Last week, Alexian Brothers Bonaventure House residents and staff welcomed a group of students from DePaul University. The students came to Bonaventure House as a part of a class titled ‘Diverse Faces of AIDS’. The class aims to provide a holistic view of the AIDS epidemic. This includes learning the epidemiology, history of the disease in the United States, visiting and learning about the various HIV/AIDS service providers in the Chicago area, and meeting individuals affected by HIV/AIDS. The purpose of the class is to allow the students the opportunity to “experience the human face of AIDS”. The class covers every dimension of AIDS from policy and advocacy to how AIDS affects a person physically, socially, spiritually, legally and psychologically.

The students came to Bonaventure House to learn about the history of the Alexian Brothers AIDS Ministry, what services are offered and who receives the services. David Dempsey, Director of Clinical Services, led the students through the history and mission of Alexian Brothers AIDS Ministry. One of his most potent comments was that even though HIV is now seen as a manageable medical condition, it by no means signals that society can stop focusing on preventing the spread of infection. Classes such as ‘Diverse Faces of AIDS’ are a sign of continued interest and renewal of efforts towards prevention. The act of increasing awareness, something the DePaul class does admirably, is prevention itself. One cannot help to think the more people see the human experience behind HIV/AIDS, the more  efforts will go into prevention and helping those affected, as well as help erase the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS.

After learning about Alexian Brothers AIDS Ministry, the students were given the opportunity to speak with five Bonaventure House residents. The residents were able to tell their stories. The students learned about the residents’ lives, the circumstances that brought them to Bonaventure House, and what effect Bonaventure House has had on their lives. Opportunities such as this, to put a human face and experience on HIV/AIDS, and to allow a dialogue about how HIV/AIDS affects people on an individual level, can go a long way to break down barriers.

You can find more information about ‘Diverse Faces of AIDS’ here.

Sammy was the resident philosopher during his time at Earl’s Place – he always had one insight or another for the day. I sat down to talk with him shortly before he graduated from our program, and wrote down everything he said. I was blown away by what he told me, and so I didn’t feel justified editing what he said too much. So, in his own words, here is Sammy’s story.

Life on the Streets

I slept in vans, cars, abandominiums [abandoned buildings], I stole out of stores, I did everything. There were times when all I had to eat was a bag of chips, a Snickers, and a juice.

In the end of my addiction, I was in a little area, I was stuck in this one gas station, asking for change, wondering where I could get one from, stealing out of stores, hitting people’s stashes; I just kept stealing, out of stores, taking from people I know I shouldn’t’ve been taking from. I’ve been shot on multiple times, stabbed, and baseball batted.

I lost my respect for myself, for others. I lost the respect of my sons. I lost the respect of other people who looked up to me. Most of all, I lost myself. I didn’t have no direction, I lived just to get high. All day long, every day. I went from a person who liked the way he dressed to being a bum, a derelict. I had gotten content with stinking, with begging for money, didn’t care where I slept at, all I cared about was getting high. I got all right with being like that. I had no purpose, no meaning in life.

My addiction started when I was 17 years old, and it went on for a while, 23, 24 years of my life – until I got sick and tired of being sick and tired. In 2007, I tried something different. I went into recovery, got clean, and I made it 11 months, but I fell short. But I got back up.

Home Again

Get God and get him fast, they tell you, and I realize that God held me through all that crazy stuff, all that insanity I did.

Coming to a place like this is the best thing that could’ve happened in my life. Sheila took time to sit and talk to me, and gave me a key. The first time I had a key to any place in my life. When I felt down or unsure about something, I’d call her, and she’d say, “Sammy, come on home.” She didn’t say, “Come to the center,” or “Come back to Earl’s Place,” she said “home.” And I listened, I’d come home. That was the first time I had a place to call home in a long time.

Earl’s Place taught me how to deal with other individuals. When you’re living with 16 other men, you got a lot of different personalities, but with different issues. We all suffer from the same thing, drug abuse, everyone has the same pain.

This place gave me a lot, though. Teaching me to take care of myself, teaching me how to cook, it’s a good atmosphere. The dudes in here are all working on the same goal: one day at a time, staying clean, obtaining employment and housing.

I’m no longer shifting the blame onto somebody else. I can stand as a man today and be responsible for any action I do. This program has given me the ability to make the right decisions for the right reasons.

