Toledo Streets Issue 25

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ISSUE #25

BECAUSE 1MATTERS | Farming in the cityPOETRY | Sardonic Salad | SUDOKU Hoboscopes

ALSO:

LITTLE CITY,BIG HEART

Leveraging compassion & the generosity of Toledo

INTERVIEW WITH KEITH BURWELL OF THE TOLEDO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

also featuringHEART AT WORK: THE ANDERSONS

A MEAL AT THE FAMILY HOUSE

MORE THAN JUST A VENDOR | OWENS FOOD PANTRY | ‘MARK OF MANHOOD’ | THE TRANSITION MAN

INTERVIEW WITH JARED DIAMOND

G E N E R O S I T Y, THE GATES WAY

“YOU NEEDN’T BE A ROCK STAR”

JON BON JOVI

Toledo Streets - The Paper with a Mission Issue #25

Room at the tableExpanding our world one person at a time

Amanda F. Moore,Managing Editor

While Toledo Streets is a non-profit, and paper vendors are considered

contracted self-employers, we still have expectations of how vendors should conduct themselves while selling and representing the paper. The following list is our Vendor Code of Conduct, which every vendor reads through and signs before receiving a badge and papers. This Code is also printed on the back of each badge. We request that if you discover a vendor violating any tenets of the Code, please contact us and provide as many details as possible. Our paper and our vendors should be positively impacting the city. All vendors must agree to the following code of conduct:

•Toledo Streets will be distributed for a voluntary donation of $1. I agree not to ask for more or less than

a dollar or solicit donations for Toledo Streets by any other means.

• I will only purchase the paper from

Toledo Streets staff and will not sell papers to other vendors.

• I agree to treat all others—

customers, staff, other vendors—respectfully, and I will not “hard sell,” threaten or pressure customers.

• I agree to stay off private property when selling Toledo Streets.

• I understand I am not a legal employee of Toledo Streets or 1Matters, but a contracted worker responsible for my own well-being, income, and taxes.

• I agree to not sell any additional goods or products when selling the paper.

• I will not sell Toledo Streets under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

•There are no territories among vendors. I will respect the space of other vendors, particularly the space of vendors who have been at a spot longer.

• I understand my badge is the property of Toledo Streets and will not deface it. I will present my badge when purchasing the papers and display my badge when selling papers. I understand the badge and lanyard costs $1.50 to replace if lost, stolen or damaged.

• I understand Toledo Streets strives to be a paper that covers homelessness and poverty issues while providing a source of income for the unhoused. I will try to help in this effort and spread the word.

Last month, I had the somewhat somber honor of hosting a family I loved very much, along with another

couple, for one of their last dinners as residents of Toledo. We were saying goodbye to this family who, despite significant ongoing struggles in their life, had given so much to Toledo in just a few years and were now moving across Ohio to be with family. (You can read about their story on page 9.) There were seven of us in my 600 square foot loft, with nothing but a little card table in sight. I saw my friends looking around wondering where we were going to eat. That was when I walked over to a buffet table that typically sits unobtrusively against the wall and popped open the doors. Within just a few minutes, the table had stretched out to comfortably seat... seven. People get a kick out of this little “telescoping” table and my Murphy-style bed. With a growing movement

toward smaller, efficient spaces, these things are becoming more popular. But many people I know have always been fascinated by organization, secret compartments, and “transforming” items. It’s like everyday object origami—folding/unfolding one thing into another. They’re just plain cool. Why? In part, I think there’s something about the flexibility and duality that fascinates. It looks like a giant armoire, set neatly along the brick wall. Nice—plenty of floor space when you want to work out, dance your crazy butt off, or entertain a larger group. It’s just a background piece. But what’s inside? Hey, it comes down and it’s a bed. It’s not what we dismissed it to be, and it was a pleasant surprise. The same for the table. A mild-mannered mid-century side table that expands to host a dinner party, providing room for everyone to sit together. Nifty! I hope we discover this more and more about people in our lives.

Those in the background, easy to dismiss (hey, we’re all busy—it’s usually not intentional; it just happens). But a little respectful exploration and—surprise!—we find out their “who” is way more than “what” they appeared to be. How cool—and there’s room now for one more person “at the table” in our world.

That’s actually a pretty big deal, because...

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS SMALL CHANGE.

COVER PHOTOSMain: Keith Burwell of the Toledo Community Foundation, credit: Amanda Faith MooreRemaining, left to right: Jimmy Davis, credit: Michelle Wray DavisCover of Jared Diamond’s book, credit: courtesy of The Big Issue in the NorthBill Gates, credit: REUTERS/Denis BalibouseJon Bon Jovi, credit: Nicole Polk (courtesy of Project Home)

We’d like to thank you for purchasing this copy of Toledo Streets. We hope you’re enjoying it and discovering a new facet of your community.

Please continue to support our vendors when you get the chance. For other ways to support them and the paper, contact us or visit our website for more details.

Toledo Streets is a monthly publication called a street paper. We are part of a worldwide movement of street papers that seeks to provide simple economic opportunities to homeless individuals and those experiencing poverty.

Our vendors purchase each paper for 25¢, and ask for a dollar donation. In exchange for their time and effort in selling the paper, they keep the difference. They are asking for a hand-up, not a hand out. By purchasing this paper, you have helped someone struggling to make it. Not just in terms of money, but also in the dignity of doing something for themselves. Many thanks again!

We are a non-profit organization operating under a 501(c)3 fiscal agent. This means that any donations made to us c/o 1Matters.org (our fiscal agent) are tax deductible—not to mention greatly appreciated.

Our mission is to empower individuals struggling with extreme poverty to

participate on a new level in the community through self-employment,

job training, and contributorship.

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Toledo Streets - The Paper with a MissionIssue #25

Because 1MattersA bend in the road

Ken Leslie

As part of one our programs, we regularly go to Cherry Street Mission’s community kitchen at

Madison and 20th to recruit for and distribute Toledo Streets Newspaper. We were there this Thursday, signing up a vendor and visiting with some other folks sitting at the same table. A nice bunch of guys, curious about the paper. The conversation drifted to the program’s umbrella organization (1Matters) and Tent City was brought up. We normally outline the bones of what Tent City is, trying to also convey the magic of it, as succinctly as possible. This time, however, we didn’t have to say much at all. There was a gentleman sitting at the table who enthusiastically jumped in and fleshed out our brief description, highlighting all the food, clothing, services, music, and everything that goes into the weekend event. He was especially passionate about the meals and the haircuts. He even remember the name of the lady (Gina) who helped organize the volunteers a couple of years ago. Why? Because two years ago, he was a volunteer helping guide guests through the myriad of services, back when his “life was still relatively intact.” People often say, “There, but for the grace of God, go I.” We often say it could easily be us on the receiving end instead of the giving end. But meeting this gentleman reminded us personally of when we have been on the receiving end, and how we

never know when there’ll be a bend in the road, a twisting of our story, where we can’t see what’s next for us. It might bring us to more humble circumstances, or it might give us a chance to be generous in some way to someone who needs us. The thing about Tent City is, there’s no telling who the volunteer working alongside you might be. They may have a warm home to return to, or they may be a guest staying at an area shelter who wants to give back. And there’s no telling where either of you might be a few months down the road. We wish we’d gotten this gentleman’s name. He did mention he receives our emails. So, in the hopes he might stumble across this blog post, we want to thank you. Thank you for your service. Thank you for continuing to serve - we could tell you’re a positive influence to those around you. Thank you for being such a great ambassador of Tent City. And we wish you the best of luck. We hope there’s another bend in your road soon, and that it takes you closer to where you want to be. (If you’re interested in helping plan this year’s Tent City, join us every third Thursday of the month at 7 pm at the Red Cross building, 3100 W. Central.)

