When Mark Jones was first

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1 A Pblication of Project News F R O M Spring 2016 Photo by Harvey Finkle A Hose of Peace Mark Jones is one of the people who have made a home in Project s newest residence. I N T HI S I SSUE A Hose of Peace 1 Cinematic Reflections 1 Roots and Branches 2 Happenings 4 I Am Project 5 Spirit of Generosity 5 Mission/Residences/Services & Programs/Bsinesses 6 When Mark Jones was first shown what wold be his new apartment at Francis Hose of Peace, he fell in love with it right away. It was like heaven, he says. A 59-year-old Philly native and veteran, Mark had been homeless on and off for more years than he can remember, strggling with addiction and going in and ot of periods of recovery. As he gradally gained sobriety and stability, he spent three years on a waiting list for hosing. Today, his new home provides him the positive environment he needs as he maintains his recovery and contines to get his life together, to rebild family relationships, and to make progress toward his goal of employment. This beatifl new strctre rising p nine stories in the heart of Chinatown has provided Mark with new hope and it is a sign of hope for or entire city. Cinematic Reflections It s a few mintes before six o clock on a Friday evening. Folks are making their way into the commnity room at 1515 Fairmont Avene. Some are residents of Project. Some are staff members, as well as varios friends and visitors. They greet each other and chat; some make their way to the snacks table for popcorn, pretzels, or soda. It s Movie Night at For the next cople of hors, the room will be transformed into a temporary cinema. Tonight s featre is 42, the stirring biopic of Jackie Robinson and his strggle to break baseball s color line. It will be broadcast via a Game Boy video player careflly set p and programmed by Project resident Mike Kozisky. It s almost time to start, and gests are rged to find a seat. Dr. Deborah Lepnitz, a long-time friend and volnteer of Project (who was profiled in the Fall 2015 edition of this newsletter), welcomes people. She also introdces a half dozen psychotherapists in the adience who Frances Hose of Peace (named in Chinese Ping An, Hose of Peace ) at 810 Arch Street is Project s newest residential development. Its doors officially opened earlier this spring, with 94 efficiency apartments. It was made possible throgh a partnership with Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation, and the bilding was designed with a special eye toward reflecting the niqe character of the neighborhood. Many of the residents have histories of homelessness; some have low incomes and need the affordable hosing. Many are seniors from the Chinatown commnity. Twelve residents are yong adlts, participating in Project s growing specialized program to spport yong adlts who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. This residence is the forth project of the Middleton Partnership, created with a transformational leadership gift from Leigh and John Middleton, that spports Project s strategic plan to end and prevent chronic street homelessness in Philadelphia by leveraging the spport of both pblic and private fnders. Other key partners in the project inclde the (contined on page 3) Dr. Deborah Lepnitz and Michael Kozisky at a Movie Night earlier this year which featred a showing of Patch Adams. work in the commnity some who haven t missed a Movie Night yet. A cople of hors later (inclding time for a pizza break), the lights are back on, and Dr. L (as she is (contined on page 2) Photo by Rachel Lewis

2 Photo by Dave Hering Sister Mary Scllion, Co-fonder and Exective Director of Project Roots and Branches: Reflections from Sister Mary One of the great experiences in being part of the Project commnity is hearing the stories of many of or residents. While each person s experience is niqe, there are often common threads: the strggles with enormos obstacles sch as poverty, disability, addiction, family breakdowns or other crises; bt also the jorney home. At a recent gathering of many of or spporters inclding elected officials, generos donors, persons who have experienced homelessness and social marginalization, and so many others one of or residents shared his story. It was trly stirring, to hear how he weathered hge storms, moving from despair to hope. Coming into a new Project residence, he became motivated to helping others who faced similar challenges. He conclded with these powerfl words: Now I feel strong and I feel that I can overcome anything that comes my way. Many of or