
Recent Happenings

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Los Angeles Outreach.
The I Have a Name Project and its Let's Be Better Humans campaign hits the road on one of our many trips to the "City of Angels". Several times a year we load up our bus with clothes, water, food and backpacks and make the journey from Phoenix to Los Angeles to help our neighbors in need.



Art Meets Advocacy.
Artist extraordinaire Andrew Brown completes a "Let's Be Better Humans" painting campaign on a shipping container for The I Have a Name Project. Big Love to the amazing folks at Downtown Phoenix Inc. in support of this message in love and humanity and to Arizona State University for its placement.

Pillow Exhibition
Where do you lay your head to rest?
Is it safe, do you sleep?
Are there real monsters under the bed?
Is your pillow always in the same place?
Is it made of concrete or lace or leather?
I'll ask you again, where do you lay your head?
Pillow addresses the improvised sleeping situations, environments, and bedfellows of our neighbors who call the streets home.
Pillow was a collaborative installation by Jon Linton & Brian Boner for Phoenix Institute of Contemporary Art. (PhICA) with the philanthropic support of

Our Mural Project
The I Have a Name Project collaborated with artists Wayne Rainey and Brian Boner to deliver a powerful mural in the heart of the Phoenix art district. Art has always played a role in public discourse and this piece of art, on one the city's preeminent gallery walls, creates public awareness for those living in the margins while paying respect to those who have perished cold, hungry and alone on our nation's streets.

Candlelight Vigil For Lives Lost To the Street
On February 19, 2016 The I Have a Name Project held a candlelight vigil at the MonOrchid building in Phoenix, Arizona. The evening’s event marked the dedication of a large public mural that pays remembrance to those who have perished homeless on our nation’s streets. Clergy, poets, singers, artists and hundreds of local Phoenicians joined us for a very special night.

Ajo Exhibition
Art Opening to benefit Sheltering Ajo at Art Under The Arches Gallery in Ajo, Arizona Jan. 2016

Downtown Phoenix Exhibition
The I Have a Name Project Opens a month long exhibition at the Bokeh Gallery at monOrchid in the heart of the Phoenix art district on February 6, 2015.

L.A. Exhibition
Art & Advocacy. Special One-Night Event at FachaPatoto Gallery in Los Angeles. June 2015 #LetsBeBetterHumans

Artist Reception
The Hotel Congress in Tucson. Show opened September 29th 2014 and ran through November 11th. The Project thanks those that helped make the exhibition possible and for the many that came out to show support for those that call our streets home.

Playing for Compassion
The I Have a Name Project welcomed The Haymarket Squares and special guest D.G. Sherrer to {9} The Gallery for a night of music that to benefit The Central Arizona Shelter Service. (C.A.S.S.}. This was indeed a night enjoyed be all those that came out in support of this great cause.



Our Book.
I HAVE A NAME, a 96-page, hardcover perfect bound book.
A tastefully executed photographic portrayal of life on the street.
Special thanks to the Hillborn, Forsythe and Quick families for their support in bringing this book to print.
*Sold Out

1st Opening Night.
The I Have a Name Project debuted its' campaign in compassion at {9} The Gallery on Dec. 07. 2013. The show unveiled itself with the support of nearly a dozen local artists. Turnout for the event was humbling and the embrace was warm. The I Have A Name Project expresses our deep appreciation for those that braved a cold desert evening in support of this effort to bring awareness and understanding to the homeless.

I Have a Name
by Mani Canaday
I
Eyes averted, I don’t exist.
Refusal of help, I am not in need.
Call it food insecurity, it isn’t starvation.
Don’t extend your hand, I have bootstraps.
Ignore my pain and I cease to feel.
My life is a void in the fallacies
Of the privilege that will outlive my existence.
The state of my life is a systemic disease
not laziness or a form of social resistance.
Homelessness is sanctioned violence
by a broken system that breaks people
and assigns us a voice called silence.
So when you speak on my behalf
remember that I’m not just a percentile,
a statistic, or your feel-good pet project.
Your boardroom demographics don’t
quantify traumas, memories, or shame.
I’m a mother, a war vet, a missing child
Please listen closely; I have a name.
.

Let's Be Better Humans T-Shirts
Wear a Shirt. Support a Cause.
Visit our Etsy store at http://letsbebetterhumans.etsy.com
Proceeds will support The I Have a Name Project and our efforts to help the homeless.
Many Thanks!