when I was invited to do this talk I learned a couple of new things that I
learned a couple of new things that I
learned a couple of new things that I didn’t know about San Francisco the
didn’t know about San Francisco the
didn’t know about San Francisco the first was that there are a hundred and
first was that there are a hundred and
first was that there are a hundred and seven millionaires per square mile
seven millionaires per square mile
seven millionaires per square mile impressive right there are also a
impressive right there are also a
impressive right there are also a hundred and sixty people experiencing
hundred and sixty people experiencing
hundred and sixty people experiencing homelessness per square mile what do the
homelessness per square mile what do the
homelessness per square mile what do the communities we live in look like when
communities we live in look like when
communities we live in look like when they are shaped by such inequality how
they are shaped by such inequality how
they are shaped by such inequality how do we treat the people at the bottom do
do we treat the people at the bottom do
do we treat the people at the bottom do we even see them as human beings and if
we even see them as human beings and if
we even see them as human beings and if we don’t what might happen if they
we don’t what might happen if they
we don’t what might happen if they actually became human through another
actually became human through another
actually became human through another person’s eyes since 2011 growth and
person’s eyes since 2011 growth and
person’s eyes since 2011 growth and gentrification have unfolded in San
gentrification have unfolded in San
gentrification have unfolded in San Francisco at a furious pace my
Francisco at a furious pace my
Francisco at a furious pace my neighborhood used to be part of the
neighborhood used to be part of the
neighborhood used to be part of the Western Addition with all of the ensuing
Western Addition with all of the ensuing
Western Addition with all of the ensuing change it is now NOPA along the way I
change it is now NOPA along the way I
change it is now NOPA along the way I watched as three of my neighbors all
watched as three of my neighbors all
watched as three of my neighbors all gentlemen in their 80s got evicted start
gentlemen in their 80s got evicted start
gentlemen in their 80s got evicted start living in their cars only to have those
living in their cars only to have those
living in their cars only to have those eventually repossessed and because
eventually repossessed and because
eventually repossessed and because shelter wait lists were and still are
shelter wait lists were and still are
shelter wait lists were and still are thousands deep end up dying before help
thousands deep end up dying before help
thousands deep end up dying before help is available around the same time I took
is available around the same time I took
is available around the same time I took a cab ride that changed my life as we
a cab ride that changed my life as we
a cab ride that changed my life as we hit the Tenderloin which is a
hit the Tenderloin which is a
hit the Tenderloin which is a neighborhood in San Francisco at the
neighborhood in San Francisco at the
neighborhood in San Francisco at the highest concentration of homelessness
highest concentration of homelessness
highest concentration of homelessness the cab driver turned over his shoulder
the cab driver turned over his shoulder
the cab driver turned over his shoulder and he said to me welcome to the land of
and he said to me welcome to the land of
and he said to me welcome to the land of broken dreams his words were so jarring
broken dreams his words were so jarring
broken dreams his words were so jarring that I stopped doing whatever I was
that I stopped doing whatever I was
that I stopped doing whatever I was doing and I looked out the window and
doing and I looked out the window and
doing and I looked out the window and for the first time despite having been
for the first time despite having been
for the first time despite having been through the Tenderloin hundreds of times
through the Tenderloin hundreds of times
through the Tenderloin hundreds of times before really saw people and my first
before really saw people and my first
before really saw people and my first thought was that not a single one of
thought was that not a single one of
thought was that not a single one of them when they were little ever dreamed
them when they were little ever dreamed
them when they were little ever dreamed of growing up to be homeless and yet
of growing up to be homeless and yet
of growing up to be homeless and yet there they were
there they were
there they were and that thought of them as children
and that thought of them as children
and that thought of them as children really pierced me because at that time
really pierced me because at that time
really pierced me because at that time my own daughter was five years old if
my own daughter was five years old if
my own daughter was five years old if you live or work in San Francisco or
you live or work in San Francisco or
you live or work in San Francisco or just about any community in California
just about any community in California
just about any community in California or sadly even in this country you have
or sadly even in this country you have
or sadly even in this country you have lightly witnessed the seemingly
