Defined By Labels.

Peace!...with 2 fingers;)

Homeless.

**Working within the wonderful world of psychiatry, I've come across literally hundreds of amazing people with awesome stories who happen to be homeless with no options may I add. This population usually stays under the radar & are considered the unforgotten. 

Here's a series of eye opening facts pertaining 2 the homeless & Another2fingers production of my own personal interpretation of this widespread problem. 

*Remember: The more you know, the more you grow...right?;)

Fact 1: Over half a million people are homeless. On any given night, there are over 600,000 homeless people in the U.S., according to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). 

Fact 2: One quarter of homeless people are children. HUD reports that on any given night, over 138,000 of the homeless in the U.S. are children under the age of 18. Thousands of these homeless children are unaccompanied, according to HUD. 

Fact 3: Tens of thousands of veterans are homeless. Over 57,000 veterans are homeless each night, according to HUD. Sixty percent of them are in shelters, the rest unsheltered. 

Fact 4: Domestic violence is a leading cause of homelessness among women. More than 90 percent of homeless women are victims of severe physical or sexual abuse, and escaping that abuse is a leading cause of their homelessness. 


Homeless. from The Weddington Adventures. on Vimeo.

Fact 5: Many people are homeless because they cannot afford rent. The lack of affordable housing is a primary cause of homelessness. HUD has seen its budget slashed by over 50 percent in recent decades, resulting in the loss of 10,000 units of subsidized low-income housing each and every year.

Fact 6: There are fewer places for poor people to rent than before.  One eighth of the nation’s supply of low-income housing has been permanently lost since 2001. The U.S. needs at least 7 million more affordable apartments for low-income families, and as a result, millions of families spend more than half of their monthly income on rent.

Fact 7: In the last few years millions have lost their homes. Over 5 million homes have been foreclosed on since 2008; that’s one out of every 10 homes with a mortgage. 

Fact 9: One in five homeless people suffers from untreated severe mental illness. While about 6 percent of the general population suffers from severe mental illness, 20 to 25 percent of the homeless suffer from severe mental illness, 

Fact 10: Cities are increasingly making homelessness a crime. 24 percent of Major cities make it a city-wide crime to beg in public, 33 percent make it illegal to stand around or loiter anyplace in the city, 18 percent make it a crime to sleep anywhere in public, 43 percent make it illegal to sleep in your car, and 53 percent make it illegal to sit or lie down in particular public places. And the number of cities criminalizing homelessness is steadily increasing. 

For more information, look to the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, whose publications were very helpful with this piece, as well as the National Center for Homeless Education and the National Coalition on the Homeless.

Nikon&2.

Peace!...with 2 fingers;)

Lyfe.

Peace!...with 2 fingers;)

DarkHorse.

Received a call from V-man about coming along 

for a quick trip up 2 the local guitar spot. 

As a lover of music & slapping the bass since 

13, I was totally down for the experience.

You can't deny a man his toys...

(Nope!)

Don't even try!;)

Darkhorse. from The Weddington Adventures. on Vimeo.

V-man seemed 2 have caught 
the music bug & was actually 
looking for something 2 start with.

I on the other hand headed over 2 the 
bass racks for some play time.

This is what you call Toys R Us for grown folk...

straight up!...

Everyone has that hidden desire 

2 be a Darkhorse of some sorts 

& we're no exception.

Can't blame us for being dreamers man.

That's just how we roll.

yep!

Peace!...with 2 fingers;)

X-Man.

Growing up in the inner city of Chicago with gangs, 
violence & hopelessness, there wasn't much much 2 look 
up 2 on the positive spectrum. 

Options were extremely limited while diligently 
searching for something truly impactful until one day 
getting my hands on a small paperback 
Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley 
at a local thrift store....

A thrift store. Really? (lol)...

things surely happens for a reason;)

This is when things began 2 open up with the ambition 2 read about history, culture & identity. Amazed at how such a book about a young man with a troubled past while facing the odds during the 1960's could make a massive impact. 

One thing that stood out about Malcolm was his motivation 2 teach self while incarcerated making him one of our prolific thinkers of that time.  

X-man. from The Weddington Adventures. on Vimeo.

If he could achieve such a task, 
then what's my excuse?

From that point, life drastically changed knowing despite 
the condition in which lived, perseverance 
with a bold fearless approach would 
pay off 2 be so much more.

Knowing this, it become my duty 
& responsibility 2 ensure that his life is remembered with a greater appreciation. 

Hmmph...I wonder how would things be today
 if someone like him ever existed for he wasn't 
just any ordinary man....he was.. 
X-man.

