This Beautiful 11 Yr Old Black Female Has Raised 50 grand & Counting For the Cold & Homeless

“Arctic air on the way,” headlines read again….

Meet the beautiful, exceptionally precious and compassionate 11 year old, Khole Thompson. As noted in her photo, she raised $50,000 at least for the homeless in Chicago during this horrifically cold weather.

“When an 11-year-year-old girl in suburban Los Angeles learned Monday how cold it would be this week for homeless people in Chicago, she decided to do something about it.

After watching a newscast about the impending cold snap, Khloe Thompson created a GoFundMe page seeking donations for the local Salvation Army, a nonprofit group whose mission includes getting Chicago’s most vulnerable to a warm place this week.”

I went from grateful to enraged at reading; Bill Gates, who in an unrelated article (I believe it’s unrelated) he said,

“You don’t need to have a billion to be happy but it sure does help.” –Read that article here.

Imagine how much money he could have helped Khole donate to people in cities across America that have been severely impacted by the cold.

Then during the research for this post I found a few ways to help, which I’ll post below. That gave me a little hope for humanity…

We need to ensure that hope lasts, through people such as Khole Thompson, and their selfless actions.

The most recent cold is ongoing and there are things people can do in the less impacted states such as Texas,

Here is an excerpt from an article about a homeless man who was stolen from this world because he didn’t have a home in the absolutely freezing weather. This is just, I hope, to bring this to you emotionally; remember these are actual people suffering… Even when it’s not as severe as now, anyone in the more northern parts of the states knows how hard that cold can hit. This is unacceptable please don’t just close this article and move on to the next. Please be as brave as the precious child and the others like her… Check out links below.

The Maslow’s Army are blaming the cold for Martin’s death. They are also renewing their plea for change. The organization advocates for people battling addiction, alcoholism and mental illnesses.

In a Facebook post, Sam and Susan Landis of Maslow’s Army, a nonprofit called the death “unacceptable” and said the city needs a 24-hour a day facility where the homeless can find relief from the cold and heat.

Martin was familiar to members of The Maslow’s Army.

“We met Ken on our first Sunday outreach on Fountain Square almost one year ago. He was inspired to get his life together and began taking steps towards self-improvement,” read the another Facebook post on the Sam and Susan Landis page.

In August, the post said, Martin slipped in his recovery effort but “Maslow’s Army still continued to love on him and support him every way we could offering to take him to detox, meeting his basic needs every encounter including just last week.”

Maslow’s Army intends to continue its fight for a 24-hour shelter, taking its request to city hall. They have their sights set on the old Queensgate jail, a seven-story, 30,000 square foot space, that could house beds, a kitchen and more, Sam Landis said. All the group needs is funding.

There is one point on which Kevin Finn, President of Strategies to End Homelessness, agrees.

“The reality is, there is no reason a homeless person should be sleeping outside right now,” Finn said.

In Hamilton County, there are 12 homeless shelters and in Northern Kentucky, there are six, he said. Some are for families, some for women only, others men only. There are also two drop-in homeless shelters, both open 24 hours a day, one on each side of the river. They have expanded capacity for the winter months.

Shelterhouse, The Barron Center for Men in Queensgate offers an additional 200 beds in its winter shelter space through the end of February. Space is open to men and women. The Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky in Covington expands its shelter space through March, Finn said. Neither has ever reached capacity.

“What they might not know is when the weather gets the way it is now, some of the rules and requirements that are in place during warmer weather months are not required,” he said.

Last year, 90 percent of the area’s homeless people resided in a shelter, Finn said. Another 16 percent stayed outside on the street, the six percent overlap represents people who both went to shelters but also stayed outside.

There are people who, for a variety of reasons, will not go to shelters, Finn said. Reasons can range from mental health disorders, addiction or something else.

For placement or help getting in a homeless shelter, call (513) 381-7233.

Both Susan and Sam Landis have experienced homelessness and addiction. They are also studying for careers in the social service field at Northern Kentucky University. The system is not set up to meet the needs of homeless, Sam Landis said.

“We want to go to city hall and fight this,” Susan Landis said. “Tax dollars are being spent on a stadium and a fraction of this money could be used to help keep people warm. There are many groups out there with multimillion-dollar grants.”

“We still have this problem,” she said. “Let’s face it, something’s not being done.”

Councilman Chris Seelbach was one of the first to tweet the news of Ken Martin’s death. While the coroner has yet to determine the cause of death, Seelbach and others have drawn the conclusion Martin froze to death.

“We must do better,” Seelbach tweeted. “It’s just a matter of priorities. More tax money for those most vulnerable. Less tax money for millionaires and billionaires.”

Exactly where that money would come from and how much, Seelbach didn’t elaborate. He didn’t respond to messages left by The Enquirer.

Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld said he anticipates the council in 2018 will look at the issue of homelessness and make sure there are enough 24-hour shelters to protect people from dangerous weather, either hot or cold.

 

EVERY LITTLE BIT MATTERS; HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED?

