homelessness, that basically lasted the first 50 years of her life. She discusses her journey to her first apartment, including times of isolation and loneliness that come from homelessness. With the rise of criminalization of homelessness, we are indeed seeing more de jure implications for people experiencing homelessness. When Melissa slept on the sidewalk before she found housing, it wasn’t illegal to do so, but today it is different. Last year, Mayor John Cranley and County Prosecutor Joe Deters made it illegal to experience homelessness in all of Hamilton County, on public or private land. When the police and sheriff started to enforce this law, real people were hurt. One man had a heart-attack when they came to sweep his tent off of Third Street. Another man jumped off a bridge into the Ohio River. A young woman was interrogated by the police at the encampment near the Casino and walked off before her ride to the youth shelter arrived. She had no shoes, and was possibly being sex-trafficked, but the network of people that was assembled to help her had not arrived before she was scared off by the police, never to be seen again. These laws have �No. 39 Nov 216, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 May 23- |May | No. 406 Students with a member of the Speakers Bureau. had direct impact on the lives of people who are struggling to get help in a city where most people are turned away from shelter and the lack of affordable housing is literally sending more than 100 people to an early grave each year. Another kind of discrimination that occurs without the direct application of laws, is what is called de facto, which occurs because of market and social trends. When real 9 FEATURE estate agents direct potential buyers into certain neighborhoods, this is a form of de facto segregation. When parents choose specific schools based upon their racial makeup, or when people choose churches with people who are of their “own race,” these are forms of social control that advocate for segregation, for a social hierarchy. De facto segregation is occurring every day. I need to be clear that while blockbusting was used to lower prices in white segregated communities, there is a new type of blockbusting occuring in our inner-ring neighborhoods, where African American people are simultaneously seeing their property taxes go up, yet the sale value of their homes going down. It is not a success when a neighborhood becomes more “diverse” if the power of the minority groups is non-existent. Melissa also spoke to the group about how she is housing insecure because of the proposed FC Cincinnati soccer stadium project. She has been living in the West End for a couple of years now, becoming more active in the community. She sees her friends receiving eviction notices directly from FC Cincinnati’s property manager, and she is worried that her home will be next. FC Cincinnati commissioned a housing report to be released this summer that already shows that 53% of the West End residents are likely to lose their housing in the next 5 years. Imagine if someone told you that half of your neighbors would be gone in 5 years, how would you feel about your neighborhood? The forces of displacement have been ignited by the proposed soccer stadium, yet the team refuses to take responsibility for it, as Jeff Berding, team spokesperson, claims that they have not committed any crimes. Well, that’s a low bar, don’t you think? When we know that de facto segregation, discrimination, racism, etc., occurs on a daily basis, we’d hope to have higher standards for a project that is receiving millions in city taxpayer subsidy. When we think about the middleschool perspective of what is right and just, it’s hard to understand why we allow the millionaire class to make the laws, enforce the laws, feel they are above the law, while everyone else suffers under the law. Criminalizing homelessness is not the answer, but perhaps we should criminalize those who make people homeless, like the real estate lobby, the landlords, the developers who through entire communities out on the street, the bankers who still redline, the politicians who allow for the illegal funding of our schools, the healthcare systems that function for profit, the polluters and carbon emitters who are at fault for global warming, and the fossil fuel industry that killed public transportation. Let’s first start by taking away the subsidies for luxury development and soccer stadiums, and focus our budget on the lack of affordable housing in our county and city. We will never have enough money to satiate the rich, but we do have enough to ensure everyone has a safe and affordable place to live. Students in Over-the-Rhine after working with the Education Department from The Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �10 LOCAL N o v 22- -N o v 19, 0 18 | |NNo. o . 393 May May 16,22019 406 Nakba Tour: Palestinian Stories MARTHA STEPHENS Contributing Writer F riends, I’m writing about an event of a few weeks ago at the Clifton Mosque. I expect very few of us who read this paper are indifferent to the sufferings of the Palestinian people. The two Palestinian women who led the event at the Mosque are still living in the camps in Lebanon where many families fled when they were evicted from their village in Palestine. The Mosque hosted a marvelous gathering for these two women on March 27. Food and talk and good history and information was the program. A black solidarity group was a co-sponsor. The two women are traveling the country with the Nakba Tour. You may recall that “nakba” is the Arabic term for the long march into exile when much of Palestinian land was given over to the State of Israel back in 1948. The younger speaker gave us an interesting history of all that happened before and during those early years of exile, and then she sat down by the older woman and helped her tell exactly what it had been like for her and her family. The intruding forces, along with many other men, killed her husband. They didn’t want any men to survive. Since ancient times, this community had a rich life in their village on the coast. They farmed, fished, and were able to other towns with their catch and their produce. When the women had suddenly to pack up and get out, they could take very little with them as they fled across the border into Lebanon. The older woman we met, Um Akram, told us about her long life in the camps with what was left of her family. They had to walk quite a ways, for instance, just to visit the toilets near the fences of the camp. We can read more online about the Nakba Tour, and of course all the details of the Palestinian struggle can be studied at length through other media sites. Many in the U.S. want our government to stand by the Palestinian people in their attempts to resist their confinement in the virtual prisons of Gaza and the West Bank. A few weeks after this event at the Clifton Mosque, a leader of the Mosque, Karen Dabdoub, whose husband is Palestinian, was the speaker on April 9 at the Tuesday forum of Progressive Democrats. She gave a splendid talk about Muslim beliefs and the pain many Muslims abroad experience when being unable even to visit here for weddings and funerals. The stories these women have to say are important and need to be heard. Humanizing a crisis makes it easier to understand, deconstruct, and therefore attempt to fix. These are topics that the Progressive Democrats discuss at our weekly meetings. Readers of Streetvibes might be interested in joining the weekly forums of Progressive Democrats. We meet every Tuesday at 12:00 for lunch and good talk at the Blue Gibbon Restaurant on Sherman Avenue. Um Akram and her young Palestinian co-host Where’s the Harm in Sex Offender Registration Laws? ALEXANDRA MONACO Contributing Writer F or a moment, let’s imagine that you have just been sentenced to 10 years in jail. You serve your time and are then released. Being a formerly incarcerated individual, you lack strong social ties or relationships, cannot find a job due to your record or label as an “ex-convict”, often cannot return to formal education (high school, college, professional education), you are now barred from financial aid, often experience homelessness, and have the criminal justice system breathing down your neck through your parole or probation officer. Now, let’s consider that your charge was for a sex offense. In addition to the above, you also have to register as a sex offender, which often leads to more challenges. What exactly does this entail, though? You are bound by Sex Offender Registration and Notification (SORN) Laws, which require you to publicly register as a sex offender, restrict where you can live and work, require that you notify your neighbors that you have a sex offense charge, and control who you can and cannot interact with (including your family and sometimes your children). According to Dayton Daily News, you and 17,000 other people in the state of Ohio are affected by these SORN laws. SORN laws are controversial and difficult to understand. These laws were created to help keep the public informed and safe. While this goal is important and admirable, we must think critically about the effectiveness and impact of these laws. Is the public actually safer because of these laws? Do they truly help curb repeat offending? Do the benefits outweigh the costs? Or, are they helping to perpetuate the barriers discussed above? To put it simply, no. There is a vast body of research about the effectiveness and consequences of SORN laws that suggest that the public is minimally affected by these laws. There is little evidence that there are any lasting positive effects of these laws. In fact, some scholars suggest that communities experience a false sense of security because they focus on “stranger danger”, which accounts for a very small percentage of sex offenses. Thus, communities are prepared for a crime that will likely not occur in their neighborhoods. Further, according to one study published in 2018 by Jill Levenson, there is no evidence that residence restrictions prevent sex crimes, or that registered sex offenders who live closer to child-oriented locations (e.g., schools, playgrounds, or bus stops) are more likely to reoffend than those who live farther away. In fact, another study from a researcher at Barry University stated THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED that few people seem to search registries on a regular basis. When they do, even fewer take preventative measures after viewing a registration website—even if they find someone who is registered in their neighborhood. Not only are these laws largely ineffective, it seems people are not taking advantage of them or taking them very seriously. All of these research findings suggest that SORN laws are largely ineffective at “protecting the public” and do not prevent repeat offending, either. The general public is often afraid of the idea that people labeled as “sex offenders” are more likely to become repeat offenders than other types of offenders. However, according to a researcher at Barry University, research has consistently determined that “sex offense recidivism rates are lower than generally assumed, averaging between 5% and 15% across studies.” This is lower than most other types of offenses. In addition to being largely �No. 39 Nov 216, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 May 23- |May | No. 406 LOCAL 11 Where’s the Harm in Sex Offender Registration Laws? Continued... ineffective, these laws make it incredibly difficult for formerly incarcerated individuals to become reintegrated into society after their incarceration. The limitations placed on people that have to register as a sex offender are vast. Finding a job after incarceration is even more difficult for this population, as they are required to maintain a certain distance from schools, playgrounds, bus stops, and other child-oriented places. Housing restrictions and limited employment opportunities often push this population into homelessness. One man was even prohibited from living with his own children due to his criminal history. For the population of people that were charged with sex offenses, their imprisonment does not end once they are released from jail or prison. Knowing that SORN laws are largely ineffective and create a lasting negative impact for those intertwined in them, it is time for these laws to be redrafted to become more efficient, effective, and considerate. To learn more about the laws in your state, and to help change them, please call or local officials and state legislators. Changes in laws and practices like these begin with individuals and communities. Unfortunately, these are conversations that most people feel uncomfortable having. Let’s get comfortable with the uncomfortable and make a change. “The Tribune Of the People”: Marxism and The Struggle Against Oppression RAYA ContributingWriter I n What Is To Be Done?, Lenin argued that a socialist party must be a “tribune of the people” that “is able to react to every manifestation of tyranny and oppression, no matter where it appears” and “is able to generalize all these manifestations and produce a single picture of police violence and capitalist exploitation.” For such a party, there can be no singleissue movements, only one totalistic struggle that unites all the oppressed and exploited groups in society. Whether one begins with the question of trans liberation or combatting climate change, it immediately become obvious that the fundamental question is one of overthrowing the capitalist system. Likewise, anyone who wishes to seriously challenge capitalism and the economic inequality it generates, must necessarily develop a program for the liberation of those groups uniquely oppressed impacted by it. Homelessness, for instance, cannot be meaningfully addressed as an economic issue without engaging with the racist, homophobic, and transphobic systems that lead to people of color and queer people to experience it disproportionately. Nor can queer or black homelessness be addressed without raising the question of why homelessness exists at all in a society that has more than empty homes to shelter everyone experiencing homelessness at the present time and developing a program of struggle against the capitalist system that produces such absurdities. This understanding and totalistic commitment is the foundation for the solidarity of individual revolutionaries with all movements of the oppressed and exploited people, and upholding this solidarity is foremost among the duties that a revolutionary party imposes on its members. Marxists begin from interconnection of all types of oppression within capitalist society and seek to overturn it. As Malcolm X put it “you can’t have capitalism without racism,” and as socialist feminists have always emphasized “There will be no women's liberation without revolution. from and unaffected by the struggles of that group but choosing to lend their support to it, but are part and parcel of every oppressed group and every movement that arises from the initiative of the oppressed and exploited. The liberation of each oppressed group is the precondition for the liberation of any one oppressed group. Those organizations that base themselves on single-issue reformist There will be no revolution without women's liberation.” The struggle against every type of oppression and explication is linked to the struggle against every other type and the victims of any one type of oppression are harmed by existence of every other type. Marxists are not allies of any oppressed group, standing separately programs, as well as those supposedly revolutionary organizations that postpone radical ends to distant future in favor of a moderate practice in the present, become safety valves of the prevailing world order. Through a million unnoticed and unplanned actions their sense of political possibility and imagination is lost, their purpose is THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED narrowed to the point were discussion of their original goals can seem almost heretical, and they turn on their most militant and committed members. They co-opt and contain the spontaneous dissent of the oppressed and exploited masses, becoming barriers to the end of oppression and exploitation. Worse, those organizations which merely propose a program of limited reforms or of ameliorating some of the evils of the system within the system can often become directly involved in perpetuating oppression. The task of revolutionaries must be, therefore, to ensure the closest possible unity between educating and organizing on behalf of radical goals and everyday political practice. The struggle for reforms within the context of the present world order should take the form of transitional demands that leads to the questioning of that order and expose the oppressive nature of prevailing power relations. When activists are attacked by police for protesting against white supremacy, or even for demanding the preservation of local libraries, they receive an unforgettable lesson on the institutional function of law enforcement agencies in class societies. For its part, the revolutionary party gains the confidence of the masses through its participation in the spontaneous movements that emerge from them and in the struggle for the demands raised by these movements. Members of a revolutionary party are distinguished from individuals spontaneously drawn into ongoing struggles only by their theoretical understanding of the situation and their commitment to the international revolutionary movement as a whole. �12 STREETVOICE Nov 2 N o v 19, 0 18 || No. N o . 406 393 May 2 -- May 16, 22019 Dreams Over-the-Rhine I was born in Cincinnati in 1950 into a first generation German family named Beck. My nana, grandpa, momma and our extended second-­‐generation family of aunts and uncles all lived together in a historic Ohio farmhouse. The home was one of the first built in the Ohio Valley by an English family surnamed Edwards. It was reputed to be part of the Underground Railroad, sheltering runaway slaves in the coal cellar. Cincinnati was settled in 1788 on the banks of the Ohio River across from Kentucky. At the end of the Civil War in 1865, free Blacks and runaway slaves came across the river seeking better lives and less prejudice. After the Great Depression of the 1930s Appalachian families from rural Kentucky hills crossed the Ohio with new dreams. Cincinnati was an immigrant crucible of Germans, Jews, and the Irish. In reward for their hope, the city gave many immigrants small opportunity and large restrictions, The 50’s were a conservative era in segregated Cincinnati. Our white family visited the neighborhood of Over–the-­‐Rhine once a year just before Christmas to shop at Findley Market, the oldest operating food market in Ohio. That’s where Aunt Martha would buy a goose for Christmas dinner, like straight out of Charles Dickens. Going to the market was like going to another world for me; I loved it! Over-the-Rhine got its name from working-class German immigrants who lived on one side of the Erie Canal and laughingly referred to it as the Rhine River. A historic urban area that has undergone recent gentrification, I have come back home to “Cincy” to explore the trendy, now predominately white neighborhood called “OTR”. My first stop is the old location of The School for Creative and Performing Arts on Sycamore Street. The history of the magnet school involved a mandate to integrate. When I taught Theatre at SCPA, directors double cast all black and white actors, singers and dancers with “non-traditional casting” based on talent, not race. The school has now been converted into pricey condominiums for ex-suburbanites. The newly built arts school near Music Hall admits talented students grades K-12. It is tuition free for kids from all of Cincinnati’s neighborhoods based upon potential. Eric Kunzel helped establish the funding for the new SCPA near historic Music Hall. Maestro Kunzel conducted the Cincinnati Pops in its hay day and invited the SCPA children’s choir to perform at Music Hall on many occasions. The kids dreamed big. Today I listen proudly to the young female vocal group called “The Baby Grands” singing in the renovated Music Hall. It is a mixed group of twelve young women with individual artistic dreams, singing their hearts out on that hallowed stage in Over-the-Rhine. As I embrace their dreams of finding fame through the arts, I remember the reality of Harry Belafonte’s statement about racism made in October of 2002: “If you walk into South Central Los Angeles, into Watts, or if you walk into Over-the-Rhine in Cincinnati, you’ll find people who live lives that are as degrading as anything that slavery had ever produced, They live in economic oppression. They live in a disenfranchised way.” Over-the-Rhine is now franchised. There’s a Graeter’s Ice Cream parlor, and an upscale Taste of Belgium restaurant in the same block as the millennia’s’ favorite soul food restaurant The Eagle. I go to The Eagle for lunch, and sit next to a couple of white businessmen in suits, eating free-range fried chicken with collard greens. I can’t help but wonder, “Where have all the black neighborhood street folks gone? Where are the poor, white Appalachians living in the fringes of Over-the-Rhine? As I leave The Eagle, I run into an African American in a wheelchair selling the newspaper Streetvibes. In an article titled Disappearing Communities, Dr. Mark Mussman states that Over-the-Rhine has been drastically changed by outside forces. People who live in the rich white neighborhood, have come into our small neighborhood and stood for one thing: displacement. Dr. Mussen’s research mentions that at least 2400 units of housing have been lost to gentrification, “never to return. Cincinnati still has no possibility of upward mobility for most African American residents today, Most of the buildings in Over-­the-­Rhine are owned by out-­of-­state landlords or local white people who are out to make a buck.” Understanding economic displacement is complex. I scan the Cincinnati Enquirer for a few quick headlines: “Cincinnati’s poverty rate among five highest for US cities.” The city’s poverty rate grew faster than the nation as a whole in 2002 to 2017. In the Cincinnati Public Schools, 81.9 percent of students qualify for meal assistance. Median household income has not recovered from the 2008 recession in seven of Greater Cincinnati’s fifteen counties. Poverty is worse in 1/3 of those counties. Statistics in Cincinnati show that the Great Recession stole wealth. Some jobs came back after the recession but financial security didn’t. Family medical expenses keep rising. When forced to leave Over-­ ‐the-­ ‐Rhine, the only place to go may be to public housing, which is so tight as to be considered realistically unavailable. There are only 43 affordable rental units for every 100 extremely low-­‐income households. The alternative is living on the streets with the rest of the local homeless population. “On the streets” in reality means staying in a homeless shelter with 86% of the homeless population in Hamilton County. According to the 2017 census, 1,692 of the homeless are children. And that number is on the rise in Over-­‐ the-­ ‐Rhine. I think of the talented neighborhood children at the School for Creative and Performing Arts. And I think of the beautiful play A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, which opens with the poem “Harlem” by Langston Hughes. The first line of the poem begins: “What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?” The dreams of displaced people from Over-the-Rhine are not just detoured. They seem to be dead. But I can’t end my Cincinnati homecoming journey with such negativity. I know that it is time to recognize that our differences shared become our personal riches. We have to move heaven and earth to find homes and finally come home. I have read about the work that the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church has done to provide warm beds for the homeless when the temperatures drop. It isn’t a home. On Sunday I go to Quaker meeting. As I study the bulletin of the Cincinnati Friends Congregation, I discover their organization called “Tender Mercies” with the mission to provide “Security, Dignity, and Community” to homeless adults in Over-­‐the-­‐Rhine. Security means a housing environment where residents’ safety is priority. Dignity means housing that allows residents to develop economic strengths. Community is housing that offers family while affirming the individual. I learn: “The Quaker congregation achieves its mission by maintaining 134 units of permanent housing in six buildings in Over-­ ‐the-­ ‐Rhine. Our model of housing addresses the root causes of homelessness by providing community supportive services through Bethany House. Bethany House empowers homeless and atrisk families with solutions to achieve housing stability and long-term self sufficiency.” And so the dream is renewed: to respect our differences by helping others, as we would like to be helped. Respectfully, I quote: ”There but for the grace of God, go I”. MELISSA LILLY ContributingWriter Streetvibes Writing Circle If you would like to submit a story for publication in streetvibes, come join Katelyn Lusher and Chris Wilkey for a group writing session! THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �STREETVOICE No. 39 | Nov16, 2- N o v 19, 2 0 406 18 May 2 -3 May 2019 | No. Lives That Matter After all i been threw being homeless i live to be a part of history to live to see a black president and a white women nominated The Mueller Report Revisited what's the mystery it seems like god has a plan for people to come together and be at peace and know we all live and we all die so why the racism doesn't The Mueller Report, the Mueller Report! The A.G's synopsis was biased and short. cease still it matters what color , religion and what creed you are things matter today whether you work or find a place to live so who's scared i believe we as a human race teach our children what to believe in and how i believe if we don’t show our children love with understanding we dead now Now that we have a much longer version, We can read about the lies and perversion. It now seems time for citizens to beseech That Congress takes action to impeach. all lives matter knowing that all lives end, life being so short what is the fight let people be blessed in who they are rich or poor just give BILL WOODS Contributing Writer respect that's right so whether you support the homeless or not pray it won’t be you someday WILLA DENISE JONES Streetvibes Distributor Contributing Writer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 13 �PUZZLES 14 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 104 Across 1. Hen-peck 4. Destiny 8. Dainty 12. Exclusive 13. Esurient 14. Communication medium 16. Leonine animal 17. Hoop 18. Harvest 19. Livid 21. Matured 23. Merchandising agreement 24. Beverage 25. Fiend 27. Wonderment 29. Young kangaroo 30. Consumed 31. Pair 34. Acquiescence 37. Seize 38. Outer part of a wheel 39. A sudden impact 40. Pouch 41. The present location 42. Beer 43. Musical work 45. Fractured 47. Pole 48. Distilled from fermented molasses 49. Amphibian 50. Female swan 51. Crack in a lip 52. Consume 55. Rodents 58. Period of time 60. At that place 62. Repent 64. A small piece of anything 66. Length by width 67. Team race 68. Field sport 69. Building containing a skating surface 70. Gender 71. High-pitched bark 72. Small vegetable PUZZLE SOLUTIONS CROSSWORD #103 Down 1. Dissonance 2. Hawaiian greeting 3. DNA segment 4. At a great distance 5. Building were birds are kept 6. Undertone 7. Boundary of a surface 8. Be nosey 9. Lift up 10. Notion 11. Move about in a confused manner 12. Spline 15. Poem 20. Midday 22. Information 26. Acquire 28. Entanglement 29. Hard black form of lignite 30. Part of a circle 31. Long and difficult journey 32. Finishing line on a racetrack 33. Presage 34. Slightly open 35. Musical composition for one voice or instrument 36. Sledge 37. Fuel 40. A quantity of money 41. Box on a pole for carrying bricks 43. Metal-bearing mineral 44. Inferior in strength or significance 45. Constrictor 46. Ecstatic 49. Exhiliration 50. Relating to punishment 51. Small boat 52. Strange and frightening 53. Walk of life 54. Hard durable wood 55. Spoil 56. Detail 57. Carbonated drink 59. Catch sight of 61. Stringed instrument 63. Oculus 65. Sharp explosive sou N o v 22--N o v 19, 0 18 | |N o . 393 May May 16,22019 No. 406 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 395 - MEDIUM SODOKU PUZZLE NO 394- MEDIUM PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 Nov 2 - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 May 23- |May 16, | No. 406 Central Access Point 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children RESOURCES Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside Bethany House 557-2873 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 591-2246 FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 Salvation Army 762-5660 St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 131 E. 12th Street 45202 1125 Bank Street 45214 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men Shelter: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Shelterhouse 721-0643 2121 Vine Street 45202 411 Gest St. 45203 Prospect House 921-1613 1437 Walnut Street 45202 Starting Over 961-2256 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Women St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Parkway Center 661-4620 First Step Home 961-4663 Shelter: Youth 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Sheakley Center for Youth (18-24 y/o) 2522 Highland Ave. 45219 569-9500 Lighthouse Youth Crisis Center (10-17 y/o) 3330 Jefferson Ave 45220 961-4080 Shelter: Family Interfaith Hospitality Network Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Both AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Joseph House (Veterans) 471-1100 1522 Republic Street 45202 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street 45202 Talbert House 221-HELP Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street 45202 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Food/Clothing First Lutheran Church 421-0065 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Seraph Ministries 549-0542 St. George Food Pantry 2554 Dennis St. 45219 751-8771 St. Anthony Center 1615 Republic St. Advocacy Catholic Social Action 421-3131 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Franciscan JPIC 721-4700 Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 241-2965 Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board 946-8000 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 221-HELP Housing: 15 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 Health Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 Other Resources Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 215 E. 14th St. 45202 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 381-0111 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. 579-8547 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 1223 Main St. 45202 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 The Caring Place 631-1114 Talbert House 751-7747 United Way 211 Women Helping Women 977-5541 Off The Streets 421-5211 Hamilton County Office of Reentry 946-4304 138 E. Court Street Room # 101 First Floor Cancer Justice Network 404-3882 Hamilton/Middletown St. Raephaels 981-4200 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 Northern Kentucky Brighton Center (11-17 y/o) 859-491-8303 ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary 859-572-6202 Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky 634 Scott St. 41011 859-291-4555 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? You can support our mission and spread the word about your business. For more information contact Gabriela Godinez Feregrino, 961-0600 email streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Center for Respite Care 621-1868 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 386-7899 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 NAMI of Hamilton County 351-3500 PATH Outreach 977-4489 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �16 NMay o v 2 2- -NMay o v 19, 18 | |NNo. o . 393 16,2 02019 406 S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. ALFRED WOOLFOLK SINCE 10/2003 ASRES AYENAW SINCE 2012 BERTA LAMBERT SINCE 1997 BETTIE BAILEY SINCE 10/2017 BRANDON NELSON SINCE 4/2008 BRIAN ADAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHARLES WILLIAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHRISTOPHER KAIHATSU SINCE 7/2017 CLEO WOMBLES SINCE 10/2003 CRANDALL COBB SINCE 2004 DARREL ROZIER SINCE 7/2017 DAVID MCCANE SINCE 2017 ERIC VALDEZ SINCE 2/2017 GERALD FRANKLIN SINCE 7/2017 GRADY COOK SINCE 1997 HENRY BRELAND SINCE 7/2017 JAMES BROWN SINCE 3/2009 JAMES DAVIS SINCE 8/2000 JENNY BURTON SINCE 7/2017 JIMMIE GIPSON SINCE 2001 JON DARBY SINCE 2/2006 JOHN HORN JOSEPHINE BASKERVILLE SINCE 9/2008 J’TORI TYMAN SINCE 5/2014 KIM NGUYEN SINCE 7/2017 KENNY BUSSELL SINCE 10/2009 KAREN COLLETTE SINCE 7/2008 LARRY BROWN SINCE 10/2007 LEE MCCOY SINCE 7/2009 LEONARD JACKSON SINCE 2/2005 MARY MUELLER SINCE 5/2005 MARK SHEARS SINCE 4/2012 MAURICE GOLSBY MELISSA MOSBY SINCE 9/2014 MIKE CARANO SINCE 4/2016 RAESHAWN GIPSON SINCE 3/2009 RAYNARD JONES SINCE 10/2008 RICKY WOODS SINCE 4/2015 RICCARDO TAYLOR SINCE 1999 RONNIE PHILLIPS SINCE 10/2009 SAMUEL JACKSON SINCE 10/2006 STACIA HOLLANDER SINCE 2017 STEPHANIE EAKES SINCE 7/2017 SYLVESTER WALKER SINCE 7/2017 TALINA HILL SINCE 2/2011 VICTOR MUMPHRY WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WINNIE RICE SINCE 7/2017 QUEENACELASTINE SINCE 7/2017 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 VIOLET COLLINS SINCE 2017 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2019 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource May 2-May 16, 2019 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: From the Director Pg 3: Come Out and Say “No Way” An Overlooked Piece of Good News Pg 4: GCHC Pg 5: To Make It on the Streets, I Had to Look Like You Pg 6: Migrant Farm Workers, The Main Victims of Slave Labour in Mexico Pg 7: Franco’s Invisible Legacy Pg 8: Under the Law Pg 9: Under the Law Continued Pg 10: Nakba Tour Where’s the Harm in Sex Offender Registration Laws? Pg 11: “The Tribune of the People” Pg 12: Dreams Over-the-Rhine Pg 13: Street Voice Pg 14: Puzzles Pg 15: Resources Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource May 2-May 16, 2019 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gabriela Godinez Bill Woods Josh Spring Dustin Dandliker Jordi Conella Detrell Emelio Godoy Dr. Mark Mussman Melissa Lilly Raya Willa Denise Jones Martha Stephens Alexander Monaco Canva.com INSP.com Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Alexander Monaco Bill Woods Canva.com Dr. Mark Mussman Dustin Dandliker Emelio Godoy Gabriela Godinez INSP.com Jordi Conella Detrell Josh Spring Martha Stephens Marxism Melissa Lilly Mexico Migrants Slavery Oppression Over-the-Rhine Palestine Raya Sex Offender Registration Laws Willa Denise Jones https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/64484cfcc69013082b0635b590d5f555.pdf 33c0f088f15d553ea1643bc21e15032c PDF Text Text April 18th - M ay 2th 2019 | Vo l . 23 Issue 8 (No. 405) advo cating justice | building communit y Any opinions in this issue are of the authors and don't necessarily represent Streetvibes or The Homeless Coalition. How To Bury A Story Article on Page 8 This Issue is sponsored by Cecilia and Tom Kloecker Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.com Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 12 �2 COALITION N o v 218 - N v 19,2,22019 0 18 | |NNo. o . 393 April - oMay 405 From The Editor: No Autonomy: Eugenics and Abortion GABRIELA GODINEZ Editor-in-chief A bortion law and reproductive rights have always been a hot topic in the United States, but recently there has been a push of multiple different conservative bills around the country. On April 11, one of the most dangerously limiting abortion bills in the U.S. was passed in Ohio by governor Mike DeWine. Once a medical professional can detect a fetal heartbeat, an abortion is no longer legal. That can be around 6 weeks into a pregnancy, about the same average amount of time a person takes to realize they are pregnant. I say person and not woman because within the rhetoric of abortion and reproductive rights many people get ignored. Non-bianary folks and trans men don’t often get a mention in this conversation, which only does the cause a disservice. There is no point in excluding people when these restrictions clearly affect them as well. Anyone who can get pregnant has to be included in the conversation. Not only cisgendered women can get pregnant, and not all cisgendered women have the ability to get pregnant. It is not the job of anyone with a uterus to be an incubator and reproduce on command. For that and many other reasons, though this is largely a women’s rights issue, it also is an over all human rights issue. Reproductive rights in the United States have always been used to attack and control people. Today we need to remember that reproductive issues have white supremacist roots. While there are bills trying to stop abortions, at the same time women of color are more likely to be pushed by doctors to use birth control. This is todays residual affects from Americas racist and sexist past. In 1909, California passed eugenics laws, which would later inspire the German Nazis. According to the L.A. Times, Adolf Hitler once wrote “There is today one state in which at least weak beginnings toward a better conception [of citizenship] are noticeable. Of course, it is not our model German Republic, but the United States.” With a foundation like this, we cannot ignore how race plays a factor in reproductive rights. According to PBS news, “used as a means of controlling “undesirable” populations – immigrants, people of color, poor people, unmarried mothers, the disabled, the mentally ill – federally-funded sterilization programs took place in 32 states throughout the 20th century.”The Huffington Post reminded us that by 1970, toward the “end” of the eugenics movement, over 60,000 U.S. citizens were sterilized. This is right around the time that abortion was made legal in 1973. If today, those who were fighting for “the rights of unborn children” were truly pro-life, they would be fighting for the lives of the 15 million children who are experiencing poverty right now. They would be fighting for the black children who are victims of police brutality. They would be fighting for the lives of the 5,800 undocumented children who were sexually abused in U.S. immigration detention centers and under U.S. custody. The conversation in government has always been about what uteruses are allowed to have children, and which are to be forced to have children. Over a century later after the start of the eugenics movement in the United States, citizens and residents are still fighting for the right for marginalized and oppressed bodies to have control over our own lives. Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org www.cincistreetvibe.com EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor-in-chief: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: Mona Jenkins Director of Education: Dr. Mark Mussman Distributor Program Manager: Sallie Mascus Layout: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Reception: Bonita Batton, Larry Johnson Maintenance: Pete Roper ------------------------------------------CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Writers: Gabriela Godinez, Bill Woods, Josh Spring, Helen Hill, Kieran Gulibert, Michael Taylor, Joey Williams, Dr. Mark Mussman, Seth Weber, Timothy Bay, Willa Denise Jones, Kim Green, , June Alexander ------------------------------------------Photography/ Artwork: canva.com, Gabriela Godinez, INSP.com, Dr. Mark Mussman, Pngtree.com ---------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless do not endorse candidates for public office. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 3 |-N ov 2 2, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 April 18 May | No. 405 COALITION 3 Wade Street and Central Avenue Tenants Release New Statement JOSH SPRING Executive Director A pril 9th, we, FightBack Cincinnati: Wade Street & Central Avenue Tenants United stated publicly our demand that Jeff Berding and FC Cincinnati cease trying to displace us from our homes and instead publicly commit to not putting us out of our homes, re-start regular maintenance of the properties and meet with our group no later than April 16th. This was communicated widely through media outlets and a letter signed by us explaining this was sent directly to Jeff Berding. Mark Mallory, on behalf of FC Cincinnati has stated that FC Cincinnati called together Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME), Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses, Council on Aging, Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority and Iris Roley of Black United Front to meet this Friday morning at 10 AM to assist with making plans to move Ms. Mary Page from her home. This is Jeff Berding and FC Cincinnati’s attempt to make it appear like they care and are doing something good. There are several problems with this disingenuous attempt by Jeff Berding: • Ms. Mary Page has made it abundantly clear that she does not want to leave her home. She likes her home and greatly values her nearby support system of neighbors, friends, family and health caretakers. • This attempt by FC Cincinnati would do nothing positive for the rest of us, from whom, Jeff Berding and FC Cincinnati are also trying to steal our homes. • Our organization, FightBack Cincinnati: Wade Street & Central Avenue Tenants United are a unified body with a singular list of demands, primary of which is to not displace us from our homes. • As of now, Jeff Berding and FC Cincinnati have not responded to our issued demands and have not responded to us to schedule a meeting with our group. Because of our intention to remain in our homes, our group directly reached out to these organizations. We asked them to support our position, and in support of us to work directly with us and not through FC Cincinnati. As a result, our Tenants United group has met directly today with some of these organizations and is planning future meetings with all of these organizations as we work in pursuit of our demands. Jeniece Jones, HOME Executive Director, says, “HOME’s primary responsibility is to people facing problems with fair housing. We have learned that tenants living in properties owned by FC Cincinnati would like for us to meet with them in order to better understand their fair housing rights. This is our most pressing obligation.” Iris Roley of Black United Front expressed that she will not be attending a meeting with FC Cincinnati because she stands with the Tenant group’s position that they not be forced from their homes and she understands that they have called for a meeting with FC Cincinnati to be held on their own timing and terms. As FightBack Cincinnati: Wade Street & Central Avenue Tenants United we remain steadfast in our demands issued yesterday: Jeff Berding and FC Cincinnati, do not steal our homes. We are looking forward to Jeff directly responding to us to schedule a meeting with us. Appalachian Cincinnati: How Is This City's Appalachian Community Faring Today? BILL WOODS Board Member B eginning in the 1940s, Cincinnati became the destination for thousands of individuals and families migrating from rural Appalachia, and over the years a distinct urban Appalachian community developed here. How is this community faring today? At the Community Issues Forum at Christ Church Cathedral on April 4th, Michael E. Maloney, a longtime urban Appalachian leader and scholar, and Maureen Sullivan, former Director of the Urban Appalachian Council, provided some answers to this question. The recent book, "Hillbilly Elegy," noted Maloney, has brought a lot of attention to Appalachians, both rural and urban. J. D. Vance's story of growing up as a child of a drug addicted mother who had migrated from rural Appalachia goes beyond his personal experience by offering some negative stereotypes about Appalachian culture in general. In fact, Maloney is one of the contributors to a newly published book of essays, "Appalachian Reckoning: A Region Responds to Hillbilly Elegy." The message of Maloney and the other authors of this book challenges Vance's generalizations about lazy hillbillies and white welfare queens, and it portrays a much more diverse population and culture. This greater diversity and more complex culture were also portrayed in a poem read by Maureen Sullivan at the beginning of the Forum. The poem represents a compilation of statements by Oyler School students of Appalachian descent. Sullivan and Maloney emphasized that today's urban Appalachians are diverse and can't be labeled with any simple stereotypes. Maloney, who is also an urban demographer, went on to describe how Greater Cincinnati's current Appalachian population is spread throughout the region, with over half the people living in towns and suburbs beyond the inner city. In Cincinnati itself, neighborhoods where Appalachians live have changed over the years. Over-the-Rhine became a major residence for Appalachians in the 1950s and 1960s, but by the 1980s, Lower Price Hill emerged as their primary neighborhood. In terms of numbers, Maloney noted that approximately half a million people of Appalachian background live in the Greater Cincinnati region. Economic hardship remains a problem for a large number of Appalachians. He estimated that 8,000 families in this area are below the poverty line, and this number translates into about 30,000 people. Hit hard by the 2008 recession, many Appalachians have never completely recovered from this severe economic downturn. Neighborhoods like Lower Price Hill, explained Maloney, are in worse shape today than they were twenty years ago. One problem that has always confronted urban Appalachians is the unwillingness of governments and other institutions to recognize them as a distinct group. A current example, cited by Maloney, is the initial failure of leaders of the Child Poverty Collaborative to include Appalachians in their planning. For this reason, leaders like Maloney and Maureen Sullivan strive to make themselves part THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED of major initiatives to improve the lives of Cincinnatians. For instance, Sullivan and Maloney are involved in the Equity Coalition, a recent effort to deal with income inequality and the continued growth of poverty in the city. When asked whether urban Appalachians are losing their identity after one or two generations away from the region, Maloney and Sullivan replied that the answer is both yes and no. For some, they confessed, the identity has become blurred or ceased to have relevance. Others remain staunch upholders of their roots. Maloney pointed to the interest shown by public school students in Lower Price Hill and college student he has worked with in recent years. Ironically, he noted, a new pride of identity has emerged in the rural Appalachian region. Both Sullivan and Maloney are concerned about creating a new generation of leaders who will replace them as Appalachian spokespersons. They recently created a leadership project, and they are working to strengthen the Urban Appalachian Community Coalition. �4 ADVERTISMENT THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED N o v 2 18 - N-o May v 19, 2, 2 02019 18 | N o . 393 April | No. 405 �No. 3918 3 | -NMay ov 2 - 2, No v 19,| 2 0 18405 April 2019 No. 5 U.S. NEWS Life on the Streets: Sick with nowhere to go Photo by Brittany Colette on Unsplash HELEN HILL Street Roots F or those who are housed, feeling the first tinges of a winter cold or flu means settling in on the couch with hot tea and soup, a warm comforter and a list of Netflix movies to watch. Rest, fluids and access to a warm shower and a clean toilet let the immune system eventually kick in, and after a week or two, or even a few days, most are healthy again and ready to return to work, the garden and the family. For those who are living on the streets, a common cold can develop into a potentially life threatening illness. This year, serious cases of flu and pneumonia have been rampant among the Street Roots community and have landed several in the hospital. The seasonal cold, rain, wind and snow this February and March have taken a toll. We talked to some of our vendors about what it’s like being sick and on the streets. “I stay healthy as long as I stay out on the streets,” vendor John Smith said. “I get sick whenever I use the emergency shelters in extreme weather because we are all crowded in there, but when the nightly shelters don’t open, that’s hard too.” John agreed that chest colds that progress into pneumonia are the most dangerous illness on the streets. When I asked him what he does when he feels he is coming down with a cold, he said: “I just try to find a spot where I can curl up and rest during the day. If you go to the day shelter, it’s a madhouse and you can’t rest there. You can nod off, but you’re not safe; you have to hold onto your bag. Yeah, it’s tough being sick out there.” A vendor who wished to remain anonymous said his secret weapon is iodized salt. “I flush my nostrils with iodized saltwater,” he said. “If I have a cough or a scratchy throat, that helps me not get pneumonia and flushes out the bacteria. It doesn’t allow the bacteria to enter the lungs.” He also addressed the danger of open wounds: “Cuts take longer to heal outside. If I cut myself recycling or if I have an open wound, it takes a long time to heal. Normally it might take a few days for a wound to heal, but on the streets, it can take weeks or months, and it can get infected. I use iodized salt on wounds. It’s easy to get. I learned it from my grandmother. She put me in a bathtub with iodized salt when I got bit by a cat when I was a kid.” Mark Herinek was blunt. “I am 59 years old,” he said. “I spent three months on the street and got pneumonia.” Mark was in a coma while his body healed. “You’ll die eventually if you don’t get housing or get off the streets,” he said. “Now I’m in the missions.” Brian Lane said he hasn’t been well since he “got caught out in the rain.” “You just have to suck it up,” he said. “There’s nothing you can do if you don’t get enough sleep. Sleep is important. It gives you a mental and physical morale boost. I’m usually so tired I can’t tell if I’m sick or not.” Brian recently went to the hospital after waking up on the streets vomiting violently. He called an ambulance and was treated for flu at a local hospital. When he was released at 2am, he had nowhere to go. “I was dog tired. I went down under the pier out of the wind to sleep. When I woke up, my new boots were gone,” he said. Brian eventually made it back to Street Roots, where another vendor gave him an extra pair of shoes from his storage unit. Mark Rodriguez knows exactly when he got sick. “I had to sleep in the snow. It was freezing. Thankfully they had the Portland Rescue Mission open all the next day, and I could sleep inside in a chair where it was warm,” he said. “You just do what you can do. Sleep is the main thing. I would just like to rest right now, but I have to keep moving, sell papers, make money.” Jason Scheer agreed that the worst part of staying healthy is lack of sleep. “To find somewhere to rest takes skilled planning. You can stay in an unused doorway or inside some churches, but you have to know where it’s safe to go. Some pastors let you sleep inside,” he said. Rex has frequent bouts with diarrhea due to a pancreatic condition. “I will always have problems,” Rex said. “I crap my pants all the time, and my self-esteem is so bad. That’s why I come here to Street Roots, because I can use the bathroom. “People in stores look at you when you need to use the bathroom like you’re going to steal something. Places where they feed you don’t have bathrooms, and we have trouble washing our hands. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Look at my hands; would you eat with these?” Rex asked. “If you go to a mission for a clean pair of pants, they borderline humiliate you. I have had to sit in my shit for 12 hours. I was told they don’t give out pants till 9 a.m.,” he said. “A lot of people like me, we shouldn’t have to be humiliated to take care of our own health. They make you feel like you’re not human if you have health problems. “There’s a five-minute limit on most bathrooms, but a lot of times you have to clean it before you use it, and that takes up practically the whole time,” he said. “Yesterday I was at McDonald’s, and one of the employees was trying to film me through the cracks in the door to see if I was shooting up in there.” Vendor George McCarthy was resting in the office with an obvious fever. “There’s a psychological aspect to being sick,” he said. “You feel vulnerable, nervous and depressed. If you get a horrible flu, you have nowhere to go; you have nowhere to be. You have to keep going around here or there, get on a bus, get off. It brings into focus a lot of things about homelessness. You are depressed already. You’re outside in the cold. It’s noisy. Inside, you’re always in an institutional environment with no ability to have influence over that environment. You are sick, vomiting, and you are well aware you have nowhere to go, no way to get well. It’s wretched. You feel like any social bond you had with society is broken." Courtesy of Street Roots / INSP.ngo �GLOBAL 6 N o v 2 -18 No 19, 2, 2 02019 18 | N . 