“Homelessness in the River Region” will be the topic of a free community forum at Troy University’s Rosa Parks Museum on Thursday, Oct. 24.
A part of the Real Talk forum series, the event will begin at 6 p.m. in the Museum’s auditorium.
Panelists for the discussion will include Patrick Aitken of the Mid-Alabama Coalition for the Homeless, Pastor Ken Austin of The Hub, Tara Davis of Friendship Mission and artist Jim Hager, who’s exhibit “Homeless” is currently on display at the Rosa Parks Museum. The panel discussion will be moderated by Montgomery City Councilwoman Franetta Riley, who represents District 4.
“Homelessness is impacting communities across the country, including those communities here in the River Region,” said Donna Beisel, Director of Museum Operations. “I hope that this forum will help to raise awareness and enable participants to see those impacted by homelessness as fellow human beings. I also hope participants will leave with a better understanding of how they can help.”
Aitken, known on the streets of Montgomery as the “Homeless Whisperer,” has served as the Street Outreach Case Manager with the Mid-Alabama Coalition for the Homeless (MACH) for the last seven years covering five counties. Prior to that, Aitken served for eight years as the Missions and Outreach Director at River City Church in the heart of downtown Montgomery. He is also the founder and director of the H.O.M.E. program (Homeless Outreach Mission Endeavor), which is in the Luke 4 building at 2026 E. 4th Street in Montgomery.
Austin moved to Montgomery with the U.S. Air Force in 1983. In 2004, the Austins’ concern for the poor in West Montgomery led them to plant New Walk of Life Church and establish MAP (Ministry About People). This ministry soon grew, and they transformed a vacant home into Mercy House, which now provides more than 2,500 hot meals weekly, along with clothing, hot showers and laundry services for those in need. In 2018, New Walk of Life Church officially incorporated Mercy House as a 501(c)(3) to enhance its community service. Today, the ministry offers after-school tutoring, adult education and employs care coordinators who work full-time to serve those in need.
Davis is a nonprofit professional with a certification in Nonprofit Management and Leadership and more than 15 years of experience in the field. Currently, she serves as the executive director of Friendship Mission, which feeds, houses and resources persons in need in the Montgomery area. Her employment experiences cover many areas of nonprofit management, including various methods of nonprofit development such as grant writing and management, major gifts solicitation, individual donor campaigns and other fund development methods.
Hager was born and raised in California and has been making annual pilgrimages to Pietrasanta, Italy since 1992, where he took a sabbatical to learn marble carving at Studio SEM and bronze casting at Fonderia d’Arte del Chiaro. After leaving corporate life in 2017, he now works exclusively on his art. Hager’s installation, “Homeless,” is currently on display at the Rosa Parks Museum, and his inspiration for the exhibit came from the growing number of homeless in his home city of Oakland, CA. Hager decided to use his art as a tool to create awareness and bring about action around the issue. In doing so, he collaborated with the photographer Paola Tazzini Cha, an Italian who worked with Jim in Italy, and Bryan Hagar, an Emmy Award winning video editor and filmmaker on the project.
Riley serves District 4 on the Montgomery City Council and is retired from the Alabama Department of Corrections after nearly 30 years. She has spent her career working to educate young men and women to become productive citizens as they enter back into society. Riley believes in community growth and in working with churches and small businesses.
The Rosa Parks Museum continues collecting food and hygiene items for our local unhoused community through Oct. 26.
For additional information on the community forum or the “Homeless” exhibit currently on display, contact the museum at 334-241-8615.
