I am back in Northwest Arkansas. Last year when I was here lots of amazing things happened. Some funny, and some a flat out miracle. They want to say I had something to do with it. But that is just bonk. Truth is – YOU DID THIS! All of you that continue to support InvisiblePeople.tv made this happen, and the Northwest Arkansas community made this happen. I just drove a car.
Today I visited The Farm. 40 acres of land that is now producing much more than food. It’s mind-blowing everything they are doing with this land. For example, today I visited and a group of girls from the Teen Action Support Center was busy ‘working’ the farm. Food, volunteerism , community involvement, education, even a school lunch thing that I don’t completely understand has started from this farm initiative. But here is the wild part. The farm was birthed from my speaking at he University of Arkansas last year. That’s what I mean by YOU DID THIS! All of you helped me get here, and all of the local community worked hard to make my visit a catalyst for real change.
Here is a short video with Mike Rusch who is too me the real hero behind all this:
Tomorrow, I get to meet the first man who was placed into a housing program that was started after my visit. I am kind of lost tonight just thinking about all this. I am speaking tomorrow night and I take all this very serious. I mean, here I am still just trying to survive my own crisis by simply helping others and miracles are happening all around.
I am emotional trying this right now. Thank you Mike Rusch, and thank you Northwest Arkansas for making all this happen. And a very special thanks to each and every one of you that have helped me make InvisiblePeople.tv a reality.
“Children and youth victimized in human trafficking are not social outcasts or criminals. Rather, they are our neighbors and friends, our nieces and nephews, and our children and grandchildren who have been or who are currently being mentally, physically, and sexually abused. And they don’t need us standing around clicking our ruby red slippers or dreaming of Oz” ~ Karen Countryman-Roswurm
In the first homeless shelter I stayed at we were ‘farmed out’ as labor. Feed a ‘bum’ and you can work him all day. If he complains who will listen? That truly was the case at Hollywood and Vine Recovery Center where I lived off and on in 1995. I screamed real loud about the madness, so did others, but no one would listen to a homeless person. Eventually the place was closed by the FBI. This week in Denver I was educated about “sales crews” using homeless kids as labor and sex trafficking of homeless youth. You can watch that interview here and meet two people stranded homeless by a magazine crew here.
Yesterday I spent an amazing eye-opening day with Wichita Childern’s Home. First they wanted to take me to lunch. Being candid, that often turns out to be the start of a ‘dog and pony show’, but the staff of WHC are beyond brilliant and we spent over an hour talking about cause and effect, and more importantly real solutions to child and youth homelessness. That was just the start of my education.
I recorded this powerful interview with Karen Countryman-Roswurm, LMSW, Therapist/Coordinator of Anti-Sexual Exploitation Service, who is considered an expert on this topic.
Human trafficking and sexual exploitation of youth is a very real crisis in America, yet most all of the funding to fight human trafficking goes to organizations that deal with international trafficking. According to the FBI Wichita is the 5th originating city in America for human trafficking. That means the young girls and boys are ‘recruited’ in Wichita and then transported to other parts of the country to be exploited.
PLEASE watch this powerful interview:
Like it or not we are all effected by this crisis. This is such an important conversation that rarely gets talked about I asked Karen to write a little something to go along with this video.
Kansas Human Trafficking and the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and Youth
By Karen Countryman-Roswurm, LMSW
Though perhaps shattering the mental image held by many, Kansas is not the picturesque farmland portrayed in the memorable film, The Wizard of Oz. In fact, though I do believe “There is no place like home,” I bet Dorothy would throw out her ruby red slippers and stay in Oz if she knew how much “home” has changed. If she knew that the many different faces and forms of sexual exploitation are much more frightening than witches and flying monkeys.
Commercial Sexual Exploitation is “A type of violence against children and youth which may include coerced or forced sexual acts in exchange for, or the promise of, money, drugs, food, clothing, shelter, or other survival needs. It is a transaction in which the body of a child and/or youth is treated as a commodity” (Countryman-Roswurm, 2005). Disheartening is the fact that such sexual exploitation, such modern-day form of slavery, is the most heinous, and yet far too often the most invisible form of child abuse in the United States today. A form of child abuse, targeted towards the most vulnerable, which includes mental, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse.
Though it may be easier to think of children only being sold and bought for the purposes of labor or commercial sex acts in international countries, commercial sexual exploitation of US children and youth is “now tied with the illegal arms trade as the second-largest and second-fastest-growing criminal enterprise…both of them trailing only the illicit drug trade” (Winn, 2005, p.1). Estimates of US children and youth domestically trafficked for the purposes of sex acts range between one and two million (Flowers, 1998; Davis, 1999). Mid-West communities…Kansas is not free from such child trafficking.