lightly witnessed the seemingly
lightly witnessed the seemingly intractable challenge that is
intractable challenge that is
intractable challenge that is homelessness yet when most of us pass a
homelessness yet when most of us pass a
homelessness yet when most of us pass a houseless neighbor on the street we look
houseless neighbor on the street we look
houseless neighbor on the street we look the other way it’s understandable it’s
the other way it’s understandable it’s
the other way it’s understandable it’s hard to reconcile herself to the
hard to reconcile herself to the
hard to reconcile herself to the suffering of others around us especially
suffering of others around us especially
suffering of others around us especially when we feel powerless to help that was
when we feel powerless to help that was
when we feel powerless to help that was me until that day sitting in the cab
me until that day sitting in the cab
me until that day sitting in the cab when I connected with a simple but
when I connected with a simple but
when I connected with a simple but powerful truth that these were people
powerful truth that these were people
powerful truth that these were people with hopes and dreams and fears just
with hopes and dreams and fears just
with hopes and dreams and fears just like mine people who because of one or
like mine people who because of one or
like mine people who because of one or two turns of bad luck and no safety net
two turns of bad luck and no safety net
two turns of bad luck and no safety net to catch them just kept falling until
to catch them just kept falling until
to catch them just kept falling until they hit bottom and so sitting in the
they hit bottom and so sitting in the
they hit bottom and so sitting in the cab that day I decided I was going to
cab that day I decided I was going to
cab that day I decided I was going to try to help fast-forward a few months
try to help fast-forward a few months
try to help fast-forward a few months and I was in the Design District of San
and I was in the Design District of San
and I was in the Design District of San Francisco which is south of market and I
Francisco which is south of market and I
Francisco which is south of market and I remember so clearly it was an unusually
remember so clearly it was an unusually
remember so clearly it was an unusually warm sunny day and as I walked I passed
warm sunny day and as I walked I passed
warm sunny day and as I walked I passed a young woman who was panhandling she
a young woman who was panhandling she
a young woman who was panhandling she was distraught disheveled and she kept
was distraught disheveled and she kept
was distraught disheveled and she kept saying over and again that she would
saying over and again that she would
saying over and again that she would never be clean and while I knew that her
never be clean and while I knew that her
never be clean and while I knew that her words probably meant many things I got
words probably meant many things I got
words probably meant many things I got curious about what her chances were
curious about what her chances were
curious about what her chances were forgetting physically clean because
forgetting physically clean because
forgetting physically clean because every house this person I saw was
every house this person I saw was
every house this person I saw was struggling with hygiene so he went home
struggling with hygiene so he went home
struggling with hygiene so he went home that night and I did the research and
that night and I did the research and
that night and I did the research and what I found shocked me I learned that
what I found shocked me I learned that
what I found shocked me I learned that there were 16 shower stalls and about as
there were 16 shower stalls and about as
there were 16 shower stalls and about as many toilets for the 7,000 plus men
many toilets for the 7,000 plus men
many toilets for the 7,000 plus men women and children experiencing
women and children experiencing
women and children experiencing homelessness in San Francisco
homelessness in San Francisco
homelessness in San Francisco I thought that cannot be that happens
I thought that cannot be that happens
I thought that cannot be that happens somewhere else not in one of the most
somewhere else not in one of the most
somewhere else not in one of the most affluent and progressive cities in the
affluent and progressive cities in the
affluent and progressive cities in the world and yet it was true a few weeks
world and yet it was true a few weeks
world and yet it was true a few weeks later I happened to pick up a San
later I happened to pick up a San
later I happened to pick up a San Francisco Chronicle something that I
Francisco Chronicle something that I
Francisco Chronicle something that I rarely did back then and I read that
rarely did back then and I read that
rarely did back then and I read that Muni was retiring its old diesel buses
Muni was retiring its old diesel buses
Muni was retiring its old diesel buses and I got this crazy idea as the bells
and I got this crazy idea as the bells
and I got this crazy idea as the bells went off in my head to take those buses
went off in my head to take those buses
went off in my head to take those buses and convert them into mobile showers and
and convert them into mobile showers and
and convert them into mobile showers and toilets for people to do something good
toilets for people to do something good
