Homeless Push: 12 for 12K - Make an impact in your community

We are now 2 days into the 12 for 12K Homeless Push. The premise: take the 12 days before Christmas, and do a little “sumthin’ sumthin’” to help the homeless in your community. This shouldn’t be too difficult – it’s the month (and weeks) of the year where everyone is facilitating your ability to participate. So, I encourage you to do so…

1/ Register with the 12 for 12K community and share what you, your friends, your family, your colleagues are doing.

2/ Think beyond a monetary donation. Money is great – it helps a lot of the organizations run, but people who are homeless could use things made easy. Take a look at some of the suggestions put forward at 12 for 12K blog. (My personal favourite: the bake-off! Who would not like some home-baked cookies? You could even cheat and get some Pillsbury Holiday Cookies - mmm.)

3/ Go beyond what you would have usually done… Let’s face it, it’s the Holiday season. Every year, at the very least, you dig out one can of soup from your pantry and donate it to some food drive, somewhere. So, this year – can you do a little bit more?

Why? Let’s start by stating that the economy of the past couple of years has put an incredible strain on all our services for the homeless and the “less fortunate”. Canada’s unemployment rate is 8.5%, and although the economy appears to be turning around, the reality is that most of the indicators are still below 2008 levels. This is not good – and this also means that the “homeless population” in Canada has new residents…

What does this mean for my ‘hood? Let me try to provide some insight from a GTA (Greater Toronto Area) perspective:

• First, scroll to the bottom of this article and you will see that food banks and all major communities in Ontario have seen significant increases in use!
• Each year, an estimated 50 young women with no permanent home give birth at St. Michael’s Hospital in downtown Toronto. (National Post, November 09)
• From a CBC News Report (granted from 2004 – though I’m not sure things have gotten better):

Estimates of the number of homeless in Toronto range from 60,000 to 70,000. But advocates for the homeless say those numbers are low because they are based on shelter use and don't take into account those who live in parks or encampments, such as Tent City.

A planned census of Toronto's homeless was put on hold after advocates said street people were afraid the count would reveal their hiding places and make them vulnerable to eviction.

Now, I‘m a firm believer in the ripple effect… make changes immediately around you, and those changes will ripple out – like throwing a stone in the water. I also believe that if we can make a positive impact on youth today, we can make a difference for tomorrow. In light of this and what we are trying to do with 12 for 12K this December, you may want to get to know these shelters:

• Covenant House
• Eva’s Initiatives

On that note – check out 12 for 12K, and let them know Chief Lemonhead sent you…

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!

Let's make a difference today... be thankful!

Today is a special day: It is the launch of #Tweetsgiving. For the next 48 hours (well, minus a few at the time of this post), people all over the world are online sharing their stories of gratitude. This isn’t about throwing money at a problem – this is about affecting real change, for real people! The topic: how education can restore hope to achieve dreams. For anyone who’s read some posts from the Lemontree in the past, this is a refrain you’ve heard before... It is a deep rooted belief for me, and one I’m more than happy to support!

In light of the day, I thought it would be appropriate to reintroduce Nichole – my inspiration for this blog – and share her recent successes, hopes and dreams, all of which I have no doubt will become a reality.

Nichole’s past is one of those pasts you’ve seen in movies: small town USA, surrounded by issues of alcohol and drugs, a broken family, and a vicious circle. There were days when there was more beer in the fridge than there was food; days where mustard sandwiches were lunch... and dinner; and days where going to school would have been too embarrassing because of dirty clothes half washed in dish detergent. Not to mention – empty gas tanks which genuinely don’t get you very far if you even wanted to get to work!

Nichole dropped out of high school in grade 10. Now, in light of the particular subject of #
tweetsgiving, you might think – well, why didn’t you just seize the opportunity? Here’s the thing – and I think it’s hard for many of us to deny: those influential teenage years are the worse. Peer pressure, teasing, bullying – if you’re not “in”, you’re “out”. So, I ask you, is a teenager in the following situation “in” or “out”? Imagine living in a home where you might be too embarrassed to bring your friends home because you’re not sure if your mom will be sober or drunk. Imagine needing to wash your clothes in dish detergent. Imagine – no toilet paper. Like I said, if you’re not “in”, you’re “out”... and this kid was “out”.

