I lucked out and got one of the last seats available to an amazing play called Alice in the Underground, written by Cassidy Phillips with help from teens in the Street Advocacy and Outreach Program (SOAP) in Fairbanks, Alaska.
SOAP’s mission is to provide protection and support for teens who are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless.
Many of the actors in the play have been or are homeless. They delivered poetic, gut-punching monologues about living with meth-addicted parents, being abandoned at truck stops in the middle of nowhere, and spending nights under bridges when the temperature was twenty below zero.
I spent most of my teaching career working in a small school for at risk teens and what I heard and saw on stage Friday night rang true.
I had many students who were homeless. Some got kicked out of their houses, others fled from abusive situations, and some ran because it was the best choice they could make at the time given their specific circumstances.
I have lots of great memories of connecting teens with books, taking them camping and ice fishing and bowling. And I have a slew of memories of breaking up fights, being threatened, meeting with angry parents, and occasionally dealing with weapons and drugs brought to school. But the first image that jumps into my mind when I think about my former job is greeting each student as they walked through the door and just trying to meet them where they were.
One of the actors last night said something like: When you see one of us on the streets just remember that we’re human, just like you.
Here is the quote, compliments of Security Guard in the comments below:
“As the warm sun returns and the ice breaks keep in mind the winter. Keep in mind my story. And when it is cold and you see me alone wandering the streets remember me… Remember that I am living and breathing this cold air with you.”
I am glad you were able to go to that performance and that you shared your thoughts with us. I know that your book will have insights into your thoughts and experiences and I am intrigued. I hope I can make differences in others lives one day, as you have done.
Thanks, Jon. I feel very fortunate that I was able to get in to the show. The teen actors were amazing!
Wow- it sounds like that was a powerful performance. I’ve had students who are homeless too and it always breaks my heart. There are a variety of reasons why they’ve ended up where they are. It’s a good thing that there are adults out there looking out for them and that there are avenues like SOAP and Covenant House to help them.
Stephanie, you’re right, programs like SOAP and Covenant House can really help stabilize a kid’s life. On any given day there are approximately 500 homeless/runaway teens in Fairbanks.
Hey Paul! Man, I knew you were cool, but the work you have done for teens is ultra-amazing.
These groups bless my heart. I love to see people act instead of complain and do nothing. Thanks for giving us a glimpse.
I love what you said about trying to meet them where they were. Love, love, love it! Thanks pal.
I hope the writing is going great. ^_^
Thanks, Robyn. I forgot to mention that the play was a fundraiser and some of the teen actors are also artists and their artwork was on sale after the show. You make a good point about acting instead of complaining.
Wow, that sounds gut-wrenching! What an amazing idea. I bet there weren’t very many dry eyes in the house!
Portia, it was an intense play, especially the monologues. It also showed the incredible resolve of teens, and humans in general. And there were some funny parts too.
That sounds like a good performance, and that message about people being human is something that more people need to be reminded of.
Thanks, Alissa. That one line really stuck with me. I wished I had the quote word for word.
“As the warm sun returns and the ice breaks keep in mind the winter. Keep in mind my story. And when it is cold and you see me alone wandering the streets remember me… Remember that I am living and breathing this cold air with you.”
-Raven, written by Cassidy Phillips
Security Guard, Thank you! That is just the quote I was remembering. I will add it to the post above!
Wow–do you miss your work? It sounds as though you were good at it. I know they miss you.
Terri, I do miss teaching but am really loving writing full-time. If I had to predict the future I’d say that I will probably have a balance of writing and teaching but for now I am happy to put my energy into writing.
Paul, that sounds like a great performance and an awesome organization. I love the title of the play. My husband has done a lot of youth outreach here in Minneapolis. It is so interesting to think of how much teens as a group scare off many adults but all the more homeless/street culture teens. They are absolutely like an underground culture. How cool to give those youth a voice and a story. As you will with your writing too! Yay, cool post.
Oh, and you absolutely should read Swati’s book, Split. This post made me think of it all the more (I keep saying all the more!).
Thanks,Tina. The play was amazing and moving. And, I do have to read Split. It’s on my list!
I’m actually picking up Split right now. It’s the next book in my pile. Paul, thanks for sharing this experience with us. I hope it opened some eyes. (Not yours, of course, which are always open to this sort of thing). It’s amazing how being human is universal, and how everyone can connect on some level. That our differences aren’t ever too big to overcome.
Heather, I feel fortunate to have attended the play. It’s easy to get caught up in my own little world when I am writing. Enjoy Split. I hope to read it soon.
Wow. What a powerful play. It’s so sad to hear what these people are going through. It’s great that you have gotten involved and have made a difference.
Thanks, Dawn. It was powerful. I spent 15 years teaching in that school. It was empowering to reawaken that part of me.
These are the stories that tug at me and these are the kids I write about. Thanks to people like you, some of these abandoned kids find their way.
Thanks, C. Lee. I look forward to reading your stories!
It sounds like a fantastic show.
It is not easy working with at-risk kids, but it is rewarding, especially when many of them can move beyond their pain and tragedies.
Thanks, Medeia. This play was very much about kids moving beyond their situations. Even though it was intense and sad, it was also hopeful.
Paul, I really admire your dedication to helping these teens. What an awesome role model you’ve been, and giving them unconditional love when maybe no one else in their lives has.
Jody. I really enjoyed my job. The kids easily taught me as much as I taught them. You bring up a good point about meeting them unconditionally. Thank you!
I’ll never forget the first time I heard the term throw-away kids. It makes my heart hurt.
Thanks so much for telling us about the play, the kids, the people who give them a place to tell their stories.
Wow, my heart is breaking but I’m inspired too. Wish everyone had a home and loving family. Thanks for writing about this.
As adults we too often believe our role is only to teach, when in fact we frequently learn more from our students than we impart. Insight into the minds of at risk youth is so important. In Vancouver we have Covenant House, and SYJA (Street Youth Job Action) and other youth centres, but it seems they’re all adults trying to impose help on youth. The presentation you attended sounds awesome. It’s wonderful to see the youth themselves taking action.