Breaking the Cycle Toledo Streets Staff October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The theme of this issue is Breaking The Cycle. This theme does not come lightly, as this topic includes diffi cult and uncomfortable subjects. I want to make our readers aware that throughout the next few pages you will fi nd potentially disturbing content. Some of the content may include graphic references to topics such as sexual abuse, self-harm and suicide, violence and other possible triggers. I believe that opening such challenging topics up for discussion may help victims and survivors in their healing process. However, if you are not comfortable or ready to confront a personal trauma, please use caution reading through this issue. If you feel triggered, please know there are resources available to support you and I have noted them below and throughout this publication. Our intent for theming this issue “Breaking the Cycle” is to celebrate those who have broken the cycles they have found themselves in while acknowledging the courage it takes to do so. We also empathize with those who fi nd themselves in what feels like an endless loop of hopelessness. Often what we fi nd is that breaking the cycle requires support from others. We pride ourselves in walking beside our vendors as they begin to discover the cycles that impact their lives and support them as they embark on the most diffi cult part of the journey, which is the fi rst step. As diffi cult as it is, we know that we cannot make the change for others. Many people have experienced the frustration of seeing someone they love in a harmful cycle. Although we cannot do it for them, we believe that they likely cannot do it without us (or another support system), just like we have needed in our lives. So we will stand next to our vendors as they face the daunting cycles that surround being unhoused and living in poverty. We will celebrate the profound accomplishments and be a safe place to fall if those cycles start to repeat. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-8255 National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233 Toledo Rescue Mental Health and Addiction Services 419-255-3125 3350 Collingwood Blvd, Toledo, OH 43610 Take Action The Buck Starts Here Toledo Streets and its vendors are a powerful, community driven solution to the problem of homelessness. Our vendors earn their way out of their individual situations through a collaboration of journalism, local business partners and their own hard work. Use these four steps to be a part of the solution. Meet Vendors Buy a Paper Get Informed • Vendors -- the people who sell the paper -- are at the core of Toledo Streets' mission. Each year more than 70 indiviuals work as vendors with Toledo Streets. At any given time, more than 25 vendors are at work, in the rain, snow, or heat. Vendors play an active role in the management of TS, meeting regularly to discuss issues of concern and even serving on our board. • With the money made selling the newspaper, vendors are able to secure basic needs, independence and dignity, and work toward obtaining housing. Vendors buy papers for a quarter and sell them for a $1, keeping all income and tips from each sale. Toledo Streets tries to tie its editorial to three basic principals: • Inspiring Hope, Fostering Community, and Cultivating Change. We are a member of INSP, a global organization of street papers around the world which provides us with content relevent to social justice, homelessness, and street community around the world. • Donate to the organization and give vendors experiencing homelessness and poverty a hand up. It supports not only the paper but also issues throughout NW Ohio. • Volunteer your time and expertise and help the organization grow. • Share Toledo Streets with your network, and tell people about the organization. Page 3
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