393 April - vMay | oNo. 405 Ahead of LGBT+ crackdown, fleeing Bruneians fear for friends back home MICHAEL TAYLOR Reuters As a transgender woman growing up in Brunei, Zoe [not pictured] saw the country's slide towards conservatism from an early age, so plans to introduce strict new Islamic laws this week came as no surprise. The 19-year-old, who was born male but identified as female from early childhood, is now awaiting the outcome of her asylum application in Canada after fleeing her country late last year. "Even before Sharia law, LGBT+ people could be prosecuted under civil law," Zoe told the Thomson Reuters Foundation, which is identifying her by only one name for her protection. "I've always been scared of living my life openly in Brunei. I still am. I still think about how I present myself, because I was conditioned to survive." Brunei, a Muslim-majority former British protectorate with a population of about 400,000, is due to implement Sharia laws from 3 April, punishing sodomy, adultery and rape with the death penalty, and theft with amputation. The laws, elements of which were first adopted in 2014, could see LGBT+ people whipped or stoned to death for same-sex activity. Some aspects of the laws will apply to non-Muslims. "I knew it was going to happen," said Zoe, who hopes to one day undergo hormone therapy and formally change her name to the one she sometimes goes by. "Our oil reserves were dwindling and the sultan needed a way to control the economy once he started to enforce taxes and reduce the high subsidies." The Brunei Prime Minister's Department did not respond to an emailed request for comment. Brunei does not hold elections and any discontent is assuaged with generous government polices including zero taxes, subsidized housing, and free healthcare and education. Zoe, who is worried that her LGBT+ friends back in Brunei do not fully appreciate how dangerous the situation will soon become, faces an uncertain future. "If I get sent back to Brunei, I will confess who I am and what I believe in to the Bruneian authorities," she said. "I'd rather die being true to myself than resenting a long life. I wish that Muslims who want Sharia law just keep it with themselves and God. Not enforce it onto other people." Asia’s silence Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, 72, is A woman walks in front of a poster of Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, one of the world's richest men, in Bandar Seri Begawan, April 11, 2015. The royal wedding ceremony of Brunei's Prince Abdul Malik and his bride Dayangku Raabi’atul ‘Adawiyyah Pengiran Haji Bolkiah will be held at the Nurul Iman Palace in Brunei's capital on Sunday. REUTERS/Olivia Harris the world's second-longest-reigning monarch and prime minister of oil-rich Brunei. He ranks as one of the world's wealthiest people. Since details of the new laws were announced, actor George Clooney and musician Elton John are among celebrities who have called for a boycott of hotels owned by the governmentowned Brunei Investment Agency. Britain, Australia, New Zealand and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights have all called on Brunei to abandon changes to its penal code. "It is seriously regrettable that Brunei's decision contravenes a number of international norms on human rights," New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters said in a statement. Matthew Woolfe, founder of human rights group The Brunei Project, said it was now very unlikely that Brunei would backtrack, but diplomatic pressure from Asian countries could help ensure the laws were not enforced fully. "We want to see more Asian governments coming out and speaking out on this. They have been too quiet," said the Australia-based campaigner. Socially conservative attitudes prevail across Asia, with Myanmar, Malaysia and Singapore banning sexual relationships between men, while Indonesia has seen an increase in raids targeting LGBT+ people in recent years. Members of the Association of South East Asian Nations, which did not respond to requests for a comment, have a principle of non-interference in each others' domestic affairs. "I'm not aware of any Asian country having come out and said anything about these laws," said Woolfe. ‘Barbaric laws’ Brunei, which neighbours two Malaysian states on Borneo island, already enforces Islamic teachings more strictly than Malaysia and Indonesia, the other majority Muslim countries in Southeast Asia. Previously homosexuality was illegal in Brunei and punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment, while the sale of alcohol is banned and evangelism by other religions is forbidden. Ging Cristobal, project coordinator at OutRight Action International in Manila, urged other Muslim countries in the region to put pressure on Brunei. "In reality, Brunei will not succumb to pressure from countries that are not Muslim-majority countries," said Cristobal. "Brunei might say that other regions are imposing on Asia, so it would be good to see other Asian nations condemn these barbaric laws." Better to leave Shahiransheriffuddin bin Shahrani Muhammad is a gay man who fled Brunei last year after being charged with sedition for a Facebook post that was critical of the government. Now seeking asylum in Canada, THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED the 40-year-old was surprised at the speed with which the new Sharia laws were being implemented. "I expected it to happen, just not so soon," he said. "I thought there would be more time for people like me in Brunei to realize that it's better to leave." Many people in Brunei back the Sharia laws because of rising unemployment and crime, he said. The death penalty has rarely been used in Brunei and the burden of proof needed to secure a conviction for samesex activities is very high, he added. Nonetheless, for LGBT+ people, the prospect of going to trial is terrifying, carrying the risk of being the first person to be stoned, he added. Even if exonerated, they face being stigmatized for the rest of their lives Cristobal said the new laws gave licence "for other people to see LGBTIQ (people) as criminals and commit violence and abuse towards them". Khairul, 19, is a gay Muslim man living in Brunei who now fears for his future. "With the added laws that affect the LGBTQ+ community, I am scared," said Khairul, who asked not to be identified by his real name for fear of reprisals. "My life here will become more complicated and hard. "The fear of dying has become a reality, while the hope of being accepted by family is now just a dream." Courtesy of Reuters / Thomson Reuters Foundation / INSP.ngo �N o. 39 18 3 |N 2 - 2, N o2019 v 19,| 2 0 18405 April - ov May No. GLOBAL 7 Without papers, Uighurs fear for their future in Turkey KIERAN GUILBERT Reuters Without work or residency permits in Turkey and unable to renew their Chinese passports, Qurbanjan Nourmuhammed and his family live in uncertainty in Istanbul, cut off from their son who returned to Xinjiang three years ago. Nourmuhammed, his wife and five children came to Turkey in 2015, facing increased pressure from China to abandon Islamic practices such as wearing a headscarf, growing a beard and closing their restaurant for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. China has faced growing international criticism for setting up facilities that United Nations experts describe as detention centres holding more than one million Uighurs and other Muslims. Beijing says it needs the measures to stem the threat of Islamist militancy, and calls them vocational training centres. Ismail Cengiz, founding secretary general of the Istanbul-based East Turkestan National Center, said that some 35,000 Uighurs live in Turkey, which has been a safe haven for them since the 1960s. Turkey is the only Muslim country that has regularly expressed concern about the situation in Xinjiang, due to its close cultural links with the Uighurs who speak a Turkic language. While Uighurs had no problems in Turkey until three or four years ago, Ankara's security concerns and stronger ties with Beijing reversed that trend, said Seyit Tumturk, president of a rights organisation called the National Assembly of East Turkestan, the name A masked Uighur boy takes part in a protest against China, at the courtyard of Fatih Mosque, a common meeting place for pro-Islamist demonstrators in Istanbul, Turkey, November 6, 2018. REUTERS/Murad Sezer that Uighur exiles use for Xinjiang. Perceptions of Uighurs suffered after some went to fight with jihadists against President Bashar alAssad's forces, because of the Syrian government's close ties with Beijing, Tumturk said, adding China has ramped up pressure since then. Nourmuhammed has not heard from his son Pakzat since he went back to Xinjiang in 2016 to visit his grandparents. A friend of Pakzat's told Nourmuhammed that Pakzat was detained upon arrival at the airport in Urumchi. He believes the government Gulgine Mahmut holds a placard with a picture of her son Pakzat at her home in Istanbul, Turkey, December 12, 2018. Pakzat is believed to be at one of the facilities that United Nations experts describe as detention centres and the Chinese government calls vocational training centres. Pakzat went back to Xinjiang in 2016 to visit his grandparents. A friend of Pakzat's told her husband, Qurbanjan Nourmuhammed, that Pakzat was detained upon arrival at the airport in Urumchi. "When my son was arrested, he was only a 16-year-old kid. His younger siblings ask us constantly when they'll be united with their older brother," Mahmut said. REUTERS/Murad Sezer accuses him of having links with extreme Islamists. The Xinjiang government did not respond to a request for comment. The family regularly attends protests around Turkey in the hopes of having their voices heard. "When my son was arrested, he was only a 16-year-old kid. His younger siblings ask us constantly when they'll be united with their older brother," Pakzat's mother Gulgine Mahmut said. "I don't believe he was involved in a crime; I think he was falsely accused." Nourmuhammed is unemployed as he waits for a residency permit he applied for in 2017 to be approved. Gulgine and their four children have been issued with permits, which risks tearing the family apart if Nourmuhammed is deported. Nourmuhammed said his family also lost touch with relatives in Xinjiang, who asked not to be contacted due to fears that the government will associate them with jihadists. Uighurs also cannot renew their Chinese passports at the local embassy when they expire and they are only given a document that will allow them to return to China, said Munevver Ozuygur, President of the East Turkestan Nuzugum Culture and Family Foundation. Some 15 Uighurs said they expect Turkey to pay more attention to their plight and give them the permits to THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED allow them to work and benefit from the healthcare system. After a gunman, believed to be an Uzbek national, killed 39 people in a popular Istanbul nightclub on New Year's Day 2017, Turkey took a more careful approach to people from central Asia, tightening the vetting process for new arrivals, Tumturk said. "Not all of the people whose passports have been labelled as risky... are problematic people," he said. "People who can't retrieve a required document from China can experience the same issue." Cengiz said many Uighurs had begun to fear they may be sent back to China. "Turkey was seen as the only country that could stand up to China. In the past year, they have been fearing for their existence in Turkey," he said. However, some hope has returned after Turkey took a harder stance against China at a U.N. Human Rights Council meeting last month, where Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu criticised Beijing for the alleged mistreatment of Uighurs and called for authorities to protect the freedom of religion. "There is a positive development in the favour of East Turkestan," Ozuygur said. "Turkey started to give China the message that it is aware of the oppressions that Uighurs experience in a proper way with a diplomatic attitude." Courtesy of Reuters / INSP.ngo �FEATURE 8 N o v 2 18 - N-oMay v 19,2, 20 18 | |NNo. o . 393 April 2019 405 How to Bury a Story DR. MARK MUSSMAN Staff Writer T he old adage in news broadcasting, “if it bleeds, it leads,” helps create the belief that the world is more dangerous than it really is. Violent crime is at its lowest point in generations, yet people still believe that the world is more dangerous today than ever before. While mass shootings have become commonplace, the likelihood that a random act of violence will affect you are slim to none. The vast majority of crime occurs between people who are connected in some way. Rape and molestation are more common among family members, acquaintances, friends, and social groups than the random person on the street. Yet, we start early with “stranger danger” which may lull children into the false belief that their family and friend group are safe from harming them. Our limited, and perhaps distorted, worldview can be more harmful when we believe falsehoods touted by media. Currently, community groups, including the Homeless Coalition, are in a media battle surrounding residential displacement in the West End. The soccer company, FC Cincinnati, has bought several buildings in the West End, and they are currently trying to remove the long-term residents, including 99 year-old Ms. Mary Page. The optics on this are pretty astounding, as Ms. Mary is bedridden and seeing her, hearing her story, is compelling. Yet, local news media is attempting to bury the story to protect the wealthy elite who own the soccer business. This is the type of story that should be running nationwide by now, yet, it is barely making rounds on local news sites. While Ms. Mary is just one of many, (FC Cincinnati’s own housing study, to be released the summer, shows that more than half of the residents of the West End, not including public housing, are at risk of losing their homes in the next 3-5 years), the stress of displacement may not just result in homelessness, it could also end her life. One of the ways corporate media tries to bury the story is through oversimplification. Media may try to frame things as only two sides, and that each side has only their own interests at heart. In the case of the soccer stadium, it is presented as the soccer stadium is just trying to be built, you know, for the economic development, or progress. This viewpoint does not take in the months of organizing against the stadium, the residents who almost unanimously tried to stop the stadium from coming to their community, the land-swap deal with Cincinnati Public Schools, the many variances and zoning changes that were brought to City Council, research that shows that stadiums are economic wastes, and the whole history of the Bengals’ stadium deal - which we are still paying for in the county. Trying to simplify the issues also leads to a forgone conclusion, such as we saw in the news this week, which FC Cincinnati CEO and Owner Carl Lindner III FC Cincinnati Owner and Negotiator Jeff Berding claimed that the residents must move for the stadium. Not only does this ignore the promises made by Jeff Berding of FC Cincinnati to “not displace anyone” it also defies logic - they do not need to move, but the business interests don’t value their lives because they are not in the targeted demographic for the stadium or the newspaper. Another typical tactic used to bury a story is discredit the sources, those who are affected, and those who are helping to organize and amplify voices. Discrediting is seen in the titles assigned to people involved: community leader becomes “activist;” community organizer becomes “advocate;” community member becomes “bystander.” We see this time and time again, and it’s written into the history as well. Somehow, without having political aspirations at all, we at the Homeless Coalition are accused of staging the fight against displacement “for political gain.” I have yet to figure out what that gain is. How do we gain politically when we are aligning ourselves with the people who are thought to have the least amount of power? If we wanted political gain, wouldn’t we align ourselves with the most powerful? This kind of logical fallacy is prevalent in the media as it attempts to discredit the hard work that organizing entails. Other ways that sources have been discredited this week, include statements regarding Ms. Mary’s caregiver and family member, who lives in Mt. Auburn, that claim that she’s not worried about losing her own housing. What does that have to do with THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED this issue? Unless we are talking about multi-neighborhood gentrification, it’s irrelevant. We should all be worried about displacement, and it should not be down-played by the media. But the goal here was to say that it doesn’t really affect the caregiver, so why is she even speaking about it? Even more egregious than the previous examples, is when the news media clearly side with the oppressor, or agitator. In the case with FC Cincinnati, media outlets were quick to cite false information provided by FC Cincinnati, including that they were working directly with Ms. Mary (and others) to help them through this transition. FC Cincinnati was attempting to hide their new ownership of the buildings, and they were not at all in contact with the residents being displaced, other than notices to vacate the building. By repeating lies over and over, that FC Cincinnati is being altruistic, trying to help, when they have not even had a phone call or meeting with the residents, is a clear example of bad journalism. But beyond bad journalism, or what might be called fake news, it also shows how eager the media is to take what the powerful and wealthy have to say and run with it. It should have never been in print without verifying the facts. There have been other false statements made by FC Cincinnati over the years, including that no one would be displaced, and without a critical media to analyze these false messages, we are left with a mouthpiece for the soccer business. Distracting the reader/viewer is �FEATURE No. 3918 3 |-NMay ov 2 -2, N2019 o v 19,| No. 2 0 18 April 405 FC Cincinnati Owner Chris Lindner also done to ensure that the whole picture isn’t received. A promotional video for the proposed soccer stadium ran on top of a recent article about the community members who FC Cincinnati is attempting to displace from their homes. The video, with its upbeat and driven music, shows fancy sketches of the possible stadium, comparisons with existing buildings in the area, including the football stadium, and glamorizes the stadium site. The video itself is overpowering, and I even watched the video thinking it was going to be about the victims, but it turned out to be a promotional video provided by FC Cincinnati. I watched the entire video before realizing that it didn’t even relate to the content of the article. The video itself is so hype that I was exhausted after watching it and I didn’t even read the article. Hours later, after realizing that I missed the content, I had to go back to the news site skip the video, and read the article. To distract us from tragic displacement, I also noticed non-story news popping on the front page of corporate media sites. For example, stories about the 7 Hills student who died in his van last year, and failures of the 9-1-1 system somehow became news again. Lists of hole-in-the-wall restaurants started popping up on corporate media’s social media. The story will be buried through distraction and oversaturation of nonnews. Sports plays a specific role in distracting the public from inequalities and inequities that negatively affect our community’s quality of life. Finally, the use of logical fallacies is prevalent in the reporting around the displacement of the low-income, mostly Black, residents in the West End. An Operation Vortex style blitz is being touted by the Cincinnati Police Department as a solution to the crime of the West End. These type of activities only serve to displace crime to another part of the city. The notion that everyone in the community is a criminal is not only harmful, but serves specific interests, including that of FC Cincinnati and land speculators. When Media Cameras Record on Wade Street but Reporters and Media Distort THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 9 social media pointed this out last year, the Cincinnati Police Department fired back by claiming this is what they do every year. So, every year, they label an entire neighborhood as criminal and become aggressive with them. Does anyone else see this as a problem? We cannot simply compare FC Cincinnati, with its unlimited monetary resources, with the low-income community it is attempting to control. These are not equal comparisons, and should not be treated as such. We should be mindful of the tactics used to bury the story: oversimplification, forgone conclusions, discredit and deny, siding with the oppressor, distracting the community, using promotional materials as news, using blanket statements that vilify entire communities, and pretending that the villain the victim have the same amount of power. Like rape and sexual assualt, the attempt by FC Cincinnati and its corporate partners to take the West End for their own use, is about power and control. FC Cincinnati, with the blessing of Cincinnati Public Schools, Cincinnati City Council, and the Hamilton County Commissioners has the power to do many things, but they cannot erase the power of the people who are organized and unified with a single demand: to remain in their safe and affordable housing, ultimately, to not be removed from their own community. �10 LOCAL N o v 2 18 - N-oMay v 19,2, 20 18 | |NNo. o . 393 April 2019 405 3rd of Main JOEY WILLIAMS Contributing Writer B eing on the third floor of the Main library branch of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County brings back memories. The memories exist here together as if all of time were crammed in one place. I can even sense the memories that haven’t happened yet. It’s difficult to grapple with sitting here in this place that has experienced so many iterations of me and been the backdrop for so many moments. Some were determined, ambitious moments but there have been many aimless ones too. Here I have been depressed, inspired, hopeful, and occasionally incredibly skeeved out. But no matter how you spin it, this place is one of life, community, and connection. At nearly this exact desk probably a good seven years ago, I studied for my undergraduate classes. My focus was on international nuclear security and I was feeling especially motivated that morning. It wasn’t long though before a friendly man, dressed in a dapper but slightly too large suit, from the next desk over made contact. Michael was talkative in the way that always seems a bit strange in such a guarded world but I liked him and I liked his energy. I chattered excitedly about nuclear security in a way that probably seemed too talkative for such a guarded world but he didn’t mind. He pulled out a picture of his daughter for me to see, and with the most exquisite confidence told me he believed in me that I would keep the world safe for her. I’m not sure if I really believed I could make the world a safe place for anyone’s daughter but it mattered to me that someone truly believed I could. I’m not a religious person but when Michael invited me to his church, I knew I would go. At his church that summer I swayed and fanned myself as music played, women cried, and men writhed in the aisles in a transcendent communal experience of pure spirituality. I’m still not religious but to this day I look back with amazement and joy on the experience that sprang to life on the third floor of the public library. “Are you a social worker or something,” a man asked only minutes after my conversation with Michael. I definitely was not (although his guess turned out to be a lot more accurate years down the road than I ever would have imagined). He was bleary-eyed and seemed defeated. I wasn’t a social worker but I have felt as defeated as he looked. I asked him to have a seat at the desk where Michael had just been. He smelled like alcohol, stale and fresh, but I think tears would have welled in his eyes regardless as he spoke about how much he loved his daughter and how much he wanted to be the best he could be for her. I can’t even recall what else we talked about but his distress slowly seeped away. We smiled and laughed and when he asked if it would be okay if he got a hug, I didn’t hesitate. In that third floor library conversation and that hug I’d like to think I passed the encouraging energy from a man who believed I would protect his daughter to a man who just wanted to be better for his own daughter. Years later I would be in that same room on the third floor on a weekend night after the library had closed for the evening. It was an annual Staff Association party, a fantastic gettogether for library employees. I’d worked for the library two years by that point but that particular Staff Association dinner would be my first and last. I had given my notice weeks earlier and the following Monday would be my very last day. It felt cosmic and meaningful to wrap up my tenure at the library with a giant party with free food, alcohol, cupcakes, and music while surrounded by all the amazing friends I’d made while working at the library. I soaked it all in, fully aware of its significance in the moment. I stayed until everyone else had left except my inner circle (comprised of people I’d grown to really love) and one very inspiring unabashedly drunk coworker from another branch. It was the perfect way to close such an important chapter. As I sit here now six months later, I find myself still struggling to navigate life changes set into motion all those months ago. Some of the people I spent that evening with are still in my life; many are not, a reality that has been especially difficult to navigate. But as I sit here now on the third floor of Main, I feel all the moments that have been and all the moments that have yet to come. And while all the variations of “hey girl, where’s your boyfriend” and “I like the colors in your hair” that I have received here today aren’t quite the sense of community I was looking for, they have been exactly the reminder I needed that life is still happening, people are still connecting, and there’s still a world out here waiting for me to reach out and connect. Trans Marxism: The Music of the Future TIMOTHY BAY ContributingWriter T rans Marxism is a term that is being discussed with increasing frequency in socialist spaces. As queer individuals turn to the revolutionary movement, we are seeking ways to make our mark, to adapt the traditional methods and ideas of the left to our particular experiences, and to use the theoretical tools we encounter to theorize our lives. But what does it mean to have a Trans Marxism? Not simply in the descriptive sense that the present author is both a non-binary person and a Marxist, but in the more general sense of how the emerging Trans Marxism can act as a distinct theoretical paradigm within the Marxist project. To a certain degree this theoretical project is tied to identity, to the creation of trans affirming spaces in the socialist movement and the understanding of how the hegemonic transphobia of bourgeois society has impacted revolutionary movements and organizations, and to the development of trans and non-binary cadres to fight against oppression and for human liberation. On another level, Trans Marxism means the application of the theoretical tools developed by Marxism— historical materialism, dialectical philosophy, and Marxist economic theory—to the history of the queer community, the experience of being trans in capitalist society, and the structure of transphobic oppression in the context of class exploitation. One thing we desperately need as a queer revolutionary movement is a thoroughgoing historical materialist examination of trans history —and liberal attempts to theorize transphobic oppression always fall short because of their inability to offer the kind of class analysis that Marxism provides. Furthermore, it is reasonable to suggest that dialectical materialism becomes an extremely intuitive philosophy precisely when the question of trans and nonbinary individuals is brought to the fore (with the slogans "beyond binaries” and “no binaries” that are being raised in regards to gender being excellent summaries of dialectical thinking even to comrades who have never read a word of Marx or Hegel). It’s also worth pointing out that Marxist dialectical philosophy is simply incompatible with the existence of a rigid gender binary; the existence of such would disprove essential Marxist precepts and the very existence of trans, non-binary, and agender people validates the dialectical method of thought. Beyond that however, something that doesn’t get discussed as often is Trans Marxism signifying the understanding that Marxism itself is a project of transition. In his preface to Finance Capital, Rudolf Hilferding suggested a division between Marxism as a scientific method of understanding the world and socialism/communism as a political movement. This view de facto prevailed throughout the 2nd International, where it was largely taken for granted by the ‘orthodox’ leadership that Marxism was simply a question of philosophical ideas set in stone and could be separated from the practical work of building up the THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED party and trade union apparatuses, advocating for social reforms, and conducting electoral campaigns. Understanding Marxism as being in process of transition, as constantly testing its own validity through the revolutionary process and as existing as a product of a certain historical moment (namely of the proletarian class struggle to overthrow capitalism), means a total break that view. A Trans Marxism is a Marxism that cannot be separated from the political movement, that can truly exist only in the course of struggle, and is a realized in terms of concrete socialist organizing more than it terms of a set of abstract beliefs. In that sense, Trans Marxism is the rightful successor of Rosa Luxemburg’s and V.I. Lenin’s efforts to unify socialist theory with socialist practice, of Trotsky’s permanent revolution and transitional program, and of Marx’s famous declaration in the Theses On Feuerbach that “the philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways; the point is to change it.” �No. 3918 3 |-NMay ov 2 -2, N2019 o v 19,| No. 2 0 18 April 405 11 LOCAL Escaping Eviction in Cincinnati SETH WEBER I Contributing Writer magine this: you’re injured, out of work and can’t afford to pay your bills. Your pipes are leaking, leading to high utility costs, and your landlord won’t fix them. You’re scheduled to be in eviction court and without an attorney, you’ll most likely have an eviction filing on your record. This seems like a pretty hopeless situation where no one – not even the justice system – is willing to help you. Agencies such as the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati out there looking out for the city’s most vulnerable, however. City council passed an ordinance in January that will appropriate $227,000 to eviction prevention. An agency has yet to be chosen as a recipient, as progress on a request for proposal (RFP) has been slow but steady, said Vanessa White, chief of staff for council member Greg Landsman. An RFP will be sent out by July 1. That amount of cash may sound like a lot, but it’s small compared to what social service agencies in Hamilton County spend on eviction prevention alone. St. Vincent spent $700,000 on eviction prevention in 2017. Strategies to End Homelessness (STEH), Cincinnati’s Unified Funding Agency for homelessness, spent more than $920,000 on eviction prevention in 2017, according to their 2017 IRS forms. Even still, Mary Reid, St. Vincent’s social services director, and STEH President and CEO Kevin Finn have expressed this is just a drop in the bucket in the face of the problem. STEH’s eviction prevention fund was just 4 percent of the $22.2 million it spent in 2017. The rest went to keeping people experiencing homelessness off the street and in shelters. Most of the eviction prevention funding comes from state and local governments, while the federal government funds homelessness programs, Finn said. Hundreds of dollars more on average are spent keeping individuals off the street than are spent on aid with rent or utilities, Finn said. Little public spending goes towards eviction prevention, however, because officials don’t want it to be “wasted” on people who aren’t going to end up experiencing homelessness if they are evicted. Low-income residents who aren’t getting help often pay up to half their income on rent, said Nick DiNardo, managing attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati. This is corroborated by a 2017 housing affordability report authored by the Community Building Institute at Xavier University. The report states a third of households in Hamilton County are paying more than 30 percent of their income on housing, which is considered a cost burden. “Throughout Hamilton County this is particularly pronounced among extremely low income households,” the report states. “Three quarters of these households spend more than 30 percent, or more than 50 percent, of their income on housing, making it difficult to pay for other essential expenses.” The housing market is not looking hopeful for these folks, as Hamilton County’s poverty rate has risen from 13 to 18 percent since 2000 and there are 500 fewer subsidized housing units since that time. Forty thousand more subsidized housing units are needed to meet demand, the Xavier University report states. Until the demand is met, those living in unaffordable housing often have to rely on the aid on agencies like St. Vincent. About 100 to 150 applications for assistance come through St. Vincent a week, said Claire Palmer, a client advocate. Out of those, about a dozen or so are chosen by a team of three or four people who look through the applications and debate who should be given aid. With an average of $300 to $400 given to each applicant, Claire says they need to be selective to stay within budget. Palmer and a few others on staff sat around a table, reciting the stories of people seeking help. Those they heard from range from a single mother trying to keep a roof over her children’s heads, to an elderly couple behind on utilities. The group asked each other questions in an attempt to narrow down the applicants. What is this family’s income? Why did that woman lose her job? For many applicants, the only income consists of government benefits. Some are out of work due to an injury. The process is quite subjective, Palmer said, and deciding who needs help the most is left up to their best judgement. “That’s the good thing about St. Vincent de Paul: we have guidelines, but you can go with your heart here,” Palmer said. “We’ve had different people come through here who say this should be more scientific. It never works because the human part always comes through.” After applicants are chosen, they come into the West End office where they talk about what trouble they’re facing. One couple, Kimberly Newman and David Bertke, applied for help because they were out of work. Newman’s contract at Duke Energy had ended and Bertke lost employment after injuring his knee on a forklift. They were seeking help for their water bill, for which they owed $900. The couple and Palmer agreed the skyhigh bill was likely due to a leaking pipe. They were also paying out of pocket to keep cockroaches at bay which had been infesting the house since they’d moved in. Bertke said they don’t want to pay for fixes the landlord should be making, but they don’t want to pay for another security deposit, either. “We’re caught in a Catch-22,” he said. “Do we pay into [the landlord’s] money trap or do I pay to move?” On top of everything, they were behind on rent and struck a deal with the landlord that has them paying $500 a week. The next day they had to be in eviction court. Newman said she already had evictions on her record, which as DiNardo says, can make finding decent housing challenging. “Once you have one eviction filed against you, you enter a different world of rental housing,” DiNardo said. “You have the regular housing, and then you have the sub-world of rental housing.” In this “sub-world” where tenants pay the same rate for worse housing, DiNardo says landlords tend to ignore problems like Newman and Bertke were facing and often retaliate against complaining tenants by seeking eviction. It’s difficult to prove such retaliation, he says, especially when one does not have proper representation. Tianna Henry came to St. Vincent looking for help on a Duke Energy bill of more than $1000. She wasn’t dealing with a vindictive landlord, but did have to deal with poor living conditions. It was the dead of winter and the Section 8 unit’s heating wasn’t working properly. Henry said she may have considered braving the cold if she were alone, but she wasn’t willing to subject her four young children to such conditions. Later, she couldn’t come back if she wanted to because the unit failed an inspection. Palmer seemed frustrated and confused with the apparent lack of care such landlords show. “[Some landlords] don’t really care about fixing things, especially if they don’t live close,” she said. “They’re getting the full amount of rent, so why can’t they run it like a proper business?” Thanks to Duke Energy’s “winter rule,” tenants can pay a steep discount to have their energy reconnected. In this instance, $175 was needed, and Palmer was quick to write the check for Henry. Ever since the children’s father died, Henry said it’s been difficult to make ends meet. “If it wasn’t just me, it might not be so hard,” she said. “I’m just walking on the edge right now.” After writing the checks, Palmer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED took the time to talk with everyone about budgeting, as she finds budgeting skills to be vital to keeping one’s head above water. Try as they may, workers at St. Vincent have a hard time keeping up with those they help. Palmer says she and others will call them to check up, but often don’t hear back once the person walks out the door. If you can’t find help to pay off your rent or utilities, you face an even tougher challenge: Ohio’s justice system. In Ohio, the court is not required to provide tenants with representation, leading to 98 percent of tenants facing court without an attorney, said Rob Wall, director of the Hamilton County Municipal Court Help Center. Often the only legal assistance tenants get is the free advice provided by the team at the help center. Wall said they often see dozens of people a day, though such a resource is rare in Ohio; Franklin and Hamilton Counties are the only places in Ohio which provide such a service. If Wall and his team think a case can be taken on, they pass it along to the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati, who represent tenants free of charge. The team at Legal Aid is small, and can only take a select few eviction cases a month out of the thousands which go through the Hamilton County courthouse. Eviction cases are heard in a small room in the courthouse’s first floor. Blink and you’d miss a case during the proceeding which tend to fly by in seconds. If the tenant comes to defend themselves or are represented by Legal Aid, it could last a little longer – maybe a couple minutes. To those like Nick DiNardo, the managing attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati, the basic human need for a roof over one’s head is of such vital importance that tenants ought to have court-appointed representation. “It seems to me if you have a right to an attorney for spending one night in jail, I think you can make a pretty strong argument that the public should have some sort of right to appointment of council,” he said. New York City began appointing lawyers to tenants in 2017 and according to a 2018 report by New York City’s Human Resources Administration, $77 million was spent on tenant legal services, assisting 33,000 households. “Eighty-four percent of households represented in court by lawyers were able to remain in their homes, not only saving thousands of tenancies, but also promoting the preservation of affordable housing and neighborhood stability,” the report states. �12 STREETVOICE N o v 218 - N o v 19, 0 18 || N o . 393 April - May 2,22019 No. 405 Witches T here they were "throned" on my front porch; every summer; shelling peas, snapping beans; All Knowing… They give birth, life, and call down sweet chariot while gently singing the dying into that River.All There they were in bright the while their chairs-big dresses: yellows, reds, their thrones--rocking blues, purples, oranges, sorrow away and giving greens; rhythm to joy. Dresses dancing around With each moment of life overly large, abundant calling up and gathering baby producing hips. up the song comes the shout! Dresses rocking, molding and cradling the curves It starts with a lap or an of breasts made to feed apron full of peas leaping nations into the atmosphere. Bowls overturned, clanging their There they were sitting on symphonic introduction my front porch preparing in existence. for winter, preparing for harvest, preparing for And in unison with the whatever storm was going freedom of the peas, to come.. the women dance their souls out of their bodies Beautiful, radiant, women like rainbow whales on with raisin and coco skins- emerald seas. -reds and purples dancing around their cheeks and Free! Free! from the eyes.. bondage society can hold. They laugh watching the many children dodge the bees, skin their knees, and grin at each other trying so hard to please Overlapping choruses of “How I got over,” “Nobody knows,” and “Amazing Grace drummed out on the wooden plank porch. A symphony of aged bare They sit on the porch... feet; a ballet of earthy Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, round bodies painting and Spirit...keeping the God’s grace. world turning, growing, cleansing. and just being. They think of the times when there were no peas, One day I too will be a no beans, no food to share.. praying witch. They remember when they I too can say to God in could not own their own confidence and strength.. houses, their own lives, their own bodies or even “You promised…” their own dreams. I want my big flowing And the screams, the dress, my rocker, my wailings crescendo into large bag for healing and an opera of “Thank you, concealing the emptiness Jesus,” “Lord, have mercy,” that brings apathy and war. and “Glory! I want to use the fat of my body to draw out and hold Glory! chaos and poisons and Glory! Hallelujah!” gently return them, cleans and whole as flowers and One day, One very Holy trees. day, if I am blessed and awakened; resurrected and I want my body filled taken..I too will sit with with every creature, light the Five wise women...the and dark, I want to sit... witches. to sit on a porch and see my children; my children Slowly, I’m reaching that filled so full of love they porch so high; that porch can’t help but to walk almost level with the sky. justice, eat justice, breath justice, teach justice and Where “Old” is beautiful give peace. and “Fat” means harvest and wolves and pigs are I want to be that witch, that both in Vogue. woman, that elder, that wise crone filled with all One day, if I keep my my colors. Sitting on that broom handy; ready to porch, rocking with the clean my would-a-should- white painted clap boards a-could-haves; making as my halo; shelling peas my hearth a place for all; and snapping beans to feed, comfort, and teach share. many nations; laugh to the storms and cry after the JUNE ALEXANDER sun; nurse the moon with Contributing Writer my own eternal light... Streetvibes Writing Circle If you would like to submit a story for publication in streetvibes, come join Katelyn Lusher and Chris Wilkey for a group writing session! S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �STREETVOICE No. 39 ov 2 2, - N o v 19, 2 0 18 April 183 -| N May 2019 | No. 405 Intoxication Intoxication is being drunk if only for a little while Intoxication can become a bad habit with a crooked smile On Securing His Base Being high and drunk all alone really makes no sense Being homeless, a panhandler and a drunk can be a bad defense The fear of not knowing what your next move can possibly be Can be intoxicating without a drink, please believe me The fear of failure constantly day in and day out Can be a eye opener to a drunk to make a change, no doubt Once you realize that there is another way to live everyday To work, maintain your money and eventually find a place to Trump loves to rant about law and order When he Tweets about the southern border. He's busy creating new Hispanic scapegoats, As the way he keeps his anti-immigrant votes. At all his rallies you can be certain he caters To his adoring base of right-wing haters. stay Things start to fall in order for you surely but slowly As you start to make a change in your life ever so boldly Intoxicating thoughts will no longer be able to hold you back BILL WOODS Contributing Writer Understanding that with the help of God you can get your life on track So don’t stay intoxicated by the fears of the world today Go to church, read the bible and get on your knees and pray! WILLA DENISE JONES Streetvibes Distributor Contributing Writer The Sorrow of Tomorrow The sorrow of tomorrow Is here today The future looks Dim and gray The Earth has been Polluted Children in the world Are starving and crying Many animals are now extinct But this doesn't affect the way The killers of them think Their motives are furious And notorious Wash your hands Rinse your food These are the basic rules Our waters are polluted Ozone layer's almost gone A whole lot of viruses People are dying and crying Farm land unreliable People are getting killed Mankind is dying The sorrow of tomorrow is here today! THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 13 �PUZZLES 14 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 103 Across 1. Set of rules, principles or laws 5. Concentrate 10. Money 14. Overt 15. Entertain 16. Having the capacity to do something 17. Baseball glove 18. First public appearance 19. Juicy fruit 20. Unable to move or resist motion 22. Orderly 23. Receive something given 24. Breakfast food 26. Plant with pea or bean seedpod 28. Smell 31. Sense organ 32. Immense 35. Having a sharp biting taste 37. Fatigued 41. In the past 42. Crane framework 44. Owed and payable immediately 45. Taut 47. Dark shade of blue 48. Bard 49. Flow back 51. Property rental contract 53. Bowl-shaped depression 56. Approximately average 60. Melt 61. Untamed 64. Snapshot 65. Sharpen 66. Separate 68. Affirm 69. Impulse 70. Happen again 71. Coniferous tree 72. Something done 73. Foe 74. Oracle PUZZLE SOLUTIONS CROSSWORD #102 N o v 2 18 - N-oMay v 19,2, 20 18 | |NNo. o . 393 April 2019 405 Down 1. Standup comedian 2. Speak up without fear or hesitation 3. Dissuade 4. Beseech 5. Craze 6. Portent 7. Raise to the third power 8. Common 9. A small sofa 10. Removal of an opponent's piece in chess 11. At right angles to the length of a ship 12. Quench 13. In this place 21. Seafarer 25. Fail to win 27. Look with amazement 29. Between dawn and noon 30. Pertaining to hearing or the ear 32. Large open vessel for storing liquids 33. Historic period 34. Male offspring 36. Rend 38. Fuss 39. Regret 40. Up to the present time 42. Amount owed 43. Bluish shade of green 46. Wrack 48. Maybe 50. Be cautious about 52. Soak through 53. Disagreeable task 54. Scope 55. Mature 57. Motion picture 58. Expiate 59. Depress 60. Heavy dull sound 62. Delicate woven fabric 63. Percussion instrument 67. Attempt SODOKU PUZZLE NO 394 - MEDIUM SODOKU PUZZLE NO 393- MEDIUM PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 3918 3 |-NMay ov 2 -2, N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 April | No. 405 Central Access Point 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children RESOURCES Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside Bethany House 557-2873 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 591-2246 FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 Salvation Army 762-5660 St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 131 E. 12th Street 45202 1125 Bank Street 45214 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men Shelter: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Shelterhouse 721-0643 2121 Vine Street 45202 411 Gest St. 45203 Prospect House 921-1613 1437 Walnut Street 45202 Starting Over 961-2256 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Women St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Parkway Center 661-4620 First Step Home 961-4663 Shelter: Youth 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Sheakley Center for Youth (18-24 y/o) 2522 Highland Ave. 45219 569-9500 Lighthouse Youth Crisis Center (10-17 y/o) 3330 Jefferson Ave 45220 961-4080 Shelter: Family Interfaith Hospitality Network Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Both AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Joseph House (Veterans) 471-1100 1522 Republic Street 45202 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street 45202 Talbert House 221-HELP Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street 45202 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Food/Clothing First Lutheran Church 421-0065 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Seraph Ministries 549-0542 St. George Food Pantry 2554 Dennis St. 45219 751-8771 St. Anthony Center 1615 Republic St. Advocacy Catholic Social Action 421-3131 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Franciscan JPIC 721-4700 Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 241-2965 Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board 946-8000 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 221-HELP Housing: 15 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 Health Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 Other Resources Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 215 E. 14th St. 45202 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 381-0111 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. 579-8547 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 1223 Main St. 45202 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 The Caring Place 631-1114 Talbert House 751-7747 United Way 211 Women Helping Women 977-5541 Off The Streets 421-5211 Hamilton County Office of Reentry 946-4304 138 E. Court Street Room # 101 First Floor Cancer Justice Network 404-3882 Hamilton/Middletown St. Raephaels 981-4200 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 Northern Kentucky Brighton Center (11-17 y/o) 859-491-8303 ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary 859-572-6202 Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky 634 Scott St. 41011 859-291-4555 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? You can support our mission and spread the word about your business. For more information contact Gabriela Godinez Feregrino, 961-0600 email streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Center for Respite Care 621-1868 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 386-7899 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 NAMI of Hamilton County 351-3500 PATH Outreach 977-4489 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �16 N o v 2 18 - N-oMay v 19, 2, 2 02019 18 | N o . 393 April | No. 405 S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. ALFRED WOOLFOLK SINCE 10/2003 ASRES AYENAW SINCE 2012 BERTA LAMBERT SINCE 1997 BETTIE BAILEY SINCE 10/2017 BRANDON NELSON SINCE 4/2008 BRIAN ADAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHARLES WILLIAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHRISTOPHER KAIHATSU SINCE 7/2017 CLEO WOMBLES SINCE 10/2003 CRANDALL COBB SINCE 2004 DARREL ROZIER SINCE 7/2017 DAVID MCCANE SINCE 2017 ERIC VALDEZ SINCE 2/2017 GERALD FRANKLIN SINCE 7/2017 GRADY COOK SINCE 1997 HENRY BRELAND SINCE 7/2017 JAMES BROWN SINCE 3/2009 JAMES DAVIS SINCE 8/2000 JENNY BURTON SINCE 7/2017 JIMMIE GIPSON SINCE 2001 JON DARBY SINCE 2/2006 JOHN HORN JOSEPHINE BASKERVILLE SINCE 9/2008 J’TORI TYMAN SINCE 5/2014 KIM NGUYEN SINCE 7/2017 KENNY BUSSELL SINCE 10/2009 KAREN COLLETTE SINCE 7/2008 LARRY BROWN SINCE 10/2007 LEE MCCOY SINCE 7/2009 LEONARD JACKSON SINCE 2/2005 MARY MUELLER SINCE 5/2005 MARK SHEARS SINCE 4/2012 MAURICE GOLSBY MELISSA MOSBY SINCE 9/2014 MIKE CARANO SINCE 4/2016 RAESHAWN GIPSON SINCE 3/2009 RAYNARD JONES SINCE 10/2008 RICKY WOODS SINCE 4/2015 RICCARDO TAYLOR SINCE 1999 RONNIE PHILLIPS SINCE 10/2009 SAMUEL JACKSON SINCE 10/2006 STACIA HOLLANDER SINCE 2017 STEPHANIE EAKES SINCE 7/2017 SYLVESTER WALKER SINCE 7/2017 TALINA HILL SINCE 2/2011 VICTOR MUMPHRY WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WINNIE RICE SINCE 7/2017 QUEENACELASTINE SINCE 7/2017 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 VIOLET COLLINS SINCE 2017 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2019 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource April 18-May 2, 2019 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: No Autonomy Pg 3: Wade street and Central Avenue Tenants Release New Statement Appalachian Cincinnati Pg 4: GCHC Pg 5: Life on the Streets Pg 6: Ahead of LGBT+ Crackdown, Fleeing Brunelans Fear for Friends Back Home Pg 7: Without Papers, Uighurs Fear for their Future in Turkey Pg 8: How to Bury a Story Pg 9: How to Bury a Story Continued Pg 10: 3rd of Main Trans Marxism Pg 11: Escaping eviction in Cincinnati Pg 12: Street Voice Pg 13: Street Voice Pg 14: Pet Horoscopes Pg 15: Resources Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource April 18-May 2, 2019 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gabriela Godinez Bill Woods Josh Spring Helen Hill Kieran Gulibert Michael Taylor Joey Williams Dr. Mark Mussman Seth Weber Timothy Bay Willa Denise Jones Kim Green June Alexander Canva.com INSP.com Pngtree.com Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Abortion Appalachian Bill Woods Canva.com Cincinnati Dr. Mark Mussman Evictions Gabriela Godinez Helen Hill INSP.com Joey Williams Josh Spring June Alexander Kieran Gulibert Kim Green LGBTQ+ Michael Taylor Pngtree.com Seth Weber Timothy Bay Trans Marxism Turkey Willa Denise Jones https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/957fbcd9739da8619c5f438e1cb8fb38.pdf f7d490725352f59eba4747545b12c5a2 PDF Text Text April 4th -April 18th 2019 | Vo l . 23 Issue7 (No. 404) advo cating justice | building communit y Any opinions in this issue are of the authors and don't necessarily represent Streetvibes or The Homeless Coalition. Disappearing Communities Article on Page 8 This Issue is sponsored by (Retired) Judge Mark P. Painter Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.com Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 12 �2 COALITION N o v 24--April N o v 19, 18 | |NNo. o . 393 April 18,2 02019 404 From The Editor: A Dying Planet GABRIELA GODINEZ Editor-in-chief W e all know that we are continuously hurting the planet. The Intercontinental Panel for Climate Change came out with a new report with data from over 6,000 scientific studies According to the IPCC, “global warming is likely to reach 1.5°C between 2030 and 2052 if it continues to increase at the current rate.” This will result in “higher climate related risks” and we will continue to see an increase in extreme weather patterns. Eventually we will reach a state where we will not be able to exist on this planet, if we don’t do anything about it. At 1.5°C, severe polar icecap melting will allow sea levels can rise up to 2.5ft and destroy habitat for many arctic wildlife. This is estimated to affect 69 million people. As ocean water increase, a world 1.5 degrees hotter means fresh water will become more scares, affecting about 30 million people. If nothing changes, we will reach the irreversible affects of 2°C global warming resulting in 150,000,000 premature human deaths, not including the deaths that will be caused by heat wave, drought and famine. Many of us think that our part to play is to recycle. While that is important, it makes a very small dent, and most of us are doing it wrong which hurts more than it helps. In a recent Vox video, they explain how most Americans don’t actually know how to recycle properly. If we contaminate anything in our recycling bins, facilities often have to dispose of entire batches of once recyclable goods. Many experts say because of this, unless you are completely sure without a doubt in your mind, do not recycle it. Pizza boxes for example, contrary to popular belief, cannot be recycled because of the grease contamination. Milk and juice cartons as well as cans need to be cleaned out or else a similar issue will occur. In Cincinnati, we use single stream recycling for the most part, which means that citizens put glass, metals, and paper products into the same recycling bin. However, this allows for a higher rate of contamination. When we as the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition went to Blue Ash Elementary to speak about homelessness to students, we saw that they were not using the single stream system. This is a fantastic way to teach children what can and cannot be recycled with a lower contamination rate because separate bins clearly state what can go inside. One more thing you can do to help our planet and our neighbors survive is to eat less meat. You don’t have to become a vegan, thought that would drastically lower your carbon footprint. Simply voting with our money can help lower gas emissions. If we eat less meat, and therefor lower the demand and production of meats, we can help a lot. Live stock release CH4, a gas that is 25 times more intense than CO2. It also takes about 1 billion tons of grain to feed these current livestock, resulting in high uses of fresh water, land, pesticides, and fertilizer. However, individual change is not enough. The global accords signed in the Paris Agreement will not be enough. According to the ICPP, we will not be living in the inhabitable planet we know if we do not reduce CO2 emissions drastically. We will have to switch completely from fossil fuel to renewable energy. It is extremely frustrating to know that the bulk of this issue cannot be solved by recycling or bicycling to work more. Those are things you should still do to help, but the winning lap will have to be run by corporations. We as citizens need to pressure our governments to make stricter laws on production for companies that directly and indirectly hurt the planet. Whatever America does will affect the world, and vice versa. We cannot sit idly and allow ourselves to be exterminated by greed and ignorance. Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org www.cincistreetvibe.com EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor-in-chief: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: Mona Jenkins Director of Education: Dr. Mark Mussman Distributor Program Manager: Sallie Mascus Layout: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Reception: Bonita Batton, Larry Johnson Maintenance: Pete Roper ------------------------------------------CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Writers: D R . V EE R AB H A D R A N R A MA N A TH A N "MOST OF THE POLLUTION COMES FROM THE WEALTHIEST 1 BILLION, THE WORST CONSEQUENCES WILL BE FOR THE POOREST 3 BILLION" Gabriela Godinez, Bill Woods, Maged Srour, Bill Joiner, Kieran Gulibert, Mervyn Horgan, Edith Wilson, Dr. Mark Mussman, Liz Triestle, Madison Brit, Willa Denise Jones, Kim Green, James Brown, June Alexander ------------------------------------------Photography/ Artwork: canva.com, Gabriela Godinez, INSP.com, Dr. Mark Mussman ---------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless do not endorse candidates for public office. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 | Nov 218, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 April 43-April | No. 404 COALITION 3 A Letter of Thanks BILL JOINER Board Member R ecently the Coalition has received a couple of anonymous gifts to help us support our work. Because these gifts were anonymous, we cannot send the donors a note to express our appreciation. We hope the donors read Streetvibes, and if they do, they will accept this as our thank you, and our expression of that appreciation. Some anonymous donations come from persons who have funds at the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, and we also wish to thank GCF for supplying this mechanism for giving anonymously. Bit whether you give anonymously or with your name attached, your gifts are appreciated and necessary for the Coalition to carry on its work. The Coalition takes no funds from government agencies, ensuring our independence to speak on behalf of homeless persons, without possible intimidation over the loss of operating funds. This makes our budgets tight, and is a limitation on our ability to do everything possible to overcome homelessness. This is especially true now as we pursue new efforts to assist persons in low-income complexes, to improve what often can be dangerous and unacceptable living conditions. These complexes are often owned by outof-state exploitive entities, with the sole objective of extracting money rather than providing decent housing for people in need. With 40,000 lowincome resident units short of the need in Hamilton County, residents in these complexes often put up with terrible conditions because of the fear that their individual complaint could result in their eviction. This is a fear that is especially present if a family with young children is involved, as is often the case. Recent action by the Coalition has been to organize tenants, creating a governance structure in each complex, with rules and officers, who can now represent them collectively, and weaken the power of retaliation by an exploitive landlord. If conditions warrant it, this gives an organization standing if legal action is needed to force an exploitive landlord into corrective actions. The Coalition, working with Legal Aid and the City of Cincinnati, has used this to save the Alms Hotel and other low-income complexes owned by an exploitive New Jersey owner, and put these properties in receivership while remedial measures are underway to make the properties livable, This year we added an additional full-time staff member to aid our executive director in this work. But that is a new cost on a budget that has often had a yearly shortfall. We are very appreciative of any help, however small, from any donor. But even more than the practical need we have for donations, is the willingness of individuals to express their belief that homelessness is wrong. It ruins lives, especially of children, who get behind, and often fail to catch up with the education of their peers, and usually subjects them to adult lives in poverty. Last year we received an impressive collective donation from the children of an elementary school in Blue Ash. It was mostly in the form of coins, representing the wealth of small children and their want to help other children in need. That donation was more meaningful to me personally than any other donation we received last year, because those children were making personal sacrifices and expressing an empathy sometimes lost, as we get older. Again, thanks to all you who have been donors, anonymous and not anonymous, your generosity and sense of caring means a lot. Bill Joiner Board Member Greater Cincinnati's Affordable Housing Crisis: Lisc Takes Up The Challenge BILL WOODS Board Member G reater Cincinnati finds itself in the midst of an affordable housing crisis of major proportions. An organization that has both documented this crisis and promoted initiatives to address it is The Local Initiatives Support Corporation of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky (LISC). At the Community Issues Forum at Christ Church Cathedral on March 21st, Paola Garrido Estevez, Special Projects Associate for LISC, reviewed LISC's research, initiatives, and current effort to promote an affordable housing strategy for Cincinnati and Hamilton County. The fact that Cincinnati and Hamilton County combined have an affordable housing deficit of 40,000 units was announced in a LISC study in 2017. A follow up project, "100-Percent Housing," collected information about thousands of vacant units in Greater Cincinnati in an effort to use these vacancies as one way to decrease the affordable housing gap. Currently, LISC has taken up the cause of advocating for an affordable housing strategy for the city and county. Using a power point presentation, Estevez discussed these efforts. Besides coming out with the shocking number of 40,000 units of affordable units needed, LISC's 2017 study, "Housing Affordability in Hamilton County," researched the complex factors creating this crisis. The poverty rate, noted Estevez, has increased markedly, while available affordable units continued to decrease. Since 2000, the number of Hamilton County Households in poverty grew by 40-percent. The Federal Government through HUD has long been the major source of funding for housing for families and individuals in poverty, but at the same time that area poverty grew, money for all types of subsidized housing shrank dramatically. Cincinnati and Hamilton County now have 500 fewer federally subsidized units than they did fifteen years ago. Meanwhile, the bulk of private construction both in new housing and rehabs has primarily been for more expensive developments. Thus, for every 100 of the lowest income households in Greater Cincinnati, only 28 units of affordable units are available. The 2017 LISC study could be characterized as "the bad news report," but Estevez went on to describe the organization's effort a year later to examine how thousands of vacant units in Cincinnati and Hamilton County could be utilized to close the affordable housing deficit. This initiative, "100-Percent Housing," initially used a team of four surveyors to confirm actual vacancies and to examine housing conditions. This twelve week effort found 5,161 vacant units in Cincinnati and 1,352 in the THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED rest of Hamilton County. A majority of these units were also in good condition. The next task, Estevez declared, was to bring together housing stakeholders in the city and county to plan initiatives that would turn these vacancies into available affordable housing. This work continues. Establishing an affordable housing strategy for Cincinnati/ Hamilton County is LISC's new priority. With a housing crisis of this magnitude, emphasized Estevez, City and County Governments, plus the other major housing stakeholders, must buy into a long-range strategy to seriously address it. LISC has convened two meetings with various groups to collaborate on what should go into such a strategy, but it now plans to do more background work and research before holding further sessions. Estevez said that LISC seeks to collaborate with other neighborhood and housing partners in all its initiatives. �4 ADVERTISMENT THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED N ov 2 4 - -April N o v 19,18, 2 02019 18 | N . 393 April | oNo. 404 �No. 3943 -April | Nov 2 18, - N o2019 v 19,| 2 0 18404 April No. GLOBAL 5 Climate Strike: Hundreds of Thousands Unite for the Planet’s Future MAGED SROUR Inter Press Service F riday 15 March saw hundreds of thousands of young people across the world take to the streets to join the climate strike. “We are demonstrating today for our planet and for our future. This is the place where we and those who come after us will live,” said Jennifer, a 16-year-old girl from Rome, the Italian capital, who opted to join the protests. The climate strike has become a symbol of the global movement that aims to urge governments and institutions to take serious steps to implement the Paris Agreement and save the planet. It is a unique voice that united over 125 countries in more than 2,000 places around the world. Protestors want to ensure that actions—which include reducing CO2 emissions, eliminating the use of plastics, promoting more sustainable agriculture—are wisely managed within the United Nations deadline of 2030. In a nutshell: take concrete action today to save the world of tomorrow. Jennifer was following the example of Greta Thunberg, the Swedish 16-yearold girl who, without realising it, gave birth to a global movement. Indeed, this wave of youth activism began in August when Thunberg camped outside the Swedish parliament. She accused politicians of failing to uphold their commitments to fight climate change as agreed to under the Paris climate accord. In a short time, word of her civic engagement spread worldwide and the young Swedish teenager became an international celebrity who was invited to speak to climate negotiators in Poland in December, as well as to the global elites at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Thunberg has become an example for many young people across the world who have begun to organise themselves to promote similar initiatives. Her name has even been proposed to the Nobel Committee as a candidate for the Peace Prize. “We have nominated Greta because the climate threat may be one of the most important causes of war and conflict,” parliamentary representative Freddy Andre Oevstegaard said. “The mass movement that she has triggered is a very contribution to peace.” Not only a responsibility of the youth Although it was an event mostly organised by young people, some did not like the fact that adults are seemingly handing over the responsibility of caring for the planet to the youth. “Thanks to the efficiency of healthcare, those who are 60 years old today could still live for another 20 or 30 years. So it is not true that the future is ‘ours alone’. The future belongs to all of us,” another young protester in Rome said. Politics was not exempt from criticism. “I think that this global ‘climate strike’ is important for the whole community because the environmental problem has a strong political component in it. If it is true that a lot is in the hands of individual initiatives and in the commitment of each of us, it is also true that there are mechanisms which are very complex and that can only be managed by politics,” said Matteo Cappello, a naturalist from Sapienza University in Rome, specialising in environmental sciences and sustainable development. “Not only ordinary young people and not only ordinary adults: responsibility must be universally shared and it obviously must include those who manage the decision-making processes,” he added. The climate strike was embraced by a wide and varied audience in Rome. Among the mass of people, there were large numbers of teenagers and also university students, young workers, families and the elderly. Lodovica Cattani, a graduate in Political Science who has been specialising in Arctic studies and sustainability, participated in the event not just as a citizen but also as a worker who aims to deal with these issues in her professional life. “I am 28 years old and have been volunteering with the organisation Climate Reality Leaders for six years now, precisely because when I was in high school I could already see that global warming was becoming a problem and that we were going to see the results in the next decades to come. I felt there was need to be informed and take action,” she said. “The youth who have the power to succeed” “In my opinion, the Earth has a spirit that occasionally manifests itself when it really cannot bear any more. This time it manifested itself in the form of Greta and of these thousands of young people,” said Sandro, a 60-yearold farmer who came from Tarquinia, a town 100 km away from Rome, to demonstrate in the capital city. “I really hope that these young people will go ahead and continue to pursue their dream because it is truly in their hands. My generation is responsible for many of today’s environmental disasters and often has no open-mindedness or ability to reverse this course. It is young people who have all the potential to succeed.” Courtesy of Inter Press Service / INSP.ngo Thousands of youth gather in Rome on Friday, Mar. 15, to join the climate strike, a global movement that aims to make governments and institutions aware of taking serious steps to implement the Paris Agreements and save the planet. Credit: Maged Srour/IPS THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �GLOBAL 6 N ov 2 4 - N o v 19,18, 2 02019 18 | N| oNo. . 393 April -April 404 Washrooms for customers only: Peeing with dignity in the city MERVYN HORGAN AND EDITH WILSON The Conversation E veryone needs to use washrooms, but public washrooms are hard to find. Just ask anyone with colitis, or who has ever cared for a child who really needs to go. Toronto, for example, has only one free and public washroom for every 9,213 residents. So, where do we go, when we really need to go? Whether or not we like to admit it, many have probably managed to sneak in to use a washroom that is designated with a sign as “Washrooms for Customers Only” (W4CO) when we have not been customers. Last year, in a well-publicized incident at a British Columbia Tim Hortons, a woman was denied washroom access; she defecated on the floor and threw the faeces at employees. While the ick-factor might distract us, there’s an important issue of human dignity at play here, both for all of us who need washroom access, and for the often minimum-wage workers on the frontlines in managing access to this most basic and essential resource. Employees allow washroom access despite rules Surprisingly, there’s very little research on “Washrooms for Customers Only” rules and their enforcement. We decided to address this and designed an exploratory study to figure out the prevalence of W4CO rules, and how they are enforced. The results were not what we expected. In North America, it seems that W4CO signs are everywhere. After visiting 202 cafés and restaurants along a sample of five of Toronto’s busiest strips, we were surprised to discover that just over one-third of these businesses had W4CO signs. Almost half of all chain businesses had W4CO signs, while only one in five independent businesses did. These numbers paint only a partial picture. To follow up on this basic count, Edith observed interactions between staff and prospective washroom users in both independent and chain coffee shops. Across all 92 interactions observed, there was not one single instance of anyone being denied access to a washroom, despite the presence of W4CO signs. Management might put rules restricting washroom access in place, but employees consistently use their discretion in defence of basic human dignity. To get a better understanding of how discretion works, Edith Photo by Olivier Collet on Unsplash interviewed 15 frontline café and restaurant staff charged with managing washroom access. Participants shared that denying access to a washroom was rare, reserved for times when they felt they had to. Some workers said that they would deny access if someone was aggressive or erratic or showing signs of substance abuse, but they tended to feel bad about the possibility of misjudging someone. Others said they denied access to people who were rude. All but one interviewee stressed that denying access to the washroom was rare. Some discussed purposely subverting management policy by supporting unrestricted access to washrooms. Many participants brought up Toronto’s lack of public washrooms. There did not appear to be a city guide for bathrooms, and so Edith made a complete list and accompanying map of all public access washrooms in Toronto. MAP EMBED CODE: <iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/ embed?mid=1waDSZxNxLTWNSG MTaLq7WWknm3BLd3ZA&hl=en" width="640" height="480"></iframe> How people dealt with difficult situations, though, was based mainly on the volume of traffic that they had to deal with at their workplace and the frequency of upsetting incidents. Workers in bustling locations where mental health issues, substance abuse, and homelessness are visibly present were more willing to call the police when they felt it was necessary. In less busy shops, especially independent ones, some interviewees said they would instead handle whatever situation came up themselves. Police, they said, were just as inexperienced and unable to deal with mental health and addictions crises as they were. Possible dire consequences for the person going through the crisis if the police got involved made these interviewees more willing to take on that labour themselves. In Toronto, the memory of the killing by police of Sammy Yatim, who was struggling with mental health issues, still looms large. Overall, for most staff, W4CO rules are not regularly applied. They seem to exist as a shield to be used if workers felt like they needed to deny someone access for safety reasons. In short, workers use W4CO rules as an imperfect solution to a difficult problem. Much more than places to pee Besides the obvious, what happens in these washrooms? In interviews with café and restaurant workers, over half of the participants talked about working in businesses where they dealt with used needles in the washroom. Two participants reported that someone had overdosed in the washroom at their place of work. One discussed finding someone who needed emergency medical assistance at least once a month. Almost all workers had dealt with hazardous waste (including blood, faeces and vomit) at their workplace. Participants felt that the lack of services for Toronto’s most vulnerable populations results in a downloading of crisis-management labour onto THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED the city’s minimum-wage café and restaurant workers. When asked for policy solutions, workers emphasized more supervised injection sites (Toronto currently has only three); more public washrooms; and the extension of housing-first projects. Housing first is an approach that considers a stable place to live as an essential human right and as a necessary foundation to other care like addictions counselling. Toronto currently has one successful pilot. But there are still over 5,000 people experiencing homelessness in the city. Overall, this initial research points to an unforeseen consequence of not providing essential aid for people living with homelessness, mental health issues or substance abuse problems. As long as we fail to provide comprehensive services that address these needs, low-wage workers throughout the city will continue to deal with difficult and sometimes frightening incidents in their daily work lives. Mervyn Horgan is an associate professor of sociology at the University of Guelph, and a visiting fellow of the department of sociology at Yale University Edith Wilson is a master of sociology whose research specialises in washrooms for customer only use in Toronto Courtesy of The Conversation / INSP.ngo �No. 394 3 -April | Nov 2 18, - N o2019 v 19, |2No. 0 18404 April GLOBAL 7 Migrant workers face abuse, slavery threat in post-Brexit Britain KIERAN GUILBERT Reuters M igrant workers coming to Britain after Brexit for temporary jobs in farming, construction and cleaning risk being exploited and falling into modern slavery under government plans to minimise labour shortages, according to labour rights experts. The two schemes - one for migrants from non-European Union nations to work on Britain's farms for six months and another for workers from "lowrisk" countries to stay for a year - could create expendable workforces prey to abuse, campaigners said. From farms to hotels, European workers are key to the British economy, and the government is scrambling to ensure businesses have enough workers to fill the gap once Britain leaves the European Union and free movement of people ends. While the nature and date of Britain's departure is up in the air, charities and activists say that the interior ministry and anti-slavery agency may struggle to protect migrant workers. Upfront visa and travel costs under the two schemes could leave shortterm migrant workers vulnerable to debt bondage, while a lack of access to public funds could trap them in abusive workplaces, said Focus on Labour Exploitation (FLEX). "There is a clear contradiction between Britain's efforts to tackle modern slavery and its rush to bring in workers post-Brexit," said Caroline Robinson, director of the charity. "These short-term, rapid solutions will do massive damage to the government's claim of being the world leader in tackling modern slavery," she said. Without access to housing and unemployment benefits, migrant workers arriving under the schemes could struggle to leave abusive employers, or end up destitute and homeless, increasing their risk of being trafficked, FLEX said in a recent report. The two schemes could fuel a "continuous churn of low waged workers with limited access to support or rights," it said. The government has acknowledged the risk of abuses under the farm scheme - a pilot that will see 2,500 workers from Moldova, Russia and Ukraine arrive in the coming months - but activists said it has not outlined Migrant workers pick grapes at a vineyard in Aylesford, Kent, Britain, October 5, 2018. Picture taken October 5, 2018. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez how it would address these concerns. A spokesman for the Home Office (interior ministry) said it would continue to work closely with stakeholders across the country on the future "skills-based immigration system". "This includes consideration of how we will best protect against exploitation and other safeguarding issues," he said, without giving any further details. Despite being hailed as a global leader in the anti-slavery drive, Britain is undergoing a review of its landmark 2015 law amid criticism that it is not being used fully to jail traffickers, drive firms to stop forced labour or help victims. Brexit could hamper Britain's anti-trafficking efforts in myriad ways - from European law enforcement cooperation to child trafficking from France - according to the police and activists. Stretched Britain's Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA), the nation's anti-slavery agency, said it was working with labour providers to address growing concerns about staff shortages. About 15 per cent of low-skilled workers in Britain come from EU nations, at least 500,000 people, according to a 2018 report by the Migration Observatory at Oxford University. Farmers have raised alarm over a lack of workers to harvest fruit and vegetables and say crops are rotting in the fields, while hospitality companies have voiced concerns about a staffing crunch with little interest from British job seekers. "Brexit will potentially present some challenges in terms of there being more scope for labour exploitation," said Michael Rich, head of the GLAA, which gained police-style powers in 2017 and a wider remit to probe labour offences across the economy. "So we need to be more on our guard," he said, adding that the GLAA was looking closely at the seasonal farm workers pilot. Charities including FLEX have called for measures such as a hotline for temporary migrant workers to report abuse, bilateral labour rights agreements with sending nations, and the licensing of labour providers to be extended beyond just agriculture. Yet the GLAA's broader scope and focus on tackling the most egregious cases of modern slavery has stretched THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED the agency thin as the threat posed to temporary migrant workers by Brexit draws near, said Cindy Berman of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI). "I'm worried that the GLAA will have less time and resources to work on prevention," said Berman of the ETI, a coalition of trade unions, companies and charities promoting workers' rights. "We need beefed up labour inspections to ensure minimum wages, decent working hours and health and safety regulation," she added, while also calling on businesses to improve their due diligence as they face growing scrutiny over labour practices. Britain is home to at least 136,000 modern slaves, according to the Global Slavery Index by rights group Walk Free Foundation - a figure 10 times higher than a government estimate from 2013. At least 7,000 suspected victims of slavery were uncovered in Britain last year, up a third on 2017, according to data that activists said last month raised concerns about the government's ability to support a growing number of survivors. Courtesy of Reuters / Thomson Reuters Foundation / INSP.ngo �FEATURE 8 N o v 2 4- -April N o v 19, 2 02019 18 | N o . 393 April 18, | No. 404 Disappearing Communities DR. MARK MUSSMAN Staff Writer O ver the years, Over-theRhine has been changed by outside forces. People who live in the rich, white neighborhoods, have come into our small neighborhood and stood for one thing: displacement. Their explicit goals: to displace corner stores, to displace crime, to displace our institutions, to supplant their version of public goods onto our assets. We have lost so many of our neighbors over the last few years, that we know at least 2400 units of housing have been lost to gentrification, never to return. But let’s not confuse progress with the status quo. As I’ve written before, the changes happening in Over-theRhine are not progress, as they are just the wealthy making decisions for everyone who has less resources. This is not progress. This is the status quo. The Cincinnati Recreation Commission has been at the center of many of the losses we have succumbed in the neighborhood. The loss of our public pool at Ziegler Park, the potential loss of Imagination Alley, the potential loss of Findlay Playground. There has been a makeshift fence around Findlay Playground for months now - displacing the normal patterns of residents who utilized the park for years, perhaps even decades. The alley, Goose Alley, which borders Findlay Playground has been sold or leased to private owners on the west side of the alley. This prevents the public from taking in the murals that are along the wall there - a public art project that many will never get to enjoy, due to privatization. Larger questions of ownership of Findlay Playground have been discussed in my articles before, but it brings into the light how vulnerable our public assets are due to gentrification. It’s easy to understand gentrification if you understand the word displacement. Gentrification is displacement. The story of Over-the-Rhine goes back a long time, and it wasn’t some sort of German utopia - even if that’s what current developers claim as they fetishize our history. The Adena, Hopewell, Osage, and other Native Americans were killed and pushed back by the colonizers who arrived at the Ohio river shore. They were displaced, yet their story is never considered as part of the history of Cincinnati. The displacement that is occurring today is the fall-out from the Great Depression, and the federal policies that resulted from the depression. The Federal Government desired to create social economic policies to uplift the populace out of poverty. However well intended, African American people were systematically cut out from that plan. Moreover, African Americans were labeled “vermin” by the same government that is meant to represent them. The Home Owners’ Loan Act (HOLA) was part of the New Deal, and it prioritized white people and communities over people of color. It is regarded as one of the greatest tools that Public Art Now Inaccessible on Goose Alley THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED created generational wealth that white families have today. Black people were denied participation in the program, so much so, that over 98% of the loans went to white people. Black people, even if they could participate economically, had the door shut in their faces. Today, the wealth gap persists between Black and white communities, largely because of the discrimination that was legal at the time, (yet still persists today.) What does this have to do with Findlay Playground? Well, following the money available, approximately 120 billion dollars (1930-1970 dollars), the white people who participated in HOLA, used the federal money to create white-only communities, which we affectionately call the “suburbs” today. Racial segregation policies, such as restrictive covenants and straight up “Whites Only” ordinances, were not found to be unfair until 1968, after the HOLA program ceased giving out the low interest, fixed rate, mortgages. White wealth was created through home ownership, and Black families �No. 3943-April | Nov 218, - N 2019 o v 19,| 2 0 18404 April No. FEATURE Findlay Playground Remains Fenced Off Until Income Generating Plan is Released were shut out of both the opportunity to participate in HOLA through redlining, and they were shut out from communities of wealth through legally supported racist housing policies. So what were their options? Black families were forced to live in areas centrally located to the cities, which have seen the most disinvestment and the most loss of wealth. From the 1960’s to the early 2000’s, these inner city neighborhoods were vilified, strangled by disinvestment, and told to pull themselves up by their bootstraps. Meanwhile, the federal government infiltrated movements to improve the conditions in Black neighborhoods, while simultaneously destroying them with an influx of illicit drugs and the eve of mass incarceration. The police continued their legacy from the “slave catching” days and separated as many families as possible to create chaos in Black communities. So, what do Black communities have left, when the City has abandoned them, the wealthy Whites have created their own separtist communities, and the grip of racism keeps them from getting “out of poverty” even though they do all the things that they are told to do? Cincinnati still has no possibility of upward mobility for African American residents to this day. Our only assets then, besides our neighbors, are our public assets. Most of the buildings in Over-the-Rhine are massive, owned by out-of-state landlords, or local white people, who are out to make a buck. Fortunately, the Over-the-Rhine Peoples’ Movement was able to acquire buildings, because without those, we would have very little control over housing in Over-theRhine. But, for the most part, the only assets that we share together are our parks, our playgrounds, our schools, our sidewalks, alleys, streets. 3CDC took aim at each of these public assets and has worked to privatize them and force out the existing residents for new, whiter, wealthier, ones. This has been totally at the expense of low-income Black residents and moderate to low income white residents, who enjoyed the first wave of gentrification and are now being forced out for the next wave of wealthier white people with generational wealth. Today, the police have become such a fixture in our neighborhood, that it’s not uncommon seeing them driving the wrong way up Republic Street, or sneaking around corners in their cruisers, creating an atmosphere of distrust and hostility. The main role of the police is to split families up, not keep them together. The main role of 3CDC is to displace poverty to another location, not uplift people out of poverty. The main role of the CRC should be recreation, but it’s becoming more clear that their bottom line is No Irony Lost on Colonial Fencing Blocking Goose Alley THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 9 a financial consideration. So, as they strive to make Findlay Playground “income generating” they are literally siding with wealthy over our neighbors who find themselves being squeezed out of their own neighborhood by generational white wealth. I wonder if the Director of the CRC, who is making the decisions behind the sale and lease of our public lands, knows the specific history of Over-theRhine. I wonder if he understands the important role of public assets and the current attack upon them. I believe that if he understood the pain and anguish that we experience when we lose our public spaces, that he would work harder to defend them, rather than look at them as ways to make money. The CRC Director is not a Cincinnati native, which follows the trend of hiring outside of our own community. His view of Cincinnati started in 2016 when we arrived to start as the Director of Recreation. His understanding is not the same as someone who grew up “Down da Way,” and who spent their youth on the basketball courts that have been lost now. He doesn’t see the city from our perspective, and his interactions at our community council meetings show that he is only concerned about the almighty dollar, not about the enrichment of the youth and community who are the true owners of the public assets on which he sits. His position is not one from unencumbered racism and class warfare. Cincinnati has a specific history, which didn’t start, nor end, with the German immigrants, but which is a rich cultural tapestry of many immigrants and migrants who deserve to access our public assets. �10 LOCAL N o v 2 4- -April N o v 19, 2 02019 18 | N o . 393 April 18, | No. 404 All Saints School donates over 3,400 books to Literacy Network LIZ PRIESTLE Contributing Writer A ll Saints School donated over 3,400 books to the Literacy Network of Greater Cincinnati (LNGC). Students and employees at All Saints School took part in a book drive from March 19-March 29, 2019. Students at All Saints School were encouraged to bring in their gently used children’s books to donate to the Literacy Network. This is the fourth year for the All Saints Book Drive. Collectively All Saints has donated 11,447 books to the Literacy Network for their literacy programs! The Literacy Network was grateful to have a group of volunteers from United Parcel Service (UPS) assisting with this generous donation. The UPS team joined the Literacy Network to load, transport, and sort this mammoth book donation. The Literacy Network participates in numerous book drives throughout the year with partners from various schools and companies. They then distribute the books to over 50 Little Free Libraries, Boys & Girls Clubs, local elementary schools and to LNGC volunteers to give to the students they tutor. Literacy Network President Michelle Otten Guenther stated, “I am deeply grateful to the families, students and staff at All Saints and the incredible team at UPS for their generous support of our mission. Today was a wonderful example of the great things that can happen when our community pulls together.” About The Literacy Network The Literacy Network champions the development of literacy in the individual, the family, the workplace, the school and the community by raising awareness, improving access and serving as a catalyst for literacy efforts. The Literacy Network is also the home of Winners Walk Tall, a character UPS workers & All Saints Students loading over 3,400 books donated to the Literacy Network programs. building program for youth. All of the programs offered to adults and children are free and funded from private grants, donations and fundraising efforts. Racists Go Home MADISON BRITT Contributing Writer S ince 2016, the idea of a wall at the U.S México border has been endlessly contested across countless platforms. It has been the subject of national debate, caused a government shutdown, and, most recently, lead Donald Trump to declare a national state of emergency to secure funding in hopes that he would be able to fulfill his campaign promise at long last. The wall’s detractors certainly have good reason; according to research published by the ACLU, a border wall could inflict serious cultural, economic, and environmental damage on border communities. Furthermore, the research suggests that the “overall number of people attempting to cross into the United States without authorization remains unaffected by walls and other enforcement measures,” and has been in steady decline for years. Existing segments of border fencing have forced migrants to take increasingly dangerous routes through the Arizona-Sonora desert. Neither the border fencing nor the harsh desert has deterred migration to the United States. These strict border policies have been linked to an increase in migrant deaths, and an in-depth look at policy outcomes conducted by Princeton University’s Douglas S. Massey indicates that such policies have largely backfired, and in fact created a self perpetuating cycle of migration. Despite the evidence that a border wall will not be an effective immigration or border control policy, many are still in favor of Trump’s proposed wall at the border and are increasingly frustrated with the government’s unwillingness or inability to fund it. This frustration is manifesting here in Cincinnati, a city where Cincinnati Compass estimates 12.3% of area residents are foreignborn, a number which is growing rapidly. On Tuesday, the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza hosted an “Ohio Town Hall” entitled “We Build the Wall”, lead by conservative pundit Steve Bannon, former chairman of Breitbart news and chief strategist in Trump’s White House. The meeting also featured Brian Kolfage, who started a GoFundMe to pay for a border wall, Kris Kobach, former Kansas Secretary of State, along with other conservative pundits and politicians. This meeting was, as one might expect, an outpouring of hateful, dangerous, and non-factual rhetoric about Mexicans, immigrants, and sanctuary cities. According from detailed notes and recordings Cincinnati activists obtained at the event, much of the discourse at the event blamed immigrants for human trafficking, increased presence of dangerous drugs, including fentanyl, and criminal and gang activity in the states. The speakers directly recommended a privately funded and controlled border wall to combat the government’s inefficiency, “[literal]... push back against the government, and even “devise a plan to go after and dismantle and destroy Mexican cartels and their networks,”. In face of this alarming rhetoric, it is pivotal to consider Cincinnati’s positionality as a Sanctuary City, meaning. This, in its most basic sense, that the city won’t aid ICE in deportations, but the concept of sanctuary means much more than this. According to an analysis of present day Sanctuary by Myrna Orozco and others, the designation of a place or city as “sanctuary” indicates that it is a place of refuge, safety, and respect. Cincinnati’s sanctuary status is admittedly complicated, as a City Beat THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED article by Nick Swartswell explains, but the pushback against the sanctuary movement by Bannon and the like is clear - at the We Build the Wall event frequently labelled the sanctuary movement as unlawful and in defiance of U.S sovereignty. Despite these complications, Cincinnati has committed on paper to being a Sanctuary City. Activists in the city are attempting day by day to create cities and neighborhoods that are equitable for all Cincinnati residents, and a small crowd gathered outside of the Hilton in downtown Cincinnati to protest the event, and loudly tell its participants and attendees to “Go home”, to unequivocally state “you and your wall are not welcome here,”. As a city, we should follow their example. When we proclaim ourselves to exist as a safe space for immigrants and refugees, we dedicate ourselves to keeping racist and dangerous rhetoric about immigration out of our home. We should protest events like “We Build the Wall” to let those proponents of unethical and ineffectual walls that they are not welcome here, complain to the venues that host them, and show our immigrant neighbors, brothers, and sisters that we stand with them in solidarity. �No. 3943-April | Nov 218, - N 2019 o v 19,| 2 0 18404 April No. STREETVOICE 11 How I Came Into My Own JUNE ALEXANDER I Contributing Writer was standing outside of myself in a dream. Whispers from ancient feminine wisdom bombed my ears with, “listen, watch, feel, and be.” Art Deco geometrics and jewel tones dripping from the opulence of the decor in the train car. The sounds of train wheels clacking over miles of wealth and greed; furs and gems, while the alluring comfort beckoned, come stay and see. Women, older than time; fat, brown-Black in their maid’s and caretaker’s uniforms conversing about the One they were preparing for the throne. A scene reminiscent of old Hollywood movies. The darkened Mammies adoring and adorning the white beauty was all--and is all--too familiar in movies and in life. But this “dressing” was different!. After all of the idolizing and goddesfying the silken veil fell from the mirrors and the women (in chorus) sang “Look,” Their hands like a great raging river pulling their jetsam to a great body, stood proud, hopefully beaming in their own radiance. They trumpeted once more, “LOOK!” My spectator self moved forward with the woman. Slowing time, we walked towards the trinity of mirrors and saw. We saw--no! I saw Me. And so begin my spiritual conception: The prayers which would call forth this Great Body. This conception was violent, hateful, and curel. Unspeakable acts done to a young girl at the hands of the men who were supposed to educate and protect her. Men whose skin color mimicked her own. Touching, taking, keeping her in her place as their slave masters did to them. But somehow this was worse-they looked like and were supposed to be, her--my fathers and uncles; my brothers. They were supposed to be my shield from the racist, from the white privilege hell bent on systematic corruption of my mind, body, and spirit--but my brothers got there first. And the betrayal of my mothers and my aunts and my sisters--”men will be men." ; “boys will be boys” was the only answers slaves could give. So now I had to be Diana, hunting alone, The prize..myself. A lone warrior, fighting the battles inside and outside my house. No allies, I prayed to the great parents, “Hear me. Send one to stand with me.” And the prayer was answer. Not just one took up the call, but many. Not just human, but packs, prides, flocks, and hordes. Even a murder of crows lead by Bastet paved the way for Her. At first, I was afraid of Her. She coiled around me, she slithered beside my bed, she whispered, “First, stop listening to your oppressors. You belong to all that’s Holy! Be uplifted, we have not forsaken you .Isis will guide you with all the creature-spirits sent long before to make way for your birthing. And my sister, Athena will give you knowledge of the ancients.” And so begin my spiritual conception: “Sheba, hold your head up. Stay awake. Before the truth was ever spoken to a human it’s seeds were planted in the Earth; Pangea we so affectionately call her. The Venus herself both safe and dangerous, joyful and sorrowful. You are fire and air; water and earth. Yin and Yang. Winter and Summer; Spring and Fall; Life and Death; Love and Balance. Only in your sacrifices will you be born whole!” And with that, my fate was sealed. As ordered by the great Mother, death and birth comes hand in hand. During the time when the ancestral mothers were gathering; coming with my own mother’s sweet chariot my mother taught me lessons she was too afraid to teach while in here own slavery. Now, freed of society, she and all my ancestors guided me to my chrysalis, my next womb, my sarcophagus. So it is done! Time flooded me with images of my rape, my exile, bullying, mental illness, homelessness and the new threat of malicious women and molesting men trying to turn my soul as septic as my illness turned my body. And my nightmares which traveled with me from shelter to shelter. Screaming night terrors of children running from monsters and demons. And my desperate attempt to save these children ...to save me. Saving me from the racism, the sexism, the sizeism, the homophobia, others’ phobia of my being humane even to my enemies; the classism and the invisible and just plain unwanted; the you too black, you ain't black enough; to hide your talents under a bushel because it makes the men uncomfortable, it scares the white people, it angers the black women, it blasphemes the religious, or why live the truth when living a lie will make you rich. And finally, the passing and masking until there is no color left in your Soul. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Stop, stop. Stop, stop! “ Please, I don’t want this. Don’t make me in your image. I want to only love the neighbors I agree with. I want a religion that supports my hate. Drench me in apathy. At least teach me to hate myself.” Prayer not answered. Infact, every breath I took ushered in the voices, the prayers of the forgotten. Spirits of dead babies and the enslavement of their minds reaching out to me like hollowed shells of misery beggin me not to forget them. While stranger after stranger spoke to me. ”You run from God.” “Don’t hide sister, tell the truth. Walk the truth. Live the truth.” Numbness Guite surrender Next, the fire of dragons warmed my bath. The birds dipped me in this new and inviting womb. All the while, from north, south, east, and west; high and low and beyond the soldiers of wolves vowed to protect me. The She, the pig presided over my wrapping, she spoke of my body being made for healing. You are to carry the ancestors voices into a new Eden She answered questions I had pondered so long. “Why?” she read from my soul.“You cry”, she said, “because others can’t. You feast because others can’t.You love because others won’t. You are the presence of all color. Only drums could beat this drowning; this sounding. I thought I had felt pain before. Nothing is as painful as seeing your own transgressions and their consequences. Now, couple that pain with Empathy. Every growing inch of my wings silently screamed with horrifying stories of our hatred for each other. I could feel the painful annihilation of our children’s minds, bodies and spirits. Stripped over and over by monopolies’ and tyrants’ greedy nationalism. I was tortured by the people’s mistrust and despair. Betrayed by those they elected to protect and to serve. Betrayed by religious leaders who made God in their image.The image of selfishness, elitism and only their pursuit of happiness. I said this was how I came into myself...I should have said how I am coming into myself. My wings are not yet strong enough. Once I am fully impassioned with all the hopes of my peoples...all of my peoples and even the creatures’ pains will be my amour!l And when at last , I am called forth from this cocoon Babylon will fall! Wth the songs of multitudes Babylon’s days are numbered in these words ”I am proud to free slaves, I am proud to be “sick and tired”, I am proud to be called sister, mother, daughter, child, wife, lover, healer, visionary, crazy, truth teller, advocate, preacher, protector of the innocent, teacher, wisdom, witch… I am proud to be called Woman! �12 Believe It STREETVOICE The Gate Believe it when you see someone bundle up sleeping in the street Believe it when you see someone looking in the garbage for food to eat Believe it cause all of these things are real and none are made up Believe that there are many men, women and children who are down on their luck Believe that with the economy all twisted and headed straight to hell Believe that there are many who just give up, commit suicide or take leave for a jail cell Believe that to the homeless, jail with three hot meals, cell buddies for friends and a cot Believe to some may mean nothing but to the homeless means one hell of a lot Believe with faith all things are possible for all including you and me Believe in God, have faith, and pray then change will come all you have to do is believe N o v 24 --April N o v 19, 0 18 | |N o . 393 April 18,22019 No. 404 The gate is open It isn't locked there are no locks on the gate You must decide to enter or not There is no turning back one you enter the gatee Baffled and unsure yet wanting to continue the gate is straight ahead open the door enter if possible tell me what you see at the place Where no one Needs a key KIM GREEN WILLA DENISE JONES Contributing Writer Streetvibes Distributor Streetvibes Distributor Contributing Writer Streetvibes Writing Circle If you would like to submit a story for publication in streetvibes, come join Katelyn Lusher and Chris Wilkey for a group writing session! S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �STREETVOICE No. 39 | Nov 218, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 April 4 3-April | No. 404 THE WATERED DOWN MUELLER REPORT MOTHER GOOSE Dear old Mother Magee Went and turned on her TV, To find out Mueller's conclusion. But A.G. Barr's brief, four pager Both upset and enraged her, Especially the words "no collusion." 13 Life on Life's Terms I’ve been selling Streetvibes since May 7th, 2009, the old and new school Streetvibes. But the new people got to know how to sell papers, Everyone has their “pitch,” Mine starts with “Good morning” “Have a good afternoon” “Have a good evening!” In my position, you have to deal with the people. BILL WOODS Contributing Writer You have to deal with attitudes and everything else. I always sell papers at Reds Opening Day, right on vine and Central Parkway by the Kroger building. In dealing with the people coming down from the suburbs or different neighborhoods for Reds’ Opening Day, I have to deal with people who are dumbfounded when they see me. They look at me like a nobody. I get motivated. I don’t mess with Duracell but I mess with Everready batteries all day every day. The bunny is back. I’m from up north, from Detroit. I been down here since July 2002. I came down here the year after the riot. My mother said we all the same color but when I came down here I had to deal with a bunch of racist motherfuckers. I don’t mess with the KKK, I will bring the Black Panthers in here and we’ll occupy Cincinnati. I’m trying to bring the Homeless Congress back and I need some sponsors. JAMES BROWN Streetvibes Distributor Contributing Writer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �PUZZLES 14 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 102 Across 1. At that time 5. Slide without control 9. Singing voice 13. An actor's portrayal 14. Internal 16. Prevaricator 17. Translucent mineral 18. Female relative 19. Edible flatfish 20. Taut or rigid 22. Brass instrument 24. Peculiar 26. Group of three singers 27. Amiable 30. Male feline 35. Mongrel 36. Delicacy 39. Flashlight 40. Charter 42. Religious doctrine 44. Whittle 45. Embellish 47. Commence 49. Liveliness 50. Panic 52. Sent via the postal service 54. Bird shelter 57. An argument in favor of 58. Selecting what seems best of various styles or ideas 62. Bird of prey 66. Certain 67. Excluded from use or mention 69. Stomped heavily 70. Region 71. Edible bulb 72. Female red deer 73. Garment 74. A meeting arranged in advance 75. Jittery PUZZLE SOLUTIONS CROSSWORD #101 Down 1. A slow pace of running 2. Be optimistic 3. Zeal 4. Wrestling hold, can be half or full 5. Transgression 6. Create with needles and wool 7. Torpid 8. Interior layout and furnishings 9. In addition 10. Large predatory feline 11. Story 12. Metal-bearing mineral 15. Send money in payment 21. Redact 23. Item of footwear 25. Move with sudden speed 27. Usher 28. Mistake 29. Fermentation sediment of an alcoholic beverage 31. Swab 32. Have a great desire for 33. Strong and sharp 34. Those people 35. Informal conversation 37. Colony insect 38. Squad 41. Wander from a direct course 43. Snare 46. Not any 48. Become fatigued 51. Right-hand page 53. Abhor 55. Support or foundation 56. Shinbone 58. Monetary unit 59. Ship's company 60. Containing little excess 61. Water hen 63. Power system 64. Yearn 65. Miniature whirlpool 66. Droop 68. Single person or thing N ov 2 o v 19,4,22019 0 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Mar 21- N -April 403 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 393 - MEDIUM SODOKU PUZZLE NO 392- MEDIUM PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 | Nov 2 4, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Mar 213 -April | No. 403 Central Access Point 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children RESOURCES Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside Bethany House 557-2873 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 591-2246 FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 Salvation Army 762-5660 St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 131 E. 12th Street 45202 1125 Bank Street 45214 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men Shelter: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Shelterhouse 721-0643 2121 Vine Street 45202 411 Gest St. 45203 Prospect House 921-1613 1437 Walnut Street 45202 Starting Over 961-2256 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Women St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Parkway Center 661-4620 First Step Home 961-4663 Shelter: Youth 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Sheakley Center for Youth (18-24 y/o) 2522 Highland Ave. 45219 569-9500 Lighthouse Youth Crisis Center (10-17 y/o) 3330 Jefferson Ave 45220 961-4080 Shelter: Family Interfaith Hospitality Network Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Both AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Joseph House (Veterans) 471-1100 1522 Republic Street 45202 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street 45202 Talbert House 221-HELP Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street 45202 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Food/Clothing First Lutheran Church 421-0065 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Seraph Ministries 549-0542 St. George Food Pantry 2554 Dennis St. 45219 751-8771 St. Anthony Center 1615 Republic St. Advocacy Catholic Social Action 421-3131 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Franciscan JPIC 721-4700 Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 241-2965 Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board 946-8000 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 221-HELP Housing: 15 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 Health Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 Other Resources Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 215 E. 14th St. 45202 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 381-0111 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. 579-8547 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 1223 Main St. 45202 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 The Caring Place 631-1114 Talbert House 751-7747 United Way 211 Women Helping Women 977-5541 Off The Streets 421-5211 Hamilton County Office of Reentry 946-4304 138 E. Court Street Room # 101 First Floor Cancer Justice Network 404-3882 Hamilton/Middletown St. Raephaels 981-4200 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 Northern Kentucky Brighton Center (11-17 y/o) 859-491-8303 ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary 859-572-6202 Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky 634 Scott St. 41011 859-291-4555 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? You can support our mission and spread the word about your business. For more information contact Gabriela Godinez Feregrino, 961-0600 email streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Center for Respite Care 621-1868 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 386-7899 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 NAMI of Hamilton County 351-3500 PATH Outreach 977-4489 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �16 N o v 2 4- -April N o v 19,18, 2 02019 18 | N o . 393 April | No. 404 S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. ALFRED WOOLFOLK SINCE 10/2003 ASRES AYENAW SINCE 2012 BERTA LAMBERT SINCE 1997 BETTIE BAILEY SINCE 10/2017 BRANDON NELSON SINCE 4/2008 BRIAN ADAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHARLES WILLIAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHRISTOPHER KAIHATSU SINCE 7/2017 CLEO WOMBLES SINCE 10/2003 CRANDALL COBB SINCE 2004 DARREL ROZIER SINCE 7/2017 DAVID MCCANE SINCE 2017 ERIC VALDEZ SINCE 2/2017 GERALD FRANKLIN SINCE 7/2017 GRADY COOK SINCE 1997 HENRY BRELAND SINCE 7/2017 JAMES BROWN SINCE 3/2009 JAMES DAVIS SINCE 8/2000 JENNY BURTON SINCE 7/2017 JIMMIE GIPSON SINCE 2001 JON DARBY SINCE 2/2006 JOHN HORN JOSEPHINE BASKERVILLE SINCE 9/2008 J’TORI TYMAN SINCE 5/2014 KIM NGUYEN SINCE 7/2017 KENNY BUSSELL SINCE 10/2009 KAREN COLLETTE SINCE 7/2008 LARRY BROWN SINCE 10/2007 LEE MCCOY SINCE 7/2009 LEONARD JACKSON SINCE 2/2005 MARY MUELLER SINCE 5/2005 MARK SHEARS SINCE 4/2012 MAURICE GOLSBY MELISSA MOSBY SINCE 9/2014 MIKE CARANO SINCE 4/2016 RAESHAWN GIPSON SINCE 3/2009 RAYNARD JONES SINCE 10/2008 RICKY WOODS SINCE 4/2015 RICCARDO TAYLOR SINCE 1999 RONNIE PHILLIPS SINCE 10/2009 SAMUEL JACKSON SINCE 10/2006 STACIA HOLLANDER SINCE 2017 STEPHANIE EAKES SINCE 7/2017 SYLVESTER WALKER SINCE 7/2017 TALINA HILL SINCE 2/2011 VICTOR MUMPHRY WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WINNIE RICE SINCE 7/2017 QUEENACELASTINE SINCE 7/2017 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 VIOLET COLLINS SINCE 2017 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2019 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource April 4-April 18, 2019 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: A Dying Planet Pg 3: A Letter of Thanks Greater Cincinnati’s Affordable Housing Crisis Pg 4: GCHC Pg 5: Climate Strike Pg 6: Washrooms for Customers Only Pg 7: Migrant Workers Face Abuse, Slavery Threat in Post-Brexit Britain Pg 8: Disappearing Communities Pg 9: Disappearing Communities Continued Pg 10: All Saints School Donates Over 3,400 Books to Literacy Network Racists Go Home Pg 11: How I Came into My Own Pg 12: Street Voice Pg 13: Street Voice Pg 14: Pet Horoscopes Pg 15: Resources Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource April 4-April 18, 2019 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gabriela Godinez Bill Woods Maged Srour Bill Joiner Kieran Gulibert Mervyn Horgan Edith Wilson Dr. Mark Mussman Liz Triestle Madison Brit Willa Denise Jones Kim Green James Brown June Alexander Canva.com INSP.com Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Bill Joiner Bill Woods Brexit Britain Canva.com Climate Change Dr. Mark Mussman Edith Wilson education Findlay Playground Gabriela Godinez INSP.com James Brown June Alexander Kieran Gulibert Kim Green Liz Triestle Madison Brit Maged Srour Mervyn Horgan Migrants protest Slavery Strike Willa Denise Jones https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/a46f6681ebb263af0e88cb7345ccaebb.pdf c4065713ea27f6b061ea040b491a7b45 PDF Text Text M a r c h 2 1 s t - A p r i l 4 t h 2 0 1 9 | Vo l . 2 3 I s s u e 6 ( N o . 4 0 3 ) advo cating justice | building communit y Any opinions in this issue are of the authors and don't necessarily represent Streetvibes or The Homeless Coalition. Showcasing articles about women, and featuring women's creative writing This Issue is sponsored by Cecilia and Tom Kloecker Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.com Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 12 �2 COALITION Nov 2 N o v 19,4,22019 0 18 || N o . 393 Mar 21- -April No. 403 From The Editor: Of Fear and Hate GABRIELA GODINEZ Editor-in-chief O n March 15th, 2019, two consecutive acts of horrific terrorism hit Christchurch New Zealand as a Muslim community engaged in prayer. The first attack was at the Al Noor Mosque; the second was at the Linwood Islamic Centre. 