3 Melissas

  • 2025 Calendar

     

    2024-2025
    MONTH
    EVENT DETAILS ABOUT HEAR US/DIANE
    JULY  

    DDN Director aDiane's Bio

    Diane's Facebook Page

    Diane's books: 
    Crossing the Line: Taking Steps to End Homelessness

    Changing the Paradigm of Homelessness

    Dismazed and Driven - My Look at Family Homelessness in America

    Diane's blog: //medium.com/@dianehearus 

    Diane's Awards:

    • 2023, DuPage PADS Wake Up Your Spirit award
    • 2022, Honorary membership, ODK, SUNY, Oneonta
    • 2015, NAEHCY, Best Targeted Campaign, Worn Out Welcome Mat - KS
    • 2015, Sisters of St. Francis, Joliet, IL, Mother Alfred Moes Award
    • 2014, University of St. Francis, Joliet, IL Sister Clare Award
    • 2013, Texas Homeless Network, Kathy Reid Award
    • 2012, National Association for Education of Homeless Children Youth, Sandra Neese Lifetime Achievement Award
    • 2012, The Education Center, Naperville, Kids’ Best Friend Award

    • 2012, Georgia Alliance to End Homelessness, Community Builder Award

    • 2012, Bridge Communities, Transforming Lives Award (YouTube video of her acceptance speech)

    • 2008, Naperville Church Women United, Human Rights Award

    • 2007, NAEHCY, Outstanding Media Award

    • 2006, Kane County (IL) Hidden Hero; and University of St. Francis Award of Merit

    AUGUST  
    SEPTEMBER

    3 Melissas National Book Launch 
    17,  1 -3, NC New liaisons' training, Sal. Army, Raleigh, NC
    18, 10-12, Meet-Greet, Parents' Gathering, Pullen MBC, Raleigh

    18, 5:30 - 7:30, Motherhood & Homelessness, public launch, NCSU, SAS Hall #2203, 2311 Stinson Dr., Raleigh 

    27, 6 - 8 pm., 3 Melissas Book event, Boone, NC, App Theater, in conjunction with the 40th Anniversary ofHospitality House CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER. WILL RESCHEDULE.

    28, 10 - 5, Winston-Salem Bookmarks book fair 

    OCTOBER

     8, Greensboro, NC, 3 Melissas Book event
    Scuppernong Books, details TBA

    21, 5:30 pm, Riverbank Brewery, Council Grove, KS, sponsored by Flint Hills Books

    24, 5:00 pm, Lawrence, KS, (tentative) The Raven Books. FREE! Public Welcome!

    29, Our Lady of Mercy parish, 701 S Eola Rd., Aurora, IL, 6:30, Parish Life Ctr. #217, FREE, Public welcome!

    30, 6 pm University of St. Francis Education class, Joliet, IL

    NOVEMBER

    2,  11 am, DeKalb, IL Public Library
    Free! Public Welcome!

    3, 6:30 pm, Sleep Out Saturday, Bridge Communities, College of DuPage lawn

    3, 10 am, DeKalb, IL Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

    5, 1:45 pm, University of St. Francis Education class, Joliet, IL

    16 -19, Orlando, FL, NAEHCY conference

    DECEMBER

    2, 5 pm, Louisa, VA Library

    3, 1 pm, Charlottesville, VA, agencies
        6 pm, Charlottesville, public

    7, 11 am - 2 pm, Carlisle, PA History on High

    20, Raleigh, NC CEH Gala 

     21, Philadelphia, PA, Homeless Persons Memorial, Memorial Blanket

    JANUARY '25  
    FEBRUARY  
    MARCH  
    APRIL  
    MAY  
    JUNE    

     

  • 3 Melissas' Intro

    Our book is now available!