Human trafficking crosses all socio-economic, racial, and religious boundaries and conservative estimates from professionals serving on the Anti-Sexual Exploitation Roundtable for Community Action suggest that 300-400 Wichita youth are at-risk of sexual exploitation each year. To demonstrate this, of 250 youth interviewed at the Wichita Children’s Home between 2007 and 2008, sixty-seven percent reported they had been sexually assaulted or raped; forty-six percent had been asked to strip, go on a date or provide sexual favors in exchange for food, shelter, money or drugs; and forty percent reported that they had “agreed” or had been forced or manipulated to exchange sexual favors for food, shelter, money or drugs. Thus, once pursued, 100 of the 250 young people interviewed were forced, frauded, or coerced into sexual exploitation. This is only including the youth we know about, the children who survived and were lucky enough to make it into safe shelter.
Children and youth victimized in human trafficking are not social outcasts or criminals. Rather, they are our neighbors and friends, our nieces and nephews, and our children and grandchildren who have been or who are currently being mentally, physically, and sexually abused. And they don’t need us standing around clicking our ruby red slippers or dreaming of Oz. Combating all forms of human trafficking, whether labor or sexual exploitation, takes a collaborative multi-disciplinary approach which bridges the gap between direct practice, research, and policy. This includes providing public awareness and professional training, prevention services, early identification and intervention services, survivor protection and human rights advocacy, perpetrator prosecution, and recovery services, while at the same time, working to reduce the demand that encourages sexual exploitation to occur in the first place.
Karen Countryman-Roswurm, LMSW, is a Therapist/Anti-Sexual Exploitation Services Coordinator with the Wichita Children’s Home and the Founder/Coordinator of the Anti-Sexual Exploitation Roundtable for Community Action.
Interview with Stephanie Bell, outreach worker to homeless youth being exploited. Visit http://www.praxus.org for more information. Human Trafficking is horrible at all levels. But society seems to not care as much when it’s American homeless youth being exploited. This is a very powerful interview that everyone must see.
Today I happen to be in Denver. Over twitter I get a invite to coffee with one of my all time heroes, Scott Harrison. I mean, like what are the chances of that even happening? But here is the cool thing. Once again Scott pushed me to be better.
I’ve written about charity: water before. And many of you have heard me speak about charity: water when I am presenting. I just love everything they do. Scott is beyond brilliant.
I first heard Scott speak at The Idea Camp. He talked about integrity and design. Can you imagine me coming out of Christian broadcasting hearing the words “integrity” and “good design” and seeing a real-life working example! I was blown away. Invisiblepeople.tv had just started. At the time of that first Idea Camp I was a mess. I didn’t have anything to eat for weeks besides $.89 ‘cardboard’ frozen pizzas. I had no income and no savings. Nothing! Scott talked about starting charity: water while living on someones couch. That, along with seeing that an org could have integrity and design, I was pushed in a new direction.
On the very first road trip to Sacramento, which was a huge risk for me, behind the scenes Scott encouraged me and offered support. Back then, without such validation, I might have called it quits. Even today much of this does not make sense so back then it was really insane! Then Scott invited me to watch him speak in Culver City. It was right before the first national road trip. He said “awareness is not enough”. That slammed me hard. I wanted to do more, but I didn’t have resources. I stopped and thought about what I could do and it hit me. I could build a library of resources by live streaming all the great people who are helping to fight homelessness, and thus InvisiblePeople.tv Live was born.
Last year when I was in NYC I stopped by charity: water’s new offices, and once again Scott pushed me to do more. Some of which I have implemented, but still have a long long way to go. And of course, today was no different. My head is spinning after our short time together. I am not sure Scott is even aware how “spot on” his encouragement is. I’m at the ground floor of starting a nonprofit, he was there not too long ago, he knows what I need to do and puts it in my face. I am so grateful there are no words.
Today I met a wonderful woman at a senior homeless facility that was recently opened by State of Utah. Marian was homeless in Reno, then lived in a shelter before going into the new facility
Some say we are soon to see a “Silver Tsunami”. I am so glad people in Utah are actually taking action. This hits close to home for many – me included.
I am not speaking negative into my life I am simply being real. I am 49 and I don’t have a 401k, equity in a house, savings and right now no income. I know I have borderline close to homeless for the last two years. But as I get older, homelessness is a very real reality. I don’t trip on it too much. Besides, I’ll just move to Salt Lake City.
