so Kathy and I have been in the green room for like five hours so we are Jack
room for like five hours so we are Jack
room for like five hours so we are Jack Mountain Dew and gummy worms so if
Mountain Dew and gummy worms so if
Mountain Dew and gummy worms so if there’s some sort of eruption I can’t do
there’s some sort of eruption I can’t do
there’s some sort of eruption I can’t do anything about that so how can art
anything about that so how can art
anything about that so how can art change a city a neighborhood or a life
change a city a neighborhood or a life
change a city a neighborhood or a life as the director of the United Square
as the director of the United Square
as the director of the United Square project I have the privilege of working
project I have the privilege of working
project I have the privilege of working with some amazing artists who are
with some amazing artists who are
with some amazing artists who are transforming not only the attitude but
transforming not only the attitude but
transforming not only the attitude but the landscape of our city on the most
the landscape of our city on the most
the landscape of our city on the most unlikely of canvases you guessed it
unlikely of canvases you guessed it
unlikely of canvases you guessed it trash cans this is one of our our trash
trash cans this is one of our our trash
trash cans this is one of our our trash cans maybe you’ve seen them around this
cans maybe you’ve seen them around this
cans maybe you’ve seen them around this one is in bag square and then we have
one is in bag square and then we have
one is in bag square and then we have them downtown in the Griffith statuary
them downtown in the Griffith statuary
them downtown in the Griffith statuary park and we have them in or nightís
park and we have them in or nightís
park and we have them in or nightís square they’re all over the city so you
square they’re all over the city so you
square they’re all over the city so you may ask why trash cans it’s a good
may ask why trash cans it’s a good
may ask why trash cans it’s a good question I watched a lot of Sesame
question I watched a lot of Sesame
question I watched a lot of Sesame Street when I was growing up I’m a big
Street when I was growing up I’m a big
Street when I was growing up I’m a big fan of Oscar no that’s not really why
fan of Oscar no that’s not really why
fan of Oscar no that’s not really why trash cans when we moved cornerstone
trash cans when we moved cornerstone
trash cans when we moved cornerstone Community Church from New York Mills two
Community Church from New York Mills two
Community Church from New York Mills two or nightís Square to partner with
or nightís Square to partner with
or nightís Square to partner with Plymouth Bethesda in 2007 we took time
Plymouth Bethesda in 2007 we took time
Plymouth Bethesda in 2007 we took time to press pause and to listen and to
to press pause and to listen and to
to press pause and to listen and to observe and to talk with our neighbors
observe and to talk with our neighbors
observe and to talk with our neighbors and the thing that we realized that was
and the thing that we realized that was
and the thing that we realized that was the greatest need in our neighborhood
the greatest need in our neighborhood
the greatest need in our neighborhood was for employment and especially for
was for employment and especially for
was for employment and especially for those who have significant barriers to
those who have significant barriers to
those who have significant barriers to employment people who have passed
employment people who have passed
employment people who have passed incarcerations people who have addiction
incarcerations people who have addiction
incarcerations people who have addiction recovery issues people who have mental
recovery issues people who have mental
recovery issues people who have mental or physical disabilities people who are
or physical disabilities people who are
or physical disabilities people who are undereducated and so we knew that we
undereducated and so we knew that we
undereducated and so we knew that we needed to help those people in our
needed to help those people in our
needed to help those people in our neighborhood and to be good neighbors
neighborhood and to be good neighbors
neighborhood and to be good neighbors and we knew that we had a lot to learn
and we knew that we had a lot to learn
and we knew that we had a lot to learn from them so what would we do so we did
from them so what would we do so we did
from them so what would we do so we did a lot of research and we came to the
a lot of research and we came to the
a lot of research and we came to the conclusion that starting a social
conclusion that starting a social
conclusion that starting a social enterprise was the way to go and a
enterprise was the way to go and a
enterprise was the way to go and a social enterprise is really a business
social enterprise is really a business
social enterprise is really a business that exists primarily to to address a
that exists primarily to to address a
