Street Sense presents Cinema from the Street

A series of powerful documentaries filmed by Street Sense vendors in Washington D.C. will get their first screening tonight.

The biweekly street paper is sold across the city by homeless and formerly vendors, many of whom also write for the publication. Recently, they were given an opportunity to express their creativity in a different medium - film.

As part of the Cinema From the Street co-op project, ran by professional filmmaker Bryan Bello and Street Sense's Media Centre, a group of eight vendors were taught basic filmmaking techniques to help them write, direct and shoot short documentaries exploring homelessness in the U.S. capital.


Cinema From the Street - Official Trailer from Bryan Bello on Vimeo.

Tonight's screening will include three films made by Street Sense Filmmakers’ Co-op members  Robert Warren, Reginald Black, Levester Green and Morgan Jones. Each will give a unique insight into the struggles faced by the homeless, such as finding employment, reconnecting with family and trying to survive on the streets during a harsh winter.

Street Sense runs regular workshops to help empower vendors by teaching them how to tell their stories in creative ways - through writing, theatre, illustration and film - and practical skills to aid them with job applications, fiance management and accessing housing and health care. You can find out more about Street Sense and Cinema from the Street here.

Cinema From the Street debuts April 29, 6.30 - 8.30 at E Street Cinema in downtown Washington D.C. The event includes a Q&A with the filmmakers and cinematographers.

The D.C. photo blog putting a face on homelessness

American street paper Street Sense recently reported on an engaging and empowering photo blog putting a name and face to the people experiencing homelessness in Washington D.C..

Street Sense vendor Robert.

"It saddens my heart too to see people passed by in the street. People won't even acknowledge a homeless individual or a homeless veteran - or even a veteran seeking assistance. Homeless people, and homeless veterans, are people too. They don't need a hand out, but a hand up."

Street Sense vendor and contributor Robert is now a recognisable face on the streets of Washington D.C. where he sells the street paper, but it wasn't always that way for the formerly homeless veteran.

He knows what it's like to be in need and to feel ignored and invisible, which is why he was happy to be featured on Person First Project, an engaging photo blog  that aims to break down barriers between people experiencing homelessness and those who pass by them every day.

Shiza Farid, Robyn Russell and Julie Schwartz created the Person First Project in December 2014 as a way of reminding people there is a person behind every unique experience of homelessness and poverty.

Chon: "If it weren’t for Street Sense, I'd probably be selling drugs."

The trio partnered up with the National Coalition for the Homeless to connect with people willing to share their own experiences of homelessness. The project highlights these stories via Facebook and Instagram, including a chat with Street Sense vendor Chon, who explains how selling a street paper is helping him build a better future.

"When you stop and talk to people who are experiencing homelessness, you hear that they're really just like everybody else. They are moms. They are dads. They are daughters. They are sons," said co-founder Robyn Russell. "If we could share this with other people, I think it could be really powerful because there are a lot of misconceptions around homelessness."

Russell says the positive comments left on each of their Facebook posts is testament to the power of storytelling as an advocacy tool, and that first-person stories can help change perceptions and open people eyes in a way that a fact sheet full of stats, facts and figures cannot.

Regarding the public who pass by people experiencing homelessness every day, she added: “It’s not that people don't care. I think they do care and I think they don't know what to do. That's how we felt.

"We hope our project can open their eyes and help them feel like maybe they can stop and talk to somebody."

This post is based on an article by Jennifer Ortiz originally published in Street Sense. It has been made available to other INSP members via our News Service here.

Our vendors: Henrieese Roberts - Street Sense, Maryland, USA

Henrieese Roberts sells American street paper Street Sense on the streets of Annapolis, Maryland. She is also a fierce advocate of HIV/AIDS awareness and policy reform.

Motivated by close personal experiences with friends and family, she began working to raise awareness about public health, sexuality and HIV/AIDS issues nearly 30 years ago.

Street Sense vendor/writer Henrieese Roberts.

"We fear the disease instead of learning how to circumvent it, and be loving to people that do have it," says Henrieese. 

She also writes regularly for Street Sense about these topics, hoping to break down stereotypes and promote understanding of the illness rather than fear.

Having watched HIV/AIDS change the lives of people - damaging their health and presenting challenges in terms of personal privacy, employment and housing - Henrieese is acutely aware that the disease can be crippling for those already living in poverty.

"There are many people that can't afford their medications and are on waiting lists to be treated. There are also a lot of unnecessary deaths," she says.

In 1992, Henrieese herself was diagnosed with histoplasmosis, an infectious disease that has rendered her visually impaired. But she remains optimistic and continues to persevere with her filmmaking and photography career.

"I am going to actualize because I am willing to work hard," she says. 

Through her work she hopes people become more sexually conscious, avoid spreading the disease and reduce the stigma associated with the infection.

This is a summary of an article by Street Sense reporter Jazmine Steele that was published on INSP's News Service. Street paper editors can view, download and republish the full article here. 

Washington street paper crowdfunds to give vendors Digital Hope

By Laura Smith

UPDATE: We're happy to report that this project has been fully funded. 

A Washington DC street paper is tapping into the creativity and sales experience of its vendors to help them start their own digital marketing businesses.

Street Sense plans to run an in-depth online marketing course for vendors who also contribute to the publication through a side project called Digital Hope.

Street Sense vendors take part in a Digital Hope class.

It was a connection between vendor and writer Ibn Hipps and digital marketing professional Adam Motiwala that inspired the course.

Adam regularly buys his copies of Street Sense from Ibn. After reading the vendor's writing, Adam worked one-on-one with Ibn to teach him how to start his own blog contract.

"That intersection where vendor and reader find common ground is a key aspect of Street Sense's mission," said the paper's editor Eric Falquero.

The new Digital Hope course will allow five homeless and formerly homeless people to develop skills in digital marketing and learn how to work as independent contractors.

DC Social Innovation Project has pledged $3000 to develop the programme and determine its sustainability for future classes. But Street Sense will only receive those funds if they raise a further $1500 by 26 February.

To get the project off the ground, the street paper put out a plea for public donations via crowdfunding programme indiegogo.com on 2 February.

If fully funded, Adam will train veteran writers from Street Sense during a 16-week intensive course held in a local library. Participants will earn $25 per class and receive a bonus for completing the class and showing good teamwork.

Each student will leave with two client projects for their portfolio, and the knowledge of how to maintain an online profile and market themselves for future blog writing contracts. The funding will help run the class and provide computers and software.

“Providing and refining digital skills is necessary for anyone to enter today's workforce,” added Eric.

“Learning how to leverage these skills independently and online goes a step further to remove other employment barriers individuals may face.

A Street Sense vendor in Washington DC.

"Vending street papers is not a career, its a stepping stone: a tool and opportunity for someone to pull themselves out of poverty. 

“We exist to empower our vendors. Digital Hope aims to extend their path of low-barrier independent employment into a whole new market."

Eric is aware that the project will only be successful if its participants are truly motivated.

Luckily ambition, determination and never shying away from hard graft are essential characteristics for street paper vendors.

"If this is gonna help me pay my rent and achieve my goals, let's do it,” said Digital Hope participant Reginald Black.

Ibn Hipps adds that this opportunity won’t just help him pull himself out of poverty: "When you talk about making money you have to talk about commitment. This isn't just for me, it's for my kids.”

The group has already completed work for a California health clinic. Work for a new client began on 29 January 2015.

You can help fund Street Sense’s Digital Hope digital marketing class for vendors here.