Wait, what was that? You wonder why this family didn’t have government support? Well, they did! But, there’s a little problem with that. Food stamps – now it’s a “food card” – are what this family got. Great, right? No, not exactly; thing is, food stamps only pay for food! No shampoo, no soap, no socks – you get the picture. There was also some support from the county, but this is usually minimal. And, what always strikes me as bizarre is that so many “programs” are aimed at throwing money without coaching, without support. How can people who have never had support understand how to make their lives better without help?

So, here’s a teenage girl in the US mid-west who is surrounded by grown-ups who have lost hope, and who wonders if hope is even worth it. I recall Nichole telling me that, at some point in her life – and she couldn’t quite recall when – she had decided not to “want” anything because she never got it anyways. Can you imagine!? Think of yourself right now, how close we are to the Holidays... You must want something for Christmas or Hannukah or Kwanzaa (or whatever you are celebrating). Half the fun is the wanting, and wondering. Could you imagine if year after year, it was always capped off with: nothing! And, no – I am not suggesting the meaning of the Holidays is to receive gifts, but I recognize the reality that children live in. And, if as soon as their wishes are made, they’re just as soon destroyed... maybe they wonder if wishing, hoping, dreaming is even worth it.

Hope... lost. Education... lost. Dreams... unlikely.

It’s now been 7 years (give or take) since I’ve met Nichole... I have no hesitation saying that my life changed when I did.

I never understood how blessed I was to have a life where I had everything I ever needed – and more! When I talk with Nichole, I think of how lucky I am. I grew up in a place where hopes & dreams were encouraged, supported. I finished high school, and went on to University because I loved school... because I was taught that if you go to school and always learn and always grow, you will be able to be the master of your destiny and good things will happen... and they have, including meeting Nichole.

Today, Nichole is living in Canada. She went back to school, at the age of 27, to finish her high school diploma, and did so with honours! With support and encouragement, Nichole embraced her passion for photography. She created her own, very small, online portfolio of fantastic imagery that she likes to share with friends and family, and their networks. She is also planning to return to college for a paralegal education, knowing deep within herself now, that she has the ability to transform lives because she transformed her own. Nichole is driven by her past to change herself, affect her family and change the world "one ripple at a time"... She believes that if she changes what she can, immediately around her, the ripples will go out, in perpetuity, like they do on water.

To this day, Nichole accepts that her story needs to be heard, but she is still not ready to “be the face”. Not to worry, Nichole is 100% participating and committed to supporting the
Tweetsgiving event. In fact, many of you have been chatting with her already. When she is ready, I will make “live” introductions.

In the meantime... Nichole and I are both grateful for the opportunity to share her story, and show how support can translate to hope which can translate to education and create a circle of positivity. That’s what #Tweetsgiving is all about.

Thanks to Danny Brown for introducing me to Tweetsgiving... Let’s make a difference, today!

Would love to hear your comments. Wherever you post them: here or on twitter – include the #tweetsgiving tag.

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade...

A Lemonhead... Torn

This post will be a little different than the norm... Let me explain:

To those of you who know me, it comes as no surprise that I am a genuine believer in the spirit of the Olympics. The notion of fair play; of bringing international athletes together. A stage where citizens of nations at war would join in friendly competition, and could very well stand atop a podium together. An event meant to inspire and bring hope… In all of this – I believe.

The stage for the 2010 Winter Olympics: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. For me, this is an incredible opportunity for our country to put itself back on the map. Olympic aficionados have stated that the Calgary (1988) Olympics were one of the best Winter Games in modern history, and we get to do it again! I see this as an opportunity for the city of Vancouver – to get funding, to promote itself, to create jobs.

But... this is one opinion. And there are others. So, I must be an equal opportunity blogger and showcase how some people may feel that the Games of the XXI Winter Olympiad might not generate the opportunities they could to a beautiful West Coast city...

In November 2008, Straight.com published this article. In it, we learn that BC has posted THE worst child poverty rate in Canada – 21.9% (in 2006), which is well over the national average of 15.8%. So, when I look at these stats, I think – how can we use a forum like the Olympic Games to make a difference. But, as the eyes of the world will be on Vancouver, it appears that some policies are trying to sweep the problem under the rug. In fact, take a read of this blog by the Carnegie Community Action Project – working to ensure Vancouver’s downtown East Side remains low-income friendly.