that exists primarily to to address a need of a community and to invest in
need of a community and to invest in
need of a community and to invest in people and we knew
people and we knew
people and we knew that the greatest thing that our
that the greatest thing that our
that the greatest thing that our neighborhood needed was for people to
neighborhood needed was for people to
neighborhood needed was for people to invest in our neighbors people who’ve
invest in our neighbors people who’ve
invest in our neighbors people who’ve been forgotten people who have been
been forgotten people who have been
been forgotten people who have been marginalized and so what do we do for
marginalized and so what do we do for
marginalized and so what do we do for for a social enterprise we tried a lot
for a social enterprise we tried a lot
for a social enterprise we tried a lot of stuff
of stuff
of stuff we tried t-shirts and we stunk at
we tried t-shirts and we stunk at
we tried t-shirts and we stunk at t-shirts we lost money on every job in
t-shirts we lost money on every job in
t-shirts we lost money on every job in fact I still owe people for jobs that we
fact I still owe people for jobs that we
fact I still owe people for jobs that we did in t-shirts years ago and then we
did in t-shirts years ago and then we
did in t-shirts years ago and then we tried to combine my love for ironic
tried to combine my love for ironic
tried to combine my love for ironic t-shirts and making t-shirts with
t-shirts and making t-shirts with
t-shirts and making t-shirts with another business holy Shih Tzu dog waste
another business holy Shih Tzu dog waste
another business holy Shih Tzu dog waste removal now it’s a great concept and
removal now it’s a great concept and
removal now it’s a great concept and it’s it’s I know it’s better in my mind
it’s it’s I know it’s better in my mind
it’s it’s I know it’s better in my mind than it is on paper right and I get to
than it is on paper right and I get to
than it is on paper right and I get to wear that shirt when we go what the our
wear that shirt when we go what the our
wear that shirt when we go what the our first job and I’m telling you the
first job and I’m telling you the
first job and I’m telling you the complete truth I’m a pastor here I would
complete truth I’m a pastor here I would
complete truth I’m a pastor here I would never lie to you three Great Danes three
never lie to you three Great Danes three
never lie to you three Great Danes three Great Danes that’s all I have to say was
Great Danes that’s all I have to say was
Great Danes that’s all I have to say was our first holy Sh it’s their job so but
our first holy Sh it’s their job so but
our first holy Sh it’s their job so but we that that business hasn’t really
we that that business hasn’t really
we that that business hasn’t really picked up so to speak so what would we
picked up so to speak so what would we
picked up so to speak so what would we do then so what we really learned here
do then so what we really learned here
do then so what we really learned here was in order to do a social enterprise
was in order to do a social enterprise
was in order to do a social enterprise you have to press pause you have to
you have to press pause you have to
you have to press pause you have to listen and it has to develop organically
listen and it has to develop organically
listen and it has to develop organically because if it doesn’t develop
because if it doesn’t develop
because if it doesn’t develop organically it doesn’t come from the
organically it doesn’t come from the
organically it doesn’t come from the people of your neighborhood and the
people of your neighborhood and the
people of your neighborhood and the needs of your neighbourhood like our
needs of your neighbourhood like our
needs of your neighbourhood like our failed attempts it just really won’t get
failed attempts it just really won’t get
failed attempts it just really won’t get off the ground and so we had a community
off the ground and so we had a community
off the ground and so we had a community meeting as we often do at the church and
meeting as we often do at the church and
meeting as we often do at the church and one night we were talking with some
one night we were talking with some
one night we were talking with some community residents and business owners
community residents and business owners
community residents and business owners about the the need for trash cans in her
about the the need for trash cans in her
about the the need for trash cans in her neighborhood because there was so much
neighborhood because there was so much
neighborhood because there was so much litter and there was no place to put the
litter and there was no place to put the
litter and there was no place to put the litter in our neighborhood and so there
litter in our neighborhood and so there
litter in our neighborhood and so there was a a representative from the
was a a representative from the
was a a representative from the Community Foundation that said we would
Community Foundation that said we would