residents, in reconting their jorney, speak of a key trning point in their lives. That sally is a special person a friend, a teacher, an otreach worker, a case worker, sometimes even a stranger. It is someone who trly believed in them, who encoraged them to believe in themselves, who showed them dignity and trst. It is someone who went the extra mile to provide spport and opportnities. Sch stories remind s all of the importance of those graced relationships in or lives: the ones that offer s nexpected hope, that nrtre in s seeds of empowerment, that make possible real transformation even in difficlt and despairing circmstances. Sometimes we have been recipients of those relationships, and we have experienced the power and hope that come from them. Bt we are also capable of being transformative persons in the lives of others. We may not think we have mch to offer, bt the simple act of believing in another person, of affirming their dignity and potential, of seeing their beaty especially when society has denied it, is powerfl. So mch of the sccess in Project starts with the simplest hman acts of loving and affirming relationships which we offer each other. When we hear the stories of or residents, we are given a great gift. We learn how we can all grow stronger throgh or graced relationships with one another. We contine to work to bild a commnity of inclsion, hope, and belief in the infinite potential within each of s. 2 Cinematic Reflections known by Project folks) leads the crowd in a discssion on what they jst saw. One resident remarks on how Robinson s story evokes the nonviolence of Dr. King. Another resident emotionally describes why he had to step ot of the room dring the scenes of the most explicit racist attacks on Robinson: It reminds me of being 13 years old and people calling me a faggot while I walked down the street. Bt he also notes how, like in Robinson s story, we ve come a long I want people to come together and get more involved, and also have ways to relate to each other. (contined from page1) way: he s encoraged when he sees gay coples holding hands in pblic. Movie Night is Mike Kozisky s special project, and since its inception a year ago, it has taken off. An avid movie bff, Mike has been with Project since 1997, crrently living in or Connelly Hose residence. For several years, Mike s life at Project was fairly static, and while being in a safe living sitation, he was not making mch personal progress. Not long ago, he opted for the new Personal Recovery Services program (which was profiled in or last newsletter He s gratefl for the spport that has allowed him to move forward in varios fronts in his life, inclding letting ot the creative jices that led to Movie Night. The idea for Movie Night was hatched by Mike, along with fellow Connelly Hose resident Dionne Stallworth and Dr. L, both of whom shared his love of movies. Together they developed a plan for an initial gathering of residents and others to watch and discss a movie. They chose Row Yor Boat, a little-known film starring Project spporter Jon Bon Jovi. Its topic homelessness. Mike, Dionne, and Dr. L thoght it wold be provocative to see how residents responded. It trned ot great, Mike remembers. As they had hoped, residents made connections to their stories and strggles. And so began a monthly gathering, which grew bigger with each screening. Over the past year, Movie Night attendees have watched and discssed sch films as Patch Adams, Where the Heart Is, The Help, and others. Mike and his crew select films that they believe are inspirational and empowering. Some of these films make me teary, he says. As the event has grown, he also solicits ideas from other residents. Their choices are films that portray something people can relate to, something that hits home. One goal of Movie Night, according to Mike, is to bild commnity. I want people to come together and get more involved, and also have ways to relate to each other. He believes that people come for the discssion as mch as for the films. It s great to see Mike florishing, says Rachel Lewis, a PRS staff person who has worked closely with Mike. I have loved to see how he has trned a personal passion of his into something that offers growth to other residents. Mike, Dionne, Dr. L, and Rachel are preparing for the next edition of Movie Night a showing of Homeless to Harvard. While enjoying popcorn and pizza, folks will watch the story of overcoming odds and achieving nimaginable sccess. No dobt, a beatifl bit of commnity will be sparked, and perhaps some seeds of empathy, compassion, and enriched hmanity will be watered.

