Hello Beautiful People,
Last night, members of the Broadway community took to the streets – and slept out.
What is a Sleep Out?
“The Sleep Out Movement is an opportunity for all of us to come together and make an immediate and lasting impact on the homeless young people who live at Covenant House.
The funds raised by Sleep Out participants are put to work immediately, keeping the lights on and the doors open for more than 57,000 kids who will seek help this year.
Our kids are changed by every interaction with a caring adult, and their dreams become a little more reachable every time they hear, “you can do it. I believe in you.” The Sleep Out offers every participant the chance to be one of those caring adults.
The Sleep Out does include taking a piece of cardboard and a sleeping bag into a parking lot or along a strip of sidewalk. But the Sleep Out is not about pretending to be homeless. It’s about showing a group of kids unconditional love and absolute respect – proving that you care enough about them to be uncomfortable for one night, to be vulnerable for their sakes.”
Last night was the Broadway Sleep Out Edition – but hey, there’s more you can do:
On October 8, 2015 there’s the Real Estate Edition Sleep Out. More info can be found here.
On November 19, 2015 there’s the Executive Sleep Out. More info can be found here.
On March 18, 2016 there’s the Young Professionals Sleep Out. More info can be found here.
And hey, students — you can organize a Sleep Out at your school! Check here for more information.
Now, I haven’t had the honor of participating in this truly inspiring event, yet.
But my dear friend Michael Gioia was a first time participant this year – and his narrative, well, I think it expertly encapsulates the importance of all these events, and Covenant House:
Did you know that homeless youth in NYC must sometimes be turned away by shelters because there’s just not enough room? Did you know that homeless youth are unwilling to take water from strangers because then they’d have to go to the bathroom, and where do you *go* when you have nowhere to go?
Did you know that, despite their unfortunate fates and major losses in their lives, they have dreams bigger than the sky?
I’m so inspired by these teens and their stories. I’m so inspired by the Broadway community that is so quick to band together in support. As rain fell onto our sleeping bags at 4 AM, I felt grateful and lucky and sad and hopeful and worried and moved. As I walked back to the subway, down 42nd Street and saw the people on the ground who have *no other option* but to sleep there, it broke my heart.
I will always look at homelessness with new eyes, and I hope you can, too.
I’m proud to have been part of a movement that raised over $260,000 to keep these people safe.
There’s nothing I love more than when a group of people, from all different backgrounds, from all walks of life, coming together for a cause that is greater than themselves. It pains me to turn on the news lately, to see so much hatred against one another, to see so many folks perpetuating cycles of violence, stereotypes, and ignorance.
It’s a beautiful thing when we can learn to shed pretense and ego and judgement and try to make this world a better place.
And while I’m sure there’s so much more that can be done to help the homeless youth of the Big Apple, and this country, event’s such as the Sleep Outs are a step in getting Youth off of the streets – and on their feet.
Visit www.covenanthouse.org to find out more about all the ways you can help.
Live, Love, Learn,