Community Foundation that said we would love to buy some cans and we can through
love to buy some cans and we can through
love to buy some cans and we can through this community group and we’ll put them
this community group and we’ll put them
this community group and we’ll put them in our neighborhood but then Kathy who’s
in our neighborhood but then Kathy who’s
in our neighborhood but then Kathy who’s the genius of the group she said well
the genius of the group she said well
the genius of the group she said well rather than just doing cans just buying
rather than just doing cans just buying
rather than just doing cans just buying cans and sticking them out there why
cans and sticking them out there why
cans and sticking them out there why don’t we make them art why don’t we do
don’t we make them art why don’t we do
don’t we make them art why don’t we do something beautiful
something beautiful
something beautiful why don’t we inspire people and so Kathy
why don’t we inspire people and so Kathy
why don’t we inspire people and so Kathy our
our
our our head designer our
our head designer our
our head designer our artist-in-residence our majordomo
artist-in-residence our majordomo
artist-in-residence our majordomo everything is going to tell you how it
everything is going to tell you how it
everything is going to tell you how it all came to be I thought that it would
all came to be I thought that it would
all came to be I thought that it would be a good idea to do mosaics on these
be a good idea to do mosaics on these
be a good idea to do mosaics on these six cans because mosaics are long
six cans because mosaics are long
six cans because mosaics are long lasting unique and symbolic and I’m a
lasting unique and symbolic and I’m a
lasting unique and symbolic and I’m a person who scenes patterns and symbols
person who scenes patterns and symbols
person who scenes patterns and symbols and spiritual connections and many
and spiritual connections and many
and spiritual connections and many things and to me a lowly trash can
things and to me a lowly trash can
things and to me a lowly trash can seemed like the way that people viewed
seemed like the way that people viewed
seemed like the way that people viewed the people from both width and would’ve
the people from both width and would’ve
the people from both width and would’ve out viewed utica like it was kind of a
out viewed utica like it was kind of a
out viewed utica like it was kind of a trash city and so the mosaics would be a
trash city and so the mosaics would be a
trash city and so the mosaics would be a good way to make a connection with that
good way to make a connection with that
good way to make a connection with that and so I what I made that so it’s
and so I what I made that so it’s
and so I what I made that so it’s because I am not originally from Utica
because I am not originally from Utica
because I am not originally from Utica I’m often shocked at how people view
I’m often shocked at how people view
I’m often shocked at how people view Utica and don’t see all the amazing
Utica and don’t see all the amazing
Utica and don’t see all the amazing attributes that it has like it has a
attributes that it has like it has a
attributes that it has like it has a world-class art museum the Stanley
world-class art museum the Stanley
world-class art museum the Stanley Theatre which is a baroque Mexican
Theatre which is a baroque Mexican
Theatre which is a baroque Mexican theater which is pretty amazing I was
theater which is pretty amazing I was
theater which is pretty amazing I was shocked by it when I first saw it it has
shocked by it when I first saw it it has
shocked by it when I first saw it it has colleges has a ski hill in the middle of
colleges has a ski hill in the middle of
colleges has a ski hill in the middle of the city a zoo I mean I ski hill in the
the city a zoo I mean I ski hill in the
the city a zoo I mean I ski hill in the middle of the city that was pretty
middle of the city that was pretty
middle of the city that was pretty amazing it has food and cultures from
amazing it has food and cultures from
amazing it has food and cultures from all over the world historical
all over the world historical
all over the world historical architecture it sits close to the
architecture it sits close to the
architecture it sits close to the Adirondacks sports teams like the comics
Adirondacks sports teams like the comics
Adirondacks sports teams like the comics now it’s just an amazing place and I
now it’s just an amazing place and I
now it’s just an amazing place and I couldn’t believe how people couldn’t see
couldn’t believe how people couldn’t see
couldn’t believe how people couldn’t see that but it is a mosaic now a mosaic is
that but it is a mosaic now a mosaic is
that but it is a mosaic now a mosaic is a work that consists of pieces of tile
a work that consists of pieces of tile
a work that consists of pieces of tile glass China and other possibly discarded
glass China and other possibly discarded
glass China and other possibly discarded things and they’re made into something
things and they’re made into something
