Name: Samuel Curry-Levine

Social Justice Group: 2021-2022, Homelessness—Communities of Color and Children

Date of Fieldwork: February 10, 2022

Name of Organization and person (people) with whom you met and their title(s):Judith Mack

Type of Fieldwork: Interview

What I did and what I learned about my topic, activism, social justice work or civil and human rights work from this fieldwork?[:: :

On February 10th, we were able to meet with Judith Mack. Judith is a learning specialist at LREI middle school. Unexpectedly to us, Judith is connected to Shams. We had an interview with Shams and it shocked me that they knew one another.

I learned how they got connected. When Sham’s and many other people experiencing homelessness were living in the Lucerne Hotel, and were at risk of being moved downtown to the financial district, Judith and allies came to form Friends and Fidi. They helped make free store-like ideas and care packages for Sham and others. They came in contact and Judith continued to tell us how amazed she was of Shams. Together, Friend and Fidi, and Open Hearts stayed connected and helped a lot of people experiencing homelessness. I never realized how a group of people could make such a big ripple effect of positivity.