Irwin Jacobowitz
Abuse of children at the hands of public school personnel has risen over the last two decades and the nation is outraged; children most likely to be abused are children with disabilities, the poor, and the homeless. The abuse presents itself in various forms: restraints, seclusion, suffocation, and sometimes even death. Last year a Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigation found hundreds of allegations. Children have indeed been abused and some have died as a result of the misuse of restraints & seclusion in public and private schools — often performed by untrained staff. United States Representatives George Miller and Cathy McMorris Rodgers introduced the “Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in School Act” (HR 4247), and Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut introduced a sister bill (S. 2860). Continue reading ‘Against the Abuse of Children’
Luke Michaud, 19, is a resident of Camp Runamuck in East Providence. Amid the recent flurry of attention from the media, eviction notices, and court dates, Michaud still finds time to create some outstanding masterpieces.
Michaud uses spray paint as his medium for creating his artwork, He has been working at this venture for only three months. Hoping to have his work displayed and sold, Michaud continues to create new ideas. Michaud creates work that relates to creation and nature. They are awe inspiring. Continue reading ‘Featured Artist: Luke Michaud’
William K. Harter
Federal health experts claim Rhode Island’s human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) practices and care for our prisoners and released inmates are the best in the USA. 95% of released inmates accepting help at the Miriam Hospital get their medical care during the 1 1/2 year enrolled in the Project Bridge Program, a program designed to be a ‘bridge’ between incarceration and release. 46% got housing, 71% joined mental health care, and 51% joined addiction help. 97% of those individuals released with HIV had addiction problems and 34% were on medication for mental problems while in prison. Of those on this program, only 1/2 as many reoffended during that time period compared to those not in the program. Continue reading ‘Rhode Island leads the nation in HIV care for prisoners’
There is a young man who is getting out of DCYF (Department of Children, Youth and, Families). He has mixed feelings about today; on the one hand he is happy about getting out. On the other hand, he is worried about where he is going to go tonight. After today he won’t have a place to stay.
In most cases once children turn 18 the courts close their cases and they are no longer in the custody of DCYF. Once they are released from DCYF they have to leave the place they were living, which begs the question: Where do they go? Most often in Rhode Island, the answer to this question is: the streets. Continue reading ‘After DCYF: What happens when teenagers turn 18?’
Joshua-Michael Corrente
Three Aquidneck Island service organizations have formed a new partnership. The “HOME” collaboration is comprised of the Lucy’s Hearth Shelter in Middletown, the McKinney Shelter in Newport and the Newport Housing Hotline. The alliance is good news for Newport County residents in need of housing assistance. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently awarded a grant to the HOME collaboration so they would be better able to serve area residents distressed with issues of homelessness or housing insecurity. Jennifer Barrera, a Program Director at Lucy’s Hearth, the organization that spearheaded the group partnership, believes the new collaboration will be a great advantage to anyone requesting services. “Right now, if people need utility assistance they go one place; if they need rental assistance they may to go another, Barrera said. “The HOME program will make it easier for people to gain access to assistance without traveling to several places for assistance.” Continue reading ‘Aquidneck Island new HOME collaboration profiled’
Aside from the food pantry, PICA organizes several other programs:
The Friday evening Community Meal feeds 11-12,000 people a year, most of whom are homeless or residents of subsidized housing. The meal takes place at 14 Mathewson St. in Providence.
The Resident Advocate provides supportive services, crisis intervention, and homeless prevention to the most fragile, multi-issued residents of Dexter Manor, a 10-story public housing unit downtown.
The Homeless Outreach Conselor invites the homeless in for services including help with housing, legal issues, sobriety programs, and advocacy at court. He also distributes basic needs items such as clothing, toiletries, small household items, and food. This program is located at the First Universalist Church, 250 Washington St., Providence.
Third Place in the 2009 Street Sights Poetry Competition
Charles Sherman Continue reading ‘My Sanity’
Arline Bolvine
As the battle for health care reform consumes the capital, Democratic Party Chairman and former Vermont Governor Howard Dean says, “We should kill this bill and start over!” As Rep. Anthony Weiner (D) NY tells it, “I’ve already compromised the compromise of my compromise! Senator Joe Lieberman proposed the Medicare buy-in and then flipped. This is like holding ourselves hostage with a gun to our own heads saying ‘you make one more move and we’re gonna shoot.’” Continue reading ‘One more move and we’re gonna shoot’
First Place in the 2009 Street Sights Poetry Competition
Samuel Jean Baptiste
Continue reading ‘Roll Call’
William K. Harter
Staff Writer
Joseph Coite is in his 50s and a resident of Newport and the McKinney shelter in downtown Newport. Continue reading ‘Profile: Joseph Coite’
Second Place in the 2009 Street Sights Poetry Competition
Stephen Gebar Continue reading ‘A Glimpse of Depression’
Julie Pritchard and Kevin Montero
“I want to handle my finances better, to better provide for my family.”
- Justin
“I want to try to pay attention in class more.”
- Dylan
“I want to get better at Math.”
- Maggie
Continue reading ‘Roving Reporter: What’s your New Year’s Resolution?’
Donald O’Donovan
Donald O’Donovan wrote the first draft of “Night Train” was written on 23 yellow legal pads while the author was homeless in the streets of LA. A voice over actor with film and audio book credits, he recently narrated the documentary film, “The Forgotten,” directed by Sarem Yadegari. The complete text of Night Train is available via Open Books.
I was doing my laundry in the men’s room of the all-night movie and who do I run into but Jack. Little Jack, Jack with the red hat. Tony’s Jack. It was Friday or Saturday, last week. I’m wringing out my socks in the sink and in he walks. Jack was thrashed. His clothes were ragged and dirty and his red hat was full of stickers. He’d been sleeping out with the coyotes. And no Tony. Continue reading ‘Night Train: Excerpt’
