We shed light
By Daniel Blankenship
I am open inside, to the new ideas given to
me by those who say that they care.
But my mind, corrupted through time,
tells me of their efforts to better themselves
through me.
So I sit and play these useless games that they play
jumping through hoops,
and rings of fire
just to become the star in their circus.
A new law has made two major changes to Rhode Island’s welfare program:
1. Children will no longer get benefits after parent reaches time limit, as follows:
♦ Beginning October 1, 2008, when a family has received Family Independence Program (FIP) cash benefits for five years (60 months), the whole family will be closed to FIP, including all the children.
♦ Also, citizen children who are receiving FIP even though their parents are not eligible because of immigration status will lose cash benefits when any child in the family has received at least 60 months of cash assistance. This change will be implemented later this year. Continue reading ‘New Law Changes Welfare Benefits’
To assist readers in making their choices in the coming elections, Street Sights asked for responses to four questions from 31 candidates for office, including U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, and several Rhode Island General Assembly districts in west Providence, Pawtucket, and Central Falls. The newspaper received five responses to the questions, from Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy; Congressman James Langevin; Kenneth A. Capalbo, an independent challenging Kennedy in the 1st Congressional District; Mark S. Zaccaria, a Republican challenging Langevin in the 2nd Congressional District; and Elizabeth Crowley, candidate for state General Assembly in District 16 in Central Falls. The four questions, followed by the candidates’ responses, appear below: Continue reading ‘What Are the Candidates Saying About Your Concerns?’
By DLS 2008
God please show me the way to Your Kingdom
Show me the right roads to take
God Thank You for giving me life
And letting me see another day?
Lord You know that I love you
I have been trying to spread Your Word to all
God You know what my needs are right now
You see everything, and know everything?
I worship you, and give You Thanks everyday
I will do as You ask of me
All of the days of my life.
AMEN
By Stan Kapelewski
We are proud to present this Month’s Humanitarian Award to the Praise Tabernacle Church at 251 Magnolia Street in Cranston, and all of their volunteers. Every Saturday from 6:30 am to 8:30 a.m., volunteers go to Crossroads and Kennedy Plaza to feed the needy. After the meal they walk around and take prayer requests from everyone, and also have little prayer sessions to those that want it. They also offer transportation to their church for Mass on Sunday for the 2:30 p.m. service. Continue reading ‘Church Members Serve People’s Bodies and Souls’
By Stan Kapelewski
Judy Galmer, a South Carolina native, has been the dedicated Fresh Start Program coordinator for the last five years, during her 12 years vested in the Urban League of Rhode Island. Her caring and empathetic approach to weekly case management, housing needs, and servicing close to 700 clients a year at the Urban League of Rhode Island and the Department of Corrections has made her more than a prized employee but a vital member of the community based re-integration process.
Galmer’s charismatic and supportive nature has allowed her to effectively minister to the public as an evangelist through the Christ Church of Deliverance and throughout New England and other states. She contributes her valued time to charitable organizations, ranging from feeding the homeless, to clothing those in need. Continue reading ‘Helping People Get a Fresh Start in Life’
By Daniel Blankenship
I met John at Amos House working his way through the program.
In a way just like most there, he was trying to put his life back together.
Through talking to him I found an interesting person with a story and a talent for drawing. Continue reading ‘Featured Artist: Love of Art Has Kept this Bahamian at the Drawing Board Since Childhood’
Who can vote?
You can vote if you are:
♦ a U.S. citizen
♦ a Rhode Island resident
♦ at least 18 years old by election day
You can vote if you are homeless and a shelter is your address.
Crossroads: 160 Broad Street, Providence, RI 02903
Amos House: 415 Friendship Street, Providence, RI 02907
If either of these locations is your address, your polling place will be:
St. Elizabeth Place, 700 Westminster St., Providence. Continue reading ‘How to Register to Vote’
By Mary Lhowe
A few people familiar with Providence’s homeless community have raised complaints that Providence police recently have been telling homeless people to leave Burnside Park even when the people were not apparently violating any laws.
In response, Police Lt. Michael Figueiredo, chief of the downtown district, says people are asked to leave the park only if they are arrested for a crime, such as public drinking or drug dealing. He said police do not disturb people who are simply sitting in the park, which they have a right to do. Continue reading ‘Complaints Raised About Police Actions’
By George Lopez
It was my first time leaving
Scared as a small lonely child left alone;
I thought it was the end of the world.
Nothing but cars and people,
and worst of all, dead ends.
Most of the time I felt weak and helpless,
but the ones who cared gave me the energy to live on.
I finally got sick of all the things that made me blind.
So at last, I opened my eyes and woke up; I decided
to live again, and climb the highest mountains.
I got back on my two feet,
went back home and faced reality.
I was afraid of talking,
but I spoke and they listened.
I never knew that talking would work out;
but I realized that I must face the world
no matter what.
Sometimes you may think things are really bad …
If things sometimes seem awful,
just face it and listen.
Life is a long road with many mountains and hills;
so don’t fall back behind, not realizing what’s beyond.
Face your problems on your two feet,
with your head held up high…
…and remember in life, there’s always
a SECOND CHANCE.
