Street Sense is now Street Sense Media.
Our new name reflects an evolution in our programming that began in 2013. And our new name more accurately describes the organization as it exists today. Along with the name, we have a new logo, newspaper cover page, vendor vests, and website design.
For some time now, in addition to our flagship newspaper, we have been creating content in film, theater, photography, audio and illustration. These media channels elevate the voices of people experiencing homelessness and bring them to an ever widening audience. Our content aims to challenge perceptions of homelessness and those it affects. It also aims to create common ground upon which we can build a stronger community.
Since 2013, we’ve produced five films (four of which were recently screened at the DC Shorts Film Festival), more than a half dozen theater productions (including Timone of DC that was staged at the Folger Shakespeare Theater), and several exhibits of original photography.
No other organization does more to ensure that people experiencing homelessness are heard. We have long known that while housing and economic opportunity are distributed unevenly, talent and creativity are distributed equally, without regard to income or housing status. To nurture that talent and create our content we have assembled an incredibly talented group of artists in residence – all professionals in their craft – who run weekly workshops for vendor-artists who are looking for opportunities for self-expression. The creative process is dynamic and inspiring. Self-expression builds confidence and esteem. It can help with grieving. It can help to heal.
The process builds a strong sense of community amongst participants. And when audiences gather to experience what has been created, that community building becomes even more powerful.
Our overall mission remains the same – providing opportunities to escape homelessness. Our commitment to this end led us to add case management services to programming that helps the men and women we work with navigate the often complex bureaucracies toward permanent housing, physical and mental health care, employment and other critical social services.
The name change and new programming at Street Sense Media in no way reflects a lessening commitment to our newspaper. The paper turns fourteen in November and is stronger than ever. It will continue to be a vehicle for vendor writing and news about homelessness and poverty. It will continue to provide employment to men and women who are homeless. We are very excited to be launching a cashless payment app for smartphones that customers will be able to use to purchase the paper. That will be available later this month. Our new media builds upon the success of the newspaper, creates new and exciting ways for our vendors to express themselves and engage with a wider audience.
If you have not already, I encourage you to experience some of this new content for yourself. All of it will be on display at our annual celebration, “Storytellers for Change,” on Thursday, September 28th at the Josephine Butler Parks Center in Columbia Heights. Tickets for that event are selling fast and available on our website. Find out more about that event and other opportunities on our website or by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Street Sense is now Street Sense Media. Come and experience all we have to offer.
Brian Carome
Executive Director
