8 Billion Ones
The YOU MATTER Movement
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BACKSTORIES

Our “Backstories” share a deeper ‘behind-the-scenes’ look at some of our stories, exhibitions and experiences in the making. It gives a snapshot into the moments that collectively went into creating the work we get to do every day. Sometimes it’s a more intimate portrait of one of our team here at RB/8 Billion Ones, and sometimes it’s about one of our incredible story heroes. Regardless, it’s our way of showing you a little more transparency so you get to witness the magic in so many of these moments the way we do.

Mrs. Bradley’s 5th Grade Class “The Greatest Gift”

Written by Amy

A few weeks ago I got an email from my daughter’s school, Eugene Field Elementary, about Mrs Bradley’s 5th Grade class who recently visited The Road I Call Home exhibition at the Springfield Art Museum. The class was so moved by the stories and portraits of our homeless friends that they made an action plan to help the homeless in our community. Randy and I were so impressed by their willingness to take action, I had to visit with these awesome kids!

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I was thrilled when Mrs Bradley invited me to sit down with her class and ask them questions about how The Road I call Home impacted them. Mrs. Bradley said that the initiative to help the homeless was the student’s idea. The class plan includes collecting food and personal items over the holidays. They have made over 150 cards with beautiful and inspirational holiday messages of hope for people struggling with homelessness. The class also found a Youtube video about creating sleeping mats out of plastic grocery bags and decided they wanted to make waterproof mattresses for the homeless sleeping on the streets.

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I was brought to tears one of the 5th grade boys raised his hand and said to me, “I was touched by The Road I Call Home. My mom used to be homeless. Everyone can be a great person if you give them a chance. They just want a chance.” Another little girl said, “For me it was reading all of the stories. A lot of the time it was not their fault that they were homeless. They just want us to know that they are people too.”

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I am incredibly encouraged and inspired that these 10 and 11 year old children are acting on the message behind The Road I Call Home. They see our homeless friends as people with an important story to share. They understand that the homeless deserve respect, dignity, and love; and they are doing something about it.

Mrs. Bradley volunteers every Tuesday night at Gathering Friends for the Homeless where she helps provide meals for our homeless neighbors. She is proud of her class for taking the initiative and says, “These kids are doing what they can now. I have no doubt that they will continue to have compassion and a willingness to help those who are less fortunate as adults.”

Thank you to Mrs. Bradley’s 5th grade class. You are walking examples of what this Christmas Season of joy and giving is all about. The greatest gift we can give is compassion, love, and hope.

If you would like to support the efforts of Mrs. Bradley’s 5th grade class by donating items, please contact Mrs. Bradley at dbradley@spsmail.org. And if you are looking for a very special activity over holiday break, I encourage you to visit and experience The Road I Call Home: Stories and Portraits of our Homeless Friends at the Springfield Art Museum. The exhibition is at the museum through February 2020.

Every 5th grade class in the Springfield Public School system is visiting The Road I Call Home at The Springfield Art Museum. So cool!!!!

Every 5th grade class in the Springfield Public School system is visiting The Road I Call Home at The Springfield Art Museum. So cool!!!!

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