Having founded Tent City over 20 years ago with partners like Cherry Street, Ken Leslie is continuing the vision for sustainable solutions to end homelessness for individuals. Email him at [email protected]. ts ts

Volunteers give coffee and smiles during a meal at Tent City. Photo: Dave Yonke of ToledoFAVS, from Tent City 2012

Dr. Lorna Gonsalves at a 2009 Human Values for Transformative Action (HVTA) event she organized

for youth to address issues important to them. Photo: Christine Senack, Girl in the Glass City

Urban farmers get their hands dirty every day. If you want to be a leader among any group of

farmers, you must lead with a shovel, with a wheelbarrow, and with a willingness to ‘get your hands dirty’. It occurs to me that a leader among farmers must be what could truly be called a “servant leader”. Servant leadership is a model of management, a discernment of one’s own gifts, and a calling to community action that I learned through The Servant Leadership Center of Toledo. And through the Center I became better acquainted with the work of Dr. Lorna Gonsalves. Dr. Gonsalves has devoted her life and career to serving the poor, and to standing boldly against humanity’s most tragic injustices. Her heart and sould have challenged and comforted hearts and souls, from the post-riot streets of Toledo’s central city, to fishing villages devastated by the south Asian tsunami. With her education, cultural experiences and sheer spiritual magnetism, Dr. Gonsalves has chosen to serve public education and social justice. She is originally from Bangalore, India; moving to the United States with her husband, Peter, in 1972. They celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary June 20th of 2012. They have two children: a son, Sanjay, and a daughter, Maya. Dr. Gonsalves was greatly enriched by her nanny, Philomena, whose nickname was Bobo, and who showed Lorna people from the “other side”, so to speak. These friendships taught Lorna a compassion that transcends social barriers, which she has passed on to her children, teaching them to be “ground-up” activists. A passionate follower of the teachings of Ghandi, her favorite song is “Precious Lord, Take My Hand,” which she sings and plays on her guitar —with an opera-trained precision and an activist’s conviction. Her extensive academic background includes a diploma in opera performance, an undergraduate degree in psychology, a master’s in counseling, and a Ph.D. in sociology. She works to bring the values of justice and democracy to life by facilitating workshops, such as her Coming to

Terms with Racism. Participants come to realize a common humanity, and a capacity to work across differences to build a community that values and respects all members. In response to perceived increases in violence in our local and global communities, Dr. Gonsalves found Human Values for Transformative Action. This organization prompts individuals —mostly youth—to act out shared values such as justice and equality, and attend to the basic well-being of all people. Lorna’s signature Community Heartbeats program harnesses the creative power of Northwest Ohio teens and uses visual images to engage young people and transform their neighbors. She has taught numerous national and international workshops to promote peace and justice, leading professionals such as police officers and politicians, as well as university and high school students. In her work in our community, she has challenged people to be more authentic, passionate, and engaged, and she has consistently nurtured dialogue —a dialogue that leads to positive social action. Dr. Gonsalves says, “One, we all want to be good people; two, we all have prejudice; and three, none of us are experts.” Dr. Lorna Gonsalves is truly a servant leader, willing to get her hands dirty.

William James O’Fahey can be reached on Facebook as Amish Country Doctors, or at toledoshipyardmonster.com, amishcountrydoctors.com and toledomichigan.com.

Farming in the city:Dr. Gonsalves, a servant leader on the ground

William James O’Fahey


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More than just a vendor

Douglas Lawrence, The Contributor

Cans of soup on a shelf. Photo: Salvation Army USA West, via flickr creative commons

Selling a street paper is everything but an easy job:” I’ve been flipped off, told off, sworn at and even had stuff

thrown at me,” says Douglas Lawrence, vendor of Nashville street paper The Contributor. That’s the reason he decided to write down his story, to make people see that he—and his colleagues everywhere—are so much more than just vendors. First and foremost, we are members of your community. We are your friends and not your enemies. We are the eyes and ears for the communities that we serve. We could be the first responders to emergencies and one of these emergencies could be yours-you really never know. One day, a metro squad car stopped by and told me that they had trouble with people breaking into the cars in the parking lots where I sell my papers. Now, a lot of my regular customers park their cars in these parking lots that the officer was talking about. He asked me if I could keep my eyes open, and if I saw anything suspicious, to please call him and report it. I replied that I would definitely call metro if I see anybody breaking into the cars in the parking lots. This officer sees me frequently selling my papers and knows that I am in a perfect spot to notice anything suspicious. If I witness a traffic accident or anything else, I could be summoned to court as a witness to tell what I witnessed. One day, I was on my “spot” selling The Contributor when I noticed an elderly lady wandering around in the parking lot. I could tell something was wrong. One of my regular customers was going to her car. I got her attention and I told her that the elderly lady in the parking lot seemed disoriented and needed help. I told her that I did not think that it was proper for a man to approach an elderly woman and that a woman should be the one to approach the lady. My customer escorted the elderly woman into a place of business and discovered her address in her purse. Come to find out that the elderly woman had Alzheimer’s and she had wandered away from home. My customer got the elderly woman home safe and without incident. A real sweetheart that I have

come to know walks by me quite frequently. I drop my papers and assist the lady across the street every time I see her coming. This lady is blind and cannot see the crosswalk signs. She has never bought a paper from me or given me money. A lady stopped and gave me $40 for a paper and said she could not believe that she seen me helping a blind lady cross the street. And I am more than these things. I am a sidewalk therapist. A man walked up to me one day and bought a newspaper. We struck up a conversation. He told me that I had it better than he did. I became intrigued. He said that he made $25 per hour with good benefits. He continued to say that his house was mortgaged to the hilt and his wife was ready to leave him. He was driving a brand new car. He informed me that he was hooked on Internet gambling and could not stop. I told him that there is help available and that gambling is just another addiction just like alcohol or drugs. We parted ways and I have not seen him since. Many of my other customers stop by just to talk about their problems and need a kind ear to listen. I am a stranded motorist’s assistant. A lady locked her keys in her Lexus and she said that she needed to call a locksmith. All I could think was that was way too expensive. I told this lady that a wrecker service would be cheaper and that they could get into her car with a Slim Jim. She called a wrecker service and got into her car. She took my advice. The lady came back and told me I had just saved her more than $100. This lady bought one of my papers and said, “Have a nice day and thank you for your help.” Dozens of these experiences have taken place and there are too many to mention in this story. I am a valued customer for local merchants. Being homeless, we must spend most of our money just to get by. This helps stimulate our ailing economy. I am a city bus customer. It costs $3.40 round trip to get back and forth to sell my papers each day. I am a cell phone customer. I pay for my own cell phone. I am a free smiles dispenser. I am a trash picker-upper. I am a recruiter for new vendors. If

You might be surprised at how many of us there are—college students who are either unhoused

or barely scraping by, who know when their next exam is but not their next meal. That’s why, here at Owens State Community College, there’s a food pantry called Owens Harvest for students to access when they need it. These pantries, started early last year with the support of the Toledo Seagate Food Bank, operate on both of Owens’ campuses; one in Toledo, on Oregon Road, and the other in Findlay. They are open only to students with valid Owens student identification. Toledo students can visit the pantry on Tuesdays. The pantries aim to feature fruits, vegetables, proteins, and starches needed for a balanced diet. All food should be non-perishable. Distributing food, however, is not the only goal of the pantries.

“The initiative is intended to assist our students in need while also offering service and volunteer opportunities for those individuals who want to give back and help their fellow students,” said Krista Kiessling, Owens coordinator of the pantries. Further plans for the pantry include a clothing closet and hygiene items, of especial importance to college students wanting to take their education and put it to work through finding a job. The pantry is also a way for the surrounding community to support the students through donations. Both locales are always in need of charitable contributions from the community in the form of non-perishable food. In the Toledo area, donations can be dropped off Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., in College Hall Room 155. More information is available by calling (567) 661-2275.

Owens State Community College food assistance

Michael Morgan

“More” continued on page 6


Poetry

Considering Identity Theft

Once upon a time, in one of many associations with other elements, they

got away with it. Used to carry in your wallet: license, Social Security and draft

cards. Now everything you do leaves an imprint on the consumer conscious societal

gluttons. Receiving mail, using phones or computers, dropping your name and

number everywhere you’ve ever been, like that errant fingerprint at the local murder

scene. These everyday actions spread one thin, diluting, leaving us susceptible, often

contaminated. We really are global creatures.

Recently, after growing up, they got mine—or what was left of it, after

smearing it around for 50 years or so. A suspended, expired driver’s license, sets of

keys to buildings torn down and trucks towed away, $6 left in my checking account,

dormant for 3 years. The city billed me in excess of $250,000 for the demolition of my

diminutive empire, even after I was kind enough to surrender $30,000 in a bankruptcy

in which they never removed the liens. Hospital bills I had to stop payment on because

of the now familiar “lack of funds” or insurance of any kind. Back property tax and

the city’s immoral, illegal liens that forbade me the ability to sell or even give away any

of the property, even though there were offers on every parcel: 5 storefronts with 3

apartments, 4 houses with various outbuildings. After maybe 7 years of non-filing, the

IRS and State of Ohio want me, in spite of years of practically non-existent work and a

useless but never officially given up vendor’s license. Thousands in fines were paid and

that much more still due, and jail time was served with years more suspended. If ever

I work for my stated Social Security number again, I’ll just be working for those who

stole my identity. They would be sure to take their cut.

