Executive Director Melissa Mummert and Catering Manager Monique Maddox of Second Helping.

This morning’s first-ever Connection Breakfast was a big success and a lot of fun!

The idea behind these events is twofold: First, to highlight and give a platform to a worthy organization, individual or group serving the community in a positive way. Second, to create time and space for people to build new relationships and make connections — especially with those outside their typical circles.

Second Helping, a new Charlotte-based non-profit, was the featured guest. This organization places coffee carts in corporate settings — the carts are staffed by previously incarcerated women who have been sponsored to attend culinary school and receive food service training. As a result, these ladies are able to make a livable wage and help support their families.

The event was generously sponsored by Johnson and Wales University. Second Helping provided fresh fruit and a variety of pastries, breads and drinks. The food was delicious.

For an hour and a half, over 60 guests mingled and established new connections. Sunshine spilled into the Speak Up office through the open garage door wall; clusters of people drifted onto the sidewalk and the air buzzed with excitement. One visitor said before leaving, “I’ve been all over the city — to a new location every day for the last three weeks looking for a place and the connections to start my new business. I’ve found so many of them here this morning. This was a connection point!”

Said another attendee: “This was the best event ever.”

Rob Burbank, who organized the breakfast, offered these thoughts in closing: “When I started working with Speak Up, I expected to help make positive change in a variety of ways. But what I didn’t expect–what totally blindsided me–were the rich relationships that would come out of this.”

Relationships and genuine connections–they can bring riches into even the poorest situations. We’re excited for what’s next.

Connection Breakfasts will be hosted by Speak Up on the third Thursday of every month. To nominate an organization to be featured in June 2012, submit this form.

Featuring Charlotte's Project 658

That’s right. Number two is imminent. It took way too long. For most of this year, the business of running the homeless outreach side of Speak Up has overshadowed magazine production. But we’ve been making adjustments and refocusing, and are committed to turning out magazines on a much faster timeline.

I’m excited about the next issue — it’s going to be more creative, more collaborative and do a better job of “speaking up” than the first one. But as enthused as I am, no one is happier about it than the marginalized street vendors who sell Speak Up as their livelihood. These men and women are passionately, eagerly and anxiously waiting for issue 2 to hit the streets of Charlotte. For them, it means income, connection and hope.

To print the magazine, we need to raise $5,000. Can you help? (As always, your gifts are tax-deductible.)

Donate

Speak Up’s mission is to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, give a voice to the voiceless and educate the public about the marginalized.

Here’s how we do it:

• Through regular creation/production of a street magazine
• Through online magazine: articles, videos, photos, digital and social media
• Through grassroots advocacy, events, marketing and creative projects
• Through speaking engagements and connections with businesses, churches, organizations and individuals.

As we seek to carry this out, two things are of utmost importance. First: that we do more than just talk, but are hands-on in the community. And second, that we write and engage our marginalized neighbors from a place of trust and mutual respect. That’s where the vendor program comes in.

Here’s what the vendor program provides:

• A Direct connection point for homeless and formerly homeless individuals.
• Legal income for the needy through the street sales of Speak Up magazine.
• Accountability and encouragement through the weekly meeting and one-on-ones.
• Community and mentorship through the vendor mentor program.
• A voice for people in the community.
• Rich and genuine relationships for Speak Up staff, volunteers and friends.

“Don’t ever let anyone tell you what you can’t do! You got a dream, you gotta protect it. People can’t do something themselves–they wanna tell you you can’t do it. If you want something, go get it.” –Will Smith in Pursuit of Happyness

“I’ve had a lot of personal growth through this magazine. It’s changed my perspective in life and brings me a big sense of reward and joy.” –Formerly homeless magazine vendor.

“Speak Up has given me a chance to work on my people skills.” –Formerly homeless/addicted magazine vendor

“I’m here to make my own income.” –New vendor

“I love the vibe in here. Everyone is so nice.” –Visitor

“Speak Up means a chance for me to build my own business.” –Formerly homeless/ex-con magazine vendor

“I’m on a journey of recovery too. I believe that recovery can only happen in relationships. I’m finding that at Speak Up.” –Volunteer

Same with Angela, who also came on in January. She also took the initiative to spend a day last week with a new vendor. ”I took [my friend] out to the community college where I sell and she sold ten in one day!” She added, “But while I was coaching her, she started coaching me when I needed it. We were helping each other!”

It’s amazing to see how empowered people want to empower others.

Also: On Friday, Ruth earned $50. Other vendors have earned more than this at planned events, but this is a new record for street sales. Way go to, Ruth! Your perseverance is impressive.

Vendors meetings are weekly at 10Am at Speak Up. All are welcome. Directions here.

Following the meeting, I took “Rachel” (one of the vendors…not her real name) to 7th street to try and find two places for her magazine racks. It was raining and cold, but Rachel was excited and eager to find new places to sell. Unfortunately, not all of the restaurants mirrored her enthusiasm. In fact, it took us going to about 10 different places before we found 2 that agreed to have her leave a rack.

