Inspiration and Struggle

In the 1980’s homelessness was “the issue”. In recent years homelessness has faded from the national dialogue (however, the issue of homelessness was again in the spotlight briefly this past Fall and Winter when the national press picked up stories about of the rise of homelessness among Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans). And, while the national dialogue is no longer focused on homelessness, the number of homeless and hungry Americans has increased dramatically since the 1980’s. Homelessness, while often highly visible on our Philadelphia streets, is an often invisible issue in our public schools. Recent articles about Nicholas Shanks, the homeless valedictorian of Martin Luther King High School in Northwest Philadelphia, have brought to light the staggering number of documented homeless students in Philadelphia -6,000. However, the real number is likely higher; students often keep their homelessness a secret from their peers, teachers and school officials for fear of stigmatization.

Nicholas’ story inspired many of us in the Philadelphia community. It reminded us of the resiliency of the human spirit and the deep wellspring of strength that many of us possess when faced with adversity. Nicholas’ experience is a universal human tale; a story about overcoming the conditions of your birth to succeed. And while this story is resonant with many of us, I also believe his story is a call to action. What can we do as a society to support all of our young people so that more students can overcome the challenges presented to them? How can we eliminate the barriers and obstacles to success for all children? Nicholas’ story inspires us but also asks us to do more for the children and youth in America struggling to realize their dreams.