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For Immediate Release
December, 21 2009, 10:25am EDT
Contact:
Neil Donovan, Executive Director
202-462-4822 x228
ndonovan@nationalhomeless.org
20th Annual National Homeless Person's Memorial - Washington DC: Commemorating the Lives of Those Who have Died While Homeless
December 21st is the first
day of winter marking the year's shortest day and longest night. For the past
twenty years, people have gathered in the dark outside, this year after a record breaking snowfall attendees
will gather at Union Station at 6:00pm in the nation's capitol. On this solemn
day, to commemorate the lives of our bothers and sisters who have died, across
the nation, while homeless.
National Homeless Persons' Memorial
is sponsored by: National Coalition for the Homeless,
WASHINGTON
December 21st is the first
day of winter marking the year's shortest day and longest night. For the past
twenty years, people have gathered in the dark outside, this year after a record breaking snowfall attendees
will gather at Union Station at 6:00pm in the nation's capitol. On this solemn
day, to commemorate the lives of our bothers and sisters who have died, across
the nation, while homeless.
National Homeless Persons' Memorial
is sponsored by: National Coalition for the Homeless,
National Health Care for the
Homeless Coalition & National Consumer Advisory Board.
This memorial seeks national
attention to the sad and tragic loss of life, bringing special attention to the
thousands of lives lost this year of those who died while homelessness.
Memorial sponsors encourage
communities across the country to act and organize themselves locally. The
National Homeless Person's Memorial will be joined by local commemorations in
43 states and commonwealths, as well as across Canada.
Your attendance & support is
greatly appreciated. For more
information please contact the National Coalition for the Homeless at (202)
462-4822 or www.nationalhomeless.org
Memorial Service
Speakers
Neil
Donovan, Executive Director, National Coalition for the Homeless
Fr. David Bava, Holy Redeemer Church, Washington, DC
Tom Goss, Singer/Songwriter
and Church of the
Epiphany Welcome Table Choir
Dr. Janelle Goetcheus, Medical
Director, Unity Health Care
Alan Banks, Homeless Speaker,
National Coalition for the Homeless
David Harris, "Mirror Poem"
David Pirtle, NCH Board
Member, Formerly Homeless
DC City Councilmember Tommy
Wells (Ward 6)
Bishop
Imagene B. Stewart
Mary Ann Luby, Washington
Legal Clinic for the Homeless
State Senator Alex X. Mooney
(Frederick/Washington Counties)
Rabbi Susan Shankman, Washington Hebrew
Congregation
continued below
List of Locations
Holding Local Memorial Events
In America (121 cities in 43 states and commonwealths) and Canada
Alaska:
Bethel
Arizona:
Tempe
Tucson
California:
Glendale
Modesto
San Francisco
Santa Cruz
Ventura
Colorado:
Boulder
Colorado Springs
Denver
Connecticut:
Fairfield
Green
Hartford
Meriden
Middletown
New Britain
Norwich
District of Columbia:
Washington,
DC
Florida:
Bradenton
Clearwater
Fort Myers
Hollywood
Jacksonville
Melbourne
Miami
Naples
Orlando
Pensacola
Pinellas Park
St. Petersburg
Santa Rosa
County
Tallahassee
Tampa
Tarpon Springs
Georgia:
Atlanta
Columbus
Savannah
Hawaii:
Honolulu
Idaho:
Coeur d'Alene
Illinois:
Chicago
Indiana:
Evansville
Jeffersonville
Kokomo
Indianapolis
Iowa:
Davenport
Des Moines
Kentucky:
Louisville
Louisiana:
New Orleans
Shreveport
Maine:
Lewiston
Portland
Maryland:
Baltimore
Bel Air
Massachusetts:
Boston
Hyannis
(mock homeless camp and candlelight memorial service)
Springfield
Michigan:
Detroit
Minnesota:
Minneapolis
Mississippi:
Jackson
Missouri:
St. Louis
Montana:
Billings
New Hampshire:
Concord
Keene
Laconia
Lebanon
Manchester
Nashua
New Jersey:
Camden
Cranford
Jersey City
(and 10 other counties in NJ are doing events according to its news release)
New Mexico:
Albuquerque
Las Cruces
New York:
Buffalo
New York City
Rochester
North Carolina:
Asheville
Durham
Charlotte
Greensboro
Ohio:
Akron
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Columbus
Dayton
Toledo
Oregon:
Albany
Pennsylvania:
Philadelphia
Wilkes-Barre
South Carolina:
Charleston
Myrtle Beach
Tennessee:
Chattanooga
Knoxville
Nashville
Texas:
Austin
Bryan
Caldwell
Houston
Lubbock
San Antonio
Utah:
Salt Lake City
Vermont:
Burlington
Virginia:
Charlottesville
Norfolk
Virginia Beach
Washington State:
Bremerton
Spokane
Yakima
Wisconsin:
Kenosha
LaCrosse
Wyoming:
Cheyenne
Canada:
Victoria,
BC
National Coalition for the Homeless is a national network of people who are currently experiencing or who have experienced homelessness, activists and advocates, community-based and faith-based service providers, and others committed to a single mission: To end and prevent homelessness while ensuring the immediate needs of those experiencing homelessness are met and their civil rights are respected and protected. We envision a world where everyone has a safe, decent, accessible and affordable home.
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