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Join Align MPLS for "Standards for Homeless Shelters: The Path to Legislation"
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Dear friends,
As the weather gets colder we continue to be aware of what our participants experience, especially as more are turning to homeless shelters for warmth. We invite you to join our friends at Align MPLS for an important webinar on Monday, Feb. 22, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. to learn more about what our participants and others experience in the shelter system, and how to improve conditions in the shelters. This webinar, titled "Standards for Homeless Shelters: The Path to Legislation" will mark the launch of Align MPLS' new campaign requiring the implementation of enforceable minimum standards of care for shelter residents across MN.
Four years ago, Align MPLS facilitated the development of Street Voices of Change - a supportive and self-empowering advocacy community for persons experiencing homelessness. Within two years, Street Voices of Change responded to the distressing tales of woe being told by their members about unjust experiences in the city's shelter system, and they developed the Shelter Resident's Bill of Rights. The Bill purports that people in shelters should have a safe, respectful, and dignified experience while staying at shelter. Join Align MPLS on Monday, Feb. 22, to explore the situations that caused Street Voices of Change to create the Shelter Residents Bill of Rights, and support Align MPLS' new campaign To register for this important webinar, please visit
https://bit.ly/2MkYcmV.
In solidarity,
Mary Martin
Director, The Dignity Center |
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Sherry Shannon, Alumna of The Dignity Center, Reflects on Black History Month
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We recently got a chance to speak with
Sherry Shannon, an alumna of The Dignity Center and leader with Envision Community and Street Voices of Change, about the significance of Black History Month. Sherry emphasized that Black History Month is important to her community because "It gives us something to celebrate." She added that her life has been complicated lately because of "everything that has been going on with racism and discrimination, and things like that, and still trying to stay above water even with the virus." When asked about the connection between Black History Month and The Dignity Center, Sherry said that the staff and volunteers at The Dignity Center "don't discriminate, they treat you with respect, they make you feel welcome, they help us when we need the help, and when we're in pain they're there to support us." Sherry is pictured here receiving the Dorothy Richardson Award for Resident Leadership from NeighborWorks America in Chicago in 2019. The award is bestowed "in recognition of outstanding contributions by dedicated community leaders." Sherry is a well deserving recipient of the Dorothy Richardson Award and has been a blessing to all of us at The Dignity Center! We are so grateful for the leadership, wisdom, and enthusiasm that Sherry brings to The Dignity Center, during Black History Month and every month.
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The Dignity Center is a Ministry of
Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church
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HOURS & LOCATION
The Dignity Center is located at 425 Groveland Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55403 | 612-435-1315
Visit us Monday, Wednesday, Friday | 9am to noon
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