By Stacey Marie
Last month a Providence community came together, with eight other nationwide cities, to commemorate the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Direct Action for Rights and Equality, the Olneyville neighborhood association, and scores of residents stood up and marched through the city’s hurricane evacuation route to shed light on the problems hurricane survivors still face today. Continue reading ‘Rally Brings Out Calls For Justice’
By Stan Kapelewski
Mark carefully lies on the hospital bed knowing that I am at his side writing his Journal of Life (as he called it).
He has had a series of operations (this one being the last) with the hopes of curing his fatal disease; but none of them panned out.
Now fully aware of his foreboding death, he wanted to share himself by immortalizing some of his passing words.
Again his tearing eyes opened as he started to whisper, “In our travels through life, we must retain our loyalty and trust with the people that we know and love–for it is all that we have to cherish on the voyage to each of our own destinies.”
Mark faded off again on the final stroke of my pen; with so many different perspectives, at so many different times, the finished product should be (say the least) quite profound.
Once again, Mark stirred; but this time did not wake up.
Instead, he rolled to his side with a slight smile on his face.
By Pamala Therrien
Time, slowly passing
No work, No responsibility, No cash, No fun, No peace;
always under someone else’s rules.
No stopping, No standing, No smoking
and definitely No Bathroom.
Got to be out between 9 and 4; Where to go? What to do?
Can you stay out of trouble?
Carrying all your stuff all day; it gets so heavy.
Shelter Please!
Noisy, loud, chaos and confusion
the never-ending drama nonsense.
50 women warehoused out of the cold, all bare and vulnerable at their lowest point. Can you stay sane?
Is it a social service, or a social disgrace?
We can plainly see the disgrace, but where’s the service?
So many stories; only a few characters
Who’s good? Whose evil? What are the symptoms of each?
Is it a miracle cure, or a sudden death?
What’s the underlying theme?
Watch the plot sicken, as the characters change masks until their true features are revealed.
Can you see who they are?
Can you see who YOU are?
By Daniel F. Herard
I am a drug addict…
Confused, bewildered,
and frustrated with life.
I am a part of many things;
but a whole of nothing.
I am free on a dance floor, in a convertible,
Running with the wind at my back.
I am a slave in a classroom
In parental admiration,
In imposed silence.
I am surrounded by love,
but incapable of responding.
I hunger for learning,
But when the food is there, I push it away.
I thirst for knowledge, but I’m overwhelmed by all I don’t know and unable to fathom.
I can dream better than analyze.
My ideals surpass my insight.
My ambitions flame mighty,
Each one brighter than the last;
But ONE BY ONE I watch them die.
Consumed in conformity,
I look at most people and fear to grow up.
I look at few people and yearn to capture
one infectious spark of wisdom.
I feel life as a keen blade at my heart.
Love does not caress, it stabs me.
Emotion is my God, my persecution and joy.
The cold realism of reason
does not invite me.
More than I possess, I am possessed.
I am alive,
most alive when I can laugh
until the tears come,
or cry until the tears come no more.
In my chest throbs
the passion of a madman,
the compassion that melts me into a song’s unrestrained feeling.
They are so nearly as one.
I am pure, but pure what?
I am simple, but simple what?
I can grieve but I cannot mourn.
Death is incomprehensible!
I am impatient, because
Life is so static and stubborn.
I exult in change.
I am so rebellious
Because I am so confined
even in love.
I am cocky, because I know
I am nothing.
I am candidness, I am joy,
sorrow, pleasure,
agony in a glance.
Experience calls me to a
realism in limitation.
Ideal hold me back.
The world I know has no bounds.
But for my dreams which leap,
beyond the horizon in the sky,
I cannot grasp, only grope,
at life’s exclusive threads.
I am acting one designated role.
The depths of my soul lie untouched
for what seems a thousand years.
I am made of different substances
every day.
I am unpredictable even unto myself.
I am one moment’s glory,
another’s tragedy.
I am one day’s hope, another’s futility.
I understand only less than
I am understood…
And the greatest objective
of my understanding,
is myself.
By David St. Germain
Gaia is our name for Mother Earth from the beginning of time. The question was posed to me, “What are her greatest gifts?” My answer? Love and Music without a doubt. It can be said that they are two words that mean the same thing. Through them, we join the Unifying river of Energy that courses though the veins of the Universe. Hatred and War are Powerless against them, for they are the ultimate manifestations of LIFE.
By LeeAnn Byrne
Operation Stand Down Rhode Island conducted the annual Stand Down September 19 to 21 at Diamond Hill State Park in Cumberland. During the three-day program, veterans and volunteers come together to help one another, with services ranging from medical testing and evaluations to haircuts, addiction assistance, and legal advice. The major focus of the annual event is to ensure that no one leaves the Stand Down without housing, either temporary or permanent.
Operation Stand Down is a national coalition of concerned Americans who have dedicated themselves to eliminating homelessness among veterans, according to its website. The Rhode Island group runs a housing program with permanent supportive housing throughout the year. The annual Stand Down reaches out to veterans who are homeless or at risk of being homeless. Continue reading ‘Yearly Stand-Down Assembles Vets for Services, Support, Housing Help’