I was careful: never buying a car on credit or taking on a loan of any kind,

bartering or paying cash for everything I’d ever owned. I’ve never had a bank or credit

card, or even bought a lottery ticket. Such a negative identity precludes positive

credit ratings, and you become a really badly rated person. Shame on me for never

borrowing the good old-fashioned American way. And what about my criminal

record—the active arrest warrants and the warrant blocks which prevent renewing

any license I’ve ever had? All because I once owned property. Due to fires, theft,

demolition and repeated moving resulting eventually in homelessness, my smudged,

disjointed paper trail has gotten so light it’s half blown away. No regular income and

trading leaves few prints.

While the theft has forced me underground, it hasn’t quelled my voice.

Dennis Doblinger


Morecontinued from page 4

Douglas Lawrence Photo: Raven Lintu

your hands are full, I am your door opener. I am a hugger. Some people just need a hug. I am a street direction provider for lost visitors and tourists. If you are lost in Nashville, I am the man that you need to talk to! I am a fashion coordinator. A lady was walking by one day and the white tag was sticking out of the back of her shirt. I informed her of this problem and she quickly corrected it. Now, if I had a tag sticking out of my shirt, I would want somebody to let me know and I would correct my tag problem. I am free entertainment for your kids. I give all kids the papers for free-with permission from the adults. I then

inform the kids that there is a puzzle in the back of the paper for them. They love it! By having the opportunity to give back to the communities that I serve, I have grown to have a new respect for myself and The Contributor newspaper. The readers of The Contributor and my customers must know that I am more than “just a vendor.” So, please, do not disrespect a Contributor newspaper salesman. You never know, I could be you or you could be me. You really never know what’s next in life.

www.street-papers.org / The Contributor - Nashville, TN ts

A arlier this month, President Obama signed a bill that renewed and expanded protection for

women against domestic violence. Not a coincidence that he chose International Women’s Day to sign the Violence Against Women Act. Some of the most harrowing cases of gender-based violence Kathryn Bolkovac came across while working as a U.N. human rights investigator in Bosnia involved a perpetrator dubbed “the Doctor” by the women and girls he abused. “It was (‘the Doctor’s’) practice to insert Deutsche Mark coins into the vaginas of young girls as they danced (in strip clubs),” she told IPS. Gender inequalities were so deeply rooted into social structures that even men who worked for the U.N. participated in sexual harassment of various forms. Gender-based violence, including psychological and sexual abuse, often represents a perverse expression of dissatisfaction with regard to power and self-worth on the part of the perpetrator. “My fellow International Police Task Force monitor… admitted to me (and U.N. management) that he had (purchased) a young girl from a local bar in Ilidža to keep at home with him as his ‘girlfriend’,” said Bolkovac. Men who worked at the U.N. Mission in Bosnia Herzegovina (UNMIBH) hung pictures with “inappropriate depictions of women” on the walls of their offices,

she added. And DynCorp employees—who are private military contractors embedded with the U.N.—circulated rape tapes around military bases, she noted. Bolkovac herself also faced harassment: “The U.N. personnel manager approached me to introduce himself and to tell me I was ‘kind of cute’,” she told IPS. “(In another case,) the contingent commander invited me to a Fourth of July celebration at the U.S. embassy and asked what type of undergarments I might be wearing,” she said. Bolkovac presented her book, co-written with Cari Lynn and entitled The Whistleblower: Sexual Trafficking, Military Contractors and One Woman’s Fight for Justice, at the U.N. Bookshop at the start of this month. Her story also inspired a film directed by Larysa Kondracki, entitled “The Whistleblower”, which was screened at U.N. headquarters in October 2011, following a special request from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. A panel discussion with senior U.N. officials on violence against women and girls ensued. On Feb. 14, 2013, Ban delivered a message in support of One Billion Rising, a daylong exclamation that showcased the solidarity and collective strength of women across the globe. The number “one billion” referred to the estimate that one in every three women is raped or beaten in her lifetime.

‘Marks of manhood’ fuel gender-based violence

George Gao, IPS

“Violence” continued on page 10


the balance between natural ecosystems and human needs in terms of food and energy. One day I started thinking about the “oil crisis”, about the fact that in a couple of years the time of cheaply available fossil fuels will be over and we will find ourselves in a post-oil era. With this in mind, I asked my students how we could organise ourselves in line with permaculture principles. We elaborated a document and printed out a limited number of copies. I thought no-one would be interested in it, but people downloaded thousands of copies from the internet. It all started as an academic exercise, but we soon realised that this was the missing piece of the energy consumption, individual behaviour and climate change puzzle. We organised a conference, which saw involved also some speakers from the US, and this was where it all took off: in the US, today, there are 200 transition initiatives.

TdM: But what needs to be done to achieve the “transition” stage?RH: There is no unique model: one can for example start with a questionnaire in order to collect information and evaluate people’s interest and availability. The focus is on action, but the ultimate goal is to make the economy and the local communities more resilient, able to find a human and environmental equilibrium even when they are faced with adverse or unforeseen circumstances, even when their primary source of energy, oil, runs out. The emphasis is on the local economy, on the community: in order for the idea to work, we cannot act as individuals. We think that by strengthening local economies which are based on relations, knowledge and self-production can result in a renewal of the actual economy.

TdM: Why is the idea of transition towns such a successful one?RH: I am not sure why. There are many new ideas around the world, some spread, and others don’t. The idea of transition towns has spread unexpectedly fast. The reason for this maybe lies in the fact that in our times, when we are unable to see the light and everything is dark and oppressive, the message given by transition communities is that it can be done, that we can start the process: things can be changed, we can experiment more

open and inclusive models. At the end of the day, this possibility to act, to try to change something, is exciting and fun and this also helps us to promote the idea.

TdM: Could we then consider groups that go shopping together locally “transition communities”?RH: Yes, if their aim is a low-consumption and low-emission society. The approach of transition towns is an inclusive one, thus it can consists in different initiatives. We believe that we can do it. We started off with actions focused on the environmental impact, but nowadays the process is becoming a cultural one.

TdM: To what degree are the 8,000 inhabitants of Totnes, where the idea first gained momentum, involved in the transition?RH: The data we have are data from two years ago: at that time 75% of the people had heard talking about transition, 62% thought it was a good initiative; 33% of the people were involved in somehow, even if only with small actions; 2 to 4% of the people were actively involved.

TdM: One last question: what is the difference between degrowth and transition?RH: I think degrowth can be defined as an intellectual model, while transition is a process which focuses on actions.

www.street-papers.org / Terre di Mezzo - Italy; translated by Dana Čandek

BIO: ROB HOPKINS

R ob Hopkins was born in Totnes, in the South of England, in1968.

He is the initiator of “transition towns” and of the “bottom-up” citizens’ movement which resulted from it and spread internationally. He is author of ‘The Transition Handbook: from oil dependence to local resilience’, which has been published in a number of languages, and more recently of ‘The Transition Companion: making your community more resilient in uncertain times’, published in October 2011. In line with a low-carbon lifestyle he does not travel much around the world to promote his initiative (especially not by plane). Consequently, the initiative grows by itself. He doesn’t often come to Italy, although he has lived there for a couple of years. Further information and Podcasts can be found here: transitionculture.org

R ob Hopkins leads a vibrant new movement of towns and cities that utilize local cooperation and

interdependence to shrink their ecological footprints. In the face of climate change, he developed the concept of Transition Initiatives—communities that produce their own goods and services, curb the need for transportation and take other measures to prepare for a post-oil future. With 400 transition communities and more than 8000 followers on Twitter, his model is starting to make a mark around the world. We met Rob Hopkins when he returned from a crowded public meeting in Venice, which was part of the international conference on Degrowth. In Parma too—where he was guest of “Kuminda”, the right-to-food festival co-organised by Terre di Mezzo—the venue was full of people. Mainly young people, who had come to listen to him, but were even more attracted by an idea, that of transition towns. An idea which fascinated and brings people together regardless of their ideology. Crossing all borders. The official transition communities are around 400, from Europe to Japan, the US and South Africa. In Italy, there are less than 10 such communities officially registered in the international network. The first one that became part of this network is in Monteveglio, a municipality of 5,000 inhabitants in the province of Bologna. In any case, these communities are very different from one another. They are often small groups within larger local communities. In Europe, the most successful experiment is that of Totnes (UK), a town on the hills not far from the coast, where Rob was born and where he still lives today. In 2009, the British Government chose Totnes as a model which should be developed and spread even further.

