Here’s an uplifting story for your Sunday. One of the biggest issues facing homeless people, obviously, is a lack of confidence, and a lack of employment opportunities.
But when there are success stories, people who have worked their way off the streets to resume a productive life, most people don’t ever get to hear about it.
But that’s changing. The National Coalition for the Homeless has set up a speakers bureau, allowing the ex-homeless to make money giving speeches to youth groups, religious organizations, schools, and anyone else who is interested in hearing from people who never get to be heard.
I think this is a fantastic program. The stereotype of the “homeless bum” is true in some cases, of course. But so many others who find themselves without a place to live are regular people like you and me who have had some bad breaks, and are educated and have a whole lot of life lessons they can pass on.
It’s really a moving story; check out the NPR story on it here.
**OK, this may be the most amazing video you see this month. An artist named Jean-Pierre Blanchard did a painting of Roger Federer in four minutes. Truly incredible; check this out: the Eureka moment for me came at the 1:32 mark.
