We’re excited about GTT’s homeless action committee, which is comprised of both folks with homes and folks without, and our common thread is a passion for dignity and improved conditions for those who have inadequate shelter in our city.  We’ve been discussing a strategic plan of action and hope you’ll join! 
 
Our next committee meeting is Thursday, June 25th at 6 pm at Coughlin Stoia, 655 W. Broadway, Suite 1900.  Come to the 19th Floor and ask for Rachel.  If you need directions or more info, let us know by replying to this email.  Please RSVP so we know how much pizza and drinks to bring.
 
Here is a summary of what we’re working on -
(1)   City-wide survey of the homeless community:
Wendell has been working tirelessly to survey the homeless community with questions initially drafted by vets at the tent regarding access to basic services and the quality of those services.  Maggie Gurman and Professor Reid of UCSD have taken on the project to ensure it’s statistically reliable and usable.  We think this is a key piece for research, advocacy, and organizing as we move forward together, particularly for a “basic needs” or human rights campaign in San Diego.
 
(2)   Homeless bill of rights and police harassment of the homeless community:
Claudia is heading up a project to help educate people on the streets of their rights and to guard against abuses and harassment by the police.  We met with Steve Binder, who heads defense at homeless court, and he is pumped about it.  He is helping us identify top citations and legal issues so that we can help spread the word on “dos and don’ts” for the homeless community to avoid trouble with the police, and to educate the police about the rights of the community.
 
(3)   Meetings with city council and other local decision makers:
Claudia, Erubey, Noor, and Jen went to city council to discuss the need for a permanent shelter and restrooms.  Since then, the city has issued a RFP for a shelter, and City Councilmember Kevin Faulconer has partially funded port-o-potties.  We have also met with Donna Frye’s office.  We still need to meet with Amy Benjamin and Brian Maienschein. 
 
(4)   Ongoing street outreach providing much needed supplies:
In the past years, GTT has distributed tents, umbrellas for peace, clothing, and food, mostly during winter.  Era would like to continue outreach on a monthly basis which we would need help from others to pull off.
 
(5)   An alliance with Third Avenue Charitable Organization (“TACO”):
TACO has convened a homeless group that meets on Mondays at 2:30 pm and Fridays at 10 am at the Lutheran Church on 3rd Ave and Ash.  We have met with them several times and are talking about how the two groups can work together.
 
(6)   Homeless Art Project:
Noor is making progress with this project as she has been meeting with homeless artists who are collaborating to set up a public art exhibit to display in San Diego, and who hope to find artists’ spac.
 
(7)   Research on Stimulus Moneys:
We have been researching the moneys coming in from the federal government.  It is primarily for homeless prevention, but there is some money for services.  Please let us know if you can help with this research.

We are meeting to discuss next steps to ensure that women are safe from the serial rapist who has been targeting Asian women here.  We will also plan GTT Club Vagabond – our first ever capital campaign fundraiser to hire a staff person!  We are gearing up to throw the party-of-the-year this fall to build capacity in a sustainable way. Farzeen is hosting our meeting.  Please bring something to eat or drink to share.  For more info, email us at girlsthinktank@gmail.com.
 

For their week of service, students at the Art Institute of San Diego are creating “umbrellas for peace” in conjunction with the Lamb Umbrellas for Peace project, which GTT will distribute to our city’s homeless, along with GTT’s first-ever dignity tents, on Saturday, April 25th at 11:30 am @ Neil Good Day Center (299 17th St between Imperial Ave & K St).  Come on out!

Even if you can’t make it, consider donating that used tent sitting in your basement or closet. It will protect homeless families turned out on the streets by the closing of the winter shelter from the elements and overexposure this summer.

Amylu and her daughter Rosalie at GTT assembly of Winter Survival Packs

Amylu and her daughter Rosalie at GTT assembly of Winter Survival Packs

One of the missions of GTT is to empower each other in advocating for the greater good.  Amylu Weas, our treasured co-founder, board member, and picnic-planner extraordinaire, recently stepped down from her position to finish her college degree.  We will greatly miss her but are ecstatic that she is doing good for herself as she does good for so many others.  Here’s what she wrote about her time with GTT:

Jump in, the Water’s Warm.  While you were swimming, you will have found you’ve grown!

My journey with GTT, being at it’s foundation.  It was literally at the corner of the Kava Lounge’s building foundation (corner of Kettner St. and under the dim glow of a street lamp).  This is where, after months of brainstorming, gathering, and word of mouth that found our group in a meeting to agree to sign and file the papers that would make us a certified 501(c)(3).  We chose our board member positions and next we knew we entered into our event being held on November 3, 2006, at The Kava Lounge to raise awareness: “Honing in on homelessness.”  This is event began our signature project come to be known now as Winter Survival Packs.

