Events to stifle stereotypes: Homelessness Awareness Week
Jamie Woods
Issue date: 10/18/07 Section: News
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Homelessness Awareness Week begins Monday, Oct.. 22. The week, sponsored by the Community Service and Leadership Development (CSLD) Office, involves activities designed to raise awareness and promote involvement with issues of homelessness, especially in the local community.
The week will begin with a community dinner 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 22 in the Weiler Conference Suites, located on the second floor of the Campus Center. This dinner, co-sponsored by the Student Social Work Association, will give attendees a chance to interact with representatives from local homeless shelters.
Cassandra Funk, CSLD program coordinator, recommends participating in the evening because it is "a chance to learn about homelessness as an issue in central Ohio and personally connect with representatives who encounter the issue on a daily basis."
Diversity Advocates will co-sponsor a viewing of the 2006 film, "The Pursuit of Happyness," 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Bridge of Learning. Staring Will Smith, the film was inspired by a true story of a man and his son who with homelessness.
There will be an interactive workshop with the Columbus Coalition for the Homeless 5 p.m. Wednesday in Troutman Lounge. Participants will examine the causes of homelessness and discuss ways to eliminate it.
Campus Ministry's weekly candlelight service will begin at 9:30 p.m. Thursday on Schaaf Lawn. During the service, a representative from the Lutheran Volunteer Corps will share a short meditation. In the event of rain, the service will take place in Kable Chapel.
Shanty Town, what Funk referred to as one of the most powerful events during the week, will follow Candlelight. From 11 p.m. Thursday to 7 a.m. Friday, students will sleep in cardboard boxes. They will get a hands-on experience spending the night outdoors.
Shanty Town, which Keljo said grew out of work done by Campus Ministries, has been an annual campus event since 2004.
According to Funk, 15-20 students participated in Shanty Town last year. Organizers are aiming for 30 students this year.
Organizers have asked that the Public Safety officer on night duty pay special attention to the Schaaf Lawn.
Students will have the opportunity to embark on a tour of different homeless shelters throughout Columbus, meeting and talking with guests, on the Beyond the Freeway tour beginning at 2:30 p.m. Friday.
"It's an opportunity to challenge yourself on first impressions and stereotypes of the homeless population," Funk said.
Volunteers will help relocate The Open Shelter from 9 a.m. to Noon Saturday. Volunteers will also learn about the mission and activities of this 24-hour emergency resource.
Those interested may participate in these events by signing up on the lists on the CSLD Office door, located on the first floor of the Campus Center. For more information about any of the events, contact Connie Plungas at cplungas@capital.edu.
jwoods@capital.edu
The week will begin with a community dinner 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 22 in the Weiler Conference Suites, located on the second floor of the Campus Center. This dinner, co-sponsored by the Student Social Work Association, will give attendees a chance to interact with representatives from local homeless shelters.
Cassandra Funk, CSLD program coordinator, recommends participating in the evening because it is "a chance to learn about homelessness as an issue in central Ohio and personally connect with representatives who encounter the issue on a daily basis."
Diversity Advocates will co-sponsor a viewing of the 2006 film, "The Pursuit of Happyness," 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Bridge of Learning. Staring Will Smith, the film was inspired by a true story of a man and his son who with homelessness.
There will be an interactive workshop with the Columbus Coalition for the Homeless 5 p.m. Wednesday in Troutman Lounge. Participants will examine the causes of homelessness and discuss ways to eliminate it.
Campus Ministry's weekly candlelight service will begin at 9:30 p.m. Thursday on Schaaf Lawn. During the service, a representative from the Lutheran Volunteer Corps will share a short meditation. In the event of rain, the service will take place in Kable Chapel.
Shanty Town, what Funk referred to as one of the most powerful events during the week, will follow Candlelight. From 11 p.m. Thursday to 7 a.m. Friday, students will sleep in cardboard boxes. They will get a hands-on experience spending the night outdoors.
Shanty Town, which Keljo said grew out of work done by Campus Ministries, has been an annual campus event since 2004.
According to Funk, 15-20 students participated in Shanty Town last year. Organizers are aiming for 30 students this year.
Organizers have asked that the Public Safety officer on night duty pay special attention to the Schaaf Lawn.
Students will have the opportunity to embark on a tour of different homeless shelters throughout Columbus, meeting and talking with guests, on the Beyond the Freeway tour beginning at 2:30 p.m. Friday.
"It's an opportunity to challenge yourself on first impressions and stereotypes of the homeless population," Funk said.
Volunteers will help relocate The Open Shelter from 9 a.m. to Noon Saturday. Volunteers will also learn about the mission and activities of this 24-hour emergency resource.
Those interested may participate in these events by signing up on the lists on the CSLD Office door, located on the first floor of the Campus Center. For more information about any of the events, contact Connie Plungas at cplungas@capital.edu.
jwoods@capital.edu
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