50 people were murdered and 50 more were injured. The youngest victim of the massacre was New Zealand born Mucad Ibrahim. In this article, the murder nor his accomplices will be named following New Zealand Prime minister Jacinda Ardern’s example. Prime minister Arden spoke about the Chirstchurch mosques terror attack saying, “he may have sought notoriety but we in New Zealand will give him nothing. Not even his name.” The terrorist, wanting global attention, live streamed the gruesome shooting on Facebook. Facebook announced the first report on the live stream “came 29 minutes after the video started”, a report that only came after it was reposted to 8chan by another user. The live stream had been viewed 4,000 times before it was removed. The Christchurch terrorist clearly wanted to not only ignight fear but also recruit other right wing extremists into becoming terrorists by publishing a manifesto similarly to the July 22, 2011 Norway terrorist who murdered 70. Unfortunately, and sadly unsurprisingly, the New Zealand terrorist seems to have made an impact on right wing extremists. YoutubeInsider, a verified Youtube Twitter account, tweeted: “We wanted to give an update on our actions since Friday’s horrific tragedy. We’ve removed tens of thousands of videos and terminated hundreds of accounts created to promote or glorify the shooter.” According to the Washington Post, 1.5 million videos of the Christchurch attacks were removed within 24 hours but many videos still are out there simply because of the magnitude of videos uploaded. Prime minister Arden stated, “it is our view that it cannot, should not, be distributed, available, able to be viewed. It is horrendous… Ultimately the responsibility does sit with them [social media companies].” Internet service providers in New Zealand have blocked sites like 4chan and 8chan, which have not removed the Christchurch shooting video. These sites are known as breeding ground for right wing extremists. 8chan in particular is widely regarded as one of if not “the most vile website on the internet.” According to Vox, the shooter described Trump as “a symbol of renewed white identity and common purpose.” This lead many people to turn around and point the finger to the U.S. President, but that sentiment is misguided. Trump did not cause the New Zealand shooting. Trump and the New Zealand shooting are tumors of the same disease of white supremacy. This highly contagious, lethal disease of white supremacy has not infected any one country, it can be, and is, found all over the world. This is a disease founded on fear, hate, resentment, which all ultimately manifests into violence. White supremacy did not start with Trump, and it most certainly will not end with Trump after he is out of office. This is an insidious illness that affects us all. Not even 24 hours after the massacre, the New Zealand government had already promised gun laws would change “including a ban on semi-automatic rifles,” according to The Guardian. Prime minister Arden urged the surrender of firearms and many New Zealanders actually agreed. The Guardian reported that at least 37 firearms had been handed to police officers around the country” without the legal need to. However, this is not only about guns. This is about white supremacy and the simple fact that it seems we only talk about it when we are faced with death. If we do not unite now, stand in solidarity with one another or show up for one another, then what’s the point? What are we doing sending “thoughts and prayers” to one another? Why even bother talking about this if we’re just going to act like everything is fine a month later? The New Zealand massacre is an act of terrorism that should not only spark conversation, but instigate action within legislation, our national and global societies, and most importantly within our local communities. Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org www.cincistreetvibe.com EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor-in-chief: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: Mona Jenkins Director of Education: Dr. Mark Mussman Distributor Program Manager: Sallie Mascus Layout: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Reception: Bonita Batton, Larry Johnson Maintenance: Pete Roper ------------------------------------------CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Writers: Josh Spring, Gabriela Godinez, Bill Woods, Hellen Hill, Anastasia Safioleas, Seulki Lee, Jen Ham, Ericka Russel, Felix Winternitz, Kristina Mckinley, Jada Jones, Ta'Anna Gamble, Savanna Donaldson, Willa Denise Jones, Desmond Brown, ------------------------------------------Photography/ Artwork: canva.com, Gabriela Godinez, INSP.com ---------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless do not endorse candidates for public office. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 | Nov 2 4, - N o v 19, 2 0 18 Mar 213-April 2019 | No. 403 COALITION 3 From The Director: Diligent Impatience JOSH SPRING Executive Director Are you angered by the inequities in Cincinnati and Hamilton County? In the last twenty years in the city of Cincinnati we have given out $3.4 billion in property tax abatements, predominately to wealthy individuals and companies. As we pour tens of millions into infrastructure for a soccer stadium, we are short 40,019 affordable homes and people die under bridges without a home. City Human Services funding is well below its prescribed levels and the winter shelter is not fully funded, yet we budget public funds to private business support ventures with the unproven claim that they somehow improve our city (see City of Cincinnati FY 2019 Budget, page 10). We grant zoning variances to wealthy, exclusive housing developers while in on an average day in 2018, nearly 90 percent of families with children who sought shelter were turned away because the housing crisis has left no room in shelters. On average, Black Men live ten years less than white men and Black Women live about six years, seven months less than white women, but we have an operational streetcar. You should be angered by all of this and more, deeply angered. But please work to not be idly angry. Sometimes we hear people say that there is nothing we can do about these oppressive realities. We hear the perspective that large sums of money always rule the day and so we can’t win. But, there is a lot we can do, and we can win. We have to gather ourselves together, name the injustices and name those who orchestrate and benefit from these injustices. We must say how our city, county, community and society should operate and we have to force it into existence. We need to strategize actions, implement campaigns, evaluate results and adjust our strategies without changing our foundational stances. We have to encourage, challenge and support our partners in the struggle. We must build leverage stemming from our growing numbers of people and our experienced strength. We need to employ unexpected tactics. We must hold ourselves and systems in general to basic standards of morality. We have to be willing to say what is right and what is wrong. We should not settle for less than what is just and righteous. Organizing, building leverage and exacting action does not mean systemic change and/or replacement will come quickly. It most certainly, will not. So, we must do our best to keep in our mind’s eye the vision of what our city and county will look and operate like when justice, morality and empathy rule the day. In that vison of the future, who is making decisions and through what processes are they made? What will our neighborhoods look like? What about our schools and recreational spaces? How will housing be accessed and who will public lands and funds benefit? We can get there one step at a time. I don’t mean that in some abstract, fluffy, make us all feel better sort of way. I mean it in a real sense. We fight for changes, sometimes we lose and sometimes we win and the wins and loses come in all sizes with differing levels of consequential impacts, but we must chart each success, no over or under state it and tick away at the steps it will teach to reach our just destination. Please don’t read this as a statement that we should be patient. We should not be patient in the struggle to justice. Patience in this fight will not get revolutionary result. Instead we are charting a course for the long-haul; a course that we must march with diligent impatience. Ohio's 2011 Gerrymandered Districts Quietly Challenged In U.s. District Court In Cincinnati BILL WOODS ContributingWriter W ell hidden from public view on the eighth floor of the Potter Stewart Building in downtown Cincinnati, a legal case of major importance to democracy has moved forward for the last two weeks. A lawsuit alleging that Ohio's current Congressional Districts are unconstitutional is being heard by a three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court of Southern Ohio. The plaintiffs in this case are the League of Women Voters of Ohio, the A. Phillip Randolph Institute, and residents from the state's sixteen Congressional Districts. The defendants are Republican elected officials such as the Secretary of State, the Governor, and leaders of the Ohio General Assembly. Readers will remember that Ohio voters passed last May a Constitutional Amendment designed to end one party gerrymandering in the state. However, the new redistricting process will not be used until 2021, and the plaintiffs in this case are challenging the constitutionality of the Congressional Districts that were drawn in 2011. The goal is to prove that fairer Districts need to be drawn for the 2020 election cycle. The ACLU of Ohio (American Civil Liberties Union) provided the legal team for the plaintiffs, and it spent the first four days of the trial making the case that the Districts created in 2011 constitute violations of the First and Fourth Amendments. ACLU lawyers called several of the citizen plaintiffs to testify as well as representatives of the League of Women Voters and the A. Phillip Randolph Institute. Former State Senator Nina Turner and Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, both Democrats, also testified that Ohio Democrats had no influence on Congressional District map-making in 2011. ACLU lawyers spent the bulk of their time questioning expert witnesses such as William Cooper, a demographer who specializes in using Census data and the geographic realities of a state to draw compact political district maps that primarily keep intact counties and large cities. Cooper explained that not only was it possible to create district maps that were fairer and less partisan than Ohio's 2011 Congressional Districts, but he provided remedial maps that he had drawn for this state. Two other political scientists, Dr. Chris Warshaw and Dr. David Niven also offered analyses of the highly partisan nature of Ohio's sixteen Congressional Districts. When shown the 2011 District map, this partisanship is not difficult for the average person to see. For instance, Democratic Cincinnati is split into two districts and then combined with enough Republican suburban and rural counties to make two safe GOP seats. Franklin County and Columbus feature similar splits and suburban additions. The most outrageous geographic aberration is "the snake on the lake," a District that extends along Lake Erie from Toledo to Cleveland and takes in parts of numerous counties. Thus, even though President Obama carried Ohio in both 2008 and 2012, Republicans continue to hold twelve Congressional seats to four for the Democrats. The expert witnesses in their testimonies focused on the skillful manipulations that went into making the 2011 Districts so one sided. What factors have brought about this recent movement throughout the U.S. to advocate for fair election districts? Since the Constitution leaves it to individual states to create political districts, gerrymandering has existed in some form throughout our history. Although reform groups such as Common Cause and the League of Women Voters have called for redistricting reform for years, it was too esoteric an issue for average people to grasp until the 2011 district THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED maps took effect. What happened in 2011 was the perfection of one party gerrymandering through the use of computers. Computer experts could mould Census and political data into maps that insured a large majority of districts for one party. This perfection of gerrymandering may be leading to its downfall. Suddenly, this highly partisan mapping in states like Ohio, North Carolina and Texas received a lot of news media attention. Once lonely reformers were joined by a larger base of outraged citizens who were now aware of why their elective districts were so uncompetitive. Groups in states across the country began challenging gerrymandered districts in court cases or through ballot initiatives. In Ohio, state and Congressional District mapping have been reformed when voters passed Constitutional Amendments in 2015 and 2018. The current Federal Court case in Cincinnati is coming to a close at a time when the U.S. Supreme Court is about to hear two cases challenging gerrymandered districts in North Carolina and Maryland. The rulings in these cases could have major impacts on future state redistricting, and the Court will hear them during the last week in March. Stay tuned. �4 ADVERTISMENT NMar o v 221 - N-April o v 19,4, 20 18 | |NNo. o . 393 2019 403 March 1 - 23, 2019 For tickets please call (513) 381-2273 Purchase tickets online at www.cincyshakes.com AD Donated by Mark and Sue Ann Painter season sponsored by the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �N o. 39 3 |-April Nov 2 -4,N2019 o v 19,| No. 2 0 18 Mar 21 403 5 U.S. NEWS Homeless in a woman’s body HELEN HILL I Street Roots n the 2017 Multnomah County [in Oregon] “Point In Time” homeless count, 1,355 adult women were identified as homeless, making up 36 per cent of the total homeless population. This was up more than 16 per cent from the 1,161 women counted in 2015, and more than double the 662 women counted in 2009. What is it like for the growing numbers of women who are experiencing homelessness? We asked five of our vendors to talk about what women living on the streets experience. Amy is currently living underneath the Morrison Bridge with her boyfriend Sean. Olivia (not her real name) is single and sleeps under the Burnside Bridge. Aileen has just moved to Dignity Village with her husband Charles. Jay is single, transgender, and in a temporary shelter. Barbra lives in a small tent community within the downtown core. Amy It’s a chilly evening in late November. A freight train shrieks past, the ear-splitting roar echoes through the tunnel of concrete piers under the east end of the Morrison Bridge. Bright lights high overhead stay on through the night, illuminating a changing community of people who shelter here. There is a roaming colony of rats. When it rains, a fast creek runs down ditches on either side of the rough-tiled pavement where sleeping bags are laid out for the night. Amy has slept under the Morrison Bridge with her boyfriend and fellow Street Roots vendor Sean Sheffield for nearly three years. She transcends cultural assumptions of the homeless. She has never taken drugs or alcohol. She was recently appointed shift supervisor at her regular job at the Portland Airport Starbucks. She is open-hearted, cheerful and hardworking. She says she was worried at first about living under the bridge, “I thought I would freeze to death,” but now she is used to it and doesn’t feel the cold or the rain that sprays them “like spritz on a ship” when the wind blows. Every other week they look forward to taking her paycheck and staying in a motel for several nights. Amy doesn’t feel safe without Sean nearby. “I think it’s harder for women on the street,” she said. ”Whenever Sean has to sell (Street Roots) after dark, I don’t like it. I’m always looking behind me and 360 degrees around me. We all look out for each other, we walk by and say ‘Hey, are you OK? Are you feeling threatened?’ I am a little suspicious when guys say that, but with a female, it feels good that we are looking out for each other.” Portland police offer welcome protection, she said. On 20 November, there were two homicides in a homeless camp on the west side of the Morrison Bridge. “There were those two shootings, but the police came to check on us,” she said. “I thought that was really cool of them to do that. They woke us up and asked us how we were doing, they told us there were two homicides, and they did it twice during the night, they were sincerely concerned for our safety, they woke up the people behind us to make sure they were OK too.” Olivia Olivia is small in stature but strong, self-sufficient and confident. She’s been staying on her own under the Burnside Bridge. She is acutely aware of the sexism on the street and the challenging situations women face. “The biggest misconception is that it’s easier for a woman on the street, because people think you can get stuff for free. And they think you can get into shelters easier, but it’s not true,” she said. “Guys say you don’t have to be on the streets, someone will take you home. Takes a man to let you know: Hey, you can just be a prostitute, you don’t have to be homeless. Not every girl is a prostitute just because she’s homeless. “I am constantly harassed every day. Guys don’t leave you alone. ‘Hey beautiful, hey girl.’ Do they think girls really like that? My first name isn’t ‘hey,’ my last name isn’t ‘girl.’ “Everyone knows me, it’s a small town, this homeless community. I make sure I keep a good reputation, I don’t do drugs, I won’t go where they are partying too much. But it’s the same bothering at night as you get in the daytime. “Men always say it’s easier for women to get housing. Other vendors think I can sell more papers because I’m a girl. But it’s not fun being treated like a prostitute every day or being afraid at night, it’s definitely not easier.” Aileen Aileen is a streetwise artist, seamstress and poet. She and her husband, Charles, have camped in a tent and lived in a camper. They recently returned to Dignity Village after the city repeatedly ticketed and threatened to tow their camper. “I have had forced moves, gunshots in the middle of the night, flashing lights, but I’ve always had Charles with me,” she said. “It’s one of those things even if you don’t camp together as a camp family, you camp together in numbers for safety. You need to get to where you can trust people. “I’ve seen women spread their sleeping bags out alone, As for the safety, honestly, I don’t think it’s any different male or female, because the older you are, you are just as vulnerable as any female. “But just being a female, people will take advantage of you, if you look weak and vulnerable, someone will take advantage of you. “You can cast that very strong don’t-fuck-with-me look. You can get training. My brother was military. He wanted to teach me self-defense, so he put me in a couple different holds. He didn’t expect me to grab his ears and say ‘meet the knee,’ but that was my instinct when he put me in the hold. He was thrilled with it, but he said, ‘if that’s your instinct, I don’t need to teach you.’ “I’m defending my life, I am the only one who has the right to say when my life ends. I use a power stance when I need to, you can bring yourself that strength. “I’m always watching, there are so many things to watch.” Jay Jay is a gifted artist. He identifies as both male and non-binary. He lives in a temporary shelter. “As a person with a woman’s body, I think male-identified people have more options,” he said. “There are more shelter and housing options for single males than for single women or single transgender or non-binary people. “I am more likely to have predators target me, or bullies target me, they view me as a weak woman, small, frail. I am more likely to have guys proposition me, like they say they will let me stay with them if I will be their girlfriend. I don’t think homeless men have to deal with that situation. “You are between a rock and a hard place. You don’t want to live in a shelter, but you also don’t want to sell your body for housing either, which is what a lot of guys offer. You get to where you just don’t want to talk to any guys at all, it seems like just predators approaching. “I think homeless men also get THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED assaulted, but as someone in a woman’s body, I am more likely to end up dead or be sexually assaulted.” Barbra Barbra had a successful professional career as a market researcher. Her career ended when she became disabled in 2010 due to a brain lesion. She became homeless a few years later. She describes herself as “a miracle walking.” Barbra is an effective activist, serving on committees at Sisters of The Road and with the Old Town Chinatown Neighborhood Association. She was recently chosen as an advisor to a team of OHSU doctors who are creating a syllabus to investigate and serve the homeless. She also volunteers for the Metro Trash Initiative, brainstorming strategies to help people experiencing homelessness dispose of trash and recycling. She lives with her boyfriend in a tent community of 12. “I’ve always been with a man,” she said. “You have all these dangers, you have people who will kill you for your money, your backpack – even if they don’t know what’s in it. When you have a male partner, your chances of that are not as much. Maybe you have a dangerous boyfriend who will beat you and do bad things to you but they aren’t going to take your livelihood, they won’t take your wallet and your phone, so you make a decision; as long as I don’t do this, this won’t happen, as long as I don’t drink, this guy won’t beat me, so I’m safe through all these things. No one will beat me up or rape me or steal from me because I have someone there with me all the time. “You talk to women on the streets, they will tell you, ‘I was raped.’ ‘My babies were taken,’ and that’s the reality of it. You have to pick the best out of the worst. I don’t think anyone understands. I have a lot of respect for the women who sleep alone, I couldn’t do it.” Her advice to other women on the streets: “Trust your instinct. If you have fear, there is a reason it is there. Trust the gut, don’t trust your brain or heart. If your gut says don’t walk down that street, don’t trust that man, listen to it.” “There are more and more of us coming out,” Barbra said. “We can’t stop it, I would like to think we would all band together and keep each other safe. I don’t want women out there alone, how vulnerable do we need to be?” Courtesy of Street Roots / INSP.ngo �GLOBAL 6 NMar o v 2 21 - N-April o v 19, 4, 2 02019 18 | N o . 393 | No. 403 A Phair go ANASTASIA SAFIOLEAS L The Big Issue Australia iz Phair is on the phone from her home in Los Angeles, reminiscing about the early 90s. She’s been doing a fair amount of reflection since the reissue of her debut album, Exile in Guyville, last year. A surprise hit in 1993, Exile… would go on to sell nearly half-a-million records. It triggered her meteoric rise as rock’s “naughty girl”, with her sexually-charged lyrics and low-fi pop sound. Twenty-five years later, it has been repackaged with songs from her previously unavailable Girly-Sound tapes, and she’s hitting the road again, having now embraced the crippling stage fright that stubbornly dogged much of her career. “I didn’t like performing – I was petrified, and I had a lot of nerves,” says Phair of that time. “I saw myself as an artist, not as a performer… I had to learn to become a live performer. I suffered long enough until I finally found a way to regulate it. I didn’t drink. I didn’t do anything. I just whiteknuckled it!” She laughs, and then adds, serious again: “There’s no substitute for experience. I don’t think anyone is buying it when you watch performers faking it – it’s pretty obvious.” No-one can accuse the Chicago native of faking it. Exile to Guyville, her song-by-song response to the Rolling Stones’ 1972 album Exile on Main St, became a critical and commercial sensation despite its intentionally sparse production and those upfront lyrics. Perhaps the most notorious and oft-quoted line is when she deadpans “I want to be your blowjob queen” on ‘Flower’. But don’t mistake this for cheeky banter. There is a dark streak running through her songs. On ‘Fuck and Run’ she intones: “I can feel it in my bones/I’m gonna spend my whole life alone.” Exile… came before the dawn of the digital music age. A time when the music industry was characterised by mostly male-run record companies, releasing mostly male performers. Commercial radio often refused to play female artists back-to-back, lest listeners changed the station. And Phair didn’t find the supposedly liberal alternative music scene any more welcoming for female artists. “I remember feeling that very acutely. I was making some sort of stand just for the right to make music at all,” she states. “It’s a bit bittersweet. I didn’t make [Exile…] from a happy place. I really held my feet to the fire, to a certain extent. I was very serious in that record. I was frustrated and unhappy and I was speaking matterof-factly about things a woman like me wasn’t supposed to say out loud,” she pauses: “I didn’t feel like it was a good place to be a woman anywhere.” While her voice may have been surrounded by the cocksure growl of grunge, there was a groundswell of female performers also making a mark, such as PJ Harvey, Tori Amos, Courtney Love and riotous all-girl group L7. “I remember feeling there were voices in music that were spurring me on, like the riot grrl scene. There was a movement afoot, pushing back,” she says. “Now I think the music industry has left the hands of the labels and gone into a more democratic zone. People can search for the music they want. Fans want to listen to female artists and it has opened the flood gates.” Mitski is currently on high rotation in the Phair household. As is the new album by Lana Del Rey. And Phair regularly uses social media to reach out to female artists. “I feel like the music industry has changed for the better for women. There’s a huge generation of young women who are making music their own way, producing their own music, performing it – they are incredibly autonomous compared to when I was their age.” As Phair prepares for a batch of Australian shows, she is also getting ready to release her first book, a memoir titled Horror Stories. “They’re stories about my life that touch on how we become the people that we are. It’s almost an exploration on the way we have arranged or ordered our memories and then become the stories that we tell ourselves about who we are and where we’re going. Those sort of impactful moments…the small horrors in life. It’s THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED very personal.” There is also new music on the way, although don’t hold your breath for her much-reported collaboration with Ryan Adams. Around the lead-up to the 2016 US election, Phair found herself working with the unpredictable indie rocker on another song-by-song response album, this time using The Beatles’ White Album as inspiration. “There was a lot of humour with what we were doing, and when Trump was elected the humour went out of our entire country. It felt so oppressive and so morally repugnant it stopped an artwork in its tracks. At that point it wasn’t the right moment for something so funny and light. I doubt we’ll resume working on it. Trump is still not that funny!” she laughs soberly. “But I’ll leave a door cracked open for it.” Courtesy of The Big Issue Australia / INSP.ngo �N o. 3921 3 |-April Nov 2 -4, N 2019 o v 19,| 2 0 18403 Mar No. GLOBAL 7 South Korean women abandon makeup to fight male domination A Japanese tourist (L) talks with an employee at a shop of Missha, a budget brand of Able C&C in central Seoul August 6, 2013. Most of the Korean cosmetics firms are targeting the mid-to-low end of that market by rapidly opening stores and bombarding customers with hundreds of new products each year. Korean beauty brands have little global renown, but in Asia they are household names because of perfectly groomed celebrities. Picture taken August 6, 2013. REUTERS/Lee Jae-Won SEULKI LEE Reuters S outh Korean university student Yim Ji-su used to sacrifice up to two hours of sleep each morning for her laborious makeup routine - from applying foundation and concealer to perming her shoulder-length hair. But about six months ago, she joined a growing band of young women who have given up makeup and cut their hair short to rebel against longheld ideals of beauty they claim to have been subjected to in male-dominated South Korea. The phenomenon has sparked debate in the beauty-obsessed nation, and brands are rethinking their marketing strategies to cater to the growing movement. "We are not dolls, we are human beings," said Yim, a third-year student in Korean literature from the capital Seoul. She was bare-faced and sporting a buzz cut. "By escaping this corset, I feel like I am myself again," she said, adding that a number of students at her campus have also jumped on the bandwagon. South Korea's wide range of skincare and cosmetic products has earned the industry the name "K-beauty", a term reminiscent of the moniker "K-pop" which refers to the booming pop music scene. South Korea has become one of the world's top 10 beauty markets, according to global market research firm Mintel, with many women taking it to the extreme of plastic surgery to reach uniform beauty standards. But it is also known as a socially conservative country - it has one of the worst gender wage gaps among developed nations, and is ranked 115 out of 149 countries in the World Economic Forum's 2018 Global Gender Gap report. Against this backdrop, discontent among women about society's patriarchal aspects has been slowly growing. “I would kill myself ” Tens of thousands of women took to the streets in Seoul last year to protest against the spy-camera porn phenomenon, where victims were filmed illicitly when changing or having sex. Around the same time, a small group of women also began joining what is known as the "Escape the corset" movement, taking to social media to post images of themselves destroying their cosmetics. YouTube star Lina Bae used to offer makeup tutorials on the video sharing site, but in a viral video last June, she revealed the dark side of the rigid beauty standards and the ridicule she has had to suffer. In her video, which has attracted nearly 7 million views, Bae said some viewers told her "I would kill myself if I were you" and "Didn't know pig can make up". She said many women were so insecure about their own appearances that they have to put on makeup even for a short trip to nearby supermarkets. "I am not pretty but it is fine," said Bae, whose real name is Bae Eunjeong, as she wipes away her bronze eyeshadow and red lipstick in the video. "I will not be able to wear this corset forever," she added. Despite the growing movement, analysts said the K-beauty sector is unlikely to be affected, and Mintel data showed it is expected to reach a retail market value of $11.4 billion in 2019, from $10.7 billion in 2018. "(It) is a movement that is emerging among South Korea's younger generations today, but it is a trend that has not yet reached the mainstream public," said Hwa Jun Lee, a senior beauty analyst at Mintel in Seoul. But he warned brands not to take the trend lightly. Some companies have already begun responding to the growing movement by shifting away from the existing rigid beauty standards to emphasise minimalism, with "all-inone" beauty products that simplify skincare routines, said Lee. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Popular Korean cosmetics brand Missha, meanwhile, has featured a short-haired female model in one of its latest commercials, and other local brands like LAKA are the same. "While still in its nascent stage, it is important for brands to note that the 'Escape the corset' movement has the potential to grow further in the future," the analyst said. Sustained effort Supporters of the movement said giving up makeup is only the start of a bigger push for greater gender equality, as South Korean women confront daily sexism. "It is about women's choice... The movement is about changing our everyday culture," said Shin Jiye, a 28-year-old politician who stole headlines last year when she ran for the post of Seoul mayor but lost. But campaigner Heather Barr said it would be a long haul for feminists in South Korea to achieve greater women's rights, including introducing stronger legislation against abuse and sexual harassment. "(It) will take a sustained effort, but they show no signs of giving up," said the senior women's rights researcher at global watchdog Human Rights Watch. Writing and additional reporting by Beh Lih Yi. Courtesy of Reuters / Thomson Reuters Foundation / INSP.ngo �FEATURE 8 N o v 221 - N o v 19,4, 20 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Mar -April 2019 403 A Normies Game: Rules and Instructions Not Included JEN HAM ContributingWriter M y partner of one month casually sits on the couch next to the shoe rack. He’s scrolling through social media as I cycle through my shoes, muttering about a missing pair. He glances over, plucks the left suede boot out from behind other weathered trail blazers and asks, “oh by the way, are you partially blind?” An innocent question: there’s no judgement in his voice, only curiosity. My heart stumbles. I thought I had been passing so well. I actually thought I had been passing too well and would have to sit him down and break it to him over tea and pillow talk. “Yeah.” I respond relieved and anxious for the 30 seconds between my answer and his response. “Mmm, yeah kind of noticed.” He chuckles, looks down at his phone. I tug on my suede boot, knot the laces in a blasé manner belying the bigger knot tightening in my stomach. Should I say something more? What’s he thinking? Does this change things? Is he going to treat me differently? Does he still want to be with me…? “Hey babe, we should leave soon, yeah?” He helps me into my coat, checks his watch, and digs for his car keys. He’s already moved onto the next topic, unfazed, unconcerned. I’m baffled that my outted legal blindness hadn’t completely ruined the evening, mood, relationship…. Living with a disability has always been this game of passing. To pass or not to pass? Can I pass? I never had to come out as woman. As Asian. As heterosexual. Yet I constantly find myself having to decide whether to come out as disabled or not: whether to come out or pass. Living with Cone-Rod Dystrophy, a degenerative eye condition resulting in partial or full blindness, there are times when I’m not given the choice. My built environment outs me, if not as partially blind then at the very least as distinctly other. It’s not obvious, or maybe it is. The way I linger too long at cross walks, trip up ill-contrasted steps, or stare dreamily off into the distance when someone’s trying to make eyes at me. I wonder what they think of me. Do they see me haphazardly passing? Do they notice? Do they care? More importantly, why do I? This game of passing is like this: you can choose to mask your disability and gain entrance into the kingdom of the well, of the able-bodied normies (or normates as feminist Crip scholar Rosemarie Garland-Thomson calls them) or you can choose to come out as disabled. The rules to the game work like this: you must decide in what situations would you benefit from coming out as disabled and in what situations is it down right stupid and dangerous to not? I like playing the game riskily— I’ve always had a sweet tooth for testing my limits. I’ve played this game with myself, round after round: do I choose to pass as able-bodied in a classroom? A grocery store? A dimly lit, crowded bar or coffee shop? En route to a shuttle? En route to campus? With strangers, new partners, new friends? Almost every time the answer is yes! Pass baby pass. Collect your 200 fake points and make it to the next round. For the last 20 years I’ve played this game and I’ve only been hit by a car once—it was more of a tap, but I made sure to slap the hood in rebellion after. So, what if I get knocked around here or there? So, what if I go in for a hug and knock beer to the floor, shattering the glass cup into a million shards of pain up the bartender’s ass? So, what if I have to memorize every inch of campus to stay vertical? It’s worth it right? Being included in the in-crowd’s worth it right? What’s cooler than being a full functioning normate? Passing soon twisted into something else entirely. It became a rigorous life schedule of “not, but.” Where my identity started taking shape to be a negotiation of what I’m not and from that negative, then what I am. I’m not that kind of disabled, the weak and helpless fetishized saint, but I’m the sexy kind that completely transmutes her disability out of existence with phenomenal passing topped off with hypersexuality. Everything the disabled person w a s — e v e r y stereotype or assumption—I strove neurotically to disprove. I would take the maximum amount of credit hours in college, I would never use the accommodations given to me from my university’s disability services, I would have a boyfriend, I would party, I would have a sex life, I would have friends, a gleaming GPA, a competitive internship, a fit body, trending clothes, flirtatious stimulating conversations and then by the end of it all a gold star from the collective normates saying yes I was one of them. I was to be the epitome of heteronormative femininity and objectively successful. It wasn’t until three years ago that I started questioning this madness. It was my last year of undergrad and my first feminist theory class. We were reviewing queer scholarship and this idea of performing our genders came up. Queer scholars made the argument that gender is not natural but rather a grand illusion marketed by social and cultural norms. This made me wonder if then disability was also an illusion. My whole life I thought being disabled was my fault. That my genetics had turned against me and cursed me against any happiness in normative society. For the longest time I had it in my head that my difference in ability made me a burden, made me lesser, and so everything I did was in reaction or compensation to that. But if my disability was cultural…? What did that me an? Could it be that my different ability was just that: a different ability a n d that the THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED disability was the ugly illusion society conditioned me to believe? Was I socialized to be able-bodied and hate anything that was not abled including myself like how women were conditioned to be hyper-feminine and to hate any non-binary gender expression? I began wondering what living as outed would look like. What letting go of shame and overcompensation would feel like. Would be as liberating as suffrage, burning bras, and saying no? But where’s my movement? Where are my fellow revolutionary Crips claiming the rights to their bodies, burning “special needs” from our vocabulary, and saying no to inaccessible built environments? I’m trying really hard to empower myself, embrace my identity but unlike being a woman and easily finding feminists to support me, I can’t seem to find the same for my Crip identity. And I think it’s because society is not quite there yet. The normates haven’t acknowledge disability as a social construct ordered by their inaccessible policies or structures. The normates haven’t done the intellectual or emotional work to reinvasion different abilities as a contribution to human diversity. The normates don’t understand that the accommodations given to differently abled individuals is a reproduction of hierarchical power dynamics privileging able-bodied/ableminded individuals: that “integrating” differently abled individuals into mainstream obviates the fact that differently abled individuals do not automatically belong to society by virtue of living in it. Reclaiming my identity as Crip—a historically derogative term that much like queer is being refurbished by the differently abled—isn’t just on me. I can only do so much emotional labor. It has been 3 months since that encounter at the shoe rack…. So yeah clearly, I’m still working through the insecurities of reclaiming Crip. My explanations of my needs are not perfect, but he asks questions and wants to know more. Informing normates while building relationships of connection and uncondit iona l positive regard to start building an affirmative community is also part of being Crip. I still catch myself passing, I still stare dreamily into the distance and dance with car side mirrors but I’m only hu(wo)man and a Crip one at that. �No. 39 | Nov 2 -4,N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Mar 213 -April | No. 403 9 FEATURE Moments of Sisterhood ERICKA RUSSEL ContributingWriter W hen I first taught my sister how to French braid her hair, she was initially mesmerized by the skill I retained from my aunt. She smiled in awe as I told her I learned the basic braid in the third grade, taught to me by Olive during lunch. My sister and I always sat together: in our shared bathroom, on either side of our beds, or on the living room floor, in front of Barbie Mariposa playing on the TV. Silk strands of our shared DNA gliding between confident fingertips. Reaching the end of the tail, secretly and silently wishing it took longer. For then we could sit longer, connected in an intimacy not easily matched elsewhere. It is the process itself that I crave most when I feel emptiness, disappointment, futility. Both of us have always kept our hair long, perhaps to immortalize the need to continue braiding. Many times, we’ve shared opinion in keeping our hair lengthy for as long as possible. I laugh outwardly when I think of the times we’ve accidentally yanked a knot, or burned ears and necks with a flat iron, or stolen each other’s remaining hair ties. Of course, fighting was plentiful, but I always knew it was over when one of us offered to work the other’s hair. My sister is far from me now. Yet, I promise, every time we reunite, we instinctively reach for the other’s tresses. ~ In fifth grade, I began menstruating. No, I was not suddenly a woman, nor was I anywhere near prepared to handle the time, care, and understanding it took. I was shocked by the smell, discomfort, and never-ending underwear stains. But, with me, were my friends, my sisters. Suggesting we go to the park rather than the community pool. Offering me jackets to tie around my waist. Finding a quarter in the direst circumstances. Checking my butt when I attempted to casually stroll by. This wasn’t the first, nor would it be the last, time we would be so hasty to help one another. Pizza, milkshakes, candy bars, chips, sodas, donuts, Oreos all littered our sleepover shag carpet. Vividly, I recall Yana’s birthday party. All 15 of us in that basement, no pillow fights, no lewd pajamas. No, I do recall each of us actively, eagerly listening as we all expressed our future dreams. Dream jobs, fame, traveling, success, tattoos, houses, commitments... It amazes me how well we thrived when we were together. How beautiful our growth looked. We taught and continue to teach each other how to cope with an existential crisis. In whichever basement or bedroom we found ourselves, we always slept close despite the scope of the room. Although, our energies blended together could fuel us through the night. ~ In college, being surrounded by successful, brilliant, persevering, and barrier-breaking women, I felt a breath of relief and acceptance. Here, we all amalgamated in our various struggles and oppressions, our dreams and our failures. Not only that, but overcoming such things, while finding the time to uplift those sisters around us. Asking a stranger in class if she had a tampon, and she hands you three. Walking each other home, knowing we shouldn’t have to but still enjoying the extended company. Standing up for each other, raising our voices for improvements, building and contributing to better places and experiences. In the dorms, my roommate and I used to plan our showers together, so we could share music and the occasional shower thoughts. We became sisters so fast, it reinforces my belief that we’ve all lived multiple existences. She helped me break the barely cracked shell of living in a small, rural town. I discovered new styles, new music, and new standards. She was patient and understanding in showing me the expanse and umbrella of equality. With neither distance nor time, is it possible to fade a sisterhood. ~ My aunt gave me truth before I knew I needed it. She told me of how much of a failure she was to her mother, my grandmother. However, she still remains to be the happiest woman I know. Meredith: forty-eight, never married, no children, still living in an apartment. Meredith: forty-eight, college graduate, recently completed Masters, single—not lonely, tattooed, settled by apartment leases, proud pet owner… She relived the slow decay of her mother’s hope for grandchildren and, thusly, of her disownment. She told me how she’d fallen in love more times than she thought possible. The first quote of anarchy she gifted me was, “I don’t believe any of that Adam and Eve shit.” Every time I see my aunt, I feel bolder, more confident, self-assured. I remember who I am has nothing to do with the phrase: “Who I am supposed/expected to be.” And then there is Shannon. Her skin has grown so thick she cannot be scathed, anymore at least. Shannon: thirty-five, married, children—zero, miscarriages—eight. Shannon: thirty-five, college-graduate, lead aquarist, awarded researcher, happily married, tattooed, anti-organized religion, no single-use plastics. As of when. Shannon continues to show me strength I never believed I would see first-hand. But we see her otherworldly fertility everywhere: in her jellyfish, sea turtles, sea horses, octopi, pipefish, pufferfish, and flounder at the aquarium, in her dog, cat, and four chickens, in her garden and house plants. Wherever she is, growth surrounds her. ~ If I were to try to explain what sisterhood means, I would have to attempt to translate an entire verbal and nonverbal language. I would fail in displaying the subliminal connection that runs deep within every one of us, waiting to be stroked to flame. I would stutter to articulate the level of intensity in which we fight to be better for ourselves and each other. I would have to simplify a battle cry of a thousand languages. I would do our resilience an injustice. Most likely, along the way, I would misquote our ancestry. To put it she battled, her mother continued to blindside her with too many questions briefly, we rise together. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �10 LOCAL N o v 221 - N o v 19,4, 20 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Mar -April 2019 403 "10 _______ Women" History Project Spotlights Local Figures Who've Made a Difference FELIX WINTERNITZ Staff Writer C all them feisty or fierce, dare-devils or trail-blazers, but the following names are being nominated as some of the most remarkable females in Cincinnati's history: Theda Bara, Virginia Coffey, Dorothy Dolbey, Cora Dow, Sarah Fossett, Dottie Kamenshek, Irma Lazarus, Ruth Lyons, Edna Murphey, Jessie Partlon, Jennie Porter, Venus Ramey and Frances Trollope. Meet these groundbreaking women, the likely members of the first graduating class of "10 _______ Women," which is a new grant project funded by People's Liberty at Findlay Market. The concept behind the project is essential enough: team leaders are currently gathering together modernday news-makers and notables, then urging them to nominate the most astounding, unapologetic female contenders in the history of this metropolis. Approximately two-dozen voters assembled on a recent Thursday evening, for instance, to nominate the initial round of candidates, all while sifting through pages of biographies and piles of profiles. This was just the first step in the "10 _______ Women" celebration, directed under the guidance of coordinators Kristin and Jeff Suess, who first proposed the history project. Kristin is a local arts administrator, while her husband Jeff is an author and historian. "A lot of it had to do with Jeff 's writing at the Enquirer," observes Kristin. "Jeff would be curious and come home to share some of these stories with me. We realized if we were learning about these women for the first time, then there must be others. This project will celebrate 10 historic women who made an impact on Cincinnati. A few names will be familiar to some, but most are women who are not part of our collective memories, but should be." The organizers behind "10 _______ Women" are leaving the descriptor name blank for the moment. It will later be filled in as appropriate, with say, "10 Amazing Women" or "10 Trail-blazing Women." Other descriptors under discussion are persistent, subversive, fascinating, plucky and even kick-ass, all titles to pay tribute to what common element may distinguish and unite this first nominated class. Some names quickly rose above the top field during the first evening's voting. (One ground rule: No living person could be nominated to be honored in this spotlight.) Among the "10 _______ Women" candidates now under serious consideration are: Theda Bara, the silent-film star who served as trail-blazer for women in Hollywood; Virginia Coffey, first AfricanAmerican elected as director of the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission. Dorothy Dolbey, first female vicemayor of Cincinnati. Cora Dow, ground-breaking pharmacist and entrepreneur. Sarah Fossett, an African-American role model who became a social justice advocate as well as a founder of the Underground Railroad. Dottie Kamenshek, a notable female baseball player immoratilized by actress Geena Davis in the film "A League of Their Own.” Irma Lazarus, tireless arts champion. Ruth Lyons, a formidable force in the arena of early television as well as children's rights proponent. Edna Murphey, developer of the first antiperspirant. Jessie Partlon, pioneering columnist at the Cincinnati Post in the early 1900s and a dogged public advocate for women's suffrage. Jennie Porter, an African-American community leader. Venus Ramey, a 1944 Miss America winner who went on to organize voting rights campaigns. Frances Trollope, the author who infuriated the city with her accounts of her life here. The project's scope is intended to encompass months of further voting and refinement, seeking input from any number of opinionated, informed current-day women, inspired by participating judges such as Molly Wellman and Joan Kaup. On March 8 (International Women's Day), nine of the 10 selections will be announced, with a call to the community to crowd-source the final class member. Some time in June, the final list of these "women who made a difference" will be released. Their admirable legacies will then be celebrated via a number of multi-media platforms. Plans include the creation of a digital archive, as well as commissioned video, dramatic reenactments and public art initiatives. A highlight of the storytelling aspect will be the creation of an educational booklet to be offered free to local schools. The project's digital "landing space" will ideally serve as a how-to resource for future efforts, locally and/or in other cities. "We want the girls of today to be inspired and emboldened by the women of yesteryear," say Kristin and Jeff Suess. "We sincerely hope there will be successive 'classes' of women after this first class." Womanhood KRISTINA MCKINLEY ContributingWriter W ith the election of our current president, new life has been breathed into the Women’s Rights movement with simultaneous marches happening in cities all over the country and the world. The first march occurred January 20, 2017 with women protesting, en masse, the inauguration of our 45th president. His sexist remarks about women and his blatant misogyny have emboldened the female population to rise up and speak out. The #Metoo movement (bringing to light the overwhelmingly unchecked issue of men in powerful positions forcing women into uncomfortable situations of sexual harassment and assault) has only added fuel to the fire and women are no longer sitting idly by. Mr. President has made every move he can to make reproductive health unattainable for women by threatening to defund Planned Parenthood. He has stacked the deck with cabinet members and Supreme Court nominees who will aid him in any way to overturn Roe v. Wade. One of 45’s first orders of business was to reinstate the global gag rule. This prevents international health organizations from receiving U.S. funding if they even so much as provide an informative pamphlet about abortion. This kind of legislature endangers the lives of so many teenagers and young women who often die during childbirth. So, the fight for reproductive rights and freedoms stretches far beyond our own borders. Women have been fighting for basic human and equal rights for 170 years. It wasn’t until 1840 that the first woman graduated from college. The Equal Pay Act didn’t pass until 1963. It wasn’t until 1972 that the federal courts passed Title IX preventing discrimination based on gender to federally funded schools. It took this country until 1994 to pass the Violence Against Women Act. It was a short eight years ago that The Affordable Health Care Act was signed into law so private health insurance companies had to provide birth control without co-pays or deductibles. The things that make me uniquely me are being turned into fodder and used against me in order to push some agenda that doesn't serve me or any woman today. Womanhood has been politicized. Women are still not paid equal wages to men for equal work. Women still do not have full body autonomy to decide their individual reproductive health concerns because THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED some old white dude wants to use it as his way of being elected (or reelected) into office. In spite of the supposed separation of church and state, religious beliefs still manage to dictate our legislation. Our government is forcing its way into our homes to decide what is right for us. I find it difficult to understand women of any faith, any political camp, standing by and watching our rights morph into some scary Handmaid’s Tale-like version of existence. Women haven’t been winning; we’ve been tricked. Chiseling ever so slowly away at true equality and we’re tired. With the resurgence of energy into the Women’s Rights movement, winds of change are brewing. �11 LOCAL No. 39 | Nov 2 -4,N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Mar 213 -April | No. 403 Girl's Writing Circle Poems Respect and Guidelines Black Girls Rock These pieces are from the Girls Writing Circle program with Peaslee Neighborhood Center and Rothenberg Preparatory Academy What are things that make us all strong? Black girls will always be strong No matter what happens. We will always be together And we will always be sisters. TA’ANNA GAMBLE Junior ContributingWriter My mom taught me to respect others. She taught me that, So others can treat me With Respect. My dad taught me to be honest. He taught me that Because if you lie, You will get in trouble even more. And if you tell the truth, You might not get in trouble. My granny taught me, To be patient. So I won’t get mad, Or jealous. JADA JONES Junior ContributingWriter People First SAVANNA DONALDSON A ContributingWriter n individual is more than one identity and is more than an outward appearance. Experiencing homelessness does not mitigate hopes, dreams, love, aspirations, and ultimately humanity. Oh, but how society declares so. Society in all its individualism cannot spare a glance at a person experiencing homelessness. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs states a person needs shelter, food, and security to begin a process toward self-actualization. But the most fundamental portion of Maslow’s theory is lacking in that it does not include the necessity for relationship: touch, eye contact, a smile and acknowledgement. People experiencing homelessness due to displacement and gentrification should not be forgotten, disregarded and dehumanized. Human beings should be valued above pets, development, businesses, and money. The issue of homelessness is more than effort and grit, especially when systematic barriers hinder a person from overcoming. How can someone be expected to pull themselves up by their bootstraps and get their neck crushed by the system at the same time? Issue of poverty and homelessness are not surface levels but deep rifts of intersectionality that lead to living on the streets, panhandling, and hoping for a bed in overcrowded shelters. I learned this and so much more during my Alternative Break with the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition. I felt that we literally lived in the community and became apart of it because by the time we left some of the residents knew our faces and we knew theirs. What’s that called? Community. A community is not comprised of foreign businesses operated from another city or even 3CDC. Expensive, single operated units will not cut it either. A group of familiar faces and culture create communities: the candy store, laundry mat, churches, schools, bakery, and friendly neighbors. Yet, urban development is prioritized above people. It should be people first and that my friend is priceless. A blank check of potential that will never be cashed because a return on the investment is not eligible for tax THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED rebates. Invest in affordable housing, fully funded schools, parks, and livable wages. These investments may not be considered millennially chic and probably not Instagrammable but necessary. This kind of investment is for a lifetime and thus the best kind. �12 Life Goes On STREETVOICE N o v 21 2 - -April N o v 19, 0 18 || No. N o . 