Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week

Date and Time

Tuesday, November 17 2020 at 11:00 AM PST to

Tuesday, November 17 2020 at 12:00 PM PST

Location

Online

Online Location

Online Location Instructions

Please register in advance for this event through the following link:

Description

Western Washington University is hosting two online events as part of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, which is an annual program designed to  raise awareness about the problems of hunger and homelessness in the United States. The speakers this week will share insights about their own experience of homelessness, along with stories of their involvement with efforts in Washington to combat homelessness. These events are free and open to the public. Register for each event via the links under the event descriptions. Join us!

Hosted by Western Success Scholars and Off Campus Living with funds from Senate Bill 5800, events for the week include:

Tuesday, November 17th, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

Frankie Pfister: Facilitating the Transition from Street Culture to Academic Culture 

Frankie is the Director of Research at Parity, a Manhattan-based non-profit and someone who experienced homelessness as a student. In this role, she partners with young people, to assess need, then use art and advocacy to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ young people. Frankie also trains groups nationally on street culture and youth homelessness and is currently interviewing young people experiencing homelessness in a study exploring how we create home and meaning during difficult times. This session will be an overview of street culture and how the experience of homelessness impacts educational goals and post-secondary access and retention for young people. 

Register for the event here: https://wwu-edu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BiVY-N5CTMW_8ohTukikOg

Thursday, November 19th, 1 -2 p.m. 

Charles Adkins: Supporting Students That Have Experienced Homelessness in Washington.  

As a registered lobbyist and enrolled member of the Yurok Tribe, Charles focuses on local and state advocacy. As a student who experienced homelessness himself, one of his proudest career achievements is authoring and successfully lobbying for the passage of Senate Bill 5800 which launched a pilot program in which colleges provide additional assistance for homeless and food insecure students. Charles will share his journey and welcome a panel of WWU students who will share their stories of experiencing homelessness. 

Register for the event here: https://wwu-edu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kvMb9_MaRROvmX-x9t2RXg

OUR SPEAKERS

Charles Adkins

As a registered lobbyist and enrolled member of the Yurok Tribe, Charles focuses on local and state advocacy. From his childhood on the Yurok reservation, he was sent to one of the remaining Indian Schools where his experiences helped inform his fight for social and economic justice. His father, a decorated combat veteran from Afghanistan, suffered from PTSD which eventually led to Charles leaving home as a teenager and soon finding himself homeless. Charles’ passion to help others like himself saw him earn a degree and rise to prominence in the political community.

His experience encompasses roles such as Vice President of Federal Affairs for Washington Students Association, Director of Legislative Affairs for Students of the Evergreen State College and as a contract lobbyist, as well as Political Affairs Officer for the 38th Legislative District Democratic Party. He was a delegate to the 2016 & 2020 Democratic National Convention and serves on several boards including the Children’s Campaign fund and previously served on the board of the Washington Student Association. One of his proudest career achievements is authoring and successfully lobbying for the passage of Senate Bill 5800 which launched a pilot program in which colleges provide additional assistance for homeless and food insecure students.

Charles holds a degree in Tribal Administration and resides in Everett, Washington.

 

Frankie Rachel Pfister

Frankie went on to earn two Master’s degrees after failing out of college as a homeless student – one degree is in counseling psychology, the other in research methods and statistics. Frankie will share her story and insights about achieving academic success in the face of signi­ficant challenges. For the last decade, Frankie has worked in non-pro­fit leadership providing direct services and advocating for youth experiencing homelessness, including developing interventions to increase college access for homeless youth. Frankie has trained groups throughout the U.S. in improving outcomes for LGBTQ+ youth and preventing and ending youth homelessness. Frankie is the Director of Research at Parity NYC and teaches Developmental Psychology at Dixie State University.

 

RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HUNGER OR HOMELESSNESS

Western's Off Campus Living Website

Office of Student Life

 

Categories

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