hi guys i am Rania o’connor and i am the director of the curbside Chronicle at
director of the curbside Chronicle at
director of the curbside Chronicle at the homeless liance in oklahoma city and
the homeless liance in oklahoma city and
the homeless liance in oklahoma city and i’m here to talk to you about how when
i’m here to talk to you about how when
i’m here to talk to you about how when it comes to tackling big issues like
it comes to tackling big issues like
it comes to tackling big issues like homelessness that i truly believe that
homelessness that i truly believe that
homelessness that i truly believe that one person and one organization and one
one person and one organization and one
one person and one organization and one interaction can be meaningful and make a
interaction can be meaningful and make a
interaction can be meaningful and make a difference in people’s lives and so when
difference in people’s lives and so when
difference in people’s lives and so when I work in Oklahoma City and on any given
I work in Oklahoma City and on any given
I work in Oklahoma City and on any given night there are 1500 people experiencing
night there are 1500 people experiencing
night there are 1500 people experiencing homelessness and that’s just one night
homelessness and that’s just one night
homelessness and that’s just one night throughout the entire year our
throughout the entire year our
throughout the entire year our population of homeless looks more like
population of homeless looks more like
population of homeless looks more like seven thousand individuals and that’s
seven thousand individuals and that’s
seven thousand individuals and that’s sleeping outside or in shelters that
sleeping outside or in shelters that
sleeping outside or in shelters that doesn’t include the couch homeless
doesn’t include the couch homeless
doesn’t include the couch homeless individuals who are moving from home to
individuals who are moving from home to
individuals who are moving from home to home but don’t have a residence of their
home but don’t have a residence of their
home but don’t have a residence of their own and so when we talk about numbers
own and so when we talk about numbers
own and so when we talk about numbers like seven thousand and fifteen hundred
like seven thousand and fifteen hundred
like seven thousand and fifteen hundred on one night it can seem overwhelming
on one night it can seem overwhelming
on one night it can seem overwhelming and it can seem like a problem that’s
and it can seem like a problem that’s
and it can seem like a problem that’s way too big to tackle and so it can
way too big to tackle and so it can
way too big to tackle and so it can paralyze us right um but my story I
paralyze us right um but my story I
paralyze us right um but my story I guess doesn’t just start with one person
guess doesn’t just start with one person
guess doesn’t just start with one person I it includes two people my husband and
I it includes two people my husband and
I it includes two people my husband and I and when we were in college um he’s
I and when we were in college um he’s
I and when we were in college um he’s now my husband then he wasn’t but when
now my husband then he wasn’t but when
now my husband then he wasn’t but when we were we found out about something
we were we found out about something
we were we found out about something called Street papers um Street papers
called Street papers um Street papers
called Street papers um Street papers are publications like magazines and
are publications like magazines and
are publications like magazines and newspapers that employ people who are
newspapers that employ people who are
newspapers that employ people who are homeless and at risk of homelessness by
homeless and at risk of homelessness by
homeless and at risk of homelessness by giving them a job through sales think of
giving them a job through sales think of
giving them a job through sales think of like modern day Newsies kinda selling
like modern day Newsies kinda selling
like modern day Newsies kinda selling newspapers in public spaces and so we
newspapers in public spaces and so we
newspapers in public spaces and so we heard of this idea and we had really
heard of this idea and we had really
heard of this idea and we had really been talking about the issue of
been talking about the issue of
been talking about the issue of homelessness that we were passionate
homelessness that we were passionate
homelessness that we were passionate about and in being discouraged about
about and in being discouraged about
about and in being discouraged about driving around Oklahoma City and
driving around Oklahoma City and
driving around Oklahoma City and constantly seeing people panhandling on
constantly seeing people panhandling on
constantly seeing people panhandling on the side of the road and understanding
the side of the road and understanding
the side of the road and understanding that individuals have barriers that make
that individuals have barriers that make
that individuals have barriers that make traditional employment difficult but
traditional employment difficult but
traditional employment difficult but that that’s what individuals in that
that that’s what individuals in that
that that’s what individuals in that situation had to turn to and when we
situation had to turn to and when we
situation had to turn to and when we found out about street papers it was
found out about street papers it was
found out about street papers it was like voila I mean here is something that
like voila I mean here is something that
like voila I mean here is something that meets a person where they are and gives
meets a person where they are and gives
meets a person where they are and gives them a tool to transition forward and
them a tool to transition forward and
them a tool to transition forward and move forward and so we had this idea and
move forward and so we had this idea and
move forward and so we had this idea and we decided to pursue it and we decided
we decided to pursue it and we decided
we decided to pursue it and we decided to see if it could work in Oklahoma City
to see if it could work in Oklahoma City
to see if it could work in Oklahoma City and so that really started us
and so that really started us
and so that really started us acknowledging that as individuals we
acknowledging that as individuals we
acknowledging that as individuals we could have thought of a million reason
could have thought of a million reason
could have thought of a million reason as to why we were inadequate one being
as to why we were inadequate one being
as to why we were inadequate one being our age and experience and all of that
our age and experience and all of that
our age and experience and all of that but but we knew that we had drive and we
but but we knew that we had drive and we