Terre di Mezzo: Where does the idea of transition towns come from?Rob Hopkins: I used to teach in Ireland. In the beginning of the year 2000, my course was one of the very first two-year courses in permaculture worldwide. Permaculture is a natural way of dealing with agriculture and the environment, which aims to preserve

The transition man: Interview with Rob Hopkins

Miriam Giovanzana, Terre di Mezzo

Rob HopkinsPhoto: greenhousepr.co.uk

ts


The view from the 13th floor of the Toledo Edison building is beautiful, even on an overcast and bitterly

cold day like this one. You can see Summit Street stretching itself along the river, with the One SeaGate building sparkling with what little sunlight breaks through and the bright blue roof of the Imagination Station beckoning below. Directly ahead, however, are the two stacks of the old Edison steam plant, a concrete reminder of two truths about Toledo: Its dogged determination to stick out the rough times, and its constant dreaming of better days to come. All over the city, organizations large and small—some little local grassroots groups and some large branches of national nonprofits—all work toward the same basic mission of making Northwest Ohio better. Few know this particular landscape of our city as well as Keith Burwell of the Toledo Community Foundation, an organization connecting people and businesses to participate in informed philanthropy in our area. TCF handles grants, mostly channeling the investment earnings into these efforts, while also serving as a community bank of knowledge, including running The Center for Nonprofit Resources. This is why I’m looking at this view right now - I am waiting in the TCF conference room for Mr. Burwell to join me and share about the generosity of Toledo and the “business” of compassion.

Toledo Streets: Congratulations on the Foundation’s 40th year!Keith Burwell: Thank you. It’s also 100 years for community foundations

nationwide. The first was in Cleveland.

TS: And how long have you been involved with TCF as president? Were you involved before that?KB: I’m closing in on 10 years here. I moved here from running another foundation in the research triangle of North Carolina.

TS: How are you liking Toledo?KB: We like it. Toledo’s like a big small town, or a small big town—however that goes. We feel we’ve developed real relationships here.

TS: So what do you think is in store for the nonprofit world in the next 10 years?KB: The driving force is fewer resources. I see a focus on the “three C’s”—collaboration, consolidation, and collapsing. Despite its smaller size, Toledo has the same nonprofit infrastructure as major metropolitan areas like Pittsburgh. We’re coming out of a recession, so there are fewer tax dollars to fund this infrastructure. This means nonprofits need to start becoming centralized, sharing adminstration through a backbone organization. The hindrance to this is sometimes the past history for these groups, the level of trust and understanding needs development. Sometimes it’s ego, too. But they need to ask themselves, ‘what’s our real mission?’ It’s easier to raise money when you’re collaborating. And if you’re bogged down doing adminstration, you’re not doing your program, so you can’t get results. For example, take a tutoring program. Are they so bogged down with payroll and development and paperwork that they’re not effectively

addition of GrowU at the Imagination Station. We want to encourage children to pursue academic achievement especially in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math. We also believe it is important for children and adults alike to know where their food comes from. GrowU is a game show that teaches agriculture concepts, and many related topics that support the growth of food resources. We continue to support the efforts of the Imagination Station on a annual basis.

In what ways is Toledo excelling at serving the community?We are pleased with the success of the wide variety of charitable, non-profit organizations in the Toledo area. The service they provide, and the care that they demonstrate for our community is really tough to describe in words. We continue to encourage organizations to use their resources wisely, and look for ways to partner with other organizations. Efficiency and effectiveness of the delivery of service go hand in hand.

An integral part of Northwest O h i o ’ s l a n d s c a p e

of generosity are the various local companies, especially those who continually donate profits to various community projects and programs. The Andersons, a diverse group of industries best known for its retail stores and agribusiness, is one such company focused on reinvesting in its communities. We’ve asked Julie Payeff, Community Commitment Manager for The Andersons, to give a little more detail on their ventures in compassion.

What is the history of your company’s charitable giving/foundation?The Andersons has been supporting the community from the very beginning. Our legacy of community support, dates back to our founders Harold and Margaret Anderson, who had a strong belief that we should give of our time, talent and treasure in the communities where we operate. Today, we continue the philosophy of “a little bit to many” by supporting a wide variety of organizations throughout the 19 states where we operate. Since our inception 65 years ago, we have given more than $60 million. Our mission statement calls us to “serve God by serving others.” We take that commitment very seriously in supporting our communities.

What is one program/project you’re currently funding?One of our highlights for 2012 was the

Amanda Faith Moore

Little city, big heart:Keith Burwell on Toledo’s generosity

Heart at Work:The Andersons

Our thanks to these advertisers and others in the paper for their

support! This is one way the Toledo Streets program is funded.Discover what these advertisers

did: An ad in Toledo Streets is VERY affordable!

Call 419.825.6397 for rates!

Left to right: Mike Anderson (The Andersons, Inc. - Chairman and CEO), Carl Nelson (Imagination

Station - Chief Scientist & Exhibits Director), Lori Hauser (IS, CEO), Dave Waterman

(IS, Chairman of the Board). Photo courtesy of The Andersons

“Burwell” continued on page 11 ts


I used to believe in one true path for my life, until these last few years have taught me otherwise. My husband and I were working,

both of us over 40 hours a week. But then the car needed fixed, other things came knocking on the door of our budget, and soon we found ourselves not able to keep up. Those of you who have ever chosen between having electric to heat your home and cook meals, or to pay for groceries for that month, know what I’m talking about. You pay Russian roulette with your bills, praying you’ll stay one step ahead of the shut-off notices. We spun the chamber in our gun, but unfortunately lost at our financial roulette. We found ourselves homeless. We didn’t have mental health issues, we weren’t into drugs or alcohol, we didn’t eat out, party all our money away, or any of the other misconceptions people have of the homeless. We were without heat, warm water, or a way to cook our food during the cold October nights. We were afraid that it was only a matter of time before Children Services intervened and took our children from us until we could adequately provide for them. So, we decided to look into area shelters with the goal of getting back on our feet as soon as possible. Everywhere we turned, we heard no’s. Area charities were out of funds to pay our past-due rent and utility bills; area shelters were men-only, or women-with-children. If we wanted to stay in a shelter, we would have to split up. It was very important to our family that if we had to go through something this tumultuous, that we do it together. I literally called every charity, shelter, and connection I could find in phone books,

through referrals, and any possibilities I heard. It is at the last moment that I found the Family House. It was 10:30 at night when I called, but they gracefully took our family. We packed up the few belongings we could fit into our car—clothes for work and school, a few toys each for the kids, a few toiletries—and then headed into the night to our new home. It was late at night, and our kids (6 and 3), were tired and cranky. Exhausted, we told our story to those doing our intake, filled out the paperwork, and were shown to our room. They gave our scared children little stuffed animals to help them feel more at home, and they still have those to this day. That was something that meant so much to us, and still does. Our room was small, with 2 bunk-beds.But it was warm, it was shelter with 3 meals a day, so we couldn’t help but to be grateful. Over the days, we began talking to the other residents, hearing stories that both broke our hearts and gave us hope. So many other families, in similar situations, all struggling in this rolling-of-dice at which we had all lost. I remember one single mom in particular that was working full-time, going to school to get her CNA, and was close to completing a program there at Family House that would help her get a brand-new house of her own upon completion. Although she was running from an abusive boyfriend, she was full of hope, and would do anything she needed to do for her son and herself. I couldn’t believe that people could look at people like her, people like us, and just assume we weren’t working hard enough, weren’t budgeting as well as them, and somehow had done this to ourselves. I’d like to ask those same people

Having become a philanthropist in his later years, Bill Gates has always applied

a business-type structure to his foundation. Figurehead of those whom the Virginie Seghers researcher calls “the new philanthropists,” he transposes the techniques that made his company successful onto his method of giving. Efficiency, pragmatism, and a dominant position in the market. In ten years, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has become, more than an unignorable player, a guru in the field of philanthropy.