things and they’re made into something new and beautiful and to me it seemed
new and beautiful and to me it seemed
new and beautiful and to me it seemed like a good allegory for our city to
like a good allegory for our city to
like a good allegory for our city to realize that it is a broken city that
realize that it is a broken city that
realize that it is a broken city that can be made into something new and
can be made into something new and
can be made into something new and beautiful and they look really awesome
beautiful and they look really awesome
beautiful and they look really awesome they do
and the amazing thing about Kathy as our
and the amazing thing about Kathy as our head designer is is that she not only
head designer is is that she not only
head designer is is that she not only designs them but she has taught all of
designs them but she has taught all of
designs them but she has taught all of our artisans to make their own designs
our artisans to make their own designs
our artisans to make their own designs and many of our artisans in fact all but
and many of our artisans in fact all but
and many of our artisans in fact all but one had no prior art experience and now
one had no prior art experience and now
one had no prior art experience and now they’re designing and making these
they’re designing and making these
they’re designing and making these beautiful products to make our city
beautiful products to make our city
beautiful products to make our city better and and bring hope to our city
better and and bring hope to our city
better and and bring hope to our city and so we did a call for art for these
and so we did a call for art for these
and so we did a call for art for these six cans that were commissioned by the
six cans that were commissioned by the
six cans that were commissioned by the Community Foundation and we had local
Community Foundation and we had local
Community Foundation and we had local artists give us designs and we chose
artists give us designs and we chose
artists give us designs and we chose some designs even a ten-year-old gave us
some designs even a ten-year-old gave us
some designs even a ten-year-old gave us one of the winning designs it was a very
one of the winning designs it was a very
one of the winning designs it was a very beautiful design and we Kathy with a
beautiful design and we Kathy with a
beautiful design and we Kathy with a bunch of volunteers made the first six
bunch of volunteers made the first six
bunch of volunteers made the first six and these are pictures of some of them
and these are pictures of some of them
and these are pictures of some of them this is one that’s in front of the
this is one that’s in front of the
this is one that’s in front of the church and at night when the light hits
church and at night when the light hits
church and at night when the light hits it it it looks like a disco ball it’s
it it it looks like a disco ball it’s
it it it looks like a disco ball it’s really cool and so people love these
really cool and so people love these
really cool and so people love these cans so much that rustic green approach
cans so much that rustic green approach
cans so much that rustic green approach does about making 50 for the city of
does about making 50 for the city of
does about making 50 for the city of Utica for all the different
Utica for all the different
Utica for all the different neighborhoods of the city using CDBG
neighborhoods of the city using CDBG
neighborhoods of the city using CDBG money and so there’s our social
money and so there’s our social
money and so there’s our social enterprise after listening and being
enterprise after listening and being
enterprise after listening and being patient
patient
patient we had our social enterprise something
we had our social enterprise something
we had our social enterprise something that was based on the assets and the
that was based on the assets and the
that was based on the assets and the resources that we had and some
resources that we had and some
resources that we had and some opportunity to invest in people to
opportunity to invest in people to
opportunity to invest in people to invest in our neighbors and to love our
invest in our neighbors and to love our
invest in our neighbors and to love our neighbors and so that is what we did
neighbors and so that is what we did
neighbors and so that is what we did yeah a trash can is a utilitarian object
yeah a trash can is a utilitarian object
yeah a trash can is a utilitarian object that you just dump your garbage into you
that you just dump your garbage into you
that you just dump your garbage into you know it’s not attractive it’s not
know it’s not attractive it’s not
know it’s not attractive it’s not noticed it’s just for the disposal of
noticed it’s just for the disposal of
noticed it’s just for the disposal of unwanted items and just ugly junk but if
unwanted items and just ugly junk but if
unwanted items and just ugly junk but if you take that can and you make it a
you take that can and you make it a
