Learning from homeless veterans who served before him

“I was inspired to join the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless because of the time I spent living in San Diego, from 2001 to 2005. I saw two extremes of America’s social class system: The super rich whose playground was downtown, with lush exclusive shops and high class restaurants, and the many homeless men and women who called those same streets their home.

“I watched many people treat these homeless individuals with indifference, or rarely acknowledge them by simply walking over them. It was the first time I ever read a StreetWise newspaper, and I would learn about issues affecting the homeless.

“I also got a chance to speak with many of the homeless men and women themselves. It was sad to learn that many of them were veterans from previous wars since Vietnam, and with me being a service member at the time, I was heartbroken.

“Now back in my hometown of Chicago, I realize that homelessness and poverty are social problems in many parts of the world. Nevertheless, I know to ‘think globally but act locally’ to bring about social change that one day ends poverty and homelessness.”