Like I said, when I’m wrong, I don’t need Ms. Sheila, I don’t need Jim, I don’t need no one to tell me – I feel it wrong spiritually in my heart.

To speak to someone who might be down, to tell him good morning, to hug the unhuggable, approach them regardless;  Earl’s Place, point blank, has taught me how to be a man, shown me that I can’t dwell on the miscellaneous stuff. Sometimes as an addict, I can turn a molehill into a mountain. Sheila’s taught me how to breathe, how to slow down.

Ms. Sheila asks us to feed the hungry around here, and I have no problem doing that, cuz I used to be one of them. If it weren’t for places like that, I wouldn’t’ve eaten. Them church people on Garrison and Fairview, they’d hold me a plate, even if I was late. I don’t forget the little things that meant so much to me. Restaurants would invite me in to eat, and they’d fix it for me, knowing I couldn’t pay. We still got good people who live here today. They don’t expect nothing back.

I love Earl’s Place, not because you’re writing this down, and coming in I wasn’t the easiest person to get along with. Thanks to Earl’s Place, it gave me a second chance at life, showing me that I can do this, that it ain’t as hard as I thought it was. The big fight was me, procrastinating was me — and fear. Fear itself. I still have some fear, but I’m not scared to jump out there on faith, and it carries a long way, and this program made me a believer, if I just put the work in.

In my time being here, I saw a lot of dudes successfully go out, and I’ve seen people fall short. I feel for the ones who fell short, but I know that I’m responsible for my own recovery. I gotta just watch out for myself. If I see someone going astray, I can say something, and I’m gonna tell them what I’m seeing, but it’s on them, and I know that.

I was putting on that suit and tie every day, going to interviews, and finally someone called. I gotta continue to work hard, you must believe, you have to believe in someone, you have to believe in this process.

A New Beginning

Now I’m employed, I’m a state worker, I have my own apartment, my own door key, my own refrigerator, my own stove. And that’s a big plus, that’s amazing, for me to accomplish all the goals I accomplished in just 16 months.

People call me Mister today. I got keys to my own place. I got keys to my daughter’s house – people trust me with keys now. Aw man, life is so good, even though it still has its downs. I still go through the same things, sometimes fighting my own emotions. Now I know to just fall back and pray. I have the ability to let go and pray, and to start it all over again. At one time I couldn’t do that. I’m learning to get better with being by myself. And I have access to other people, to a therapist, job counselors; I thank God for all these people who came in contact with me.

July 19 was my clean date, 2 years clean. I still work on a daily basis, and that’s just staying clean. I can’t get arrogant or cocky in this process. I never feel like I’ve “arrived” cuz I don’t wanna feel like I‘m better than someone else. I don’t want to hurt no one anymore, I don’t want to be addicted to people, places or things, either. I just wished I could’ve been clean when my mom died. I miss her very dearly.

To me, in my words, I’m saying Earl’s Place will always be a big part of me, no matter where life takes me. I will always consider this home.

I just want people to know that if I can do it, you can do it too. If you don’t believe in yourself, who will?

My life today is not the same as yesterday. I’m working on leaving something, not just financial. I want my eulogy to say, “He was a good person, a loving a caring person, who had a smile that was out of this world, who took time to hug the unhuggable, to be a trusted servant, to carry this message.” A beacon to someone else. I can’t think of just myself, it’s not about me anymore. It’s about the recovering addict who’s still out there.

I know to open a door for a lady, saying “Yes ma’am,” “No sir.” Somewhere along the line, I forgot all that respect when I was using drugs. And today I’ve got it back. I’m no better than no one, I’m really not. The only person I can give the credit to is God, and the people He surrounds me with – Ms. Sheila, Jim, Mike, Champ, and all these other 16 dudes who I came in contact with every day.

I can’t sit here and lie; I still have some fear, because I haven’t been on my own in a long time. But that’s another thing I have to turn over to God. God already has plans for me. It’s already mapped out, it’s destined, God ain’t cleaned me up this far to let me fall again. I’m not doubting His power. If He can do all this for me in 16 months, He has made me a total believer. I’m just trying to be the best person I can be and do what I do best.

But now, I care for people. I have empathy for other people. I can see someone else hurting, and sometimes it’s a good thing and sometimes it’s not. I can feel for that person. I see how kids treat their elders today and it’s not right.

