The article that I read was entitled “Talking Sidewalks displays art, writing from homeless”, which discussed the magazine Talking Sidewalks, which has been featuring writing and artwork by the homeless and impoverished population since 2008. I felt that this was one of the most interesting article topics that I have read up on throughout the semester because although giving homeless the opportunity of self-expression and providing them an outlet to share their stories does not directly help them escape their situation, it does give society the opportunity to relate and can be the catalyst for movements and steps towards progress.
According to this editorial, the ultimate goal of the Talking Sidewalks magazine publication has been to increase awareness and eliminate stigma of homelessness. The article went into detail about how many people in society are disconnected from the homeless because they are unaware of how many similarities they share. One of the media directors involved in the creation of this magazine was quoted in the article, saying “It’s only through conversation that we are able to break down these barriers and have some level of really good understanding of what a lot of the men at the shelter are going through”.
In comparison with providing income opportunities, housing, and nutritional meals to the homeless, allowing them a platform to express their creativity seems trivial, it is actually really important. As we have leanred from other readings from this course, it is vitally important to get the community as a whole to work together to combat homelessness and this provides a way for doing so. As I have learned from texts such as Voices From the Street (Morrell 2007), the homeless cannot be categorized into just one group. Instead, they come from all walks of life and have had more experiences than can be summed up into one. They also have their own ideas about how to battle homelessness, as no one could truly understand the real life struggles of this as well as they do. These are all reasons why the opportunity to view the stories, poems, and artwork of the homeless is vital if we expect to provide them with the right kind of care and support.
http://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2014/03/talking-sidewalks-displays-art-writing-from-homeless