My concern is about the longevity of some proposed programs. We discussed (much earlier in the Lemontree) how RONA was provided training and employment for some of Vancouver’s lesser fortunate. And, we can be sure that with the Games coming to town (and to the region), there will be need for additional workers. That’s great news in the world economy as it stands. But, how long after the Games have come and gone will this last?

Can BC’s government and Canada’s government sustain the new population of workers? If not – what will happen to them when the party is over? Maybe they'll have the luxury to live in one of the temporary shelters proposed in the CCAP blog (with or without a bathroom depends on investment)...

As mentioned before, I’ve lived in Vancouver for 3 years. I've seen Vancouver’s downtown East Side. Cleaning up the town doesn’t mean getting rid of people who live in poverty, nor does it mean hiding them. It means helping them! Give them a fighting chance. The world will remember Canada fondly for its hospitality, natural beauty and very likely, its well-managed Winter Olympics. Let’s make sure the world also remembers a Canada who truly takes care of all of its citizens.

Isn’t it impressive that an event like the Olympics carries so many messages of hope & opportunity? Why don’t we carry that message into everyday?

Lemontree recommendation: Share the inspiration... Can we use the Games as a platform to provide education, shelter and food to those who need it? Let’s use this stage to truly promote equal opportunity and dreams and hopes to all Canadians. Do you believe?

Tuition rant - Part deux

OK, Lemonheads… the votes are in, the polls are closed, and 80% of you have said: tuition hikes in this economic situation are not a good idea!

Now, that means that 20% of you said “it’s OK”. To be fair, I received some good comments… Canada’s education system is a steal, and since the rates of education have not skyrocketed, like they have in other countries, we’re still in pretty good shape. Another comment had to do with the notion that the quality of education simply costs a lot of money, and everyone has to pitch in to ensure we have sustained quality – including the students.

I must admit, the dialogue is exciting. That’s the power of technology! At least this way, we can get people talking and looking for the right solutions to real problems.

___

Though I agree that ensuring quality of education should be a joint responsibility between government, academia, and students, it is still in my humble opinion that increasing the cost of tuition – alone – is a completely unfair solution.

The proposal put forward only spoke of tuition hikes, potentially in the realm of 25% over the next couple of years! If the burden has to be shared, I’d like to see the proposals on the other parties before accepting a wide-sweeping tuition hike that will impede the opportunity of many students to attend post-secondary institutions.

One of the comments put forward also had to do with the value of college education; and the (misconstrued) pre-conceived notion that university education is better. University and college education are different - no, not THAT kind of different; just genuinely different. Students must be encouraged, by parents and other societal leaders, to explore what they really want to achieve and then to determine which post-secondary institution is best for them. None-the-less, the proposed “solution” for ensuring quality of education fell squarely on the shoulder of students – of either type of institution.

(If you are an “American Lemonhead”, I just want to clarify that though University and College is nearly an interchangeable term in the US, in Canada the perceived difference is somewhat similar to the difference between a College and a community college.)

Bottom line: before making it harder for students to acquire a post-secondary education, let’s look at a full package solution with a shared burden that is actually shared. This proposal hasn’t gone through yet… perhaps other options are being explored.

One can only hope.

Baby, it's cold outside... Some people don't have warm clothes!

Are you cold? Lord knows I am!

If you are below 39°N of latitude, you may not be quite as frigid, but let me share some temperatures with you (including wind chill).

• Toronto: -25°C (-13°F)
• Montreal: -29°C (-20°F)
• New York, NY: -17°C (5°F)
• Washington, DC: -18°C (1°F)

So, say you wanted to go out in temperatures like this, you’d likely require: a good winter coat, and preferably a multi-layered one, a tuque, gloves, a scarf, maybe a few extra layers of clothes, and I’d also recommend a decent pair of boots. Wouldn’t you agree?

Unfortunately, in the cities mentioned above, there are so many people who do not have proper clothing; who might not have shelter; and who probably need something warm to eat. I encourage you to check out the local missions or food banks, the Salvation Army in the US or in Canada, and of course there are a plethora of other sources. They are all in need of donations; can you help?

___

It’s funny – not “funny, ha-ha”, just funny interesting – to mention this today. I recall, a few weeks ago when the winter cold settled into the GTA, we had to buy scarves. When we did, Nichole turned to me and said: “OK, how do I do this?”

“Um, do what?” was my answer.

“Put this scarf on? I’ve never had one – so not really sure how this goes.”

