The Art Center’s First Friday Has A Special Message

Homelessness in America, and in Grand Junction, is at crisis level. This month First Friday event at The Art Center takes on this crisis in a unique way.

Here are the latest statistics according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness

• In January 2015, 564,708 people were homeless on a given night in the United States.
• Of that number, 206,286 were people in families, and.
• 358,422 were individuals.
• About 15 percent of the homeless population - 83,170 - are considered "chronically homeless” individuals.

Faces and Voices: Homeless in America is a multimedia exhibition designed to educate the public of the day-to-day experience of the homeless. At this event, you will have the opportunity to hear a variety of people share stories live rather than via audio interview.

Each guest speaker comes with a unique perspective on homelessness, shaped by direct or indirect experience. One will read a story he wrote about an incident in his life that “changed everything.” Local author Charlie Quimby will share from his novel Inhabited. Come explore the lived realities of these panel members and discover similarities, differences, and your own point of view.

We encourage anyone to bring an item from the wish lists provided by HomewardBound of the Grand Valley to benefit the lives of those in need in our community this winter.

The goal of the exhibit, said Avery Glassman, curator of programs and exhibitions for the Art Center, is for those seeing it to “take in new knowledge and new opportunities for empathy and to find ways that make sense for you individually to contribute to this cause.”

The Art Center First Friday's are always great. The first one in 2017 takes the event to a whole other level. Please plan to attend.