Project Kengikat

CHANGE

// February 15th, 2010 // Uncategorized

I had this desire to take control of my week after some set backs earlier in the week, so I did just that. I took time out for me and then I ended my weekend trying to help homeless people and in doing so I was able to rack up over 20 miles in walking. How cool is that?

Thursday, Friday and even Saturday were huge walking days for me. Even though I did a great job at letting go of some things I still had this desire to walk, I don’t know what it was, but I didn’t try to fight it or cover it up with anything else. For my health this was great and for the people I helped along the way it was even better. Yes, I used my walks to reach out to homeless people.

Thanks to a donation from a new supporter I was able to purchase more items for Do Something Kits and while I did all this walking I was also able to reach out and help homeless people along the way. Plus on all these walks was my new best friend, Dodger.

After getting home on Saturday night, taking a shower and a much needed nap, I met a friend for drinks and a night out. WOW, was it nice to get out, that was something I have not done in a while that did not involve helping people. It really felt great and when I got back home I talked on the phone to someone who once again is becoming the special person in my life. We talked for hours and then I think I fell asleep…..well I know I fell asleep.

Sunday Dodger and I slept late and then went out for our walk. It was another awesome day and I was so lookingforward to the Sunday Dinner I had planned for homeless people and this outreach was possible because of a donation from another new supporter I was able to do another Sunday Dinner. In fact, thanks to this person meal was the second of three meals I have been able to provide.

Before Dodger and I took off for our walk I put two whole chickens in the oven to roast and I had already started and finished all the prep work for the meal of roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables and cornbread dressing. The entire time I was thinking where I would go to pass them out, as well as thinking I could also pass out some Do Something Kits with the meal.

After Dodger did his business I decided not to go back home right away, the chickens still had plenty of time on them, so I had some time to kill, so we walked east on Sunset to Vine and right as we reached the bus stop right before the corner I saw someone I had no seen in a while. It was Darnell from Chess Park in Santa Monica. For those of you who dont know, Chess Park is a place where I do my homeless outreach in Santa Monica….well one of them anyway. Chess Park is this cool place where people can play chess right on the beach, however this is also a place where many of people playing chess are homeless people. Moreover they are also teaching everyday people how to play chess as well.

The group of homeless men and a few woman that I have been able to help there for the about a year are people that I have come to really care for and even admire. They are people that make me smile and cheer me up and in one case they happen to me the very person who taught me how to remain warm on one of the coldest nights in February of 2007. He also made sure I had things to eat and even a sleeping bag, so in many way the people who I try so hard to serve down at Chess Park are like family to me.

“Darnell?”

“Kengi!!!….It is so good to see you man.”

He reach out to hug me and as he did he asked how I was doing and even asked about my health. I told him I was doing well and now living in Hollywood. I asked how the guys were and he told me everyone was fine and had been asking about me. I told him I was sorry that I had not been by to see them, but he was very understanding. I told him I would try to come by in a few weeks to see them and hang out. To be very honest I have really missed the guys down in Chess Park and how they always seem to just take things in such great stride despite the fact that they are all homeless. Furthermore I miss them and I do really want to see them. My plan was to go next weekend to do an outreach to them, but not having a car will prevent that from taking place, so I will need to plan out the outreach to make sure I have transportation to get there. In addition I really want to take Dodger with me.

After speaking with Darnell I turned the corner walking up Vine and after taking like 10 steps I heard my name and I saw someone from my outreach down on Skid Row. It was great seeing him as well and a few weeks ago I had the chance to speak with him with regards to some issues he is having with being on HIV meds and the lack of care and respect he feels he is not getting from his current medical facility. It is always so funny to me how the CDC has released this report on how HIV and AIDS affects Blacks and how we seem to be so damn ignorant and so filled with stigma that this is the cause and not the fact that many times access to care plays much higher roles then stigma and education.

Walking away from speaking with this young man and thinking of the conversation I had with Darnell I had this smile in my heart because I really to hear a word from the people I help that what I do really does matter to them. Dont get me wrong, I dont do what I do for praise or to feel good about myself, but it is nice to know that the efforts I make to help really mean something to the people I encounter. I guess you can say for me it is my way of making sure I am never anything close to the lousy agencies that are already in place to help homeless people and people living with HIV and AIDS. I always want to make sure that what I do really does matter and help the people I serve.

Once home I got right down to work and while I was out walking I made the decision that I would feed homeless people that gather in the park right after the food on foot outreaches. As I mentioned in my video about the food on foot outreaches that many times there is trash and clothes left in the park as well as on the sidewalks for the residents in this area to clean up, so I thought this would be an awesome way for me to meet the homeless people and ask them to make sure the “leave no trace” It must have paid off because after they left there was nothing for anyone to clean up.

The meal was a hit and so were the Do Something Kits I was able to pass out. I met some awesome people and was able to give away two brand new sleeping bags. I made a video of both the cooking and the outreach that are on my youtube channels right now.

As I type this Dodger is right next to me sleeping, every now and then he kicks or bumps into me to try to get me to pet him. Normally when I sit down he jumps into my lap, but I think he knows what is in my lap right now is sort of important and he should wait until I am all done.

As I complete this blog entry I know when I am done Dodger and I will go out for a last walk of the day, or the first of the day since it is 2:05AM, however you want to look at it, we will come back home and I will take some time to prepare myself for tomorrow and then off to bed…..oh yeah I will also reply to some comments and emails.

At the end of each day, we can either be part of the solution and work toward the CHANGE that most of this country voted for or we can sit back and be part of the problem that seems to be so hell bent of watching this amazing country fall apart at the seems. As for me I am going to do all I can to BE THE CHANGE, FOSTER THE CHANGE and LIVE the DREAM of Dr. King.