Neighbors

Healdsburg has a long history of volunteerism, with so many generous and talented people devoted to a myriad of vital causes. Most recently our depleted and pricey housing situation has emerged as top priority. And at the apex we have the homeless – many more than we’ll ever see or imagine – right in the midst of our bountiful affluence.
Harvey Brody came to Healdsburg during its “clay renaissance” in 1972, is a former college English instructor and an artist who formulated clay and glazes for Robert Brent, wrote a book and became a painter and mixed-media artist.
In June 2015 Harvey (then educational director for Healdsburg Center for the Arts) met Colleen Householder, executive director for North Sonoma County Services (NSCS), a homeless service nonprofit located at St. Paul’s. Colleen wanted to display at HCA art done by third graders from The Healdsburg School – the subject was homelessness.
“At the time, homelessness wasn’t a forefront issue for me,” Harvey says. “But I saw the work and it made a huge emotional impact. Colleen and I decided to go into the schools to educate both children and teachers.”
Deborah (Hall), a local educator, was also moved by the art. One painting by a third grader, for example, was a composite Healdsburg street with a girl trying to make eye contact with a homeless man while being pulled away by her mother.
“I made connections with several schools, talked with administrators and teachers to outline the project, connecting them to Colleen and Harvey,” Deborah tells me.
“Our idea was using art for social transformation,” Harvey adds. “The Healdsburg School, West Side School, Healdsburg Charter School, Healdsburg High School, Marce Becerra Academy and Alexander Valley Elementary became involved. A student named Marcus Cano from John Chevalier’s digital video program at HHS is putting together a documentary on the process. Other educators involved are Jamie Trinidad, Susie Dalton, Benjamin Tan, Lisa Phipps, Linus Lancaster, Shannon Hausman, Thomas Warf and Sarah Teasley.”
Rick Cafferata, an NSCS volunteer, also went with Harvey and Colleen into the schools. Having first hand experience with the homeless situation in town, Rick has become a guide into local encampments and can speak emotionally to the children.
“We were providing a vehicle for kids to deal with heavy stuff,” Harvey says. “So I thought, ‘why don’t we provide that same opportunity to the homeless?’ We contacted Rebecca Forth and John Haupt at the library and set up five sessions with 10 to 12 homeless people doing very moving art – some in tears because they were acknowledged. I coined the phrase ‘With No Place to Call Home,’ and it’s almost a misnomer. Some of the homeless spend days and weeks fixing their encampments. They are very resourceful.”
Deborah, a Healdsburg resident for 10 years, knew many of the kids through her work as principal at both Healdsburg Junior High and Marce Becerra (the HHS continuation school). She had worked personally with students who struggle academically because they literally have no place to call home.
“I’m interested in bringing attention and support to this issue,” she says. “These children are not at fault. They and their families are most often victims of the economy. As part of our community and future (they will be running our world in a few short years) it is pretty important that they have every opportunity to be successful in school.
 “The homeless often hide and don’t want to be found. The last census counted 140-150 homeless in Healdsburg and over 35 percent of those in the county are youth under age 21, many Hispanic. And there are many more out there.”
 “I’ve never worked in a town that was so supportive of its schools,” Deborah continues. “This community steps up when they know where the need is.”
The project has developed into a combined exhibit of the artwork of the homeless and the students of six Healdsburg schools. The exhibit’s goal is to give voice to the homeless, to transform public perceptions and inspire compassionate action. Harvey, Deborah and so many others involved see this exhibit as a first step.
“With No Place To Call Home: Perspectives on Homelessness” runs from May 14 – 26, at the Paul Mahder Gallery, 222 Healdsburg Avenue with a reception on May 14, from 4 – 7:30 p.m. HHS student Marcus Cano’s documentary will be screened May 20 and 21, at 7:30 p.m., through Healdsburg Flix Mix at Paul Mahder Gallery. Free admission.
The exhibit is dedicated to the memory of Patricia Gilson, a homeless woman who died alone in a Healdsburg public restroom.
I want to add a personal acknowledgement to Gina Riner for involving me in this project.
Shonnie Brown is a local author and memoirist who is interested in fostering connections between people and their community. Shonnie writes personal and family histories through her business, Sonoma LifeStories, and is also a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She can be reached by email at sh*****@so***.net or on the web at www.sonoma
lifestories.com.