I hope this site becomes a place for dialogue and the exchange of ideas. I want to raise consciousness about issues and stories that don't always make the headlines. I believe that global awareness makes a person smarter and ultimately more human. I'm grossed out by what some "news" outlets masquerade as news. Mainstream media seems to cover international stories only when there's catastrophe or war. It's a shame.
There are so many fascinating people doing important things out there. As a journalist I've been blessed with the opportunity to travel all over the world. I want this to be a place for everyone to find out about people and organizations that I've encountered that are doing good work. I'd like to share some of my experiences and invite all of you to share your thoughts and stories you think should be told. Let's expand our horizons together!
North Korea A trip to one of the most isolated countries on the planet
Child Trafficking: India In India, there are millions of children who are being forced to work as slaves.
There is certainly no shortage of issues that should demand our attention, but here’s a list of some that I think are of vital importance. Please share with me your thoughts on these and issues that are of concern to you.
So Sunday in L.A. was "Big Sunday," a day when people around the city
volunteer to give folks a hand. With a small group of people, I spent
Sunday at a homeless shelter in Santa Monica, CA called the Ocean Park
Community Center or OPCC. It was a little funny because the number of
volunteers about equaled the number of residents, but in the end it was
a good thing. We cooked hamburgers, had an ice cream bar and we served
the folks who make the OPCC their home.
I spent a lot of time talking to people and trying to understand how
they came to OPCC. I was struck by a British man of Kenyan descent who
spoke so elegantly. He told me that he made his way to California via
London in search of business opportunities. Then he got sick. He was
diagnosed with cancer and though in remission has had a host of health
problems that he says have prevented him from working.
An attractive Argentinian woman whose passion is photography told me
that when she and her husband divorced, she was left with nothing and to
fend for herself. She had not held a job for 17 years while married
and was having extreme difficulty making rent payments. Two months ago,
she got evicted from her apartment and has been living in the shelter
ever since.
I met an Asian woman who told me that she is currently a kindergarten
teacher but can't afford rent in high priced Santa Monica so she has to
sleep in a shelter. Her story was particularly alarming because she
has so many children in her care. I had to wonder, if her personal life is so
unstable, how might her work be affected. How might her students be affected.
There's something wrong in society when teachers have to live in homeless shelters.
In one day, I met so many people who for various reasons, ended upwithout a home in which to live.
As I was driving home, I couldn't help but think about how smart and
talented some of the residents are--far more than I am. They were just
dealt an unlucky hand. It happens to all of us.
That was a very commendable thing that you've done. I am particularly happy that you were able to provide additional insight into what caused some of these individuals to become homeless.
I am an advocate of people being capable of living 'below their means'. Even if they are simply involved in making use of discarded goods, like the FREEGANS were, or have experience in the outdoors - it is all great knowledge, and can prove to be valuable in survival situations.
I, like many other people with success-stories, have struggled and lived below my means before "making it". But I don't regret any of it. It all had a lesson in it for me. Individuals who are not able to face times of humility, would have the hardest time adjusting to times of adversity. We are in the midst of a recession, and many individuals would get a sense of what it is like to have less. My prayers go out to all of those who are in those situations.
The best part about your visit to the Ocean Park Community Center is that God has a blessing for you and all of the other volunteers that showed up to donate their time to care about the less fortunate. On an additional note, not to toot my own horn but, I have also made myself available to help someone in need. An elderly lady from my church needed to move from her home, and my uncle and I spent 13 hours moving her belongings on Sunday. It truly was "Big Sunday".
Giving should come from the heart. It should not be done with any intention of being credited or rewarded for your effort. In the end, GOD will reward those who give generously to others - and your reward will be in abundance.
In the bible in (Luke 6:37) Jesus said:
Don't judge others, and God won't judge you. Don't be hard on others, and God won't be hard on you. Forgive others, and God will forgive you. If you give to others, you will be given a full amount in return. Your reward will be in abundance, packed down, shaken together, and spilling over into your lap. The way you treat others is the way you will be treated.
Hi Lisa. I am a college student from Hong Kong. So glad to read your blog about homeless people, because I recently did a research assignment on homeless people living in shelters in HK. I was shocked, too. They were so true a group of people. There was a man who got divorced and lost his job, but he was so proud when showing me the picture of his pretty teenage daughter. And there were men sharing their experiences in prisons or in gangs. I also met a very young girl coming from mainland China, who was so independent and optimistic about life. They were just people who lacked money for a while or made a wrong choice at one time, but had beautiful hopes for the future.