I always got someplace I can go and talk to someone. I’ve got too much family now, that’s y’all and NA. I’ll never be homeless again.

Terry believes that to be successful while living at BH and to get the most out of the program it takes following the rules, understanding what BH has to offer in regard to services, and utilizing the assistance that is provided by the staff. Terry expressed his gratitude for the many things offered at BH that he has been able to use in order to achieve his goals, such as assistance to return to school, recovery support and guidance, assistance finding employment and volunteer opportunities, and the many topics discussed in the BH groups such as improving self-esteem, developing deeper spiritual beliefs, and improving the overall quality of one’s life. Terry said that all of these things have helped him increase his respect for others, deepened his spirituality, and made him a more generous and caring individual.

One can easily see how Terry is “in action” here at BH, as he returns to school at Truman College on August 23rd to pursue his RN degree with a focus on pediatrics, works part-time as a server at South Water Kitchen in the Monaco Hotel, volunteers at the Chicago Area Service Office, attends community based recovery meetings at least five times a week, is actively sponsored, and is the co-editor of the BH Resident Newsletter. For Terry, success in life comes when one is able to listen, to learn, and to be open to new experiences. He lives by the motto, “Reach one hand out to God and the other hand to helping others and then there is not a hand to pick up.”

Congratulations to our July Resident of the Month Terry G. – Keep up the good work!

Name: Floyd

Age: 43

Hometown: Chicago

1) If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

France – I don’t know, I guess I would enjoy the culture of the people, the many things they have in their country, such as the food, art, the beautiful landscapes of France.

2) What is your favorite comfort food? 

Spaghetti

3) What is your favorite Chicago sports team?

Chicago Bulls of course

4) What singer/band do you always have on repeat?

Usher

5) What is the best advice you ever received?

You must go through some things to get where you are.

Alan wanted employment, and he worked hard to get it. But because of his alcohol addiction, keeping a job was another matter. Again and again, he lost jobs due to drinking, and each time, his addiction worsened. “After I was fired from my job of ten years at the country club for drinking, I went downhill. I started drinking every day. I’d have a pint of vodka to get me up in the morning, another to me through the day, and another to put me to sleep.” When he lost his job again, his wife told him she couldn’t take it anymore. Soon, he was homeless.

Life on the streets was unbearable. “I slept in abandoned buildings, I slept on rooftops, I slept in doorways,” Alan says. “I got beat up by young kids, I got bottles thrown on me, I got pissed on. It’s no kind of life for nobody. You lose your self-respect and all that.”

Alan was losing his health, as well. Already in his late fifties, he realized that he couldn’t keep living the way he was. So, after getting some clean time in a rehabilitation program, he found his way to Earl’s Place. The change in setting was a welcome one. “It was homely, it was cozy-like, it was nice,” Alan says, adding, “And it was safe.”

It wasn’t easy, though. He knew that it would take vigilance to keep himself off the streets. “Ain’t nobody can help you but yourself when it comes to drinking. If you put yourself on somebody else, you’re gonna fall down,” Alan says. “But you still need people behind you, too, like at Earl’s Place.”

Though he identifies more as a loner, living with a community of other men who also were striving to build lives after being on the streets was helpful for Alan. “We went to [Alcoholics Anonymous] meetings together and did everything together. That gave us strength,” he says.

Earl’s Place helped Alan get back to work and move into his own place. He hasn’t returned to the streets since he graduated from our program 6 years ago. Two years back, he retired from his job as a groundskeeper. He and his wife live frugally now, but it’s nothing they can’t handle at this point, he says. “I lost a lot of things in my lifetime. I had to start all over.” Thanks to the strength and determination he built for himself, he could start over this time with something he didn’t have when he had to make a life on the streets: his self-respect.

On December 22^nd, 2009 I was faced with a sobering reality. I realized I was that person you saw walking down the street arguing with himself.  I had been enslaved by the monster of addiction and for a brief moment a sense of clarity came over me and I realized that I was a robotic shell of my former self. It was at this time I knew I either had to face my addiction and get help or I would end what was left of my life.  At the time I have no idea why I chose to fight for my life and face the addiction head on, but I am very grateful today that I did.  The following day I checked into rehab with the help of a counselor from LA Gay and Lesbian Center.