you take that can and you make it a piece of art it becomes something that
piece of art it becomes something that
piece of art it becomes something that is remarked upon and the area around it
is remarked upon and the area around it
is remarked upon and the area around it gets noticed and it’s fun to go throw
gets noticed and it’s fun to go throw
gets noticed and it’s fun to go throw your trash into something that looks
your trash into something that looks
your trash into something that looks really cool and people look at them too
really cool and people look at them too
really cool and people look at them too like if I just drove by like the big
like if I just drove by like the big
like if I just drove by like the big square ones because there’s pictures on
square ones because there’s pictures on
square ones because there’s pictures on it and you look at people examining
it and you look at people examining
it and you look at people examining we can you know how many people stare at
we can you know how many people stare at
we can you know how many people stare at rations I do now everywhere I go and
rations I do now everywhere I go and
rations I do now everywhere I go and then it was just a really unique idea to
then it was just a really unique idea to
then it was just a really unique idea to say what can we do to the sight of a can
say what can we do to the sight of a can
say what can we do to the sight of a can that would last and so the other thing
that would last and so the other thing
that would last and so the other thing is is that the area where we where we
is is that the area where we where we
is is that the area where we where we live and work is a neighborhood that’s
live and work is a neighborhood that’s
live and work is a neighborhood that’s decaying and the people are despairing
decaying and the people are despairing
decaying and the people are despairing and the people they’re often looked upon
and the people they’re often looked upon
and the people they’re often looked upon as trash as something useless and to be
as trash as something useless and to be
as trash as something useless and to be thrown away but the thing is is that
thrown away but the thing is is that
thrown away but the thing is is that Mike and I are broken too and we all are
Mike and I are broken too and we all are
Mike and I are broken too and we all are broken if we admit it to ourselves
broken if we admit it to ourselves
broken if we admit it to ourselves we all have pieces inside of us that we
we all have pieces inside of us that we
we all have pieces inside of us that we don’t want the world to see or anybody
don’t want the world to see or anybody
don’t want the world to see or anybody to know about so when you take someone
to know about so when you take someone
to know about so when you take someone who’s demoralized and you teach them to
who’s demoralized and you teach them to
who’s demoralized and you teach them to make art it changes them inside I
make art it changes them inside I
make art it changes them inside I started doing mosaics when I was at a
started doing mosaics when I was at a
started doing mosaics when I was at a time in my life or I had gone through
time in my life or I had gone through
time in my life or I had gone through some really tough stuff and I was
some really tough stuff and I was
some really tough stuff and I was feeling very defeated and I really
feeling very defeated and I really
feeling very defeated and I really didn’t know who I was anymore or who I
didn’t know who I was anymore or who I
didn’t know who I was anymore or who I was supposed to be and for me the
was supposed to be and for me the
was supposed to be and for me the process of doing a mosaic became like a
process of doing a mosaic became like a
process of doing a mosaic became like a metaphor for how life can be broken and
metaphor for how life can be broken and
metaphor for how life can be broken and shattered in one moment and in the next
shattered in one moment and in the next
shattered in one moment and in the next moment be something totally different
moment be something totally different
moment be something totally different maybe even something that you never
maybe even something that you never
maybe even something that you never expected and I can tell you I never
expected and I can tell you I never
expected and I can tell you I never expected this never it was not in my
expected this never it was not in my
expected this never it was not in my radar it wasn’t in my long life plan I
radar it wasn’t in my long life plan I
radar it wasn’t in my long life plan I didn’t expect it so I watched the people
didn’t expect it so I watched the people
didn’t expect it so I watched the people that I work with change in countless
that I work with change in countless
that I work with change in countless ways – and watch them grow and not only
ways – and watch them grow and not only
ways – and watch them grow and not only them but we have students in our classes
them but we have students in our classes
them but we have students in our classes and volunteers that come in and people
