Door of Hope: Writing a Way Toward a Bright Future

Providing a safe landing for people to come, share a meal and connect with others in the community

“I think that the whole project [The Commons on Merton] is making a difference in the neighborhood and whole community. Door of Hope is just a piece of that, but it is fun being a piece of a bigger whole and a bigger mission.”

This quote is from Andy Jacuzzi, Executive Director of Door of Hope, in reference to his experience as a partner housed in The Commons, a shared-space community operated by the Center for Transforming Communities (CTC). Door of Hope (DOH) is a 501c3 non-profit that works with chronically homeless (a year or longer living on the streets or unsheltered or four episodes of homelessness during a three year period) with disabilities. The organization got its start back in 2005 when a group of individuals from the Midtown area of Memphis came together to seek ways to assist those without shelter who had been displaced from Downtown Memphis to Midtown.

Initially, DOH was a “safe landing” for people to come, share a meal and connect with others in the community. The program has since evolved into an organization that provides support services such as helping people who are unhoused obtain an ID or apply for benefits, as well as offering assistance with job searching and job readiness training. DOH currently owns two facilities. One of them houses 10 guests, each with their own room, and also houses the DOH support center. The other is a similar-style facility that houses 15 men and women.

One of the major assets within DOH is their writing group. It was started by a women named Ellen Pruitt. They meet every Wednesday from 1-2pm at the support center.  Participation is open to everyone.  Each week, the group is invited to write stories around a suggested topic and, for those who feel comfortable, read their stories aloud to the group.

Andy’s initial experience at DOH three years ago was with the writers group. He came in dressed in a suit as he would have in his previous corporate jobs. The topic for the day was ‘write about a time when you were in a situation where you were put with somebody that you felt like you had nothing in common with and write about how you found common ground.’ Andy, a man with a well-established career in business and marketing, having never worked with homeless persons before, found a message for him in this topic.

"I was sitting over there in the corner, uncomfortable being around homeless people and obviously out of place dressed in a suit.  As I listened to stories being read aloud, tears began to form and I was deeply moved.  I was ashamed of the way I felt coming in and just amazed by the stories that were being told.  It felt like a personal message from God to me about being judgmental.  Whatever it was, I was hooked from that day and have been here ever since."

The writing group has not only influenced Andy, it has also significantly impacted those in the community. There’s a newspaper called The Bridge in which all of its articles are written by homeless individuals, the majority being members of the writing group. Writers who contribute to The Bridge submit stories and poems, involve themselves in its publication, and get to keep about 75% of the profits for attending sales rep training and selling the newspapers. DOH has published several of the pieces from members of the writing group in book titled Writing Our Way Out of Homelessness.

Andy has really enjoyed being a shared-space partner in The Commons. What he appreciates the most is the synergy of multiple non-profit organizations coming together to make a difference in the community. Door of Hope has been, and will continue to be, an organization that is investing and changing lives for the better.

If you'd like to learn more, consider joining REP and other partners at The Commons on Merton (258 N. Merton) for an Open House on Dec. 2 from 6pm to 8pm.  Here is the invitation.

This story was contributed by Shalom Intern, Kory Turner a student at Drew Theological Seminary.

The Whole Is Greater Than the Sum of the Parts

Celebrating the strength of coming together at The Commons

There are 21 stained glass windows at The Commons. It’s one of the perks of working here. Walking along corridors, up stairwells, into and out of the old sanctuary – Just about everywhere I go there are stained glass windows

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Sometimes in the late afternoon the light comes through the largest window in the sanctuary and leaves a cascade of soft red and gold and green along the floor and walls. I’ve tried several times to catch this on camera, but the pictures don’t quite do it justice.

And now that daylight savings time has passed, it’s dark when I leave, so I’ve begun to notice just how vibrant our stained glass windows are from the outside. Staff and volunteers at the Refugee Empowerment Program teach ESL classes well into the night, and the stained glass windows in their third floor classrooms shine brightly in greens and reds and purples over Binghampton.

To most people, stained glass windows are associated with church. And of course that’s why we have so many at The Commons. The building we call “The Commons on Merton” was once Everett Memorial United Methodist Church, an anchor of the Binghampton community for almost 100 years.

But, as their membership dwindled and the neighborhood around them changed, the leaders of Everett Memorial made a very courageous decision which resulted in a reimagining of what it means to be “church.” In the early 2000s, they gave up their church building to become The Commons, a shared space community that currently houses 5 nonprofits, 3 churches of various denominations, a food pantry, a local artist’s studio, and a handful of study groups and neighborhood organizations.