toilets for people to do something good with something that people love to hate
to me the obvious need was it was simple
to me the obvious need was it was simple but I knew that it was about so much
but I knew that it was about so much
but I knew that it was about so much more than just getting people clean
more than just getting people clean
more than just getting people clean because at the end of the day a shower
because at the end of the day a shower
because at the end of the day a shower something that we almost all take for
something that we almost all take for
something that we almost all take for granted connects us with our sense of
granted connects us with our sense of
granted connects us with our sense of self and with our dignity and dignity
self and with our dignity and dignity
self and with our dignity and dignity it’s a big and powerful concept and one
it’s a big and powerful concept and one
it’s a big and powerful concept and one of its meanings is a sense of pride in
of its meanings is a sense of pride in
of its meanings is a sense of pride in one’s self and self-respect
one’s self and self-respect
one’s self and self-respect in the three and a half years since
in the three and a half years since
in the three and a half years since launching our mobile hygiene service
launching our mobile hygiene service
launching our mobile hygiene service we’ve served over 10,000 Californians
we’ve served over 10,000 Californians
we’ve served over 10,000 Californians but I will never forget one of our very
but I will never forget one of our very
but I will never forget one of our very first guests a man named Marty who came
first guests a man named Marty who came
first guests a man named Marty who came to San Francisco from Detroit for a job
to San Francisco from Detroit for a job
to San Francisco from Detroit for a job that unfortunately evaporated by the
that unfortunately evaporated by the
that unfortunately evaporated by the time he arrived because he had used just
time he arrived because he had used just
time he arrived because he had used just about his last dollar getting here he
about his last dollar getting here he
about his last dollar getting here he decided that he was going to camp out on
decided that he was going to camp out on
decided that he was going to camp out on the street he was optimistic that he
the street he was optimistic that he
the street he was optimistic that he would find work quickly because San
would find work quickly because San
would find work quickly because San Francisco was booming and his skills as
Francisco was booming and his skills as
Francisco was booming and his skills as a machinist were in demand the problem
a machinist were in demand the problem
a machinist were in demand the problem was that the longer he stayed on the
was that the longer he stayed on the
was that the longer he stayed on the street the less desirable he became to
street the less desirable he became to
street the less desirable he became to employers and people around him but he
employers and people around him but he
employers and people around him but he read that lava may was going to be
read that lava may was going to be
read that lava may was going to be launching soon and so on the very first
launching soon and so on the very first
launching soon and so on the very first day we started he showed up holding a
day we started he showed up holding a
day we started he showed up holding a crumpled piece of newspaper in his hand
crumpled piece of newspaper in his hand
crumpled piece of newspaper in his hand about our launch that he’d held onto to
about our launch that he’d held onto to
about our launch that he’d held onto to remind him where to find us
remind him where to find us
remind him where to find us after a few weeks with showering of
after a few weeks with showering of
after a few weeks with showering of showering with us Marty got a job and he
showering with us Marty got a job and he
showering with us Marty got a job and he was able to save money and get housed
was able to save money and get housed
was able to save money and get housed and while he says that a shower was
and while he says that a shower was
and while he says that a shower was critical to his success it was about so
critical to his success it was about so
critical to his success it was about so much more than that it was about
much more than that it was about
much more than that it was about reconnecting with his dignity and his
reconnecting with his dignity and his
reconnecting with his dignity and his self-worth like Marty all of our guests
self-worth like Marty all of our guests
self-worth like Marty all of our guests have stories stories that break our
have stories stories that break our
have stories stories that break our hearts make us laugh and remind us that
hearts make us laugh and remind us that
hearts make us laugh and remind us that they’re just like us they also share
they’re just like us they also share
they’re just like us they also share with us that they feel invisible
with us that they feel invisible
with us that they feel invisible wandering the city unwanted and unseen
wandering the city unwanted and unseen
wandering the city unwanted and unseen and oddly enough this was something that
and oddly enough this was something that
and oddly enough this was something that I could
I could
I could we connect with myself coming from a
we connect with myself coming from a
