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Person First Project – Reaz

Raez

Person First Project is a photo blog that seeks to give those currently or formerly experiencing homelessness in D.C. the chance to share their stories. In doing this, we hope to reduce the barriers that separate people in D.C. and spark a dialogue. The Person First Project aims to connect us – and to make us all feel a bit more human.

“I like all my poems because they’re my writing. It’s a form of therapy for me – a form of escapism. I can escape from my reality, which is this. With words you can’t really explain everything, but when you put it down into structured words – then you can think.

My sister knows that I’m staying around here but she doesn’t know where. A lot of homeless people are like that, they don’t want their family members to worry about them. I’m healthy, I’m getting fed, I’m not sick. Mentally I may be a little bit… it’s a lot of mental stress. I do get depressed, I won’t deny it. I get stressed out and depressed. This kind of situation where you see the same faces every day and you see the same situation – it’s very depressing. The overall mood in shelters – there are a lot of sick, depressed, unhealthy people walking around. And when you see that every day it depresses you. Sometimes I get suspicious, like is this guy following me? But the thing is, I just see them every day so it seems like they’re following me, but they’re really just there. You see the same faces every day and sometimes you feel irritated because of it, so it’s a nice change that I’m talking to you today. Doesn’t happen every day.”

-Reaz in NoMa

Author’s note: Reaz is currently in a semi-permanent housing situation.

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Calling all bookworms, thrill-seekers, supporters of the arts, and ping-pongers at all skill levels! Sign up for Paddlestar Galactica, the ping-pong tournament supporting 826DC’s youth writing programs.

826DC is a local nonprofit that offers free writing programs, homework help, and publishing opportunities for DC students ages 6-18, in our Columbia Heights writing center and in learning spaces across the city.

Paddlestar Galactica helps keep writing education 100% free and accessible for all of our students! It’s also extremely fun.

This year’s games will be Saturday, April 27th, 1 PM to 4 PM at SPIN DC. It’ll be a chaotic afternoon of ping-pong, costumes, terrible Battlestar Galactica puns, and good cheer. We’d love to have you join us!

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Submit your own Announcement here.

Well-Paid Maids, the only certified living-wage cleaning service in the DMV, has added a new service to its online booking menu: office and building cleanings.

This includes offices, building lobbies, shared amenity spaces and more throughout D.C., Arlington, Alexandria and more.

Unlike so many other cleaning services, you can feel good booking Well-Paid Maids to clean your office or building. Cleaners get paid a starting wage of $24 an hour. Plus, all employees are offered health, dental, vision and life insurance; 24 paid days off per year; 100% employer-paid commuting costs; and more.

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Submit your own Announcement here.

Vakili Band at Pie Shop!

Three band rock n rolll lineup at DC’s Pie Shop! Vakili Band with “if you know, you know” DC rockers, Lot 18, and the many minds and songs of artist Kind of Christine.

“If you love Vakili Band like we

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