In the 6 months that I’ve been with the Center for Transforming Communities, I’ve gotten to know each of these groups – learned about their histories, personalities, and goals. Each one is different, distinct, but each one is also part of a whole, part of The Commons.

In that sense, each group at The Commons is like a pane in a stained glass window. Each is unique, with its own shape and color and texture, but when assembled together they form a pattern that is
infinitely more beautiful than they could hope to be on their own.

This year, the partners at The Commons have agreed to come together for an open house event benefiting the 5 nonprofit partners. Door of Hope, Memphis School of Servant Leadership, Refugee Empowerment Program, Memphis Immigration Advocates, and Center for Transforming Communities are pooling their resources and inviting all of their friends to visit The Commons, learn about the organizations that call this building home, and donate to support our shared vision for improving the Memphis community.
 
I hope you’ll stop by this Giving Tuesday (December 2nd, from 6:00pm-8:00pm) for food, music, and a tour of The Commons.  Because of the generosity of some of our past supporters, we will be able to match any donations given on Giving Tuesday and through the end of the year 2 to 1 – meaning that your $25 will become $75, or your $50 will become $150. What better way to celebrate the holidays than to give back to support five wonderful organizations working to make Memphis a better place for all of us?

For more information about The Commons or our Giving Tuesday Open House, feel free to contact me at kenny@ctcmidsouth.org or 901-324-3005.

Door of Hope- Connecting People to Portals of Opportunity

In the Business of Serving Guests

Two years ago, Andy planned to volunteer for three months. He changed the construct of his life after being invited to a writing session. He arrived at the session in a suit as an advertising/marketing executive feeling uncomfortable initially, but discovered there was little distance between he and those labeled as chronically homeless. The topic of this session was about finding common ground with fellow members of humanity. His search for service has turned into life's work for him and staff members of Door of Hope. To grasp the commitment of this group is to understand that after government sequestration defunded much of their salaries, means to pay expenses, and ability to offer services to their guests, this team took to their own resources to keep the program afloat for more than eight weeks - without pay. Door of Hope has persevered to see powerful things happen this year.

“We refer to our participants as guests, ” states Andy Jacuzzi, Executive Director of Door of Hope. In this context, Andy and the staff are particular about the language they use at Door of Hope. The language is only one distinct component about the great work Door of Hope does. Other critical points of emphasis are the environment of hospitality that is created for guests, the humanity extended to each guest, and the sense of empowerment that reintegrates and re-socializes an individual.

Door of Hope distinguishes itself further by intentionally seeking out benefits, healthcare, and social programs that offer new opportunities to people who are chronically homeless with disabilities to reconnect to society in more viable ways. The severity of the disabilities range from physical to mental, but the emphasis is not placed on malady. Andy suggests that when intentional about serving this community there must enter an awareness of the person underneath the circumstances. His firm commitment expresses that people should not be defined by their current condition. Those of us who are in a position to assist in rebuilding a person’s way of living are partners in creating a pathway out of those conditions into a better state of affairs.

In 2005 like-minded residents in the midtown community of Memphis saw an opportunity to collaborate on meaningful work that addressed a rising population of people who were homeless. Initially, the group provided a place a refuge for a day/night to extend hospitality, fellowship, a meal. Services began to expand over time and with the help of local and federal grants, and it led to the acquisition of property that now houses 25 people on a daily basis in two different sites. Other scattered sites offer approximately 30 other guests housing throughout the city.

With a staff of case managers, housing directors, and outreach workers, the Door of Hope team looks to connect with guests through programs such as the writing group, bible study, or health/hygiene development. Their most popular program is the writing group wherein a topic is given to spark a creative essay that becomes a vehicle to share experiences.  Stories receive affirmation and publication often through Door of Hope’s blog of published works called The Advocate. So many rich stories have been captured that Andy and the team are working diligently to publish a book. The hope is to share the experiences with the consent of the guests and use the narratives to heighten awareness of the program.

The range of partnerships that Door of Hope has established is quite widespread. Baptist Hospital connects with Door of Hope by offering nurse assistance. Home Depot and nearly 100 of its employees renovated exterior components and developed the landscape of a Door of Hope property to enhance the scope and expanse of  Door of Hope and its’ programs. Hilton Hotels recently renovated the Pilgrims Rest facility with new furniture, equipment, appliances and an altogether renovated building. Hilton’s partnership noticed and celebrated the work of Door of Hope because of their concept of guest services for their population.