Now, two years flew by very quickly for me as a working Mom dedicated to family but looking to do the small part that I can do to help my community in a cause that is important to me.  I wore many hats as we switched roles and tasks from Treasurer to Secretary to others to fill the needs of our organization and the projects we loved and developed during that time.  Rachel Jensen and I appeared on San Diego Living to talk about something new to Winter Packs – in 2008, we added Baby Bags.  What we found is there are a lot of families in San Diego who want to help other families and are willing to provide many donations for GTT to deliver to the needy.

In my two plus years of action at GTT what I found was that it doesn’t take turning your life upside down to be effective and make good things happen, but it does take work.  In learning to advocate with my group and being active in San Diego’s community-working-for-greater-good, there was one voice that came back to me and asked 2 questions of myself.  If two years can go by that fast working for a good cause for others, what could I do to work for my own advocacy?  And how can I personally advocate within myself?  My answers have been inside me all along but the GTT experience boosted my confidence and gave me courage to answer … get that degree in College! 

The opportunity to be challenged, get involved and have fun is what Girls Think Tank is all about.  I served it and it served me back.  All the while helping administer kindness, helping hands and loving hearts to the folks you meet along with way – be it creating of social awareness to problems in the community, to social events, to the untapped needs of our poor and socially marginalized, there is a lot to be gained in working with Girls Think Tank for one and for all.

GTT is currently seeking new board members!  Please email us at girlsthinktank@gmail.com to become more involved.

3/20/09 MEDIA ALERT!

San Diego — Girls Think Tank (“GTT”), a local homeless advocacy group, supports the decision of the San Diego Police Department (“SDPD”) to investigate the use of force by a police officer on 72-year old homeless advocate David Ross (also known as the “Waterman”) and members of the homeless community on Sunday, March 15, 2009.  GTT urges the SDPD to hold the officer fully accountable for his actions.  GTT also urges the city attorney’s office to drop charges against Marvin Britton, an innocent bystander who was attacked by the officer then apprehended on trumped-up charges.

Mr. Ross was on 17th Street outside the Neil Good Day Center – a day center for the homeless – handing out water to San Diego’s homeless community when, according to eye witnesses, a patrol car pulled up and one of the officers told the group gathered around Mr. Ross’ car to disperse.  Mr. Ross explained that he was distributing much-needed water to the homeless, but the officer became extremely agitated and ordered everyone to leave.  According to many eye witnesses, the officer grabbed a homeless man, Myron Hill, and threw him up against a brick wall.  When Mr. Ross came to Mr. Hill’s rescue, the officer rushed back to Mr. Ross’ car and flung the 72-year old onto the ground, kicking him several times.  Another homeless man, Marvin Britton, came to David Ross’ rescue, and the officer pulled out his taser gun and threatened to shoot Mr. Britton.  As a result of the officer’s attack, David Ross had to be hospitalized for a concussion and torn rotator cuff.  Mr. Britton was apprehended for two misdemeanor crimes — resisting a peace officer and battery, but later released.  Mr. Hill was issued a citation for “impeding traffic.” 

Well-known by San Diego’s homeless population, Mr. Ross is famous for identifying the “water crisis” in downtown San Diego.  He discovered that San Diego suffered from a lack of publicly-available drinking water in its downtown area and, as a result, homeless men and women die from dehydration on our city streets.  Supported by individual donors and organizations like the Isaiah Project and GTT, Mr. Ross passes out bottles of water to the homeless for hours each day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.  Mr. Ross has tirelessly advocated for public drinking fountains, public bathrooms, and other resources to meet the basic human needs of all people in San Diego.

GTT applauds the release of Mr. Marvin Britton, who was apprehended at the scene and charged with two misdemeanor crimes.  “GTT urges City Attorney Jan Goldsmith to drop the charges,” stated Jennifer Lai, a GTT Board Member.”  “We are optimistic that the city attorney will decide to do the right thing in this case.”

GTT also applauds the SDPD for launching an internal investigation into the incident and urges SDPD to hold the officer fully accountable for his misconduct.  “The SDPD should not let one bad apple rot its relationship with the community.  They must send clear instructions to law enforcement officers that unnecessary force and harassment of our city’s poor and homeless population will not be tolerated,” said Rachel Jensen, the President of GTT.  “It is unacceptable that a law enforcement officer who is tasked with the protection of our city and its citizens would abuse his power in this way.” 

GTT welcomes the opportunity to meet with the SDPD and collaborate with the police on the humane treatment of San Diego’s poor and homeless community.  Together, we can ensure that the rights of all of our citizens are respected in San Diego.

For press coverage of this story, click on this link for Channel 10 Coverage of GTT Conference Call.

