The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for
the Homeless believes that education is key to ending
homelessness. Unfortunately, too many people still believe
the myths and stereotypes about homelessness, its causes,
and the people who experience it. These myths often
lead people to believe that homeless people are either
beyond help or undeserving of help, and that homelessness
is too large a problem to solve. Through our many educational
programs and materials, we work to eliminate these harmful
myths, and to replace them with understanding and compassion.
"This was a great start to
Shantytown. The presentation really got the
students involved."
-Mark Hoar, St. Xavier High School
"You were able to
touch the hearts of the students."
-Carol Gessing, St. Ursula
"The
speakers were able to put a face on the homeless and
brought the matter much closer to home."
-Joan Krueger, St. Ursula
"You
are two of my most interesting speakers·You engage the
students with activities and a well prepared
presentation."
-Christine Kroner, Mother of Mercy
"One
of the most effective ways to educate people, young and
old, about homelessness is by hearing the stories of
people who have experienced homelessness themselves."
-Steve Elliot, Mayerson Foundation
The “Voice of the Homeless” Speaker’s
Bureau is made up of homeless and formerly homeless
individuals who are available to share their experiences.
Our speakers are excited to present at any school, organization,
or event. Often, a Coalition staff member will accompany
the speaker. The staff member discusses factual information
on the homeless crisis in our community and beyond,
while the speaker’s story helps to personalize
the issue.
To set up a visit from our Speaker's Bureau, contact
the Education Coordinator at 513-421-7803 ext. 14.
We will provide transportation for the speaker, but
ask that groups provide a small stipend of $50, $35
of which will go to the speaker, with the rest
covering transportation costs. This stipend may be
slightly higher for organizations outside the I-275
loop or for organizations requesting presentations
longer than one hour.
Click
here and "save file as"
to download a copy of the Speaker’s Bureau Brochure
to your computer (134KB, pdf format)
SPEAKERS BIOS
 Mark
Teegarden
Mark was born in Dayton, Kentucky and attended
Cumberland College in Williamsburg, Kentucky. During
the 1980s he worked as a truck driver and then as
an antiques dealer in Lebanon, Ohio. In 1995, Mark
went to prison for one year, and was homeless upon
his release. Having nowhere to go, Mark lived on
the Covington riverbank for nearly three years.
In 1999, Mark made a decision to get treatment for
the addiction disorders he had been struggling with
all of his life. Since getting treatment, Mark has
maintained his sobriety, along with his own housing.
In recent years, Mark has worked closely with the
Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, and National
Coalitions for the Homeless, advocating for the
rights of homeless individuals in our area and across
the country. In 2002, he won the Jimmy Render Award,
an annual award given out in Cincinnati to a homeless
or formerly homeless individual who has given back
to help the homeless community. In 2003 he won the
Paul Hiller award, a similar award given out in
Northern Kentucky.
 Grady
Cook
Grady was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. He
attended Woodward High School as a youth. He is
now 42 years old. Grady experienced his first bout
of homelessness in 1992, which he credits to alcohol
and drug problems. He lived on and off the streets
for five years before he started selling Streetvibes.
In 2003, Grady’s father passed away, and his
daughter was diagnosed with a kidney disease. These
events led Grady to change his life around. He stopped
using drugs and alcohol, and has obtained his own
apartment. In 2003, Grady won the Streetvibes program’s
highest honor, the Ambassador Award, for his continued
involvement with the paper. Grady is proud to be
a possible kidney donor for his daughter.
 Donald Whitehead
Donald Whitehead spent five years between
various relatives and the streets of Cincinnati. Due
to the disease of addiction he found himself trapped
in the terrible realities of homelessness. After
completing a treatment program, Whitehead spent
several years as an outreach coordinator and
community advocate. Whitehead later served for two
years as the Executive Director of the Greater
Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and went on to
be Executive Director of the National Coalition for
the Homeless. Donald has been a featured guest on
CBS News, ABC News, FOX TV, CNN, MSNBC, CBS Radio,
NPR, and many local stations. Donald has testified
before congress on several occasions and in 2005,
Donald received a distinguished service award for
his work on homelessness from the Congressional
Black Caucus. Donald continues to do outreach on a
local and national level.
Donald
Whitehead with President Clinton
|