Facing addiction was and is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do; little did I know that only a week later I would be dealt another blow.  On December 30^th, 2009, as a result of my behaviors in addiction, I was diagnosed with HIV.  I again was faced with a moment of clarity – either I face it head on or I give up and end it. The next week was really rough for me and I ended up leaving the rehab and using again.  The thoughts of suicide were all I could think of at the time. My mother, who was 700 miles away, knew that I was at the end of things and she never gave up on me. Somehow she convinced me to reach out to my family here in Illinois and less than 24 hours later I was on a flight here.

I left everything I knew behind in a desperate attempt to save what was left of my life.  I made the decision to face the fact that I was a drug addict who had lost everything and I now had HIV.  I knew I either faced it all 100% or I would fail and fall back into a personal hell I never want to experience again.  The journey has been rough and challenging. Each day I face fear and I do my best to live a new way of life.  Today I live my life full of gratitude.  When you are stripped down to nothing it’s amazing how much you find to be grateful for.  Each day that I wake up is a blessing and I try to live my life to the fullest every day.

For the first time in my life I feel like I have a purpose.  That purpose is to help others and give back what was so freely given to me, which was a chance at a new life.  Because of my experiences I am now uniquely qualified to help others.  I have compassion and empathy and I believe that I can take the things that many view as negatives, such as being an addict in recovery and having HIV, and I can rise above those things.  I can give back to the very communities that have helped me to save my life.  I am currently back in school studying Addiction studies and social work and I am doing HIV counseling and outreach.

I have also decided to challenge myself physically and run the Chicago Marathon and raise money for The AIDS Foundation of Chicago.  I have always wanted to give back to organizations such as Bonaventure House, Chicago House, and AFC which have been instrumental in my journey and I couldn’t think of a better way to do it.  That is why over the next several months I will train with The Team To End AIDS and push myself physically as well as raise money to support the AIDS Foundation of Chicago.    In order to be successful I need help from others in the community.  Please support me by going to
http://afc.aidschicago.org/netcommunity/chadthendry

Thank you for helping me to put my gratitude into motion.

“What we do for ourselves dies with us.  What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.” – Albert Pine

Last night, Sheila and I went to Center Stage on Calvert Street to see the latest show in the Stoop Storytelling series, “Gimme Shelter: Stories about Finding, Creating, and Losing a Home.” The series gives ordinary folks a chance to share stories from their own experiences, be they hilarious, moving, or tragic. Last night’s show was no exception, and it meant even more to us because one of the presenters was Luke Wesby, a former resident at Earl’s Place.

Luke talked about his long journey to become housed. He shared some painful details of the times when he struggled with addiction and had nowhere to stay, such as when he threw soda cans to keep rats away as he slept, and the day he says he saw a reflection in a window, and realized “that bum was me.” It was incredible to then see the pride on his face as he talked about how his persistence with Johns Hopkins’ Live Where You Work Program earned him his own house.

All of the stories were fascinating and spectacularly delivered. But the contrasts really hit home for me. In two hours, we heard about a family passing on a prized suburban home to other family members, and we heard from a young woman who at one point had lived under a bridge. We heard about renovating an heirloom log cabin in the Adirondacks, and we heard about dozens of children and teenagers being thrown out of their homes, only to be taken in by a father and his teenage son.

The stories highlighted the harsh contrasts that people experience in our country when it comes to access to housing. I think that’s incredibly valuable, so that we don’t become too enamored of our own stories, forgetting to offer aid to people who desperately need it. Every day here at Earl’s Place, men and women call us, looking for housing. I think it could be very easy to miss the fact that some of them have stories very similar to what we heard in Gimme Shelter. It reminds me of how imperative it is for us to help people looking for shelter.

You can watch the performance here:
Part 1
Part 2

What spoke to you in the show? Tell us in the comments!

On December 1st, 2010, LaShelle, a resident of Bonaventure House, spoke at a World AIDS Day prayer service hosted by St Joseph’s Parish in partnership with Alexian Brothers Bonaventure House.

Hello, my name is LaShelle. I grew up on the west side of Chicago. I am one of many addicts in my family. I have been an addict for 28 years of my life. I am now a recovering addict with 23 months of continuous sobriety. I was in and out of jail for a majority of my adult life. I did not raise my kids because I was more interested in chasing the dragon. The dragon, for those folks not familiar with addiction and recovery, is the feeling you get the first time you get high and all the pain goes away – my life was devoted to chasing the dragon.

