The Revolving Door Project

"When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us"

 


There are close to 2 million Homeless Youth living in America today. If we put them all together, they would create one of the largest cities in our country. They are scattered like crumbs across our nation in every city and state. These are children, under the age of eighteen, who are in desperate need for a better way of life. They are hiding in the darkness while being preyed upon by adults and exploited in many ways. Many of these kids ran away from home due to abuse, neglect, or other difficult situations within the broken family structure. Some kids are forced to be on their own after their parents die, fall ill, are put in jail, lost to drugs or simply just abandoned. Some kids are 'thrown out' of their homes due to 'bad' behavior, sexual orientation, or because they were... for lack of better words..."not wanted anymore". They are hungry, they are tired, they are scared and they are in the need of help.


Many people can not believe it to be true. It is hard to imagine so many children in need in America. It is so hard to imagine why families would allow their children to be lost. The older generation as well as people in other countries with strong family cultures and traditions can hardly understand this growing problem. "Why?" Seems to be the biggest question and then "Well, it is happening everywhere these days" is the usual response. Because really... what can any of us do to save these kids? Once you understand that this epidemic is happening and the numbers of Homeless Children are growing at an alarming rate, then the issues they are faced with need to be understood.

  Art by Ernesto Kunde                                                     Door by Shernett Muhammad

We may not be able to save 2 million of or own children... but what we can do is start being aware of the problem as it is all around us. Awareness is the strongest force in change. Through Awareness we are able to see the light and shine it stronger for others. Once a person becomes aware of an issue they begin to recognize the signs in their own daily life and then they can realize what their role is. Not every one can be on the frontline or in the trenches finding and saving these kids. However everyone in society plays a part in fixing this problem. Whether to educate others, to build a stronger community of giving, to build a network of support, or to creatively work together to find solutions. This population needs elders to help them out of the dark. 


The Revolving Door Project was designed by Earth Angel Outreach as a way to bring Awareness and Advocacy to homeless and at risk youth. This is done so by collaborating efforts within the community and using art as the vehicle.  Business owners and community members donate supplies and materials for creation. Mentoring artists collaborate with youth to work on projects that illustrate the stories and need. Private supporters fund the space for the projects. Everyone involved learns from each other about the issues. Awareness to the problem, including all the trauma and horrific details this population encounters,  is filtered through art. Whether it be paint, music, video, photography, or acting... youth are able to release their stories, their pain, let them go through the art, and allow room to educate and create change for a larger population.


Earth Angel Outreach is a registered 501c3 non-profit organization that has been providing education, advocacy, awareness, projects and services to homeless and at risk youth since 2007.


Learn more and help support the project when you purchase through our online gallery at www.revolvingdoorproject.org


You can also donate direct to Earth Angel Outreach www.earthangeloutreach.org