and volunteers that come in and people
and volunteers that come in and people that show up just because they want to
that show up just because they want to
that show up just because they want to hang out because they find healing and
hang out because they find healing and
hang out because they find healing and connection there
connection there
connection there and yes if you come you may meet some
and yes if you come you may meet some
and yes if you come you may meet some pretty odd balls but that’s a good place
pretty odd balls but that’s a good place
pretty odd balls but that’s a good place if you feel like inaudible you’ll belong
if you feel like inaudible you’ll belong
if you feel like inaudible you’ll belong there and it’s just been so so
there and it’s just been so so
there and it’s just been so so life-changing to do this because I’m an
life-changing to do this because I’m an
life-changing to do this because I’m an artist but I also consider myself a
artist but I also consider myself a
artist but I also consider myself a people builder and in this process
people builder and in this process
people builder and in this process we’re just being infected in incredible
we’re just being infected in incredible
we’re just being infected in incredible ways so what we we try to do for our
ways so what we we try to do for our
ways so what we we try to do for our artisans is provide holistic support
artisans is provide holistic support
artisans is provide holistic support support that invests in the total person
support that invests in the total person
support that invests in the total person support that says we care about you and
support that says we care about you and
support that says we care about you and we are investing in you and our hope for
we are investing in you and our hope for
we are investing in you and our hope for this neighborhood to turn around is in
this neighborhood to turn around is in
this neighborhood to turn around is in you and your potential and so we love
you and your potential and so we love
you and your potential and so we love the product that we make we’re so proud
the product that we make we’re so proud
the product that we make we’re so proud of these cans but we’re prouder of our
of these cans but we’re prouder of our
of these cans but we’re prouder of our artisans and those are the people that
artisans and those are the people that
artisans and those are the people that we invest in and and that’s why we do
we invest in and and that’s why we do
we invest in and and that’s why we do what we do but we do have partnerships
what we do but we do have partnerships
what we do but we do have partnerships and we at at the Oneida square project
and we at at the Oneida square project
and we at at the Oneida square project have have formed a collective and an
have have formed a collective and an
have have formed a collective and an incubator of not-for-profits to partner
incubator of not-for-profits to partner
incubator of not-for-profits to partner to help us meet our mission and to
to help us meet our mission and to
to help us meet our mission and to support our artisans and to love our
support our artisans and to love our
support our artisans and to love our neighbors in our community so we have
neighbors in our community so we have
neighbors in our community so we have joined forces to support those who work
joined forces to support those who work
joined forces to support those who work for us with City Jim has this come over
for us with City Jim has this come over
for us with City Jim has this come over and we’re able to work out and Bob
and we’re able to work out and Bob
and we’re able to work out and Bob Donnelly who’s awesome has even trained
Donnelly who’s awesome has even trained
Donnelly who’s awesome has even trained us and helped us work out and OnPoint
us and helped us work out and OnPoint
us and helped us work out and OnPoint for college has been very helpful in
for college has been very helpful in
for college has been very helpful in partnering with us to help our artists
partnering with us to help our artists
partnering with us to help our artists pursue higher education and we’ve worked
pursue higher education and we’ve worked
pursue higher education and we’ve worked with the neighborhood homeownership
with the neighborhood homeownership
with the neighborhood homeownership center for financial counseling and
center for financial counseling and
center for financial counseling and there’s a whole list of organizations
there’s a whole list of organizations
there’s a whole list of organizations that we partner with to to really love
that we partner with to to really love
that we partner with to to really love our artists and so now I’d like to to
our artists and so now I’d like to to
our artists and so now I’d like to to show you a video where one of our
show you a video where one of our
show you a video where one of our artists Doug bolo can share his story in
artists Doug bolo can share his story in
artists Doug bolo can share his story in his own words about what art and social
