Storytelling can be transformational for both the storyteller and the audience.
Our Speakers Bureau is made up of active CCH grassroots leaders with lived experience of homelessness. Their speaking engagements are hosted by schools, universities, and civic groups, reaching about 2,000 people annually. Speakers educate community members on homelessness by sharing their personal experiences, answering questions, and providing opportunities to engage with CCH advocacy efforts.
Speaking topics include:
- Community organizing and support to emergency shelter programs
- Youth homelessness and issues impacting unaccompanied young people
- Affordable housing access for families experiencing homelessness
- Educational rights of students experiencing homelessness
- Securing job training and living wage employment
- Community reentry and resources for people impacted by the criminal legal system
Schedule a speaking engagement:
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Meet Our Speakers
Myron Byrd is a grassroots leader with CCH. He experienced homelessness in 2010 when his mother passed away. Myron felt he had hit rock bottom until his niece opened her home to him. Myron doubled-up with his niece for a short period of time before moving to a shelter where he found resources and a path to permanent housing. Myron dedicates his free time to advocating for people who are experiencing homeless because he believes housing is a human right. Today he shows that passion by volunteering his time with CCH.
Gloria Davis grew up on Chicago’s South Side in the Robert Taylor public housing projects. While growing up, Gloria witnessed violence and hardship in her neighborhood. She became involved with drugs, a struggle she lived with for many years. In 2013, Gloria became homeless and entered treatment at the Haymarket Center. Since then, Gloria has advocated with CCH for an increase in the state minimum wage and with the Reentry Project. Gloria has talked to dozens of legislators about measures that would end barriers to housing and jobs for ex-offenders. Gloria wants to be “a voice for those who feel they have no voice.”
Patricia Franklin, born in Chicago, is a grandmother of three CPS students. Patricia first experienced homelessness when she lost her husband back in 2015. Her one-income household quickly caught the eye of her landlord who evicted the family, claiming the apartment was too small for Patricia and her grandchildren. They were forced to find refuge in a city shelter. Feeling unsafe, they left the shelter and doubled-up with friends and family without disclosing that they were experiencing homelessness. After a full year of instability, Patricia and her grandchildren finally found permanent housing.
April Harris first experienced homelessness with her husband and two young children in 2014. Originally from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, they were forced to relocate to Chicago for safety reasons. Navigating their way through the shelter system in Chicago was not an easy task. April and her family experienced homelessness for two years before finally securing housing through LUCHA. April’s family is her strength and fuel to continue her advocacy work for those experiencing homelessness.
Charles Jenkins is a founding member of the Speakers Bureau, active at CCH for 25 years. He first became involved during shelter outreach, buoyed by the realization that “good people are out there fighting for change.” After getting involved in a CCH campaign to create affordable housing, Charles was inspired to address his homelessness. A long-time community activist, he is a leader with Men Making a Difference. Charles is a family man who enjoys challenging an audience to get involved in the fight to end homelessness. In March 2019, Charles was invited to join the CCH Board of Directors.
Cassie Sahler was 17 when she became an “unaccompanied youth” – homeless and on her own, following the sudden death of her mother. Living near Joliet, Cassie couch-surfed with friends before moving to Chicago. She lived on the street before finding help from several youth and housing providers. Cassie was active with the Lakeview Action Coalition and a leader in CCH’s longtime HELLO youth group. Now a mother herself, Cassie is glad to be a part of the Speakers Bureau because connecting with people can change views on poverty and homelessness.
Taishi Neuman is a mother of four who experienced homelessness on-and-off since her teen years. She worked as a certified nursing assistant, but has relied on a disability income after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. A founding member of the CCH Education Committee, Taishi was a strong advocate for an updated policy guiding Chicago Public Schools’ treatment of homeless students. Her activism comes from her desire to dismantle stereotypes of homeless people.
Tim Bell and twelve siblings were raised in a two-parent household in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. His first experience with homelessness was as a teen due to an addiction to drugs and alcohol. Tim spent the majority of his young adulthood in and out of prison or living doubled-up. In 2006, Tim was hurt in a car accident and two weeks later suffered a massive stroke that left him in a wheelchair, unable to walk. Through his recovery, he never lost his faith and hope in God. Today Tim is housed, sober, and able to walk again.
Robert Henderson was one of nine kids raised by his single mother. He became involved with a gang at age 17 and began using drugs. For years, Robert was in and out of prison until he met his mentor, who helped him see that he wanted to change for himself. Robert made the choice to do a drug treatment program. Robert was living on the street when he first met worked with CCH as a legal client. In 2018, he became the first person to win a settlement under the Illinois Homeless Bill of Rights. Today Robert is housed in a seniors’ facility and volunteers at a soup kitchen and with CCH. His faith has impacted him greatly in his journey.
Maxica Williams first faced homelessness after getting a cancer diagnosis. A single mom with four children, Maxica had to make the tough decision to pay for treatment instead of rent. She and her children lived at two different family shelters in Chicago. She also struggled to secure SSI disability income due to her employment history, despite battling breast cancer. Life improved after her family secured permanent supportive housing in April 2017, and she was diagnosed to be cancer-free. Maxica has testified in Springfield in support of increased TANF support for low-wage families, is a leader for Bring Chicago Home, and joined the CCH Board of Directors in March 2019.
In Memoriam
Leeanna Majors learned a great deal from her experience with homelessness. As a prostitution survivor, low self-esteem was her greatest enemy. Her first step to recovery was learning to care for herself. She was motivated to talk about her life experience because she wanted people to understand how we can come together and make change. A founding member of the Speakers Bureau, Leeanna saw that after people heard her story, saw her face, and understood that hers is the face of many, they could believe in their ability to make a difference.
Edrika Fulford lived with her mother while serving as her caregiver. Her mother died on Easter Sunday in 2014. Soon after, their home was foreclosed, forcing a grieving Edrika to try to gather 50 years’ of belongings in two hours. Hoping not to burden anyone else, Edrika spent the first few nights sleeping on public transit and washing up in public bathrooms. After her loved ones found out, Edrika doubled-up with friends and relatives for three years before securing permanent housing, Edrika volunteered as a leader with the Bring Chicago Home campaign and was a founding member of the CCH Mutual Aid Fund, which was later renamed in her honor.
Photos of Charles Jenkins, Leeanna Majors, and Cassie Sahler by StoryCorps .
