Final Project JOMC 220: Homelessness

Homelessness

Students who attend North Carolina A&T State University may be aware of the enormous number of homeless people in the city of Greensboro. Those who are homeless are most likely in a similar financial situation just as more than the 650,000 estimated homeless people in the United States.

While the homeless face difficult hardships every day, their situations are often ignored. While some people do help the homeless, some adopt an attitude of “ignorance is bliss”. Instead of ignoring them, those who encounter a homeless person should make an effort to help the poor and needy, even if that help may be a smile or short conversation.

“[People] help us a lot out here, more than everybody [believe] they do.” says James B, a homeless man living in Greensboro from Wilson North Carolina. “[Holding up a sign] is about like a regular job.”

 The U.S. tends to be a guilt-driven society, where people will often go to great lengths to avoid feeling bad about their actions, or inactions. The most extreme example of this is the “bystander effect,” where individuals fail to help in an emergency situation. There is a tendency to think that if we look the other way when someone addresses us on the street, we won’t feel so bad about not giving away our food or money.

 Some may not always have something tangible to give, but the alternative does not have to be a complete disregard of someone’s existence. Maybe one has a dollar that they do not necessarily need; a homeless person would be overwhelmed with just that one dollar bill.

 “I am o.k. if [people] give me food or money, but I would prefer to get money so I could go get exactly what I need. [People] do not know what you need, they give what they think you want.” said Joseph R.

 There are many political and social debates about the best things for helping the poorer class of society. Such as increasing the number of jobs available, expanding or contracting the welfare system, or just encouraging Americans to become more of a “volunteer society.”

 Changing how we interact with the homeless won’t do much in the way of helping fix their financial situation and America’s poverty problem. But the first step to solving any social issue is acknowledging that it exists and recognizing the major component of the problem.

 Once we realize that many of the people who live on the streets are not necessarily there because they lack skills or knowledge, our attitudes about programs to help the homeless might change, and our respect for others will grow.

 Recent major findings show that there are 636,017 homeless people in America. 67,495 of those individuals are veterans.

As of 2008, there were 12, 371 homeless people in North Carolina. 3,643 people in families, 2,216 of whom were children. 1,054 identified themselves as veterans of military service. 1,961 identified themselves as having a serious mental illness. 4,206 identified themselves as having a substance use disorder. 1,108 identified themselves as being a victim of domestic violence. 6.5 percent of people identified themselves as having been released from the criminal justice system. 6 percent of people identified themselves as having been released from a mental health hospital or drug treatment program.

According to its website, “The North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness is a statewide membership nonprofit created to secure resources, encourage public dialogue, and advocate for public policy change to end homelessness. NCCEH seeks to create alliances dedicated to changing the current system to end homelessness by addressing root causes and challenging North Carolina's acceptance of today's pervasive homelessness. Because we know this pervasive homelessness has not always existed, we know we can end it. NCCEH's policy agenda is focused on bringing about an end to homelessness through prevention, increased access to and flexible funding for services, affordable housing production, increased funding for housing and homelessness programs, and targeting policies that exacerbate poverty.” This program offers various incentives the benefits those who are struck by homelessness. For more information on how to get involved, please visit the website at www.ncceh.org/.

A Day in the Life - Slideshow

Derick Smith: Views on the Upcoming Election



Derick K. Smith, a political science professor at North Carolina A&T State University, was asked in an interview to share his views on issues in the upcoming election. During this interview, Smith showed himself to be very intelligent and knowledgeable about things that are going to affect our county in the near future. With one week left before for the 2012 presidential election between President Barak Obama and Mitt Romney, Smith is nervous about the outcome in this election. However, he is aware on some of the things that could possibly change the lives of many Americans. In the interview Smith shares a lot of great insight about the upcoming 2012 presidential election. He is interested in seeing what the results of the election will be, just as any other American.  Smith is a graduate of Fayetteville State University, and has always considered his self to be a political scientist. It began when he was just a child.

JOMC 220: What are your views on Health Care?

Smith: Health Care is a big issue in this year’s election. Candidate Romney has said that on day one he would repeal the Obama Care. However, he has also mentioned that his likes several things about the Obama Care but he still plans to repeal if he is to be elected into office. Candidate Romney has done the same thing for the state of Massachusetts and he should not be in opposition to a universal plan, which covers everyone, unless he just really loves the people of Massachusetts that much more than any other Americans.

JOMC 220: What are your views on immigration?

Smith: Immigration is not as big of an issue as it has been in previous presidential elections, particularly in the primary election. The Obama Administration has come up with some great incentives. The issue is mostly with Mexicans and the southern border, but good things like allowing young people whose parents has come to the country illegally, to stay and go to school to get a good education. However both President Obama and Candidate Romney are in adequate when it comes to a plan.

JOMC 220: What are your views on early voting?

Smith: Early voting is a great thing! I am glad about people having more time to get to the poles and making sure that their vote counts. I think that the closer you move towards universal suffrage, and removing any barriers to voting is a good thing. So giving more time for people to get out a vote is a really good thing. 

JOMC 220: What are your views on education?

Smith: It hasn’t been a big issue advertised in this election, just only when it has come to our education’s failing. A lot of students like Obama’s position on Pell grants and increasing opportunity for grant money. Another good thing is the student loan deferral program which allows students to pay their loans based upon their salaries whenever they receive a job.