3 A Hose of Peace (contined from page 1) The name is inspired by last year s visit of Pope Francis to Philadelphia. His message of mercy, jstice, and inclsion resonates deeply with the mission of Project. His spirit of compassion is a constant inspiration as we contine or work to address homelessness and poverty. The Chinese name, Ping An ( Hose of Peace ), conveys a similar spirit. The design of the property incldes a special peace garden, featring the Knotted Grotto that was a major part of the Mercy and Jstice campaign that welcomed Pope Francis. (See I never really had my own place. It s fantastic to look arond and say, This is really mine. home, and I don t want to lose that sense, he says. I feel this is going to be a time of real change in my life. To help facilitate sch real change, residents like Mark Jones and Nasir Fears have access to all Project services, inclding integrated BringPhilly I IOME THURSDAY, JUNE 2, :30 to 9:00 pm N Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts Historic Landmark Bilding 118 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA etwork and make new connections with professionals across the Philadelphia region as yo enjoy a fn-filled evening with tasty drinks, delicios hors d oevres, and an exciting silent action. Please join s for this special night and be part of the soltion to end and prevent chronic street homelessness in Philadelphia. To learn abot becoming a sponsor or to prchase tickets, please visit: For additional information, please contact Stephanie Lin at x 3045 or stephanielin@projecthome.org H OS T E D BY T H E YOUN G L E AD E R S COM M IT T E E OF HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES MEDICAL EDUCATION All proceeds from the event fnd Project s mission to end and prevent chronic street homelessness in Philadelphia. SAVE THE DATE Information That Matters to Yo Receive the news and isse pdates that matter to yo by sbscribing to Project 's monthly enewsletter and Advocacy alerts. Go to or contact michaelgainer@projecthome.org Also, follow s on social media: And don t miss the great stff on the Project Blog medical care and fitness classes, employment training, and edcational and technological opportnities throgh or Honickman Learning Center and Comcast Technology Labs. The partnership with Chinatown was a niqe ndertaking for s. Staff at Francis Hose wondered if the mixed, mlticltral poplations in the residence wold create challenges. Program Manager Christina Fidanza feels those challenges are in fact new opportnities. Or residents are eager to learn abot each other, she says. We are going to offer langage corses to help facilitate basic commnication, and we will have some cltral corses to allow for greater nderstanding and help residents avoid any nintended cltral offenses. The staff is also planning varios activities, sing arts, food and other cltral expressions, to celebrate the special commnity that is forming at 810 Arch Street. Mark Jones appreciates that niqe and diverse commnity. People are respectfl and caring, he says. Yo can see the gleam in his eyes when he says, Hose of Peace that s what it is here. Then, recognizing where he s come from, he adds, They need more places like this. Photo by Jay Gorodetzer Nasir Fears lives in one of the nits dedicated to or yong adlt program. At age 21, he s already seen his fair share of strggles and stormy relationships. After growing p in an intact family, he fond himself on his own, in large part becase of how he identified himself. After a period of anger and what he calls craziness, he had a prodctive year with the Job Corps program, bt he still desperately needed somewhere to lay my head at night. One of this fellow program participants told him abot Francis Hose of Peace and rged him to apply. This is a new experience, Nasir says of his new home. I never really had my own place. It s fantastic to look arond and say, This is really mine, To honor the Chinese heritage that is part of Francis Hose of Peace and to know nobody is going to yell (Ping An), this art installation in the lobby featres five apothecary at me to get ot. He is planning a drawers which open onto varios Chinese landscapes that represent retrn to school and looking for work home. For more information on the installation, go to in the field of nrsing. For now, he is appreciating the positive energy at Francis Hose of Peace, as well as the resorces and inclde Capital One, National Association, and the spport from the Yong Adlt program. I feel at National Eqity Fnd. PROJECT Photo by Harvey Finkle Raynier Institte and Fondation, the Magire Fondation, Janet and John Haas, the Pennsylvania Hosing Finance Agency, the Philadelphia Redevelopment Athority, the Philadelphia Hosing Athority, and FHLBank Atlanta. Lead investors

