Homelessness Marathon--TONIGHT

Sorry for the late notice;  this is an inspiring annual radio event--well worth listening to (part of it, anyhow).

The  14th Annual Homelessness Marathon radio (and television) broadcast   will originate from Kansas City, Missouri this Wednesday, the 23rd,   starting at 7 p.m., Eastern time, and ending 14 hours later, at 9 a.m.,   Eastern time on Thursday.

For those unfamiliar with the broadcast, it is not a "radiothon,"   designed to raise money for charity.  It is a consciousness raising   broadcast with the aim of fostering a national dialog about the growing   poverty in our midst.  The most important thing we do is put homeless   people on the air directly, so America can learn who they are and hear   about the obstacles they face.  Each hour also has a topic.  Our   broadcast schedule may be found here:
http://news.homelessnessmarathon.org/2008/08/12th-annual-homelessness-marathon.html

There are going to be a couple of new wrinkles to this year's  broadcast.  First, the entire broadcast will be televised by Free Speech   Television, which has channel 9415 on the Dish Network and channel 348   on DirecTV.  FSTV's video will also appear on the web at http://www.freespeech.org and on the Marathon's own website at http://www.homelessnessmarathon.org.

Second, we have had better-than-usual support and cooperation in Kansas   City, both from our official sponsors (Hope faith Ministries, COPP  Inc.  and KKFI) as well as from private individuals.  We are told that  we  should expect a very large turnout of homeless people.  Corinna  West, a  former member of the U.S. Olympic Team, even bicycled around KC  telling  homeless people about the broadcast.  Her press release may be  found  here: http://corinnawest.com/homelessness-marathon-press-release/

Additionally, as the director of the Marathon, I addressed Kansas  City's  official Task Force on Homelessness and, upon request, I  prepared a  White paper, outlining my recommendations for the city.  Of  course, not  everyone will agree with my ideas, but I am hoping that my  proposals  will help to spark discussion. A copy of the White Paper will  be found  at:
http://news.homelessnessmarathon.org/2011/02/why-not-do-right-thing.html

To find out if a radio station in your area is carrying the broadcast
(check local listings for exact times of carriage) look here:
http://news.homelessnessmarathon.org/2008/09/where-to-listen.html

The simple fact is that America has made no significant progress in   solving its homelessness crisis.  After 30 years, we still have hundreds   of thousands of people on our streets.  Between the Great Recession  and  the looming budget cuts, we can only expect matters to get worse,  but  can we really afford to leave so many Americans in desperate   circumstances? At the Homelessness Marathon, we believe the answer is   no.  Whatever your opinion may be, we hope you will be listening.    Homelessness is a topic that should be discussed and debated, not swept   under the rug.

Sincerely,

Jeremy Weir Alderson
Director, Homelessness Marathon