Memorial blanket project

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Calendar 2023

2022-23 Month	Event Details	About Diane/HEAR US
July	NC Piggies Blanket Events, Brevard, Morganton, Asheville	Diane'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 Diane's Awards: 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	1, Dismazed/Driven virtual author talk, DLFF 20, w/Pat Van Doren, Heritage Woods, Bolingbrook, IL
SeptemberF	Details on the Babes Page: Babes of Wrath Banned Book Tour
October	12, 7 - 8:30 pm, University of St. Francis, San Damiano Hall, Dismazed and Driven talk, free, public. 24, Univ. Wisc. BASES class 3 - 4:30 pm
November	1, 7 - 8:30 pm, DeKalb (IL) Public Library, Panel on Family Homelessness 12, 10 a.m., Congressman Bill Foster Honoring Pat Van Doren, at Heritage House, Bolingbrook, IL
December	21, noon - 9 pm, US Capitol, Memorial Blanket Project (www.memorialblanket.orgfor info)
January
February
March	9, NCHE McKinney-Vento State Coordinator Conference, Washington, DC 15, Office of Student Life conference, Newark, NJ
April	7, New Hampshire McKinney-Vento conference (virtual)
May	Filming, North Carolina
June	Filming, North Carolina

Besides the longstanding involvement of HEAR US in projects that raise awareness of family/youth homelessness, HEAR US has flexibility to pursue projects that would otherwise take a long time for other organizations to get off the ground. When a relevant issue arises, and circumstances allow, Diane can often pursue it, either by researching and bloggingabout it or visiting the location and filming.

Other endeavors include Memorial Blanket Project, and various local awareness-raising events, e.g. diaper drives.

Memorial Blanket Project	Diaper drive	Budgetel Inn in Chattanooga closed

Recent examples of HEAR US action include:

Hurricane Michael, Panama City, FL 2020	*Ride It Out* https://youtu.be/urzJR08pmVc
Family in motel during Covid, Raleigh, NC 2020	Capital Failure https://youtu.be/eIYgr4z92kw
Doubled up homelessness in Madison and Dane County, WI 2021	Not Homeless Enough https://youtu.be/ZkQBSsqEcGk
Humanitarian crisis caused by mass eviction in Chattanooga, TN 2022	Unexpected Upheaval https://youtu.be/KcQf59BeNPw

It's Everybody's Problem

So often you hear, "We don't have homelessness in our town." or "It's a big city problem." or "They could get a place if they wanted to." or "Kids aren't homeless."

More than 7 million invisible children and youthexperience homelessness across America, in every community.
They need your help. Thanks for your interest! Thanks for your support!

Donate

FMN children

What HEAR US does best...

Since 2005, HEAR US has worked hard to give voice & visibility
to families & youth experiencing homelessness.
Looking back, looking forward, our best work is our films.

No "talking heads." Just raw stories from those who know
homelessness best--the families & youth who experience life without a place to call home.
Ideal for school trainings, community awareness-raising, classroom lessons, and more...

Check out our list of films here.

My Own Four Walls, all-time favorite,
our first film, still relevant today!(20 min)

HU books 3 21a

HEAR US books inform, inspire
Looking for quality books on homelessness--for adults & kids?
HEAR US offers a wide array, and our indie bookshop lets you shop
for books of your choice, get them shipped out fast, while supporting essential
indie bookstores.

- HEAR US Bookshop - https://bookshop.org/shop/diane_hear_us
- For the "other" source of books - Amazon
- A limited supply of "It's About the Children" books by Pat Van Doren
  are still available. (Larger orders may be available. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
- HEAR US Square site.

Recent Films by HEAR US!

Hidden in Plain Sight -
Families Experiencing Homelessness
in New Mexico(5/22)

Four mothers and a dad share their families' experiences of homelessness and describe how schools helped them survive(16:15)

HEAR Them: Youth Without Homes in New Mexico (5/22)

Six New Mexico teens shared their experiences and insights about homelessness. Three teens are unaccompanied youth--without parents/guardians involved in their lives. The other three are part of a family. (10:09)

Idaho Schools: Lifesaving Connection (1/22)
4 women share their families' struggles and accomplishments, pointing to the importance of school support (18:30)

Families Experiencing Housing Instability in Idaho
ID mothers share what school support meant to their families (6:50)

These women offer deep, heartfelt insights about the agonies of housing instability and the impact of support from their children's school communities.
Invaluable lessons for all audiences. Perfect McKinney-Vento training tools.

Not Homeless Enough (8/21)

The agony of parents with no viable options in Madison and Dane County, WI (video 10 min)

Capital Failure -

Family Homelessness Surging (3/21)

See and hear this family's struggles being stuck in motels during CoVid in Raleigh, NC. (12-min)

Jamie's astute descriptions of her family's hardships
resonate with many families in similar situations.
Her textbook lesson that needs widespread sharing.
> More about the film, resources...
> VIDEO LINK

Memorial Blanket 2022

Photo (c) Diane Nilan 2022	The Memorial Blanketart display on 12/21/22 in front of the Reflecting Pool at the US Capitol. 1,179 handmade blankets from knitters, crocheters, and quilters across the country blanketed the Capitol lawn. They were made by strangers for strangers, a true work of love. The blankets are a stark reminder of people who live and die on the streets of the US every year. Following the one-day event, blankets were donated to people in need. The project was sponsored by the Charles Bruce Foundation.
Photo (c) Diane Nilan 2022	Quilts in the foreground were submitted by HEAR US. "These Little Piggies are Homeless" photos by Pat Van Doren are in the center of the quilts that were finished by volunteers in Illinois. Babies' and toddlers' footprints from 3 North Carolina programs serving young homeless children surround the Piggies images. The larger red, white and blue quilt has the iconic image of "Charlie" in the center. This represents the decades' long Illinois involvement in strenghtening educational rights for homeless students.
WATCH: Memorial Blanket photo collectionby Diane Nilan WATCH: End of the Memorial Blanket Day by Diane Nilan

Washington Post, 12/22/22 Handmade blankets for homeless crafted with ‘love’ come to Capitol Hill	The Progressive Magazine, 12/29/22 On a Mission to End Homelessness, and Spread Warmth
EARLIER COVERAGE of the HEAR US Memorial Blanket Activities: ►Watch this NCTV news segmentabout the unique blankets being made in Illinois! ► Diane worked with 3 North Carolina communities to create Piggies blankets for babies using Pat Van Doren's iconic "These Little Piggies are Homeless" image. Here's a 1-minute TV newsclipshowing this heartwarming process. ► Here are the news storiesabout the Memorial Blanket Project. ►Here's an adorable look at a "Piggies" event. (2-min)