PRIORITISING DEVELOPMENT NEEDSIts unmatched financial strength (today, the foundation has 34 billion dollars) is obviously a pillar of this success story. Its empowerment, a term dear to industry players, which refers to its ability to deal with issues, is unanimously recognised. This is so to the point that businessman Warren Buffet, in 2006, chose to donate $37 billion to his friend’s foundation rather than to create his own organization. The other peculiarity of Bill Gates’ philanthropy lies in his choice of causes. Contrary to the American tradition of acting locally, his playground is the entire world. His global objective: reduce poverty, most notably by funding research programs and by forging partnerships with other development groups, UN agencies, governments, and NGOs.

THE CLUB OF THE GENEROUS HYPER-RICHSince June 2010, Bill Gates’

philanthropic actions are no longer limited to his foundation. By launching “Giving Pledge” (literally “pledge”) with his friend Warren Buffett, the multi-billionaire has become the representative of the generous hyper-rich. Less than two years after its launch, 59 people have promised to donate a portion of their money to charity. Some observers believe the success of Giving Pledge has ‘uninhibited’ them and that they might choose to be less secretive about their actions. A generation of philanthropic entrepreneurs who are actively engaged has, in fact, emerged in recent years. The ‘boss philanthropist’ example set by Gates is contagious.

WHAT THE CRITICS SAYMeanwhile, critics are emerging from within the community of philanthropists to denounce the beliefs that business methods can be as successful in development aid as with any activity. “We go from a stage of wonderment to one of concern,” analyzes Laurent Terrisse, director of French charity Limite: “Entrepreneurial logic alone is not enough to solve problems such as that of public health. The political and human dimensions cannot be ignored.” Another concern is related to its governance. As it often happens in family foundations, its board of directors is composed of the Gates spouses and Bill’s father. But the foundation’s power, which has more influence on development aid than UN agencies, raises questions about this type of administration.

Michelle Wray DavisSolène Cordier , Macadam

Generosity, the Gates way

A meal at the Family House

“Family House” continued on page 12ts


Violence continued from page 6

power,” he continued. Many consume alcohol to deal with their sense of failure. “There’s also a social expectation generated in a significant part by the world of advertising that men should drink, and that drinking is a mark of being a man,” said Peacock. “So if you (consider) the nexus of alcohol, guns, and—perhaps most importantly—the social pressure and expectation that men be dominant in their relationships with women (and) have the ultimate authority in their relationships and their homes… you’ve got a recipe for men’s violence against women,” he explained. He advocated for psychosocial support for children exposed to violence, as well as policies in the education sector that integrate topics related to gender equality into the curricula. Peacock also warned of the dangers facing women and girls in conflict and post-conflict situations, when there is a lack of legal systems to hold people accountable for their actions.

GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND DEVELOPMENTThe U.N. is currently constructing a new development framework, known as the post-2015 development agenda, to replace the Millennium Development Goals when they expire in 2015. A public consultation took place online and through social media platforms under the auspices of the U.N. Development Group between September 2012 and January 2013, focused on addressing inequalities. It culminated with a public dialogue, which featured civil society experts and U.N. officials, who met from Feb 18-19 in Copenhagen. One reoccurring topic brought up by both the public participants and the experts in discussion was how to incorporate gender-based violence—something that the MDGs failed to address—into the new development framework.

www.streetpapers.org/IPS

“The global pandemic of violence against women and girls thrives in a culture of discrimination and impunity,” said Ban. “By standing together, we can end violence against women and girls, and build a world where all live free from harassment and fear.” But on the same day as One Billion Rising, another occurrence rattled the gender frameworks. It involved a world renowned Olympian, known as the “Blade Runner”, who shot and killed his girlfriend while she sat on the bathroom stall.

RECIPE FOR GENDER-BASED VIOLENCEOscar Pistorius is a South African athlete with carbon-fibre racing legs. Once seen as a role model for young amputees, Pistorius fell from grace when he allegedly murdered Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day. This happened shortly after 17-year-old Anene Booysen was gang raped and mutilated to death. The perpetrators abandoned her body at a construction site not far from her home. Both events brought attention to widespread gender-based violence, the topic of the upcoming Commission on the Status of Women’s (CSW) 57th session, to be held at U.N. headquarters Mar. 4-15. According to a synthesis report entitled “Addressing Inequalities”, gender-based violence reflects “unequal power relations between men and women, girls and boys - in the economic, social (including legal) and political spheres. “Gender-based violence, including psychological and sexual abuse, often represents a perverse expression of dissatisfaction with regard to power and self-worth on the part of the perpetrator.” Dean Peacock, co-founder and executive director of the Sonke Gender Justice Network, told IPS, “In South Africa, like in the U.S., there’s a very strong association between gun ownership and manhood.” Bushmaster Firearms

International, the same company that produced the .223 calibre semiautomatic rifle used in the mass shooting of a school in Newtown, Connecticut, ran an advertising campaign labelling Bushmaster guns as a “Man Card”. Peacock explained the dangers surrounding notions of masculinity in South Africa, where much of the population suffers from long-term structural unemployment. “Men face a social expectation and a social pressure to be able to provide for their families—make sure their children can go to school, put food on the table—but they’re (often) not able to do that, so they carry around a tremendous sense of failure,” he said. “They internalise and blame themselves for what are structural problems created by our economic policies and (South Africa’s) position in the global economy. Men then compensate for their failure to live up to that pressure by engaging in a range of risky practices that grants them some fleeting sense of either escape or ts

‘Men for an End to Violence against Women’, a slogan on a T-shirt in Santa Marta, Brazil.Photo: Fabiana Frayssinet/IPS


Located in the warehouse district, Gathered showcases

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Glass opportunitiesSign up on our website and join the Gathered team to make a seasonal glass item of your own!!

Cost: $25-50 (for a 10-15 minute duration)

Demos/ Open HouseJoin us the 3rd Friday of every month for the Gathered Open House from 9-11pm.

Free to the public23 N. Huron, Toledo419.62.5501

gatheredartgallery.com

Jon Bon Jovi stuck a shovel in the ground and smiled. He’s best known as the rocker who is one of the world’s best-selling

and most popular artists, having sold more than 140 million albums. Among homelessness providers in Philadelphia and across the country he’s also known as a selfless and dedicated advocate with a long history of donating time, money and energy to fighting homelessness. He dreams very big. But he talks small. As Bon Jovi participated in the groundbreaking ceremonies for JBJ Soul Homes, a joint effort between Philadelphia homelessness providers Project H.O.M.E and People for People, Inc., that will bring apartments for formerly homeless and low-income adults and children to North Philadelphia, he talked about the day-to-day difference every person can make in the fight to end homelessness. It was a call to action that asked people to embrace a simple formula. “We don’t need a scientist to create the cure,” Bon Jovi said. “It’s going to take a lot of determination and sweat and there are a lot of determined people here who believe that we can, in fact, eradicate homelessness. “It doesn’t take money. It takes acts of kindness. It takes determination. It takes will. It takes being your own microphone and being your own TV camera. “It starts small, and it starts

right here and right now.” In 2006 he founded the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, with the motto “Rebuilding pride in one’s self and one’s community—one soul at a time.” The foundation helps fund and create community efforts to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness. JBJ Soul Homes is just the latest project Bon Jovi has helped bring to fruition. The building, slated to open in November 2013, receives both private and public funding. The lead private funding comes from the JBJ Soul Foundation and the Middleton Partnership. The lead public funding comes from US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the City of Philadelphia. People for People, Inc. will manage the retail space and Project H.O.M.E. will manage the residences. The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, with its lead gift for the development of this project, provides leadership in affordable housing in Philadelphia and in its Soul Home in Newark, NJ. “The struggle of homelessness is unimaginable to me,” Bon Jovi said. “But like we have seen after the tragedy of Hurricane Sandy, we know that if we forget all of our differences, we can come together as one. People across the nation—and certainly here in Philadelphia—have proven time and again that by working together we

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Burwellcontinued from page 8

working toward their mission? Essentially, are they babysitting or actually raising the education level of the students they’re serving?

