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From the Streets Our holidays brim with excess. In our culture of gluttons, we sure know how to
party down. The fact that these celebrations fall at the end of the year,
gushing sentiments of “Peace on Earth” and “Goodwill to All” makes reflection
all the more loaded and poignant. How far have we come toward healing our
societal discomforts in these 12 months? How are we better humans?
Well, our elected representatives sure did something about that pesky welfare
state, now didn’t they? The past year, politically, leaves much room for finger
pointing and wagging. But what did each of us do as individuals?
Do you ever wonder why there’s more news about our homeless population during
this time of year? Is it a concerted media conspiracy designed to yank your
heartstrings when your pursestrings are likely to open wider than usual? Is it
a writer’s or reporter’s or editor’s guilt which places the story at the top of
the column?
There is a Community Meeting Thu, Nov 7, (tonight) 7pm at Highland Park
Baptist, 5206 Balcones. Karen Olson, founder of Interfaith Hospitality
Network, will invite Austin to do more for the homeless and will outline
the many opportunities to do so. Over 30 congregations participate in this
non-denominational effort to help. 448-2911 or 452-4663.
This weekend, Sat & Sun, Nov 9 & 10, noon-5pm, clients of
Helping Our Brothers Out (H.O.B.O.) will present a public showing of art
for sale at the H.O.B.O. Art Sale at H.O.B.O., Second & San Antonio.
Most of the approximately 800 pieces for sale are in the $10-25 range with
proceeds going to the artist. Last year, the event raised over $9,000 for the
artists. 306-9700. Homeful Results, a citizen lobby which focuses on issues relating to poverty
and hunger, presents the Austin Microcredit Forum, Sun, Nov 10, 2pm at
Parque Zaragosa Rec Center. Supporters promote microcredit as a “self-help”
credit program, geared toward women and designed to encourage self-reliance and
private enterprise. Representative Lloyd Doggett will join activists from
Accion, an international non-profit microcredit organization. mcoats@io.com Homeward Bound, Too The orientation sessions are free, but registration is required for
Homeward Bound, a program which offers assistance to folks
wanting to develop a realistic plan for becoming a homeowner. Presented by the
Central Texas Mutual Housing Authority, sessions are Thu, Nov 14, 6pm
and Sat, Nov 23, 10am at the Capital Plaza Bank One. For those who meet the
program guidelines, downpayment assistance is available. The six-part Homebuyer
Class series is $50 and begins in January. Interested participants must attend
one of the orientation sessions. 707-7553. Coming Home On Sun, Nov 17, 6:45am, they will gather on the south shore of Town Lake just
west of the South First Street bridge. In the streaming light of the new day,
they will honor those homeless people who have died on the streets of Austin.
The Memorial Service for the Homeless will convene at the Memorial
Marker for Homeless People erected by the activists at House the Homeless,
Inc., back in 1993. The marker is close to the Stevie Ray Vaughan statue.
Perhaps you’d care to join them? 476-4383. Back to the Nerd-en Oh, the stardust and golden, pocket-protector set will be half-a-million
strong at Nerdstock III, Wed, Nov 13 at La Zona Rosa. We’re not sure if
they’ll be offering a wallowing pond or encouraging nudity, but the annual
gathering of computer geeks… er… we mean professionals… has in the past
raised impressive chunks of dough for area charities. This year, the nerds will
gather to raise cash for a charity which hits close to the laptop, the
Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), the non-profit civil liberties
organization which fights to protect online freedom. 301-2400. n
Email: pnotice@auschron.com Mail to: “Public Notice,” The
Austin Chronicle, P0 Box 49066, Austin, TX 78765. Deadline: Wednesday, 6pm,
eight days prior to publication. Phone calls have a .001% chance of being
returned.
This article appears in November 8 • 1996 and November 8 • 1996 (Cover).