The experience was revealing for me. It became very clear that some people wanted nothing to do with this unkempt woman wearing a large cap, sweat pants and a bright red Speak Up vest. I was struck by the way she seemed “voiceless” in those settings. We went into a coffee shop and were standing right in front of the cash register, hoping to get the attention of the young man working there. However, he turned to the well-dressed guy behind us and said, “can I help you?” and proceeded to take his order (which came to a total of close to $10 for a coffee and sandwich) before coldly turning to my new friend Rachel. She extended her hand for a shake but he ignored it and said, “what do you want”…to which Rachel gave her short speech about Speak Up and the magazines. Before she could finish, he turned to his coworker and said, “what do we do with this?” To which his coworker replied, “oh, we can’t sell those.” The next place wasn’t much better. We were flat-out ignored by the girl preparing a take-out order. Even when Rachel said, “excuse me” the girl didn’t bother turning her head. Finally, she turned around and said “we’re really busy here today and I don’t have time to talk.” When Rachel tried to explain her mission, the girl didn’t make eye contact with her, but instead looked quizzically at me as if to say “what were you thinking bringing her in here?” We left quickly and I told Rachel that rude people weren’t worth her time.

There were some nice people that day too. Some who paid attention when Rachel was talking, and two places that agreed to let her leave the magazine rack with them. One man bought a magazine when he heard Rachel telling her story. She was elated at her sale! But as I dropped her off at the rehab center where she attends weekly classes, I felt sad. This woman is misunderstood. Marginalized. Ignored. And why? Because she has obvious challenges with mental health? Because her speech is slurred and she walks with a shuffle? I don’t know. But it’s frustrating and disheartening.

The little I learned about Rachel’s story made me realize that she is a gem. She has had many challenges and has experienced deep pain, but she is trying to turn her life around and is making positive steps forward. She is so humble and kind, and I am excited to spend more time with her. As I said goodbye to her, she said, “Christina. Thank you so much. You have really helped me today and you are a blessing to the world. God will bless you big for this.” What she didn’t realize was just how much she blessed me. Hearing her story and seeing her perseverance gave me perspective and helped me understand the power of simple kindness.

It didn’t take long for everyone involved to recognize what a gift it was to have Rob onboard. As the need for us to grow was becoming clear, a desire was also forming in his heart to move away from the corporate world. We began exploring what that might look like.

In mid-February it became official: he completed a transition away from his job as a regional sales manager and joined Speak Up full-time. Rob is passionate about communicating the message and stories of Speak Up. He says, “I love seeing people’s faces when they recognize how empowering Speak Up is for our homeless vendors.”

Contact Rob at robburbank@speakupmag.org.

Speak Up’s most successful vendors of 2012 are employing similar techniques: consistency and perseverance. “Selling Speak Up is my job,” says vendor AC. “I get to my spot at 8 AM and spend the whole day there. Some days are slow, but that doesn’t matter. People ask me when I’m coming back. I always tell them tomorrow. I’m here every day.”

Each rack is personalized with the vendor’s name and photo.

As with street sales, the magazines in each rack are owned by a specific vendor–who have already purchased each magazine for $1.50. Our vendors are excited about this additional method of distributing the magazine. Already we can see that a variety of individuals will benefit from this concept:

• Vendors with a physical disability and cannot stand on their feet for hours.
• Vendors that own vehicle, which they can use to supply and maintain many racks.
• Vendors who want to sell on bad-weather days–they can ride the bus to check and restock their racks.
• Vendors who’ve shown a lot of initiative with street sales but need additional income to reach their goals.
• You. Because even if you don’t know where to find a vendor, you can always find a copy of the magazine.

View Speak Up Magazine Racks in a larger map

How you can get involved:

• Host a magazine rack. Do you own or manage a small business, church or any organization that people visit on a regular basis? This is a great way to directly support needy individuals and spread the word about Speak Up.
• Seek out a rack and buy the magazine. And please thank the owner and manager for allowing the rack in their store.
• Sponsor materials to build more racks. The materials cost of making these racks is about $5 each.
• Build more racks. Are you a handy man or woman and have a workshop? We need more volunteers to help produce more. This is a fun project!
• Let us know if you see empty racks. Vendors are expected to keep all of their racks stocked with magazines, but we want to help keep them accountable.

 Val Cripps and Bill Shaw building the first batch of magazine racks.

Currently Speak Up has over 20 homeless vendors who’ve been trained and equipped to sell the magazine. As a result, one of our–and their–biggest volunteer needs is for vendor mentors. As a vendor mentor, you’ll give 3 – 4 hours of your time each week to encouraging and supporting vendors while they sell the magazine.

Your duties may include:

• Giving a vendor a ride to their sales location
• Standing near them on the street and offering advice and encouragement
• Being an advocate for them with law enforcement officers and security guards
• Buying them a hot chocolate/coffee in cold weather or cold drink in hot weather
• Driving them around to place magazine racks
• Listening to their needs and challenges
• Being a friend