Start Loving

Please meet Start Loving. He stands outside the Capitol Building and quietly protests the war. Start Loving is so committed to peace that he gives every day to this effort. I was impressed with how strongly he feels about peace and by his willingness to act in peace to do something about his convictions.

He was written his name across his forehead, with a cross in between: START + LOVING. He seems like a kind and dedicated man, even if I don't share all of

his fears. I will think of him standing quietly on the sidewalk

with all the politicians, tourists and government employees

rushing by him, whenever I sit quietly and pray for peace.

In DC with John Barrow

While in DC attending a conference on homelessness, my fellow consumer advocates and I had a chance to sit down with our US Representative John Barrow and his Legislative Director, Christopher Schepis. We talked about reauthorizing the McKinney Vento act with the HEARTH bill currently before Congress, a bill that would expand the definition of homeless and make it possible for programs to help people sooner. We shared our stories and talked about our hopes that programs and funding for the homeless would be a priority in Congress. We thanked him for his support of the National Housing Trust Fund Act.

I was able to speak with the help of my DynaVox machine, and Mr. Barrow called my story a wonderful testimony. We invited him to tour Savannah's shelters alongside consumer advocates next time he was home.

Check back for more postings on our trip to DC and the people I met there.

Thanks to all who supported our trip!