GTT is very concerned about the serial rapist who is targeting Asian-American women in their own garages. This is a hate crime that must be addressed by our community. We urge people to be on the look out and for our Asian sisters to take all appropriate safeguards.

Pattern of assaults prompts warning to women

Robberies, sex attacks have targeted Asians

By Kristina Davis (Contact) Union-Tribune Staff Writer

SAN DIEGO — Police are asking San Diego women to remain vigilant as investigators hunt for a man believed to be responsible for a string of violent home-invasion robberies and sexual assaults against Asian women.

Authorities said yesterday they have tentatively linked the assailant to at least five attacks over the past nine months, including the recent robberies in Carmel Valley.

In all five cases, the attacker has targeted Asian women as they arrived home, threatened them with a knife and demanded money, said San Diego police Capt. Jim Collins. Two of the victims were raped, one was groped and one was threatened with rape.

All the attacks occurred between noon and 5 p.m.

“There are a lot of similarities. When we see a pattern like this, we feel the need to warn the public,” Collins said.

The two rapes occurred June 6 in the College Area on Montezuma Road and Nov. 7 at the Mesa graduate student housing complex at the University of California San Diego.

Both victims had just arrived home and left the front door unlocked.

The third attack occurred Jan. 16 on Camino Playa de Oro in Tierrasanta, where a woman was knocked down in her garage as she arrived home.

The two most recent cases occurred in Carmel Valley, on Feb. 10 on Whispering Hills Lane and on March 4 on Carmel View Road. In both instances, a man followed the victims into their garages. He threatened to rape one woman and groped the other.

The description, while vague, is similar in all the attacks: a white or Latino male in his 20s or 30s, 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 9 inches tall, of thin to medium build.

The victim in the UCSD incident is the only one who has been able to provide a detailed description for a sketch.

Residents are encouraged to keep all doors locked when at home and to be aware of their surroundings when returning home.

Authorities suggest that if a suspicious person is spotted near your home, drive around the block first to see if the person is gone. If not, call police and keep a safe distance.

Anyone with information on the attacks is asked to call San Diego police at (619) 531-2299. Anonymous tips can also be left with Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

Art by the Homeless is Beautiful

Art by the Homeless is Beautiful

Our last scheduled distribution of winter survival packs is this Saturday, January 31, 2009.  We will meet at the lobby of 655 W. Broadway at 11:30 a.m., then carpool to the Neil Good Day Center at 299 17th Street, to launch our homeless art project and distribute backpacks and warm clothes in the neighborhood.  This is a great opportunity for families and kids to participate in a public service.  
 
Calling for Magazines and Art Supplies
 
GTT’s Noor Kazmi is heading up our homeless art project to foster the visual art, creative writing, stories, and photographs of San Diego’s homeless community.  We hope not only to humanize the plight and experiences of the homeless, but also to showcase talent and create an income stream for the artists by putting on a public art show here in the city.
 
Do you have magazines, books, journals, sketchpads, notebooks, disposable cameras, pencils, pens, or other art supplies lying around?  Donate them to GTT!  We will put them to good use, starting with our project launch on January 31st. 

Or are you an artist, gallery owner, or an art connoisseur who could help get this valuable project off the ground?  Email us to get involved in this fabulous project to Noor’s attention at girlsthinktank@gmail.org.

Brilliant photography donated by Aron Thompson

Brilliant photography donated by Aron Thompson

The reverberations of the economic crisis are being felt here in San Diego where there are more than 7,500 people on the downtown streets any given night.  This winter, we have been shocked by the growing number of tents, families in cars, young couples, and pregnant women on the streets.  The new wave of homeless are every-day working families who have lost jobs, lost homes or rental units to foreclosure, and are struggling to get off the streets. 
 
We are working with the homeless community to document what is going on.  Thanks to you, we have been recording the stories of the homeless through video and photography.  We are also meeting with homeless vets in the VVSD seasonal shelter to create a survey and compile a list of needs in San Diego.   Are you a statistician, a photographer, videographer, editor, or just someone who would like to help out on documenting what is happening on the streets of San Diego?  Please email Rachel at girlsthinktank@gmail.com.   

GTT’s first trip out on the streets this winter was in December at the downtown shelter run by Alpha Project.  We thought we knew what to expect based on our prior experiences of the past two winters, but what we encountered was more troubling than what we have seen before. We had come to know the kindly wrinkled vets in their worn fatigues that smell of stale cigarettes. We had come to know the ageless leather-skinned women who could talk your ear off for hours. We had come to know the alcoholics, the parolees, the sick, the runaways, and the hobos. There are always those who have just hit a rough patch or are down on their luck. But, it was a whole new wave of homeless that shocked us last week.