his own words about what art and social
his own words about what art and social enterprise can do in a life
enterprise can do in a life
enterprise can do in a life [Music]
our production manager with all night of
our production manager with all night of square project I was a kind of a
square project I was a kind of a
square project I was a kind of a troubled kid I always was in mischief I
troubled kid I always was in mischief I
troubled kid I always was in mischief I left home when I was 15 I had a neighbor
left home when I was 15 I had a neighbor
left home when I was 15 I had a neighbor that was a builder and I saw hide out of
that was a builder and I saw hide out of
that was a builder and I saw hide out of the bed and wait until noon and tell him
the bed and wait until noon and tell him
the bed and wait until noon and tell him I got out at noon and they go work for
I got out at noon and they go work for
I got out at noon and they go work for the Builder and he finally caught on and
the Builder and he finally caught on and
the Builder and he finally caught on and knew that I wasn’t you know going to
knew that I wasn’t you know going to
knew that I wasn’t you know going to school and he you know put me out full
school and he you know put me out full
school and he you know put me out full time but I was always a hard worker it
time but I was always a hard worker it
time but I was always a hard worker it was a bowl so it just kept me going
was a bowl so it just kept me going
was a bowl so it just kept me going eventually I met my wife Carla we had
eventually I met my wife Carla we had
eventually I met my wife Carla we had children and I had to get a job with
children and I had to get a job with
children and I had to get a job with good benefits so I joined the union and
good benefits so I joined the union and
good benefits so I joined the union and I worked in the Carpenters Union for ten
I worked in the Carpenters Union for ten
I worked in the Carpenters Union for ten years in the break of my back on the job
years in the break of my back on the job
years in the break of my back on the job and though wood making lousy money at
and though wood making lousy money at
and though wood making lousy money at the time that was pretty tough was
the time that was pretty tough was
the time that was pretty tough was heavily in the drugs and alcohol and not
heavily in the drugs and alcohol and not
heavily in the drugs and alcohol and not really paying attention to my family and
really paying attention to my family and
really paying attention to my family and or anybody else and I really haven’t
or anybody else and I really haven’t
or anybody else and I really haven’t watched care so I started getting
watched care so I started getting
watched care so I started getting involved in heroin I and then I’ll be
involved in heroin I and then I’ll be
involved in heroin I and then I’ll be coming homeless in downtown Utica I had
coming homeless in downtown Utica I had
coming homeless in downtown Utica I had to change whatever I was doing I
to change whatever I was doing I
to change whatever I was doing I couldn’t go back to my old ways I
couldn’t go back to my old ways I
couldn’t go back to my old ways I decided I needed help so I went to
decided I needed help so I went to
decided I needed help so I went to McPike for a 30-day program and I was
McPike for a 30-day program and I was
McPike for a 30-day program and I was enlightened with a lot of the talk that
enlightened with a lot of the talk that
enlightened with a lot of the talk that they had there and kind of get an
they had there and kind of get an
they had there and kind of get an understanding about alcoholism and drugs
understanding about alcoholism and drugs
understanding about alcoholism and drugs and why are you doing how are you doing
and why are you doing how are you doing
and why are you doing how are you doing and how how many other people are
and how how many other people are
and how how many other people are commenting in fell into it like me as a
commenting in fell into it like me as a
commenting in fell into it like me as a childhood and just not knowing any
childhood and just not knowing any
childhood and just not knowing any better and it just you know they escape
better and it just you know they escape
better and it just you know they escape from reality type thing that you got
from reality type thing that you got
from reality type thing that you got from from alcohol and drugs just kind of
from from alcohol and drugs just kind of
from from alcohol and drugs just kind of coming to church here and that’s how I
coming to church here and that’s how I
coming to church here and that’s how I fell into getting a job here from going
fell into getting a job here from going
fell into getting a job here from going to church in the volunteering I just
to church in the volunteering I just
to church in the volunteering I just there asked for volunteers to put cans
there asked for volunteers to put cans
there asked for volunteers to put cans in the next year no it’s a paying job my
in the next year no it’s a paying job my