TS: How do you choose whom to fund?KB: Well, it’s an art, not a science. We need to make sure it’s money well spent because this is the public’s money, so we have to look at the return on investment. We want to be able to tell them “we did the right thing”. There are four main things we’d look for: One; do they have data to quantify their mission, to show that it works and they’re moving toward their goal? Two; are they sustainable? Do they have the administrative ability to stay in for the long haul? We don’t want to give you a grant so you can hire somebody only to fire them a year later when the grant is done. Three; do they have a strong board? And four; what are their policies? Part of our job is to see how we can pull others into the funding. How do we empower the organization to the next source of money? Success breeds success.

TS: Do you personally ever feel there are too many nonprofits?KB: I don’t feel it, I know it—it’s a fact. That’s the best and worst thing about Toledo; that we are a giving, caring community—but we can’t let go, despite ineffectiveness.

TS: What is “trending” for grants and funding right now? Are there areas of focus that are either new or more

popular now than they were in the past?KB: There’s a little more energy being given right now in the areas of education and economic opportunity. Four to five years ago, the focus was on basic needs. Now we want to not put a Band-Aid on the issues, but fix them so there’s no Band-Aid needed.

TS: How do you see social enterprise fitting into community funding?KB: It’s a new way of looking at ROI and leveraging effectiveness that can help with the sustainability factor. I think it’s a piece of the puzzle that can feed into an organization’s mission.

TS: In what ways is Toledo on the cutting edge by the work of local organizations? KB: It’s a new age of collaboration. The YMCA and the JCC won a national award for their work together. Another example is the Pathways Program, focused on a low birth weight (LBW) baby initiative that involves training women who live in the same neighborhoods that show the highest rates of LBWs. The Pathways model was developed by Drs. Mark and Sarah Redding in Mansfield, with the collaboration of all four hospital systems in Toledo. It’s being looked at for replication nationally.

TS: What is one program or project TCF has assisted that you’re excited about?KB: I love any good program that works, big or small. “Bon Jovi” continued on page 13

Jon Bon Jovi breaks ground‘Each... has the power to effect change. You needn’t be a rockstar.’

Kevin Roberts, One Step Away


Family Housecontinued from page 9

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to get up and say something, I didn’t hesitate. I took my 7 year-old daughter up to the front, and facing a crescent of power who were all swiveled in their seats looking at us, I let my voice tremble and my knees knock. I told them pieces of our story, and pleaded with them to think of those like my daughter standing there with me, staying in the Family House, but not having anything to eat. My facing City Council was the spark inside me, the kindling of change that would soon be set ablaze. It wasn’t enough to simply say that I cared, it wasn’t enough to read about the shelters or even volunteer once in awhile. Inside, the fire of my promise made years ago began to catch ablaze inside of me. I wanted to make good on our family’s promise to one day give back. I wanted to make sacrifices— something I believe selfless giving requires. I e-mailed Renee, the Executive Director at the Family House, and asked her if this was something I could do. I wondered if I could find enough friends and co-workers to come together each month, and serve a meal potluck-style. I knew I didn’t have the financial means to prepare enough food for 80+ people, but if I tried to organize a bunch of people in my friendship-webs, would that work? Could we shoot for once a month, and take maybe every 2nd Saturday of each month, and provide a meal for the Family House? Renee was more than ecstatic, and she encouraged me to try to get as many as I could together to make this work. She has since become one of our biggest cheerleaders, encouraging us in our little endeavor. Just think: if just 30 churches/organizations/friends in our greater Toledo area took only one night each month, every single day would be covered, and these families could count on dinner each night! October of 2012 was our first month of serving meals. I was nervous it wouldn’t come together, but was pleasantly surprised with the out-pouring of food, products, money, and time that was given to pull it off. The only drawback to our first meal was that only about 20 residents came to eat. I was discouraged, but hopeful. I needn’t worry for long. Soon, the word was out, and we had 50+ guests joining us. In December, we even had Santa & Mrs. Claus, who just happened to meet one of

our volunteers, come down and donate gifts, their time, and their laps for a very magical night for the kids of Family House. We now have over 50 residents come down each month, the staff looks forward to our meals and eats with us, and there’s the near 30 volunteers each month as well! At last month’s meal, we even ran into the old cook still employed there as a receptionist now, while setting up January’s meal. It was neat to catch up with him, and realize how life had certainly come full-circle, and now we were the cooks setting up the meal! When I started these meals, it was of utmost importance to me that above all else, the dignity of these families be kept intact. I knew what it felt like to be judged by your address, your paycheck, or the cards dealt to you in life. I didn’t want us volunteers to stand behind a counter, simply plopping food on their trays. I wanted each resident to be a PERSON, who should be able to decide what they wanted and how much. I wanted for us to not to merely serve them food, but to help them carry their trays, juggle their plates, hold squirmy babies, and occupy the attention of bored little ones. I dreamed of smiles on both sides of the line, of jokes flying, soft music playing, and of volunteers sitting down to eat with the residents. Five months later, this is exactly what one sees if they come down to a 2nd Saturday Meal. There are volunteers’ children playing with residents’ children, volunteers holding babies so that tired moms can eat in peace, there are jokes and sarcastic teasing, there are residents helping us set up the meal. Everywhere one looks, there are tears, laughter, jokes, stories, prayers, and hugs. It’s all the things you would find at a big family meal; because really—isn’t that what this is? This is a meal at the Family House. They say there is only one path in life. Somewhere along the way you learn that others expect you to stay on that path, and to have it all figured out. You pray that you find the one path that God has predestined for you, and that you never stray from it, lest you tempt fate and doom finds you around the next bend. I wrote a poem about this viewpoint I once held last month when considering our paths in life. I decided that I no longer believed paths were straight, but often circled back, as ours did with the Family House...

WHAT IF?

What ifThere’s no one roadThat God has predestined for your life,But a tangled of pathsThat weave and intersectLike a toddler’s crayon set free?

What ifGod allows for our mistakesBy setting paths to double-back,To loop around,Until we finally find our way?

What ifEach fork in the roadIsn’t merely a choiceBetween right and wrong,But a gift of liberty givenIn the name of free will?

What ifLife is found in the choosing,Wisdom found in the weaving,And God found in the steps hesitating?

Consider looking us up at facebook.com/2ndSaturdayMealsForTheFamilyHouse Or, better yet, consider getting YOUR friends, neighbors, co-workers, family and church members together to “adopt” your own weekend/weekday each month. Find out just how blessed you can become, when blessing others.

Editor’s Note: For a unique experience and a fantastic way to support Family House, make plans to attend their UNMASK Your Love masquerade ball and four course dinner on Saturday, April 13th, at The Toledo Club. For more information and tickets, call 419-242-5505.

to stay for just one night in a shelter with us. Get to know our stories —REALLY listen to the struggles we’ve been through—then say we are lazy, that we just rely on a system that rewards bums, or we just need to work harder. It was this courageous mom who got my husband and I talking about what we could do while we were staying in the Family House. Yes, we were in a difficult situation, but how could we use this time to better ourselves, to stretch the limits of our humanness, to be better when we stepped out of this shelter than when we went in? It was during our month there that we came up with the idea to some day be in a position where we could come back and cook up wonderful meals, and serve the very same people we once were. We promised that once we were on the outside, we would not forget those on the inside. Five years later, we were finally in a position to get this idea up and running. We still didn’t have much money, but I did have many friends who cared for, and fought for, social justice just as we did. Recent changes to the funds provided to the Family House required that I take some kind of action. I felt I couldn’t just watch it all happen, hear about it on the news, and not get involved somehow. The Family House had lost much of its local funding, and without that they were forced to cut their meal program. When we stayed there, they served 3 meals a day to us. There was a friendly cook who not only nourished our bellies, but filled our hearts as well. I tried to imagine us taking shelter, already down on our luck, and having to worry about meals on top of all the other financial stresses families face while staying in a shelter. I couldn’t imagine trying to scramble and figure out how I would feed my family when I couldn’t even provide the security of a home. This past summer, the Family House and other area shelters and human rights organizations went to City Council to plead with them to consider the homeless when deciding where money would funnel. I had not planned on speaking that day, but as I sat there, my heart hammered with pains of injustice. My mind was screaming at the lack of understanding that seemed to be so prevalent there. When nudged by friends

Alisa, Michelle, Jim, and Jimmy Davis outside the Toledo Museum of Art in the fall of 2011.

