Welcome to the third issue of Seasons, the Spring 2017 quarterly online newsletter of Marty’s Place.
As the Seasons editor, I must apologize for the delay in getting our third issue up online. There has been much turmoil in the lives of all involved in the production of Seasons, some of it evidencing great growth and progress at Marty’s Place, some of it just a nuisance (like the three compression fractures in my spine that have kept me out of commission for four months!). But here we are, again, full of Spring’s hope and promise.
We start this issue with Michael Rouppet’s “Message from the President,” which pays tribute to Richard Purcell and the original print editions of Seasons and looks ahead to possibilities under the new Administration in Washington DC. Marty’s Place resident Laure M. contributes the poem “Love Logic” (and has promised other biographical material and a photo or two, pronto!). And Marty’s Place community outreach Committee Co-Chairman Chip Supanich contributes “1995: Kevin M,” an excerpt from Chip’s yet-to-be-published memoir of homelessness, addiction, resilience, recovery and rebirth in San Francisco in the face of the AIDS epidemic. Chip has been an activist and advocate for the homeless and HIV communities for many years; this except from his book details Chip’s experience as a homeless HIV-positive man finding housing in San Francisco. And finally, my own contribution is a reprint of a blog I wrote for A&U: America’s AIDS Magazine in response to the new Administration in DC and our need to continue fighting back – still!
For the first time, we’ve managed to get all the Marty’s Place residents together for a family photo shoot. The phrase “motley crew” comes to mind… It helps to have a healthy sense of humor, especially these darkening days!
From top to bottom, and left to right: 1. Paul Crowell - versatile maybe? Dog: Yankee; 2. Izzy Munoz - a definite power bottom. Dog: Rufus; 3. Blaise Martin - mostly top, I believe. Dog: Coco; 4. Laure McElroy - aggressive top; 5. Michael Rouppet - versatile, guuuurl. Dog: Riley; 6. Craig Anderson - probably vers... I'll ask; 7. Dominik "Myrna" Mollica and her crabby apples - a cranky bottom.
Chip’s piece in this edition reminds me… If you’d like to be involved in the exciting growth of Marty’s Place as a community resource, please consider becoming a member of the Marty’s Place Community Outreach Committee. This committee, open to all committed members of the community, is charged with shaping and producing and publicizing the various community-centered activities at Marty’s Place. The committee meets once a month (again, check our Calendar) and provides the opportunity to make Marty’s Place your community center. I hope you’ll join us.
We hope you’ll enjoy this edition of Seasons. Our goal here is to explore and report on the intersection of HIV/AIDS and homelessness or inadequate housing. As we use Seasons to explore that intersection and to get to know the residents at Marty’s Place, we seek out other voices from the community, the voices of people who have lived at that intersection. Including YOUR voice. We look forward to hearing from you!
Hank Trout
Editor, Seasons