In the heart of downtown Los Angeles lies the homeless community of Skid Row where thousands of people dwell in the streets in their tents and cardboard boxes. To them, Skid Row is home.
All ages and races can be found in this fifty block area that is filled with violence, prostitution, vermin, human defecate, and used needles. Amidst them volunteers stop by to distribute water bottles to the residents of Skid Row. Moorpark College student Kris Dowling, 20, doesn’t agree with only giving out water for those living in Skid Row.
“It’s like giving a starving kid a lollipop,” he said.
Dowling is the founder of the group Skid Row Update. Together the group, also known as “The Board” aims to make a difference at Skid Row. The group goes and gives companionship to those living in the slum. They communicate and socialize with the people of Skid Row.
“They’re just human beings,” said Dowling, “We walk the streets of Skid Row to get a better idea of what’s going on and what needs to be fixed.”
What started as a Senior Project worth 10% of Dowling’s final grade in high school impacted more than just his class grade. Dowling had heard about Skid Row from a friend and planned to film the people of the streets for his project and be done. However it impacted him more than he had thought.
“It changed me because I saw things I didn’t expect to see,” Dowling said. “I felt like I had to do more.”
The Skid Row group goes at least once a week and the group walks the streets usually from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. The Los Angeles Times described the streets of Skid Row in their Oct. 2005 issue,
“It’s like the set of a Third World refugee camp, backlit by the L.A. skyline,” wrote Steve Lopez.
When “The Board” isn’t on the streets, they work on projects to improve Skid Row. From Sept. until the end of Oct., they hosted a sock and shoe drive. The donations are to be distributed among the community of Skid Row, but before giving them out they will tape the Skid Row Update logo inside of the shoe as well as a list of emergency contact information for places to get help; shelters, transition houses, supportive housing and testing facilities. The final count of shoes and socks donated for the drive was about 150.
“It’s another way to help them in the long run,” said Dowling.
Karyn Childs, the director of events for “The Board,” also has big plans for the team. Next on the agenda is a bake sale. Anyone may donate or purchase baked goods to the group who plan to have their bake sale outside of select locations on Sunday Nov. 18.
Childs, who formerly attended Moorpark College, will be returning for the spring semester and plans to start a campus club for the Skid Row cause.
“We would love to have more students who can inspire other young people in the community to get involved,” said Childs in an email interview.
Another upcoming project for “The Board” is to start a letter campaign for the children of Skid Row. The plan is to mimic a Big Brother/Big Sister program, a two-sided effort for the kids in Skid Row and the people outside of it. To take kids at risk and match them with someone they can be inspired by.
“To let them know there’s a way out,” explained Dowling, “You don’t have to live like this forever”.
The group works as a collective by sharing their many ideas and thoughts in order to make a difference in the homeless community. They welcome new members to join them and become a part of the change they aim to achieve in Skid Row.
“I really hope people take this to heart and see that we have to be the change we want to make. Think bigger than just yourself and the city you live in,” said Childs.
The way Dowling sees it is that “this could happen to you”. The team values diversity and ideas as well as dedication.
“What we value most is commitment,” said Dowling.
If interested in joining the Skid Row Update team, “like” them on Facebook for more information or email Dowling directly at [email protected].