but but we knew that we had drive and we knew that we were determined and
knew that we were determined and
knew that we were determined and passionate and so we approached the
passionate and so we approached the
passionate and so we approached the homeless Alliance and we talked to them
homeless Alliance and we talked to them
homeless Alliance and we talked to them about about this idea and seeing if they
about about this idea and seeing if they
about about this idea and seeing if they being a nonprofit that had it already
being a nonprofit that had it already
being a nonprofit that had it already existed for a decade thought that it
existed for a decade thought that it
existed for a decade thought that it could be something that could work and
could be something that could work and
could be something that could work and luckily they were open to it and said
luckily they were open to it and said
luckily they were open to it and said give it a try but whenever we started
give it a try but whenever we started
give it a try but whenever we started off it very much was an idea a concept
off it very much was an idea a concept
off it very much was an idea a concept of saying hey this has been proven in
of saying hey this has been proven in
of saying hey this has been proven in hundreds of other cities around the
hundreds of other cities around the
hundreds of other cities around the world to work but what will this like
world to work but what will this like
world to work but what will this like look like in Oklahoma City and so it
look like in Oklahoma City and so it
look like in Oklahoma City and so it involved a lot of us driving around and
involved a lot of us driving around and
involved a lot of us driving around and trying to recruit vendors and um and
trying to recruit vendors and um and
trying to recruit vendors and um and just getting our first publication now
just getting our first publication now
just getting our first publication now and in small things like that but it
and in small things like that but it
and in small things like that but it started to grow and it became not just
started to grow and it became not just
started to grow and it became not just our friends and family buying magazines
our friends and family buying magazines
our friends and family buying magazines but other people and then their friends
but other people and then their friends
but other people and then their friends and their family until we started
and their family until we started
and their family until we started selling thousands of magazines a month
selling thousands of magazines a month
selling thousands of magazines a month and so we went from kind of like this
and so we went from kind of like this
and so we went from kind of like this one idea in this one person to people in
one idea in this one person to people in
one idea in this one person to people in our case starting this thing to becoming
our case starting this thing to becoming
our case starting this thing to becoming a real organization and and mobilizing
a real organization and and mobilizing
a real organization and and mobilizing and bringing more people on board in at
and bringing more people on board in at
and bringing more people on board in at the homeless liance we have a saying
the homeless liance we have a saying
the homeless liance we have a saying that we use called rallying the home the
that we use called rallying the home the
that we use called rallying the home the community to end homelessness and it’s
community to end homelessness and it’s
community to end homelessness and it’s this idea that homelessness is a
this idea that homelessness is a
this idea that homelessness is a community-wide issue and so it’s going
community-wide issue and so it’s going
community-wide issue and so it’s going to take a community-wide effort to see
to take a community-wide effort to see
to take a community-wide effort to see its end and one organization by itself
its end and one organization by itself
its end and one organization by itself isn’t going to solve that curbside we’re
isn’t going to solve that curbside we’re
isn’t going to solve that curbside we’re not going to solve it in
not going to solve it in
not going to solve it in entirety shelters aren’t going to solve
entirety shelters aren’t going to solve
entirety shelters aren’t going to solve it in its entirety feeds aren’t going to
it in its entirety feeds aren’t going to
it in its entirety feeds aren’t going to and solve it in its entirety but
and solve it in its entirety but
and solve it in its entirety but whenever we work together and we
whenever we work together and we
whenever we work together and we collaborate we can make a really big
collaborate we can make a really big
collaborate we can make a really big difference and individual organizations
difference and individual organizations
difference and individual organizations and ideas can make a difference in the
and ideas can make a difference in the
and ideas can make a difference in the idea of creating something new and
idea of creating something new and
idea of creating something new and approaching these social problems when a
approaching these social problems when a
approaching these social problems when a new way is important and so curbside
new way is important and so curbside
new way is important and so curbside became beyond an idea into an
became beyond an idea into an
became beyond an idea into an organization but my favorite part about
organization but my favorite part about
organization but my favorite part about curbside isn’t it is the fact that it’s
curbside isn’t it is the fact that it’s
curbside isn’t it is the fact that it’s made up of multiple interactions and
made up of multiple interactions and
made up of multiple interactions and that’s how we find our success and so
that’s how we find our success and so
that’s how we find our success and so you could think you know well me buying
you could think you know well me buying
you could think you know well me buying a magazine from one person of what does
a magazine from one person of what does
a magazine from one person of what does that really do to solve the issue of
that really do to solve the issue of
that really do to solve the issue of homelessness how can two dollars to one
homelessness how can two dollars to one
homelessness how can two dollars to one person you know make a difference but
person you know make a difference but
person you know make a difference but the idea is that it adds up and that
the idea is that it adds up and that
the idea is that it adds up and that through these multiple interactions
through these multiple interactions
through these multiple interactions through these thousands of interactions
through these thousands of interactions
through these thousands of interactions a simple idea can become really powerful
a simple idea can become really powerful
