Yvonne, an inmate at Cook County Jail, visits with her 7-month-old son, Nathan, on Monday in the jail's new Bright Space room. The visiting area offers a setting where mothers serving time for non-violent crimes can have hourlong, weekly "contact visits" with their children.(Tribune photo by José M. Osorio / May 12, 2008)
Okay, so I wasn't planning on re-emerging until July, but I received an email from Dan Zanes' PR people to promote a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new Bright Space, "warm, enriching places in homeless shelters and community agencies that give children and families in crisis a place to play, learn and have fun," at 10 am this coming Monday. Now I've heard Dan Zanes is a popular children's musician but I'm not familiar with his music, and so have no compelling need to give him more press. However, it did seem like a good opportunity to highlight the organization at which he'll be present, Providence House:
Emphasizing the dignity of every human person, Providence House affirms its commitment to provide shelter and support to homeless, abused and formerly incarcerated women and their children in a hospitable, non-violent, compassionate atmosphere. We also strive to address the causes of injustice and work towards the full and fruitful participation in the community of those with whom we share life.Having volunteered as a mentor through Art Start to a preteen girl living in a similar shelter in the East Village, I know just how vital organizations like this are. Partly due to that shelter, the young woman I mentored is now an honour roll student and she, her sister, and their previously incarcerated mother are living in their own apartment in Harlem, and their mother is working full-time for a phone company. The PR people were unclear as to whether Dan Zanes would be performing. I would hope so, as I don't know why anyone would make it over there just to watch him cut a ribbon. But more importantly, if you'd like to volunteer your time at Providence House, they could use your help (with anything from tutoring, child care to household repairs). They are located at: 703 Lexington Avenue (Between Malcolm X Blvd and Stuyvesant Ave.) Email: info@providencehouse.org and Phone: 718.455.0197.