The reason I was more interested in getting high and staying high was because of the pain and mental anguish of being raped. My kids saw me high all the time, but I kept telling them, “I’ll stop one day” but my kids grew up and their momma was still getting high. The last time that I went to jail, I said “that’s it, I’m not doing this anymore” because I was looking at some big time in jail. It was during this last time when I went to jail that I found out I was HIV positive. I knew then and continue to believe that I cannot return to the life of using drugs. So I went into treatment and did what was asked of me to stay sober. After completing treatment I applied and was accepted to Bonaventure House. Since I’ve been there, one year this month, I have grown in many ways I never could have imagined. They have helped me a lot – they showed me how to be honest, respectful, and independent. They helped me to enroll in school so that I can get my GED. They helped me do all the things I wouldn’t do for myself if I was still on the street.

When my kids saw that I was real, my little girl wrote a paper during drug awareness week and the paper is about drugs and me. I would like to close by reading that letter.

Drug Awareness

Drug awareness week means a lot to me because I can personally relate to drug abuse. I mean not speaking of myself and using drugs, but a very close friend and relative of mine – my mother, LaShelle. My mother was a drug addict for many years and I thought this thing would never stop. Day after day I cried to myself, “When will my mother stop doing this to me and my brothers?” I would ask myself why she would do this to us. As I am her only daughter, I missed out on having a mother teach me to be a woman or do mother-daughter things with me. When she was using, I just saw her when I saw her. Through all of this though, there was never a day that I did not love my mom. I still defended her honor when people teased me about my mom being a “crack head,” I still told myself repeatedly “she’ll get clean.”

Then as I got older, my mom was still living her life and she had been through so much, moving from house to house (if not staying on the street), going to jail for months at a time, then the last time she went, she told herself and her kids no more of this lifestyle. Then she told us something that really hurt me because of the way she put it. She said, “Would y’all turn yo back on your mother?” The answer was of course, no. So she finally got herself clean and sober and it was then that she told us she had been diagnosed with HIV. I cried a lot of nights thinking about this. How and why did it have to happen to my mama? But she told us, “Don’t worry, I’m gonna be just fine.” I didn’t believe it when she proved it to me. She has been sober now for over a year. She takes care of herself. She keeps active and she could care less what other people say about her.

I am so proud of my mom! I never thought she would come through for us but she did and I hope she continues the good work!

Members of the Ravens Roost #69 came to Earl’s Place this past Sunday, and what a game it was! The best part for us, though, was the great company.

One resident said, “This was the best weekend in my 14 months of being clean.” He’s always raving about how much he values his time in recovery, so that’s saying a lot!

We can’t express how grateful we are that the Ravens Roost #69 was so giving of their time and resources, and the residents are still talking about what a great time they had. What a great lead-in to the holidays!

Several of our residents went to the Supper Club to prepare and give out warm meals to anyone who needed one. They prepared a delicious meal of spaghetti, a service that was dearly appreciated.

The people receiving the meals weren’t the only ones benefiting from the experience. For the men of Earl’s Place, it was a chance to help people who were in a situation that they themselves had been in not long before. Indeed, some of the guys found themselves serving old friends.

It was that way for Sammy. Since he used to go to the Supper Club for meals when he was on the street, he saw many familiar faces — reminding him of the gratitude he felt when he ate there. It was meaningful for him to serve instead of receive food. “I get a lot out of helping the people there, because it used to be me,” Sammy said.

It’s amazing to me to hear the residents’ reflections on the experience. Many of them are just getting their own lives in order, but they still make the time and effort to help others who are trying to do the same. I admire so much what these men are accomplishing, and I likewise admire all the donors and supporters who keep Earl’s Place open for the men to keep accomplishing as much as they are. It’s a lot of effort, and everyone has their own struggles that they’re facing. I’m grateful to be volunteering at a place where I can be shown again and again the tremendous value of reaching out and giving back.

When I applied and interviewed to be a resident at Bonaventure House, I had identified as an “aggressive atheist” for the previous two decades.  (I may have left the word “aggressive” out when speaking with them, but I was certainly clear that I didn’t hold any religion or faith tradition.)

I was assured that there was no litmus test for residency as long as I was willing to be tolerant of other peoples’ faiths.  Having no other options, that was no problem — I was willing to be part of a Catholic recovery environment as long as they were willing to have me.

