ENDING HUNGER & HOMELESSNESS

Event Date:Thurs., Feb. 9, 2012. 4 – 8 pm

Event Location: Nicollet Square, 3710 Nicollet Ave.

KFNA’s Event Committee, in partnership with the Nicollet Square Advisory Council is planning our neighborhood’s 1^st “Empty Bowls” event!  Empty Bowls is an international grassroots effort to fight hunger; many of you might be familiar with the successful Powderhorn community event of the same name.  The basic premise is simple: Guests are invited to a simple meal of soup and bread. In exchange for a cash donation, guests are asked to keep a bowl (which has been handcrafted and donated by a local potter or organization) as a reminder of all the empty bowls in the world. The money raised is donated to an organization working to end hunger.  In Kingfield this year we are working to end hunger by helping to end homelessness, and donating all the money raised to Nicollet Square, which houses 42 formerly homeless youth in our community.  By helping youth in our community find stable housing and employment, we address the root causes of hunger.

For this event to be successful, we need unique bowls made by local pottery artists.  The bowls should hold 2-3 cups and be of food-grade quality.   Bowls are needed by February 1st, 2012.  Please mark your calendars for the Empty Bowls event on Thursday evening, February 9, 2012.

If you are interested in donating bowls, volunteering at this event, or just learning more please contact Sarah Linnes-Robinson, Kingfield Neighborhood Association Executive Director, at 612.823.5980 or sarah@kingfield.org .

 Empty_bowls_kingfield_potter_flyer_2012

What: Annual fundraising lunch to fund our efforts to end homelessness.
When: October 26th from Noon – 1:00 PM, guest registration opens at 11:30am
Where: The Downtown Hilton, 1001 Marquette Ave. S, Mpls. 55403
Why: Because everyone deserves a home!

If you attended last year please plan to come again and bring a guest!
Whether you were with us last year or not we have many new things to share with you and we know you’ll be excited about where we’re heading.

Please RSVP to reserve your seat today.
To RSVP please contact Takara Henegar at 612 871-0890 or thenegar@plymouthfoundation.org.

I want you to have the powerful poem that Markita wrote to share her experience as a homeless youth.  Her poem demonstrates her resiliency in the face of incredible challenges, which is what we see in so many tenants at Nicollet Square, our new supportive housing and employment program for young adults transitioning from homelessness or foster care. 

If you have been able to tour Nicollet Square or join us for our grand opening we hope you were touched by the stories, photos and art of the youth who call it home.  They are our constant inspiration to continue our work to create more affordable, supportive housing for the 2,500 youth who don’t have a place to go home to tonight.

If you’re asking yourself what you should do to help, we want you to know that one of the most important things you can do is to encourage others to get involved.  Please ask your friends and colleagues to visit Nicollet Square to gain a deeper understanding about youth homelessness and to see what ending it is all about. If you haven’t had a chance to see it yourself, now’s the time.  Our next tour dates are: June 21st from 4-5 p.m. and July 1st from 8:30-9:30am. To RSVP please email Takara at THenegar@plymouthfoundation.org or call 612-871-0890.

Thank you in advance for helping us build a community of support for ending homelessness.

With gratitude,

Lee Blons, Executive Director    
To learn more or to donate visit www.plymouthfoundation.org.

I’m From
by Markita H.

I’m from the struggle and havin’ to snuggle up cuz we neva
had any heat let alone socks or shoes or clothes on our backs
or on our feet neva havin’ any food in the ‘fridgerator to eat
all becuase of momma getting high off whats up on the streets
disappearing for days at a time maybe even weeks
at the age being confused misuse straight up beat
askin why did it have to be me

I’m from foster home to foster home group homes and shelters
I’m from people sayin’ no one can help her
as in me they not talking about her they talking about me
yea I know I see it’s every man for himself in this struggling society
bad yea look it’s the economy government don’t lie to me
don’t lie to us cuz I could have sworn the dolla’ bill said “In God We Trust”
and look at us saying we must have this we must have that
and aint got ish to show or ish to match

I’m from bogus relationships tricks offs and money
I look back on it now an think it’s funny
I’m from a father that don’t know me or care what I’m destined to be
but it’s all good cuz he ain’t ish to me
I’m from trying to be strong and erase the weak
but it gets too late I start to feel my eyes leak
I start to breath heavy just thinking about the people that left and so called loved me

I’m from being so blinded that I can see what life has in store especially for me
I’m from gospel art hip-hop R&B to expressin’ my feelings
through songs and pure poetry