Photo courtesy of the Davis family


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Bon Jovicontinued from page 11

Bon Jovi joins staff of Project H.O.M.E and People for People, Inc. at the groundbreaking ceremony for JBJ Soul Homes.Photo: Nicole Polk (courtesy of Project Home)

can make a brighter future for people, communities, our city and beyond.” Bon Jovi said he hopes JBJ Soul Homes will be one step toward ending homelessness. “I hope that what will happen here is that somebody in those homes will go out and just pay it forward,” Bon Jovi said. “We live in a time when we can’t rely on just the government or the private sector alone. These collaborations, at a time when our nation is so polarized, are so important to the future of the country.” While Bon Jovi certainly lent star power to the groundbreaking, hundreds of area residents, major funders John and Leigh Middleton and Project H.O.M.E. co-founder Sister Mary Scullion noted the extraordinary partnerships it takes to complete this kind of project. “Today we celebrate more than just this project, but that vision we all share,” Sister Mary Scullion said. “A vision of a just and compassionate society; a vision where everyone has a place to call home and where everyone has a chance to flourish; a vision that believes in transformation, that even from the darkest of experiences great things can come.” Bon Jovi has been a longtime supporter of Project H.O.M.E., a Philadelphia-based nonprofit that empowers people to break the cycle of homelessness, address the structural causes of poverty, and attain their fullest potential as members of society through a continuum of care comprised of street outreach, a range of supportive housing, and comprehensive services. At the event he thanked co-founders Sister Mary and Joan Dawson McConnon for their work. “Our day is a little brighter when we’re in the company of Sister Mary and Joan and all the good works they have done in the past and will continue to do in the future,” he said. “With great leadership comes the opportunity to make the change you want to be,” Bon Jovi said. “This was the place where our forefathers founded this great nation. I don’t think they intended to see people

on the street homeless. I think they intended people to come and pursue life, liberty, that pursuit of happiness, the basic needs of a roof over your head, the opportunity to have food in your belly. “That gives you the opportunity to go out and make the world a better place.” With this project, and his participation in Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, Bon Jovi is continuing a long history of combating issues that force people into economic despair. Last year Bon Jovi and the Soul Foundation opened the Soul Kitchen in New Jersey, which takes an innovative approach to fighting hunger. With no prices on the menu, the Soul Kitchen encourages diners to pay what they can in the form of a donation, or serves meals to customers who are willing to volunteer at the restaurant. At the opening ceremonies for the Soul Kitchen, Bon Jovi said: “At a time when one in five households are living at or below the poverty level, and at a time when one out of six Americans are food insecure, this is a restaurant whose time has come.” Earlier in 2012 Bon Jovi partnered with the Departments of Veteran Affairs (VA), Housing & Urban Development (HUD) and Health & Human Services (HHS) to help launch a mobile app that would allow homeless veterans to better find and access services, including housing and medical resources. A contest, called Project REACH (Real-time Electronic Access for Caregivers and the Homeless) contest, offered case prizes in developing the mobile app. “The concept is we can access vets to instant and real-time help via

the internet. What better way to do that than through the minds of the tech community?” Bon Jovi said, in a conference call with reporters. Bon Jovi has also worked with Covenant House, and in April helped open a facility for homeless youth in Philadelphia. In an interview with Covenant House president Kevin Ryan, Bon Jovi recalled how his interest in helping fight homelessness started: “I remember that the first Covenant House was located near the old bus station at the foot of the Lincoln Tunnel in New York City,” Bon Jovi said. “I would look out the bus window on my way to work in a recording studio and often think, ‘There, but for the grace of God go I...’” Bon Jovi said he wrote “Runaway,” his first hit single, about the homeless youths he saw. And his philanthropic efforts have continued to help fight homelessness across the country ever since. “I have been blessed both in my professional and personal life,” Bon Jovi said. “Having the opportunity to make change is both rewarding and necessary ... Each of us has the power to effect change. You needn’t be a rock star. You needn’t be a politician or invent the magic pill. But each of us working together in what I refer to as the ‘power of we’ is capable of great things.”

www.street-papers.org / One Step Away - Philadelphia, PA

Additional reporting for this story was provided by Project H.O.M.E. This report includes additional information from past interviews with Jon Bon Jovi and from the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation.

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Shortly after I begin interviewing Jared Diamond—a spare, spry looking man who looks like he has sweated himself dry after

years in the tropics—he interrupts the conversation to ask me where I’m from, saying that he always does that when he hears an unfamiliar accent. So we set aside the Dani, the !Kung, the Nuer and the Ache for a brief excursion into the language and folkways of Stoke-on-Trent and nearby parts of north Staffordshire. This interest in the Potteries tribe from a bestselling author of popular anthropology is flattering, but it’s the nature of his interest that is most revealing. As a native of an industrial city in the English Midlands, I am a member in good standing of the WEIRD—his term for the White, the Educated, the Rich (in global terms, at any rate) and the Democratic: in other words, of the dominant global tribe, the people who believe themselves to set the standards of normality for the rest of the world. At least they might believe that but that’s not the way Diamond sees it. “There is this temptation in the West for people to see themselves as simply mainstream and normal simply because they live in technologically advanced, wealthy society. But it’s simply not true. Everyone is part of a culture. I live in the United States, I travel frequently to New Guinea and I first came to England in the 1950s. Believe me: you do things differently here.” In his first bestseller, Guns, Germs and Steel, Diamond explained Western cultural and economic dominance as a kind of happy accident that befell people who happened to live in temperate parts of the planet with plentiful wildlife and lots of natural resources. In Collapse, he described what happens to civilisations that exploit the resources available to them beyond the point where they can be replaced. In his new book, The World Until Yesterday, he offers a kind of audit of the practices of traditional peoples in every area, from dispute resolution to child rearing, and compares these with the legal and cultural standards we like to believe are normal and natural. In doing so, he ranges over no fewer than 39 traditional peoples,

from the Siberian North to the South Atlantic, but focuses mainly on the people of New Guinea, his main research interest and a place that could fairly be called his second home. “New Guinea is a huge set of examples,” he says. “It has one seventh of the languages in the world, and each of them is spoken by people with their own societies and codes of behaviour. New Guinea is a microcosm, a kind of universe in itself.” It’s a universe in which both the superiority and inadequacy of traditional approaches to society building can be seen. In one chapter, Diamond writes about a long, complex process of negotiation after the death of a child in a road accident, a process that goes through acknowledgment of guilt, heartfelt apology, prolonged negotiation and symbolic compensation to a final state where both perpetrator and the victim’s family are satisfied and reconciliation can occur. Elsewhere, in a chilling account of irregular warfare among the Dani people of the New Guinea highlands, Diamond explains what happens when this process breaks down in the absence of a central authority with the power to enforce justice: a nightmare world of ambush, raiding and inter-generational blood feud amid constantly shifting patterns of alliance and enmity. It’s not that modern states are more intellectually accomplished than traditional societies, he says. It’s just that as societies become larger they develop ideas of justice necessary to keep the peace among strangers. Small, traditional societies focus on ways to reconcile people who know each other and who are going to have to live together for the rest of their lives. When these go wrong, you get constant irregular warfare. When they work out, they bring a sense of genuine restorative justice that is often absent in modern states. “That’s a big thing that we’re missing,” he says. “Any of us who have been involved in a divorce or inheritance dispute routinely find that the last thing that the court system cares about is whether the husband and wife are going to remain on friendly terms. Instead the state

is concerned with figuring out who gets what, whereas in New Guinea the emphasis would be on restoring the relationship: not just between the couple but between all the relations of the couple.” O v e r a l l , Diamond looks at the range of society-building practices at work in both traditional and modern societies as a tapestry of constant experimentation, from which everyone can, potentially, learn. The question then is how we do it. “It’s a big question, and it’s not a simple matter. Some of the things we can learn we can adopt for ourselves: such as whether to smack our children. Some things which we may consider desirable in traditional societies, like effecting emotional reconciliation, we can’t do without changing our court system.” Some things seem to be eternal: like politics, for instance. In The World Until Yesterday, Diamond describes the system evolved by the !Kung bushmen to permit movement, settlement and rights to resources of allied peoples. It sounds exactly like the structure of the European Union. The book raises the prospect of a more or less seamless accommodation between the traditional and the modern, with each side capable of learning from the other. Yet this is not how traditional and modern societies have interacted when they have met each other. More often, the results have been devastating for the traditional society out of prejudice or racism, or because it lives on top of land or resources that the incomers want. So it’s not surprising that the book has been subject to some harsh criticism. According to Stephen Corry, director of tribal rights advocacy group Survival International: “The principal cause of the destruction of tribal peoples is the imposition of nation states. This does not save them; it kills them.”