Last year the State of Utah invited me to visit. I mean, you must be doing something right to get a state government to notice you. But then again, Utah’s homeless services is so cutting edge that it makes sense they’d support InvisiblePeople.tv. In the interview below when I asked Matthew Minkevitch to give advice to other homeless service providors he said “embrace change”. If you hear nothing else please hear that.
I love visiting here, and I genuinely think the world of Lloyd Pendleton. The man basically came out of retirement to champion a ten year plan to end homelessness that I believe will work. Watch this interview with Lloyd and Matthew from today. It’s great stuff. I cannot help but leave Utah thinking that homelessness can be solved.
Ever since the people living in the tunnels under Vegas hit the news people have been asking me to go visit. I found out today that my new friend Matthew O’Brien was the one who first broke the story to the media. Matthew impressed me. He is much more than a writer. He is a friend to the people beneath the neon.
Watch this short interview I did with Matthew directly after our second tunnel visit
It was a very surreal experience for me. Almost like a bad science fiction movie. I am still trying to process everything. I mean, one second we are in the darkest madness, and then up on the Strip surrounded by extreme wealth.
Having the camera crew with me was wonderful mainly because finally the story behind the stories will be told. Not my story, but the story of some amazing people trying to make the best of hard times.
You can find our more about Matthew’s book by clicking here
100,000 homes for 100,000 of the most vulnerable homeless Americans by July 2013! Probably sounds like normal political crap to most. But I can personally tell you I believe it’s going to happen and that Common Ground can do it! Well, I must correct that last sentence. Yes, Common Ground is the catalyst to effect all this change, but only through the support of local stakeholders can such a huge commission be completed.
Ok now I hear a few of you saying “ya right” so check this. The 100,00 Homes Campaign was launched this week at the National Alliance to End Homelessness Conference in Washington, DC. Even before the thing is launched over 5,ooo people have been housed.
Here’s what Common Ground President Rosanne Haggerty said during the conference’s opening announcement:
And I am also proud to tell you that we are already on our way. Thanks to the tremendous work of the 34 communities that have already joined the Campaign and begun identifying and housing the most vulnerable homeless in their communities, 5,104 individuals and families have already been housed. Communities like Los Angeles, Denver, Phoenix and Washington, DC have generated and shared countless innovations and shown us what is possible when we work together toward a specific, urgent goal.
Here is a short video Common Ground played at the launch:
How cool is that! But wait, I have more proof they’ll make it happen. New York Times recently did a story on how Common Ground housed every homeless person in Times Square except one lone holdout. If you are like me and remember Times Square a decade ago and have been there recently you’ve noticed a world of difference.
As many of you know I love Common Ground. I’ve written before about them (here and here) and I must disclose they are sponsoring this years’s road trip. Even if I was not friends with the Common Ground team I would still promote them because they truly have impact in housing people.
First, and maybe what I love most about them, is they are true team players. Many homeless services have become territorial. It’s a hard job that tears at the heart and there is rarely enough money to make things happen. People kind of build these walls and often it’s nearly impossible to get cooperation. Common Ground has discovered the secret to getting organizations to break down their fortresses. It’s nothing short of a miracle what Common Ground has accomplished by simply getting people to work together.
Bureaucracy kills! Point blank honest here: I understand the need for data and rules, but we have created so much crap it’s not a miracle when someone is housed – it’s a miracle the system worked! Common Ground sees that, and in their unique way has found ways to work around the madness to get people into housing.
They also focus on the most vulnerable – homeless people who if not helped will probably die soon. I have seen the before and after pictures of people they have helped. Truly amazing!
Here is a video interview I did with Becky Kanis, Joe McCannon and Rosanne Haggerty:
Seriously, if you work in homeless services, national or local governments, faith based organizations, or just care about your community connect with Common Ground’s 100,000 Homes Campaign.
In Rosanne’s own words closing out her speech:
In three years, when the Campaign comes to a close, we will have a created a new reality. We will see a network of communities working together-unselfishly, resourcefully, relentlessly-to end homelessness. We will see communities that are healthy, thriving and more stable financially. We will see 100,000 vulnerable neighbors safely at home, 100,000 lives changed, and 100,000 reasons to believe that we can come together to solve the hard problems facing our communities and nation.
This week was an amazing week for me. Three years ago when I lost my cushy, six-figure marketing job I aggressively went after executive employment in homeless services. For some time I was back involved helping people with socks and water on weekends, so since unemployment is a chance to go after dreams I thought I would chase mine. Unfortunately, because of the economy, I found a nightmare. No one would hire me – not homeless services – not McDonald’s.
