Got Enough.

Peace!...with 2 fingers;)

Go Play.

Peace!...with 2 fingers;)

Honor Those.

The PW2 Project.

Reaching Out.

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.

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;)

Jeremy's Bestie.

Peace!...with 2 fingers;)

Shutter.

Peace!...with 2 fingers;)

Scars.

When 29 year old actor Lee Thompson Young didn’t show up on the set of TNT's Rizzoli & Isles, the show’s producers were concerned and contacted the police. Soon after, Young was found dead, believed to have shot himself. He didn’t leave a note.

Perhaps the “mystery” was depression  Sources close to Young claim that he suffered from it for months leading to his death.

Young isn’t alone. Over the past few years, we have lost a number of Black men to suicide: Soul Train’s Don Cornelious, Capital Steez, Freddy E, Violator Management founder Chris Lighty and Kansas City Chiefs player Jovan Belcher.

And yet, this issue isn’t often talked about. But what more do we need as a community to start taking this issue seriously

How long are we going to keep labeling mental health issues as The Other Person problem?”

The unwillingness to discuss & acknowledge mental health has become another unfortunate hurdle especially given that the data is clear that suicide rates are on the rise.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the third cause of death among African-American males between ages 15 and 24, behind homicide and accidents. And while suicide rates among Black men are lower than their white counterparts, the rates have increased dramatically.   

Meanwhile, Black men are least likely to access mental health services. Why?

Poor access to quality health care/counseling is a major factor to why seeking early detection is a nonpriority. Another barrier is the cultural stigma that states no need for therapy / medication for 

religiosity will make a way.

But one unseen factor that deserves attention is how Black masculinity serves as a huge barrier to seeking care.

Whether the media or just daily conversation, Black men receive messages daily to be hyper masculine, super strong & angry.

“Man up!”

“Real men don’t cry.”

“Showing emotion makes you soft.”

“Being vulnerable makes you weak.”

These types of attitudes continue to help foster a culture of silence that allows for Black men to sit and suffer alone.

There's a greater need to begin serious dialog where people are able to express themselves, be vulnerable & speak about the pain. 

So...lets stop equating being "devoid of emotions" with manhood & step up.




Peace!...with 2 fingers;)

1 Brotha 2 Sistas.

Peace!...with 2 fingers;)

Why not Me?

Peace!...with 2 fingers;)

Jennifer's 2.

Peace!...with 2 fingers;)

Atmosphere.

Sittin' here wreckin' my dome tryin' 2 piece together another creative venture. 

Hmmmm....not much seems 2 be popping' up right now but know it's a process. 

Not an excuse but yet still a process.

It's times like these when I wish Chicago was right outside my front door...but damnman, it's not;( 

...just gotta adapt....still.

It's constant I suppose.

Oh, before I forget, what's up Shawn 

....A food truck? Absolutely BRILLIANT!...

by the way, how's the band coming along? You made going 2 work OK ;)

Clifton...Still lookin' for love my man? 

How's the lil' one? 

Keep smiling';)

Keith....Miss those lifted Saturday mornings @ the gig. 

I think we figured it out for the most part....

remember? lol

Man, I could go on for days....

 It's an amazing gift 2 celebrate the people who crossed your path in life.

or I like 2 call it, 

"Atmosphere". 

Yep!...it is.

Atmosphere. from The Weddington Adventures. on Vimeo.

I had this marvelous idea of having people send their videos & I'll edit with my 
Another2fingers stamp....

or maybe even sell & promote snazzy T-shirts. (Hmmm...that's seems 2 have a ring 2 it.)

Though we're not face 2 face, I'm really interested in your creative endeavors & would appreciate the opportunity 2 make it more. 

(it's just what I do.)

Peace!...with 2 fingers;)

...With 2 Fingers;)

Peace!...with 2 fingers;)

Chapter #3 - Ancient.

The adventure continues on as we set 
off 2 church for some worship & H.S 
(that's holy spirit for short...he, he, he.) 

Witnessing prayer on a level such as this allows me 
2 re-evaluate my personal position. 

Oh yes it does!

While there, myself along with John 
& Danielle was finally baptized in a lake. 

Yes a lake. (lol)
(No way possible I could make this up.)

Ancient. from The Weddington Adventures. on Vimeo.
Now that was surely something of the totally unexpected 

but then again, I'll take it.

The team was supportive & made me feel so much more at ease during this life changing process. 

God is a great God that's for sure;)

Hmm...I wonder what else is in store on this amazing journey.....

Guess we shall see....

Peace!...with 2 fingers;)

Deeper Roots.

Peace!...with 2 fingers;)

Chapter #1 - Valley.

Valley. from The Weddington Adventures. on Vimeo.

This marks the beginning of a newfound adventure...

(...you know how much I love those.)

Ometepe, Nicaragua is the destination along with a wonderful group of spiritual soldiers by way of the Rock Church in Scarborough, Me.

....on to Boston then over 2 Miami....a 3 hour plane ride 2 Nicaragua & finally a ferry 2 Ometepe.

(whew!)

The trip itself was such an experience, we could hardly imagine what an entire week would bring!

As we embark on this spiritual journey, we're sure 2 be filled with God's love & the gift 2 serve with beautiful purpose.

Living this life, eyes have opened a bit more than before where true joy comes 
with nothing attached.

Now that's one wide open lens with true perspective.

Chapter 1.

Peace!...with 2 fingers;)

Bury.

Peace!...with 2 fingers;)