Invitation to Community Forum, including schedule

1. Community Forum
March 15th
, 2012
First Lutheran Church
463 Maria Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55106
The Face of Homelessness within Our Community:
Healthcare Challenges
You are invited to attend and participate in a Community Forum on March 15, 2012,
from 3:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., with a community dinner to follow the Forum. The community
forum will focus on understanding the realities of families who are experiencing homelessness
within the St. Paul area. The aim of this forum is to promote critical dialogue to reach policy
makers and the public about health concerns. Pictures and stories by family participants
(through a Photovoice methodology) who are experiencing homelessness in the St. Paul
community will be shared and discussed. The National Guidelines for delivery of care to the
homeless will also be discussed.
Local policy makers and leaders within the state and community have been invited to
attend and encouraged to be a part of a crucial conversation regarding the needs of the homeless
within our community. The overall aim of the forum is to improve methods for delivery of care
and services to meet the needs that are identified by the families experiencing homelessness
within our own community.
The tentative schedule for the evening is as follows:
3:00­3:05 Welcome, Chris Berthelsen, Pastor, First Lutheran Church
3:05­3:30 Overview of Photovoice Assessment and Results
3:30­3:35 Greetings from Senator Al Franken’s office, presented by Katie Topinka
3:35­3:50 Patrick Harris, former St. Paul City council member
3:50­4:20 Personal experiences of homelessness
4:20­4:55 Facilitated focus groups
5:00­5:25 Jim Koppel, Minnesota State Health Deputy Commissioner
5:25­5:40 Nancy Homans, Policy Director, Mayor Coleman’s office
5:40­5:45 Thank you and Summary
5:45­6:30 Meal with community
7:00­7:30 Opportunity for further discussion
Photovoice display­ The pictures and stories shared by homeless family participants will be on
display during the afternoon and evening.
“There’s nothing that only one person can do.
Everyone’s got to join together to do it” (Photovoice participant).
Thank you. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact
joyce.bredesen@metrostate.edu