Wording

Homeless People.

Richmond has plenty of them around. I see a bunch everyday standing in their same usual spots depending on what time of the day it is.
At some point, they all begin to look alike. Dirty clothes, messy hair,scruffy faces, and perhaps the most common item; the cardboard 'Homeless, please help' sign. The signs have come to be such a big part of homeless culture to the point that we don't always read them assuming that we already know what's written. "homeless, please help" or "will work for food".

The message gets repetitive after a while and on a busy monday morning, we might not notice them. Whether they are aware of it or not, homeless people must advertise in order to survive. Those who are not aware of the importance of what's written on that cardboard sign might have to suffer more than those who do. I was fortunate enough to meet a man that had the right idea, but just needed a little push in the right direction.
On my way to VCU back from my internship at Feedback Agency, I always get caught at this one light that takes an annoyingly long time to turn green. Over the past couple of months of daily encounters with this light, I developed some impressive skills to keep myself from getting frustrated with how long the wait takes. Like tapping my dashboard to a rhythm that sinks with the flashing left signal on the car in front of mine, and then making up a song to that beat about how my day is going.
(yes, it takes that long)
I got so caught up in my non existent singing abilities that I didn't really take a second glance at the man sitting on the median asking people for money. It's not because I didn't care, he just fit it in so well with the generic homeless person in Richmond stigma, nothing about him caught my eye, until today.

Homeboy was in a suit!

yes! on the median, cardboard sign in hand, with a suit on. He was obviously trying really hard. I was intrigued.
I rolled down my window and asked him how he was doing... he said he was doing "pretty good, just looking for a job". I looked at his cardboard sign... it sucked. The generic homeless need help stuff.
I looked at him and said
"I like that you are wearing a suit, but I don't like your sign. I think you could write something more compelling than that"
He looked interested in what I said, so I continued
"Why don't you make it say, "Homeless, but not helpless-- will work for food" or something like that"
His puzzled look turned into a smile and he said
" That's genius! On it! Thank you ma'am!"
The light then turned green, I wished him luck and drove away.

This is weird, but I'm excited to drive by tomorrow to see if he really did listen to me.
It was interesting to see a homeless man wearing a suit and actually try to look professional. A professional homeless person.. I dig it.
There is something captivating about someone who is at rock bottom trying to present themselves in the best, sometimes most creative way possible. It gives life a new appreciation.
Look at everyone with an objective lens, you never know what you might see.



This is where I got my idea, yea I copied her, but what's the point of watching inspirational videos if you don't act upon them?


The homeless man was gone the next day. I have not seen him since.