This week the National Alliance to End Homelessness flew me in to their annual homeless conference in Washington, DC. It was truly an honor, but in all honesty I have all of you to thank. Here I am a guy with a cellphone, laptop and social media. Even though I have a great resume, and my creative projects have raised millions of dollars for nonprofits, the only job I could find in homeless services was a low-paying case manager gig. Please note: I am grateful for Path Achieve Glendale for hiring me, and I also feel like it was meant to be since I learned so much. The point I am trying to make is that not one homeless services organization would hire me to help with their marketing, yet InvisiblePeople.tv’s even with a very limited budget has had more impact than maybe all the other big-budget homeless services marketing campaigns combined. For this I must thank each and every one of you for your continued support.
It was an honor to meet Dr. Jim O’Connell. Here is my interview with Becky Kanis, Dr. Jim O’Connell and Linda Kaufman, Chief Operating Officer, Pathways DC
All of these feeds were done with a $60 camera on a cheap laptop – mine! Homeless services are behind on anything internet related especially social media. Information at this conference effects us all because homelessness touches all of us in one way or another. This information needs to be on the internet.
Today most tools are free or low cost. There is no excuse anymore to not have a social media and internet presence. If I can do all this with a cellphone, laptop and lots of enthusiasm you too make make things happen. Just do it!
Again – thank you everyone for supporting me and very special thanks to NAEH for believing in me enough to allow me to run around with my laptop like the madman that I am!
Last year I thought driving around the country for 3 months helping to spread light on the issues of homelessness and poverty was insane. Of course, this year only validates my insanity, but because I had the courage to take this huge risk there are formerly homeless people sleeping inside as a result of this ‘madness’. The success of last years road trip is too great to measure. Housing programs were started, feeding programs were started, and thousands upon thousands of people who would normally never roll down their car window to talk to a homeless person at an exit ramp now have a new understanding of the realities of life on the streets. I could have never predicted any of this, but it seems that when I visit a community, depending on the involvement of the community, InvisiblePeople.tv becomes a catalyst for real change.
This year it’s even more exciting because a camera crew will be following me around making a documentary on homelessness using the road trip as a background.
As you may know part of the funding has come from a Pepsi Refresh Grant, and this year I am so honored to have 100kHomes as a sponsor. Also grateful Hanes will be supplying socks, Ford will be lending me a Flex, TubeMogul has donated upgraded services, it looks like Sprint will be helping me with broadband, Pitch Engine continues to allow me to have a newsroom, and Gift Card Giver has helped with fast food cards.
This year, unfortunately, I was not able to find a hotel sponsor. Because each night I have to upload videos and do all kinds of other work it’s important that I have space with internet. I know several people have offered to host, but what happens is we end up talking all night and I don’t get work done. Maybe even more importantly, going into tent cities and under bridges is hard emotional work. Getting rest is important. Hotels are a must.
I Need You!
Without your help none of this will happen. YOU are InvisiblePeople.tv. Every bit of success is because this has always been a WE and not a me. YOU are the amazing people who have supported this great work for the last two years and I am grateful.
Yes, Ford lends me a car, but I still pay for the gas and the oil change, and that is expensive. The Pepsi Grant will help with the expenses, yet I’d rather use that money on the We Are Visible project that will launch later this month. (We Are Visible is a project to teach homeless people social media literacy that will have huge impact) And to be point blank honest here once again when this road trip is over I am unemployed and without income. Without your continued support this great work stops.
Ways you can help:
Talk about the road trip. The more we create a buzz the more change happens
Donate here. InvisiblePeople.tv is now a 501(c)(3) so your donation is tax deductible
Gas gift cards, Walmart gift cards, Subway gift cards
Hold a fundraising tweetup in a city I am visiting
Sponsor a hotel (needs to be in downtown areas)
Media outreach. Contact your local news media and bloggers
Be creative. Example: Kevin Hendricks is putting together a book to help raise funds
ALWAYS SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL HOMELESS SERVICES!
Please note that so many people requested visits that I could not visit everyone. I also had to visit new places this trip. Please don’t take it personal. I want to visit everyone. Even though this road trip ends in October InvisiblePeople.tv will continue to travel so at some point we will connect.
Today the LA Times posted a video that is one of the most powerful I have seen in a long time. Their videos embed kind of funky. Play in full screen or click here for a better embed of the video on the LA Times site. Link to the story can be found here. Powerful photos can be found here.
Published by July 30th, 2010 in 
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