Follow up to Homeless Conference, more media, audio of the event and pictures, what’s next, and Blaska’s coming to the meeting! A special thanks to everyone who participated in the press conference on Thursday!
JOIN DISCUSSION ON RADIO
Sunday at 8:00 on Forward Forum, please call in and join the discussion:
A panel discussion with advocates for people who are homeless, discussing community responses to recent backlash against the homeless. As we’ve reported, multi-millionaire developer Fred Mohs began the recent “dialogue” about homelessness by pulling his support for free parking for a downtown church that offers shelter services. Recently, Isthmus Daily Page blogger Dave Blaska wrote a widely-read incendiary piece calling for a return to workhouses and other Dickensian punishments for homelessness and poverty–that may or may not have been tongue in cheek–which through innuendo and without substantive facts suggested that homeless people as a class of people were vicious vagrants who were likely behind recent murders in Madison. (As Mayor Cieslewicz said in a response to a question I asked at Downtown Madison Rotary on Wednesday, “We need to slow down here. There has been no evidence to suggest such a link, and homeless people as a group should not be blamed.”)
To join their conversation on Sunday calling at 608-321-1670 locally, toll free *123 for US Cellular phone users, or tollfree 1-877-867-1670 from outside the Madison area. Forward Forum airs Sundays from 7-9 pm CT on 1670 AM, the Pulse, and streams live and podcasts at www.wtdy.com. Show blog: madprogress.blogspot.com . Show website: www.forwardforum.net.
THE PRESS CONFERENCE
On Thursday, a broadly-based group of community leaders came together at the Community Action Coalition’s office to speak out against the hate-filled rhetoric being hurled at people who happen currently experiencing the trauma of homelessness. Many thanks to the many sponsors for that event including:
- Homeless Services Consortium of Dane County
- Madison-area Urban Ministry
- Tenant Advocacy Group
- Affordable Housing Action Alliance
- Community Action Coalition
- Housing Initiatives
- Porchlight
- Tenant Resource Center
- YWCA
Forward Forum was there to cover the event, and has posted a special webpage with audio, still photos and links to news articles from the event. Go to www.forwardforum.net/homeless .
TO GET MORE INVOLVED
To plan future actions come to a meeting on Tuesday at 4:00 at the Social Justice Center (1202 Williamson St). I hear Blaska is going to be there!
To get onto a listserve to learn more about what is going on contact homelesssupporters@gmail.com.
To get involved in discussions about homeless in the downtown
CAPITOL NEIGHBORHOODS, INC.
THE CONTINUATION OF DIALOGUES ON HOMELESSNESS:
NURTURING OUR CAPACITY FOR CHANGE
SATURDAYS,
APRIL 19, MAY 17, 2008, and continuing…
CENTRAL LIBRARY, WEST MIFFLIN ST.
2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Refreshments Served
No prior attendance needed to get full benefit from this event.
