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People Seeing People |
Building Understanding, One Voice at a Time
 | Fall transforms to winter and we wonder how the days and months pass so quickly. We settle into the hustle and bustle of everyday life and often forget which path we chose to travel as time sends many twists and turns our way. When People Seeing People started, Gracie was a junior in college and Charlotte was a first year professor at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse. We, Gracie and Charlotte, could not predict how our story would unfold. |
Gracie: When I was in high school, I began talking to my aunt about my career path. I told her that I had no idea what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to change the world. A lofty goal, for sure, but in college, I began to find ways to change the world around me. I was working on my undergraduate degree to be a teacher and eager to change the world. Doe eyed, I walked into Charlotte’s office telling her just that. It was time to make a difference. Little did I know that three years later I would be writing this thinking about how the world has changed me, for the better. The people I have met, the places that I have been, and the things that I have learned have shaped me into someone that I can be proud of.
Charlotte: When Gracie walked into my office for the first time, similar to other students who walk through my door, I thought she wanted to approach me about course content, grades, or an assignment. She proceeded to make herself comfortable in a faded chair in the corner and talk about creating a ripple effect in a community where she found solace. I knew our conversation marked the beginning of something unknown and unfamiliar, yet altruistic for us both. The beginning stages of People Seeing People started with Gracie and I side by side serving meals to those experiencing homelessness.
Homelessness, mental health, trauma, and addiction impact us all in one way or another. Through People Seeing People and being everyday humans, we witnessed homelessness up close. We shed many tears as people shared stories of hopelessness and laughed at the simple joys that life brings us all. We walked alongside those who shared their trauma and stories of addiction. We listened and empathized as others divulged their personal stories with mental illness.
Charlotte: As Gracie progressed toward her degree, we continued to serve meals to those experiencing homelessness and started to learn more about the stories of people who worked with the homeless community and those experiencing homelessness. We interviewed people, shared stories, and spread the word to other people in an effort to denormalize homelessness and build empathy for others. We passionately started teaching elementary aged and college students more about homelessness–the myths, stereotypes, ways to take action, and how to engage with the community.
Gracie: When I started teaching, I had no idea my views on homelessness would completely flip upside down. How was I to have compassion for a drug addict hurting their child? How was I supposed to love a child all day long and let them go back into chaos? I sat in Charlotte’s house and I cried when I learned about another school shooting and I cried about a student who faced abuse at home. I asked her what the point of it was. Her own eyes glistened as she shared how she had similar feelings as a teacher. Seeing trauma in children and adults made me realize that I needed to learn more, and I started a master’s program in Trauma-Informed Education. Once again, my path started to unfold in front of me.
Our days on the ground with those experiencing homelessness where we gathered safety pins for broken tent zippers, camping size propane fuel tanks, and hooded sweatshirts remain forever embedded in our memory. We continue to think about the future of People Seeing People and how our platform will morph into something anew. As our lives change and unknown pathways carry us in everchanging directions we know two things for sure–we will continue to use our voices to bring uplifting change and action into our world, and our initial day of discussing how to help others created a lifelong friendship that turned into a chosen family. Often, when we think we know what remains sure and certain, something new comes along.
Gracie: Now in the midst of my first full year of teaching, I am once again welcomed with something unexpected, but heartwarming. Charlotte reached out and asked if I knew of a family that would benefit from Christmas gifts. An undergraduate student in one of Charlotte’s classes wondered if any families in the area needed holiday support. I quickly remembered an extended family experiencing homelessness who recently moved to the area. I reached back out to Charlotte.
Charlotte: The student who reached out sat in the same classroom that Gracie sat in three years ago wanting to make a difference. I listened to her story with a sense of hope for our world. A portion of a letter, shared with me, written by the student to her close family and friends read, “This year my hope is to create happiness in children who may not get the chance to receive gifts on Christmas.” After collecting donations from others, this student supported an extended family in our local community experiencing homelessness. Many families in our area who need support receive that support through local organizations and charities. This particular family moved so close to the holidays that meeting their needs by local organizations proved challenging, yet now hope emerged.
Sometimes in life we need to pause and take in the moment. This story represents the ripple effect that happens when we take time to lean into our own power to create change. Three years ago, we leaned into that power not knowing where that path would lead us. One drop of water or one ounce of hope, turned to action, creates a ripple effect that expands across a larger landscape. This week an extended family experiencing homelessness will benefit from someone who held onto hope and turned that hope into action to bring the spirit of Christmas closer to home. During this season of giving and all through the year, we encourage you to find hope and empathy for others and turn that hope and empathy into action. We hope you find your voice. Remember that you are enough. Your contributions, your heart, and your effort do not go unnoticed.
