LISTEN: The Struggles of the Homeless in Philadelphia (1995-96)

In January of 2010, the Poverty Initiatve, a group based in New York that aims to reignite Dr. Martin Luther King's Poor People's Campaign, visited Philadelphia for an immersion tour. The tour highlighted the history of the struggles of poor people in this city. Willie Baptist and Liz Theoharis, of the Poverty Initiative,  shared stories about the struggle of the homeless in 1995 and 1996. They recalled two pivotal experiences in which included a homeless tent city near the Liberty Bell and the takeover of an abandoned church in the Kensignton section of Philadelphia.

This piece was produced by Gregory Jordan-Detamore for On Blast, the Philadelphia Student Union's youth-produced radio show.
 

Willie Baptist and Liz Theoharis speak to a group in front of St. Edwards church.