Street roots
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13
Human Library opens up the dialogue on difficult topics
BY TERRIS HARNED
When I asked Kastner and Harris how
this compares to formal interviews or
ave you ever been reading a book or
lectures, they offered the following: “We
news article, or watching a
hope this is a lot more interactive than just
documentary and found yourself
a speaker in front of an audience. We’re
wanting to ask a question of your own? Have
hoping for some discourse and dialogue,”
you ever really wanted to know what was
Kastner said. “We welcome everyone to the
going on inside someone else’s head, but
conversation.” Harris compared the project
were afraid to ask? Well, that’s what
to her radio show: “There’s a lot of
Librarian Alison Kastner was hoping to help
similarities, in that, one thing we try to do
alleviate when she decided to coordinate
is talk to people about their firsthand
Multnomah County Library’s adaptation of
experience...”
the Human Library project, “A Mile In
One obvious difference's that it’s a live
Their Shoes.”
audience, Harris said. “So people can see
The idea is to take one curious audience,
as well as hear each other. Also, on “Think
one person with a lifetime of experience to
Out Loud” we usually invite several guests
share, one host, and create a recipe for
who talk with each other and bring different
communication and understanding. Each
experience or perspective to a conversation.
session will involve a Q&A session with the
This will feature one person with a unique
host, Emily Harris of OPB’s “Think Out
experience; we hope the audience will help
Loud,” and also an opportunity for questions create a dialogue.”
from the crowd. People are encouraged to
When Kastner first approached me in
check out other human beings.
February with an offer to participate, I was
“It’s an opportunity for people to exercise flattered. I saw in this a chance to advocate
their curiosity in a safe place, and to
for myself and my friends who sleep
challenge stereotypes,” Kastner said.
outside, to educate and inform.
“Perhaps (people are) worried that they will
Also speaking will be Muna Abshir
be viewed as ignorant, or racist, or any
Mohamud is a Muslim woman, originally
other number of things that prevent a
from Somalia; and Jessica Richardson, a
conversation getting started. The Human
victim of human trafficking.
Library project offers a safe place to
As for m e/J have been homeless off and
overcome those barriers.” Overcoming
on for about 9 years. I have to admit, next to
barriers is something Street Roots is
those two, I feel almost intimidated; .I don’t
intimately familiar with.
think my story is quite as impressive as
C O N T R IB U T IN G W R ITE R
H
Terris H am ed is a
Street Roots vendor
■
■
(
theirs, but as anyone who has met me while
I sell Street Roots will
testify, I have the gift
of gab, and love to
share that story with
Mile In My Shoes
others. It will also
All Human Library events will take place at
help answer people’s
Central Library’s US Bank Room;
question about what
801 SW 10th Avenue
it’s like to live outside, Phone: 503-988-5123
and hopefully some of
the why.
What’s it like to be Muslim?
While I was
Muna Abshir Mohamud, Somalian-born
speaking with her,
Muslim and civil rights advocate.
Harris shared her
Saturday May 7 ,1 -2:30pm
enthusiasm for the
What’s it like to be Homeless?
project
Terris Hamed, homeless advocate.
“It gives a chance
for people to talk to
Saturday May 21,1 -2:30 p.m.
the guests. I hope it’s
What’s it like to be a victim of human
going to be a forum
where people can ask trafficking?
Jessica Richardson, human trafficking
questions that they
really want to know,
survivor and Gresham businesswoman.
that they haven’t felt
Sunday June 5,1-2:30 p.m.
they had another
For more information, go to www.multcolib.
place to askrthem.” I
org/events/mile_shoes.html
couldn’t agree more.
Kastner says that if
attendance is high,
and feedback is
positive, she would
like to see the program continued in the
future. I look forward to seeing you all
there!
I’d like to thank all the people who
attended the Powell’s
Smallpresspalooza. I sold ten
copies of the book I read from
(Jason Breedlove 1065131) as
well as several copies of a fictional
short story I’ve written called “The
Junkie Manifesto.” I also gave
away over 30 copies of my
dally desktop calendar.
Reading Frenzy and
Powell’s carry both of my
books as well as my short
story. My latest book and
short story are also on
Kindle. My book of short
stories should be out by
June 2011.
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