In the days immediately before moving in, however, I started to have the “vital spiritual experience” that the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous speaks of.   It wasn’t exactly a white-light epiphany, but there was definitely an awakening on the day before I moved in.  For the first time in over 20 years, I was able to understand and accept (back) into my life the notion of a Higher Power.

Since moving into the House three months ago, the Spiritual Care team has been a central part of my experience here.  Director Paula Addington and her band of loving volunteers have been invaluable in helping me understand and nurture my mustard-seed-like faith.  While never pushing any agenda, dogma, or set of beliefs, they’ve provided me with a program of reflection, discussion, readings, prayer and meditation that have been helpful beyond words in developing my nascent spirituality.

The approach they take is a very light one, with plenty of flexibility for each resident to get as much or as little attention and guidance as they want or need. I’m very happy to be a part of the community here at Bonaventure House as I continue on the path of rebuilding my life, and I’m extremely grateful that the Spiritual Care team is there to help me.

Mike M. is a resident of Bonaventure House.

This morning, Benjamin caught the teacher on her lunch break. “The way her face lit up, it looked like she just won the lottery,” he said. He mentioned how he was living at Earl’s Place and that he’d found the wallet on the way to a meeting. One of the colleagues of the teacher was so moved that she gave Ben $10. He tried to decline it, but she insisted. The most satisfying thing, Ben said, was being able to help her out.

“I’m glad I picked the wallet up, because it could’ve gotten in the wrong hands otherwise,” Ben told me this morning. “And a few months ago, the wrong hands would have been mine. I would have been at the ATM with a shirt around my head to keep the cameras from recognizing me, trying different PINs to get the money.”

Ben shook his head. “But the thought never crossed my mind to take any of the money when I saw the wallet. That’s what makes me happy.” Being in recovery from substance abuse is turning his life around, he says, and he’s proud of who he is now.

It’s amazing to hear about the changes men like Ben find in their lives once they get some support. Personally, it’s an honor for me to be supporting men like him in his recovery. I hope you’ll consider supporting our guys, as well.

–Ryan Collins

My name is Sharon Ryan and I want to start by thanking everybody for coming out tonight in support of those living with HIV/AIDS. I’m a resident at Alexian Brothers Bonaventure House, which is a two year, supportive transitional living environment that helps those who suffer with this chronic illness and are at risk of homelessness. I’m here to share some of my story. I’m here to tell you how my life was, how it became, and how it is now.  I need to reveal first of all though, that it’s hard for me to speak about myself in front of people. It’s hard for me to speak about anything, actually, in front of a large group of people. But since this subject matter is so close to my heart and since I’ve been personally impacted by this disease, I felt a need to overcome my fear of speaking and give this a shot. I also have some very persuasive people in my life who keep telling me I’ll do fine, so without further ado…

I was born and raised in Chicago and had a somewhat normal upbringing. I was taught right from wrong, good friends from bad, how to stand up for myself and how to avoid peer pressure. I was taught all about drugs and alcohol and sexually transmitted diseases. I knew my brain on drugs looked like a scrambled egg, I had met Officer Friendly several times, and I attended the mandatory sex education classes at my grammar school. Somehow, I still fell prey to the evils lurking out there, luring our youth into its life-altering grip.

I let my life slowly slip into the gutter, sooner than later not caring what became of me or my future. I didn’t realize it at the time, but the choices I made as a teenager would affect my life and my family’s lives for years to come. I dropped out of my freshman year of college and turned to a life of addiction. I did whatever I had to in order to feed that addiction, no matter who I had to hurt along the way and definitely not realizing, or maybe not even caring, that I was hurting myself.

In September, 2005, I received an AIDS diagnosis. Although I hadn’t been living the healthiest lifestyle, I was still shocked by the news and went completely numb for quite a while. My ignorance of the illness caused me to believe I would die, that the diagnosis might as well have been a death sentence. Over the next two years, I continued to live a completely destructive lifestyle, making some of the worst decisions of my life, all the while believing it definitely didn’t matter now because I was about to die anyway. I had been prescribed medicine at the time of my diagnosis, but I hadn’t been taking it. I weighed 96 pounds. My hair began to fall out from malnutrition. I was sleeping in parks and on the El trains. I had completely given up, and then my life was saved when I finally wound up in jail. I wish I knew what happened in there, because I would bottle it up and share it with anyone who’s going through what I was. But I had had enough. I finally decided that I couldn’t continue on like I had been- that my life was worth living and fighting for. And then I found Bonaventure House.