403 393 Mar 4,22019 Untitled These year being gone rest assure history repeats itself right Still had connects here The mind is a terrible thing to waste with the memories we hold so dear Same areas went safe Labels cast in them The thought of days gone by i can see a picture of history in my mind The memory of today as we remember our history with our Energy things isn’t what it seems to be. Equitable resources. hearts combined The mind is forever living and by gods grace we will forever go on The mind with a memory, funny you don't rermember the day you was born! The day your memory comes into play you believe in Not too happy with this Not feelings sense of community Missed old time neighborhood store hearing strangers The day you were grown , your parents could not tell you bout the dangers The understanding that life goes on is for you to see and Keen to reach our destination Leaning on others for their help Respecting each other beleive God is good 24 7!! I beleive we all will live forever can you Listening is a job sometimes believe me! WILLA DENISE JONES Streetvibes Distributor Contributing Writer CLEO WOMBLES Streetvibes Distributor Contributing Writer Streetvibes Writing Circle If you would like to submit a story for publication in streetvibes, come join Katelyn Lusher and Chris Wilkey for a group writing session! S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 | Nov 24, - N o v 19, 2 0 18 Mar 213-April 2019 | No. 403 STREETVOICE THE DIVIDED CONGRESS MOTHER GOOSE So pleased was citizen Norm! He loved the House's reform Making it easier for him to vote. He had to accept a grim fact. The Senate will block this Act, Since Mitch is a rigid, old goat. BILL WOODS Contributing Writer 13 Alienated From a Society That has a history of alienating societies I rather live out my struggles, my nightmares, Than participate in this bias reality, We are collateral damage of these monopolies, CEO’s with multiple zero’s in their salaries, Such an economic tragedy, They advertise and appease to the middle, But neglect the lower class of society, We need to come together and alighn our attributes and qualities, Our failures and technicalities, Who is amongst us ready to say “follow me” Social equality is a myth, To be humble and guard your tongue Is a gift, A rambling mouth is a downfall to an upshift gears of war is at our front door the president mouth is foul and my ears cant take anymore forever documented by twitter quotes our 1st step is to vote our 2nd step is to hold our leaders accountable unite as we stand the rest of the world is taking note targeted and trapped in this cage called the ghetto I cry, Because the nose that was created for the black man wont let go, I know brothers that pray to the Smith and Wesson Calico, They want whats yours because their come up Is stagnant and way too slow To my knees I fall and my face is low Praying for a systemic change A sober mind and a potus That has discretion a bout his tempo Blond hair, blue-eyed ego, What wall? Brown lives matter, Why? Children’s blood plattered, Because black fathers was targeted and scattered Alienated from a society That has a history DESMOND BROWN Contributing Writer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �PUZZLES 14 N ov 2 o v 19,4,22019 0 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Mar 21- N -April 403 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 101 Across 1. Cattle farm Down 6. Wooden pin 1. Ecstatic 9. Cutlass 2. A great distance 14. Ablaze 3. Three squared 15. Mature 16. Spooky 17. Overwhelming fear and anxiety 18. An opposing argument 19. Rapidly 20. Kind of table 22. Pit viper 24. Pastry item 25. Chicken 26. Beer 29. Ness 31. Olympic field event 36. Pile 38. Breakers 40. Flat-bottomed boat 41. In a relaxed manner 42. Mythical cave-dwelling creature 44. Song 45. Affirm 46. Stead 47. Violence by an unruly mob 48. Erase 50. Rational 52. Single 53. Edible tuber 55. In the past 57. Plug 62. Bother 66. Pontifical 67. Frozen 69. A relative by marriage 70. Sports venue 71. Deplete 72. Baked in an oven or on a griddle 73. Cash 74. Female sheep 75. Measuring instrument 4. Thin potato chip 5. Feverish 6. Step 7. Self 8. Writing style 9. Furniture item 10. Sobbed 11. Using speech rather than writing 12. Food grain 13. Cervid 21. To the lowest degree 23. Conjunction 25. Valiance 26. In front 27. Depart 28. Tripod 30. Knitting stitch SODOKU PUZZLE NO 392 - MEDIUM 32. Box lightly 33. Oddity 34. Employee organization 35. Condition 37. Heaped wood used as a funeral rite 39. Jumping insect 43. Relating to the moon 49. Oculus 51. Self-interest 54. Come into existence 56. Unit of weight 57. Junk e-mail 58. Starchy tuberous root 59. Overt 60. Part of a window 61. Frolic 62. Sort 63. Smudge 64. Bowling alley 65. Pitcher 68. Sound made by corvine birds PUZZLE SOLUTIONS CROSSWORD #200 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 391- MEDIUM PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 | Nov 2 4, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Mar 213 -April | No. 403 Central Access Point 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children RESOURCES Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside Bethany House 557-2873 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 591-2246 FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 Salvation Army 762-5660 St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 131 E. 12th Street 45202 1125 Bank Street 45214 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men Shelter: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Shelterhouse 721-0643 2121 Vine Street 45202 411 Gest St. 45203 Prospect House 921-1613 1437 Walnut Street 45202 Starting Over 961-2256 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Women St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Parkway Center 661-4620 First Step Home 961-4663 Shelter: Youth 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Sheakley Center for Youth (18-24 y/o) 2522 Highland Ave. 45219 569-9500 Lighthouse Youth Crisis Center (10-17 y/o) 3330 Jefferson Ave 45220 961-4080 Shelter: Family Interfaith Hospitality Network Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Both AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Joseph House (Veterans) 471-1100 1522 Republic Street 45202 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street 45202 Talbert House 221-HELP Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street 45202 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Food/Clothing First Lutheran Church 421-0065 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Seraph Ministries 549-0542 St. George Food Pantry 2554 Dennis St. 45219 751-8771 St. Anthony Center 1615 Republic St. Advocacy Catholic Social Action 421-3131 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Franciscan JPIC 721-4700 Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 241-2965 Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board 946-8000 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 221-HELP Housing: 15 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 Health Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 Other Resources Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 215 E. 14th St. 45202 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 381-0111 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. 579-8547 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 1223 Main St. 45202 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 The Caring Place 631-1114 Talbert House 751-7747 United Way 211 Women Helping Women 977-5541 Off The Streets 421-5211 Hamilton County Office of Reentry 946-4304 138 E. Court Street Room # 101 First Floor Cancer Justice Network 404-3882 Hamilton/Middletown St. Raephaels 981-4200 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 Northern Kentucky Brighton Center (11-17 y/o) 859-491-8303 ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary 859-572-6202 Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky 634 Scott St. 41011 859-291-4555 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? You can support our mission and spread the word about your business. For more information contact Gabriela Godinez Feregrino, 961-0600 email streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Center for Respite Care 621-1868 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 386-7899 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 NAMI of Hamilton County 351-3500 PATH Outreach 977-4489 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �16 N o v 221 - N o v 19,4, 20 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Mar -April 2019 403 S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. ALFRED WOOLFOLK SINCE 10/2003 ASRES AYENAW SINCE 2012 BERTA LAMBERT SINCE 1997 BETTIE BAILEY SINCE 10/2017 BRANDON NELSON SINCE 4/2008 BRIAN ADAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHARLES WILLIAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHRISTOPHER KAIHATSU SINCE 7/2017 CLEO WOMBLES SINCE 10/2003 CRANDALL COBB SINCE 2004 DARREL ROZIER SINCE 7/2017 DAVID MCCANE SINCE 2017 ERIC VALDEZ SINCE 2/2017 GERALD FRANKLIN SINCE 7/2017 GRADY COOK SINCE 1997 HENRY BRELAND SINCE 7/2017 JAMES BROWN SINCE 3/2009 JAMES DAVIS SINCE 8/2000 JENNY BURTON SINCE 7/2017 JIMMIE GIPSON SINCE 2001 JON DARBY SINCE 2/2006 JOHN HORN JOSEPHINE BASKERVILLE SINCE 9/2008 J’TORI TYMAN SINCE 5/2014 KIM NGUYEN SINCE 7/2017 KENNY BUSSELL SINCE 10/2009 KAREN COLLETTE SINCE 7/2008 LARRY BROWN SINCE 10/2007 LEE MCCOY SINCE 7/2009 LEONARD JACKSON SINCE 2/2005 MARY MUELLER SINCE 5/2005 MARK SHEARS SINCE 4/2012 MAURICE GOLSBY MELISSA MOSBY SINCE 9/2014 MIKE CARANO SINCE 4/2016 RAESHAWN GIPSON SINCE 3/2009 RAYNARD JONES SINCE 10/2008 RICKY WOODS SINCE 4/2015 RICCARDO TAYLOR SINCE 1999 RONNIE PHILLIPS SINCE 10/2009 SAMUEL JACKSON SINCE 10/2006 STACIA HOLLANDER SINCE 2017 STEPHANIE EAKES SINCE 7/2017 SYLVESTER WALKER SINCE 7/2017 TALINA HILL SINCE 2/2011 VICTOR MUMPHRY WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WINNIE RICE SINCE 7/2017 QUEENACELASTINE SINCE 7/2017 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 VIOLET COLLINS SINCE 2017 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2019 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource March 21-April 4, 2019 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: Of Fear and Hate Pg 3: Diligent Impatience Ohio’s 2011 Gerrymandered Districts Quietly Challenged in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati Pg 4: GCHC Pg 5: Homeless in a Woman’s Body Pg 6: A Phair Go Pg 7: South Korean Women Abandon Makeup to Fight Male Domination Pg 8: A Normies Game Pg 9: Moments of Sisterhood Pg 10: “10____Women” History Project Spotlights Local Figures Who’ve Made a Difference Womanhood Pg 11: Girl’s Writing Circle Poems People First Pg 12: Street Voice Pg 13: Street Voice Pg 14: Pet Horoscopes Pg 15: Resources Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 21-April 4, 2019 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Josh Spring Gabriela Godinez Bill Woods Hellen Hill Anastasia Safioleas Seulki Lee Jen Ham Ericka Russel Felix Winternitz Kristina Mckinley Jada Jones Ta'Anna Gamble Savanna Donaldson Willa Denise Jones Desmond Brown Canva.com INSP.com Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Anastasia Safioleas Bill Woods Canva.com Cincinnati Desmond Brown Ericka Russel Felix Winternitz Gabriela Godinez Hellen Hill INSP.com Jada Jones Jen Ham Josh Spring Kristina McKinley Ohio Savanna Donaldson Seulki Lee South Korea Ta'Anna Gamble Willa Denise Jones Women Rights https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/30973030a13e519f9cfaa5ddbbe68dac.pdf fc110684f0882284106d2d3130e0d217 PDF Text Text M a r c h 7 t h - M a r c h 2 1 t h 2 0 1 9 | Vo l . 2 3 I s s u e 5 ( N o . 4 0 2 ) advo cating justice | building communit y Any opinions in this issue are of the authors and don't necessarily represent Streetvibes or The Homeless Coalition. ARTICLE ON PAGE 8 This Issue is sponsored by (Retired) Judge Mark P. Painter Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.org Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 12 �2 COALITION N o v 27--Mar N o v 19, 0 18 || No. N o . 402 393 Mar 21, 22019 From The Editor: Anti-vax Movements and Social Media GABRIELA GODINEZ Editor-in-chief W ith the recent measles outbreak, the antivaxer movement has come to the foreground once again. I’ve seen many media outlets, both entertainment and news media, come out with pieces about the topic, though you don’t need to be Vox, Jubilee, or the Washington Post to share your opinion. All you need is internet access and a social media profile. 18-year-old Ethan Lindenberger knows this all too well. Ethan is known at this point as the Ohio teenager who went against his mother’s wishes and got vaccinated once he no longer needed her consent. On March 5th he spoke in front of a senate committee hearing where he discussed his upbringing and subsequent defiance. He grew up without being vaccinated because his mother, like many other anti-vaxers, thought it would cause autism as well as other brain issues. He said that his mother found most of her “evidence and information” through social media. According to the Associated Press, even when his mother was presented with facts from sources like the CDC she still didn’t agree with the findings, saying that her child has been made “the poster child for the pharmaceutical industry.” When Ethan showed her mother scientific facts, she responded,“that’s what they want you to think.” There is much to unpack just with that bit of information alone. Let’s just pretend for a moment that vaccines did in fact cause autism. They don’t, just to be clear, but let us pretend. Anti-vaxers with this belief would rather have their child die of measles or polio, treatable illnesses, than have a child with autism. That is a piece of this issue that often gets overlooked because unfortunately our society favors able-bodied and able-minded people. Ethan’s mother is not alone in these beliefs. The dangerous antivaxers movement creates a hotbed of misinformation all throughout social media. It could be said that most antivaxers are concerned parents that are fed falsehoods and conspiracy theories through their social media timeline. When we repeatedly click specific articles, like specific posts, or view certain videos, the algorithms of those platforms continue to show you similar posts. This makes it simpler for vulnerable people to fall into an echo chamber of misinformation. Youtube has taken steps to try and combat misinformation by adding links of information about specific topics covered in conspiracy videos. However, most of the time these are Wikipedia links, which are easily dismissed by people who are already lost to the conspiracy theories. Facebook as of the time of this editorial has not included any sort of effort nor has Twitter. In our current culture of exclusively reading headlines and retweeting/ sharing without further investigation, it often doesn’t matter if the articles and theories are debunked by credible sources. I do understand there is so much frustration with the healthcare system in America. Many times drugs are pushed by big pharma, doctors dismiss marginalized folks, and often it feels like no one is listening, but allowing children to be susceptible to treatable diseases wont hurt the capitalist healthcare system. It will only hurt those children and people with autoimmune disorders. There are cases where children react negatively to vaccines. I admit that should not be ignored. Those are cases where they wouldn’t be forced have vaccinations in order to attend public schools; these children would instead be one of those who benefit from herd immunity. The problem with these cases not being fully discussed on social media is when they are used as cases to promote the lack of vaccination in other children who are fully capable of doing so. This is not a simple issue, and it’s not even an issue of it’s own. All this comes from misuse of social media, disillusionment with the healthcare system, and the social media echo chambers we create. I don’t think there is any one solution, but for now we can continue to read credible sources and share those on our social media feed to combat the misinformation. Don't forget to treat anti-vaxers with compassion when you share scientific facts. Unfortunately, most of the time when people make up their minds, there is very little anyone else can do to persuade them to change. Hopefully, like Ethan, these children survive and find accurate sources to be able to take their fate into their own hands. Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor-in-chief: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: Mona Jenkins Director of Education: Dr. Mark Mussman Distributor Program Manager: Sallie Mascus Layout: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Reception: Bonita Batton, Larry Johnson Maintenance: Pete Roper ------------------------------------------CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Writers: Josh Spring, Gabriela Godinez, Holly McCall, Kahara Nakahara, Carlos Garcia Rawlins, Shaylim Valderrama, Key Beck, Dr. Mark Mussman, Bill Woods, Tess Sohngen, Kim Green, Willa Denise Jones, Robert Park, James Brown, Cleo Wombles, ------------------------------------------Photography/ Artwork: Pngtree.com, canva.com, Gabriela Godinez, Dr. Mark Mussman, INSP.com ---------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless do not endorse candidates for public office. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �3 COALITION No. 39 | Nov21, 2 - 2019 N o v 19, 2 0 402 18 Mar 73-Mar | No. From The Director: Education Opportunities JOSH SPRING Executive Director Y ou may or may not know that our Homeless Coalition has a robust public education program. We strongly encourage you, your friends, family, employer and any group you may be a part of to take advantage of our education opportunities. Regularly people call us wondering if they can volunteer in some way. Often folks want to do something like a coat or clothing drive. We welcome people who want to get involved in our work by explaining that the best way to start getting involved is through listening and being educated. We offer several different experiences for individuals and groups of any size. Our longest-running opportunity is our Speakers’ Bureau. Our team of individuals who have personally experienced homelessness are teamed up with our Director of Education, Dr. Mark Mussman. Together one of our Speakers and Dr. Mark present to crowds of all sizes from one or a few people to hundreds of people. They present to people of all ages; children, youth, adults and in many settings, whether it be at our office, a school, place of worship, business, community council, service organization, etc. Through Speakers’ Bureau, those attending learn about the personal experience of homelessness from someone who knows how to time for discourse, questions, insights and comments. In order to sustain the program, the hosting group pays $80, $40 of which compensates our Speaker for their time and $40 of which covers a portion of the costs to the Coalition. Most Speaker’s Bureau activities last for an hour to an hour-and-a-half, but we are able to work with hosts to hone the event to the needs of the group. If you are reading this, you must know about our many committed Streetvibes Distributors. But you probably don’t know about our Streetvibes Distributor Shadow opportunity. Have you ever wondered what it is like to attempt to sell newspaper on the sidewalk while dealing with the stereotypes of some passersby, the eyes that turn away, the nasty comments, potential harassment as well as the good wishes and friendly responses? What is it like to attempt to get a person who likely hasn’t experienced homelessness themselves to purchase a paper about social justice issues, poverty and homelessness? Through our Shadow experience, groups can learn from an experienced Streetvibes Distributor about the many facets of their work and then the group joins our Distributor in going to the sidewalks and attempting to distribute the paper. To finish the experience, attendees and our Distributor spend time discussing what the responses from the general public were like, how those taking part felt, why there are stereotypes and how to deal with them. Very often, participants walk Students at a local High School host a speaker from the Speakers Bureau. make their experience accessible to many different audiences. Attendees also gain understanding of what societal and systemic policies and decisions have caused, maintained and grown homelessness and the systemic changes we must make to end homelessness. And of course there is away with knowledge and increased understanding they didn’t even know they were missing. We charge $80 for this event to cover some of our costs. As the Homeless Coalition we are constantly involved in organizing with people to stop gentrification and the displacement, disruption and scattering of communities that is inevitably apart of it. In Hamilton County we are short 40,019 affordable homes. But how Instead Citywide Shantytown offers an extended period of time to learn, discuss, debate, listen, teach and grow. Students participate in the Streetvibes Distributor Shadow program. did we get here? Our Over-the-Rhine Peoples’ Movement Social Justice Walking Tour is a great opportunity to both audibly and visually learn about how we reached our current affordable housing and homelessness crisis and to better understand why so many adults and children in Cincinnati and Hamilton County are experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Participants join Dr. Mark in walking up and down streets learning about specific examples displacement and how they happened. People taking part will learn about the public policies and private influence and control that has caused so many people so much hardship. Participants will also learn how we can do things differently, how we can leverage the powers of our local government to save affordable housing, prevent displacement and build new affordable housing. For this, we also charge $80 to cover some of our costs. You may have heard of our Citywide Shantytown opportunity. Most often high schools and universities take part in this awareness raising opportunity. At times business have decided to join also. Shantytown can be honed to the particular group. Most often, groups of people sleep outdoors, learn about the personal experience of homelessness from one of our Speakers’ Bureau Speakers and spend an extended period of time discussing with our Speaker and Dr. Mark about why we have homelessness and what we can do as a society to end it. Attendees are able to spend time discussing personal experiences with each other and exchanging ideas of how they can get involved. Shantytown is not intended to mimic homelessness or experience homelessness, as that can’t be done by sleeping outdoors by choice for a night. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Finally, our Cincinnati Urban Experience (CUE) provides opportunity for groups of people to join us for an extended period of time; usually for a week or a weekend. During this time, groups take part in all of the educational programs explained above, but also spend time volunteering with some of our Member-Organizations and learning directly from our directservice Member-Organizations about what they do and why and how they do it. The extended time, allows for education about more aspects of needed change, including more information about how affordable housing can be developed, the need for living wages, efforts to stop the theft of wages, immigration reform, changing the processes by which people exiting jail and prison so people have the opportunity for sustainability, the importance of medical care. In general, CUE allows groups the opportunity for a more intense look at the systems and societal decisions that cause and perpetuate homelessness and how it requires organized social movement to end it. Of course, we are biased about the value of our educational programs, but our bias comes from years of honing these opportunities and receiving positive feedback from so many people who say their perspectives and even ambitions were changed for the positive. If you are able, check out our website at www.cincihomeless.org. Please reach out to Dr. Mark Mussman, do discuss how we can work together to provide one or multiple of these opportunities for you and/or people you know. He can be reached at markmussman@cincihomeless.org, 513-421-7803 and 117 E. 12th Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. �4 ADVERTISMENT NMar ov 2 7 - -Mar N o v 19, 0 18 | |NNo. o . 393 21,22019 402 March 1 - 23, 2019 For tickets please call (513) 381-2273 Purchase tickets online at www.cincyshakes.com AD Donated by Mark and Sue Ann Painter season sponsored by the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �NMar o. 397 3 -Mar | Nov 221, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 | No. 402 U.S. NEWS 5 The Strike A 1968 sanitation workers' strike brought Martin Luther King to Memphis and changed history. Fifty years later, Cleophus Smith, a striker, recalls the events leading to King's death. Cleophus Smith, left. Photo By Richard L. Copley HOLLY MCCALL ContributingWriter C leophus Smith remembers the night of 4 April, 1968, like it was yesterday. “I was trying to get some rest, when I heard commotion and screaming outside, and my wife came and woke me up,” says Smith, known to friends as “Cleo.” “She said, ‘Dr. King has been shot.’" he recalls. “All hope is lost,’ I said to myself." Smith, 75, was one of the Memphis Sanitation Department workers striking for better working conditions when Martin Luther King traveled to Memphis that April as part of his Poor People’s Campaign to support the strikers. The strike began after two sanitation workers were crushed in a malfunctioning city trash truck on 1 February, 1968. The subsequent walk-out was sanitation workers’ third attempt to strike. “In both ’65 and ’66, the men walked out, but at the time, the workers were mostly older,” Smith says. “They were threatened with losing their jobs or going to jail, so they went back. It was like they got out on a limb, then the limb got sawed off.” Two years made a difference: Smith, then 24, was hired 15 April, 1967, as part of a hiring wave that resulted in a demographic change in the department. Soon he and some of the other young Turks, including labor organizer T.O. Jones, decided it was time to make change. “One of the older men said to about 30 of us, ‘You young men are going to mess our jobs up,” recounts Smith. “We said, ‘with respect, sir, we’re trying to make situations better for you and for us.’” King was in town on 28 March to join strikers for what was supposed to be a non-violent march. “I got close enough to shake his hand,” Smith says. History shows the march became violent when protesters who weren’t employees of the sanitation department used the opportunity to break windows and vandalize downtown Memphis businesses. In an all-too-familiar scene from the Civil Rights Era, police responded in kind. “I got sprayed with mace and got a dog sicced on [set upon] me,” says Smith. “I hit that German Shepherd on the nose and it went down. The cop standing there unsnapped his holster and said to me, ‘hit him again.’” Smith recounts how he took off running to his mother’s house, which was near Clayborn Temple AME Church, itself a safe haven for those in the Civil Rights movement. “I ran into my mother’s house and she said, ‘Son, you look like you seen a ghost,” he says. “I said, ‘Mama – I almost became a ghost!'" King returned to Memphis 3 April and was assassinated by James Earl Ray the next day. Smith credits Jones, Reverend Ralph Abernathy, and Jesse Epps of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) for leading the strike to a successful conclusion a few weeks after King’s death. “We really thought things were over (after King’s death,) but two or three weeks later, the Mayor (Henry THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Loeb) signed the labor agreement,” Smith says. For 30 years after Memphis signed an agreement with AFSCME, conditions greatly improved for sanitation workers, according to Smith. But the last 20 years, it’s gone “haywire,” he says, with renewed racial discord coming from both blacks and whites. “I think if Dr. King were alive today, it would kill him from grief to see how things are going,” Smith says. And that, he says, is why 51 years after he started his career with the Memphis Department of Sanitation and 50 years after a strike brought King to the city, and to his fate, he’s still on the job. “Last year, a friend asked me when I was going to retire, and I said: ‘There’s justice to be done. If you see something is wrong, you do what you can to make it right. "I just try to get this job done.” Courtesy of The Contributor / INSP.ngo �GLOBAL 6 NMar ov 2 7 - N o v 19, 18 | |NNo. o . 393 -Mar 21,2 02019 402 Malnourished Venezuelans Hope Urgently Needed Aid Arrives Soon CARLOS GARCIA RAWLINS & SHAYLIM VALDERRAMA Reuters Y aneidi Guzman has lost a third of her weight over the past three years as Venezuela's economic collapse made food unaffordable and she now hopes the opposition will succeed in bringing urgently needed foreign aid to the South American country. Guzman's clothes hang limply off her gaunt frame. The 38-year-old is one of many Venezuelans suffering from malnutrition as the once-prosperous, oil-rich OPEC nation has seen its economy halve in size over the last five years under President Nicolas Maduro. Venezuelans' diets have become ever more deficient in vitamins and protein, as currency controls restrict food imports and salaries fail to keep apace with inflation that is now above 2 million per cent annually. Growing malnutrition is one of the reasons Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido has moved ahead with his plans to bring supplies of food and medicine into Venezuela by land and sea on Saturday, despite resistance from Maduro. Maduro, who denies there is a humanitarian crisis, has said it is a "show" to undermine him. On Thursday, crowds cheered as Guaido led a convoy of opposition lawmakers out of Caracas on an aria Guitia carries her son Yeibe Medina after bathing him at home near San Francisco de Yare, Venezuela, February 18, 2019. The pair live with Guitia's five siblings and parents in a one-room tin shed with a dirt floor and no running water. Work is scarce and they live off payments for odd jobs and a monthly government handout of heavily-subsidised basic food supplies. They have taken to inventing meals with what little they have like lentils with plantain from the trees in their backyard. Guitia said her son had lost weight over the past five months until Caritas gave them some nutritional supplements. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins not provided details on how they would bring in the aid. In response, Maduro denounced the aid, saying in televised comments that he was considering closing the border with Colombia and would close the border with Brazil. Aid has become a proxy war in a battle for control of Venezuela, after Guaido in January invoked a Yaneidi Guzman, 38, shows the food she has in her kitchen at home in Caracas, Venezuela, February 19, 2019. Guzman has lost a third of her weight over the past three years as Venezuela's economic collapse made food unaffordable and she now hopes the opposition will succeed in bringing urgently needed foreign aid. She is one of many Venezuelans suffering from malnutrition. "It's not that I want to be rich, or a millionaire", Guzman said. "But I do want to give my children a good future, to make sure I can take them to the doctors when they get ill ... and that they eat well." REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins 800 kilometre (500 mile) trip to the Colombian border where they hope to receive food and medicine. Guaido has constitutional provision to assume an interim presidency, saying Maduro's reelection last year was fraudulent. "I hope they let the aid in," said Guzman, who despite holding down two jobs cannot make enough money for the tests, supplements or proteinrich diet that doctors have prescribed her. She and her husband make less than $30 per month and prioritize feeding their three young children. While there is a vacuum of government information, almost twothirds of Venezuelans surveyed in a university study called, "Survey on life conditions," and published last year, said they had lost on average 11 kilograms (24 pounds) in body weight in 2017. On the wall of Guzman’s home in the poor hillside district of Petare in the capital Caracas, hangs a wooden plaque with the psalm "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing." Yet her fridge is empty except for a few bags of beans. Sometimes she wakes up not knowing what she will feed her family that day. Mostly they eat rice, lentils and cassava. While Guzman says she would welcome the aid, she is concerned the one-off shipment would be a drop in an ocean given Venezuelans' needs. "You don't only eat once," she said. Some political analysts say Saturday's showdown is less about solving Venezuela's needs and more about testing the military's loyalty towards Maduro, by daring it to turn the aid away. Some aid agencies like Catholic THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED relief agency Caritas are already on the ground providing what help they can. In San Francisco de Yare, a town 70 kilometres (45 miles) south of Caracas, Maria Guitia's one-year-old baby's belly is distended and his arms thin. The pair live with Guitia's five siblings and parents in a one-room tin shed with a dirt floor and no running water. Work is scarce and they live off payments for odd jobs and a monthly government handout of heavilysubsidised basic food supplies. They have taken to inventing meals with what little they have like lentils with plantain from the trees in their backyard. Guitia said her son had lost weight over the past five months until Caritas gave them some nutritional supplements. The United Nations and Red Cross have cautioned against the politicization of aid. The United States, which is pushing Maduro to step down, sent aid for Venezuela to a collection point in neighbouring Colombia in military aircraft, in a show of force. Guzman dreams of living once more not off foreign aid or government handouts but her own work. "It's not that I want to be rich, or a millionaire," she said. "But I do want to give my children a good future, to make sure I can take them to the doctors when they get ill ... and that they eat well." Courtesy of Reuters / INSP.ngo �NMar o. 397 3 -Mar | Nov 221, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 | No. 402 GLOBAL 7 Tokyo Street Count KAHARA NAKAHARA The Big Issue Japan 12.30am, the middle of the night. Shinjuku station, after the last train Groups visit 9 areas mall groups of people in down jackets and other winter garments gather in Shinjuku station after the last train departs. Among them are young and old, men and women. These are volunteers who are going to take part in the Winter Tokyo Street Count taking place on the nighttime streets. Tokyo Street Count is a homeless census on the streets at night. Citizens take part, and it is organized by the Advocacy and Research Centre for Homelessness (ARCH), a civil society organization that makes policy suggestions and conducts research on the homelessness issue. The volunteers take to the streets of Tokyo by foot after the final train and record the number of homeless people and their sleeping conditions. Since research began in January 2016, the census has been conducted in 11 wards in Tokyo prefecture. The census for this winter is planned in three parts. The first takes place on January 20, beginning at half past midnight, and counts the four wards of Shinjuku, Shibuya, Chiyoda and Chūō. There are about 30 people taking part in the survey in Shinjuku, including students and members of supporting organizations. The ward is divided into 9 areas such as Shinjuku Station West Exit area, City Hall and Central Park area, and a group of 3-4 people visit each. Mr. Takuya Kitabatake (a co-representative of ARCH) briefs the groups about their confidentiality obligations and other matters to note, before they allocate their roles and head to the streets at 1am. The group we are accompanying is visiting the area around Shinjuku station. Even in the middle of the night, neon lights are shining brightly. To make sure there are no omissions in the survey, the group must cover all the streets in the area under their responsibility. They mark their walking route on the map, making sure they don’t miss the backs of any buildings or small alleyways. When they see any homeless people, they make detailed notes of the location, number of people, living conditions (cardboard huts, sleeping bags, etc.) and gender. If they see people on the move, they also make a note of details that describe their characteristics, such as “XX Plaza, a man in his 50s, navy blue top, red bag”. Since the person on the move might be re-counted at their destination, the headquarters checks for duplicate records using this information. S The census ends at 3am There are 582 homeless people in the four wards By 2.30am, half of the planned roads on the map are marked out. As we walk around, we see people wrapped in sleeping bags and dozing off while seated, people living in houses made from cardboard boxes, and people walking around carrying their bags in order to warm up in the cold weather – all sorts of living conditions that cannot be summarised in just the one word: “homelessness”. We are also surprised to see people using unexpected places as beds, like those sleeping in the dark space between buildings, or lying quietly at the roots of garden plants. Ms. Takahashi, a university student studying social welfare, took part in this study for the first time. “Homeless people are clearly visible on the streets at night. It’s a somewhat strange feeling,” she said. Indeed, you feel a different kind of presence of the homeless people, who hardly stand out in the bustle of the daytime. Mr. I, who has been a volunteer since it began in 2016, said, “It is nice that citizens can easily join the Street Count. With more people joining in, I hope it raises awareness and encourage people to ask, for example, ‘I wonder how that man is doing?’” The survey of the designated area is done by 3.30am. As they return to the headquarters, the volunteers exchange their thoughts while waiting for the first train. A woman who joined the activity for the first time said, “There are many kinds of lifestyles – there are people who make houses with cardboard boxes, and there are people who only have a sleeping bag.” Another woman, joining for the second time, said, “It would be great if the life suited to each person could be sustained even after they received support.” A little while later, it is announced that based on today’s survey, conducted by 91 citizens in total, there are 582 people living on the streets in the 4 wards. Protocol for homeless people in public spaces ARCH, which runs the Tokyo Street Count, was founded in 2015 by students and graduates studying urban design at Tokyo Industrial University. They regard the issue of homelessness as “an ‘urban issue’ that concerns jobs, housing and public spaces, and therefore people from all walks of life”. The purpose of the count is to “capture the actual situations of homeless people, which is not achieved by the current survey conducted by the Tokyo government”. The survey by the Tokyo government is carried out in daytime, in parks, streets, alongside rivers and in stations, and many administrative plans are based on the figures obtained from it. However, 55.6 per cent of people work during the day despite their homelessness [National survey of homelesness by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in 2016]. The current survey cannot capture those who only live on the streets at night. In answer to this, ARCH carries out the survey between the time of the last train and dawn. The result is that, although in 2017 the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced that there were 5534 homeless people in Japan and 499 homeless people in Tokyo’s 11 wards, the Summer Street Count in the same year revealed 1307 homeless people in Tokyo’s 11 wards, about 2.6 times the figure of the government survey. It is also remarkable that there are 440 citizens (762 participations) in total, from junior high school students to seniors in their 60s, who have taken part in the survey so far. Mr Kitabatake said, “To realise a metropolis where people support each other, it is important to firstly acknowledge the existence of others. I hope that more people can take part in the Street Count and that this will become an opportunity for people to realize that homeless people do exist.” As the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games draw nearer, the group is making suggestions for “Tokyo to establish its position as taking serious action regarding the homelessness problem”. ARCH takes reference from Australia’s legacy, where a “protocol for homeless people in public spaces” was reached, spurred on by the 2000 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Sydney Olympics. Mr Kitabatake, who visited Sydney after the protocol was concluded, said: “From this protocol, it was acknowledged that homeless people also have the right to be in public spaces. In fact, even in parks there, you can now see white-collar workers and homeless people taking naps on the same lawn, all as citizens leading their lives. People value and support each other. I believe that if there are more places like this, we can have a strong society that is also kind and gentle.” It is ARCH’s hope that Tokyo will strive to become such a city. The Tokyo Street Count takes place every year in the summer and winter. Let’s consider what it means to be a ‘kind and gentle’ neighbourhood as we walk the streets at night. Information about ARCH (Advocacy and Research Centre for Homelessness) A civil society organization founded in October 2015. The team conducts research and advocacy relating to the issue of homelessness. Members are pro bono workers including researchers, students, field workers and legalists. On the other side of the lavish and grand event of Tokyo 2020 are people who are disadvantaged socially and economically, the organization works towards the goal of a society that leaves behind a legacy of diverse people living together and supporting each other’s lives, rather than one where socially and economically disadvantaged people are pushed to the sidelines while a huge event takes place in Tokyo in 2020. Translated from Japanese by Lily Su Courtesy of The Big Issue Japan / INSP.ngo �FEATURE 8 NMar o v 2 7- -Mar N o v 19, 0 18 || N o . 393 21,22019 No. 402 Boarded Up DR. MARK MUSSMAN Staff Writer H ow many people need to die on the street before we enact long-lasting systemic change? Last week, we honored the life of Danny Lee Miles, just 61 years old, on the corner of Race and Liberty. Danny Lee is just one of what will likely be over 100 people who die in Cincinnati because of homelessness in 2019. Every person who spoke at the memorial commented on how they wish they could have done more, that there is a crisis, and that Danny Lee was a kind and gentle soul. The details of his passing were unknown at the memorial, but we do know that he died alone, outside, in the cold, on a night with temperatures in the 20’s. The emotions on the corner ran high as clothing items and food were handed out to whoever needed them. Organizers, who want to honor Danny Lee, said that these items were being given out in honor of Danny Lee, from Danny Lee himself. Curious passerby who stopped to asked what was going on were shocked to learn of Danny Lee’s passing, and many had stories to share about reaching out to him, and sharing food with him. Danny Lee’s life didn’t need to end short. He had been living in a Northside group home for many years before finding himself out on the streets in October of 2018. A person connected with the group home said that he Block resident points to the boarded up doorway, around the corner on Liberty was de-comping, which means that his mental state wasn’t able to handle stressors. This may have led him out to the street last fall, but the system ended up failing him. Several organizations and individuals had helped him while he was staying on the corner of Race and Liberty Streets, but ultimately, they were unable to prevent his death. Danny Lee had been estranged from his family for almost two decades, but their communication with the organizers was similar to that of those who passed him by each day - they wish they had done more. It seems that his mental state had put up barriers between him and his family for some time. Although Danny Lee attended the University of Louisville and received an EMS Certificate, he was unable to care for himself at the end of his life. Some questioned if we could have forced him into the shelter, after all, Prince of Peace operates a winter shelter literally across the street. Prayers, pleas, and calls for system change were the focus of the memorial. One family, who lives on the block, attended the memorial because they had brought him blankets, mittens, and Employees from Alabama Fish, across the street, came over to offer their condolences THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED other items over the past few months. The young kids looked on as their mother spoke, “...I even offered to get him an Uber to the homeless shelter one night because it was very cold. But he was like ‘I’m okay, I’m okay.’ You know that was the kind of person he was, he didn’t ever ask for help, ever, but because we saw him everyday, we wanted to help. It breaks my heart that we live in a city that would board up a doorway, to keep him from being seen on a main street, rather than give him the help that he needed. He was human being. He was more than just a homeless face. He had a family. We loved him. We were his family.” Danny Lee passed away in the doorway on Race Street, just out of sight from busy Liberty Street. He had been sleeping in the doorway on Liberty, but the doorway was recently boarded up. It seems clear that the purpose of the board was to prevent him from sleeping there, in the eyes of someone, to remove the blight. Since the doorways on Race Street, on the same building were not also boarded up, it seems clear that this was about visibility - they don’t want people to see poverty in the gentrifying neighborhood. As “OTR” creeps northward into Over-the-Rhine and FC Cincinnati decimates the West End, only two blocks from where Danny Lee died, the push to remove signs of poverty have been elevated. But what does it mean to push people further into the shadows? Liberty Street is literally a battleground right now. The City is back at the drawing board regarding the Liberty Street Pedestrian Safety initiative. The southern part of Overthe-Rhine may have a SID forced upon us, forcing affordable housing out of the area. North of Liberty, the Brewery District continues its plan to �N o. 39 | Nov 2 - N o v 19, 2 0 18 Mar 73-Mar 21, 2019 | No. 402 FEATURE 9 Father Reynaldo Taylor opens with a prayer, standing near him are Bison, Brian Garry, and Sam Landis turn the neighborhood into a museum, erasing all contributions and existence of African Americans from the neighborhood. Liberty Street is a major traffic artery, with “rush hour” from 7am to 7pm during the weekdays, as it connects the two interstate highways. Those of us who cross Liberty daily know the dangers of the street, but dying, alone in the cold, is not on the agenda of any of these current battles. Streetvibes Distributor and Contributor, Kim Green made an impassioned plea for affordable housing at the memorial. She used her voice to bring light to the pressing issues that we face in the neighborhood today. At the podium, Kim proclaimed that “here in a city where developers are coming in, taking historical buildings, making them into storefront eateries, it’s really heartbreaking… today people are buying these buildings, they are trying to genocize (sic)... move affordable housing out. The churches, the Homeless Coalition, and [the shelters], they are doing their part to try to help with affordable housing. The City of Cincinnati and City Council are to be ashamed of themselves to let this happen. City Council stand up, help your community - let’s get affordable housing!” We know how to eradicate homelessness through affordable housing, livable wages, and housing protections, but it seems to me that people are still stuck in the mentality that it’s the fault of the individual, so therefore we have no responsibility. This mentality can be traced back to the Reagan Administration, who pushed the idea that churches should be responsible for dealing with homelessness, not the government. Unfortunately, the government has manufactured the current housing and homelessness crisis. By dismantling public housing in favor of privatization, by rewarding developers for displacing residents in favor of market-rate housing, by allowing wages to fall way below a livable wage, by giving landlords carte blanche protections to Recently boarded up doorway on Liberty Street THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED deny and remove people from housing, the government has created and maintained a system that has resulted in the crisis we have today. We have been to too many funerals over the past few years. The Homeless Coalition’s memorial service that takes place on the longest night of the year counted over 110 people last year who died due to homelessness. Over the past year, the City and County have worked together to make it an arrestable offense to live outside on public or private property. The claim that people who are living outside pose a significant threat to the public is wrong, and forces people further into the shadows, further into isolation. Here we have an individual who was seen every day, yet was in danger himself, and the system wasn’t enough. We are short 40,000 units of affordable housing. All the shelters are over capacity. The jail is also overcrowded. Unless we do a major affordable housing push, a push for livable wages, a push for housing protections, the number of people who lose their lives to homelessness will continue to rise. While so many people are gaining from the displacement of people from our neighborhood, shouldn’t they take on some of the burden? We’ve lost more than 2400 units of affordable housing in Over-the-Rhine over the past 10 years. We are hemorrhaging our neighbors, yet someone is making a great profit off of it, using benefits and public incentives that come out of our taxes. The family who helped Danny Lee with blankets and mittens and offered to get an Uber to the shelter ended their memorial statement with this call to action. “We live on a block with all these vacant buildings. No one’s doing anything with them but making a profit eventually… we have to do better as a people. We just got to do better. No one should have to die outside, alone, in the cold.” �10 LOCAL NMar o v 2 7- -Mar N o v 19, 0 18 || N o . 