Local residents banded together Wednesday, Oct. 14 in the Bell Memorial Union auditorium to bring awareness to the issue of homelessness and to brainstorm solutions to the problem.
Greeters assigned guests to numbered tables, which were covered with papers providing information on homelessness statistics, upcoming events with a similar purpose and resources available to the homeless in Butte County.
The event was named “Who are The Soloists among us?” in reference to this year’s Book in Common, “The Soloist.”
“I’m here because I read the ‘The Soloist’ and I’m very intrigued by the topic of homelessness and mental illness,” said Tammy Wichman, a senior social work major, before the event began. “I’m just interested to see what different ideas people come up with to address community issues.”
President Paul Zingg opened the event by speaking about the importance of combining understanding with action when it comes to community issues. Chico Mayor Ann Schwab, who spoke of her compassion for the homeless and her experiences with a two-day stint of self-imposed homelessness, spoke after Zingg.
A three-minute video then played, displaying interviews from local homeless people.
After the video, cellist John Mescall played a piece, then the focus turned over to a panel of four people.
The panel was made up of Meagan Meloy of the Butte County Homeless Continuum of Care, Rick Reynolds of the Butte County Behavioral Health Search Program, Dwane Walker, a former homeless community member and volunteer at the Iversen Center and John Rucker a former police officer and Chico assistant city manager.
Katrina Davis-Woodcox of the Chico Downtown Business Association was slated to appear on the panel, but did not attend due to illness.
The panel focused on putting a face to homelessness and sharing statistics to display the prominence of the issue.
The event moved on to roundtable discussions. Every table received questions for community members to discuss while a note taker recorded the ideas to be collected at the end of the event.
Once questions were discussed, every table submitted a single idea for change to a Web site made just for the event, then each table transcribed that idea to a three-foot Post-it note.
The Post-its were put up on the walls of the auditorium for people to read and mark with little dot stickers in approval during a 20-minute break, when refreshments were served.
The event then closed with statements from Andy Holcombe of the Chico City Council and Bill Such, executive director of the Jesus Center, who promoted the effectiveness of altruism and the importance of reaching out to people.
“I think it’s a great event,” said Chico Police Chief Michael Maloney. “I think the challenge for this community will be to follow through and keep the discussion going.”
Anthony Siino can be reached at
asiino@theorion.com
