There was just something about the way he walked down the street. His head held low, eyes wild, movements rapid. I knew right away that there was going to be a great deal to the story and that if I could bear it he would tell it to me. My question is: Will you listen? Will it transform you? Will you understand how some people can be changed? Will you be able to imagine how the structures of our culture are implicated in his wild motions?
There is much that I can't understand or imagine, yet I keep trying. We talked today about how some people manage to get off the streets while others cannot. We were walking down by Queen and Sherbourne and James spoke about how much he disliked this place. 10 years and he still saw some of the same people. The streets are lined with pawn shops, a hospital, a church, camera shops. It is an odd little enclave. His distaste for the place was clear though. We sat on the grass in our own corner, eating cherries, while he spoke of his history. Kevin also jumped in with tales of his own days on the streets.
Both of these men are now "off" the streets. In fact, James has just been provided housing! There are many barriers and challenges that still exist though - poverty, the lack of secure employment, sustained access to healthy food, the long-term health effects of having been on the streets - and so it goes. The list.
Meanwhile, as we come close to ending, we are looking for places to exhibit our work. And so I am charged with the responsiblity of "herding cats!" And tending to the writing of proposals, and the wonderful work of finding a home in the greater world for this awesome group of artists...