(Yep!)...

Peace!...with 2 fingers;)

Tapestry.

Peace!...with 2 fingers;)

GoldenSteps.

The Peace!...with 2 Collection.

MoveOn.

After arriving back 2 hometown Chicago for 

family & support, we decide on a few days 

@ the Weddington's getaway.

This would be the most perfect time 2 

gather & reestablish ourselves after losing 

big sister from her bout with cancer.  

(Rest in Peace Jackie...we loooove you.)

MoveOn. from The Weddington Adventures. on Vimeo.

Brother Ken has been trying 2 get me out here for 

several years but the timing was never right...until now. 

This was the most perfect way 2 catch 

up on old times & just "chill"....

not 2 mention visit the pier where 

sister Vivian's ashes were laid.

Hmm!...looking back over those younger 

years, things may have appeared 
slightly dysfunctional 2 some but 
we considered it just a bit complicated..

lol;/  

It's been an absolute blessing 2 have wonderful 

memories & the opportunity 2 reminisce 

on what was good. 

The backyard barbecue parties, 

yearly gatherings

& just us being us. 

One massive lesson revealed is 2 make the most 

of every situation & don't worry about 
tomorrow for it's never promised. 

MoveOn man...Moveon.

Peace!...with 2 fingers;)

2 with 2.

Peace!...with 2 fingers;)

Southside Economic Development Project.

Own Terms.

Peace!...with 2 fingers;)

Remedy.

Hey! hey!...

The summer is moving along & yet have I had the 

chance 2 hit the streets. 

Not the way I like anyways.....

Remedy. from The Weddington Adventures. on Vimeo.

But what we did have the wonderful chance 2 

do was spend a few days of relaxation on 

Lake Minitonka....(well not really)..

but a lake all the same....lol

Anyways, found some extra 

video footage from the experience & 

mastered up a lil' piece for another one 

of those Weddington Adventures.

This is our Remedy.

Peace!...with 2 fingers;)

Graffiti in Portland.

Peace!...with 2 fingers;)

Jeremy's Bestie.

Peace!...with 2 fingers;)

Enough.

Peace!....with 2 fingers;)

Southside Economic Development Project.

Unaffected.

Now matter how you try 2 show them who you are,

most refuse 2 understand

& misinterpret.

People judge as though we're not 
unaffected...

but we are.

Whatever the case,

there's nothing 2 prove so stay true

for the problem is not yours.

Feelin' good in your own skin without a care 
in the world would look mighty fierce.

Don'tcha think?

Peace!...with 2 fingers;)

Photographer's Rant - C'mon, Take a Pic.

Time for another visual tour through 

the streets of Portland. 

Shamefully I've been absent from the camera so 

felt a need for a photographer's rant.

I could've very easily blamed weather conditions, 
working the gig or Scooter peeing on my 

homework...but I'm not. 

Just need a little motivation from time 2 time. 

Nothing wrong with that.

When you have the passion for the capture & create, 

nothing gets in the way.

It's just a matter of time.

Anyhoot, took a trip on over the the 

lighthouse for that money shot. 

I've heard great things about this spot 

& needed 2 see for myself. 

Afterwards headed over through the 

main vein of Portland. 

Congress Street.

This is where you can appreciate living in a small town over a major city.

The structures are more honest & simple 

& gives my photography

 a little extra room 2 breath.

It's the simple point & shoot that makes

every photo amazing 

in its own way.

Not knowing the end result until it slaps you 

in the face is what makes this 

fancy so enjoyable. 

Everyone is a photographer 
for it's all about the perspective man...

So go on ahead.... 

Take a picture.

Yep!

Peace!...with 2 fingers;)

Thinkabout.

I couldn't ask for anything more 
in regards 2 son Khalid. 
People have shared horrid stories about the trails & tribulations of raising a 16 year old  
but thus far on this end, I'm set...

(So I like 2 think.)

I can remember when I was 16 when everything was confusing but still I believed I knew it all. 
Poor choices were made & petty matters were more difficult than they had 2 be...
so looking at it from that perspective, yeah, we're good.

Thinkabout. from The Weddington Adventures. on Vimeo.

I know young people need 2 have a personal choice for empowerment 
but remember I'll always be dad.Readily available 2 teach you about the things you're not so sure about even if I don't even know myself,  protect you from the ills of this increasingly nasty world & just be THERE.

It's getting stranger by the minute & a whole lot going on in theses times so 

it's best 2 be that way. 

Would you think?

Thinkaboutit.

Peace!...with 2 fingers;)

WakeUp!

The Peace with 2 Collection.

Southside Economic Development Project