4 Happenings O n March 8, nmeros friends of Project, inclding state and city officials, donors and partners, staff, and residents, gathered to break grond on what will be or next residential development. The new constrction at 2415 North Broad Street will provide 88 nits of affordable hosing, and will inclde retail on the grond level. It is strategically located at a major transit hb jst north of Temple University s camps. The Broad Street residence is the latest project of the Middleton Partnership, a strategic pblic-private initiative to realize the bold goal of ending and preventing chronic street homelessness in Philadelphia. Janary 27, was one of or earliest spporters. She served as a trstee and helped bild important connections for Project with many people in the greater Philadelphia area, which were instrmental in or growth. Ali McCabe, who passed away on Febrary 14, was an early volnteer and faithfl donor. She and her late hsband Tom spported s in many ways in or formative years, inclding advocacy. Anne Ewing was a tireless advocate for social jstice in Philadelphia, active on a range of isses, inclding edcation, racial jstice, immigration and a passion to end homelessness and poverty. We are gratefl for the legacy of compassion and commitment of these strong and wonderfl women. Donors, partners, pblic officials, and staff break grond for or next development in North Philadelphia. We are gratefl for the visionary leadership of Leigh and John Middleton, as well as for or many other committed partners, inclding Rth and Morris Williams, who are making this project possible. Read more abot 2415 N. Broad Street and abot the Middleton Partnership at W I n the past two months, Project has lost three dear long-time friends. Riki Wagman, who passed away on The opening of Francis Hose of Peace means not only 94 new efficiency apartments, it also represents an expansion of or Homeless Yong Adlt Program. Many of the participants in this program identify as LGBTQ. LGBTQ yoth comprise nearly 40 percent of yoth who are experiencing homelessness in many cases becase they have been thrown ot of their homes. Project has partnered with two organizations, the Mazzoni Center and the Attic Yoth Center, to provide specialized spport to or yong adlt LGBTQ residents. The program also incldes internships, in which residents work with mentors who spport them in life skills, professional development and edcational goals, leadership, and empowerment. We are gratefl to these wonderfl organizations for their invalable partnership with s, and we are excited that many of these gifted yong people will bring their developing leadership skills to the Project commnity. Photo by Alex Abdalla e wold like to extend a big welcome to Liz Hersh, who joined the Administration of new Mayor Jim Kenney as the Director of Philadelphia s Office of Spportive Hosing. Liz has been a long-time ally to Project and has spent her career working on hosing isses, inclding serving the past 14 years as exective director of the Hosing Alliance of Pennsylvania (which inclded the sccessfl campaign to create a Pennsylvania state Hosing Trst Fnd). We are excited that Liz will be part of a team that incldes Eva Gladstein, the City s new Depty Mayor for Health and Hman Services, also a great friend to Project over the decades. We look forward to working with Liz, Eva, and the entire Kenney Administration to end homelessness in or city and create greater opportnity for all or citizens to florish. T his past March 10, we celebrated another sccessfl year for the PECO/Exelon Veterans Training and Employment Program. This vital partnership with Project provides job skills training and paid internships to formerly homeless veterans, with the goal of spporting them in transitioning to meaningfl paid work. Seven Project residents and almni participated in this year s program, and received their certificates at the gradation ceremony. Liz Hersh, the new Director of Philadelphia s Office of Spportive Hosing, met with the Vote For Homes Coalition on April 6 and strategized abot soltions to end homelessness. They delivered over 1,000 signatres to Mayor Kenney rging him to make ending poverty and homelessness the center of his work. 4

5 Photo by Nick Pfosi I Am Project TANYA CLANTON Tanya Clanton spoke at Tfts University in Boston on Febrary 2. I go in a circle, Tanya Clanton says with a lagh. She s describing her path from her Project apartment at Rowan Homes to her job as a special edcation classroom assistant and then to her second job as a conselor at the R.W. Brown Commnity Center s afterschool program. All are located not far from the area where Tanya grew p, the yongest of nine kids. I was raised by a single mother, she says. Everyone is bsy. Yo do a lot of thinking for yorself, make a lot of decisions on yor own. Tanya came to Project abot 15 years ago. She had completed a recovery program and was looking for affordable hosing for herself and her three children. At Rowan Homes they offered a lot of the services I needed at the time: case management, playgrond, parenting classes. That was important to me. Her yongest was three at the time. It felt like we were home. In 2005, Tanya worked in Project s temporary shelter for people who had been displaced by Hrricane Katrina. Then she joined the staff of or Kate s Place residence. For the past 10 years she has worked for the Philadelphia School District in varios capacities. At Hartranft School, Tanya works in the classroom with 6th, 7th, and 8th graders who have atism. She marvels at how they each learn at different levels and master skills in their own timeframe. They each have their own niqe way of doing things. One of my kids asked me, Why are yo smiling all the time? It s tre. I said, Becase God gave me another day. It s tre. I wake p happy most mornings. Tanya is qick with a smile even at the end of an extended work day. I see so many angry kids. It s becase it s in their environment. Yo need to look to the parents. If they need it, yo show them nrtring. Sometimes they bring the street with them, bt I know the street, she says with a wise smile. Family is central to Tanya and Project has worked with Tanya to empower her family to reach its fllest potential. All three of her children participated in the College Access Program at or Honickman Learning Center and Comcast Technology Labs. Her oldest