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Shifting the narrative on homelessness in America

Opinion

Shifting the narrative on homelessness in America
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David L. Nevins
By David L. NevinsMay 26, 2023
David L. Nevins
David L. Nevins serves as publisher of The Fulcrum. Additionally, Nevins serves as co-founder and Board Chairman of the Bridge Alliance. Nevins brings business acumen, vision and a tireless this-must-and-can-be-done zeal to the burgeoning movement to bridge divides to transform the political process. As a business leader, Nevins excels at building bridges between people and organizations from the right, left and center for civilized conversation and then action. He co-founded the Bridge Alliance because, as he says, “No matter how well managed and how well funded anyone organization is, significant political reform will not happen without an alliance to further collaborative interactions. Together we can and will raise the collective impact of all.” He is a member of the Aspen Institute Society of Fellows, with a focus on the Aspen Rodel Fellowship in Public Leadership, he established and continues to work with The Nevins Democracy Leaders program at Penn State University. Nevins graduated with honors in economics from Penn State in 1969 and received an M.B.A. in finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1971.
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David Nevins is co-publisher of The Fulcrum and co-founder and board chairman of the Bridge Alliance Education Fund.

The statistics for homelessness in America are truly shocking. The number of homeless people in America as calculated by The Department of Housing and Urban Development and in December of 2022 in their Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) Part 1 to Congress. The report found 582,462 people were experiencing homelessness on a single night in January 2022

Unfortunately it is easy to become numb to the statistics and forget about the human suffering each homeless person is experiencing.

To solve the problem we must first shift the narrative surrounding homelessness from statistics and economic impact to the individuals experiencing it. Only by highlighting the human element, we can foster empathy, understanding, and collective action to address the underlying causes and provide meaningful support.

A soon to be released film by Robert Craigs Film, No Address is doing just that. This full feature film shares the story of a group of individuals experiencing this national epidemic due to various personal circumstances. The film reminds us of the human side of those struggling.

Dr. Robert Marbut has worked on issues of homelessness for more than three decades: first as a volunteer, then as chief of staff to San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros, next as a White House Fellow to President H.W. Bush (41, the Father), later as a San Antonio City Councilperson/ Mayor-Pro-Term and as the Founding President); CEO of Haven for Hope for five years.

The touching storylines are pulled from the countless hours spent by producers visiting shelters, missions, and organizations that are on the front lines of providing services and solutions. With a direct mission to bring awareness, empathy, and personal activation through this movie, Robert Craig Films is collaborating with corporate partners who share the same vision and wish to support people who need a helping hand to establish a safe and secure life.

This movie is about a group of people that are experiencing homelessness and realize they must bond together as a family if they are going to survive. They all have no address, but earlier in life they did. The day-to-day struggle on the streets is emotionally charged with uncertainty at every corner. Shelter, food and ongoing safety threatens their daily life as each one of them has arrived on the streets through unexpected circumstances. While meeting a few gracious advocates along their journey, the family finds a refreshing new hope to live and get their lives back. Homelessness can happen to anyone… even you and I.

Homelessness isn’t someone else’s issue. It impacts every community in America. Let us address this epidemic together as one.

The following trailer describes the mission and vision of the full length film.

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Academic Tracking in K-12 Schools: Improving Achievement or Widening Gaps?

This nonpartisan policy brief, written by an ACE fellow, is republished by The Fulcrum as part of our partnership with the Alliance for Civic Engagement and our NextGen initiative — elevating student voices, strengthening civic education, and helping readers better understand democracy and public policy.

Key Takeaways

  • Tracking is widespread and begins early. Currently, 75 percent of eighth graders nationwide are affected by tracking and the process begins in first and second grade.
  • Successful detracking requires adequate support. Districts that detrack with enough support and resources for both teachers and students can narrow achievement gaps without lowering performance.Successful examples often come from communities with extensive resources.
  • Research on the impact of tracking on achievement is mixed. Some studies show tracking benefits advanced students at no cost to others, but other studies have shown the opposite; minimum educational gains with significant costs in equity.

What is Academic Tracking?

Academic tracking is the practice of assigning students to different classrooms based on earlier academic achievement or perceived ability. It affects approximately 75 percent of eighth graders nationwide and begins as early as first and second grade. Unlike temporary ability grouping, where a teacher might divide students into small groups for a single lesson on fractions, tracking sorts students into specific pathways such as remedial math, regular Algebra I, or honors Algebra I, with math being the most heavily tracked subject in American schools.

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