393 21,22019 No. 402 The Power And The Need For Citizen Organizing BILL WOODS ContributingWriter C itizen organizing of every type received attention at an all day forum on Saturday February 23rd. Two hundred plus activists took part in "The Power of Organizing - Finding Your Community's Voice," an event sponsored by the Murray and Agnes Seasongood Good Government Foundation. Speakers, panels, and breakout discussions focused on how citizens can have an impact on government policy and the decisions that effect their communities and neighborhoods. The day began with a keynote address by Karen Hobert Flynn, the President of Common Cause U.S.A. Although Flynn now heads an organization that spends a lot of time and energy promoting political reforms at the national level, she believes in citizen organizing at all levels. In fact, Flynn began her career organizing at the grassroots. Reflecting on how state legislators often try to avoid contact with constituents, she revealed that one of her strategies as a young activist was to corner representatives right before they entered the bathroom. Flynn had some of her previous successes at the state level. She played a key role in organizing the adoption of public financing for campaigns for state elective offices in Connecticut. As a regional director for Common Cause, she assisted a number of state chapters, including Ohio, in their reform efforts. She stressed that some of Common Cause's best work continues to take place in the states, and she noted its success (in collaboration with other groups) in passing redistricting reform in Ohio last May. Flynn emphasized the importance of having the Seasongood event at this particular moment in U.S history. Citizen organizing to preserve our democratic institutions is critical. On a positive note, she proclaimed that citizen involvement in groups such as Common Cause has greatly increased in the last two years. The morning panel that followed the keynote focused on the nuts and bolts of organizing. Featuring local people with diverse organizing experiences, the panelists emphasized how they went about recruiting and working with volunteers. For instance, if citizens are going to give their time and talents to an organizing effort, they need to be appreciated and to believe that their involvement makes a difference. If it's a major effort involving a coalition of groups, one panelist stressed that a corps of leaders must evolve that works well together and trusts one another. All the panelists noted organizers must prepare their groups for unexpected setbacks, which can often be used as learning experiences. Moderated by Liz Blume of the Season Good board, the panel included Jennifer Summers of the Peaslee Neighborhood Center, Dorothy Smoot of the Partnering Center, Bill Woods of Applied Information Resources, and Nicole Edwards of the Sierra Club. One of the most valuable parts of the day occurred before lunch. Attendees split into three groups, and these breakout sessions allowed everyone to say why they were there. These sessions also encouraged people to present their ideas about needed organizing projects in Cincinnati. As an example, many neighborhood representatives noted that neighborhoods are isolated and need some kind of coalition in order to be heard and taken seriously by public officials. Over lunch, two full time community organizers, DeMario Cooper of the Ohio Organizing Collaborative, and Katy Heins of Community Change, shared their thoughts on the theme "Why Organize?" Heins began by saying that organizing is all about providing sufficient power to citizens to insure that they have an impact on public decisions that effect their lives. On a variety of issues from fair wages to affordable housing, Community Change works with citizens in various cities and states to bring this about. DeMario Cooper agreed with Heins' statement about "power." Often working in low-income AfricanAmerican neighborhoods, he described the inequities that exist without effective organizing. He was especially blunt about the inequities confronting Black males. As an example, he pointed to the huge percentage of Black males who serve prison terms in this country and the deep hole this places them in once they are released. Issue 1, on last November's ballot, was a justice reform initiative that would have eliminated much of the unnecessary incarceration in Ohio. Although the organizing effort for Issue 1 by groups such as the Ohio Organizing Collaborative ended in defeat, Cooper already sees some positive next steps emerging from that campaign. A final panel also featured diverse citizen organizers discussing their recent work and how they go about it. Catherine Turcer, Director of Common Cause/Ohio, described the organizing that went into the campaign to bring about redistricting reform in Ohio. She depicted how the successful state-wide signature gathering by volunteers for the grassroots Constitutional Amendment proposal persuaded members of the Ohio House and Senate to draft a real reform proposal of their own which the voters passed overwhelmingly passed last May. Panelist Josh Spring, the Executive Director of the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition, told attendees about his work in organizing tenants. Tenants, especially those living in publicly assisted apartments, often need to know their rights in order to stand up to landlords who fail to maintain their buildings or who are attempting to evict them in order to raise rents or to sell their properties to developers. Spring has been successful in his goal of working with tenants so that they successfully speak and take action for themselves. As a conclusion to the day, David Altman, Executive Secretary of the Seasongood Foundation, and Michael Coffey, of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, talked with attendees about the availability of grants for citizen organizing. Altman noted that it was a good sign that two local foundations not only saw the need for citizen involvement in public decisionmaking, but they also recognized the importance of organizing that involvement. Opi-Hate At The Top ROBERT PARK ContributingWriter A monotonous seemingly endless series of almost daily full-page ads in the NY Times from Purdue Pharma explained what a responsible company they are and how hard they’re trying to help with the opioid overdose crisis. This company is the maker of OxyContin and other opioids, and is owned by one family, worth about 13 $billion according to Forbes magazine. The recent history of Purdue Pharma, described in the NY Times (Jan.16, 2019) is visible because of law suits. In 2007 the company paid a 634 $million fine on federal criminal charges against top management, members of the Sackler family. They were charged with lying about the dangers of OxyContin in promoting the drug to doctors. More than 200,000 opioid overdose deaths have occurred since 1996 when the drug was introduced. The Sackler executives were removed from management of the company but continued to run it, according to subsequent law suits. Massachusetts attorney general, Maura Healey, is suing Purdue right now and new information has appeared as a result. Aside from further evidence of wonton murderous profiteering (about one billion $ per year in OxyContin sales), some insight into how these people think has emerged from internal company documents. When president of the company in 2001, one Sackler brother wrote: “we have to hammer on abusers in every way possible… They are the culprits and the problem. They are reckless criminals.” Ruling class contempt for the working class: this is about as clear as it gets. Thousands of people with injuries caused by their work, or by accidents, with pain from appropriate medical treatments or from deferred or absent medical care, trying to keep their lives on track and deal with family obligations, they are the criminals. Kids that don’t see a livable future are the criminals. Trump’s losers, which includes most THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED of us whose attainments in life didn’t depend on bullying, cheating or lying, we are the criminals. These are not anomalous ruling class attitudes, they are normal. Their class education trains them to think that way (although some wealthy people with a strong streak of honesty and integrity actually acknowledge, to themselves at least, a more accurate view of reality). Workers are blamed for industrial injuries and illnesses when process design and operating procedures are the culprit; students are blamed for enormous debt; homeowners devastated by banking fraud are blamed for reckless borrowing. We need to figure out who the criminals are, folks. �N o. 39 | Nov 2 - N o v 19, 2 0 18 Mar 73-Mar 21, 2019 | No. 402 11 LOCAL Diet, Childhood, and Homelessness: An Ohio Study TESS SOHNGEN ContributingWriter N ew Ohio Study Provides Insights into Food Access for Homeless Youths at a Drop-In Center When you’re young and don’t have a suitable place to live, how do you eat? A recent Ohio study examined exactly what food is provided at a youth drop-in center to answer this question. This study is the first of its kind to go into the service center and evaluate the food available to the 60-plus youths it serves every day. While previous research has taken a broader lens to the food resources available to homeless youths, the results of this new study demonstrate what’s possible when a service center can provide a quality food environment to adolescents – and the “x-factor” for doing so. How Many Youths Experience Homelessness? Deemed “The nation’s invisible homeless population”, more teens and young adults are living on the street than ever before in US history, and their numbers are rising. In one year, nearly 1.7 million youths will experience homelessness. These unaccompanied youths — any person under the age of 25 living without adequate housing and without a parent committing petty crimes for food or shelter. In their eat-or-be-eaten world, homelessness is the gatekeeper to experiencing violence, acute and longterm illness, and food insecurity. The Food Environment for Unsheltered Youths As many as 96% of youths experiencing homelessness are also affected by food insecurity, according to research by the Canadian Journal of Public Health, which has published several studies around youth homelessness and food resources in Toronto, where youths are also a growing portion of the country’s homeless population. Here is just one example of how fast and deep the knife can cut for unsheltered youths. The lack of access to nutritional and adequate food has long-term negative health effects for young men and women. “Inadequate nutrition can permanently alter children’s brain architecture and stunt their intellectual capacity, affecting children’s learning, social interaction and productivity,” according to Feeding America’s 2018 Child Food Insecurity Module. New Study – Evaluating Food Sources for Homeless Youths With limited resources to find work and money, homeless youths often 1 in 6 children 13M experiences hunger in the United States Number of children who live in "food insecure" homes in the United States Source: www.nokidhungry.org or guardian – are more vulnerable to the consequences of homelessness. Without guardian supervision, these young men and women are more prone to victimization – trading sex and unpaid work, panhandling, and turn to charitable services, crime, and begging for food. Here are the mostcommon food sources for homeless youths, according to a study published in Public Health Nutrition journal: (65%) admitted to theft as a means to food, (63%) food supplemented by welfare agencies, (61%) begging for money or food, (44%) begging for food items, and (34%) asking for help from friends and relatives. In a new and groundbreaking study from the Ohio State University Institutional Review Board, researchers evaluated the food at one of resources used most-extensively by youths experiencing homelessness: drop-in centers. Drop-in shelters targeted specifically for youths are typically the initial point of service for these young people since they are less restrictive than other service centers and aim to build trust and relationships with these adolescences. But how are they able to provide food to youths, and does the food meet their health needs? The researchers evaluated the variety and quality of food provided at a youth drop-in center in the Central Ohio region, assessing the type of food available, how accessible it was to youths in the center’s kitchen, and the health quality of those items. Their findings were surprising to the researchers. Not only did the center offer a fairly high variety of fruits and vegetables but also limited obesogenic (unhealthful) foods accessible to the adolescents they served. The X-Factor for Providing Adequate Food at Drop-in Centers These findings sharply contrasted previous studies and hypotheses predicting that food provided at these types of shelters did not meet adolescent’s nutritional needs. Researchers speculate a notable x-factor THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED for why the results from the Central Ohio study are so different: available funding. The level of funding available to drop-in centers is a crucial determinant of the types of food organizations can offer its homeless populations. When the welfare center relies on charitable donations of food, the quality, quantity, and nutritional value of the food available plummets. On the contrary, centers that can afford to pay staff, purchase food, and cover the costs of rent and utilities does not depend on donated food. This drop-in center in Central Ohio purchased most of the food it provides to young people from local food banks. The center also provides laundry, shower facilities, recreational activities, links to additional community resources, and beds to adolescents. On average, the center sees between 60-80 homeless youths ages 14-24 daily, with two to three new clients arriving each day. In Summary The study was the first of its kind and could contribute to more research in the future that examines homeless youth’s food environment. However, since the study was conducted at the only youth drop-in center in the metropolitan area – and considering the money available to the center – these finding don’t attest to the food environment and availability of youth shelter houses elsewhere in the country. This study simply shows that with adequate funding, services can be an adequate food resource for youths experiencing homelessness. �12 A Friend To be called a friend is sometimes very hard to be To be a friend is a honor with many responsibilities To have a friend is someone STREETVOICE Gusty Winds The Sky was dark The Sun was gone you can depend on To have a friend with you when all hope is gone Being human beings we all fall short of God’s grace The arrival of Rain made the Gusty Winds Come Being human plus a friend The Air can be a difficult race was cool Due to difficult the rain circumstances in every persons life To put trust and faith in someone can be only strife felt good As I embraced the Gustv Winds See So for me I keep the faith and never forget to pray As I sing that old hymn what a friend we have in Jesus Each and every day!! WILLA DENISE JONES Streetvibes Distributor Contributing Writer and Son God Loves you more than me! KIM GREEN Streetvibes Distributor Contributing Writer No More Tears I woke up this morning and smelled the coffee. You just don’t know about life, until you wake up. I was born November 13th, 1970. Life is real. Life is precious. I’ve been through hell and back, but I’m here. Psalm 116:8—"For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling or stumbling.” N ov 2 N o v 21, 19, 2019 2 0 18 || No. N o . 402 393 Mar 7 --Mar Take Time Time- Everything in life takes time Time to plant Time to be born Time to die But let us remember To spend time with our loved onesMy mom and dad are no longer alive I can no longer hug them I got stabbed through the heart on July, 1994. I had two heart attacks on March, 2006. November 20th, 2018 they took an old heart valve out, and replaced it with a new one. They put a pace maker in on February 8th, 2019. and say hi and that I love Yes, life is so precious. The kids today are not raised the way we were. the time you will remember I need the old school people to come cleanup the streets. JAMES BROWN Streetvibes Distributor Contributing Writer you If your mom and dad are still alive please give them a long hug and tell them you love them Your heart and mind will feel so good that you took that and even more days you can do You will know that God has blessed all of you CLEO WOMBLES Streetvibes Distributor Contributing Writer Streetvibes Writing Circle If you would like to submit a story for publication in streetvibes, come join Katelyn Lusher and Chris Wilkey for a group writing session! S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �STREETVOICE No. 39 | Nov21, 2 - 2019 N o v 19, 2 0402 18 Mar 7 3-Mar | No. Just Because THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY DEBATE Just because I’m homeless does not mean I deserve to be forgotten. Just because I’m homeless doesn’t meant I should not be seen Are you not feeling a sense of urgency 13 Just because you have fine clothes and a nice home does not make you a better woman or a better man. Do you love to watch the sunset? Do you like Just because I’m homeless doesn’t mean I should have no rights in my homeland to count the stars? emergency? I may not have fine clothes or a nice home, but I do have plenty of dignity, and my vote still matters. the troubles in your heart? How would you define a bonafide I may not have a briefcase, a smartphone, and busy appointments, but I still have dreams and hopes for the future. laugh out loud, play their games, and let them I just need to find my way back home again. Do you hide their eggs on Easter? Read their About The Donald's national crisis? Wouldn't be like a sneak attack by Isis? When you walk by, I can see that look in your eyes, and I wonder what are you afraid of? You remind me of how it used to be for me. I want you to know that just because you are busy does not mean you will always be so free. Does it seem to you to be a bogus call, To say it's for money for a border wall? BILL WOODS Contributing Writer Just because I’m homeless does not meant I forgot what it’s like. Are you worried about keeping your job forever? Paying your bills on time? What the doctor may say? And wondering if your pension will still be there some day? Just because I’m homeless doesn’t mean I cannot see. Everyone is walking fast like they are in a hurry. Everyone has that look in their eyes, wondering what I am doing out here? What happened to me? Wondering how I survive? Every day is a very long day in my world and I am worried too, you see. Do you like to walk in nature so you can forget When you play with your children do you believe they are so smart? card out loud on Mother’s Day? Watch the fireworks on the Fourth of July, and go to bed early before Christmas the oldfashioned way? Just because I’m homeless doesn’t mean I forgot about those old traditions, I just do my best to ignore what it’s like to sleep at the down town missions. I wish you could visit with me for a day, a week, or a year, so you could really know what it’s like being out here. Maybe you think it just doesn’t matter because it could never happen to you, is that right? Sometimes I want to wave just to see if you would wave back to me. Maybe you think we don’t have much in If I tell you my name, would you at least offer me a smile as if I am still important? common because of where you sleep at night. I want people to see me but when they do, I just look down at my shoes. I don’t really want your pity and would rather It’s easier that way you see, just because I’m homeless you think you know about me. Just because you don’t live where I live, or sleep where I sleep does not mean you understand. WAYNE SHIPMAN Streetvibes Distributor Contributing Writer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED be left alone I know we really have so much in common But we go our separate ways just because I have no home �PET HOROSCOPES 14 NMar o v 27- -Mar N o v 19, 0 18 || N o . 393 21,22019 No. 402 Pet Horoscopes by Dusty Changepurse Pisces (Ten of Swords) - Have you have had it? Are sensing the that the end is near? The future is bleak, I know. Maybe it’s the end of your pet’s life, maybe its the end of puppyhood, or maybe it is just the end of your rope with even having a pet. Either way, this is a month of transitions, so know that sometimes it is best to find a way to process loss and move to a more positive place. Hard decisions need to be had for your pet this month. Aries (Seven of Cups) - Abundance is the name of the game, but, everything comes with a price. Remember my forewarning of this being a month of closure and things ending so know that dreams are often realized when we keep their limitations in mind. Your pet has been feeling spoiled these past few weeks, but what happens when the spoiling stops? Beware of negative behavior from your pet(s) when the going stops being good. with some insomnia/late night shenanigans, so be prepared. And yes, I know that is literal, but remember it isn’t their fault. Your Leo pet has been feeling some extra energy and vibes these weeks, so they are trying to make sense of the world and the rules. Remember, new pets means new accidents. Virgo (Eight of Swords) - Wow! Are you feeling the squeeze? Well your pet is fur sure. Your pet is feeling quite bound and restricted. It may not just be about the rules either. They are afraid of messing up. Try to help instill some confidence in your pet this month. I am always one to say that self-care is so important, but sadly pets don’t know this. Your pet has been making sacrifices and now it is your turn. Give up some of your personal time for some pet R and R. They actually need this now more than ever. Throat, mouth and ears are going to be affected this month. Taurus (The High Empress) - Your pet is on one, but it is as it should be. Yep, here kitty kitty, we got catnip! Sadly, you Taurean pet is having an internal conflict with balance. They may need some nature in their life to help center them. This is a time for you to bring some nature or creativity to your pet’s life. Also, this is a good time to set some boundaries for your pets. Remember we reward good behavior, not just giving them treats for “not being bad.” and your pet knows it. You both have your feelings, emotions and actions aligned and that is where you need to be. Your job is to move together through the journey of life and learn from each other. I will warn you that your pet is going through a jealousy phase this month, so beware. Basically, if you are introducing new (fur) people into your household consider limiting access between temporarily. This may help mitigate any negative territorial behavior. Sagittarius (Page of Wands) - Listen bird, you are one egotistical, free-spirited cutie pie. Wait, how do you do that? Yes, be prepared to be amazed by your fine feathered friend. They are all about the creative sparks and making things happen. Don’t worry, they are going to show you just how awesome birds can be. But be warned, this new found confidence can lead to flying away. If you let your pet friends have free range, keep a vigilant watch. This sense of freedom may cause them to flutter away. Capricorn (Six of Swords) - Your pet needs a vacation. A vacation from you, from life, from everything! So why not take them to the doggie spa or kitty coral. You will need to keep an eye on them because they are feeling a lack of engagement. There may be something holding them back, so figure it out and help them push through. They will feel challenged, but together you can be successful. This is a time of transition, so it is important that you are present with your pet. Gemini (The Hermit) - Your pet (and maybe you) will be feeling slightly overwhelmed and withdrawn this month. Perhaps think about spending some extra time with your pet or maybe they need some alone introspective time. I mean sure, they are happy to see you when you get home, but beware of destructive behavior when they are alone. Honestly, your smart furbaby has probably learned to hide all their mischief (and damage). So look in hidden corners and nooks, you may find that item you have been missing for while now. Cancer (Ace of Wands) - Usually this card means one is feeling inspired or growth. I personally find it is usually a clue for us to rely on your intuition to figure something out. Well, our reptile friends especially are using this skill to grow… right out of the cage. If you have a reptile, they are going to be an escape artist this month. Be sure to watch their living environment. Whatever your solution may be, know your pet is overthinking things. So simplify. If you are thinking of getting a new pet, well, you have your answer. Leo (The Moon) - The only thing to do is howl at the moon! Okay, we get it! It’s 2 a.m. and everything is exciting, but just go to sleep. This is a time of transformation within your pet. They learning to lean into their personality. Your pets will be dealing Libra (Seven of Pentacles) - So you have put in the hard work, and now you can start to see the results. Finally. That furbaby has finally learned all the cute tricks. Even the birdiebrains are finally getting it. I mean, who doesn’t need a bird who can tell a knock knock joke. For this moment, just enjoy the successes of your training. If you are in the middle of a training program, keep at it. You will definitely reep the benefits. Remember, it is about the big picture here. Plan for the future. So the trainings isn’t for the tricks, it is help the behavior. Scorpio (Knight of Cups) - Moving forward should be the goal for your pet. You have a good thing going Aquarius (Three of Wands) - You see all that kitty? Everything the apartment light touches is yours. Okay that may sound like a scene from a cartoon, but that is because you kitty feels like the monarch of the household. That is probably true. You are in the midst of change, so it is important to keep up the momentum. Your pet is going to be looking for new adventure and the plans have be set, so time to operationalize it. This may be a time to introduce new toys, tricks and challenges to their care. Make them look forward to something new. Hey, it only takes a string and a feather do this, but why not make it sound like an epic challenge About the Author: Dusty Changepurse (they, them, their) is cultural and creative artist whom infuses spirituality, creativity and social justice into their work and everyday life.They have been providing tarot-based guidance, readings, and pet horoscopes for a couple of years. They believe tarot is a useful tool for self-reflection, knowledge growth, and self-care. They enjoy crystals, kombucha and vegan food. The horoscopes presented should not be seen as medical/ veterinary advice. If you or your pet needs actually medical assistance, please see a medical professional. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �N o. 39 | Nov 21, 2- N o v 19, 2 0 18 Mar 73-Mar 2019 | No. 402 Central Access Point 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children RESOURCES Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside Bethany House 557-2873 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 591-2246 FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 Salvation Army 762-5660 St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 131 E. 12th Street 45202 1125 Bank Street 45214 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men Shelter: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Shelterhouse 721-0643 2121 Vine Street 45202 411 Gest St. 45203 Prospect House 921-1613 1437 Walnut Street 45202 Starting Over 961-2256 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Women St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Parkway Center 661-4620 First Step Home 961-4663 Shelter: Youth 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Sheakley Center for Youth (18-24 y/o) 2522 Highland Ave. 45219 569-9500 Lighthouse Youth Crisis Center (10-17 y/o) 3330 Jefferson Ave 45220 961-4080 Shelter: Family Interfaith Hospitality Network Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Both AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Joseph House (Veterans) 471-1100 1522 Republic Street 45202 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street 45202 Talbert House 221-HELP Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street 45202 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Food/Clothing First Lutheran Church 421-0065 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Seraph Ministries 549-0542 St. George Food Pantry 2554 Dennis St. 45219 751-8771 St. Anthony Center 1615 Republic St. Advocacy Catholic Social Action 421-3131 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Franciscan JPIC 721-4700 Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 241-2965 Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board 946-8000 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 221-HELP Housing: 15 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 Health Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 Other Resources Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 215 E. 14th St. 45202 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 381-0111 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. 579-8547 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 1223 Main St. 45202 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 The Caring Place 631-1114 Talbert House 751-7747 United Way 211 Women Helping Women 977-5541 Off The Streets 421-5211 Hamilton County Office of Reentry 946-4304 138 E. Court Street Room # 101 First Floor Cancer Justice Network 404-3882 Hamilton/Middletown St. Raephaels 981-4200 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 Northern Kentucky Brighton Center (11-17 y/o) 859-491-8303 ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary 859-572-6202 Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky 634 Scott St. 41011 859-291-4555 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? You can support our mission and spread the word about your business. For more information contact Gabriela Godinez Feregrino, 961-0600 email streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Center for Respite Care 621-1868 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 386-7899 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 NAMI of Hamilton County 351-3500 PATH Outreach 977-4489 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �16 NMar ov 2 7 - -Mar N o v 19, 0 18 | |N o . 393 21,22019 No. 402 S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. ALFRED WOOLFOLK SINCE 10/2003 ASRES AYENAW SINCE 2012 BERTA LAMBERT SINCE 1997 BETTIE BAILEY SINCE 10/2017 BRANDON NELSON SINCE 4/2008 BRIAN ADAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHARLES WILLIAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHRISTOPHER KAIHATSU SINCE 7/2017 CLEO WOMBLES SINCE 10/2003 CRANDALL COBB SINCE 2004 DARREL ROZIER SINCE 7/2017 DAVID MCCANE SINCE 2017 ERIC VALDEZ SINCE 2/2017 GERALD FRANKLIN SINCE 7/2017 GRADY COOK SINCE 1997 HENRY BRELAND SINCE 7/2017 JAMES BROWN SINCE 3/2009 JAMES DAVIS SINCE 8/2000 JENNY BURTON SINCE 7/2017 JIMMIE GIPSON SINCE 2001 JON DARBY SINCE 2/2006 JOHN HORN JOSEPHINE BASKERVILLE SINCE 9/2008 J’TORI TYMAN SINCE 5/2014 KIM NGUYEN SINCE 7/2017 KENNY BUSSELL SINCE 10/2009 KAREN COLLETTE SINCE 7/2008 LARRY BROWN SINCE 10/2007 LEE MCCOY SINCE 7/2009 LEONARD JACKSON SINCE 2/2005 MARY MUELLER SINCE 5/2005 MARK SHEARS SINCE 4/2012 MAURICE GOLSBY MELISSA MOSBY SINCE 9/2014 MIKE CARANO SINCE 4/2016 RAESHAWN GIPSON SINCE 3/2009 RAYNARD JONES SINCE 10/2008 RICKY WOODS SINCE 4/2015 RICCARDO TAYLOR SINCE 1999 RONNIE PHILLIPS SINCE 10/2009 SAMUEL JACKSON SINCE 10/2006 STACIA HOLLANDER SINCE 2017 STEPHANIE EAKES SINCE 7/2017 SYLVESTER WALKER SINCE 7/2017 TALINA HILL SINCE 2/2011 VICTOR MUMPHRY WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WINNIE RICE SINCE 7/2017 QUEENACELASTINE SINCE 7/2017 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 VIOLET COLLINS SINCE 2017 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2019 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource March 7-March 21, 2019 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: Anti-Vax Movements and Social Media Pg 3: Education Opportunities Pg 4: GCHC Pg 5: The Strike Pg 6: Malnourished Venezuelans Hope Urgently Needed Aid Arrives Soon Pg 7: Tokyo Street Count Pg 8: Boarded Up Pg 9: Boarded Up Continued Pg 10: The Power and the Need for Citizen Organizing Opi-Hate at the Top Pg 11: Diet, Childhood, and Homelessness Pg 12: Street Voice Pg 13: Street Voice Pg 14: Pet Horoscopes Pg 15: Resources Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 7-March 21, 2019 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Josh Spring Gabriela Godinez Holly McCall Kahara Nakahara Carlos Garcia Rawlins Shaylim Valderrama Key Beck Dr. Mark Mussman Bill Woods Tess Sohngen Kim Green Willa Denise Jones Robert Park James Brown Cleo Wombles Pngtree.com Canva.com INSP.com Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Anti-Vax Bill Woods Canva.com Carlos Garcia Rawlins Cleo Wombles Dr. Mark Mussman education Free Lunch Program Gabriela Godinez Holly McCall INSP.com James Brown Josh Spring Kahara Nakahara Key Beck Kim Green Ohio Pngtree.com protest Robert Park Shaylim Valderrama Social Media Strike Tess Sohngen Tokyo Venezuela Willa Denise Jones https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/76d26bae37374821b5f46bb15d745d7f.pdf e6034159406b27a1ce27535f28e13ead PDF Text Text Any opinions in this issue are of the authors and don't necessarily represent Streetvibes or The Homeless Coalition. BLACK HISTORY MONTH Special Edition This Issue is sponsored by Cecilia and Tom Kloecker Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.org Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 12 �2 COALITION N o v 21-March 2 - N o v 19,7,22019 0 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Feb. 401 From The Director: History Isn’t a Series of Stories Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor-in-chief: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Executive Director: Josh Spring Josh Spring giving a speech. Credit:Amanda Meet JOSH SPRING Executive Director W hen we talk about history, we tend to discuss particular individuals, groups or campaigns that were covered in abundance by the press and that accomplished specific changes. Or we look at history as a series of highlighted stories through decades. These parts of history are very important and certainly can serve as inspiration for our work continuing. But not looking at the whole picture and instead seeing history as a limited number if inspirational stories can make systemic change seem unobtainable. Take for example the “Civil Rights Movement”. We learn about “Brown v. Board of Education”, “Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott”, the “Little Rock Nine”, the “Lunch Counter Sit-Ins”, “Ruby Bridges”, “Freedom Riders”, “Marches, Dogs, Hoses and Bombs in Birmingham”, the “March on Washington”, “I Have a Dream”, the “Civil Rights Act”, the “March to Montgomery”, the “Poor Peoples’ Campaign” and the assassination of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I list each of these in quotations because the way history is taught and discussed, these actions have in many ways been made into products that sell books, movies and are used by corporations to fain care. For many they have become stories of the past you hear about, with larger than life characters who had some genius ideas, unfettered focus and through these this limited list of events, accomplished major changes. What do most people think about this information? They feel uplifted and thankful. What does history told in this way lead most people to do? You might say to yourself, “Well, I can’t have that unfettered focus because I have to go to work, I have to feed my kids, I have to pay the rent” or “I have to find a home, I have to avoid harassment by the police, I have to deal with family issues, I have to play with my children…”. Or perhaps, “Well, I don’t have any genius ideas”, “I’m not good at giving speeches”, “I don’t know how to lead a march or organize a boycott.” So then we say, “I really wish we had a ‘Martin Luther King’ today, we really need a strong leader.” But here’s the thing, history, systemic change and over-throw of systems don’t actually happen in a series of stories led by fearless, other-worldly strategic geniuses with nothing else going on in their lives. No, changing systems and creating and implementing new systems are accomplished by the hard work of many people, with different sets of strengths and limitations and with lots going on in their lives. The larger than life characters in these stories were not larger than life. They struggled, screwed up, got distracted at times, had other close people to care for, got confused and were not isolated islands spitting out perfect ideas and plans. These stories are not story-book at all. They all involve people going to long meetings, arguing about tactics, trying to agree on goals, planning actions and then having to reschedule them, implementing plans that work and plans that don’t. People didn’t one day just decide to make some major move that would have long-lasting impact. People planned, evaluated, fed their kids, attended marches, went to school, gave speeches, cleaned their dishes, cried, looked for employment, clapped, struggled to pay the rent, felt scared but supported each other, read, led, followed and everything else humans have to do both to live and force change. The gathering of people created support systems that allowed this to be possible. We learn about all of these stories that from the tell of it seemed to achieve major accomplishments through a limited number of wonderful actions. We don’t learn about all of the many, many more other actions, both successful and unsuccessful. We don’t learn about the many boycotts in small towns, the neighborhood marches to stop displacement, the workers gathering to demand fair wages, the many lawsuits to challenge inhumane municipal laws, the disruption of discriminatory meetings, the rallies against red-lining, the establishment of neighborhood-serving organizations, the sit-ins at public offices, etc. We don’t learn about the hours, days, months and years of knocking on doors, streetcorner conversations, hanging flyers, making phone calls, cooking meals for gatherings, documenting evidence, honing statements and crafting demands. People and organizations behind current inhumane systems want us to think that movements are the result of one or a few special people. In fact, they, themselves, want to believe that too, because, for them the reality that movement and the topple of injustice is led by small groups of regular people who build into larger and larger groups of regular people, is much scarier. We have the power. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Director of Development: Mona Jenkins Director of Education: Dr. Mark Mussman Distributor Program Manager: Sallie Mascus Layout: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Reception: Bonita Batton, Larry Johnson Maintenance: Pete Roper ------------------------------------------CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Writers: Josh Spring, Patricia Patton, William Schomberg, Simon Daveson, Alessandro Jedlowski, Felix Winternitz, Key Beck, Dr. Mark Mussman, Bill Woods, Janiah Miller, Kim Green, Willa Denise Jones, Janiah Miller, June Alexander, Ricardo Taylor, Mo Poetry Phillps ------------------------------------------Photography/ Artwork: Homeless Coalition, canva.com, Gabriela Godinez, Amanda Meek ---------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless do not endorse candidates for public office. �No. 39 3 | Nov 2 7, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Feb. 21-March | No. 401 3 COALITION Segregation Then, Segregation Now DR. MARK MUSSMAN Staff Writer T he Cincinnati region is home to segregated neighborhoods and schools. The typical American mantra is that we have overcome segregation and with that, we’ve created a level playing field. Recently, I wrote about how little has changed in Cincinnati over the past couple of decades, and I mentioned that schools are more segregated now than ever, especially when it comes to income segregation. As an educator, I wanted to dig deeper into racial segregation in our schools. There is considerable educational research that shows that educational success is only linked to two indicators: family income and school expenditures on curricular materials. In Ohio, these two things are intricately linked, as school funding is dependent on property taxes. In a few rare cases, there are some communities who are able to offset their residential property taxes with commercial property taxes, but for the most part, if a neighborhood has expensive homes, the schools in the neighborhood will be able to spend more per student. The school that spends the most in Ohio, spends nearly $40,000 per student on their education. In Hamilton County, Indian Hill spends the most per student; in 2016 that number was nearly $20,000. These amounts dwarf the $10,000 spent on each student in Cincinnati Public Schools. As my work brings me in and out of schools on a constant basis, I am always surprised when I visit a non-segregated school. It is rare, but it does happen. I wondered what this would look like, on a statistical level, so I began doing a data search. The State of Ohio keeps records on public schools, but does not provide information on charter, private, or religious schools. Since the segregation in the Catholic Schools in Cincinnati seems to be anecdotely related to racism: as my family members have vocally said they will send their children to Catholic schools because there are “too many Black people” in the public schools, I can readily and wholeheartedly say that the push for a Catholic school education comes more out of racism than their adherence to Catholic beliefs. However, the Catholic schools in Cincinnati aren’t completely white, as many schools are completely Black, especially at the elementary level. An example of this is in East Walnut Hills, where St. Francis de Sales Elementary is almost entirely African American, and Mercy Montessori, just a few blocks away is mostly white. Until the demographic information is made available, we can just go from our experience, and know the Black Catholic schools and the white Catholic schools. Focusing on the public schools has the benefit of also thinking deeper into the racial dynamics of the neighborhood, or municipality, in which the schools operate. In my research, I am including the demographic data from 49 local schools. I was unable to get Ohio data from Dater, Gamble, Taft, and Seven Hills School, which I suspect are each racially segregated. I also had to use Mason Middle School data, as the high school data wasn’t on the state’s page. Finally, Harrison High School data was not available. However, the data I did collect represents more than 50,000 students in the Cincinnati region, in Ohio. I did not include Northern Kentucky, although recents reports put that region near the top of the most economically segregated schools in America. When school desegregation efforts were in full swing in the 1970’s, the definition of segregation was a school with 70% or more of one race or ethnic group. This is the standard that I am using here. The results below show that most students in Cincinnati go to a segregated school. The level of segregation would be shocking, if we didn’t expect this to be the case. Of the 50,274 students in the 49 local schools, 34,814 students attended racially segregated schools. Far more than half of the attendees. 9 schools have less than 10 African American students in attendance: Ross, Claremont-Eastern, BethelTate, New Richmond, Goshen, Taylor, Mariemont, Batavia, and Madeira. The total population of these schools is 5,237 students. Less than 90 students total, in all of these schools, are African American. Ross High School has the distinct honor of the most white, at 98%. Other schools that are 90% or more white include: Amelia, Loveland, Turpin, Anderson, Oak Hills, Milford, and Little Miami Local School District. Schools in the 80-89% white category include Lebanon, Kings, Reading, Monroe, and Indian Hill. Schools that are 70-79% white include: Wyoming, Lakota, Deer Park, and Norwood. This leaves Sycamore on the border at 67% with a 8% African American population. It should be noted, that these levels of segregation are not natural, and that segregation comes from decades of racism in housing, education, employment, transportation, health care, etc. None of this “just happens” but rather it is a concerted effort by banks, real estate professionals, racist policies, and policing. Many of these communities were “Whites Only” communities, through redlining, restrictive covenants, and other concerted efforts to exclude people of color from settling there. This is also not some historical issue, if it was, then we wouldn’t continue to have severely segregated schools. There’s another side to this, where schools are segregated at more than 70% African American. The most segregated Black school is Woodward, (again Taft data wasn’t available, which I suspect is very highly segregated as well), with 94% African American, and 1% white. Shroder comes in second at 93% African American, followed by Hughes at 90%, Aiken at 86%, Withrow at 83%, North College Hill at 81%, Western Hills at 78%, Mount Healthy at 74%, and Virtual High at 70% African American. Other than North College Hill and Mount Healthy, these are Cincinnati Public Schools. Generational poverty creates a more expensive remedy for these schools, as schools are forced to pick up more slack, even serving two or three meals a day, ramping up wrap-around services such as medical care, and providing familybased education options. Schools that are majority white have less additional expenses because of the generational wealth that our public policies granted them over the last generations. There are some schools that aren’t so severely segregated, but I might argue are still segregated, but they have a larger Hispanic or Asian population, which tilts the numbers into 3 boxes, instead of two: African American and white. This includes Princeton, which is 23% white, 46% African American, and 21% Hispanic. While no one is a majority alone, it reaches segregation levels while including Asian and Pacific Islander as well. Also, I would put Mason City Schools into this category as well, with 61% white, but less than 4% African American. There is a large Asian population in Mason schools, at 24% of the student body. Winton Woods also fits in this category with 27% of the students of Hispanic, Asian, or multiracial identity. A discussion about the socalled “model minority” in education, what that means for other minorities, and how this dilutes race-based measures, will need to be saved for another article, but it’s an important consideration when looking at the statistics. We are left with 11,120 students who attend desegregated schools, based upon the formula I discussed above (70% threshold). Each of the following 10 schools have less than 70% of a single race or minority grouping. The percentage of African American and white students total in each school is between 80 and 88 percent. While these numbers may not accurately portray the community within which the school resides, as there are other schools, such as charter and religious schools, it may make a statement about the school’s commitment to creating a social system that enables students to make informed decisions on their exposure to people of different ethnicities. Four of the schools, Clark Montessori, Oyler, SCPA, and Walnut Hills are Cincinnati public schools, while the other six are mostly suburban schools: Colerain, Fairfield, Finneytown, Lockland, Northwest, and St. Bernard/Elmwood Place. Only one school, SCPA is more than 50% African American, at 53%. These numbers don’t get to deeper issues of representation. What does it matter if a school’s student population is desegregated if there are no African American teachers or administrators? How are Black students treated differently when it comes to punishments, or even advance courses such as AP? What is the graduation rate for African American students? What is the level of police presence in each school? How are the relationships different between students and staff, including detention guards and so-called School Resource Officers? But what we can gleam from this data is that we are still in an active mode of segregation when the vast majority of our students attend extremely segregated schools, live in segregated neighborhoods, and ultimately, live segregated lives. Graph Shows that most students attend segregated schools, with the vast majority of white students attending segregated schools. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �4 ADVERTISMENT THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED N o v 221-March - N o v 19, 7, 2 02019 18 | N o . 393 Feb. | No. 401 �No. 39 3 | Nov 2 - 7, No v 19,| 2 0 18401 Feb. 21-March 2019 No. 5 U.S. NEWS Reflections On African-Americans And Politics - 1963-2019 BILL WOODS ContributingWriter H ow have AfricanAmericans fared in the political process in the last five and a half decades? This period covers the flowering of the Civil Rights Movement and the election of the first African-American President. It's a time frame that produced major advancements, but also left large problems and issues to be addressed. When Streetvibes editor Gabriela Godinez-Feregrino decided to dedicate this issue to Black History Month, she asked me to do a piece on AfricanAmericans and politics. As an aging white man, I took on this assignment with trepidation. Nevertheless, I determined to offer my observations on this theme beginning with the year I graduated from college in 1963. Much of the South was still legally segregated in the early 1960s, and I graduated from a Midwestern college that still accepted national fraternities on campus that prohibited AfricanAmericans from membership. During the summer after graduation in 1963, I landed a temporary job writing press releases for the City Charter Committee, Cincinnati's reform political party. It was a Council election year, and Charter was determined to reelect Theodore M. Berry, an African-American attorney, to that body. Under the PR-voting system (proportional representation), Berry had been elected to Council by large margins, but the voters abolished PR in 1957. Political observers at the time attribute the successful effort to eliminate proportional representation to a whispering campaign that Berry was getting too powerful and might eventually become mayor. That summer was also the backdrop for the March on Washington, where thousands of African-Americans rallied for Civil Rights. I remember on that August afternoon, Forest Frank, the Director of the Charter Committee, called me into his office to watch this event on a small television set. In that setting, I heard Martin Luther King give his "I have a dream" speech. It was impossible not to be moved by his powerful words, and I think I unconsciously thought that this was an historic moment. From August onward, Dr. King became one of the key figures in the Civil Rights movement, and more and more effective, peaceful protests took place throughout the South. Meanwhile here in Cincinnati that November, Theodore Berry won back a seat on Council. In the next few years, the movement moved forward on a number of fronts throughout the country. For instance in Washington, D.C., a flurry of activity took place. Lyndon Johnson became an activist President after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and he was able to move legislation along that had been bogged down for a long time. One of the major Civil Rights laws that passed during this period was the Voting Rights Act, an act that for years helped eliminate state laws designed to prevent African- Americans from voting and participating in the political process. President Johnson also launched what he called "The War on Poverty," a plan that brought about urban projects such as the Community Action Program, Model Cities, and additional funding for housing and job training. These initiative weren't sufficient to eliminate poverty, but they did provide needed assistance to inner city Black neighborhoods. These Civil Rights advances caused several backlashes in the country. Politicians such as Alabama Governor George Wallace made his reputation by defying the new federal laws, and the once solid Democratic South began its shift to the Republican Party. The urban riots that took place in cities across the nation from 1966-1968 were in part due to Black inner city residents feeling that all the fanfare about Civil Rights and desegregation had not done much to improve their lives. Meanwhile more AfricanAmericans were elected to public office. Changing urban demographics made this possible, and when Carl Stokes was elected Mayor of Cleveland in 1967, he became the first African-American mayor of a major U.S. city. When I was teaching at Wilmington College in 1969, I interviewed the Mayor when he received an honorary degree at the College's graduation ceremonies. This trend continued. Not only were more and more AfricanAmericans selected as mayors, but also a number of them were elected to Congress from cities such as Detroit, Cleveland, and New York City. In fact, Lewis Stokes, Carl Stokes' brother, was elected to Congress from a Cleveland area district, and he served for years as an influential member of the Congressional Black Caucus. A precursor to Barack Obama's successful campaign for President in 2008 was the Rev. Jesse Jackson's credible bid for the Democratic nomination for that office in 1988. In short, the progress of AfricanAmericans winning public office has gone forward to the present day. Finally, Barack Obama was elected to the nation's highest office for two terms. At the moment, at least two African-Americans are vying for the Democratic nomination for President in 2020. Nevertheless, several major problems plague our political system today that makes life difficult for millions of African- Americans. The influence of "big money" in political campaigns at all levels gives way too much influence to wealthy interest groups. Little attention in recent times has been paid to growing poverty and income inequality, and a large percentage of low-income families and individuals are African-American. The safety net of programs and services for people in need has been gutted over the last three decades. Reforms must put in place that will make average Americans, and especially people in need, the focus of attention of our elected representatives. A second problem for AfricanAmericans is their minimal influence on the Republican Party. In the last fifty years, the Party of Lincoln has become the white man's party, and Republican officials tend to ignore Civil Rights issues or issues of urban poverty. This fact makes the Democratic Party the only political outlet for AfricanAmericans. In summary, African-Americans have had a lot of progress politically over the last half-century, and that fact should be celebrated. However, it must not be ignored that the U.S. is at turning point in dealing with some critical economic, social, and political issues. We all must make some adequate public responses to them or accept a steady decline. Racial Analysis within Homelessness PATRICIA PATTON Contributing Writer I t was a chilly crisp morning as I walked to the bus stop on my way to work. Almost daily after I arrive and secure my space to wait, I am confronted by a frumpily dressed white male asking for money to buy him a cup of coffee. My feelings are mixed: should I give him something or should I, as so many others do, dismiss him? Should I reply with the standard response, “why don’t you get a job?” While I often comply by giving them a dollar or two, long after my act of generosity the questions in my head remain. Why am I helping a white male? I mean, given their gender and race, they run the world; the sky’s the limit. I wonder do they know the power they possess? The question inspired me to look further into the challenges this population faces, so I did some research and found that according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness there are currently 10,095 homeless people across the state of Ohio. In addition, Take Away, a public radio program, states that African Americans comprise 12.6 percent of the population, yet 40 percent are classified as homeless. Furthermore, Dr. Marion Moser Jones, a professor with the University of Maryland School of Public Health who has studied the homeless from 1985-2015, states that the causes of homelessness between the two races differ. For blacks discrimination, social isolation, and drug abuse could factor. While for whites homelessness is usually due to or is the result of mental illness, disability, and alcohol abuse. Also factor in a limited availability of housing for blacks and economic inequalities in general. While both races share the devastating reality of homelessness the reasons and or causes of the condition veer. Black woman who become homeless are usually more likely to have THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED experienced sexual abuse, while white women are more likely to be victims of physical abuse. Blacks are more likely to have experienced poverty in childhood, while white homeless adults experienced varying forms of abuse coming up. In conclusion, these studies suggests that non-profit agencies designed to help the homeless should not only think about providing housing for them, but look into the array of cultural differences, and needs that contribute to this chronic condition. I believe that with this in mind we will inspire long lasting change and hence diminish the chance of homelessness from recurring again and again. �GLOBAL 6 N o v 221-March - N o v 19, 7, 2 02019 18 | N . 393 Feb. | oNo. 401 African churches boom in London's backstreets Members of the eternal sacred order of cherubim & seraphim church parade through the street to celebrate their annual thanksgiving in elephant and castle, london, britain, july 29, 2018. the church was founded by moses orimolade tunolase in 1925 in nigeria and is attended by worshippers of nigerian descent who come from all over the country for services. reuters/simon dawson WILLIAM SCHOMBERG & SIMON DAWESON Reuters O n a cold, grey Sunday morning, in a street lined with shuttered builders' yards and storage units, songs of prayer in the West African language of Yoruba ring out from a former warehouse that is now a church. The congregation, almost entirely dressed in white robes, steadily grows to around 70 people as musicians playing drums, a keyboard and a guitar pick up the pace of the hymns. Some women prostrate themselves on the floor in prayer. In the sparse formerly industrial building, its interior brightened by touches of gold paint, a speaker reminds the group of a list of banned activities -no smoking, no drinking of alcohol, no practicing of black magic. In a street outside, a pastor flicks holy water over the car of a woman who wants a blessing to ward off the risk of accidents. The busy scene at the Celestial Church of Christ is repeated at a half a dozen other African Christian temples on the same drab street and in the adjacent roads - one corner of the thriving African church community in south London. Around 250 black majority churches are believed to operate in the borough of Southwark, where 16 per cent of the population identifies as having African ethnicity. Southwark represents the biggest concentration of African Christians in the world outside the continent with an estimated 20,000 congregants attending churches each Sunday, according to researchers at the University of Roehampton. Reflecting the different waves of migration to Britain in the 20th Century, Caribbean churches began to appear in the late 1940s and 1950s as workers and their families arrived from Jamaica and other former British colonies. African churches opened their doors in London from the 1960s, followed by a second wave in the 1980s. Migrants, many of them from Nigeria and Ghana, sought to build communities and maintain cultural connections with their home countries by founding their own churches, often founded in private homes, schools and office spaces. As the communities grew, the churches moved into bigger spaces in bingo halls, cinemas and warehouses, gathering congregations of up to 500 people where services are streamed online by volunteers with video cameras. There is a striking contrast with the empty pews at many traditional Church of England churches where congregations have dwindled for years. "We pray for this country," said Abosede Ajibade, a 54-year-old Nigerian who moved to Britain in 2002 and works for an office maintenance company. "People here brought Christianity to Africa but it doesn't feel like they serve Jesus Christ anymore." Anyone travelling around south London on a Sunday morning will see worshippers, often dressed in dazzlingly coloured African clothes, making their way to churches, each with their different styles of worship. Hymns are sung only in African languages in some temples, or only in English at others. Some pastors take worshippers for full immersion baptisms in the cold of the English Channel. Others believe that when congregants suddenly start speaking in unknown languages it marks the presence of the Holy Spirit. But the researchers from the University of Roehampton found things that many churches have in common, including a drive for professional advancement, a commitment to spend three hours or more at Sunday service and typically very loud worship. “That is how we express our joy and gratitude to God," Andrew Adeleke, a senior pastor at the House of Praise, THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED one of the biggest African churches in Southwark, in a former theatre. “The church is not supposed to be a graveyard," Adeleke said. "It is supposed to be a temple of celebration and worship and the beauty is to be able to express our love to God, even when things are not perfect in our lives." For some, the noise from amplified services is a problem, leading to complaints to local authorities from residents. But many churches face bigger challenges than unhappy neighbours: Some provide food for people struggling to make ends meet, or work with young people at risk of recruitment by gangs. Andrew Rogers, who led the University of Roehampton researchers, said pastors had to juggle retaining the churches' African identity while appealing to children of first generation immigrants, many of whom have never lived outside Britain. They typically have a more liberal world view which can be hard to reconcile with conservative Pentecostal teachings. Rogers recalled speaking to one pastor who lamented he was unable to talk about religious miracles to his children. "If the church doesn't adapt, then they are going to leave and look elsewhere," Rogers said. Courtesy of Reuters / INSP.ngo �GLOBAL N o. 39 3 | Nov 2 - 7, N o2019 v 19,| 2 0 18401 Feb. 21-March No. 7 Netflix and Nollywood: What the streaming giant’s involvement in Nigeria’s massive film industry means ALESSANDRO JEDLOWSKI Reuters G lobal streaming service Netflix set its eyes a few years ago on Nigeria’s film industry, better known as Nollywood. Distribution of Nigerian movies on Netflix started around 2015. At the time the American giant bought the rights of blockbusters such as Kunle Afolayan’s October 1st, Biyi Bandele’s Fifty and several others, after they had already been distributed in Nigerian cinemas. During the Toronto International Film Festival 2018, Netflix announced the acquisition of worldwide exclusive distribution rights for Nollywood star Genevieve Nnaji’s debut film as director, the comedy Lionheart. The film marked the first Netflix original film from Nigeria. Many saw this as the beginning of a new era in the relationship between one of the world largest streaming platforms and Africa’s most prolific film industry. But, is this actually true? Is Netflix going to transform Nollywood? And how significant will its impact on the Nigerian film industry be? Difficult questions These are not easy questions to answer. Nollywood’s economy and modes of production are unlike those of most other film industries. Over the past 20 years, Nigerian films have circulated mostly on videotapes and Video Compact Discs (VCDs). This distribution system made the industry widely popular across Africa and its diaspora. But it prevented Nollywood from consolidating its economy and raising the quality of film production. Piracy dramatically eroded distribution revenues and producers had trouble monetising the distribution of their films. Nollywood prioritised straight-to-video distribution because cinema theatres had almost disappeared in the country (as in most other parts of Africa) as a result of the catastrophic economic crisis that affected Nigeria in the 1980s. New multiplexes have emerged since the beginning of the 2000s. However, today there are only about 150 widescreens for a population of almost two hundred million people. The cinemas that exist are often too expensive for most of the population that used to buy and watch Nollywood films when they were distributed on tapes. Within this context, many in the industry thought that streaming could be the best solution to the industry’s problems with distribution. However, a closer look to the history of what has been labelled the “Nigerian Netflix” (iROKO.tv, the leading streaming platform for Nigerian contents) shows that the reality is more complicated. When the company decided to move its headquarters from Manhattan to Lagos it encountered countless difficulties. They were mainly connected to the costs of infrastructure development in Nigeria and to the hostility of local distributors who controlled Nollywood’s economy since its creation. Weak internet Internet connection in Nigeria is still too weak and expensive to guarantee easy access to streaming platforms. As a result, Nollywood content distributed by iROKO.tv and Netflix circulates mostly in the diaspora. Netflix is aware of this problem and is investing in infrastructures to secure a better connection for its Nigerian audiences. But larger investments seem to be necessary to produce a significant impact on audiences’ behaviour. Accessing Nollywood films via piracy or local screening venues will continue to be, at least in my view, the key strategy adopted by the largest percentage of Nigerian viewers. Netflix could have better chances in across Africa through its Africa Magic channels, has reacted nervously to Netflix’s increased interest in African markets. MultiChoice wants Netflix to be more closely regulated. These two aren’t the only telecommunication “superpowers” in the field. France’s Canal Plus and the Chinese StarTimes have also made a few investments in Nollywood over the past few years. The competition among all these actors will probably have a positive impact for viewers across Nigeria and the continent. It could bring lower subscription fees for streaming and TV content packages. There are also likely to be new investments in content production and infrastructures. And there’s larger continental and global exposure for Nollywood films in the offing. Foreign investments It remains to be seen how good these developments will be for Nollywood producers. Until now, foreign investments in Nollywood have mostly translated into “more of the same” content. Working conditions for crews and actors have remained the same – basically, low budgets and quick shooting schedules. in production budgets. Rather, they invest in better structuring distribution networks to extract as much profit as possible from the Nigerian industry. And most African audiences are indeed happy with how Nollywood is, even if they tend to complain regularly about the low quality and the repetition of film contents and aesthetics. The fact that Nollywood as it is keeps on attracting audiences makes investors reluctant to change the scale of their production budgets. There are a few bigger productions, with higher production standards, that have emerged over the past few years in Nollywood. But they have hardly been the result of investments made by foreign firms like Netflix, Canal Plus or MultiChoice. Nigerian producers are those who are mostly concerned about raising the quality of Nollywood films. They want to give better content to their audiences and reach global screens. In most cases, the people investing money in these kinds of projects have been independent producers or groups of investors related to the new business of multiplexes in Nigeria. In my view, the question is: will these people benefit from Netflix, so as to continue investing in higher quality A boy is seen through a camera monitor as he acts in a scene during the making of "Ake", a film based on the childhood memoirs of Nigerian writer Wole Soyinka, in Abeokuta, southwest Nigeria July 16, 2013. Nigeria's movie business, often known as Nollywood, is one of the biggest in the world. Most films are produced in local languages - Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo among them - while many others are made in English. Nollywood also has a growing audience among Africans living abroad, keen for a taste of home, whether watched in south London hairdressers or rented from Texas video stores. Nigeria shot its first film, "Palaver" (Trouble), in 1904. Picture taken July 16, 2013. