Book Two: Caught In A Safety Net Society
I just finished writing the fourth chapter of my second book, “Caught In A Safety Net Society.” It is a very, very personal essay of my journey from being an adopted Asian orphan to the chief executive of a large American nonprofit organization.
All along, I have personally acknowledged that I would not be here today, in an upperly mobile middle class existence in the richest country on earth without the amazing weaving of a personal safety net by my adoptive family.
That personal safety net created by a loving, caring family years ago haunts me today. Why? Because I know there are so many people in our country that do not have such a safety net to catch them. So many people living on our streets because no one—family, friends, church, community—was there for them when struggles occurred.
The lucky ones, like me, had such a safety net. A net that included hope instilled, dignity empowered, relational tools developed, and work ethics modeled to help a person overcome any debilitating barrier.
My book is about helping people access HOME, not giving people a HOUSE. Home is a state of being, not a place to live.
*****
So would you like to help me finish writing this book? Have you experienced, or do you know of people who have been caught in a personal safety net—have overcome personal adversity to make it? Or have you experienced or know of people who have experienced difficult situations that if someone had weaved a personal safety net you would not have ended up on the streets?
Send me a paragraph or two of your story… I know I am not the only one who has made it in life because other people have surrounded me with a net that won’t allow me to end up on the streets. I know there are other stories out there.
Email me at path@epath.org. Subject: Attn: Joel, Safety Net Society.
Help us show America that homelessness will end, not by simply building thousands and thousands of apartments. But homelessness will end, when our society weaves personal safety nets for all people.
(Pic http://susanhendrich.files.wordpress.com)
All along, I have personally acknowledged that I would not be here today, in an upperly mobile middle class existence in the richest country on earth without the amazing weaving of a personal safety net by my adoptive family.
That personal safety net created by a loving, caring family years ago haunts me today. Why? Because I know there are so many people in our country that do not have such a safety net to catch them. So many people living on our streets because no one—family, friends, church, community—was there for them when struggles occurred.
The lucky ones, like me, had such a safety net. A net that included hope instilled, dignity empowered, relational tools developed, and work ethics modeled to help a person overcome any debilitating barrier.
My book is about helping people access HOME, not giving people a HOUSE. Home is a state of being, not a place to live.
*****
So would you like to help me finish writing this book? Have you experienced, or do you know of people who have been caught in a personal safety net—have overcome personal adversity to make it? Or have you experienced or know of people who have experienced difficult situations that if someone had weaved a personal safety net you would not have ended up on the streets?
Send me a paragraph or two of your story… I know I am not the only one who has made it in life because other people have surrounded me with a net that won’t allow me to end up on the streets. I know there are other stories out there.
Email me at path@epath.org. Subject: Attn: Joel, Safety Net Society.
Help us show America that homelessness will end, not by simply building thousands and thousands of apartments. But homelessness will end, when our society weaves personal safety nets for all people.
(Pic http://susanhendrich.files.wordpress.com)
posted by LA's Homeless Blog at
7:02 PM
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