    Now available for BULK Order! Now Shipping!
    .....ORDER SINGLE COPIES..... IngramSpark $15 +s/h,
    Amazon, or other popular book vendors

    Bulk Orders, CONTACT DIANE

    Spot on Book Review (New Pages Blog, 9/18)

    Great Article (NC Newsline, 9/26)

    1 3M THEcover copy


    The Three Melissas--  
    THE Practical Guide to Surviving 
    Family Homelessness

    3MPrimaryGradient

     
    The book that needed to be written, filled with wisdom and observations from 3 astute women named Melissa with loads of lived homelessness experience!

    Target audience: families experiencing homelessness.

    Family homelessness demands so much from parents and kids. It's a time of trauma and uncertainty. No one guides you through the process. Until now. 

    Families will find practical helpful hints to make these hard times a bit easier.  Those who work with families will learn directly from experts, The Three Melissas. Those curious about family homelessness will be astounded at what families navigate.

    3MSecGradweb300

    MelissaA

    Melissa A
    Illinois

    MelN bw

    Melissa N

    Florida

    MelT BW

    Melissa T

    Kansas

    The Three Melissas jumped at the chance to collaborate on this project, the first handbook on family homelessness, and the most important book for parents and those helping parents deal with homelessness.

    The book is based on their input, shared with Diana and Diane who shaped it into this eye-opening handbook.  

    The Three Melissas will receive proceeds from the book

    Watch these 1-minute film clips featuring
    these incredible women!

    Melissa A

    Melissa N

    Melissa T

    Watch this 5-min. video of
    The Three Melissas
    3M logo onBlk
    The Three Melissas now have a Substack page
    where posts, videos, pics and more will be shared as time goes on.
    No subscription fee, just sign up and join our social media efforts! 

    About the book...

    The Three Melissas -
    The Practical Guide to Surviving Family Homelessness
    ISBN 9798988181682 - Now Available (Sept. 2024) - ORDER Through IngramSpark 
    Amazon or where quality books are sold. 

    By Diana Bowman and Diane Nilan,
    In Collaboration with Melissa A (IL), Melissa N (FL), Melissa T (KS)

    Summary:

    Who knows more about family homelessness than the parents who experience it? The Three  Melissas -- The Practical Guide to Surviving Family Homelessness is a unique book of wisdom from 3 mothers named Melissa filled with their unfettered advice to millions of other moms, dads, and caregivers without a place to live. 

    These hard-won observations and suggestions, compiled into an unprecedented survival guide for families experiencing homelessness in the United States each year, offers tips and takes on common issues bedeviling stressed parents. This guide will also inform those working with homeless families, giving readers a more enlightened understanding of the mostly invisible and growing crisis of family homelessness. 

    Authors/editors:

    Diana Bowman and Diane Nilan, two long-time advocates and professionals have spent collectively over 75 years learning about family homelessness in the U.S. From their respective positions, they’ve provided abundant invaluable information and assistance to communities, educators, service providers, and policy makers. At the heart of their efforts has always been the commitment to convey the combined challenges of being homeless and raising children, and to provide tips to help families survive their hardships.

    This book project took their mission to another level, requiring help from the experts, namely parents with lived experience of homelessness. Featured in this book are three mothers, all named Melissa, who offered poignant insights into what it’s like to be homeless with small children. They also provided scores of practical tips and words of encouragement to support and inspire other parents facing homeless.

    Purpose:

    The practical advice from the 3 Melissas will not only provide support and encouragement to parents experiencing homelessness but will reduce anxiety and ease tensions between families and those trying to help them. Those inviting families to temporarily stay with them, doubling up, will learn ways to smooth this often-bumpy arrangement. Educators, agency professionals and policymakers will gain insights about everyday logistical challenges families encounter and turn those insights into ways to alleviate family homelessness. 

    Distribution:

    Marketing plans are in process to get the book into the hands of as many families as possible. HEAR US will sell this book through mainstream book vendors. Proceeds from the book will be distributed to The Three Melissas. Charles Bruce Foundation, publisher. Paperback (5x7), appx. 150 pages. Retail $15. Bulk prices available.  Available September 2024. BULK ORDERS NOW ACCEPTED!
    More info, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

     

     

     

     

  • 3Melissas Project

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