This new wave of homeless includes families and youth and single men who have been laid off from their jobs, had their hours cut back, and/or lost their homes due to foreclosure. Near the downtown winter shelter, families have set up tents and other temporary structures, people are living out of their cars, and reportedly some 200 or more people now live under bridges. All the shelters are filled to capacity and according to “waterman” David Ross, 50 or more people can’t get into the downtown winter shelter any given night and the number of homeless downtown has quadrupled. This is consistent with a report from a Bay Area shelter network who told us their numbers have increased by three times this winter. Here are the highlights from just a few of the stories we heard:

We spoke with Melvin who is in his late 40s and was laid off from his job as a trucker in October. Melvin told us this is the first time ever that he has been homeless. The company fired him and about 20 others out of a workforce of 200. He lost his apartment and his car within a month of his firing. Melvin has seen several of his former coworkers living in tents or sleeping on the streets. After his lay off, he began looking for work feverishly. He offered to show us his email account which contains numerous emails to temp agencies and contract employers across San Diego. At some point, he managed to land a temporary job unloading trucks at a hotel downtown, but the job lasted less than a week. The hotel started firing all its new hires after losing several large conference contracts due to a boycott. Melvin finally found permanent work last week. On Monday, he started work at a food processing plant for $8.75 an hour. It will be some time before he can rent a place. He heard a story about a man who went through a foreclosure, then got laid off, and drove to a rural area outside of San Diego and shot himself in the head. Melvin thinks more and more of this will be happening. People are suffering and people are desperate out here. He hasn’t ever seen it this bad.

We talked with Dave, an attractive guy in his 30s who has lived around the world, speaks three languages, and found himself on the streets for the first time. He was embarrassed to take a GTT winter survival backpack, insisting he was fine even as he shivered in the cold night. He has held a steady job at a local shoe store, but his employer cut back on his hours because business is down. After his hours were cut, he couldn’t make rent or find an apartment that he could afford. Being new to San Diego and without family here, he decided to brave the streets long enough to save up for a plane ticket out of here to Canada where he knows people and hopes to find work.

At the vet shelter later in December, we met 150 vets with Grace’s delicious homemade cookies thanking each for his service to our country.  We met Jason who worked for a prominent law firm in town for 12 years before being laid off; he asked if any of our firms would hire him for clerical work, explaining “it’s been a long time since I have felt useful.”  We also met John, a 42-year old veteran who is clean and sober and has a degree from SDSU. He vented about how difficult it is to get a job without a phone number, mailing address, transportation, storage, and clean clothes.  GTT member Jonathan came up with some ideas that could help, such as a “bank” of prepaid cell phones and mailing addresses for folks to receive mail.
 
At our downtown shelter distribution last week, 50 or more people lined up outside but could not get in because the shelter was full.  We met Terry, a former counselor at Salvation Army, who had a fall on the job and sustained injuries that prevented her from doing her job.  She went on SSI, then succumbed to substance abuse and ended up on the streets.  Today, she is sober and aspiring to go to City College to finish a counseling program so she can assist others who are in her situation.  As we were talking, she offered her assistance to a young military couple who were pregnant and struggling to get basic documents for collecting his military benefits.  We also met Rita, or “Mama Rita”, who though she sleeps in a tent downtown, is known as Mama because she is always taking care of others, offering what little she has, be it water, toilet paper, or advice. 
 
After the distribution, we drove around to survey the number of people on the streets.  Down by an overpass, a few of us met Richard, 32-years old, who had lost his start-up marketing company, and everything he had, due to a bad business decision.  He was well-read and quoted Voltaire as we discussed life’s ups and downs.  He stayed in San Diego to resurrect his business here – he has done it once, he wants to do it again.  Richard, like others we meet, is full of hope and determination that he can get back on his feet and have stable shelter again. 
 
Come out and join us as we continue to meet and brainstorm with folks who are struggling to get folks off the streets and back into sustainable living conditions, and endeavor to document what is happening on the streets of San Diego.

• Wednesday, Dec. 10th @ 6 pm  Distribution of packs and baby bags at downtown winter shelter.
• Thursday, Dec. 18th @ 6 pm     Distribution of packs and baby bags at veterans’ winter shelter.  
• Wednesday, Jan. 7th @ 6 pm     Assembly of 2nd phase packs and baby bags at Coughlin Stoia, 
                                                             655 W.  Broadway, Suite 1900.
• Thursday, Jan. 15th @ 6 pm      Distribution of packs and baby bags at downtown winter shelter.
• Saturday, Jan. 31st @ 1 pm       Distribution of packs and baby bags at Neil Good Day Center.

Also let us know if you can donate hot food for any of the distributions.  Last year, homemade cookies brought BIG smiles to the faces of homeless vets.