In 2007, Our House launched the state’s first and only summer camp specifically
designed for homeless youth. Four years later, one of the program’s first participants
(pictured here) returned to Our House as a member of the Little Rock Mayor’s Youth
Leadership Council. (photo: 2007)
The third, a beautiful young woman with a great big smile on
her face said, “I used to live here.”
“When was that?” I asked.
“Four years ago, when I was twelve. At first, I just came to the
summer camp. It was great. They gave us digital cameras,
and we did photography. Then, my mom was having some
problems. She couldn’t make rent anymore. That’s when we
moved into the shelter.”
As she spoke, all I could think was, “It worked!” She was not
ashamed. Her summer had been bright! Her memories were
positive. Her family had stayed together. And this young
woman had done so well in school and had given so much to
her community that she had made it into the mayor’s leadership group and had earned an all-expenses-paid trip to Asia.