I Will Be Your Voice – Stories of Homelessness and Hope
More than 40,000 children and youth experience homelessness in Pennsylvania, posing a significant barrier to succeed in school. In partnership with Pennsylvania Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness (ECYEH), join Center for Schools and Communities staff Melissa Turnpaugh and Matthew Butensky as they interview state and national experts, homeless liaisons, service providers, and those with lived experience. These conversations will dive deeper into resources, partnerships and best practices that help these children and youth thrive in school and life. Along the way, guests will share untold stories to amplify the voices and stories of students experiencing homelessness across Pennsylvania and beyond.
Episodes
18 episodes
Episode 17 - The Significance of ECYEH Awareness Week, November 11-15
As we approach 2024, ECYEH Awareness Week, November 11-15, join us for an eye-opening discussion on ECYEH Awareness Week with special guest Sonia Pitzi, a dedicated regional coordinator with Pennsylvania's Education for Children and Youth Exper...
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Episode 17
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40:46
Episode 16 - Introducing The Bridge Project in PA: Online Mental Health Services for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness
In partnership with Move Forward Counseling and eLuma, The Bridge Project in PA facilitates FREE access to mental health services for PA children and youth experiencing homelessness. Learn the benefits of teletherapy; how schools, students, and...
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Episode 16
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53:34
Episode 15 - Building Stability: Family Promise's Collaborative Approach
Can a community rally together to keep families united during their toughest times? Join us for an in-depth conversation with Matt Wagner from Family Promise as we explore the often misunderstood realities of homelessness and how their communit...
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Episode 15
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33:36
Episode 14 - Empathy and Change: Advocating for Homeless Youth
Walter Harris and Emma Grimm join us to shed light on their poignant journeys through homelessness. Through bouts with the juvenile justice system, foster care, and relentless searches for stable housing, their stories are powerful testimonies ...
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Episode 14
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40:50
Episode 13 - Finding a Lifeline: Maryama’s Story
Maryama's story is one of resilience and determination in the face of adversity. Born and raised in Niger, she embarked on a journey to America with her family at the age of 15 to join her father. However, life took an unexpected turn whe...
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Episode 13
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12:51
Episode 11 - BONUS: Looking Ahead for the Pennsylvania Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program
Since we are still early in 2024, “I Will Be Your Voice” shares a special bonus episode with the staff behind the scenes at the Center for Schools and Communities. In this bonus episode, we chat with our Center for Schools and Communities team ...
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Episode 11
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20:12
Episode 12 - Advancing Educational Access for Students Experiencing Homelessness with Pennsylvania’s State Coordinator
Our morning chat with the Pennsylvania Department of Education State Coordinator for Homeless Education, Mr. Storm Camara, isn't just about the challenges of providing educational stability for children and youth experiencing homelessness; it's...
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Episode 12
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29:30
Episode 10 - Eden Village: A Tiny Home Community for the Chronically Homeless in Harrisburg
Eden Village is a new, planned tiny home community in Harrisburg, PA, to provide the chronically homeless a permanent place to live and rebuild. Hear from husband and wife Jon and Raquel Bomberger, who serve on the board of Eden Village Harrisb...
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Episode 10
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32:47
Episode 9 - Voices of Survival and Resilience: A Conversation with Author Rene Denfeld
Recorded at 2023 Paving the Way for Educational Success Conference, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaHear Rene Denfeld's inspiring journey as a teen experiencing homelessness, longtime foster and adoptive parent, author, speaker, justice worker,...
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Episode 9
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22:43
Episode 8 - Supporting the Unseen: Navigating Homelessness and Food Insecurity in Schools Amid a Pandemic
What does it take to support and uplift homeless students in a school district? Would you be able to adapt your services to a global pandemic, and come up with innovative ways to offer food security and mental health support? This episode intro...
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Episode 8
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54:32
Episode 7 - Transforming Lives One Cup at a Time: The Story of Monkey and Elephant Cafe
What happens when a café not only serves a warm cup of coffee but also a helping hand to young adults who have aged out of foster care? In this episode, we hear from Kamal Marell, executive director of The Monkey and The Elephant in Philadelphi...
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Episode 7
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36:05
Episode 6 - More than Chocolate: Milton Hershey School’s President, Pete Gurt
In this episode of “I Will Be Your Voice: Stories of Homelessness and Hope,” President of the Milton Hershey School and graduate, Pete Gurt shares about the mission and vision behind the Milton Hershey School and the impact and opportunities it...
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Episode 6
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39:22
Episode 5 - Valley Youth House
In this episode of “I Will Be Your Voice: Stories of Homelessness and Hope,” hear from Michele Albright, director of Lehigh Valley Emergency Services and Housing, and Reet Kaur, clinical coordinator at Valley Youth House. Valley Youth House pro...
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Episode 5
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28:00
Episode 4 - School is Home
In this episode, one of PA’s ECYEH program regional coordinators, Sonia Pitzi, shares with us the origin of the "I Will Be Your Voice" campaign and the importance of elevating the voices and stories of students experiencing homelessness. Please...
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Episode 4
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44:29
Episode 3 - SchoolHouse Connection
In this episode of “I Will Be Your Voice: Stories of Homelessness and Hope,” Executive Director for SchoolHouse Connection Barbara Duffield shares about their work across the United States to overcome homelessness through education. Please read...
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Episode 3
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23:58
Episode 2 - Learn About the Finding Your Way in PA App
In this episode of “I Will Be Your Voice: Stories of Homelessness and Hope,” app Developer Prithvraj Lankar shares the importance of providing immediate access to services for homeless youth and families through the development of Pennsylvania’...
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Episode 2
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16:40
Episode 1 - Replenish & Keep Growing to Advocate for Students Experiencing Homelessness
In the premiere episode of “I Will Be Your Voice: Stories of Homelessness and Hope,” President of the National Coalition for the Homeless Board, Dr. Rajni-Shankar Brown, shares the effects of homelessness on students and the importance of equit...
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Episode 1
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34:21
Introduction - I Will Be Your Voice: Stories of Homelessness and Hope
Welcome to our new podcast, “I Will Be Your Voice: Stories of Homelessness and Hope.” Daily, we have conversations with practitioners and thought leaders in the field. We want to bring some of what we are learning - both successes and challenge...
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2:24