daghter Tanisha is one of the first to come throgh the CAP and gradate college; she crrently works at Project s main office. I m so happy for her. She worked hard. We all worked hard. Her two yonger children are crrently in college. She sees a bright ftre with a solid edcational fondation for all of them. After a long school and afterschool day, Tanya says she needs to pick p a cople of neighbors to take them grocery shopping. They don t have a car, she explains. They need help. People helped me when I needed it. It s a circle I move in. It is by the grace of God I can do it. Photo by Jay Gorodetzer Spirit of Generosity SHEILA AND JOHN CONNORS It was a good friend, Father Ed Hallinan, who insisted that Sheila and John Connors had to visit Project. He told s that there was a lot of good happening there, John remembers. It was the early 1990s, and Project was still fairly small. There were only a cople of residences back then, John recalls. We were overwhelmed by the dedication of Sister Mary, Joan, and the entire staff and by their ability to get things done. He remembers their first tor of the St. Elizabeth s Recovery Residence on a Satrday morning. They met several residents and noted how spotless the facility was. Mary told s it was clean becase Eddie waxes the floors and cleans the stove. John was also impressed by the way the residents took ownership of the residence. That initial visit was the beginning of a long and fritfl friendship and partnership. The Connors have been involved in many aspects of or programs and strategic growth. John has served on the board for a cople of terms and leads the Investment Committee. Sheila loves volnteering on special programs at Project, starting years ago at or former 1515 Back Home Café and Or Daily Threads thrift shop. She crrently serves on or Art Advisory Committee. The arts program is growing so mch, improving artists work and lives, and it s so self-satisfying to be even a small part of it. Last fall she worked at the Knotted Grotto dring the visit of Pope Francis. Both John and Sheila fond it wonderfl to meet people from all areas of the world, each praying for a knot and adding their own. Strggles are the same wherever yo are. John and Sheila Connors with Mickel Lewis, who participated in the Teen Internship program. One of their singlar contribtions to Project is the Teen Internship Program, for yoth attending programs at or Honickman Learning Center and Comcast Technology Labs. John and Sheila were committed to spporting teens from North Central Philadelphia by fnding work experience from high school throgh college. Today, the program has grown from five teens to more than fifty a year each gaining valable experience to pt on their resmes for when they gradate. Both John and Sheila get personally involved with teens, and see firsthand the personal sccesses in their program. Sheila has been especially impressed with their poise and self-confidence. The Connors have watched or mission expand over the years, bt have been impressed at how Project has kept its character and cheerflness as it has grown. It s ten times the size and on track to end chronic street homelessness, bt still, Sheila says, Everything yo give at Project, yo get ten times more back. Project is gratefl for the leadership and spport of John and Sheila, as well as to other employment partners, who provide internships for the Teen Program. If yo wold like to provide an internship for a teen or college stdent, please contact Brendan Sclley at brendansclley@projecthome.org. 5

6 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Philadelphia, Pa Permit No PROJECT HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES MEDICAL EDUCATION 1515 Fairmont Avene, Philadelphia, PA Or Mission The mission of the Project commnity is to empower adlts, children, and families to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty, to alleviate the nderlying cases of poverty, and to enable all of s to attain or fllest potential as individals and as members of the broader society. Or Residences 1515 and 1523 Fairmont Avene Hope Haven I/II, Diamond Street Connelly Hose, 1212 Ldlow Street Francis Hose of Peace, 810 Arch Street Kairos Hose, 1440 N. Broad Street Kate s Place, 1929 Sansom Street James Widener Ray Homes, 2101 W. Venango JBJ Sol Homes, 1415 Fairmont Avene Rowan I, 2729-A W. Diamond Street Rowan II, 1901 N. Jdson Street St. Colmba, 4133 Chestnt Street St. Elizabeth s Recovery, 1850 N. Croskey St. Women of Change, 2042 Arch Street Spport Services & Programs Adlt Edcation, Employment & Arts Neighborhood Services Advocacy and Pblic Policy Honickman Learning Center and Comcast Technology Labs Otreach Coordination Center Personal Recovery Services Stephen Klein Wellness Center Volnteer Program If we want to achieve or goal, then let s empower orselves with the weapon of knowledge and let s shield orselves with nity and togetherness. M MAL ALAL ALA A YOUSAF YOUSAFZZAI AI Administration Homeless Otreach Hotline Hman Resorces Hotline ext Union Bg Photo by Laren Doherty Bsinesses Spn Resale Botiqe, Made Prodcts, , ext Page Café, Several stdents from Project s College Access Program participated in this year s annal spring break tor of varios college campses. Here, they pose with the Vlcan at California University of Pennsylvania one of six campses they visited arond the state. From left to right: Victor Stewart, Tahyonna Atkins, Basim Rtledge, Fatoma Keita, Lateef Hiller, Lorraine Boyd. Front: Tiahni Kinard A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, Registration does not imply endorsement.