we connect with myself coming from a small town in South Texas where you
small town in South Texas where you
small town in South Texas where you greet everyone you pass on the street it
greet everyone you pass on the street it
greet everyone you pass on the street it had always unnerved me even after
had always unnerved me even after
had always unnerved me even after decades of living here to pass another
decades of living here to pass another
decades of living here to pass another person on the street and actively ignore
person on the street and actively ignore
person on the street and actively ignore them even when you were the only other
them even when you were the only other
them even when you were the only other person on the street with them and so
person on the street with them and so
person on the street with them and so about a year ago I got tired of feeling
about a year ago I got tired of feeling
about a year ago I got tired of feeling that way and I decided I would try an
that way and I decided I would try an
that way and I decided I would try an experiment I was going to acknowledge
experiment I was going to acknowledge
experiment I was going to acknowledge everyone I saw with a nod of the head
everyone I saw with a nod of the head
everyone I saw with a nod of the head making eye contact or maybe even a
making eye contact or maybe even a
making eye contact or maybe even a greeting there was a little concerned
greeting there was a little concerned
greeting there was a little concerned that people might rebuff me or think I
that people might rebuff me or think I
that people might rebuff me or think I was some weirdo but I was more curious
was some weirdo but I was more curious
was some weirdo but I was more curious about what putting myself out there
about what putting myself out there
about what putting myself out there might do for my relationship with San
might do for my relationship with San
might do for my relationship with San Francisco a city that I had always had a
Francisco a city that I had always had a
Francisco a city that I had always had a passionate love hate relationship and it
passionate love hate relationship and it
passionate love hate relationship and it changed it the pep in my step increased
changed it the pep in my step increased
changed it the pep in my step increased I found myself smiling much more and
I found myself smiling much more and
I found myself smiling much more and generally connected to the people who
generally connected to the people who
generally connected to the people who were occupying the same space as me and
were occupying the same space as me and
were occupying the same space as me and then one day I stepped out of a Pete’s
then one day I stepped out of a Pete’s
then one day I stepped out of a Pete’s and about a hundred feet ahead of me was
and about a hundred feet ahead of me was
and about a hundred feet ahead of me was a woman sitting on the ground surrounded
a woman sitting on the ground surrounded
a woman sitting on the ground surrounded by her belongings and a little dog that
by her belongings and a little dog that
by her belongings and a little dog that she had and I called out good morning
she had and I called out good morning
she had and I called out good morning and I startled her and as I approached
and I startled her and as I approached
and I startled her and as I approached she said you see me and I said to myself
she said you see me and I said to myself
she said you see me and I said to myself she must be struggling with a little bit
she must be struggling with a little bit
she must be struggling with a little bit of mental health issues
of mental health issues
of mental health issues and I said yes you’re sitting right
and I said yes you’re sitting right
and I said yes you’re sitting right there in front of me
there in front of me
there in front of me what happened next took me absolutely my
what happened next took me absolutely my
what happened next took me absolutely my surprise her eyes welled with tears
surprise her eyes welled with tears
surprise her eyes welled with tears still makes me cry and she said you are
still makes me cry and she said you are
still makes me cry and she said you are the first person to acknowledge my
the first person to acknowledge my
the first person to acknowledge my presence in a week I thought I was a
presence in a week I thought I was a
presence in a week I thought I was a ghost sorry homelessness destroys your
ghost sorry homelessness destroys your
ghost sorry homelessness destroys your dignity and your sense of self-worth it
dignity and your sense of self-worth it
dignity and your sense of self-worth it makes you invisible and unwanted being
makes you invisible and unwanted being
makes you invisible and unwanted being seen is something that we all need and
seen is something that we all need and
seen is something that we all need and long for but it is particularly
long for but it is particularly
long for but it is particularly important to our house list neighbors we
important to our house list neighbors we
important to our house list neighbors we see it in our work every day as it helps
see it in our work every day as it helps
see it in our work every day as it helps them persevere through seemingly
them persevere through seemingly
them persevere through seemingly unsurmountable challenges or in some
unsurmountable challenges or in some