I had already made the decision to change, to become a productive member of society, but I had no idea how I was going to do it. I was homeless, I had this new criminal background, I hadn’t worked in years, my credit was horrible, and the list goes on and on. Luckily, I had the support of my family, but even they didn’t know how to help me. So I moved into Bonaventure House, somewhat skeptical, yet still hopeful. As open as I was to change, I was still stubborn. I wasn’t so receptive to having someone direct my life, but I had already made such a mess of it myself, I was willing to try a new perspective.  I found myself surrounded by peers dealing with the same issues that I was. I found myself surrounded by a caring, dedicated, and encouraging staff that were more knowledgeable than I was.

They offered a variety of services such as HIV support groups, occupational therapy, spiritual care, substance abuse counseling, and case management, as well as extracurricular activities to make sure that residents maintain a balance in our lives. I was given an individualized service plan, a personalized guide for me, based on my needs and wants, my personality, my goals, and my beliefs, with just a smidgen of regulation set forth by people who knew better than I did. I wasn’t just taught how to live again, I was shown. If it wasn’t for the open-door policy of every single staff member there and for my stern, yet supportive case manager, I wouldn’t be the strong, ambitious person I am today.

I’ve lived there for over a year and have less than that to go before I achieve my goal of becoming self-sufficient. I’m successfully completing the terms of my probation to be in full compliance with the courts. I’m working with lawyers recommended by staff to help fix my credit. I have a job, doing something I’m absolutely passionate about. I’m in college, determined to turn that job into a career. Most importantly, I’m in full control of my health, maintaining my medication and my relationships with my health-care providers to ensure that I’m alive and well to experience the success that I’m working so hard to attain. Four years ago I was convinced that AIDS had put me on my deathbed. Today I know that it was my ignorance and apathy that almost killed me.

I will forever be grateful to Bonaventure House and to people like each one of you for offering the support that changed a scared, unsure girl into a confident, optimistic woman. And on behalf of the people living with HIV/AIDS who are lost and about to find their way, I thank you.

Read my book to find out how you too can overcome these addictions no matter what obstacles or trial and tribulations come your way.  This book is truly life-changing, enhancing, and is truly an excellent book for any addict who is struggling to overcome all their addictions once and for all.  This book shows that it is possible to overcome anything if you are willing, open-minded, believing and trusting.  If you would like to read my book in its entirety, you can purchase or download it at
http://tinyurl.com/yfsvlny
.

Also, I will donate 50% of all funds generated from the sales of the book back to Bonaventure House.  I do this to show my gratitude and appreciation for the unconditional assistance that I have received and continue to receive throughout this two year transitional/sober living program.

Bill Abitong
Resident of Bonaventure House
set4life08 at gmail.com

P.S.  I truly encourage new residents and residents of either Bonaventure House or the Harbor to seriously “Hold fast to their dreams because if your dreams die–life is like a broken winged bird that cannot fly!”  So proceed on with what your dream in life is no matter what.  Just allow the God within you to show its magic by simply surrendering it all to the God of your understanding. Just trust and believe that your dream will come true, and you will be very amazed at the results.

Whenever you see him, Mr. Billy has a smile on his face, a welcoming attitude and even a hug for those he knows as friends. If you spend any time with Mr. Billy, it is easy to see that he has a close relationship with his Creator and Lord. It is a blessing to hear him pray, which he often does before the evening meal at the mission. Mr. Billy has a regular seat for chapel every evening that is front and center.

As a father figure he cares for the other men at the mission like family. He is looked up to as the patriarch of the Mission by many of the younger men that might not have had a father in their lives. Even though he doesn’t have a job to get to each day, he takes it upon himself to get up before all the other men at the mission so he can be ready to give the wake up call at 5:15am. He will walk through the dormitories and make the call of “rise and shine to get that breakfast right on time” until all the men are up. Then he will faithfully take care of preparing the drinks and keeping the dining room clean for meals.

Mr. Billy has a street vendors license that he uses to sell soft drinks and snacks. He doesn’t do it necessarily for the profit, because he sells not much over cost. He does it to provide the people around the mission with affordable snacks and to keep himself busy.