Do what you can, please… These are some basic, very basic ways to help…

1. Volunteers of America Chesapeake’s hypothermia prevention and response programs provide emergency shelter, meals and crisis intervention during the coldest months of the year. These programs serve homeless men and women each night from November through February. The program provides shelter, two hot meals (breakfast and dinner) and a bagged lunch. Also provided is access to case management and medical treatment as well as mental health and substance abuse services.

In addition to the caring professionalism of Volunteers of America Chesapeake’s homeless services staff, this life-saving service wouldn’t be possible without faith partners throughout the region, who open their sanctuaries in partnership with Volunteers of America Chesapeake’s programs to ensure that no one is left in the cold.

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2) How We Help End Homelessness

We reach out to homeless individuals through street outreach and mobile outreach services and once we engage with homeless individuals, youth and families with children, we provide assistance that ranges from paying a first month’s rent to offering permanent supportive housing so that people with disabilities can become stable and productive members of their communities. In 2017, we helped over 100,000 homeless individuals.

We have found that, without supportive services, housing is often not enough to end homelessness. From helping homeless youth, to providing assistance in obtaining disability benefits, to providing transportation, to offering intensive job training assistance to homeless veterans, we operate a number of innovative supportive services programs to support our efforts of ending homelessness in America.

EMERGENCY SHELTER

While permanent housing, often coupled with supportive services, is the best way to end homelessness, many individuals and families need short-term stabilization before they can find housing that will meet their long term needs. That’s why Volunteers of America, for over 122 years, has provided emergency assistance to homeless persons in the form of homeless shelters.

DROP-IN CENTERS

Since homeless persons can be reluctant to leave the streets and accept emergency shelter or transitional housing, we operate drop-in centers — places where homeless youth or adults can get off the streets and find a temporary safe haven. And often, when homeless persons begin to trust drop-in center staff, they agree to leave the streets and enter transitional or permanent housing.

PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING

For a significant number of homeless Americans with mental or physical impairments, often coupled with drug and/or alcohol use issues, long-term homelessness can only be ended by providing permanent housing coupled with intensive supportive services.

TRANSITIONAL HOUSING

Our transitional housing programs are operated with one goal in mind — to help individuals and families obtain permanent housing as quickly as possible. Our programs serve diverse populations — from women and children who are victims of domestic violence to homeless veterans who have spent years living on the streets.

Cali Lawmakers Working to Help Immigrants Statewide

This is a bit of hopeful news during a time of prejudice, racist hate-filled insanity by a person who is a danger and threat to any person. Something I think by now any humane person can clearly see. I hope Cali succeeds and may other states follow, until we have a real president.

Legislative Democrats in California have advanced a bill that would provide statewide sanctuary for immigrants by restricting local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities.

via California Lawmakers Aim To Make Whole State Immigration Sanctuary — CBS Sacramento

In Third Grade this Black Child Is Denied Equal Education-

This precious Black male is a 3rd grader by the name of Edmund. He’s an outstanding student, he already has a 3.83 GPA and he has above average scores as well as above average when it comes to his school’s test scores; language arts, math, and science. Just as importantly, he has a huge, giving heart. His mom says:

“We attribute his success to doing our best as parents and the great education he is getting at a local charter school, Gateway Science Academy.”

 

But apparently the human and soul this child possess doesn’t matter nor do his achievements. At least, not to the state of Missouri. He misses his friends as he has attended the school since kindergarten. Staff at Gateway Science Academy want to have this law changed; some of the teachers and staff have signed his petition to allow him to attend the school.

But again; a huge slap has hit right in our face as this gifted and talented 3rd grader is being denied the right to equal treatment and equal opportunity.  The racism against the Black community would struggle to be any more blatant than what this child and his family he is going through.

His mother was informed he would be able to attend the school if they moved St. Louis county, as opposed to St Louis. But that is not why he is not allowed to go back to his school. A white child would be able to transfer schools in his situation; this is strictly because he is Black.

That and the Missouri government not only refusing to take action immediately -as they should- but furthermore, some educational boards in the state or area of STL are trying to deny it is about race and that this could happen to anyone. Thankfully not all are so stupid and at least own up to the fact that it has to do with a past desegregation law -from 1980s- which is hampering Black children rather than helping them.

There are some as I said who at least admit that white kids would be allowed to transfer and this is due to the color of his freaking skin! Anyone whom could stand behind this has to be soulless; absolutely heartless.

This is an ACTIVE STATE LAW, EXISTING TODAY IN MISSOURI. To quickly summarize this law (I’ll provide links below) in the 1980s the state of Missouri created a law which was supposed to let Black children desegregate and allow them to enter white schools. That same law is now preventing Black children that live in the country from transferring to a city school.

As his mother has said, IF IT WERE SIMPLY DUE TO CHANGE IN LOCATION THAT HE COULD NOT ATTEND SHE WOULD UNDERSTAND. BUT IT IS NOT DUE TO THEIR CHANGE IN LOCATION AND THIS IS ADMITTED AND WRITTEN IN LAW.

It’s actually legal, STILL, in Missouri to say he cannot live in one location and also continue receiving the preferred, higher quality education, for one reason and one reason only: he is Black.

