HIVE BE GOOD
Hive be Good is an organization that uses social gatherings to shape culture and change our world. Run by two Poly parents, Mr. Matthew Lillard, and Ms. Harper McDonald, both veterans of the entertainment industry, their organization's goal is to encourage civic engagement by "getting people smarter about issues affecting their world, creat[ing] fellowship with others who share the same passion for doing good, and collaborat[ing] toward solutions that stir social action." Hive Be Good has partnered with numerous local organizations and causes including nonprofits Homeboy Industries and Write Girl.
On Thursday, February 22, 2019, Ms. Lillard brought together local nonprofits, government agencies, community members, and Poly students and faculty to address the issue of homelessness. A powerful testimony was given by a woman who had suffered on and off from homelessness for almost a decade after unexpectedly losing her job, and who now works with the City of Pasadena Department of Housing. Her testimony gave voice to critical issues that homeless people face: a lack of a safety net, a feeling of hopelessness, a depersonalization and detachment from society, and a lack of recognition regarding the prevalence of homelessness and housing insecurity that people in cities like Pasadena and Los Angeles face due to the exorbitant cost of housing.
We spent time brainstorming on the causes of homelessness and recognized that our paradigm had shifted as a result of hearing about how typical homeless is, even if it is hidden from view. We also discussed ways that we might help at a local level with actionable items. The evening ended with people signing up to learn more about and to support various issues at hand related to homelessness. I walked away with a better understanding of how the concerted efforts or a small group of people could make a significant impact on the social safety net.
For more information, please visit:
Comments
Post a Comment