SUMMARY: In this interview, Washington, D.C. native Alisa Hill speaks about the phenomenon of homelessness in the city. Alisa shares her personal experiences with homelessness, including her efforts to find shelter and how being homeless has affected her relationships with others. Alisa also discusses her advocacy efforts to bring attention to the issue of homelessness and her outreach with homeless children. PROJECT’S OBJECTIVES: The interviews conducted as part of the DC Oral History and Social Justice Project record how unhoused residents of the greater DC area view the history of homelessness – how did homelessness become such an entrenched part of the city. The interviews will be used to create critical dialogue among people who are currently unhoused in Washington, DC, and then they may be used to assist future advocacy efforts.
SUMMARY: This a half-hour follow-up interview with Washington, D.C. Hip Hop artist Head Roc also known as Vance Levy. This interview’s content returns to the idea of social and cultural changes in D.C. and its immediate suburbs with a focus on specific cultural landscapes and engagements of people in this time. In it Head Roc, details places in DC that nurtured his own cultural development. He offers a critique of portrayals of the city as dangerous or violent, viewing such notions as stereotypes of the city. He also offers a critique of the educational system that he experienced. The interview concludes with a discussion on gentrification in DC and it possible future effects on the city’s Black cultures.
SUMMARY: Interview with David Edwards explores what he believes to be the causes of homelessness in Washington, DC and why homelessness continues to be such a persistent issue. Edwards recalls his work history, history as a whistleblower, and history of his own periods of homelessness. Edwards is a self-described advocate-activist and details his plan for reducing homelessness in DC. Edwards is also a poet and novelist, and shares poems and plot lines from his novel. PROJECT’S OBJECTIVES: The interviews conducted as part of the DC Oral History and Social Justice Project record how unhoused residents of the greater DC area view the history of homelessness – how did homelessness become such an entrenched part of the city. The interviews will be used to create critical dialogue among people who are currently unhoused in Washington, DC, and then they may be used to assist future advocacy efforts.
PROJECT’S OBJECTIVES: The Homeless Voices Amplification Co-op (HVAC) works to amplify stories of unhoused individuals’ past and present work experiences. Recognizing that unhoused individuals are the most valuable source of knowledge on the realities of their employment, HVAC partners with the unhoused to create space for strategic community reflection as a means to further activism for economic justice. HVAC believes stories have the power to humanize individuals and undermine stigmas and stereotypes in ways statistics cannot. HVAC intends to draw upon the power of these stories to create a powerful, multi-dimensional online platform that can enhance efforts to mobilize the community.
PROJECT’S OBJECTIVES: The Homeless Voices Amplification Co-op (HVAC) works to amplify stories of unhoused individuals’ past and present work experiences. Recognizing that unhoused individuals are the most valuable source of knowledge on the realities of their employment, HVAC partners with the unhoused to create space for strategic community reflection as a means to further activism for economic justice. HVAC believes stories have the power to humanize individuals and undermine stigmas and stereotypes in ways statistics cannot. HVAC intends to draw upon the power of these stories to create a powerful, multi-dimensional online platform that can enhance efforts to mobilize the community.
SUMMARY: Eric Sheptock’s interview begins with his pilgrimage from Florida to Washington, DC in 2005 tracing his initial impetus to move through his current advocacy efforts as SHARC (Shelter, Housing and Real Change) chairman. Mr. Sheptock shares his insights on shelters, relationships, affordable housing as well as his personal experience as an advocate for the growing population of unhoused individuals in Washington, DC. PROJECT’S OBJECTIVES: The interviews conducted as part of the DC Oral History and Social Justice Project record how unhoused residents of the greater DC area view the history of homelessness – how did homelessness become such an entrenched part of the city. The interviews will be used to create critical dialogue among people who are currently unhoused in Washington, DC, and then they may be used to assist future advocacy efforts.