WOW! The things we take for granted. I’m sure she could have figured out how to put it on, but when you have to rush through something you’ve never done, the simplest things seem so foreign.

Nichole never owned a pair of snow pants or water proof (resistant) boots; not even as a child. And, to be clear, she did not live in an area “below 39°N of latitude” so certainly, those pieces of winter clothing would have been welcomed!

___

What does any of this “cold air” have to do with learning and generating hope? Well, a couple of things, among others…

First, if you are in the situation Nichole was in – or anyone who does not have proper food, shelter or clothing – what are the chances of success in school? It is proven that children who are hungry have weaker academic performances. The Children’s Emergency Fund gives us a few indications of what happens when children go to school hungry.

Secondly, if you have opportunities: a regular (reasonable) pay check, transportation, and a basic education (high school graduation), your chances are much higher that you can acquire the above-mentioned clothing for yourself and for your family.

Take a look at this survey from the Daily Food Bread food bank. The additional questions I would ask are: “Which of these do you have?” and “Which of these are you willing to give up?” I could, for example, see how one might think that something like “access to Internet” is not a mandatory requirement for surviving in Ontario, but are you willing to give it up? And, if you lost it, how would you feel?

We take so many things for granted, including (often times) the warmth of our homes and clothes. We are quick to judge what “basic needs” are without truly being willing to give up on things we consider “luxuries”. It’s time, this year, to give back… And, I would encourage you, in these frigid temperatures, to help keep people warm!

If people feel safe, warm, fed, and hopeful, they will be have more clarity to seek out, to identify, and to seize the opportunities which will allow them to become self-sufficient.

CLARIFIER:

I believe that if you work hard for something, you deserve it. I believe that no one should take that away from you. But, I also believe that if you’ve worked hard for something, you probably had an opportunity to work hard for it. Therefore, what I am saying here is not to give anything up, but rather to allow others the opportunity; to help them find it. If people have opportunities and do not seize them, then we’re having a different conversation altogether. However, in many instances of poverty and homelessness, people have simply not had opportunity, or have had opportunity taken away from them.

Job loss - The future of poverty

Hooo-eeee! Any of you guys picked up a newspaper today?

• Canada’s jobless rate is up to 6.6% - a loss of 34,400 jobs in December alone!
• US experiences worst “job year” since 1945 (unemployment rate: 7.2%) – a loss of 524,000 in December alone (1.9 million in the last 4 months of 08).

Take another look at yesterday’s post: Poverty solutions. In that 3rd paragraph, I dared suggest how close we all were to living in poverty. I think you might agree – the numbers that came out this morning just reinforced that reality.

Since the millennium, world-wide groups have banded together begging governments to invest in ending poverty. We’ve seen some changes, but not very many. In fact, my hometown, Toronto, or rather its region, the GTA, has officially been dubbed: Ontario’s Child Poverty Capital. Now that is a legacy to behold! Take a look at a recent report released by the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto: Greater Trouble in the Greater GTA.

One of the numbers that blows me away in this report (and many of its facts are just shameful) is that a single parent with 2 children who makes less than $23,380 a year is considered to be living in poverty. Um… Is anyone reading this familiar with the cost of living in the GTA? That amount of money wouldn’t sustain a single parent of 2 cats! Absolutely sick. Whoever chose that number to be the one we should go with might want to attempt living on that income him/herself. What about the person making $25,000 or even $30,000 for that matter?

In every report, on every Website and in every article – when poverty is referred to, one of the recommendations is to invest in education – education for children, and for their parents. We know that jobs requiring a higher education tend to pay more, hence lifting the “owner of that job” out of the risk of poverty. What we should also consider is that someone who has broad education may be more versatile in times like the ones we are experiencing these days.

OK – so, we can’t change the recession. (Where is “I dream of Genie” when you need her. C’mon, just blink your eyes once!) But what if we said: Now is the time to invest in education. Now is the time to lift people out of their poverty. Now is the time to give people hope for a brighter future. Now is the time, and education is the way!

We have to make a change!

____

Take a look at Marty’s comment in the previous post… There’s a lot of truth there: enjoy those institutions of arts and culture; we can learn a lot. Many, in fact, give back to the community and support the causes we refer to in this blog.