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye penetrating the country’s elite market, as richer people in Nigeria and across Africa have easier access to reliable power supply and internet. This might be the reason why MultiChoice, the South African telecommunication giant controlling much of Nollywood distribution In fact, big investors seem to be mainly interested in Nollywood’s already established popularity with African audiences. Making Nollywood more palatable for international audiences doesn’t seem to feature. This means that in most cases they are not ready to invest bigger money THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED content? Or will Netflix and other international companies end up taking over the industry to make it only a bit more of the same? Courtesy of The Conversation / INSP.ngo �FEATURE 8 N o v 221-March - N o v 19,7, 2 02019 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Feb. 401 Sidewalk Smart FELIX WINTERNITZ Contributing Writer R on English is busy dodging delivery vans and the odd streetcar when we first meet at the corner of 12th and Vine. It seems fated we’ll cross paths almost immediately three more times, once as he’s displaying his chalk art along Main Street during a Final Friday, then later on the crowded avenue outside the Pendleton Art Center, and finally sharing the Metro bus to Madisonville (on Jan. 20, 2019) where English is busy preparing to premiere his showing of paintings at the neighborhood’s community center. “On the street outside” is a phrase that probably best describes this Picasso of the sidewalk set. He’s a longtime outsider looking inside the Cincinnati art world from a distance, a bad boy who inhabits the streets and corner stoops of OTR rather than the posh galleries of, say, a Mount Adams or Hyde Park. “Hey, I know you!” English shouts at our last random meeting. It’s seems like karma has come calling, fateful crossings which demand a story on this outgoing street personality. English, for his part, is happy to converse about painting: “My hand just starts to move, and I don’t know if I’m in control of it,” says English of his creative process. “It’s more like a dream.” In a sit-down interview, Ron Ron English, Over-the-rhine street artist, posing with original work. Photo Credit: Felix Winternitz English appears animated and enthusiastic, prone to bold statements. English, in fact, is likely Over-therhine’s most visible street artist. His meandering home base can be found along Main and Vine adjoining the Liberty strip; his colorful chalk-on- cardboard canvas, however, proves universal … “I want to believe in myself so that I can leave my legacy behind,” English remarks. “I want to live a life of honesty, righteousness, and in peace. … I have a dream of happiness and spiritual blessings, of a poor man’s honor, to achieve and thrive for growth, to form myself to be a very unique person.” Ron English’s medium is plainly cardboard, chalk and colored pencils. He’s a vendor for the street-corner shoppers, selling his wares to make a living. His gallery is somewhere between the Brewery District in “NoLi” (North of Liberty) and the Gateway Quarter in “SoLi” (South of Liberty). English artfully crosses between these two districts, two distinct realms of Liberty that are worlds apart. “I say you should be around people because you love them for who they are and not what they have,” states this artist, advocating – without any prompt – his unusual lifestyle; he gladly elaborates on his perceptions. “Love is the true power.” Local artist Ellen Stedtefeld prizes the three English originals she owns: “I like the vibrancy of his pastels, but I like the precision of the colored pencils. Both have a great sense of energy and life. “For my birthday, my sister and her boyfriend bought me three original artworks by Ron English,” continues THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Stedtefeld. “As I understand, English considers himself as an outsider artist as he has little to no formal training, but a strong desire to create. “Like many outsider artists, he makes his work out of humble materials –cardboard, colored pencils and chalk pastels – and he sells them on the streets in downtown Cincinnati,” explains Stedtefeld of her fondness for the sidewalk art. “As the resident art expert in the family, I am often asked ‘Is that really art?’ and in the case of Ron English, I give a resounding YES.” For an outsider, Ron English certainly has his fans. The Prairie Art Collective recently showed a selection of English’s pastel drawings on cardboard as well as a site-specific mural. As the reception announcement put it, “A well-known street artist, he’s seen showing his work on doorsteps and street-corners. English produces Cubist pastel drawings ‘inspired by the Lord.’ ” The ebth.com web sales site currently lists this English original for $35: “An original triptych of marker and crayon drawings on found cardboard by contemporary Cincinnati artist English, (who) mainly produces Cubist figural drawings. These images depict stunning minimalistic abstracted portraits of three men drawn in black ink with subtle blue crayon accents. The pieces are titled Man, Man, and Lincoln.” �No. 39 3 | Nov 2 -7, N2019 o v 19,| No. 2 0 18401 Feb. 21-March English even attracted the attention of well-known muralist Jan Brown Checco as part of a community project entitled the “Murals and Can-paign” project. The themes and images consisted of temporary murals created for the Vine Street corridor between Central Parkway and Liberty Street. The inspiration came from the hearts and minds of young people living in Over the Rhine. The workshop engaged 60 participants during five months at Peaslee Neighborhood Center, a convocation teaching the teens “to be more aware of the importance of public art and its responsibility to uplift life on the streets.” Finally, there are these observations from the Intu Outsider Art web site, produced by a tag-team of area artists: “We drove down to Main Street bustling with the activities of the monthly Final Friday. We knew our destination. We FEATURE saw Ronald English sitting on the stoop [and] was conversing with passers-by and had cardboard and his colored pencils. He waved excitedly and raised a framed piece as a flag. “We parked and by the time we had gotten to the storefronts of Shadeau and Envoi, he had already made his way down the street. [English] said he had heard about ‘this website’ and said he wanted to sell the drawing he had done of a personality from American Idol. He said ‘it looks just like her ... it's Susan Boyle.’ “We purchased the work and began to pursue answers regarding his (recent) absence. He explained that he had been in the hospital for months recovering from the amputation of six more toes. He had previously had three removed, results of gangrene. “We spoke about the direct or obvious transference of Ronald’s mood to the tone of the work. Choices in subject, tone, color, fragmentation, all appear as parallel.” Ronald Leroy English was born in Cumminsville in 1955. He attended school here, won school spelling bees and excelled in sports, particularly basketball as a center. He mentions that he has a “bunch” of brothers and sisters as well as half-brothers and sisters. English says he served in the Army National Guard, according to one online artist’s biography. During the time he was away in National Guard service, his mother was murdered. English says he returned to discover he had no remaining possessions or a home. He’s since lived on the streets, experiencing the desperation associated with substance abuse. English has participated in art projects sponsored by behavioral services associated with mental disease. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 9 His various projects have linked him with Visionaries and Voices, the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, and Our Daily Bread. English says he actually began drawing in the late 1990s. He was staying in a room with the door open and he woke up to see paint cans in the hallway. It’s exactly as one onlooker observed, amid the crowd at the Pendleton Art Center: “That was his moment of discernment, his lightningbolt flash of percipient insight.” (Cincinnati’s English, by the way, is not to be confused with the betterknown artist Ron English, a nationally known figure who coined the term “POPaganda” to describe a trademark fusion of high and low imagery, mixing superheroes and comic strips with art history iconography in a prolific output of paintings, billboards and sculptures.) �10 STREETVOICE N o v 221-March - N o v 19,7, 2 02019 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Feb. 401 Street Life: Our Reality RICARDO TAYLOR Streetvibes Distributor Contributing Writer F or those of us who are invested in the life of the streets, there are never moments of mirage. Times when we thought/ believed those instances where we saw or imagined relief from our selfimposed plight in life. It is always the same, that reflexive appearance, like our reflex ion in a mirror. Our reality, existing momentarily in hopes and dreams of a presupposition of what life is supposed to be, only having to return to the reality of our true existence! How easy is it to see that relief from the immediate sufferings, which we often find ourselves with promises of tomorrow? “Well I know that Friday is payday, so I can spend what I have and then take care of my bills on Friday!” Only to find that when Friday comes my bills have doubled! So, often we find that our intent is not so much a reflection of our ability or our being, but better stated a mirage of our desires. Our experiences tell us that the reality we perceive is unreal, yet we continue to commit ourselves to acts that we know are non-beneficial towards our welfare or well-being. A mirage! Our image suffers the reflection of ourselves, and we hardly see ourselves in reflection and instead see ourselves in an arena of whom we’d want or try to be! The self becomes lost in a sort of fantasy, losing the way we view the world, and of course our true selfimage. We often start to lose hope, that most fundamental grasp of sanity! We become that mirage of self, and we know from experience, that when hope dies, we prey instead of pray and our lives spin out of control! That oh, so, miserable feeling of self-image becomes the mirage of our longings in such that we find ourselves in the mirage of whom we’d like to be; allowing our reality to become the stage of that thin line between reality and the wishes we have for our wellbeing. That no man’s world where only hopes and dreams exist: Our Reality. Roots June Alexander Contributing Writer W hen you asked us about our roots the first thing in my mind was my hair. Instantly, the smell of heat and grease came to mind. Roots conjured up images of a child’s straw bottomed chair and family voices. When I was young my hair was long and my mother washed it every Saturday night to ready for Sunday and the school week to come. In some strange adult way this was entertainment to my daddy. He would come into the kitchen and tease me. It hurt to have my mother comb out my hair. “Sit still,” mamma yelled. “Hold your ear so I don’t burn it!” All this and Daddy’s teasing made me cry harder. He didn’t have to go through this girl torture! “Stop it!” I screamed!” That only lead my grandmother to chime in, “Make sure you get deep down to her roots! Make sure those roots are good and straight! Years later Black Pride, Dr. King, power signs and our roots personified by the Afro.. Unfortunately the afro was not meant for me. The afro became another symbol of my “roots” awakening. The afro was proud like the black power sign. It stood high, which was more than I could say for my hair. It just curled up or fell back down to my shoulders. On a good day I managed to look like an electrocuted porcupine. Of course, well- meaning elders explained, “You can’t do that. You got good hair.” Many years later I was in college away from my mother’s hot combs, so I decided to have a relaxer put into my hair. Against wise counsel, I went to a beauty parlor and got me a relaxer. After all I was paying for it with my own money. And it was with more of my money I had to pay a doctor to tell me why my hair fell out. My roots landed me at the white beauty shop. In her deep southern accent the hairdresser asked carefully, “Baby, who your people…who your folks…” At first I didn’t understand; or better yet, I suddenly developed that great American disease…denial! She made a shield with her body against the other patrons and held my face in her hands. As discreetly and as compassionately as she could she asked, “Baby, how much white people in you?” All I could do was laugh. I replied, “ According to my great-great aunts our family didn’t get black until 1952.” She mellowed and continued to treat my scalp and left-over hair. All the while she keep talking about how I couldn’t do my hair like other black girls and it ain’t how light the skin is that always tells the mixture, it’s other things…and so on and so forth. Her account of black and white mixing and back in the day when people were passing faded into another awakening. It turn in to my grandfather who looked like an old version of Sean Connery and my grandmother’s dark skin. My granddaddy’s pain of not being neither here nor there; his pain of knowing his white cousins lived just across the street and it couldn’t be acknowledged until after death tornadoed into his painful discovery about his brother being taken from the family because his brother’s skin was too dark. My grandmother’s constant battle with self-image because she came from slaves and field hands with dark skin and coarse hair. My grandmother’s every moment trying to prove she was just as good as the more educated, light skinned upper class relatives on my grandfather’s side of the family. My grandmother's self-hatred turned into poison. Watching a once loving woman become evil and bitter because she looked and loved more like Hattie McDaniels than Halle Berry break my granddaddy’s heart knowing there was nothing he could do to change the world—gave me pain. Roots!? How dare you ask me about my roots. Is this your idea of some cruel and twisted joke? You know about my roots. You took them from us. Just like that hot comb, your heated disdain and hatred for us burned and destroyed my roots. My soul, my light, and my compass-- you took from me. My aunts and my mothers tried to hide me because we were witches and healers like our ancestors. Just like the torture of straighten my hair was to make me more comfortable to white THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED people. Straightened out or white out my roots. You took our art, music, and even our religion away from us. And if that way enslaving enough you lied about Egypt, the Bible, classical music even art. We were all there. From the very beginning, we were there! You took my soul. You took our souls and then you want to know why we act the way we do. What did you expect? We would all become black Ken and Barbies? And integration, the same lie you sold the Native Americans and the Aborigines. You didn’t want to integrate you wanted to annihilate. But it didn’t take. It can’t take…and so here we are all living in niggerdom. You striped us of everything that made us human. Our healers, our teachers, our witches, our religions, and our earth. And you wonder why we are living in niggerdom. But the joke is on you, look at your own children killing themselves to achieve an unnatural standard of beauty, life and success. All the while killing your own with a religion filled with hate and bigotry. Deciding who can love and who is worthy to pursue happiness. No! The joke is on you because now your children are all living in niggerdom. We are all wondering around with addictions, medications, gentrification, and anlationtion. With no hope of being human or humane again we are all now living in niggerdom. I’m not the only one whose roots have been straightened. �STREETVOICE Black History Month: The What, The Why, The How No. 39 3 | Nov 2 -7, N2019 o v 19,| No. 2 0 18401 Feb. 21-March KEY BECK Contributing Writer B lack History Month can be a time of celebration, activism, or even remembrance. It can also cause some to have confusion as to what we are celebrating. Is it black people, black accomplishments, or maybe black excellence. In short, it is all of those things. Black History Month was created to highlight the impact the black Diaspora had on the world from inventions to cultural events. It has a strong history of gaining a deeper understanding of all the contributions black people have made throughout history. Black History Month started out as “Negro History Week,” and it was imagined by Carter G. Woodson and other African-Americans, such as minister Jesse E. Moorland. It is important to note that in our current climate and point in time, the use of the word “negro” is pejoritve and an “in-group” term, meaning folx who do not identify as black should not voluntarily use it. Same can be said for other “N-Words,” that are often used against people of the Black Diaspora. Black history month started out as merely a cultural holiday celebrated by individual black people, church groups, and community organizations. It wasn’t fully realized until 1976, when the month of February was officially designated as Black History Month. Black History Month (or also sometimes called African-American History Month in the United States) isn't just an American celebration, there are months devoted to celebrating black history all over the world. The United Kingdom first celebrated Black History Month in 1987 thanks to the organized leadership of Ghanaian analyst Akyaaba Addai-Sebo. In Canada, Black History Month was officially recognized in December of 1995, following a motion introduced by the first black Cana- dian woman elected to Parliament, the Honourable[sic] Jean Augustine, MP of Etobicoke-Lakeshore. (Fun fact: Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month.). There are many reasons why Black History Month should be important for everyone. It not only educates people about the numerous contributions that black people have helped create, but it also uplifts all people by educating them about a culture full of innovation, resilience, and inspiration. For black folx, learning about their culture helps them to understand how their culture has impacted the world. It also gives them hope that adversity can be challenged and defeated. It should also be noted that it illuminates the many barriers that still exist such as racism and white supremacy. So while we celebrated these accomplishments, we must remain vigilant and never become complacent. We need to engage 11 our communities in the fight for racial equity. We must break the silos and start collaborating together with other marginalized communities. We must also educate ourselves on the folx who came before us like Sarah Goode (Folding Cabinet Bed), Granville T. Woods (Multiplex Telegraph) and Charles Richard Drew (Blood Cells Separation). We must support our inner-city public schools and black organizations. We must insist that our kids curriculum contain the history of black people (as well as other marginalized groups). It is important to recognize and celebrate all the accomplishments of the Black Diaspora. It starts with recognition, recognition leads to acknowledgement and acknowledgement results in celebration. Celebrating Black History Month is something that makes all of us better people because it teaches us to value history and the people who create it. Gentrification: The Destruction of the Poor JANIAH MILLER I Contributing Writer grew up in Newport, Kentucky, but I still had connections to Cincinnati because of my family, they live across the 52 neighborhoods, there are a few to name, Amberly Village, Madisonville, Walnut Hills, and Evanston. Although a family member told me that Cincinnati was not safe in some areas and to always be cautious, I overlooked that notion. I started thinking about why it got that reputation and came to find out it was because people had been predisposition to believing that a bunch of poor, black, and brown people lived there that wasn’t necessarily the whole case anymore. Sure, there were poor black and brown people who lived their but with a growing gentrified Over-theRhine that had begun to change. When I say “change” it was not because the people who lived there got the help and resources they needed, it was because they were being ousted from their own community. Places that were near and dear to the Over-the-Rhine community like the Drop-Inn Center were pushed to the outskirts of Cincinnati, out of sight out of mind. As this displacement continues to happen these community members continue to fight to have a voice and stand their ground for the community that they have held and loved so near and dear to their hearts. With its struggles, they still love it because it’s a place called home, not like wealthy “non-profits” in disguise to turn a profit off the poor to build some posh new building. They disguise themselves to the public by saying they are making Over-the-Rhine an “up and coming” place, a renaissance, but really, they are pushing out the community to make room for affluent individuals while overlooking that the 53% of children in poverty that live in Cincinnati are not going to go away with a fancy new building. Instead they are helping speed the process up of intergenerational poverty through econcide, the urbanization and removal of certain groups through economic opportunities. I came to learn that certain neighborhoods would get these labels cast on them— society is predisposed to stigmatizing the poor, and people of color, we are bad because of our zip code THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED and then disposable when found that something we had was valuable, i.e, our neighborhoods. Therefore, everything is not what it seems to be, sure people in OTR might be poor and are people of color but why? What circumstances led this neighborhood to get this way? What’s their story? Bonnie Neumeier, long time Over-the-Rhine community advocate says, “Often the institution looks at poor people as if they are just looking for a handout, lazy, no good work ethic when these people have led some of the greatest under talked about social movements that have happened in history—our people aren’t sitting on our laurels waiting for a handout. We organized a movement that tried, still tries, to figure out community-based solutions to uses facing us.” My vision for OTR is to be a city that does good for the community and not just people who can bring a profit. There doesn’t need to be gentrification to beautify and revitalize a community. Let’s start giving equitable resources to communities that are already being displaced as if they are cattle. It will become easier to “other” problems of housing inequality because they will feel individualized since everyone is being spread out to different places, it will be harder to pinpoint areas that need the most resources. Gentrification is the destruction of the poor; it doesn’t give them a place. �12 Can You STREETVOICE Can You shut em down? Does the world believe that this is the worlds solution Can you shut em down? Keeping factory’s open with no work, now that’s pollution Can you shut em down? The free clinics, people homeless, no more Drop Inn Center Can you shut em down? Washington Park, the sanitation workers, I can’t help but litter Can you shut em down? Over the rhine was white then it was black, I thought we were all together Can you shut em down? I’m confused so tell congress I really thought they knew better Can you believe in your heart that the decisions of our country are either republican or democratic? Can you believe that out of all the people in the world two simple parties be worthy of so much static? Can you close your eyes to the reality of the fear that has such a tight grip on our nation today? Can you keep living shut down and shut up? I’m baffled but not lost for words I can honestly say For me, learning to live without doubt or fear in my life and keeping God so close to my heart I have no doubt that without God’s blessings this world is doomed to fall completely apart With much faith and without any reguards for the republicans or democratics controlling my being Without any doubt what so ever today I know that almighty God is the only real thing So can you shut em down? Now slow down and take the time to think,what do you really understand? You need to come back into the days of Adam and Eve and remember when only God ruled the land! WILLA DENISE JONES N o v 21-March 2 - N o v 19,7,22019 0 18 || N o . 393 Feb. No. 401 Homelessness Homelessness is a place that, has a lot of drought Homelessness is cold with wet nights, Homelessness is a cardboard box that a person calls their home To receive a blanket or a kind word means a lot to a person, sleeping on the curb If you open your eyes tell me what you see That person experiencing homelessness on the street one day could be you or me! KIM GREEN Streetvibes Distributor Contributing Writer Streetvibes Distributor Contributing Writer Streetvibes Writing Circle If you would like to submit a story for publication in streetvibes, come join Katelyn Lusher and Chris Wilkey for a group writing session! S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 21-March 39 3 | Nov 2 7, - N o v 19, 2 0 18 Feb. 2019 | No. 401 STREETVOICE Presidents' Day 2019 Did this year's Presidents' Day Cause you sadness and dismay? A yearning to turn back the clock, And feeling nostalgia for Barack. Would you even replace Donald With a Prez known as Ronald? And who could ever call it daft, To prefer an Adams, Tyler or Taft? BILL WOODS Contributing Writer 13 I Don't Want to be Black I don't want to be black, Those are the words that my ten year old son told me with tears in his eyes. He is tired of being viewed as a threat. 5'1, 130 pounds, broad shouldersEasily mistaken for a man, A man who is black, Another black man, who could easily be shot in the back. Seen as having a weapon, Even when he is empty-handed. Seen as resisting arrest, Because he doesn't understand why he is arrested. Seen as obstructing when what is obstructed is his liberty, Not wanting to be black, Because there's too many things he is taught not to be. Not wanting to be black, Even though his black role models are hard-working, Educated examples of who to be. Not wanting to be black, Because it's hard to be black, and feel free. Warned that when in the presence of police don't move, Don't turn, never run, Don't grab or hold onto anything, That they can say is a gun. Watch who you hang with, What is seen is not always what is perceived. Warned over and over, So I won't be the nextBlack mother left to grieve. Told to never become irate, Even if he is falsely blamed or accused. That " Hands up, don't shoot," Really means don't move! Because " I was in fear for my life," Is the excuse they will use, And even when there is evidence, That is not the truth, Justice is refused. MO POETRY PHILLIPS Contributing Writer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �PUZZLE 14 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 200 Across 1. Intense adverse criticism 5. Skewer 9. Stitches 13. Racing sled 14. Overwhelming fear and anxiety 16. Ellipse 17. Assist in wrongdoing 18. Assuage 19. Abnegate 20. Trials 22. Trader 24. Record of events on a voyage 26. Story 27. Incantations 30. Conundrum 35. Actor's prompt 36. Dig 39. Worthless material 40. Deficiency 42. Mythological water nymph 44. Stable gear joining two draft animals 45. Be of use to 47. Virtue 49. Annoy 50. Relating to the mind 52. Not moving as quickly 54. Taxis 57. Prevarication 58. Preside over 62. Young animals 66. Mature 67. Pal 69. Stolen goods 70. Examination by word of mouth 71. Vast multitude 72. Group of three musicians 73. Water source 74. Bird shelter 75. Assist PUZZLE SOLUTIONS CROSSWORD #189 Down 1. Musical notation 2. Part of the ear 3. Historic periods 4. Large hemispherical drum 5. Health resort 6. Part of the hand 7. Recess 8. Jewelled headdress 9. Soft drink 10. Tied 11. Have need of 12. Cunning 15. Oscillation 21. Exchanged for money 23. Chickens 25. Narrow secluded valley 27. Smooth in manner 28. Smooth brown oval nut 29. Close violently 31. Frozen 32. Orchard 33. Manufacturer 34. Peak 35. Marine mollusk 37. Compete for something 38. Corn spikes 41. Tools for a specified purpose 43. Aromatic herb 46. Decorative fabric 48. Work hard 51. Coniferous tree 53. Riches 55. Nobleman 56. Keep aside for future use 58. Morass 59. Opaque gem 60. Small wooded hollow 61. Concludes 63. To a greater extent 64. Painful sore 65. Halt 66. Angry dispute 68. Up to the present time Nov 2 - N o v 19,7, 20 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Feb. 21-March 2019 401 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 391 - MEDIUM SODOKU PUZZLE NO 391- MEDIUM PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 3 | Nov 2 -7,N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Feb. 21-March | No. 401 Central Access Point 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children RESOURCES Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside Bethany House 557-2873 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 591-2246 FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 Salvation Army 762-5660 St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 131 E. 12th Street 45202 1125 Bank Street 45214 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men Shelter: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Shelterhouse 721-0643 2121 Vine Street 45202 411 Gest St. 45203 Prospect House 921-1613 1437 Walnut Street 45202 Starting Over 961-2256 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Women St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Parkway Center 661-4620 First Step Home 961-4663 Shelter: Youth 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Sheakley Center for Youth (18-24 y/o) 2522 Highland Ave. 45219 569-9500 Lighthouse Youth Crisis Center (10-17 y/o) 3330 Jefferson Ave 45220 961-4080 Shelter: Family Interfaith Hospitality Network Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Both AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Joseph House (Veterans) 471-1100 1522 Republic Street 45202 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street 45202 Talbert House 221-HELP Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street 45202 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Food/Clothing First Lutheran Church 421-0065 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Seraph Ministries 549-0542 St. George Food Pantry 2554 Dennis St. 45219 751-8771 St. Anthony Center 1615 Republic St. Advocacy Catholic Social Action 421-3131 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Franciscan JPIC 721-4700 Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 241-2965 Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board 946-8000 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 221-HELP Housing: 15 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 Health Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 Other Resources Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 215 E. 14th St. 45202 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 381-0111 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. 579-8547 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 1223 Main St. 45202 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 The Caring Place 631-1114 Talbert House 751-7747 United Way 211 Women Helping Women 977-5541 Off The Streets 421-5211 Hamilton County Office of Reentry 946-4304 138 E. Court Street Room # 101 First Floor Cancer Justice Network 404-3882 Hamilton/Middletown St. Raephaels 981-4200 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 Northern Kentucky Brighton Center (11-17 y/o) 859-491-8303 ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary 859-572-6202 Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky 634 Scott St. 41011 859-291-4555 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? You can support our mission and spread the word about your business. For more information contact Gabriela Godinez Feregrino, 961-0600 email streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Center for Respite Care 621-1868 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 386-7899 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 NAMI of Hamilton County 351-3500 PATH Outreach 977-4489 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �16 N ov 2 - N o v 19, 7, 2 02019 18 | N o . 393 Feb. 21-March | No. 401 S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. ALFRED WOOLFOLK SINCE 10/2003 ASRES AYENAW SINCE 2012 BERTA LAMBERT SINCE 1997 BETTIE BAILEY SINCE 10/2017 BRANDON NELSON SINCE 4/2008 BRIAN ADAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHARLES WILLIAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHRISTOPHER KAIHATSU SINCE 7/2017 CLEO WOMBLES SINCE 10/2003 CRANDALL COBB SINCE 2004 DARREL ROZIER SINCE 7/2017 DAVID MCCANE SINCE 2017 ERIC VALDEZ SINCE 2/2017 GERALD FRANKLIN SINCE 7/2017 GRADY COOK SINCE 1997 HENRY BRELAND SINCE 7/2017 JAMES BROWN SINCE 3/2009 JAMES DAVIS SINCE 8/2000 JENNY BURTON SINCE 7/2017 JIMMIE GIPSON SINCE 2001 JON DARBY SINCE 2/2006 JOHN HORN JOSEPHINE BASKERVILLE SINCE 9/2008 J’TORI TYMAN SINCE 5/2014 KIM NGUYEN SINCE 7/2017 KENNY BUSSELL SINCE 10/2009 KAREN COLLETTE SINCE 7/2008 LARRY BROWN SINCE 10/2007 LEE MCCOY SINCE 7/2009 LEONARD JACKSON SINCE 2/2005 MARY MUELLER SINCE 5/2005 MARK SHEARS SINCE 4/2012 MAURICE GOLSBY MELISSA MOSBY SINCE 9/2014 MIKE CARANO SINCE 4/2016 RAESHAWN GIPSON SINCE 3/2009 RAYNARD JONES SINCE 10/2008 RICKY WOODS SINCE 4/2015 RICCARDO TAYLOR SINCE 1999 RONNIE PHILLIPS SINCE 10/2009 SAMUEL JACKSON SINCE 10/2006 STACIA HOLLANDER SINCE 2017 STEPHANIE EAKES SINCE 7/2017 SYLVESTER WALKER SINCE 7/2017 TALINA HILL SINCE 2/2011 VICTOR MUMPHRY WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WINNIE RICE SINCE 7/2017 QUEENACELASTINE SINCE 7/2017 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 VIOLET COLLINS SINCE 2017 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2019 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource February 21-March 7, 2019 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: From the Director Pg 3: Segregation Then, Segregation Now Pg 4: GCHC Pg 5: Reflections on African-American and Politics Racial Analysis Within Homelessness Pg 6: African Churches Boom in London’s Backstreets Pg 7: Netflix and Nollywood Pg 8: Sidewalk Smart Pg 9: Sidewalk Smart Continued Pg 10: Street Life Roots Pg 11: Black History Month Gentrification Pg 12: Street Voice Pg 13: Street Voice Pg 14: Puzzles Pg 15: Resources Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource February 21-March 7, 2019 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Josh Spring Patricia Patton William Schomberg Simon Daveson Alessandro Jedlowski Felix Winternitz Key Beck Dr. Mark Mussman Bill Woods Janiah Miller Kim Green Willa Denise Jones Janiah Miller June Alexander Ricardo Taylor Mo Poetry Phillps Homeless Coalition Canva.com Gabriela Godinez Amanda Meek Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Alessandro Jedlowski Amanda Meek Art Bill Woods Black History Month Canva.com Dr. Mark Mussman Felix Winternitz Gabriela Godinez Gentrification Homeless Coalition Janiah Miller Josh Spring June Alexander Key Beck Kim Green London Mo Poetry Phillps Netflix Nigeria Patricia Patton politics Ricardo Taylor Segregation Simon Daveson Street Life Willa Denise Jones William Schomberg https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/53661ad19eef5e7b4a30527f1f110dc9.pdf fcb84e824733936f2ff12487d6dacc09 PDF Text Text F e b r ua r y 7 t h - F e b r ua r y 2 1 t h 2 0 1 9 | Vo l . 2 3 I s s u e 3 ( N o . 4 0 0 ) advo cating justice | building communit y Any opinions in this issue are of the authors and don't necessarily represent Streetvibes or The Homeless Coalition. This Issue is sponsored by (Retired) Judge Mark P. Painter Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.org Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 12 �2 COALITION N ov 2 o v 19, 0 18 || No. N o . 400 393 Feb. 7 -- NFeb. 21,22019 From The Director: Soccer, Sound, Symphonies and Displacement Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor-in-chief: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: Mona Jenkins Director of Education: Dr. Mark Mussman Distributor Program Manager: Sallie Mascus Josh Spring giving a speech. Credit:Amanda Meet Layout: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino JOSH SPRING Executive Director F C Cincinnati has petitioned the City of Cincinnati to make a significant zoning change to the area of the West End they want to build a stadium. Council Members are saying that before they vote on this change, they need to see a completed study that shows how noise from the stadium will adversely affect functions at Music Hall. As this discussion occurs, we are struck by the fact that the topic of housing and displacement is largely absent. The weak community benefits agreement signed by FC Cincinnati on which the city council vote last year regarding stadium funding hinged, included that a study of affordable housing and adverse effects would be complete. This study, being done by an out-of-town firm is not due to be finished until June. However, the preliminary research shows that likely thousands of people’s housing would be threatened. The preliminary research mirrors what our organization has been saying since last year. FC Cincinnati said they would not displace anyone. While we have said, even if that is true, the stadium will lead to development Reception: Bonita Batton, Larry Johnson prospecting, gentrification, increased rents and displacement. However, true to form, FC Cincinnati has already displaced neighborhood small businesses and residents. Why is it that city council is saying that before they vote on this zoning change, they must first be able to read the report on the negative affects the sound from a stadium would have on Music Hall, yet they have not required that the report on housing and displacement be completed first? Both common sense and the preliminary findings of the study indicate thousands of people could be displaced from their homes through a significant loss of affordable housing and rising costs to people who own their homes. We, of course, believe that spending millions of dollars, especially public dollars to benefit the billionaire owners of FC Cincinnati is wrong. Not investing very large sums into digging our way out of our current housing crisis (40,000 homes short, 28,000 in the City) is wrong. Not having necessary protections against unjust evictions and displacement for profit is wrong. We are working to get the city to establish significant, annual revenue sources for the newly established Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which passed last year after more than a year of our advocacy. We are working to get legislation that would actively protect people’s right to not unjustly be put of their homes. But come on, shouldn’t it be widely accepted that the ability for individuals and families to stay in their housing and neighborhood and not experience homelessness is more important than the quality of sound at Music Hall? Shouldn’t it be on the tips of the tongues of all city council members that certainly a study regarding housing loss would get at least the same deference as a study about sound affecting symphonies, ballets and operas? Please take the time to email city council at citycouncil@cincinnatioh.gov and tell them not to vote on anything for a soccer stadium without having been able to thoroughly consider the completed housing study. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Maintenance: Pete Roper ------------------------------------------CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Writers: Josh Spring, Humberto Marquez, Amanda Becker, Kris Janssens, Robert Park, Adeshola Ore, Andres Martinez Casares, Dr. Mark Mussman, Bill Woods, Key Beck, Kim Green, Willa Denise Jones, Mariela Jara, emilio Godoy, Felix Winternitz, ------------------------------------------Photography/ Artwork: Homeless Coalition, pngtree. com, Gabriela Godinez, wraphome.org, Amanda Meek ---------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless do not endorse candidates for public office. �No. 39 | Nov 21, 2- N o v 19, 2 0 18 Feb. 7 3- Feb. 2019 | No. 400 3 COALITION Wholly Unrecognizable DR. MARK MUSSMAN I Staff Writer recently attended a college reunion where a couple people used the same term to describe Cincinnati today: wholly unrecognizable. I listened to them say that Over-theRhine has changed so much that they couldn’t even believe it was the same place when we graduated school nearly 20 years ago, in 2001. I heard them talk about restaurants and bars that they uncritically visited while on vacation or with family. I realized then that the optics of the City had changed so much, but nothing else substantial has changed, especially when it comes to poverty, homelessness, and civil rights. Recent reports put the ethnic diversity of Cincinnati around 1950’s United States. We are mostly just Black and white, with a sprinkle of other ethnic identities. And by a sprinkle, I mean less than 5%. African American people are routinely denied healthcare, education, transportation, housing, and other basic necessities. Redlining continues to this day. Schools are more segregated now than ever, as more than half of our schools are 90% (or more) one ethnicity. Most students in public schools (82%) are economically disadvantaged. Home ownership rates among Black families (34%) are less than half of that for white families (74%). Other objective measures show that Black and white Cincinnatians live in two separate cities. Median household income comparisons show a stark reality: Black median household income at $24,272, compared to white median household income at $57,481. When applied to housing standards of affordability, it becomes clear that Black families are being priced out of their own neighborhoods. For example, a recent developer received preferred developer status on a Vine Street property in Over-the-Rhine through a City RFP process. This developer came to the Over-the-Rhine Community Council meeting in January seeking a letter of approval. Since the Community Council has prioritized affordable housing, the developer claims that 1 of 4 units will be affordable at 60% AMI. At 60% AMI, this means that most people in Cincinnati (59.99%) cannot afford this apartment. And when you take in the great disparity between Black and white resident income, this essentially removes any likelihood that a Black person or family would be able to move into this apartment. I often hear claims that crime has decreased due to investment in Over-the-Rhine and other inner core neighborhoods. But the reality is that crime may actually increase throughout the region due to instability. When people are forced from their neighborhood into other neighborhoods, there are turf issues and issues of representation. According to Census data, at least 25% of all people in Cincinnati moved within the last year, but certainly for some groups this number is higher. Cincinnati crime stats mimic national trends of decreasing incidents of violent crime; however, in 2002 Cincinnati saw 64 murders, and in 2017 there were 70. This is a slight increase, but meaningful when thinking about how things have or haven’t changed. Overall, Cincinnati is classified as having more crime than 95% of American cities. Larger looming issues, such as representation in the police force, have remained unchanged. 68.1% of sworn police officers in Cincinnati are white, while the white population in Cincinnati is less than 50%. One police officer as the LGBTQAI liason. One police officer as the Homelessness liaison. Shouldn’t all officers be trained to deal with LGBTQAI and individuals who are experiencing homelessness? Also deeply concerning is the disparate way African Americans are treated within the criminal justice system. While African Americans only represent 12.5% of Ohio’s population, they are 45% of incarcerated Ohioans. While Justice is purportedly Blind, people of color are more likely to be sentenced to death for killing a while person than killing a person of color in Ohio. A white body is seen as infinitely more valuable than a person of color. Your zip code affects your sentencing as well. And neighborhoods in Cincinnati remain so segregated, that our region is #5 in racial segregation. Economic segregation in our region is also near the top of the charts. And your zip code could add, or remove, 20 years to your life expectancy. In terms of homelessness, we know that systemic and interpersonal racism continue to decrease the housing stability of people of color. African Americans are overrepresented among those experiencing homelessness because of Slavery, Jim Crow, Redlining, Urban Renewal, Mass Incarceration, and Gentrification. Without the generational wealth that white people were handed by the federal government, people of color have no level playing field. Areas that were once deemed “white only” continue to be almost all white. Inner city neighborhoods that were economically neglected since the 1930s, where Black families were forced to live for many generations (because they were legally denied entry to other neighborhoods until the Fair Housing Act in 1968) are now being displaced by white generational wealth. Black families cannot compete with that. African American wealth is predicted to be $0 by 2050, meaning that generational wealth is still exclusively a white policy benefit. Today, the shelters are still full. We are still short 40,000 units of affordable housing in Hamilton County (35,000 in Cincinnati). While obvious visual changes may have occurred, structurally we are still the same Cincinnati. We continue to criminalize homelessness while privatizing public resources. Our education, transportation, healthcare, public services, etc., are still segregated. Some things have changed: neighborhoods such as Overthe-Rhine, Mt. Auburn, and Walnut Hills have each lost thousands of Black residents since 2001. Between 2000 and 2010 the City of Cincinnati as a whole lost more than 9,000 Black residents. Our neighbors are being forced out by white generational wealth, and we have no mechanism focused on equity. The wealth and income gap between Black and white Cincinnatians has grown, and without a determined focus on affordable housing, living wages, and housing protections, we will continue to see two separate Cincinnatis: one for Black people, and one for white people. A Day Devoted To Community Organizing BILL WOODS ContributingWriter A re you concerned that citizens are often overlooked in public decisions in Cincinnati, Columbus, and Washington, D.C.? On Saturday February 23rd, the Murray and Agnes Seasongood Good Government Foundation is holding day long forum on citizen organizing. With the title "The Power of Organizing - Finding Your Community's Voice," the forum will feature panels and discussion groups on everything from basic neighborhood organizing to building coalitions in order to pass ballot initiatives. Karen Hobart Flynn, the President of Common Cause, will be the event's keynote speaker. Flynn has a wealth of experience in organizing to bring about political reform. Before joining Common Cause's staff in Washington, D.C., she chaired Common Cause in Connecticut. She led a grassroots movement in the state that successfully brought about the public financing of election campaigns. When she first came to Washington, she was a regional director of a number of states including Ohio. As national president, she supports state chapters that are organizing to protect voting rights or to bring about redistricting reform. A number of local organizers will be sharing their expertise and experiences as members of panels and as group discussion leaders. Josh Spring, Executive Director of the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition, Jennifer Summers, Director of the Peaslee Neighborhood Center, Michelle Dillingham, Director of Community Shares, Alice Schneider of Applied Information Resources, and Catherine Turcer, Director of Common Cause/ Ohio are a few of the people involved in the day. Other local organizations taking part are CUFA, the Sierra Club, Bold New Democracy, One Westwood, Invest in Neighborhoods, and the Woman's City Club. After Karen Hobart Flynn's keynote address, a panel led by Liz Blume of the Seasongood Board will explore common roadblocks that often get in the way of community problem solving and organizing. Following this panel, attendees will meet in discussion groups dealing with ways to organize around diverse issues that range from neighborhood concerns to the promotion of citywide policies. A luncheon discussion will deal with the question of why citizen organizing is critical at this moment in U.S. public life, and an afternoon panel will focus on some local organizing activities that are currently underway. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Next, Jeff Blevins, Chair of Journalism at the University of Cincinnati, will give a brief presentation on the role of the news media in community life and the ways grassroots movements can cultivate news coverage for their actions. Finally, a wrap up session will allow attendees to talk about, "where do we go from here?" Since promoting good government is the goal of the Seasongood Foundation, it believes that citizen involvement in public decisions is critical to achieving that end. The Seasongood Board hopes that the Forum on February 23rd will stimulate some projects for future Foundation funding. This event will take place at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Cincinnati from 9:00 to 4:00. For further information about attending, call (513)721-2180. �4 ADVERTISMENT THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED NFeb. ov 27 - -NFeb. o v 19, 18 | |NNo. o . 393 21,2 02019 400 �N o. 3973-|Feb. Nov 221, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Feb. | No. 400 5 U.S. NEWS Deb Haaland becomes one of first two Native American congresswomen AMANDA BECKER Reuters T he day before Deb Haaland was sworn in last week as a freshman lawmaker in the most diverse U.S. House of Representatives class in history, she said the weight of being one of the first two Native American women to serve in Congress had not yet fully hit her. Haaland, 58, had just conducted a brief staff meeting and was sitting in her new office on Capitol Hill as staffers got phones working and solved logistical problems like wrestling a printer through a narrow doorway. The first-time elected official represents New Mexico's 1st Congressional District and is a member of the state's Laguna Pueblo tribe. "Congress has never heard a voice like mine," the Democrat said. "As the first Native American woman in Congress, I know that there will be an expectation on me by tribes across the country to be somebody that can move their issues forward," Haaland said. "That's absolutely something I feel optimistic that I will be able to do." She said there is an "epidemic" of missing and murdered indigenous women, and Haaland would like Congress to hold additional oversight hearings on the issue and make sure tribal justice systems have the resources they need to conduct proper investigations. Also at the top of her list is combating climate change, which threatens fragile tribal lands. "If you're not scared to death right now about climate change, you're not reading the Deb Haaland works in her office at the U.S. Capitol before being sworn in as one of the two first Native American women in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, U.S., January 3, 2019. REUTERS/Brian Snyder news," she said. Haaland is one of a recordbreaking 102 women who will serve in the 435-seat House during the 20192020 session. There are many firsts among them. Haaland and Sharice Davids of Kansas, a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, are the first Native American women. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan are the first Muslim women. