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.

Journey 4~ OCTOBER 2008 (65,000 miles and still going!)

So hard to believe I'm still on the road, but it still makes sense. People still remain clueless about homeless kids and families. HEAR US has powerful tools to raise awareness, and has plans to develop and distribute new tools, so let's get going! (ACTUAL 09 route in YELLOW)

What I Plan to Achieve:

• Conduct presentations on homelessness of children and youth
• Distribute HEAR US awareness-raising materials
• Film a short documentary REACH: Connect Your Children to Education, ala My Own Four Walls, about kids homeless because of incarcerated parents
• Generate a Compassion Epidemic!

SEPTEMBER 09 -Time to shake the cobwebs off! My friends at DeKalb's Mike's Auto and Truck Repair got Tillie in good shape, and EVEN WASHED HER! Took a couple of trial runs to Indiana and Michigan. Did some filming, presenting, and selling stuff! I'm ready to go on the road again...so motivated because of the stories being shared by courageous families and youth about their "invisible" homelessness--staying with family/friends and/or motels to avoid sleeping like stray dogs on the street.

AUGUST 09 - Another cool month made life in Tillie very pleasant! Worked on our documentary and did some traveling, flying to Mississippi to share My Own Four Walls with their state homeless education conference for M-V liaisons. Orders for materials kept me busy, as did arranging for presentations and filming opportunities for this next trip. Getting ready to hit the road.

JULY 09 - No complaints from this happy camper who enjoyed Illinois' record cool July! Lots of work in the film editing lab at NIU with Dr. Laura Vazquez on the feature-length documentary, "On the Edge." It will be awesome! My friends at Sacred Heart Monastery in Lisle are generous and supportive, giving me space and all I need to do the work of HEAR US. Lining up speaking and filming engagements for the next tour.

One good sign--some states are beginning to catch onto the value of HEAR US materials. Mississippi and Kansas have orderd hundreds of videos and books. We guarantee that using these materials will profoundly affect the way people identify and assist homeless students. Proceeds from sales support HEAR US. A win-win...

JUNE 09 -  Plans to travel to Boston, DC and beyond were upended by a family tragedy. So I missed the Horizons for Homeless Children conference. I did spend many hours in the editing lab with Dr. Laura Vazquez, my video partner, shaping the feature-length documentary on homeless families. It will be a powerful eye-opener!

And I heard from the mom I wrote about in this blog who found out about HEAR US through Google. She shared the details of her story which makes the way SD 129 handled her situation too outrageous for words. More on this will be forthcoming...Let's just say I'm glad I will be in the Aurora area for a while.

MAY 09 - Time to regroup and make plans for the next venture. Sadly, the HEARTH Act passed and was signed into law with a very inadequate definition of "homeless" that excludes many children and youth. We're determined to improve not only the definition but the way this country approaches homelessness.

APRIL 09 - Leaving Julianna and Co. in Phoenix was hard--her story will be continued in our documentary, On the Edge. But Reno beckoned, and lots was going on there! I met with and presented to early childhood providers at a NV conference, sharing both MOFW and REACH videos. Filmed at their new family shelter (finally!!) and met folks living on the sidewalk down the block from the women's/men's shelter. Headed back doing mostly backroads...a fascinating view of America.

I'm back in IL, preparing for a trip next week to NYC--presenting at Columbia University School of Social Work and my Mom's high school, Mother Cabrini.

MAR. 09 - New Mexico, both Las Cruces and Deming, gave me lots to do! The LC school district hired me to enlighten people in the community about homeless kids. And I had some follow-up filming to do with women that we've been following for our documentary, "On the Edge."

I boondocked most of the time in NM, with no access to electricity other than my generator. Grueling, but quite worthwhile. And at the local congressional office, they reported getting "tons and tons" of Piggies messages asking Congressman Teague to sign on as co-sponsor of HR 29. Did he? Still waiting to hear.

Then to AZ, with a quick flight to Rochester, NY, to present at the annual homeless education training sponsored by Advocates for Children and the NY State Education Department. Hanging out in the beautiful Phoenix area and then onward to Reno, and points between and beyond.

FEB. 09 - Heading south and westward, I visited Melissa in Florida's Panhandle, where the state flower is foreclosure and for sale signs. Melissa continues her job as an advocate for the local homeless coalition. Then to Angela in LA (that's Louisiana, not Los Angeles!) who has started to work for an agency that helps people with AIDS. Across the state of TX without going on Interstates (no small accomplishment, and quite revealing) I met with some incredible women in Dallas about some possible projects then to El Paso, University of Texas, where I shared HEAR US videos with education students. Not a boring month! And check out these photos of a 2009 Dust Bowl storm I encountered.

JAN. 09 - The Gwinnett County jail visit was incredible--women poured out their stories that broke my heart. The newest HEAR US undertaking, REACH, is an essential project to make sure kids don't get lost when parents get shuffled off to jail. I'm working on posting some clips to let you hear from parents and kids about how homelessness is a traumatizing factor when parents go to jail.

Also will be heading back to some of the families that Laura and I filmed a year ago for our feature-length documentary on homeless families, "On the Edge."

DEC. 08 - If you have to park your RV anywhere in GA, especially in the Atlanta area, Stone Mountain Park is a great spot! I could look out over a lake as I sat in Tillie, really working--on some tedious, but essential tasks. The holidays are times I don't even want to bother busy liaisons or shelter/school staff.

I did manage to connect with officials in the Gwinnett County Jail, and they agreed to let me interview women inmates who are mothers of school-age children. The Atlanta Journal Constitution expressed an interest in covering the visit.

From DC to GA, via NC. Met Anita Woodley, producer of WUNC's "The Story," a public radio show hosted by Dick Gordon who also joined our meeting. They expressed interest in some of the HEAR US stories.

From my temporary base near my Mom's in GA, I flew up to Saratoga Springs, NY for their Hunger and Homelessness Awareness events. Skidmore College invited students and community members to my presentation Thursday night. Friday morning I spoke to area educators about homeless students.

OCT. 08-Following an incredibly successful Bene-Feast fundraising dinner, screening the REACH film at Cook County Jail, and a delightful, simple cook-out with HEAR US board members following our monthly board meeting, I took off for PA, their first statewide conference on homeless children and youth, where I gave the keynote address to a crowd of about 200. Reactions were extremely positive and sales of HEAR US materials were awesome!

I planned to hang out in the Harrisburg area and get caught up before going up to SUNY, Fredonia for my next presentation. Best laid plans...my Dad, who had been languishing in a skilled care facility, died on Oct. 10, and I headed down to GA to be with family.

Returning a week later, I scooted up to Fredonia, stopping first in Harrisburg to connect with Melissa, one of the My Own Four Walls "stars" to give her a copy of MOFW. This articulate now-15-year-old girl was quite surprised to see me at her door. I'd say their housing isn't much better than being homeless. We had a brief visit and I was on my way.

John, the lead student who arranged for my SUNY visit, was quite efficient and hospitable. He and his colleagues kept me busy, a worthwhile visit that will hopefully be repeated.

From Fredonia to Syracuse, to the youth conference. Smaller crowds, but good contacts. I got out of Syracuse as the nor'easter blew across the state, right in my path. Snow isn't my favorite weather, but I managed to get out of it and safely parked in Westchester County so I could head to NY, Columbia University.

Trains are the only way to go to NYC. Had a great presentation at Columbia and welcomed a new advisory board member, Markus Redding, a SW professor at CU, to our HEAR US team. I raced from NY to DC for the NAEHCY conference. Pat Van Doren joined me and helped handle the activities at our display table. To read more about previous trips:

Trip Archive