“He is such a humble kid. His teacher told me that one of the first things she thought was that he was going to come in and be all like, I’m cool. He comes in like nothing’s happened. But he does think it’s pretty cool. He’ll ask me every day, ‘Mom, how many signatures do we have on our petition?’ He’s excited about that.”

But, she added, the family realizes that its drive to keep Edmund where he is might not succeed.

The ACTUAL problem is the state government’s refusal to change the law despite the schools wishes, parents wishes and of course, the child’s wishes. But as of yet, the government isn’t willing to do the moral and intelligent thing and get rid of a law which discriminates and dismisses any Black student from receiving the same quality education their white peers or classmates receive without issue.

“In the long range, how might the broader situation be changed to avoid future situations like Edmund’s? Glaser at VICC admits he doesn’t have a definitive answer. He notes that the current program won’t be allowed to continue forever, but he isn’t sure what will replace it, or who will draw up the rules.” [More Below]

This is absolutely outrageous, heartbreaking and I hope this family and the community will fight to hell and back over. What’s more is some of you white people have the audacity to deny being light skinned means you have a privilege others don’t. I HATE THIS ‘PRIVILEGE’!!!!

And you better believe I would give it away in a second unless all people could receive it!… However, it sickens me to say that is not how things are right now and white people need to wake up, realize and stop their racist behaviors, become aware and stop taking advantage of a racist, unjust country. Instead whites need to admit the truth, no matter how shaming it is, how enraging and demeaning it makes one feel. I loathe it; I loathe sharing the skin tone of people who inflict things such as this upon others due to skin color. 

I am lucky and grew up in the Black community. From a very young age I saw the racism and at 14 I saw a Black male crying as he was hogtied, laid face down while cops ignored his pleas for help and asked each other how they were doing. I watched as this man cried, begged for help, called out for others, and I watched in sheer hatred as his soul left his body. 

When he left, I felt a part of myself leave me. Something died within me as he was allowed by the police to suffocate to death because he had fallen asleep in White Castle. He had narcolepsy and so of course the cops were called. Cops. Around 20 were there when he left this earth. He had done NOTHING.

Since then, I’ve used these past 10 years to fight back against racism especially with the police department and victims. It’s far worse than makes the media; and what makes the media is not even a tiny fraction of this horrific terrorism too many people have to live with.

SO DO NOT DARE APPROACH ME AND TELL ME RACISM IS NOT REAL. Any white person that blind looks like the idiot, ignorant, racist fool or cruel fool that they are. It’s disgraceful to those who actually give a damn.

Change needs to come. Let’s get this child what he deserves; the best school he can attend and make sure as hell the state of Missouri doesn’t REST until this racist law is removed!

Petition his mom is asking everyone to sign.

As the controversy surrounding Edmund’s plight persists, officials at Gateway Science Academy say they are searching for a solution.

“We’re so pleased that he wants to stay here,” said Janet Moak, assistant principal at the school. “We take that as speaking to the quality that we have offered here at the charter school. We really want to support him in those efforts, but at this point, nothing has been finalized.”

Moak wouldn’t talk about what options are being considered. State law says flatly that “a charter school may not charge tuition,” so that avenue is out. Edmund could remain without the state reimbursing the school for his attendance, but Moak wouldn’t say whether that is a viable choice.

She did say that there is no deadline for a decision to be made, only that the school hopes to resolve it soon.

In the long range, how might the broader situation be changed to avoid future situations like Edmund’s? Glaser at VICC admits he doesn’t have a definitive answer. He notes that the current program won’t be allowed to continue forever, but he isn’t sure what will replace it, or who will draw up the rules.”

He notes that the current program won’t be allowed to continue forever, but he isn’t sure what will replace it, or who will draw up the rules.

A charter school may not charge tuition — Missouri state law

“Would it be something that all the districts in the St. Louis metropolitan area could voluntarily agree to, with the approval of local boards of education?” he asked. “Would it take a federal court order? A legislative decision? I’m really not sure.”

….But, he noted, as schools move away from the traditional enrollment pattern of attending class where you live, and with a general orientation toward greater cooperation among St. Louis area government agencies, school districts could easily be included in whatever evolves. LINK TO THIS ARTICLE HERE.

 

Recreational Weed Legal As of Today in Oregon!

Victory for Oregon! It’s the third state to legalize marijuana for recreational use. Now we just need for the rest of the state governments to wake up…. Either way, congratulations to the residents of Oregon!

Repost and link below:Marijuana dispensaries in Oregon can start selling recreational pot starting today.

Oregon’s legal market for recreational marijuana kicks off Thursday, less than a year after the state’s voters passed a bill allowing Oregon to join the two states where recreational pot sales are already legal: Colorado and Washington. While Alaska and Washington, D.C., voters passed similar bills to legalize recreational pot, Oregon now becomes just the third state to actually establish a system for legal sales. (Alaskan officials are still working out the details of a regulated recreational marijuana market, while D.C.’s laws only legalized the possession of recreational pot, not sales.)

To read more Click Here