Housepaint, for example, is an exhibit currently on at the ROM (click on Exhibitions & Galleries). Housepaint brings together exceptional “street artists” to showcase and commemorate homelessness and represents it through graffiti, or street art. An “out of the box” exhibit for the ROM, to be sure, but one that is so important and draws together the value of arts to the cause of poverty.

What I’d like to add to Marty’s comment is that the learning doesn’t only come from “arts and culture”. It comes from people’s talents and passions. Everyone has talent and passion: for some it’s the arts, for some sports, for some it could be cooking. The point is, we need to encourage people who are living in poverty – heck, we need to encourage each other – to find those niches of passion and lose themselves in the learning and the hope that comes from it.

Learning expands our ability to hope; hope gives us direction; direction gives us purpose; and purpose can pull us out of our darkest hours…

Sometimes hope is in the journey;
The destination never comes.
It’s not about left or right;
It’s not about right or wrong.

Sometimes hope is in the movement;
The destination doesn’t matter.
It’s not about where you land;
It’s that you bothered.

Sometimes hope is all we have;
The destination is a dream.
It’s about when you’re awake,
And a safe place for you to sleep.

Sometimes hope is the answer;
The destination is the guide.
It’s about making the right choice;
It’s about taking the ride.

Sometimes hope…

- Judi Samuels
January 9, 2009

A "Zone" of Hope for Harlem's Children

Don’t Blame Me

The girl’s mother said, “Don’t blame me.
Her father left when she was three.
I know she don’t know her ABCs, her 1,2,3s,
But I am poor and work hard you see.”
You know the story, it’s don’t blame me.

The teacher shook her head and said,
“Don’t blame me, I know it’s sad.
He’s ten, but if the truth be told,
He reads like he was six years old.
And math, don’t ask.
It’s sad you see.
Wish I could do more, but it’s after three.
Blame the mom, blame society, blame the system.
Just don’t blame me.”

The judge was angry, his expression cold.
He scowled and said, “Son you’ve been told.
Break the law again and you’ll do time.
You’ve robbed with a gun.
Have you lost your mind?”
The young man opened his mouth to beg.
“Save your breath,” he heard instead.
“Your daddy left when you were two.
Your momma didn’t take care of you.
Your school prepared you for this fall.
Can’t read, can’t write, can’t spell at all.
But you did the crime for all to see.
You’re going to jail, son.
Don’t blame me.”

If there is a God or a person supreme,
A final reckoning, for the kind and the mean,
And judgment is rendered on who passed the buck,
Who blamed the victim or proudly stood up,
You’ll say to the world, “While I couldn’t save all,
I did not let these children fall.
By the thousands I helped all I could see.
No excuses, I took full responsibility.
No matter if they were black or white,
Were cursed, ignored, were wrong or right,
Were shunned, pre-judged, were short or tall,
I did my best to save them all.”
And I will bear witness for eternity
That you can state proudly,
“Don’t blame me.”

‐ By Geoffrey Canada
February 2007

Geoffrey Canada grew up in the South Bronx, in a neighbourhood notorious for poverty and for crime. He was gifted with academic success, despite the surroundings, and dedicated his career to helping those who are faced with similar challenges he once knew. In a very personal account, he speaks about the rise in violence in the US. His book: Fist Stick Knife Gun (link on the right menu) is his story, meshed with society’s impact on the rise of violence.

Since 1990, Geoffrey Canada has been the President and CEO of the

Harlem’s Children Zone. The “Zone”, as it has come to be known, has seen, and helped with, issues like truancy, crack, and “open-air drugs”. The “Zone” offers support to all families including schooling and career coaching. The “Zone’s” philosophy: Whatever it takes!

The bottom line is that if you want to take a child living in poverty and give them a real chance in the world – it isn’t about just one program. It’s about transcending the source of the issues, overcoming the challenges – continuously – until that child has graduated from college and can progress into “middle-class” without slipping back into the life of poverty they were born into. So many programs (as I mentioned before in this blog) have time-specific help… we give them fish. And boy, are we good at “fish giving”! But, like Geoffrey Canada, we need to find ways to teach them how to fish, and then we have to find ways to make sure they never forget.

President Clinton said: “I wish every city had a Geoffrey Canada....His vision of a renewed Harlem community, and his accomplishments toward achieving it, attest to the power we all have to overcome poverty and hopelessness in America." (Dare I say, North America?)

When I worked at the Canadian Tourism Commission, we once had a campaign which stated: The World could use a little more Canada. After learning more about Geoffrey, I would agree. Wouldn’t you?