unsurmountable challenges or in some cases return from the brink of suicide
cases return from the brink of suicide
cases return from the brink of suicide because they’ve been seen and valued and
because they’ve been seen and valued and
because they’ve been seen and valued and supported and we call the way that we
supported and we call the way that we
supported and we call the way that we work
work
work radical hospitality it’s radical because
radical hospitality it’s radical because
radical hospitality it’s radical because this level of care is rarely extended to
this level of care is rarely extended to
this level of care is rarely extended to people moving through homelessness we
people moving through homelessness we
people moving through homelessness we believe that raising the bar on how you
believe that raising the bar on how you
believe that raising the bar on how you serve people is revolutionary
serve people is revolutionary
serve people is revolutionary hospitality because it’s rooted in
hospitality because it’s rooted in
hospitality because it’s rooted in generosity and our shared humanity we go
generosity and our shared humanity we go
generosity and our shared humanity we go as many miles as it takes to ensure that
as many miles as it takes to ensure that
as many miles as it takes to ensure that our guests leave feeling better than
our guests leave feeling better than
our guests leave feeling better than when they arrived and we recognize that
when they arrived and we recognize that
when they arrived and we recognize that they are just like us and lastly the act
they are just like us and lastly the act
they are just like us and lastly the act of taking service to where people are
of taking service to where people are
of taking service to where people are meeting them in their space is
meeting them in their space is
meeting them in their space is ultimately an act we believe a profound
ultimately an act we believe a profound
ultimately an act we believe a profound care and respect and so we take our
care and respect and so we take our
care and respect and so we take our service we take radical hospitality to
service we take radical hospitality to
service we take radical hospitality to the street underpinning it all again is
the street underpinning it all again is
the street underpinning it all again is this concept of dignity but this time
this concept of dignity but this time
this concept of dignity but this time defined as the state or quality of being
defined as the state or quality of being
defined as the state or quality of being worthy of honor of respect because at
worthy of honor of respect because at
worthy of honor of respect because at the end of the day dignity encompasses
the end of the day dignity encompasses
the end of the day dignity encompasses both the way that you feel about
both the way that you feel about
both the way that you feel about yourself and the way that you are
yourself and the way that you are
yourself and the way that you are treated so once you started we’ve
treated so once you started we’ve
treated so once you started we’ve learned sometimes painfully that there
learned sometimes painfully that there
learned sometimes painfully that there are people who do not believe that we
are people who do not believe that we
are people who do not believe that we did the way that we do I’m reminded of
did the way that we do I’m reminded of
did the way that we do I’m reminded of the time that we were scaling in San
the time that we were scaling in San
the time that we were scaling in San Francisco and one of the new sites that
Francisco and one of the new sites that
Francisco and one of the new sites that we opened was at the Maine Public
we opened was at the Maine Public
we opened was at the Maine Public Library on the very next day I received
Library on the very next day I received
Library on the very next day I received the most vicious email I’ve ever
the most vicious email I’ve ever
the most vicious email I’ve ever received in my life it said by washing
received in my life it said by washing
received in my life it said by washing these animals you are part of the reason
these animals you are part of the reason
these animals you are part of the reason that San Francisco is following ancient
that San Francisco is following ancient
that San Francisco is following ancient Rome into oblivion right my first
Rome into oblivion right my first
Rome into oblivion right my first feeling was absolute and utter shock
feeling was absolute and utter shock
feeling was absolute and utter shock that anybody could feel that way
that anybody could feel that way
that anybody could feel that way much less thinking I had that much power
much less thinking I had that much power
much less thinking I had that much power then I got mad really mad I wanted to
then I got mad really mad I wanted to
then I got mad really mad I wanted to hurt this person the opposite of radical
hurt this person the opposite of radical
hurt this person the opposite of radical hospitality but as I sat with his words
hospitality but as I sat with his words
hospitality but as I sat with his words two things hit me
two things hit me
two things hit me the first was how easy it is for us to
the first was how easy it is for us to
the first was how easy it is for us to disconnect from the suffering of others
disconnect from the suffering of others
disconnect from the suffering of others and to how challenging it is for our
