Afro-punk volunteers get dirty cleaning up Green Chimney's Shelter

Aug.28.2010: After two nights of enjoying free concerts, Afro-punk members who registered to volunteer to help homeless teens came out to repaint and clean up Green Chimney's youth shelter in Bronx, NY. Green Chimney's is an organization known to foster homeless teens in the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi, and transgender) community who have been kicked out of their homes. Green Chimneys was the first mainstream child welfare agency in the country to develop and operate residential, educational, and social services programs, which were designed specifically for LGBTQ children, youth, and families.

Our mission was to repaint and clean up one of their shelters. Four hours and a beautiful apartment later, one of our first NY projects was complete!

Volunteer Project at Green Chimney's Youth Shelter

photos Whitney Summer and Maurice Adams

(hear the volunteers say hello)

(find out more about Green Chimney)

Not only did Afro-punk volunteer's come out, but two volunteers, Kittie and Puffin, came out despite the fact that they, too, are currently homeless! Kittie is from Brooklyn, NY and is currently a homeless teen. Kittie has been homeless with her girlfriend, Puffin, since January, and was kicked out of her home after her mother found out she was a lesbian. Kittie and her girlfriend have been staying with friends since January and recently got on food stamps. They have not gone to a shelter because she said shelters are trying to separate her and her girlfriend once they accept them into the program. While Kittie is on the streets, she said she is looking for jobs, but is having a difficult time because of her facial piercings. She dropped out of high school one semester shy of graduating because of her living situation. She wants to return to school to get a business degree, so she can open up her own shelter for gay and lesbian homeless teens who are kicked out of their homes for their sexuality preference.

(volunteer, Kittie, gives a peace sign while painting)

(cleaning up Green Chimney)

(Volunteers, Maurice and Kittie take a break to pose)

Volunteer Maurice is from Brooklyn, NY and is a psychology student at Brooklyn College. In his spare time, Maurice also works at P.S. 297 for a non-profit called Ground Work, where he helps kids with their homework after school. Maurice supports youth homeless awareness because, he says, a large part of his faith is based around servicing others. "I'm so for helping community, there is no reason not to help," he says.

(blah, get back to work, James)

James, who we met at Bronx Underground, is an advocate for youth homeless awareness because he was a homeless teen for two years. After the September 11 attacks, his mother lost her job and was unable to support him. James ended up on the streets and sleeping on the trains during the night. During the day, James said he would wander the streets looking for jobs that didn't come easily. James says that he would go to music shows to pass the time while he was homeless and says music saved his life.

All in all, the project was a huge success. Thanks for everyone who contributed to this service. If you would like to volunteer and find out more information on Green Chimney's youth shelter, click here. For Afro-punk's next New York volunteer opportunity on September 11th, click here.

Tags: Green Chimney, Virgin mobile, afro-punk, volunteer

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Comment by Sheree Monay on September 14, 2010 at 12:17am: This is very cool. I don't agree with the homosexual lifestyle but I'd keep my daughter in the house. I don't care how gay she is; I'd love my kid unconditionally and when she's old enough, she can leave my home and do what she please's. But under 20, she's all mine!

Comment by cipher on September 2, 2010 at 12:38pm: this is dope.. glad to see AP channel the community's energy toward something like this.

Comment by Lunakiss on September 1, 2010 at 9:07pm: This is what I like to see more of ! Good Job AP for doing this! I rarely see good news anymore.