JOMC 220: What are your thoughts about demographics in this year’s election?

Smith: Social identity politics, also known as demographics is what American elections are really about. Everybody is looking at gender gaps. For example, is the African American population going to come out as they did in 2008? Will the Hispanic population vote for Obama? Social identity politics are still apart of American elections. Even though it’s not always discussed in fear of the race card, it’s always there.  It’s all about social identity politics.  

The 15th Annual High School Media Day

 

 

"You get to be apart of history," were words from WFMY Reporter Morgan Hightower that brought excitement to the faces of students who attended High School Media Day at North Carolina A&T State University.

 

High School Media Day is an annual event hosted by the university's department of Journalism and Mass Communication and offers area high school students insight about careers in the news media. Students came from Winston Salem, Asheboro and Greensboro.

 

Hightower was a speaker in the session titled Media Careers. Assisting Hightower with the session was journalist Kymberli Hagelberg, who is currently the Digital Motor Senior Digital Editor for News & Record.

 

Morgan Hightower (right)  and Kimberli Hagleberg (left) speak to students who attended High School Media Day at NC A&T.

 

 

The 50 minute session began with greetings from Gail Wiggins who currently serves as the interim chair for the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication. Both speakers then gave a brief biography of their experience in the media field. Hightower, a 2010 graduate from the University of Florida said how she started out in print journalism as a news writer for two years. She recently landed a new job a WFMY.

 

Hagelberg said her career began when she worked for Billboard Magazine. She also mentioned the highlight of career covering  Hurricane Katrina.

 

 

"How much money do you make," was one question for Hightower. Hightower responded saying, "you won't make any money on your first job." She explained her story of how after she graduated from college, she thought she would be highly hirable.

 

 

 

 

 

"It's a huge commitment" said Hagelberg. Students began to laugh and chuckle at the thought of not so much pay starting out, but also, after learning about how much work is involved for such little pay. Hightower explained how, as a TV Reporter, she has to do a 1:30 second news story to be aired on television, write a web story, and photograph a story all alone. Hagelberg then interjected and said "you have to communicate with your audience the same way you consume." Students wanted to get to know how reporters and writers find stories. The simple answer for that question was that you must have sources. 

 

 

Hagelberg left students with what she referred to as "stupid tips." She told them that shaking hands and asking for a business card shows assertiveness and makes people remember who you are. She also encouraged students to blog, watch others who are in the industry such as anchors, reporters or writers, and to also be a good writer. Hightower added, "You must be a good writer; writing is a gift."

 





Meet Richard Cannon

 

 

 

 

 

 



 Driven to touch the lives of other through motivational speaking, Richard Cannon plans to become one of the greatest leaders of the United States. On April 12, 1993 Cannon was born in Charlotte, NC. A sophomore now at North Carolina A&T State University, he is the youngest of three children. Cannon Believes that becoming a motivational speaker is his calling from God. "What motivates you," a question asked during an interview. Cannon's response was "the non-motivated." Cannon enjoys seeing those whom he surrounds himself with be successful and enjoying their lives. Cannon states, " I have a hard time accepting people who sit and let life pass them by."

 

As a son of two pastors, growing up in the church and being in ROTC at NC A&T, Cannon has developed his leadership abilities. Attending church was not a problem for young Cannon because it afforded him the opportunity to do what he loved doing the most, helping and leading others. "I've been blessed with two great parents who are motivational speakers in their own right," Cannon says. Cannon's inspiration is his father who has constantly imparted knowledge and wisdom into Cannon and his family since he was young. He has also shown Cannon what a man is supposed to be like when it comes down to taking care of and providing for his family.

 

 

Cannon, who is a journalism and mass communication major with a concentration in public relations, has goals that he has set for himself. To accomplish his goals, he is keeping his GPA higher than a 3.0. Currently holding a 3.25, Cannon works very hard to make good grades. In high school, Cannon was a class clown who was never taken serious, so he decided to join ROTC to gain respect from his peers. In doing so, Cannon found a great interest in the program and what it had to offer. Through ROTC Cannon was able to go to Wake Forest games for free, meet life long friends, and apply values in his life. Cannon is excelling in the program. He scored a high of 99.7 percent our of 100 percent on his physical fitness test and he currently holds the lead position of state officer. Cannon expresses ROTC as a program that elevated his life to new levels. One of his ultimate goals is to become a family man, so within the next five years he would like to be married and starting his family. Whatever Richard does, he just wants to make his parents proud.

 

Cannon believes his strengths are being physically fit, a good communicator and a great listener. "The legacy we leave tomorrow is the legacy we are building today" by Pat Williams, is Cannon's favorite quote. His father, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, and Eric Thomas are his heroes. The latest book that Cannon has read is titled "Leadership Excellence" by Pat Williams. Reading books is one of Cannon's hobbies, along with getting active in physical activities. Where there are strenghts there are also weaknesses. Cannon considers his two main weaknesses are that sometimes he puts himself before the team which doesn't always come out to be the best thing to do. However, in high school Cannon could not read fluently. This weakness has ecouraged Cannon to become a better reader and try to beat what tried to beat him.