Mark Stansbery, Free Press Board member, again did a fabulous job facilitating the first Free Press Second Saturday Cyber Salon in 2025 on January 11.

See Video here.

The theme was “Organizing for the challenges of 2025, from despair to active resistance! - Housing First!”
The first speaker was Kate-Curry-DaSouza, a former longtime Near East Area Commissioner and Columbus City Council District #7 candidate. Kate spoke about Housing First!, that means that everyone deserves housing, and how we must work with public officials to understand this with dialogue moving to action. She talked about the criminalization of the houseless and how they are blamed for their problem. She explained that she’s on the short list for an appointment to Columbus City Council and the problems with the current “ward” system that forces candidates to still run at-large. Check out Kate’s website here.

The second speaker was Ben Colburn, also a former Commissioner. He works with Maryhaven Engagement Center, a temporary shelter for houseless people with substance issues, and is active with encampments including the Camp Shameless community. He mentioned how people end up in tent encampments because they don’t get into or don’t fit into the shelter system. He has helped put together several camps. He told us how the City of Columbus shuts down most of the camps, most recently on December 18.

Although houselessness is at an all-time high in Columbus – chronic homelessness grew 47% over the past year -- and affordable housing is not available. Ben believes that once Trump is in office, the situation will get worse for houseless people. Kate agreed that the needs of the houseless are not met.

The third speaker was Verbz, who started Hear We Our, LLC,  a warming center and safe space for people on the streets at 2016 Sullivant Avenue. His philosophy is to provide harm reduction and meet people where they are. His facility has food, cots, a tent, heaters, a shower, washer (currently broken) and dryer, and a place to hang out 24/7. Verbz funds the center with his own money and is in need of donations and supplies.

Donate at one of these options:
Venmo--@oursyaheard 
Cashapp--$verbzyep 
Paypal--xliijkk@gmail.com

Read Verbz’s recent Free Press article here.

Winie Wirth announced that there are a lot of other warming stations around the city.  She also asked: if people have food, roaster or crock pots or clothes, sleeping bags, hand warmer, call me and I will pick up. Winie - 203-859-2971

Kate mentioned some ways to reach people about the houseless issue: signage that is dynamic - does your information move? Can it be on a bus? That moves but is static in its message- once printed it's committed. Can the message be updated rapidly? A plan to be on social media is fast and accessible to those who use it. Can it reach a lot of people - profound reach could be postcards - but there is an expense and it may only reaches those who have a consistent address for mail.

There was also discussion about closing public schools. Read about it here.

Lynn Stan shard this link https://www.strongtowns.org/events -- an org that is trying to help grassroots citizens who want to help.

She also announced the next free Simply Living film:
We Are The Guardians
Sunday, January 26 @ noon
Studio 35 Cinema and Drafthouse
Experience the power of We Are Guardians, an award-winning documentary exploring the fight to protect the Brazilian Amazon. Follow Indigenous forest guardian Marçal Guajajara and leader Puyr Tembé as they risk their lives defending ancestral lands from deforestation, while illegal logger Valdir faces a moral and economic dilemma. Directed by Indigenous activist Edivan Guajajara alongside environmental filmmakers Chelsea Greene and Rob Grobman, and executive produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, this film is a compelling story of resilience amidst crisis.
Editor's note: A link to purchase tickets is coming soon, but for now, you can get more info and let us know if you plan to attend by visiting this link.

And she announced an upcoming Comfest event:
Sunday, January 26, 2025
12-3pm networking
3-6 pm party
Seventh Son Brewing Company, 4th Street at 4th Avenue
Attend if you want to participate in a conversation about Comfest, suggestions welcome.           

Tekla Lewin reported that her husband Willie Lagway’s parole hearing is January 30. Here is how you can help by signing a petition and writing a letter to support him.

Mark Stansbery reported on the Old First Third Space event on MLK:
True Peace is the Presence of Justice
An afternoon of music and conversation on behalf of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Third Space” project:
Old First Presbyterian, 
1101 Bryden Road. 43205
January 18, 2025
2pm - jazz sax player from Cleveland.
3-5pm – community meal and conversation

Steve Caruso announced Harvey Wasserman’s next Green Grassroots Election Emergency Protection Zoom call on Monday, January 13 at 5pm.

We thank Steve Caruso for helping out as tech guru for these salons.

Send articles for the Free Press to: colsfreepress@gmail.com.

The next Free Press Cyber-Salon is February 8.

Hope to see you there!

Pete Johnson
President, Columbus Institute for Contemporary Journalism
Contact: 614-253-2571
colsfreepress@gmail.com
Freepress.org
Columbusfreepress.com