Jean Newsome, Nurse Practitioner, put pen to paper and gave rise to the voice of so many victims who are homeless in America, to say that victimization does not extend into the place were sleep may be more than a notion would be an untruth.
In her book, Homeless Hearts, Jean gives us a peak into a world where it can sometimes seem colder than most, and survival a matter of life and death.
This book tells the life story of 12 women and the path that led them to the shelters where Jean met them. As a nurse for over 30 years, she had no idea of the life events and trauma that people can experience. To look at her sitting here with me, I can only imagine who she was before this. Her eyes and the passion in her voice, tell ME a story. I didn't know her before this very moment but I can tell that she was definitely changed by what she saw and heard.
Her words do not come so easy....Jean says, "that until we understand the CYCLE of what we can be in, then the cycle cannot be broken" As I am waiting for her to gather her thoughts and regain her composure, her silence is almost deafening in a room that is busy with the hustle and bustle of bloggers and interviewees.
As Jean continues, she tells me that this book is about 12 life stories representing violence, mental illness, addiction and how they got there and why they are still there. It is explained in their own words and not hers.
I ask the question why did you write the book? Why not just go in, do your job and get back to your own life? She said that did all those things, until one day when she sat down and actually had a one on one conversation with each of one the women. She listened to their stories and what happened in their lives. Once "she" heard the stories, she knew that the world and lives of these women had to be shared with those of us, who live without presence of their existence nor their circumstance.
This is an education for the public, of the people, by the people and for the people. Textbook theory and ideology had no place for what these women have experienced, this is for the coffee and couch the blanket and pillow.
The back cover of the book gives a summary of it's purpose..."Many books have been written about homelessness and homeless women. Homeless Hearts is the first book to let those women speak for themselves."
For additional information contact and order: HomelessHearts@Gmail.com
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