Whether you are Canadian or not, you can be the one who injects a little more Canada into the world… I’d love to hear what you’re doing. You can click on the “comments” link at the end of this post, or send me an e-mail at: thelemonheads@rogers.com. I’ll include some of your stories in the blog too.

Don't forget to Digg the blog (right-hand menu)

Do you have a Lemon Tree or a Christmas Tree?

And so this is Christmas, and what have we done?

It’s Christmas – well, 22 hours to Christmas – and most of us are sitting safe at home, wondering what’s in the boxes wrapped under the tree. What’s on your mind right now? (I realize that’s a stupid question since you’re reading this…)

Over 13 million children in the US and another million and a half children in Canada are wondering why they don’t even have a Christmas tree; or, if they do, they wonder if Santa will even come by… (Numbers from www.freethechildren.com and The National Center for Children in Poverty) To quote Billy, the lonely boy in The Polar Express – “Christmas just doesn’t work out (for some people)…”

For Nichole’s family, Christmas was not always as glamorous as what you and I might recall. To begin, Nichole’s mom relied on receiving a Welfare check on time to ensure that the children (3 of them) would get gifts. There was a Christmas tree, there were some decorations. The gifts usually consisted of clothing: jogging pants, sweatshirts – that’s what was needed. To create an appearance of “more gifts”, jogging suits and outfits were separated and each piece was wrapped separately. Christmas was one of only 2 times of the year when new clothes were a possibility; the other time being the beginning of the school year.

One year, Nichole’s mom even had to go to the County Welfare office to pick up a box of food… Food stamps only last so long; and you can be certain that providing a good Christmas meal for your family might just tap out the stamps!

What do you think about or wish for “When Christmas comes to town”?

Now, this post isn’t meant to make you sad, or make you feel guilty. You shouldn’t… I believe that you get what you get because you’ve worked hard for it. It’s not always everything you’ve ever wanted – but, we should be grateful. That’s what this post is for… to highlight that we are likely doing OK in the great scheme of things. And, if we’re not OK today, chances are we are blessed with the ability to hope that things will get better.

Enjoy your Christmas, your Hannukah - or whichever holiday you are celebrating. Appreciate every moment you have with friends and family. And, when you have a chance – share the joy. Magic happens when we Believe.

A different kind of "Butterfly Garden"

When Nichole was in grade 9, she had severe back problems. She missed more school then she was allowed to but received doctor’s notes for justification. In some US states, students need to receive up to 4 “credits” between grades 7 and 9 to be granted entry into high school and begin grade 10. Nichole received 3.5 credits…

After a few months in grade 10, Nichole was called into the high school counsellor’s office. This counsellor informed Nichole that she was revoking her 3.5 credits since she had missed too many school days in grade 9. Nichole argued that the doctor’s notes were provided. The doctor’s notes were not on file and Nichole’s mother hadn’t kept them in a safe place. According to the counsellor, if Nichole wanted to stay in school, she had to prove the reason behind the absences.

Nichole was faced with peer pressures and influences. Some days, she wouldn’t go to school because there were no clean clothes. Some days, she went to school to be picked on because of tattered clothing or out-of-style clothes. Nichole was too embarrassed to bring any friends home for fear of finding her mother drunk. Food was scarce, and certainly wasn’t healthy.

When she realized that there was no way to recover the missing doctor’s notes; Nichole dropped out of high school… With what surrounded her, and the challenges she faced just to be in school, she didn't see a good ending to staying (or trying to stay) in school.

There are days now, when Nichole’s nephews are given permission to stay home because their mother (Penny) is too tired to get up and get them ready. What will happen to them when it is time for them to go to high school?

I'd like to introduce you to Sandra McBrayer . In 1987, Ms. McBrayer founded and developed the first successful school in the United States for homeless and unattended youth, serving as head teacher for the Homeless Outreach School (now known as Monarch High School) in San Diego until 1996.

You need to check out the Monarch School; the evolution of the school Sandra McBrayer founded. Please go through this Website and get to know the school. Monarch School provides the basics, the education and the programs. Their program recognizes all the issues that people who are homeless or living in poverty face, including abuse, hunger, and no place to take a simple shower. Their program provides equal education to their students; many of whom graduate and get scholarships to continue their studies. Their programs also provide assistance after graduation, and provide additional "normal events" such as birthday parties or graduation ceremonies. Kids are allowed to be kids...

