A Chance for All

Puma FC, Announces Launch of “Chance For All” Program, Partnership with Afrikan Centered Education Collegium Campus (ACE) to Bring Soccer to Urban Core of Kansas City.


www.pumafc.org


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Missouri is Still the Highest in African American Homicides

According to the Violence Policy Center, "Washington, DC--Missouri leads the nation in the rate of black homicide victimization for the second year in a row according to a new analysis of unpublished Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Supplementary Homicide Report (SHR) data released today by the Violence Policy Center (VPC)."



http://www.vpc.org/press/1201homicide.htm

Her Will

Yesterday I went to visit Linda.  She has been through a lot since I last posted about her.  She had left the shelters and moved into her own home in a government subsidized project.  In her new place, she had seemed happy, talkative and open.  

After about four months had past, her health deteriorated.  Linda’s neighbor had found her on the floor unresponsive.  She had been there for two days.  She is now living in a nursing home for the time being.  When I went to find her, a nurse had to point me to her as I did not recognize her.  She lost so much weight, her frame is skeletal and she is now in a wheelchair.  The nurses say she is not eating much.

She and I found a place in the dining hall that was quiet to talk.  We sat there in silence for a long time.  If I asked her a question, her response was yes or no without elaboration.  When I asked her how is her will to live, she put her head down, chipped at her worn nail polish, and slowly replied “it’s good.” I gave her some updates about my own life and she listened intently.

We continued to sit in silence. Linda seemed so tired....


I mentioned that Etta James had died.  She asked who was she.  I explained that James sang a famous song called  “At Last."  Linda looked at me blankly.  Then I played it on my phone.  She closed her eyes, she smiled knowingly and began to hum along....

At Last 

follow more of Linda's story by clicking here: Linda

I just added my photo essay to PhotoPhilanthropy's website click here. I'm honored to have my work and the work of True Light Family Resource Center be shown there. Please take time to browse and view also their impressive collection of works by photographers working with all types of non-profits.

Tom Sawyer Ballet Dress Rehearsal at Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

Tom Ryan's review of the world premiere Tom Sawyer Ballet rehearsal

Mary Moore's Back to the Table Workshop

http://janevision.tumblr.com/post/7457238285/mary-moore-founder-of-a-workshop-called-back-to

http://janevision.tumblr.com/post/7457265246/regina-sang-and-shared-her-story-with-the-people

Father's Day is just another day for Peggy and her family

I visited Peggy the other day at her home.  She spoke of Father’s Day.  She said it doesn’t mean much for these kids,  like many people she knows, there is no father around.  She said that her sons’ father was killed by gunshot before they could know him.  She has since been searching for a male role model for them.  Her youngest son had a role model who was his football coach at Derrick Thomas Academy up until he was killed in a motorcycle accident this year.  Derrick Thomas Academy was named  in memory of a football player who was a role model for many inner city children.   Derrick Thomas died from a car accident in 2000.

Peggy currently lives with many members of her extended family, including her sister and several neices with their children under one roof.  They all work together to provide and take care of the children.  The only adult male in the house is her brother. 

Peggy's youngest son, age 13, comes home from visiting friends.






Peggy's neice, who lives with her checks her phone by the door. 




The youngest in the household, Peggy's neice's daughter.  Extended family live together in one house and together take care of the children.