JULY 2010 - From NC to reconnect with an "old" friend from high school in VA, then to DC for the largest national conference on homelessness, another occasion to meet friends from all over, to NYC's Columbia University School of Social Work for presentations to the graduate SW students, and back to Carlisle to finish the EPIC Journey plans. Finally, after another long and successful road trip, Diane pointed Tillie westward and landed back in IL. The odometer turned 100,000 miles as Diane crossed IN. Wow! 5 years, 48 states, and 100,000 miles!

JUNE 2010- After a short stay in Diane's stomping ground of Illinois, she pointed Tillie eastward and landed at the Horizons for Homeless Children conference in Worchester, MA, reconnecting with lots of friends from across the nation who love HEAR US stuff. From there, a quick stop in Carlisle, PA where she and a colleague began making plans for the EPIC journey, then to park Tillie high in the NC mountains at her sister and brother-in-law's backyard so they could celebrate her mom's 90th birthday. Not much traveling, but lots of work got accomplished! And it was cool, too!

MAY 2010 - No rest, as Diane headed south for 3 events--Macon, MS, Sheridan, AR, and Baton Rouge, LA. Along the way Tillie got, um, wounded--the right ear/mirror got whacked off crossing the Ohio on a teensy little bridge. Outside Vicksburg, MS, Tillie just plum stopped, on a four-lane highway. Fuel filter clogged, needing a tow and quick repair. She continued on to Baton Rouge, LA, where she screened "on the edge" at the LAEHCY conference. Back to IL to restock HEAR US goodies.

APRIL 2010 - Up to Carlisle, PA for on the edge screening and then to Columbia University, a return visit to the School of Social Work.On the way back to IL, will stop to screen on the edge and do a training of educators in Grove City, PA and shared MOFW with the 1st Presbyterian Church of Greenville, PA before heading to Aurora, IL for a joint event with Mutual Ground, the local DV shelter, to screen on the edge.

MARCH 2010 - The last of the 7 on the edge women to view their film, Melissa, got to see it shortly before she learned she was losing her job, pushing her and her family closer to the edge of homelessness.

Headed up to the Atlanta area and joined the GA Alliance to end Homelessness at their statewide conference. From there to NW GA, the Calhoun area, to present to social workers and community leaders concerned about lack of resources for the growing number of homeless families.

In NC for a screening at Duke's Center on Documentary Studies, and into the DC area to screen on the edge with the McKinney-Vento state coordinators.

Heading back to IL for the George Winston Benefit concert and back again  (by train!).

FEBRUARY 2010 -What a better state to be in at Super Bowl victory time and Mardi Gras time than Louisiana? Sure beats AR, where snow postponed my presentation. Will head to FL and GA after leaving this spicy state. Being in LA as the Saints won the Super Bowl, how exciting! Shared "on the edge" with Antoinette, Tonya and Angela, 3 of the courageous women in our new documentary. Met with the Mayor of Starkville, MS about the deathly lack of resources for displaced families.

JANUARY 2010 - No champagne or fireworks, just getting admin work done while the rest of the world took their well-earned break. The Phoenix area has great weather at this time of year! And my growing list of friends in this community have given me an opportunity to hold an advance screening of our new documentary, "It's All About the Children" with some key activists. Also did private screenings with Nancy and Julianna, whose poignant stories are featured in our film.

Headed to Las Cruces, where I screened "Children" with Beatrice whose story is also included; to El Paso (UTEP) screening and presenting to bilingual education majors, then on across TX for presentations and screenings with Barbara James and her Texas Homeless Network cohorts. They committed to seeking "a paradigm shift" in the way homelessness is addressed as a result of seeing "Children." Oh yeah!!

DECEMBER 09 - No boredom this month! Spent a few days and nights in CA county fairground parking lots, er, RV parks. They are flat, with electric, water and dump/sewer, but sure lack any amenities, and are not cheap! That's why I appreciate friends, old and new, that offer a spot to park and plug in. Saves money! Sacramento has hoards of homeless individuals all over. How very sad, because, in addition to myriad problems of not having a place to live, the weather can get downright nasty. Met some amazing homeless liaison/activists that get the job done for the kids. And interviewed 2 incredible teens who shared what it is like to struggle to survive teen years without a home.

Traveled through enough of CA's agricultural land to have a deeper appreciation for all who put their hands on the fruits and veggies we eat and drink. How do they do it when it gets so hot? Lucked out and missed a horrible storm that would have been worse had I followed my initial "plan" of going to Reno. We'd still be digging out of a snowbank.

Crazy holidays, and nary a decoration in my hallowed tin can. 85k miles, 48 states, and still rolling!

NOVEMBER 09 - This month has been packed with activities! First was trip preparation and final in-person contributions to Laura on our (in production) feature-length documentary, now called "Best Kept Secrets." Then it was off to the RESOLVE conference in Chicago, a gathering of college students from across the nation RESOLVEd to end hunger and homelessness, an incredible gathering! Was happy for help from HEAR US board members Helen Jilek, OSB, and Marilyn McGowan.

Then I aimed Tillie west, stopping for a first-time viewing of "Best Kept Secrets" in its entirety. I literally cried as I watched this incredible story of how homelessness affected 7 women and their families. It was good to spend a night with Liz Lipford in Freeport. Liz is an "old" friend, formerly homeless mom of 6 who ended up not only working with me at Hesed/PADS but also inspiring me. From there to Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, IA, hosted by STEP, a student activist organization.

Then for a long haul, Denver, CO, for the Annual Conference of the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (www.naehcy.org). I love this conference, and Denver is a beautiful city in an incredible state, but mid-November tested the fates, and Tillie and I lost. FROZE and were buried in snow! But with lots to warm my heart at the conference and the help of board members Pat Van Doren and Marilyn McGowan who flew out to help (we needed it, we were busy!!), we survived and thrived.

Incredibly, I've been literally coast-to-coast in Tillie this past month--from the Cape Cod shoreline to California's coast. We were invited to screen My Own Four Walls at the Pasa Robles Film Festival. I figured Tillie needed a spa treatment after the snowstorm, so I splurged--a good thing because the PRFF arranged for me to be parked at a swanky RV resort with expensive, classy, clean RVs occupying most sites. Laura Vazquez and her spouse, Jeff, came out for this event.

Next stop will be Sacramento where I'll reconnect with old friends, meet new ones, and get some Learning Curve Express interviews.

OCTOBER 09 - I pried myself (and Tillie, my RV-home/office) away from the security of my summer base at Sacred Heart Monastery in Lisle, knowing that much is to be done to generate the essential compassion epidemic needed to address the abysmal conditions facing homeless families and youth today.

My maiden voyage is a grueling one, with appearances in Mansfield, OH, Greenville, PA, NYC, Long Island, and Boston. No time to do much but admire the foliage as I scooted through multiple states. Fortunately, back in DeKalb, at Northern IL University, efforts to convert my first LCE interviews were underway. Check them out on the Learning Curve Express page.

In Boston, a group of activists will take a stand to urge no further cuts to housing budgets that keep families from being homeless. I'll be there with them. We need to reverse this tragic trend.