My Friend's Place
How I learned about the Organization & Poetry
(<3 julissa gutierrez)
It was about maybe 3 years ago that I was at a Halloween Block party in West Hollywood, California. I was there with my close friend. We were drinking and having fun and we striked up a conversation with a man next to us. I asked what he did for a living and he told me he ran the organization My Friend's Place.
I had never heard of it before but he told me that it was a daycenter for homeless teens in Southern California. The reason for the name "My Friend's Place" was so the teens wouldn't have to be embarassed by saying they were at a shelter, they would say "I'm at My Friend's Place."
I visited the center last month to donate clothes and I was lucky to get a tour of the center. They have a day center activity room, books, a children play area for teens with children, free food, clothes, toileteries, bathrooms & shower facilities, and free medical care services. Its a small center with a lot of heart. I'm proud that our auction that we have going on now will help benefit this lovely organization.
The center partners up with the California Institute of Arts to have the youth participate in creative writing activities. These activities help build self esteem and a good sense of self worth. Below are some poems written by the youth at My Friend's Place. If you want to read more, please visit http://myfriendsplace.org/storiesvoices.html#Voices_of_Hope_
Higher Into the Sky
As I wonder why
That I can't even cry
As I try to run and hide
From the pain that lies inside
Cause in no one do I confide
And I know I have to find a way
To live through the day
And there's nothing left to say
Yeah
-----------
Freeway 101
Waking up
and coming
outside to see
all the cars
passing by
on the 101
freeway.
Night is scary
waking up in the tent...
not knowing
if I'm going to step on something
nasty or if I step wrong
I might fall...
Never in my life did I ever imagine
I would lay my
head to sleep on a freeway...
