H.O.P.E. is the name of a Mid-South Peace and Justice Center-sponsored organization whose members are exclusively people currently, or have formerly experienced homelessness. For over a year now, H.O.P.E. has been organizing and agitating around the issues that are a priority to the homeless community. For meeting times and dates, call 901-300-0006.
H.O.P.E. Women’s Caucus
Background
Research indicates that the majority of women who experience homelessness also experience violence, with domestic violence being one of the primary catalysts for homelessness in women’s lives. Homelessness is also associated with a variety of health issues, all of which can be difficult to address while meeting one’s basic needs.
The H.O.P.E. Women’s Caucus is a safe space for H.O.P.E. members who identify as women to work together on the issues that disproportionately affect them, including reproductive health and violence. Co-sponsored by the Center for Research on Women at the University of Memphis, the Women’s Caucus meets regularly for “Dinner and Discussion,” from which a core group of organizers has emerged to focus on the unique challenges faced by women experiencing homelessness.
Most recently, the Women’s Caucus has taken up health issues, with nutrition, reproductive health, and overall wellness being major themes of discussion. Women’s Caucus members have tried healthy new foods and exercises together, from gluten-free pizza crusts to restorative yoga.
In the next month, Women’s Caucus will begin a two-phase self-defense program. During the first phase, the core organizing members will take self-defense classes. These classes will meet twice a week for five weeks, and will equip participants with the fundamental skills needed to handle an attack, and get out of violent situations safely. In the second phase, members will participate in “train the trainer” style classes to learn the techniques of teaching self-defense strategies to other women. This two-phase model builds upon an evidence-based Lay Health Advisor model used around the country to implement community-based healthcare programs.
HOW CAN YOU HELP WOMEN’S CAUCUS?
Women’s Caucus needs to raise $800 for Phase 1 of our self-defense program. If you can contribute to this cause, please do so here. Remember that any amount is helpful, so give what you can! If you are interested in getting involved with the H.O.P.E. Women’s Caucus in any other way, or if you have questions or suggestions for the group, please contact Project Coordinator, Ace F. Madjlesi at acemadjlesi@gmail.com.
Many thanks to Tiffany Futch, Jamie Young, and Elokin Capece for their dedicated support to this group.
Street-Watch
On August 31st, members of H.O.P.E.’s Street-Watch Initiative, hosted a ‘Know Your Rights’ forum at St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral for people who live on the streets of Memphis.This was the fourth in a series of workshops held at different churches and community centers across the city over the past four months across the city. Employees of the Law Offices of the Shelby County Public Defender and other attorneys informed an engaged crowd on their rights when encountering law enforcement and how to assert them. Meanwhile, Street-Watch members and volunteers assisted participants with filling out surveys about their experiences with law enforcement, as well as complaint forms to document instances of police harassment.
“We believe that over time, we can use data compiled from these complaints to pinpoint areas where police harassment is most likely to occur, what time of day or night, and begin to weed out officers who believe that a badge and a gun give them the right to treat people on the streets of Memphis like second-class citizens,” said Marcus Mitchell, an organizer with the project.
Street-Watch will continue to host educational forums, and with the help of data collected from complaints and surveys, members plan on organizing street teams, equipped with video cameras to document the harsh realities of life on the streets of Memphis, and the mistreatment that men and women often face when they are profiled for “appearing homeless.”
Feeding the Movement
H.O.P.E would like to once again thank Memphis Center for Independent Living for providing us with space for our meetings while we seek a permanent location. There are lots of ways to feed the movement, and we would like to thank all of our allies for their continued support. For more information about how you can support HOPE or our different project areas, Please contact Paul Garner(901)725.4990, or paul@midsouthpeace.org. Like H.O.P.E. on Facebook!