What The World Until Yesterday lacks may be a product of how it came to be written. Diamond had originally planned to produce an autobiography based on his experiences in New Guinea but “the publisher said that it wanted a Jared Diamond book - a book with something to say about social issues, drawing on the experience of a wide range of peoples”. In a sense Diamond was conforming to the rules of the self-help sub-division of the publishing tribe: providing a book that offers genuine insight within limits but avoids taboo matters like power relations and economic exploitation. The book is not racist or patronising, certainly not intentionally. In fact, the problem with it is that it assumes that a state of equality exists and that all that remains is the job of bringing about a free and fair exchange of ideas and putting them into practice. While it leaves much out, The World Until Yesterday also insists that progress isn’t a matter of moving from a tribe to a nation. In Diamond’s view, that is inevitable and has both good and bad consequences. Real progress, on the other hand, is a matter for humanity as a whole. Diamond, meanwhile, has a journey in mind. “In a month or two, when the book tour is over, I hope to go back to New Guinea. I’m well into my seventies but I intend to go back for as long as I have the strength.”

www.street-papers.org / The Big Issue in the North - UK

Jamie Kenny, The Big Issue in the North

‘The World Until Yesterday’Interview with Jared Diamond

Scientist & author Jared Diamond.Photo: Jochen Braun


HoboscopesMr. Mysterio

PISCES | St. Patrick was the kind of guy who makes the rest of us look lazy. If legends are to be believed, he began by running the snakes out of Ireland. Then he brought Christendom to the Druids. Next he raised the humble shamrock to a revered symbol of the holy trinity. And that was all before lunch! He spent the rest of the afternoon converting the spirits of long-dead pagan warriors and pinching everybody who wasn’t wearing green. That guy got things done! Most current historians agree that there were actually two different St Patricks who lived 50 years apart. So it took at least two guys to do all that stuff. That makes me think maybe you can give yourself a break about not finishing everything on your to-do list this week, Pisces. Better yet, maybe you can find somebody else to help you get it all done.

ARIES | What are we saving all this daylight for, anyway? Farmers? Schoolchildren? Surfers? Forget saving, Aries, I think this is daylight spending season. Get out there and use it. Make hay while the sun shines! Or do something more useful that you actually enjoy. Whatever you spend it on, this is a great time to use that daylight to it’s fullest potential. So roll that clock forward an hour (or two!) and don’t come back home until the sun sinks well below the horizon.

TAURUS | Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, Taurus. The sign on the road to the left read “Construction: Traffic Fines Doubled Next 14 Miles.” The sign on the road to the right read “Pemberton County: 22 Miles”. Your map shows a waterfall 16 miles to the east and a canyon 30 miles due south. Which road is the road less travelled? Please show your work.

GEMINI | In a recent study a group of highly trained radiologists were asked to review scans of lungs to search for cancerous cells. These expert observers examined the slides with devout attention, but only 17 percent of them noticed that there was a picture of a gorilla superimposed over the lung tissue. If 83 percent of radiologists can’t see the gorilla that they aren’t looking for, then don’t you think there might be something you’re missing too? Why don’t you take a step back, Gemini. Let yourself be distracted for a moment. Your focus is commendable, but it may be getting in the way of you seeing the big picture.

CANCER | Consider the lungfish, Cancer. When a lake starts to dry up and there’s no rain in sight, most fish just give up. But not

the mighty lungfish. The lungfish builds for himself a mucous-cocoon where he is able to stay dormant and moist until rain returns to his little lake and he can go back to swimming and other fishy activity. It reminds me of you, Cancer. Not because you built a mucous-cocoon (which is really none of my business) but because you’re resilient. You’ve survived droughts before and you’re going to survive this one too.

LEO | The prehistoric ancestors of the coffee plant began to produce caffeine because it acts as a natural pesticide and it inhibits the germination of competing plant species. Basically, caffeine helped those plants to be left alone. To tell you the truth, Leo, if you have one more shot of espresso, you won’t have very many friends left either. Your levels of unnatural morning energy are starting to wear on those around you. Maybe you could try switching to herbal tea? Or maybe just hot water.

VIRGO | So much to do, so little time. 24 little hours are hardly enough to get through it all. But what would you do with more time? What if you could have 30 hours in a day? You’d get it all done then, right? Or would you just fill the time up with more tasks, more obligations, more distractions and more invented needs to meet? It isn’t more hours in a day that you need, Virgo, it’s a deeper understanding of what you really want your hours to do. You’ve been starting with the “urgent” things or the easy things. The things you have to get done today or the ones that take the least effort. What about scrapping all of that and starting with the actually important things. Do the things that make you the kind of person you want to be in five years. The rest will get worked out in the cracks. There’s plenty of time to be who you’re meant to be.

LIBRA | Why don’t artificial sweeteners ever taste as good as the real thing? And how can anybody stand that aftertaste? Every time I have something sugar-free, I think it’s pretty good and then for two hours after it’s like I licked tar and I feel like my tongue stinks. Is the sweetness really worth it? In this case, Libra, I’m going to say that it’s not. What are you using to artificially sweeten your life? Those things that you don’t really like, you don’t really want, but you do them because they’re a “good enough” stand-in for the genuine article. You think you don’t think you have the time, patience or resources to meet find and manage the real sweetness—the deep joy of life. Stop compromising. Do what you need to do to get rid of the artificial and enjoy the actual.

SCORPIO | They say that if the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a nail. But what if the only tool you have is a grapefruit spoon? That’s how it feels at times like these, Scorpio, when all those big grapefruits are coming at you and you only have one little toothy spoon to defend yourself. Take heart! A grapefruit isn’t a problem, it’s just a pulpy, acidic, thick-skinned, oblate-spheroid. You eat problems like these for breakfast! But before you celebrate victory, I want you to consider getting a few new items for your toolbox. Maybe a tennis racket or an oven mitt. SAGITTARIUS | I know it’s inconvenient, but I have to admit, I like it when the power goes out. The fan stops blowing and the lights on the TV and the clock go out. You feel around in that top drawer for a flashlight and look out the window to see if the neighbor’s porch light is out or if it’s just you. It’s usually just for a few minutes, but you never know how long it might be. These spontaneous inconveniences remind us that the control we think we have over our lives is pretty flimsy. Reminds me of what you’ve been in the middle of lately, Sagittarius. In the midst of your recent downtime, I think you’re at a good point to stop and reflect. You wonder how you got here and why? You feel like you deserve better. But if you get up and look out your window, you’ll notice you aren’t the only one who’s in a slump. The truth is, you didn’t get yourself here and there’s not much you can do to fix it. All you can do is wait.

CAPRICORN | The daffodils are coming up. They look confused. Is this it? Is this the moment they’ve been waiting for? Has the frost finally gone? These are questions that amateur astrologers can’t answer. But I do know this, little daffodil, a flower never got anywhere by

staying underground all spring. At some point, you just have to say “I can do it!” and pop your little green Capricorn head up out of the dirt. I think it’s time. AQUARIUS | I don’t know much about sports, Aquarius. Usually I get depressed enough watching the local news that by the time the weather man asks if “spring might be in the air” I’ve put the TV on mute and am vacantly pondering the vast insignificance of all human knowledge. So I don’t know why the guy with the skinny tie and the nice teeth is pretending to laugh at his co-anchor while the words “March Madness” sparkle at the bottom of the screen. I don’t know what he means by “March Madness.” But there is something about the phrase that I understand—perhaps on a primal level. I don’t know much about sports, but I know that as the ground begins to thaw and the trees bud and the frogs wake up from their rock-hard winter sleep, there is a kind of March madness that creeps into my mind and begs me to burst out my front door and run howling through the still un-growing yards of my sleeping neighbors. While I can’t recommend that exact behavior, Aquarius, I can say that if you feel the March madness descend upon you, or boil up, it is your ancient sacred duty to fulfill it in whatever way you can. Give a yell to the night sky or run aimlessly into an empty field. Release what you can of your pent-up winter restlessness. Let the March madness out.

Mr. Mysterio is not a licensed astrologer, a licensed boom-mic operator, or a verified person of note.

Hoboscopes appear courtesy of The Contributor street newspaper in Nashville, TN. ts

Toledo Streets Issue 25

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