Please join us as we welcome H.O.P.E.’s new full-time organizing coordinator, Tamara Hendrix.
Tamara accepted a position to work with H.O.P.E. through the Americorps VISTA program, is the second elected Vice President of H.O.P.E., and formerly served as the organization’s secretary. She is also a member of the H.O.P.E. Women’s Caucus and Streetwise INK.
Tamara has been a strong advocate for all people experiencing homelessness and poverty and will bring that same dedication to her work as she joins the staff of MSPJC.
MSPJC Organizer, Paul Garner, sat down with Tamara for a Q&A:
PG: Tell me about yourself.
TH: I’m from North Memphis originally, but I’ve lived in different parts of town throughout my life. I grew up in kind of a blended family. I lived with my grandparents-there were 8 of us, three kids and five adults in a 3 bedroom house. My grandmother was a custodian for the board of education. My aunt was a teacher. I had an uncle who was a musician, and another uncle who was a delivery driver. My mom worked on and off, but mostly stayed home to take care of the kids.
PG: Do you have kids now?
TH: I have a son who is eighteen, and a senior this year at Memphis Business Academy.
PG: Tell me about your writing.
TH: I mainly write short stories. My work was recently published in a collection called, ‘Writing our Way Home: A Group Journey Out of Homelessness.’ I hope one day to pen a children’s book. That’s always been a dream of mine.
PG: Other hobbies/interests?
TH: Reading! I love to read.
PG: Who are your mentors/ Who inspires you?
TH: Miss June Averyt, the Director at Outreach Housing and Community and Ellen Prewitt, who facilitates the Door of Hope writing group that I am a member of. …and You, Paul! (laughs)
PG: Why did you become a member of HOPE?
TH: I like the fact that HOPE is an organization that is focused on helping the homeless. I became a member to learn more ways I could help end homelessness.
PG: What lead you to run for Vice President of HOPE?
TH: I wanted to deepen my commitment to the organization. I felt like it would allow me to connect with more people in the community who had information and resources to help end homelessness.
PG: Thinking about your work with HOPE, what is your proudest accomplishment as a member?
TH: Being able to assist in promoting and serving at events like Project Homeless Connect. As someone whose been on the other side of homelessness, I know what its like. It’s been nice to be able to pay it forward.
PG: What do you want people to know about homelessness?
TH: It can happen to anyone. It can be a very difficult experience, but you can make through.
PG: If you could get our elected leaders in Memphis/Shelby County to make one commitment to ending homelessness, what would it be?
TH: Funding for emergency shelter for women. There is a huge gap in those services. There are only 25 beds in Memphis for women without children. So, that’s something we need more of immediately.
PG: What do you hope to accomplish in your first year as an organizing coordinator for HOPE?
TH: I want to get more people off the streets and into permanent housing and win more victories for people who are underprivileged. I want to help empower our members to get more involved in HOPE projects, and help develop new leaders to prepare HOPE for it’s next phase as an organization.
PG: How would you describe your vision of a better world, or a better Memphis?
TH: There would be NO homelessness. Our elected officials would care about the lives of those they are put in office to to service. The wealth would be more equally distributed, and there would be good jobs for everyone, so crime would go down.
PG: What else do you want people to know as you move into your new position?
TH: I’m here to learn, and I may make some mistakes, but I’m dedicated to the cause of ending homelessness, and I’m here for the long haul!