This is just a glimpse into the life of a seasoned saint. If you live in Birmingham or ever visit, please stop by the Brother Bryan Mission and meet Mr. Billy. Within a few minutes time, you too will have a new friend. Please remember Mr. Billy as he is facing another difficult struggle in life as he recently has been diagnosed with inoperable cancer.

Your Friend,

John Bryan

http://www.brotherbryanmission.com

Lake Point Tower 40th Anniversary Poster

Lake Point Tower’s lead architect, George Schipporeit, created the above poster to commemorate the fortieth anniversary of the building he designed.  We know how Mr. Schipporeit feels about LPT and were curious about how other architects do as well.  So we asked them.  Their responses appear below.  By the way, all respondents live in Lake Point Tower.  Do you wish you could, too?

1.  How important was the building’s design in your decision to live at Lake Point Tower?

Roberta Feldman:  The building’s design was key in my husband’s and my decision to live at Lake Point Tower.  It is the most handsome, significant highrise residential building in Chicago and only one of a few nationally.

Trish VanderBecke:   The decision to buy a unit in Lake Point Tower was based economic and that old adage “location, location, location.”  The decision to remain at Lake Point Tower for 20 years has been based on the daily experience of living with exceptional design.

Deever Rockwell: Very important.  Its views and park, the possibility of being IN the city without being stifled by the city.

Robert Blaich: The sweeping views from every vantage point made our decision to make Lake Point Tower our second home instantaneous.  There was really no competition compared to the other condos we looked at.  We found its enduring design, which has retained its modernism over the decades, enormously appealing.

2.  What do you as a resident and an architect appreciate most about the design of Lake Point Tower?

Roberta Feldman: The curving form of the building is not only exquisite, but also provides subtle changes in the views from each unit.  Our apartment, for example, allows city views at one end, lake views at the other, and Monroe Harbor in between.

Trish VanderBecke: The views, inside and out, the concrete column and slab construction that make it easy to create a timeless living environment. The private outdoor space of Skyline Park, all the building’s amenities and its location.

Robert Blaich: We never tire of the views, not only of the lake and the city but also of the park.  It was an amazing harbinger

Robert Blaich

of rooftop greenery that is now becoming a Chicago model for urban landscape design.

So there you have it, straight from the experts.  Any reactions?  Any comments?  Let us hear from you.

Upcoming:  LPT’s fabulous window washing machine.

Oh, and if you’re interested, George Schipporeit’s terrific poster will be available for purchase beginning in September at the Chicago Architecture Foundation Store on South Michigan Avenue and in the Lake Point Tower management office.

]]> http://lakepointtower.wordpress.com/2009/06/19/lake-point-tower-green-roof-pioneer/ Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:01:36 +0000 garydwilson http://lakepointtower.wordpress.com/2009/06/19/lake-point-tower-green-roof-pioneer/

Aerial view of Skyline Park, Lake Point Tower

P. K. (Trish) VanderBeke, an architect and long-time Lake Point Tower resident recently presented a paper at a conference in Atlanta.  The paper, Lake Point Tower: A Green Roof Case Study, had several interesting facts about Skyline Park.

For instance, Ms. VanderBeke notes that Alfred Caldwell, the landscape architect who designed LPT’s Skyline Park, was also responsible for such Chicago landmarks as Promintory Point and the Lily Pond at Linclon Park.

She goes on to say that Mr. Caldwell might well have been describing Skyline Park when he wrote the following about the Lily Pond:  “The garden…(is) planned as a sanctuary of the native landscape, a place sequestered from Megalopolis, the jungle of profound ugliness; a cool, refreshing, clear place of trees and stones and running water–

Skyline Park Waterfall

an exposition, in little, of the structure of the land…A small enlongated lagoon, made riverlike in character, flows through the garden.  This river, in a sense, has cut a channel through limestone, ancd the ledges are intermittently revealed.  A waterfall at one end is the river’s source.  The entire garden is planted as a forest.  A stone walk winds through the forest near the water’s edge…The planting is designed as an integral part of the native terrain and the stones.”

Skyline Park Lagoon, with Ducks

Lovely and ever so descriptive of what we at LPT walk through at will.

Let us know what you think of this and other posts.

Upcoming:  Commemorative LPT 40th Anniversary poster and an up close and personal view of our unique window washing machine.