Moving forward, our mission for People Seeing People remains to not only denormalize homelessness, but also denormalize hate in a world where we need peace.
Happy Holidays,
People Seeing People
Gracie and Charlotte
Charlotte: When Gracie walked into my office for the first time, similar to other students who walk through my door, I thought she wanted to approach me about course content, grades, or an assignment. She proceeded to make herself comfortable in a faded chair in the corner and talk about creating a ripple effect in a community where she found solace. I knew our conversation marked the beginning of something unknown and unfamiliar, yet altruistic for us both. The beginning stages of People Seeing People started with Gracie and I side by side serving meals to those experiencing homelessness.
Homelessness, mental health, trauma, and addiction impact us all in one way or another. Through People Seeing People and being everyday humans, we witnessed homelessness up close. We shed many tears as people shared stories of hopelessness and laughed at the simple joys that life brings us all. We walked alongside those who shared their trauma and stories of addiction. We listened and empathized as others divulged their personal stories with mental illness.
Charlotte: As Gracie progressed toward her degree, we continued to serve meals to those experiencing homelessness and started to learn more about the stories of people who worked with the homeless community and those experiencing homelessness. We interviewed people, shared stories, and spread the word to other people in an effort to denormalize homelessness and build empathy for others. We passionately started teaching elementary aged and college students more about homelessness–the myths, stereotypes, ways to take action, and how to engage with the community.
Gracie: When I started teaching, I had no idea my views on homelessness would completely flip upside down. How was I to have compassion for a drug addict hurting their child? How was I supposed to love a child all day long and let them go back into chaos? I sat in Charlotte’s house and I cried when I learned about another school shooting and I cried about a student who faced abuse at home. I asked her what the point of it was. Her own eyes glistened as she shared how she had similar feelings as a teacher. Seeing trauma in children and adults made me realize that I needed to learn more, and I started a master’s program in Trauma-Informed Education. Once again, my path started to unfold in front of me.
Our days on the ground with those experiencing homelessness where we gathered safety pins for broken tent zippers, camping size propane fuel tanks, and hooded sweatshirts remain forever embedded in our memory. We continue to think about the future of People Seeing People and how our platform will morph into something anew. As our lives change and unknown pathways carry us in everchanging directions we know two things for sure–we will continue to use our voices to bring uplifting change and action into our world, and our initial day of discussing how to help others created a lifelong friendship that turned into a chosen family. Often, when we think we know what remains sure and certain, something new comes along.
Gracie: Now in the midst of my first full year of teaching, I am once again welcomed with something unexpected, but heartwarming. Charlotte reached out and asked if I knew of a family that would benefit from Christmas gifts. An undergraduate student in one of Charlotte’s classes wondered if any families in the area needed holiday support. I quickly remembered an extended family experiencing homelessness who recently moved to the area. I reached back out to Charlotte.
Charlotte: The student who reached out sat in the same classroom that Gracie sat in three years ago wanting to make a difference. I listened to her story with a sense of hope for our world. A portion of a letter, shared with me, written by the student to her close family and friends read, “This year my hope is to create happiness in children who may not get the chance to receive gifts on Christmas.” After collecting donations from others, this student supported an extended family in our local community experiencing homelessness. Many families in our area who need support receive that support through local organizations and charities. This particular family moved so close to the holidays that meeting their needs by local organizations proved challenging, yet now hope emerged.
Sometimes in life we need to pause and take in the moment. This story represents the ripple effect that happens when we take time to lean into our own power to create change. Three years ago, we leaned into that power not knowing where that path would lead us. One drop of water or one ounce of hope, turned to action, creates a ripple effect that expands across a larger landscape. This week an extended family experiencing homelessness will benefit from someone who held onto hope and turned that hope into action to bring the spirit of Christmas closer to home. During this season of giving and all through the year, we encourage you to find hope and empathy for others and turn that hope and empathy into action. We hope you find your voice. Remember that you are enough. Your contributions, your heart, and your effort do not go unnoticed.
Moving forward, our mission for People Seeing People remains to not only denormalize homelessness, but also denormalize hate in a world where we need peace.
Happy Holidays,
People Seeing People
Gracie and Charlotte
Picture Description: This image displays gifts in bags and wrapped Christmas presents placed on a couch and small coffee table. The gifts are the ones provided to the family in our local community.
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3/1/2025 04:08:55 am
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