and to how challenging it is for our
and to how challenging it is for our guests our houseless neighbors who
guests our houseless neighbors who
guests our houseless neighbors who filled this kind of vitriol regularly in
filled this kind of vitriol regularly in
filled this kind of vitriol regularly in the end though his message turned out to
the end though his message turned out to
the end though his message turned out to be a gift because what it did was it
be a gift because what it did was it
be a gift because what it did was it strengthened our resolve to connect with
strengthened our resolve to connect with
strengthened our resolve to connect with everyone we touched not just our guests
everyone we touched not just our guests
everyone we touched not just our guests everyone including people like him who
everyone including people like him who
everyone including people like him who seemingly have lost their way because
seemingly have lost their way because
seemingly have lost their way because the truth is that radical hospitality
the truth is that radical hospitality
the truth is that radical hospitality works in both directions choosing to see
works in both directions choosing to see
works in both directions choosing to see affects both the person being seen and
affects both the person being seen and
affects both the person being seen and the person choosing to see at a time
the person choosing to see at a time
the person choosing to see at a time when we are inundated daily with a
when we are inundated daily with a
when we are inundated daily with a barrage of bad news when we are often
barrage of bad news when we are often
barrage of bad news when we are often more connected with our digital devices
more connected with our digital devices
more connected with our digital devices than we are to each other
than we are to each other
than we are to each other I believe that radical hospitality can
I believe that radical hospitality can
I believe that radical hospitality can enter offer an antidote to some of what
enter offer an antidote to some of what
enter offer an antidote to some of what ails us imagine for example what might
ails us imagine for example what might
ails us imagine for example what might change if we turned toward a houseless
change if we turned toward a houseless
change if we turned toward a houseless neighbor if we turn toward each other
neighbor if we turn toward each other
neighbor if we turn toward each other and offered our own small gesture of
and offered our own small gesture of
and offered our own small gesture of radical hospitality and now imagine if
radical hospitality and now imagine if
radical hospitality and now imagine if that happened at scale which is why I
that happened at scale which is why I
that happened at scale which is why I invite you to consider conducting your
invite you to consider conducting your
invite you to consider conducting your own experiment and seeing by embracing
own experiment and seeing by embracing
own experiment and seeing by embracing and unleashing a little radical
and unleashing a little radical
and unleashing a little radical hospitality in your life commit to just
hospitality in your life commit to just
hospitality in your life commit to just one day just one of deciding to
one day just one of deciding to
one day just one of deciding to acknowledge people as you pass them with
acknowledge people as you pass them with
acknowledge people as you pass them with eye contact or nod of the head run if
eye contact or nod of the head run if
eye contact or nod of the head run if you dare a greeting I promise it will
you dare a greeting I promise it will
you dare a greeting I promise it will shift something in you
shift something in you
shift something in you and very likely the people you encounter
and very likely the people you encounter
and very likely the people you encounter and should you pass a houseless neighbor
and should you pass a houseless neighbor
and should you pass a houseless neighbor and not feel comfortable or ready to
and not feel comfortable or ready to
and not feel comfortable or ready to make a connection then as you pass them
make a connection then as you pass them
make a connection then as you pass them in your mind just silently acknowledge
in your mind just silently acknowledge
in your mind just silently acknowledge that they are a human being imbued with
that they are a human being imbued with
that they are a human being imbued with dignity
dignity
dignity just like you these are small things but
just like you these are small things but
just like you these are small things but they can lead to transformation mother
they can lead to transformation mother
they can lead to transformation mother Theresa once said I alone cannot change
Theresa once said I alone cannot change
Theresa once said I alone cannot change the world but I can cast a stone upon
the world but I can cast a stone upon
the world but I can cast a stone upon the waters to create many ripples we can
the waters to create many ripples we can
the waters to create many ripples we can all create ripples and I believe it can
all create ripples and I believe it can
all create ripples and I believe it can start by choosing to see the invisible
start by choosing to see the invisible
start by choosing to see the invisible thank you
thank you
thank you [Music]
”
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