in the next year no it’s a paying job my trade really helped me with the tile
trade really helped me with the tile
trade really helped me with the tile work and the construction of different
work and the construction of different
work and the construction of different things birdhouses and flower boxes
things birdhouses and flower boxes
things birdhouses and flower boxes tables
tables
tables it’s my forte you know I really enjoy it
it’s my forte you know I really enjoy it
it’s my forte you know I really enjoy it they sincerely care about you here I
they sincerely care about you here I
they sincerely care about you here I just feel blessed just feel whole feel
just feel blessed just feel whole feel
just feel blessed just feel whole feel feel really good be involved my children
feel really good be involved my children
feel really good be involved my children help my children it feels like I’m doing
help my children it feels like I’m doing
help my children it feels like I’m doing the right thing yeah absolutely wanna
the right thing yeah absolutely wanna
the right thing yeah absolutely wanna retire here this is it all yeah there’s
retire here this is it all yeah there’s
retire here this is it all yeah there’s little doubt that I’m treating myself
little doubt that I’m treating myself
little doubt that I’m treating myself better I know I have enough money for
better I know I have enough money for
better I know I have enough money for all my bells right now and that’s just
all my bells right now and that’s just
all my bells right now and that’s just security in such a good way you know
security in such a good way you know
security in such a good way you know just to look at a private the product
just to look at a private the product
just to look at a private the product that we’re putting out they are work it
that we’re putting out they are work it
that we’re putting out they are work it just feels so good I mean to work with
just feels so good I mean to work with
just feels so good I mean to work with your hands and
your hands and
your hands and and and just open your mind up to these
and and just open your mind up to these
and and just open your mind up to these things is it’s just self rewarding
things is it’s just self rewarding
things is it’s just self rewarding certainly gives you like a little tingle
certainly gives you like a little tingle
certainly gives you like a little tingle in your heart and it helps you
in your heart and it helps you
in your heart and it helps you appreciate everything you do have
appreciate everything you do have
appreciate everything you do have because of the people that we do help in
because of the people that we do help in
because of the people that we do help in the community that are really struggling
the community that are really struggling
the community that are really struggling I’m very fortunate to have this job and
I’m very fortunate to have this job and
I’m very fortunate to have this job and where a man Doug did a beautiful job of
where a man Doug did a beautiful job of
where a man Doug did a beautiful job of expressing the power of social
expressing the power of social
expressing the power of social enterprise and art to transform a life
enterprise and art to transform a life
enterprise and art to transform a life but if I were to really tell the truth
but if I were to really tell the truth
but if I were to really tell the truth being a part of Doug’s life has
being a part of Doug’s life has
being a part of Doug’s life has transformed us and he has meant more to
transformed us and he has meant more to
transformed us and he has meant more to us probably then and he could ever know
us probably then and he could ever know
us probably then and he could ever know and all of our artists we feel that way
and all of our artists we feel that way
and all of our artists we feel that way and we feel privileged to have them to
and we feel privileged to have them to
and we feel privileged to have them to be a part of our lives and so we’re glad
be a part of our lives and so we’re glad
be a part of our lives and so we’re glad that we paused and took time to find
that we paused and took time to find
that we paused and took time to find something where we can bring hope and
something where we can bring hope and
something where we can bring hope and jobs to our community so I’ll end with
jobs to our community so I’ll end with
jobs to our community so I’ll end with that question that I began with how can
that question that I began with how can
that question that I began with how can art change a city a neighborhood or a
art change a city a neighborhood or a
art change a city a neighborhood or a life just like mosaic one piece at a
life just like mosaic one piece at a
life just like mosaic one piece at a time broken pieces placed together to
time broken pieces placed together to
time broken pieces placed together to make something whole and beautiful thank
make something whole and beautiful thank
make something whole and beautiful thank you
”
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