Andy Jacuzzi, Executive Director of Door of Hope


Andy and his administrative team operate from The Commons on Merton. They celebrate the support that they have discovered in the Binghampton community for their work. This team delightfully sees the possibility of change within a demographic when provided the intersection to do something meaningful.  Andy suggests that any of us could be susceptible to the conditions that render misfortune and calamity. With this in mind, they offer new portals of connection, relationship, and opportunity.

The Spirit of The Commons

The POWER of SHARED SPACE

In China's culture the thought is often articulated through the concept and practice of feng-shui  -the system that governs spatial arrangements to create a sense of energy or aura. It is believed that when arranged properly with the necessary elements in the most appropriate location then that space has the potential to emit a power linked to prosperity, success, fulfillment. Another provocative idea regarding space, ergonomics, suggests space becomes powerful only when there is intent to design with maximum productivity and efficacy in mind.

Consider the space of 258 North Merton Street. Nestled in the Binghampton community...the Commons on Merton is a shared space community with over a dozen non-profit entities occupying the space. Each organization seeks to enhance the city/region by offering distinct services and opportunities that advance and promote noble work. Behind the work of these organizations exists a common thread that potentially enhances their respective work. The arrangement of these organizations within shared building space offers something powerful to the local landscape and to the region. Energy, vibration, resonance emerge from The Commons on Merton.

On a Tuesday afternoon you'll hear the chatter of young voices coming from the basement of the Commons on Merton. These children are gathering to exercise and expand their capacity to become better students and as children often do, they show their enthusiasm through their smiles and effervescence. There's an anticipation of what the moment holds for this robust group. Tutors of the Refugee Empowerment Program are in place preparing to offer guidance and assistance with a wide range of academic subjects, but at second glance the learning seems to be reciprocal -multi-layered even. The children offer something to those in position to tutor some lessons on culture, gratitude, humility, resilience.

One flight above the basement sits a sanctuary. As you walk in, the stained glassed windows cast a residue of bright colors onto the wall where a cross is suspended and gives a focal point for the entire room. The hardwood floors, an upright piano, and the arrangement of chairs speak to a sense of narrative, as if the room has stories to tell about the encounters it has held within these walls. It seems to offer a voice about history from the neighborhood ...about the neighborhood...about being a place of refuge for the neighborhood. Even now, in its current usage it speaks even louder about the treasured voices that use this hall as an acoustic chamber to resonate melodies of heavenly proportions.

The Binghampton Community Choir houses its' weekly rehearsals here. Members of the choir are predominantly residents of the neighborhood. They readily express their sense of ownership in the community. Part of their belief is that music has the power to elevate our humanity but also reduce us to the powerful, simple necessity of being heard. This choral community is fully engaged in sharing music through this neighborhood and the city, but it also embraces a sobering responsibility of serving as ambassadors from this neighborhood. This facility that houses their rehearsals seems to add volume to their voice...add harmony to their melody. The historicity connected to the old church building somehow offers a collective "amen" to this choir and its contribution to the community.

Three congregations also house worship services in the sanctuary: Binghampton UMC, Holy Pentecost (A Burundi Church-traditions are from Burundi in Central Africa), and Memphis Metropolitan Christian Church. The diversity of Christian expressions that come from each offer a glimpse into the diversity of the neighborhood and surrounding area. Binghampton United Methodist Church evolved from a remnant of those from the original owners of the property - Everett Memorial UMC and offers a communal spirit of hospitality.  It engenders an environment of transformation, and deepens one's faith through collective experience and understanding of scripture. There is an intersection here with God's grace.

At Holy Pentecost the rhythmic undertones of African drums sweeps underneath you as they echo throughout the building. Holy Pentecost offers an indigenous worship experience laced with fervor and passion. The gathering celebrates Christ in native tongue but communicates quite clearly a call to serve its families and peoples with the conviction of the gospel.

Occasionally, as you walk through the building you will faintly hear the soothing notes of violinist Anthony Gilbert. Here at the Commons Anthony offers affordable violin lessons to members of the community. He has a storied history serving as a part of symphonic groups. He speaks with reverence about the space that offers him solace, roots, and identity.

Countless stories from varied partners exist within the halls of this shared space.The sentiment across the board offers a value of the communal spirit of the place. Whether it's Door of Hope, Families of Incarcerated Individuals, or the Memphis School of Servant Leadership a spirit...an energy lives here. Barbara Vann, member of Binghampton UMC, recounts one of the inaugural moments of making the "Spirit of the Commons" a tangible reality for the entire community

The concept/theme of power and positive energy emanating from a physical space seems to reverberate when shared space partners speak about the Commons. The distinct infrastructure married to the ethos of the place warrants an appreciation for intentional community.

-Matthew Lee-