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Jahana Hayes of Connecticut are the first black women to represent their states. All are Democrats. When Haaland was born in 1960, Native Americans did not have the right to vote in New Mexico - despite being granted full U.S. citizenship by the federal government in 1924. They got it in 1962, making the Southwestern state the last in the nation to extend it. On Thursday, Haaland welcomed her new constituents to an open house at her congressional office before being sworn in on the House floor. She wore traditional tribal garments to the ceremony, including a pomegranate blossom necklace of silver and turquoise, signifying protection and strength, made by a Laguna artist. After raising her hand to take the oath of office with her peers, the consequence of the milestone sunk in. Overcome with emotion, Haaland turned to embrace Davids, borrowing the edge of her new colleague's scarf to dab away her tears. Courtesy of Reuters / INSP.ngo Who Shut down the shutdown? ROBERT PARK Contributing Writer W ho ended the shutdown? The Democrats? Nancy Pelosi? Mitch McConnell? None of the above. The shutdown got shut down when workers took Laguardia Airport off-line on Friday, January 25. A rolling disaster of massive commercial disruption was about to unfold for capitalist America and that pushed the GOP over the edge. Disgusted and outraged employees – TSA security and FAA air traffic controllers – did what their unions should have done at least two weeks ago. We don’t know what positive role IF ANY their national union leadership played here. More likely, as with all great accomplishments for workers rights, the real leadership probably came from the bottom, from the workers collectively voting with their feet. In past momentous worker actions (like getting the 8 hour day) what typically happened was some outrage finally broke the camel’s back and thousands of workers hit the streets, with their leadership frantically racing to catchup with the members. We’ll have to watch and see if the current union leadership at the top even bothers to get out and walk quickly, let alone run; to acknowledge the profound lesson we just learned, again. What happens in three weeks? Maybe the next shutdown should be pre-empted by a strong credible threat: next time it won’t take three weeks to stop it, we’ll stop it on day two. The federal unions should sign on to a pledge: “You want shutdown, you’ll get shutdown, motherfucker.” They could even toss out the idea of a general strike so that the rest of us can get involved in determining our future. It’s about time the labor movement showed the Democratic Party for what it is: why didn’t THEY call for a walkout and promise protection? This would have been a great opportunity to encourage a lot of Trump’s base to re-think their world view. The federal THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED unions that should have immediately responded to the shutdown include: the American Federation of Government Employees (TSA, IRS, Social Security, Homeland Security, CDC..), National Treasury Employees Union, National Air Traffic Controllers Association. And of course the AFL-CIO - the American FEDERATION of Labor – itself should have been there instead of doing nothing like they did when Reagan fired our air traffic controllers years ago (1981). This isn’t just about Trump or the GOP, or even the pathetic Dems; the labor movement needs house-cleaning, redemption and resurrection. They could set the agenda for America if they wanted to. �GLOBAL 6 NFeb. ov 2 7 - -NFeb. o v 19, 18 | |NNo. o . 393 21,2 02019 400 40 Years Since the Khmer Rouge Regime Came to an End in Cambodia A tourist peers at photographs of people who died in Khmer Rouge custody Credit: Robert Carmichael/IPS KRIS JANSSENS Inter Press Service T he anniversary is not actually celebrated. After all these years, talking about the Khmer Rouge is still controversial. This is partly because the genocide came ‘from within’. Almost every family has a feud that goes back to this dark history in the seventies. How could this have happened? The Marxist guerrilla movement was able to grow with support from North Vietnam. The Cambodian General Lon Nol, who came to power in 1970 after a coup, wanted to fight these communists and was backed by the United States – at the time involved in the Vietnam war. American bombings hit many civilians, who started to dislike the government and welcomed the Khmer Rouge soldiers when they marched into capital city Phnom Penh in 1975. But euphoria soon turned into fear. You were in danger if you were considered to be ‘intellectual’. Being able to read, speaking foreign languages or even wearing glasses could be fatal. In the documentary Iron Legs, by filmmaker Vanna Hem, San Sovan explains how she escaped death. “They asked me to write something”, she recalls. She is left-handed, but used her right hand and produced some barely readable words. She could walk out freely - being labelled ‘illiterate’. Starvation and torture Guerrilla leader Pol Pot wanted an agrarian society, without external interference. People had to leave the cities and were forced to work on the field. Many died from starvation, exhaustion or sickness. The regime was very suspicious and every possible enemy was tortured and killed. The ‘Tuol Sleng’ or ‘S21prison’ in Phnom Penh, where these executions took place, gives a clear impression of this violence. As it is a former school building, you can still see the classrooms that were later turned into torture chambers. The building remained untouched since the seventies. I visit this genocide museum with Toby, a young Thai man who comes to Cambodia’s capital for the first time. As we walk through the building, Toby becomes very quiet. “Shall we go now?” he asks after a while. When he learns about Khmer Rouge soldiers killing children, he’s done with the visit. The regime figured that children would only take revenge once they’d find out their parents were murdered. Judgment In a scarce interview, with American journalist Nate Thayer, Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot would later say “his conscious is clear”. He acknowledges he killed enemies of the movement, but “we had to defend ourselves. To say that millions died is too much”. The interview took place in Anlong Veng, close to the Thai border, where Pol Pot survived for over 20 years after his regime collapsed. He died in 1998 and was never brought to justice. The same goes for most of the other leaders of the movement. There is, however, a Khmer Rouge tribunal. In November last year, the court gave its final verdict, after twenty years of investigations. Two senior leaders, Nuon Chea (92) and Khieu Samphan (87), were both sentenced to life imprisonment. One was ‘Pol Pot’s right hand’, the other one ‘head of state’. Kaing Guek Eav, alias Duch (76), had been sentenced to life before. He was the chief commander of the S21 prison. These are the only convictions made by the “Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia” (ECCC) since it came to existence in 1997 in collaboration with the UN. The total cost of the court is about $300 million. Barely taught I discuss the result of the court with some young Cambodians. “Thanks to the trial, people are at least talking about this difficult period”, someone says. “In my school there was very little information about the Khmer Rouge during history class, although the regime lasted almost four years.” Just think how European schools teach intensively about the empowerment and the consequences of the Nazi-regime - comparable to Khmer Rouge when it comes to atrocities and number of victims. Immediately after the Second World War, the Nuremberg trials helped to cope with the traumas. Controversial Prime Minister Why did it take so long in Cambodia, only to sentence three people? THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED “If they would dig deeper, they will inevitably arrive at the responsibility of today’s politicians,” someone says, “… thus of Hun Sen,” he whispers immediately after. I’m getting used to Cambodians lowering their voice when they talk about their prime minister. Not out of respect, but out of fear to get into trouble. The current prime minister Hun Sen was a troop commander under the Khmer Rouge regime. But he always denies he played an active role in the genocide. In 1977 he defected to Vietnam. The Vietnamese, who invaded Cambodia two years later, made him part of the new Cambodian government. In 1985 he became the prime minister, which he still is today. Future Hun Sen did indeed oppose the idea of finding more perpetrators, “as this could cause a civil war”. It is one of his favourite statements to defend his policy - which is a factual dictatorship. He refers to the peace and stability his governance brought during the last fifteen years. This is a popular message among the generation of Khmer Rouge survivors. But this country has a very young population, almost two-thirds of them being under the age of 30. This generation was born after the civil war and did not grow up in fear. These are young, ambitious people with dreams and hopes for the future. Lots of them don’t need a tribunal to give their verdict on the current politicians who clearly have their roots in this dark past of the Khmer Rouge. �NFeb. o. 397 3 -| Feb. Nov 221, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 | No. 400 GLOBAL 7 Bullets Against Pots and Pans in the Crackdown on Venezuela’s Protests HUMBERTO MÁRQUEZ Inter Press Service T he protests in Venezuela demanding an end to the presidency of Nicolás Maduro in the last 10 days of January, whose soundtrack was the sound of banging on pots and pans in working-class neighbourhoods, had a high human cost: more than 40 deaths, dozens wounded and about a thousand detainees, including 100 women and 90 children under 18. In Catia, a working-class neighbourhood west of Caracas, a number of young people were shot dead between 21 and 25 January, while National Police and military National Guard commandos demolished improvised roadblocks and barricades made with trash, managing to quash the protests. “They managed to do it. The local residents say that in the streets where several of these boys fell, silence and solitude have prevailed after 6pm. The pots and pans have not returned,” said sociologist Rafael Uzcátegui, head of Provea, an organisation that has been recording human rights violations in the country for decades. These protests have two special elements: they are taking place in neighbourhoods and sectors that until recently formed part of the government’s social base, reflecting the anger felt by the poor in the face of the country’s socioeconomic collapse, which has turned their protests into “mini-Caracazos,” recalling the violent protests given that name in February 1989, which resulted in hundreds of deaths. Furthermore, they have been submerged in the institutional crisis that has had the country in its grip since January and which has put Venezuela at the forefront of world geopolitics, with a struggle for power that is also playing out between the governments of the United States and other countries of the Americas and European countries, on the one hand, and China, Russia and Turkey, on the other. Maduro, 56, who governed the country from 2013 to 2019, was sworn in on 10 January for a second term after winning an election in May 2018, the results of which were not recognised by the legislature or by most of the opposition or the governments of the Americas and Europe. The election was called outside the legal timeframe by a National Constituent Assembly composed solely of government supporters, the electoral authority banned the main opposition parties and leaders, and a cloud of irregularities enveloped the campaign and the voting day itself, according to complaints from local and international organisations. The opposition-controlled National Assembly refused to recognise Maduro’s re-election and the president of the legislature, Juan Guaidó, 35, declared himself acting president on 23 January, before a crowd in Caracas, while mass opposition demonstrations were held in some 50 cities. Since 21 January, when 27 members of the National Guard mutinied in a barracks in the neighborhood of Cotiza, north of Caracas, refusing to recognise the re-election of Maduro, “cacerolazos” – pots-and-pans protests – spread, and groups of local residents in poor neighborhoods of the capital and cities in the provinces improvised barricades and clashed with the security forces and irregular civil groups of sympathisers of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). Looting of shops also broke out in several cities in the provinces. The 21-25 January crackdown left 35 people dead, dozens injured by bullets or plastic pellets, and 850 arrested. “On 23 January alone, 696 people were arrested – the largest number in a single day of protests in 20 years,” said lawyer Alfredo Romero, director of the Penal Forum, an organisation that follows the question of those detained for political or social reasons. The Forum counted 12,480 arbitrary detentions from February 2014 – the year of the first mass protests against Maduro – to October 2018, classifying 1,551 people as political prisoners, of whom 236 were still in prison when the report was produced. The list has now grown with those arrested so far this year. Since Maduro first took office in 2013, Provea and other human rights groups have reported that at least 250 people have died in street protests. Romero said the state uses a “revolving door” strategy: when political detainees are released, usually on parole, another group is arrested for similar reasons. In January, “the order the security forces received was to arrest protesters. It is clear that the government decided to assume the cost of stopping the protest in the poorer areas, which in the past were ‘Chavista’ but have now turned against Chavismo,” he said. Chavismo was the political movement of Hugo Chavez, president from 1999 until his death in 2013. Demonstrators clash with security forces during a protest of opposition supporters against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas, Venezuela January 23, 2019. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins For two decades, the urban poor and working-class supported Chavismo, but they have now increasingly turned against Maduro, exasperated by the high food prices, the collapse of services such as water, electricity, health and transport, and the increasingly acute shortage of medicines or cooking gas. Rupert Colville, a spokesman for the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in Geneva on 29 January that “just over 40 people have been killed” and of these “at least 26 were allegedly shot dead by security forces or progovernment armed groups during the demonstrations.” Provea contends that at least eight people were killed in extrajudicial executions in Caracas and two provincial cities when members of the National Police’s elite FAES squad entered their homes. “FAES receives training for lethal action, against extortion or kidnapping. It is not trained to handle public order situations. Its codes and weapons, which are highly lethal, are not in proportion to the rules of proportional and gradual use of force applicable in situations of popular protest,” said Uzcátegui. The arrests, which included 100 women and at least 90 children and adolescents, “have been carried out in indiscriminate sweeps, to spread fear and discourage protests,” Romero said. One such case is that of Jickson Rodriguez, 14, who is epileptic as a result of an old head injury. He and his young friends were banging on pots and pans near his family’s barbershop on the night of 22 January in Villa Bahia, which is located in Puerto Ordaz, an industrial city on the banks of the Orinoco River, 500 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED kilometres southeast of Caracas, when National Guard units captured him and six others and took him to a barracks that guards a steel plant. “Since I wasn’t crying, I was the one who received the most blows. I told the guards, ‘Why are you beating us when we’ve already been arrested?’ and they slapped me. They gave me blows to the head. I told them ‘you can’t hit me on the head, I have epilepsy, and they told me: ‘Shut up, you’re a detainee’,” he told his family and journalists a few days later. “I found him, handcuffed, after searching for him in various places where they were holding people, the afternoon of the following day,” said his mother Rosmelys Guilarte, 39, a hairdresser who also has three daughters. “He was beaten on the soles of his feet, so there would be no visible bruises. He had a convulsion while he was in detention, which is why he was handed over to me two days later.” Jickson “was accused by the judicial police of participating in looting that took place miles from where we were banging on pots and pans that night – something that was impossible. He has orders to report to the authorities every 30 days. I try to get him to rest a lot, this has been really hard on him,” she said from her home. For Uzcátegui, “the government’s strategy has three components: repression in the face of the discontent shared by most of the population, betting that the current political conflict will wane, and attempts to limit the visibility of the crisis by going after the media and journalists.” Courtesy of Inter Press Service / INSP.ngo �FEATURE 8 N ov 2 o v 19, 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Jan. 11- -NJan. 25,2 02019 398 Haitians abandon forgotten town, isolated for over a decade (Top Left) Anita bathes his son Romenson Exalus at their house in Boucan Ferdinand, Haiti, April 10, 2018. (Top Right) Boys walk along a trail, that was used in the past by terrain vehicles connecting with Bois Negresse, on the outskirts of Boucan Ferdinand, Haiti, October 10, 2018. (Bottom Left) Children attend a class at the school at a Baptist church in Boucan Ferdinand, Haiti, October 10, 2018. (Bottom Right) Residents dance at a bar in Boucan Ferdinand, Haiti, April 8, 2018. Sunday evening is the only time when the bar is open and residents gather there to socialise and dance. Credit: REUTERS/Andres Martinez Casares ANDRES MARTINEZ CASARES Reuters N ear the bottom of the island of Hispaniola in southeast Haiti is a forgotten village, cut off from its own country, and slowly emptying as its residents leave for the neighbouring Dominican Republic. Without health services, electricity, or paved roads, Boucan Ferdinand lost its only road to the nearest Haitian town, Bois Negresse, in devastating floods back in 2004. Some of its residents have left for the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince and others cling on to a precarious life. Many have crossed illegally into the more prosperous Dominican Republic. "They do not have access to basic social services, this situation is at the root of the mass migration to the Dominican Republic," said Jean Gilles Viola, mayor of the municipality that governs Boucan Ferdinand and around 20 other villages. Those who remain live in thatch and stick hovels, collecting rainwater to drink and at constant risk of infectious diseases. Some children, in impeccable blue uniforms, walk to a school in the town of Chapotin - a trip that takes an hour and a half over a narrow path, impassable in the rainy season. In the village are two makeshift classrooms, run by the Baptist and Catholic chapels. "This year my children will not go to school," said village farmer Wilber Jean in October, as his children played nearby. "Here you pay a ton. There," pointing across the border, "the president pays." Children collect firewood or graze small flocks of goats and sheep to help their parents. During planting time, many skip school in order to help on the farms, earning less than $2 a day. In the mornings, the village smells of burning firewood brought by the children as the women make breakfast: sometimes there is pasta, but more likely coffee and a piece of bread. Often there is rice and beans. Meat, a luxury. Haiti, which according to the World Bank is the poorest country in the Americas, has not recovered from a powerful earthquake that hit it on 12 January 2010, leaving more than 200,000 dead. The countryside has been emptying out. Less than half of Haitians live in rural communities compared to 84 per cent in 1960, World Bank data shows. Boucan Ferdinand seems to have THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED fallen off the map. Radios mainly capture Dominican signals. "I'm tired of looking for stations in Haiti," complained Polo, a 64-yearold man who returned here with his wife and one of his grandchildren after spending more than 40 years in the Dominican Republic. Aurana Augustin 'Timatant' sold bread and sweets until a few months ago when the left half of her body was paralyzed. Today, the grandmother spends her days lying in bed. The nearest Haitian health centre is across a mountain, so she has been crossing the border on a mule to seek care in the Dominican town of Duverge. The local government wants to rebuild the road taken out by the floods but lacks the financial means, said the mayor. �N o. 39 Nov 221, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Feb. 73- |Feb. | No. 400 FEATURE 9 What's in a name? Everything, say Australia's indigenous people ADESHOLA ORE Reuters T he north bank of Melbourne's Yarra River is dotted with a series of Aboriginal-made art installations. The eel-shaped winding paths, the metal shields and the message sticks are a reminder of the original inhabitants of this part of Australia. The riverside area, Birrarung Marr, is one of the locations that a local heritage trust takes visitors to on its indigenous-led guided walking tours so they can learn about the area's First People. That includes their names for various sites. For the Wurundjeri People, the river's name is not the Yarra but the 'Birrarung' – which means 'river of mists'. "Having the river recognised as the Birrarung can be really important," said Rob Hyatt, education manager for the Koorie Heritage Trust, and leader on some of the tours. "It's not just a name. It is actually a cultural site." Although 'Yarra' is an Aboriginal word that means 'flowing river', Hyatt said, the waterway was mistakenly given that name by one of the city's early founders. To the Wurundjeri People, the river remains the Birrarung, said Hyatt, which is why the Wurundjeri Council has pushed to have the name restored. National debate Indigenous Australians trace their lineage back 60,000 years, and across the country a growing number of groups - from Aboriginal-led organisations to grassroots movements and politicians - want Aboriginal names used for geographic landmarks rather than the names given by settlers. The debate about the country's colonial history reignited in January after the federal government proposed ordering local governments to conduct citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day – 26 January, which marks the arrival of the first fleet of British settlers in 1788. Several local councils have stopped holding citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day because of concerns the date is insulting to Aboriginal people. For many indigenous Australians, 26 January is "Invasion Day", the start of Britain's colonisation of Aboriginal lands and their brutal subjugation. The government's proposal was seen by many as offensive. The country's 700,000 or so indigenous people track near the bottom of its 25 million citizens in almost every economic and social indicator. Jonathan Richards, a fellow at the University of Queensland's School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, Aboriginal elder Max Eulo performs a smoking ceremony during an official function on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour, Australia, November 27, 2013. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on February 10, 2016 said that the government was failing to meet a number of goals aimed at improving the lot of its embattled aboriginal population as he released its tenth annual report card on indigenous issues. Just two of seven targets in the 2016 Closing the Gap report, which outlines the government's record in meeting its own targets on issues such as infant mortality, life expectancy and economic performance, are on track to be met. Picture taken November 27, 2013. REUTERS/David Gray said some place names - such as The Leap and Murdering Creek - reflect frontier violence against indigenous people. "There are also names of places that commemorate individuals who are known to have been violent towards Aboriginal people. It's right across Australia," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone. "This is Aboriginal country, every single part of it. To use the Aboriginal names is a really good way to remind people of the truth." In some places that has happened: the globally recognised sandstone landmark Uluru was known as Ayers Rock until 1993, when the Aboriginal name Uluru was included in its dual name. Many Australians now refer to it simply as Uluru. And in June 2018, the Electoral Commission agreed to change the name of the federal seat of Batman in Melbourne's inner-north to Cooper in recognition of indigenous activist William Cooper. John Batman, considered one of Melbourne's founding fathers, was accused of involvement in the massacre of Aboriginal people in Tasmania during the early 1800s. The inner-city Melbourne council of Darebin wants Batman's name removed from a park in its area, part of a wider effort to rename places associated with him. Susan Rennie, mayor of Darebin, said the move was very well accepted locally, though there was some back- lash from people living "well outside of Darebin". "We did receive some negative and at times very angry feedback from people who aren't part of our community who felt as though we weren't acknowledging history and the role of Batman in Australia," she said. Darebin's experience also shows that the process does not always run smoothly: its bid to rename the park Gumbri, in honour of a Wurundjeri elder, was rejected by the Geographic Names Victoria office in June after family members of the late elder opposed the use of the name. Rennie said the council was working with indigenous groups such as the Wurundjeri Council in considering new options. "The history of John Batman and his treatment of Aboriginal people was seen as being really problematic in terms of having a local park named after him," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone. "It's important for Wurundjeri People to see their language and their names and places recognised in writing, but it's equally important for Australians who aren't First Nations people to understand and see that connection in everyday things." Broadly positive In the north-east state of Queensland, two mountains considered sacred to the native Darumbal People were renamed in May: Mount Jim Crow and Mount Wheeler reverted back to their indigenous names of Baga THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED and Gai-i respectively. The renaming followed the award of native title for the region to the Darumbal people in June 2016. Such title legally recognises indigenous groups as the traditional owners of a tract of land. Nyoka Hatfield, an elder of the Darumbal People, said the name Jim Crow was "akin to apartheid" in South Africa. "Jim Crow is the name of the racist system that they had in the United States of America. A lot of people associated the words Jim Crow with that racist system," Hatfield said. And although some letters to local newspapers and comments on social media had criticised the name reversal, the positive responses had outweighed the negative. "People say it's wonderful. They are speaking the traditional language and getting to know the traditional language," she said. It is not the only recent change in Queensland: in 2017, the state government restored the name for the Fraser Island part of the Great Sandy National Park to K'gari, which for the local Butchulla People means 'paradise'. Hatfield, who teaches the Darumbal language and culture in schools, said she hoped that renaming places would lead to a wider understanding of the country's indigenous past. "Whatever part of Australia you live in, you should know its history." Courtesy of Reuters / Thomson Reuters Foundation / INSP.ngo �10 GLOBAL NFeb. o v 27- -N o v 19, 0 18 | |N o . 393 Feb. 21,22019 No. 400 Mexico’s Forests, Both Victim of and Solution to Climate Change EMILIO GODOY Inter Press Service " I dream of a healthy, sustainable, well-managed forest,” says Rogelio Ruiz, a silviculturist from southern Mexico, who insists that “we have to clean it up, take advantage of the wood, and reforest.” These activities are essential for the ecosystem, especially to adapt to the impacts of climate change, said the president of the La Trinidad Communal Lands Commissariat, in the municipality of Ixtlán de Juárez, in the state of Oaxaca, some 840 km south of Mexico City. Forest habitats are precisely one of the best natural mechanisms for mitigating climatic change, but at the same time they face the consequences, such as rising temperatures, variations in rainfall regimes and the spread of pests. The ecoregion where La Trinidad is located, the Sierra Juárez mountains, is well aware of this. Since 2017 it has been facing an outbreak of the pine sawfly, which eats the needles of the pine tree, the most common species in this area of central Oaxaca. Local organisations estimate that some 10,000 hectares are at risk from this pest. Ruíz explained that 106 of his community’s 805 hectares have been damaged. La Trinidad has a traditional Mexican system of government for collectively-owned and worked land, which is different from an “eijido” because the land here cannot be sold. In September, “we applied aerial fumigation” of a biopesticide and now “we will use handpumps,” said the community leader, one of those attending the celebration in Ixtlan this month of the 35 years of struggle against the private forest concessions that were once predominant here. The struggle gave rise to community- 2014. These undertakings exemplify the development of Mexican community forestry, considered a global model, for its success in generating social, economic and environmental benefits. In 2016, Mexico, the secondlargest country in Latin America, with 1.96 million square kilometres (196 million hectares), had 20.3 million hectares of temperate forest, 850,000 hectares of mesophilic mountain forest, 50.2 million hectares of scrubland, 7.9 million hectares of grasslands, 11.5 million hectares of rainforest and 1.4 million hectares of other vegetation, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography. he non-governmental Mexican Civil Council for Sustainable Forestry lists 4,886 forest communities and ejidos, of which some 2,100 commercially exploit the forests. But only seven million hectares, in the hands of some 600 communities, operate with a management and conservation plan, a requirement for obtaining approval for the harvesting programmes promoted by the state-run National Forestry Commission. Mexico’s timber production totals seven million cubic metres annually, of which Oaxaca in the south contributes just under seven per cent. Forest ecosystems provide water to urban areas, regulate the water cycle, provide food, and capture carbon dioxide (CO2), the gas responsible for global warming, among other ecological services, according to scientific studies. As a result, in the face of the threats posed by climate change, forests require public policies that generate better economic incentives, offer legal certainty about land tenure, expand markets and increase productivity, say silviculture organisations and experts. Ixtlan, which means “place of threads or fibres” in the Zapotec language and where 600 hectares have Workers from the forest community of Ixtl·n de Ju·rez inspect seedlings to be planted in the forest they manage within the municipality of the same name, in the southern state of Oaxaca, Mexico. Their plan is to build a seed orchard to generate pine species more resistant to climate change. Credit: Emilio Godoy/IPS managed forests like this one. La Trinidad, made up of 291 community members and their families, has a permit to annually extract 5,000 cubic metres of wood during an eightyear management plan, in effect since been damaged, has undertaken the fight against pests by experimenting with five species of pine in the community nursery. “In November and December, we do seed selection. We want fastergrowing, pest-resistant species. We are The Sierra Ju·rez forest in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca is vulnerable to the effects of climate change, but at the same time it can help fight the phenomenon. Credit: Emilio Godoy/IPS confident that the new species will be more resistant,” explained Sergio Ruiz, forestry advisor for the community enterprise Santo Tomás Ixtlán Forest Union. The community of Ixtlán, also in the municipality of the same name, owns 19,125 hectares, of which 30 per cent is used for forestry. Its activities also include ecotourism, a gas station, a shop, a furniture factory and a water bottling plant. In 2018, the community nursery provided 360,000 seedlings, 100,000 of which went to reforestation while the other 260,000 were donated to nearby communities. The hope is to create a seed orchard. A study under preparation by the state-run Technical University of Sierra Juárez analyses climatic factors such as temperature, moisture and soil conditions in Ixtlán. In 2015, Mexico emitted 683 million tons of CO2, making it the second largest polluter in the region after Brazil. Of that total, 20 million tons came from the loss of forest lands. This Latin American country adopted its own goal of zero deforestation by 2030, a real challenge when average annual logging represents 200,867 hectares lost between 2011 and 2016, according to estimates by the Superior Audit of the Federation, the Mexican government comptroller’s office. Other sites in the Sierra Juarez mountains are also exposed to climate change, although their height above sea level temporarily protects them from insects. Such is the case in the municipality of San Juan Evangelista, where silviculturists are preparing to adapt their forests to the phenomenon. “It is important to clean up the forest, because it takes away combustion power and the risk of pests. In addition, managed forests allow more carbon sequestration than unmanaged forests. They can help prevent climate change from accelerating,” said Filemón Manzano, technical adviser to the forestry community in that municipality. Analco, which means “on the other side of the river” in Nahuatl, consists of THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 150 community members, the owners of 1,600 hectares, of which 1,000 are covered by forests and 430 of which are exploited. The community operates a nursery for 3,000 seedlings. Manzano and academics from the state-run Postgraduate College of Agricultural Sciences are preparing research on CO2 absorption by managed forests, estimated at five tons per year per managed hectare. Under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, Mexico pledged to reduce, by 2030, up to 14 million tons of annual CO2 emissions from land use, land use change and forestry, by promoting sustainable forest management, increasing productivity in forests and jungles and promoting forest plantations. But the outlays needed to implement mitigation measures would total 11.789 billion dollars up to that year, at a cost of 53 dollars per ton of CO2. Zero deforestation would require 7.923 billion dollars and sustainable forest management would require 3.861 billion dollars. In July, the Mexican forestry sector proposed a long-term policy, greater investment, an adequate legal framework, strengthening community forest management, community participation in the design of measures and a link to climate change, as part of the “Forests with people, forests forever” campaign. Rogelio Ruiz called for more support to better care for the ecosystem and thus reap more benefits. The study “Toward a Global Baseline of Carbon Storage in Collective Lands”, published in September by the Rights and Resources Initiative, a Washington-based global network of 15 partners, estimated that Mexican community forests trap 2.8 million tons of CO2. Manzano called for more forest management. “We want to show how managed forests contribute to the conservation of the planet. It’s going to be important to have more resistant species and create a good mix of species,” he said. Courtesy of Inter Press Service/ NSP.ngo �N o. 39 Nov 221, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Feb. 73- |Feb. | No. 400 11 GLOBAL Shedding Light on Forced Child Pregnancy and Motherhood in Latin America MARIELA JARA Inter Press Service R esearch and campaigns by women’s rights advocates are beginning to focus on the problem of Latin American girls under the age of 14 who are forced to bear the children of their rapists, with the lifelong implications that entails and without the protection of public policies guaranteeing their human rights. The Latin American and Caribbean Committee for the Defence of Women’s Rights (Cladem) addressed the issue of teenage girls who fell pregnant as a result of rape, in a 2016 study in 14 countries of the region, to remove the cloak of invisibility. Julia Escalante, a Mexican lawyer and Cladem regional coordinator, said that it was the case of Paraguayan girl Mainunbuy (not her real name) that motivated them to delve deeper into the issue. The girl became pregnant in 2015 after she was raped by her stepfather and was not allowed to have an abortion. Cladem and Equality Now turned to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) in May of that year, which urged the Paraguayan state to protect the Paraguayan girl’s life and rights. But that did not happen, and since then similar cases have arisen in the South American country, the last one in November. “The case of Mainunbuy led us to ask what is happening in other countries of the region. We found a lack of policies to prevent pregnancy and childbearing among children, and to protect the rights of girls,” she said. A study published this year by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) reported that this is the second region in the world, after Sub-Saharan Africa, with the highest teenage pregnancy rate, with 66.5 births per thousand girls and adolescents, compared to a global rate of 46. In addition, of the 7.3 million births to adolescents under the age of 18 that occur each year in the region, more than two million are to girls under the age of 15, and if the trend continues that figure will reach three million by 2030. Cladem’s study of 14 countries, Child Mothers. Forced Child Pregnancy A group of girls from the Amazon region of Peru, the region with the highest teen pregnancy rate, including girls under 14. Latin America is the second region in the world in terms of teen pregnancy, only behind sub-Saharan Africa. Credit: Mariela Jara/IPS and Motherhood in Latin America and the Caribbean, underscores that according to the laws in this region, all births to girls under the age of 14 are legally the result of rape or statutory rape. Organisations that defend women’s rights in the region say that a forced child pregnancy occurs when a girl under the age of 14 becomes pregnant without having sought or desired it and faces obstacles that keep her from having an abortion if she so wishes. Cladem’s data on births to girls under 15 reveal that in 2015 there were 122 in Uruguay, 1,432 in Peru, 1,444 in El Salvador, 1,600 in Nicaragua, 2,787 in Argentina, 6,045 in Colombia, 10,277 in Mexico, 13,332 in Bolivia and 26,700 in Brazil. This Lima-based regional network that is active in 15 countries is carrying out the campaign “Child Pregnancy is Torture”, which has contributed to raising awareness about this silenced issue in the international community. Escalante emphasises the responsibility of governments, which it called upon to gather specific, brokendown statistics on pregnancies and childbirths to girls under 14 years of age. It also called for prevention Some 14,000 girls have been raped in the last six years,î reads the poster on the left during a demonstration in Lima on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which is celebrated Nov. 25. Rape is the cause of child pregnancy and forced motherhood in Peru, as in other Latin American countries. Credit: Mariela Jara/IPS measures through comprehensive sex education with a gender perspective from early childhood onwards, the inclusion of such content in the media, and a halt to the sexualisation of girls in the media. At the same time, it demanded that States remove the normative, legal and cultural obstacles that prevent access to abortion for pregnant girls, and thus avoid irreparable damage to their physical and mental health. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has been sounding the alert on the steady rise in teen pregnancy and motherhood in Latin America and the Caribbean. In a 2014 report, it noted that 20 per cent of pregnancies to girls under the age of 18 involved girls under the age of 15 who had been raped. Speaking to IPS, Olga Isaza of Colombia, Unicef ’s deputy representative in Peru, first specified the figures for child motherhood in the country, which serves as an example of the phenomenon in the region. She said that between 2011 and 2017, the public health system attended 14,325 births to girls under 15. In addition, in 2015 the National Registry of Identification and Civil Status registered 1,538 newborns to mothers between the ages of 11 and 14 years. “In 71 per cent of the cases, the fathers of these newborns were older than 18, which confirms the sexual abuse underlying these pregnancies,” Isaza said. The annual teen pregnancy rate in Peru is 13 per cent of all pregnancies – a percentage that rises as high as 30 per cent in Amazon jungle regions such as Loreto. “The group of girls under 14 is the one that worries us most because there is a relationship of submission and power that leads to girls having children, girls whose rights to be protected against all forms of violence and to live according THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED to their age and to grow up are violated,” said the U.N. official. Isaza mentioned five policy recommendations to ensure the rights of adolescents and young people presented in Peru by the United Nations agencies, led by UNICEF and UNFPA (the U.N. Population Fund), and which can be adopted in other countries. For example, the design of comprehensive policy packages to address the development aspect of children under 14 and access to friendly health services at appropriate times of the day and with specially trained personnel, as well as comprehensive sex education and making such information available to the girls’ families. “It is about the home and school being safe spaces for every child and adolescent, for them to have health, education, protection against all forms of violence, and participation in their communities,” Isaza said. He added that priority should be given to the areas of greatest risk in each country and that, in order to be effective, these measures of comprehensive action by the State must be culturally appropriate, including personnel trained and qualified to provide quality services, and a sufficient budget to be implemented efficiently. Isaza noted that 13 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which make up the Development Agenda 2030, are directly associated with children and adolescents, in order to reach that year with this generation in better conditions in terms of health, education, justice, protection and gender equality. “And the only way to do that is to make the SDGs a commitment of the States and for each segment of society to assume its role and live up to it, to agree on a broad social consensus,” she stressed. Courtesy of Inter Press Service / INSP.ngo �12 What’s Going On STREETVOICE What’s going on ask singer Marvin Gaye What’s going on in our world of today Stealing from each other, killing one another Lying, cheating and still calling each other brother Disillusioned by what our lives should really be Misunderstanding that we’re all born in sin, you and me Forgetting each day to let live and let love Forgetting to give all praises due to God up above Everyone needs to take time out to pray And ask God to forgive our sins each and everyday To replace hate with peace and love where ever we can Only then can we see what’s going on all over the land So for me this is what’s really going on We as a people must come together before all life is gone!!! WILLA DENISE JONES Streetvibes Distributor Contributing Writer Nov 2 N o v 19, 0 18 || No. N o . 400 393 Feb. 7 -- Feb. 21, 22019 Homelessness Homelessness is a place that, has a lot of drought Homelessness is cold with wet nights, Homelessness is a cardboard box that a person calls their home To receive a blanket or a kind word means a lot to a person, sleeping on the curb If you open your eyes tell me what you see That person experiencing homelessness on the street one day could be you or me! KIM GREEN Streetvibes Distributor Contributing Writer Streetvibes Writing Circle If you would like to submit a story for publication in streetvibes, come join Katelyn Lusher and Chris Wilkey for a group writing session! S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �STREETVOICE No. 39 | Nov21, 2 - 2019 N o v 19, 2 0400 18 Feb. 7 -3 Feb. | No. A Succinct Analysis Of The Recent Federal Shutdown Things in D.C. got really chancy, But holding firm was Speaker Nancy. Trump had tantrums to get his way, Homelessness Sidewalk people. Street smart. Ron English, a diva in chalk. Sebastian, the sombrero-clad bicyclist. Memories surround Carl at the old Carl’s Bar. Raymond Thunder-Sky, adorned in a hard- But Speaker Nancy refused to play. hat helmet; Now we are in a three week break, green wig. And grownups better negotiate. BILL WOODS Contributing Writer 13 Fifi Taft Rockefeller, feisty in sequins and They are all Mayors of 12th Street. Screen doors. Slammed shut. Suddenly open. Nickels. Dimes. A Gateway Quarter brawl. Corner dealer. Cops stop. They smile. All once farmland here. Long before the Drop. Rows corn. Holstein cows. Dairy airs. Hillbilly feuds. Zombie Amish. Jammed cicada jelly. Accidental empires. Cobble-stone alleys of the Rhine. A hungry legend. Perhaps apocryphal tale. Batavia’s lost gold ingots, buried. What lies beneath. Somewhere hidden. A secret under our 12th Street rubble. Gold-miners still dig here. Like fierce gerbils. Welcome to 12th Street. FELIX WINTERNITZ Contributing Writer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �14 PUZZLE Pet Horoscopes by Dusty Changepurse N o v 27--N o v 19, 0 18 || N o . 393 Feb. Feb. 21,22019 No. 400 Leo (Ace of Coins) - I know you think your bird is a birdbrain, but look who’s chirping. I kid. For you bird lovers, this is the time for you to learn something new about your pet. Birds need to be stimulated, not just locked in a cage and forgotten.Try a new snack, a new toy, or a new activity. Maybe even a new friend? Your Leo pet needs something Aquarius ( Three of Swords) - Training is prob not going new in their life. Sadly, they may have some issues related to well and trust me when I say both you and your pet are their feathers this month, so keep an eye on that. frustrated. Be careful of your tone and attitude with your pet right now. Aquarius pets are in their feelings this month. Positive reinforcement is what your pet needs now. You may Virgo (Three of Coins) - You and your pet need to work on think your you are calm and assertive, but your pet hears a routine. Sure, you are doing your best, but right now that routine is what is lacking. This is the month that you both stern and demanding. need to double down on your hard work. Working hard together may bring you closer than you think. If you just Pisces (Seven of Cups) - If you are a repetile parent, hooray! got a new pet and are feeling overwhelmed, surprise,l this Your scaly friends are having a good month, but beware is what you signed up for. All Virgo pets, and their owners, of things relating to water. Water bowls, dehydration, need to focus on working hard now so that it is easy later. swimming, etc. Meaning, make sure your pet has enough, but not too much. Also, check to see they aren’t having any skin issues. Feel free to give them a neat treat this month Libra (Knight of Swords) - You and your furry friend (and because they have a vet appointment and they will not be snakes) have been at each others necks. You have been feeling the struggle, and your pet notices it. Please don’t happy. think it has to be you or them. This is the month that you both need to work on patience. I promise you that if you Aries (Ace of Wands) - You and your pet have been playing stick it through the squeeze, you will leave the experience mind games with each other. Where is that mystery pee feeling more knowledgeable. smell coming from? Can I trust them not to knock over my plants? Your pet is having boundary issues. Heck, we all are right now. You may need to use empathy to find out what is Scorpio (Knight of Coins) - Scorpio pets are pretty chill really the problem. Maybe they are under-stimulated or they this month. It is all about spoiling them this month. Your miss you. Boundaries is the name of the game this month. scorpio pet would love some sort of grooming. They are feeling themselves and not everyone can give themselves Asserting those boundaries now will pay off, trust me. a purrrfect cleaning. It is time to make your pet shine and smells good. Also, the cards didn’t say this, but feel free to Taurus (The Tower) - The old regime has fallen. You may add a new outfit to their closet. They could use the self-care think you have things under control, but when you put those day. Just saying. two pets together, something always seems to go wrong. Your pets are needing more autonomy, and sadly you may have to give it to them. Think about expanding the area your Sagittarius (Six of Cups) - Cha-Ching! If you have wanted furry friends can visit. A trip to a park, or pet daycare, may an exotic fish, get it. Exotic fish are having a particularly good month. If you are already up to your gills in fish, then be what you need to nip the behavior in the bud. add more? Your water-living friends will feel like a monarch under the sea for a while. You may have noticed them being Gemini (The Emperor) - Who is running the house, you extra social already. You may as well splurge on them, or them? And yes, that is what your pet is asking, not you. because they will bring luck with them. Sidenote: If you just Gemini pets love to rule the roost. Why else would they perch lost a pet, this may be the month to consider adding another on the back of the sofa, or hid in the top of the closet? Even friend to join the family. Moving on can be painful, but you though you feel like you don’t know shih-tzu, know that you may be surprised once you open your heart again. are, in fact, a great fur parent. Your gemini pet must learn that both of you can rule in this kingdom. Wait. What? Capricorn (The Empress) - Um, is your pet-a-preg-nent? Yay, and congrat! If not, then check on them. Some pets may be Cancer (The Devil) - Um Sorry? The Devil card doesn’t mean dealing with digestive issues this month. Trust me when I your pet is evil, although when you come home to house full say, Capricorn pets are going through it this month. Your of ripped cushions, shredded toilet paper, and garbage amiss pet family may see some growth this month. You may need you question that assertion. This card means your Cancer to consider how many pets is too many pets. Also, I sense pet has been suppressing some things and they are bound to some pets will deal with leg issues this month. So take care burst out. This could be an injury, a sickness, or some form during play. of trauma. Search for the root cause of the erratic behavior before thinking they are a lost cause. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 Nov 2 - N o v 19, 2 0 18 Feb. 73- |Feb. 21, 2019 | No. 400 Central Access Point 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children RESOURCES Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside Bethany House 557-2873 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 591-2246 FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 Salvation Army 762-5660 St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 131 E. 12th Street 45202 1125 Bank Street 45214 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men Shelter: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Shelterhouse 721-0643 2121 Vine Street 45202 411 Gest St. 45203 Prospect House 921-1613 1437 Walnut Street 45202 Starting Over 961-2256 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Women St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Parkway Center 661-4620 First Step Home 961-4663 Shelter: Youth 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Sheakley Center for Youth (18-24 y/o) 2522 Highland Ave. 45219 569-9500 Lighthouse Youth Crisis Center (10-17 y/o) 3330 Jefferson Ave 45220 961-4080 Shelter: Family Interfaith Hospitality Network Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Both AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Joseph House (Veterans) 471-1100 1522 Republic Street 45202 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street 45202 Talbert House 221-HELP Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street 45202 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Food/Clothing First Lutheran Church 421-0065 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Seraph Ministries 549-0542 St. George Food Pantry 2554 Dennis St. 45219 751-8771 St. Anthony Center 1615 Republic St. Advocacy Catholic Social Action 421-3131 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Franciscan JPIC 721-4700 Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 241-2965 Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board 946-8000 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 221-HELP Housing: 15 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 Health Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 Other Resources Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 215 E. 14th St. 45202 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 381-0111 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. 579-8547 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 1223 Main St. 45202 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 The Caring Place 631-1114 Talbert House 751-7747 United Way 211 Women Helping Women 977-5541 Off The Streets 421-5211 Hamilton County Office of Reentry 946-4304 138 E. Court Street Room # 101 First Floor Cancer Justice Network 404-3882 Hamilton/Middletown St. Raephaels 981-4200 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 Northern Kentucky Brighton Center (11-17 y/o) 859-491-8303 ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary 859-572-6202 Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky 634 Scott St. 41011 859-291-4555 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? You can support our mission and spread the word about your business. For more information contact Gabriela Godinez Feregrino, 961-0600 email streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Center for Respite Care 621-1868 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 386-7899 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 NAMI of Hamilton County 351-3500 PATH Outreach 977-4489 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �16 NFeb. o v 2 7- -NFeb. o v 19, 0 18 | |NNo. o . 393 21,2 2019 400 S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. ALFRED WOOLFOLK SINCE 10/2003 ASRES AYENAW SINCE 2012 BERTA LAMBERT SINCE 1997 BETTIE BAILEY SINCE 10/2017 BRANDON NELSON SINCE 4/2008 BRIAN ADAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHARLES WILLIAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHRISTOPHER KAIHATSU SINCE 7/2017 CLEO WOMBLES SINCE 10/2003 CRANDALL COBB SINCE 2004 DARREL ROZIER SINCE 7/2017 DAVID MCCANE SINCE 2017 ERIC VALDEZ SINCE 2/2017 GERALD FRANKLIN SINCE 7/2017 GRADY COOK SINCE 1997 HENRY BRELAND SINCE 7/2017 JAMES BROWN SINCE 3/2009 JAMES DAVIS SINCE 8/2000 JENNY BURTON SINCE 7/2017 JIMMIE GIPSON SINCE 2001 JON DARBY SINCE 2/2006 JOHN HORN JOSEPHINE BASKERVILLE SINCE 9/2008 J’TORI TYMAN SINCE 5/2014 KIM NGUYEN SINCE 7/2017 KENNY BUSSELL SINCE 10/2009 KAREN COLLETTE SINCE 7/2008 LARRY BROWN SINCE 10/2007 LEE MCCOY SINCE 7/2009 LEONARD JACKSON SINCE 2/2005 MARY MUELLER SINCE 5/2005 MARK SHEARS SINCE 4/2012 MAURICE GOLSBY MELISSA MOSBY SINCE 9/2014 MIKE CARANO SINCE 4/2016 RAESHAWN GIPSON SINCE 3/2009 RAYNARD JONES SINCE 10/2008 RICKY WOODS SINCE 4/2015 RICCARDO TAYLOR SINCE 1999 RONNIE PHILLIPS SINCE 10/2009 SAMUEL JACKSON SINCE 10/2006 STACIA HOLLANDER SINCE 2017 STEPHANIE EAKES SINCE 7/2017 SYLVESTER WALKER SINCE 7/2017 TALINA HILL SINCE 2/2011 VICTOR MUMPHRY WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WINNIE RICE SINCE 7/2017 QUEENACELASTINE SINCE 7/2017 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 VIOLET COLLINS SINCE 2017 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2019 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource February 7-February 21, 2019 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: From the Director Pg 3: Wholly Unrecognizable Pg 4: GCHC Pg 5: Deb Haaland Becomes One of First Two Native American Congresswomen Who Shut Down the Shutdown? Pg 6: 40 Years Since the Khmer Rouge Regime Came to an End in Cambodia Pg 7: Bullets against Pots and Pans in the Crackdown on Venezuela’s Protests Pg 8: Haitians Abandon Forgotten Town, Isolated for Over a Decade Pg 9: What’s in a Name? Pg 10: Mexico’s Forests, Both victim of and Solution to Climate Change Pg 11: Shedding Light on Forced Child Pregnancy and Motherhood in Latin America Pg 12: Street Voice Pg 13: Street Voice Pg 14: Puzzles Pg 15: Resources Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource February 7-February 21, 2019 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Josh Spring Humberto Marquez Amanda Becker Kris Janssens Robert Park Adeshola Ore Andres Martinez Casares Dr. Mark Mussman Bill Woods Key Beck Kim Green Willa Denise Jones Mariela Jara Emilio Godoy Felix Winternitz Homeless Coalition Pngtree.com Gabriela Godinez Wraphome.org Amanda Meek Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Adeshola Ore Amanda Becker Amanda Meek Andres Martinez Casares Australia Bill Woods Cambodia Child Pregnancy Climate Change Deb Haaland Dr. Mark Mussman Emilio Godoy Felix Winternitz Gabriela Godinez Haiti Homeless Coalition Humberto Marquez Indigenous People Josh Spring Key Beck Kim Green Kris Janssens Latin America Mariela Jara Mexico Motherhood Native American Pngtree.com Protests Robert Park Venezuela Willa Denise Jones Wraphome.org