SUMMARY: This is an interview with lifelong D.C. Resident, James Shabazz, whom at the time of the interview was currently homeless. He works as a street vendor during the day and spends nights at the CCNV shelter. The interview touches on the subject of homelessness in the district, development of the downtown business district, decline in street vendors, Shabazz’s personal history, his activism and other subtopics surrounding those subjects. PROJECT’S OBJECTIVES: The interviews conducted as part of the DC Oral History and Social Justice Project record how unhoused residents of the greater DC area view the history of homelessness – how did homelessness become such an entrenched part of the city. The interviews will be used to create critical dialogue among people who are currently unhoused in Washington, DC, and then they may be used to assist future advocacy efforts.
SUMMARY: In this interview, long-time DC activist and resident Mark Andersen talks about the history of homeless advocacy in Washington DC, recounting his memories of Mitch Snyder and the struggle over the CCNV shelter. Andersen also discusses the shifts in the movement over time, the causes of persistent homelessness in DC, and the dynamics of social struggle. PROJECT’S OBJECTIVES: The interviews conducted as part of the DC Oral History and Social Justice Project record how unhoused residents of the greater DC area view the history of homelessness – how did homelessness become such an entrenched part of the city. The interviews will be used to create critical dialogue among people who are currently unhoused in Washington, DC, and then they may be used to assist future advocacy efforts.
Oral history interview with Mia Moss, owner of Black Coffee, a local coffee shop on the East Side of Fort Worth, Texas. Moss is a native of Fort Worth, living primarily on the East side. She feels very attached to her community and saw opening a business that expresses her coffee passion would be a way to give back to her community. She discusses her family and education growing up, her introduction into the coffee world, her experiences with racism, both professionally and personally, the COVID-19 outbreak and its lasting effects, and the effects of the Black Lives Matter social justice movement. This interview was recorded virtually (hence the two locations) through a website called TheirStory.io.
Tyrone Hall, a member of the National Reentry Network for Returning Citizens, reflects on his life experiences, the role of his organization, and the significance of go-go music. He explains how he returned from prison 8 months ago and the work he's done since to provide services for other returning citizens. He expresses the need for events like Late Skate for kids to prevent violence in the community. Tyrone discusses the significance of go-go music to DC, and the inspritation its served him as a rap artist. He reflects on gentrification in DC and the role of events like Late Skate that bring races together: "bringing everyone together is small, but it's monumental to me."
SUMMARY: Valerie Williams’ interview traces her move to Washington, DC in 1973, her childhood experiences traveling with her family, her early years working in DC up to her current involvement with the CCNV (Community For Creative Non-Violence) and advocacy efforts in SHARC (Shelter, Housing and Real Change). Ms. Williams passionately communicates her views on the plight of the unhoused community regarding affordable housing, shelter conditions, including her is individual observations as an advocate for the growing population of unhoused individuals in the nation’s capital. PROJECT’S OBJECTIVES: The interviews conducted as part of the DC Oral History and Social Justice Project record how unhoused residents of the greater DC area view the history of homelessness – how did homelessness become such an entrenched part of the city. The interviews will be used to create critical dialogue among people who are currently unhoused in Washington, DC, and then they may be used to assist future advocacy efforts.
Victor Rodriguez’s interview was conducted on November 11th, 2021, using the Their Story platform. The interview starts with Victor Rodriguez discussing his experience growing up as a Mexican American, his parents’ experiences immigrating to the United States, how his heritage affected how he was treated with school, and his changing relationship with his Mexican American identity. Throughout the interview, Rodriguez talks about how having mentors who shared or understood his cultural heritage was a significant part of his journey to pursue medicine. When discussing his experiences in medical school, Rodriguez talks about the lack of diversity awareness in medical schools and his work to advocate for himself and other Latin American medical students. Rodriguez also discusses his experiences working in minority communities and his desire to combat health disparities. When talking about the effect of Covid-19 on his medical education, Rodriguez talks about how he feels he missed out on an important learning experience by not being allowed to see Covid patients. The interview concludes by returning to the discussion of health disparities in the United States and Rodriguez’s perspective on how increasing diversity within the medical field might be one of the best ways to continue combating those disparities.