ShadowSpeak

WHY KIDS LEAVE HOME ACCORDING TO NRS CALLERS:

• 2% TEEN PREGNANCY

• 5% DRUG/ALCOHOL ABUSE

• 6% TRANSPORTATION

• 7% DEPRESSION/SUICIDE

• 7% SCHOOL PRESSURE

• 10% PEER PRESSURE

• 11% ABUSE

• 39% FAMILY PROBLEMS

• 10% OTHER

THE DANGERS THEY FACE INCLUDE:

• SEXUAL EXPLOITATION- being asked to exchange "favors" for basic needs; food, shelter, clothing.

• SEXUAL ASSULT- viewed as "throwaways" they are often subject to brutal attacks by those who know it will go unreported.

• RECRUITMENT BY PIMPS/GANGS- intimidation, sexual exploitation, drug usage and distribution are methods of control exercised over homeless youth to "persuade" them into false security networks.

• HEALTH RISKS- drug addiction, risky behavior, sleep deprivation, exposure to extreme weather conditions and the inaccessibility of medical services place youth in compromising health situations.

• CRIMINAL ACTIVITY- stealing, prostitution and drug addiction become means of survival on the street.

In the same manner the statistics, the statements, the numbers don’t paint a picture of the truth. For the problem to be recognized, truly recognized it needs to have a face, a past, a story.

In preparing this first issue, we wanted to express a positive story from the street. One that would display a former runaway coming from nothing and creating a good life for themselves. We found a number of positive examples, opportunities to speak with a former runaways who have gone on to do a number of incredibly tremendous things. One has since become a musician and lead singer of a band that inspires a somewhat modest following. Another has gone from living in his car to renting an apartment, working as a union electrician and supporting his son. The example we did choose, however, is a person who has reorganized her life to the point where she is actually helping kids who find themselves in the same position she was once in. Nicole is going to college and works as a Street Outreach worker for Aunt Martha’s runaway and homeless youth program. In her own words, this is her story:

"In 1989, I began living a rebellious life, as my mother would put it. I put it being a teenager; until one day reality hit me in the face. I went from teen to adult in one year. Amazing how many changes can happen in such a short time.’

"I started hanging out all night long and skipping school. By the following year (1990), graduation came around and I was requested by the school counselor to come to his office, there I was told that I didn’t have enough credits to graduate with my class. In fact, I missed graduation by 4.5 credits.’

"At this time I still did not know the great effects that it had on me or my parents. I continued down my destructive path. I came home when I felt like it and went to school when I pleased.’

"I still remember what my mom used to say to me, "‘I’m telling you this for your own good. I experienced it and you shouldn’t want to go through it.’"

"Me being the know-it-all, told myself, "’If I don’t experience it, how will I know?’"

"How naive I was in retrospect. By that summer I was pregnant. One week before my eighteenth birthday. The legal age parents can boot you out. So, I was given a birthday cake and told I had to leave. I didn’t know what to do. I still was only a child I thought to myself.’

"I was scared. For a few weeks, my best friend and I stayed with her aunt. I knew that it would be hard for someone to let me live with them knowing I was about to become a parent. After exhausting our places to go, my friend and I went our separate ways.’

"I went to a shelter, ‘St. Martin Deporres,’ within the inner city of Chicago. I lived in the shelter for 2 or 3 months, I don’t really remember.’

"Everyday I woke up and I felt like I was dreaming We had assigned chores to do. The shelter housed thirty woman, and there was no count on children. Woman of all race, sizes and problems lived in these quarters. They were set up like Army barracks. I didn’t know anything about Chicago, having been raised in the South Suburbs. I forced myself to open my eyes and see the real world and here I was already deep in it.’

"No mother, father, sister, brother. My boyfriend was a few years older than myself. Children having children, that is what it was. Through God’s blessing, I am proud to say that I am still here, moving forward. Happily married and now I have three beautiful children. I greatly love my work coming from where I have. I want to share with others that the road is never easy and to give my experiences to this generation of youth."