She’s not a druggie or an alcoholic, and she’s not mentally ill. She’s one of thousands of college students who can’t afford a place to …
Brenda Rufener Interview: Homeless Teens, Finding Hope, and YA Fiction
This past month, I had the honor of interviewing author Brenda Rufener, author of the new, groundbreaking YA novel Where I Live. Her writing is simultaneously …
Lessons in Community Service
It is very common for young people to feel like they cannot make a difference in the world. There are always too many problems to …
This Bus Is a Mobile Shower for the Homeless
The nonprofit organization Lava Mae had a brilliant idea: to convert old buses into mobile showers for the homeless. This bus drives around San Francisco to …
Anything Helps: Care Packages for the Homeless
When someone comes up to you and asks for spare change, what do you do? Most people don’t want to give money. As a kid, …
Homelessness in a Big City
There’s no question that San Francisco is a beautiful place. Ghirardelli Square, Coit Tower, and, of course, the Golden Gate Bridge, are visited by thousands every …
Laundry Love
Sunday was laundry day. As a graduate student, I hated Sunday evenings, especially snowy, slushy, and cold evenings. My only concerns were having enough quarters, …
Day 251
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUg-GHVE3Ps This social experiment by Spread the Message shows how sometimes those who have less give more. Sometimes people will surprise you. I know that …