Skid Row local response to Skid Row

So here's a response to the film "Skid Row"- as its gathered mixed responses from various groups, etc, but perhaps its better to get a response from someone who actually lives in skid row.
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I had the opportunity to review the "trailer" for this movie. Maybe I am not being fair...but I still believe it garbage and would not pay a single penny to go see it...but, possibly, we'll be invited to a "free screening"...as a matter of fact, anyone living on Skidrow should be able to see it for free!....we do that everyday anyway!

Being a "passionate person" and a Skidronian...I don't really think it reflect a person as myself or the hundreds of other proud Skidronians that I know. It's true that these conditions are real, while some may have been staged, but for anyone to spend nine (9) days on Skidrow and not see anything positive or not to have met any positive people, they'd have to be blind.
The other point, we need to very careful about the people that come to Skidrow filming. I have seen many clips about Skidrow on "youtube"...people are making a name for themselves, using Skidrow! (Email received by OG)

The Fugees' Pras does Skid Row documentary

I thought this was interesting, whether you agree or disagree on how he did this documentary...quite insightful, nevertheless.


Pras' latest project, though, is not about music but rather a unique documentary called "Skid Row." For nine days, he went undercover as a homeless person here in downtown L.A. (from PBS, Tavis Smiley)


(text below from the interview)

Michel: Well, I think the basic level is this - and there's two sides to it, but I'm going to give you one basic. When you see someone who's homeless and asks you for money or whatever, whether you have it or not, acknowledge that person. Sorry, brother, I don't have it. Because you just made that person day because you acknowledge him as a human being.

See, what happens is we like to think like they invisible - they don't exist. Like homelessness is a disease. It's not a disease; it's a condition, okay? So we'll see animals, like a dog up the street, we'll be ready to go and pet that dog, we don't even know who that dog is, right? But someone's homeless, we kind of act like there's a barrier between us.

And so now you make that person feel less than a dog. See what I'm saying to you? That's the basic - I don't expect people to go live on Skid Row around their cities to experience it, but something as simple - because you never know. Acknowledging that person, you just gave that person a drive or motivation to want to get out of their situation. You understand what I'm saying to you?


Watch and read the full interview over here.

The official movie site:
Skid Row: Documentary

Pras' non profit organization:
prAsperity project

Fugees - Killing Me Softly(1)
Uploaded by maccapac

More HPM vs Love LA Softball Challenge: Rematch

(all photos courtesy of jaymes)

HPM vs Love LA Softball Challenge: Rematch

(photos courtesy of helen from HPM)

On August 18th, we gathered to play a game of softball with HPM at Barnes Park in Monterey Park. We all endured through the blazing heat with a real great time of fun and fellowship.

Mirror Magazine features Love Ministries

(excerpts taken from Why We Do What We Do by John Hong)
The reason is our namesake. Love. When you are in love, you do incredible things. Foolish things, sometimes. Superhuman things. If you are in love or you have been in love, you know what this means. For your love, you will change your schedule, chang your life, do whatever it takes to please him or her. I am talking here about love, not infatuation. Of course, the latter is simply self-love disguised...
So, why do we do what we do? It is because we are in love. We love the Lord and want to please Him. When everyone else is doing things that result in self satisfaction, we are out helping the homeless gain an ounce of self respect and helping them experience church, a community...Our love will propel us to do brave things, incomprehensible things, things that others can't imagine doing...
Read the full article in the Mirror Magazine.

Also featured in the magazine:







The magazine also features other Love Ministries as well as a look at our new senior pastor and his family. Check it out!
Download the online version of the magazine over here