Monarch School is the only one of its kind in North America… Their mantra: to restore hope and unleash dreams. This is one idea I would love to see expanded more broadly throughout. Imagine the impact of such a school in the Bronx, or in the “Jane and Finch” neighbourhood of Toronto.

I say it’s time to create a new version of “Butterfly Gardens”…

Link to Youthworks

A quick apology for not having posted yesterday, but we are now on "holiday hours". All that really means is that we are running around trying to get errands done before we get into the Christmas week.

During this special time, where people are encouraged to celebrate with friends and families, share in meals, presents and the "spirit of giving", I wanted to provide you with a link that I hold close to my heart.

When I worked at Direct Energy, we had the luxury of supporting a great cause called "Raising the Roof". This charity helps solve the critical issue of homelessness. In 2006, Raising the Roof launched "Youthworks", a program specifically focused on eliminating homelessness at the beginning - not the end. There are approximately 65,000 young people who have no place to call "home"; not because they got angry and ran away, but because they had no choice. If you take a close look at the program's initiatives, you will notice that one of their main goals is to ensure proper access to education for these youth. The link between "poverty and homelessness" and "education and opportunity" is so strong!

In this time of celebration, I encourage everyone to do one special deed to promote hope to all those who are not quite as fortunate.

I'll be back later tonight with the next installation of the Lemon Tree.

Thanks again for your support and interest...

Judi

chief lemonhead

A Penny for your thoughts...

Now, for a little more on Nichole’s family life… Today, I would like to introduce you to Penny - Nichole's older sister (by 4 years).

You’ll recall that Nichole's mother was working non-traditional hours, getting a very meagre pay, and when time permitted, imbibing to ignore the woes of the world. This left Penny with the role of "mother". Penny took care of Nichole and their older brother: cooking and cleaning in particular.

Nichole can remember Penny bathing her in the morning to get her ready for school. And, when Nichole was sick, Penny would spend time with her – making her soup, playing with her, and making sure she got the rest she needed. One of Nichole's fondest memory is of the 2 girls building tents in their room with their bedsheets and playing with their dolls. Then, the bottom went out again…

Pen’s vivid memory of her father leaving, the downturn her mother took, and the quick decent into poverty and despair scarred her. I suppose that’s not really surprising since it all started when she was 6!

Penny was a good student, focused on doing the right thing for herself and for her family. Penny concentrated on her cheerleading and her schooling until… At the age of 16, Penny started dating one of the high school basketball stars. By the time Pen was 17 she was pregnant and had to quit school to have and to take care of her baby. There was no one around to provide her with guidance, structure and discipline to help her understand and wade through the pressures she might face...

Aside from a broken family, no one provided any support required to a single, teenage mother. Even now, her “baby daddy” is still not paying any child support – and a lot is owed! The result: At the age of 17, Penny is trying to be a mother not only to her own baby, but to her siblings as well; and trying to make her own ends meet.

Just as Nichole’s mom turned to drinking as a way of forgetting the issues, Penny turned to men (though, I’m sure she thought she was turning to love). Anything to escape! Now 18 years later, Penny is the mother of 4 children from 3 different fathers. The poverty and despair cycle has been proliferated. Can you imagine what poverty is like with 4 kids!? How hard might it be to look at your children and encourage them, tell them they can achieve, when you haven't been able to see a glimpse of light yourself?

In the past 10 years, Penny married the father of her 2 youngest, whose drug addiction was rivalled only by his irresponsibility. By virtue of peer pressure and the desire to escape, she too got lured into the world of drug abuse. She even overdosed and luckily survived. Over time, she temporarily lost custody of her children. Her youngest boys (at the ages of 6 and 8) could tell you stories that no child – heck no adult – should ever have to know or see!

Today, Penny is slowly getting back on her feet, but there's still so much to do… She has tried to get her GED 4 times but has not been able to succeed. There are no accessible programs to help tutor her, and certainly not any that come with childcare! We can only wonder what might happen next.

Penny, as her mother before, is living in poverty supported by food stamps and welfare. Her children have had the luxury of witnessing these problems and the way in which they’ve been handled. When do you think the vicious cycle will end for this family? And, if it doesn’t end soon – what hope will the children have?

I deliberately omitted specific details of events due to the harsh and graphic nature of this reality.