a simple idea can become really powerful and we’ve seen that with curbside this
and we’ve seen that with curbside this
and we’ve seen that with curbside this past year 19 of our vendors were able to
past year 19 of our vendors were able to
past year 19 of our vendors were able to move in the housing and overcome over
move in the housing and overcome over
move in the housing and overcome over 200 years of homelessness that they’d
200 years of homelessness that they’d
200 years of homelessness that they’d experienced combined and that was
experienced combined and that was
experienced combined and that was because individuals like you and like me
because individuals like you and like me
because individuals like you and like me made the decision to make that one small
made the decision to make that one small
made the decision to make that one small purchase but they added up thousands and
purchase but they added up thousands and
purchase but they added up thousands and thousands of times to make a real impact
thousands of times to make a real impact
thousands of times to make a real impact and not just in the lives of our vendors
and not just in the lives of our vendors
and not just in the lives of our vendors but in the lives of the individual
but in the lives of the individual
but in the lives of the individual customers as well whenever our vendors
customers as well whenever our vendors
customers as well whenever our vendors sell magazines they’re selling a product
sell magazines they’re selling a product
sell magazines they’re selling a product that they’re also helping contribute to
that they’re also helping contribute to
that they’re also helping contribute to the curbside Chronicle as a street paper
the curbside Chronicle as a street paper
the curbside Chronicle as a street paper has articles written by the homeless
has articles written by the homeless
has articles written by the homeless about experiencing homelessness and also
about experiencing homelessness and also
about experiencing homelessness and also about other social content and so our
about other social content and so our
about other social content and so our vendors are contributing to each issue
vendors are contributing to each issue
vendors are contributing to each issue that they’re selling and when they sell
that they’re selling and when they sell
that they’re selling and when they sell that to a person you’re getting a
that to a person you’re getting a
that to a person you’re getting a product where you can have your eyes
product where you can have your eyes
product where you can have your eyes open to something that maybe you’ve
open to something that maybe you’ve
open to something that maybe you’ve never experienced or don’t know a lot
never experienced or don’t know a lot
never experienced or don’t know a lot about
about
about in and with that that equal interaction
in and with that that equal interaction
in and with that that equal interaction that equal transaction it gives people
that equal transaction it gives people
that equal transaction it gives people from two different walks of life a
from two different walks of life a
from two different walks of life a reason to interact and a reason to break
reason to interact and a reason to break
reason to interact and a reason to break down kind of socially isolating walls
down kind of socially isolating walls
down kind of socially isolating walls that exist in our society before
that exist in our society before
that exist in our society before curbside um a lot of individuals would
curbside um a lot of individuals would
curbside um a lot of individuals would choose not to interact with someone that
choose not to interact with someone that
choose not to interact with someone that they saw experiencing homelessness
they saw experiencing homelessness
they saw experiencing homelessness because maybe it felt uncomfortable and
because maybe it felt uncomfortable and
because maybe it felt uncomfortable and they didn’t know how to approach a
they didn’t know how to approach a
they didn’t know how to approach a person in that situation what to say and
person in that situation what to say and
person in that situation what to say and so there’s this barrier that existed but
so there’s this barrier that existed but
so there’s this barrier that existed but by giving individuals a product to sell
by giving individuals a product to sell
by giving individuals a product to sell a product that they can have a simple
a product that they can have a simple
a product that they can have a simple conversation about it breaks down some
conversation about it breaks down some
conversation about it breaks down some of that fear and it brings people
of that fear and it brings people
of that fear and it brings people together people that normally wouldn’t
together people that normally wouldn’t
together people that normally wouldn’t interact and from that we can really
interact and from that we can really
interact and from that we can really learn about other individuals and their
learn about other individuals and their
learn about other individuals and their situations and ultimately create change
situations and ultimately create change
situations and ultimately create change for the long run and so I really believe
for the long run and so I really believe
for the long run and so I really believe that you can have something that is a
that you can have something that is a
that you can have something that is a simple idea that then with success
simple idea that then with success
simple idea that then with success becomes a real organization and through
becomes a real organization and through
becomes a real organization and through multiple interactions that people can
multiple interactions that people can
multiple interactions that people can make a difference and so in your lives
make a difference and so in your lives
make a difference and so in your lives I’m sure that you have different issues
I’m sure that you have different issues
I’m sure that you have different issues that you are passionate about and
that you are passionate about and
that you are passionate about and problems that that you would like to see
problems that that you would like to see
problems that that you would like to see alleviated in this world and in your
alleviated in this world and in your
alleviated in this world and in your communities and so I would just
communities and so I would just
communities and so I would just encourage you to know that you know as
encourage you to know that you know as
encourage you to know that you know as one person you can be powerful in making
one person you can be powerful in making
one person you can be powerful in making change thank you so much
change thank you so much
change thank you so much [Applause]
”
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