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Homeless men share their experiences and hopes in a book club setting
In the fall of 2007, outreach nurse Donna Kelly recognized that books had often become the common ground between her and her homeless patients. From her original idea, a book club was developed for residents at the 2100 Lakeside Shelter for Men in Cleveland, Ohio and later in Joseph’s Home, a transitional shelter for homeless people. The homeless health literacy book club was the first of its kind in the U.S. “Sometimes healthcare isn’t just about passing out pills,” Donna told The Christian Science Monitor. (more…)
Kim Goldberg is an author, poet, photographer and art activist. She has penned five full-length books, over 2,000 articles, and various chapbooks. Her poetry has appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies in North America.
Former flower beds at Nanaimo’s city hall and at Beban Park have been turned into vegetable gardens to promote the local food movement. Three partners are involved in the demonstration projects. “This is a huge recognition of the importance of food and it will help move our community toward being self-sufficient,” Jessica Snider, executive director of Nanaimo’s Community Gardens Society, told the Nanaimo Daily News. 
Despite the growth in the use of the term, the meaning, practice and implications of “harm reduction” are matters of some dispute, according to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
Former Saskatchewan member of Parliament Dave Batters took his own life on June 29, 2009 after a lengthy battle with anxiety and depression. He was 39 years old. Mr. Batters left federal politics in 2008, saying that he planned to work on recovery.
Will Hall is a 43-year-old man who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Doctors have prescribed medication for him. “But Hall would rather value his mentally extreme states than try to suppress them, so he doesn’t take his meds. Instead, he practices yoga and avoids coffee and sugar.” Will is also a member of The Icarus Project—an Icarista—and is involved in Mad Pride activities.* He’s also hosted Madness Radio for three years. [*Source: Newsweek, “Listening to madness”]. 
