Responding to the needs of homeless and at-risk youth in our communities
You make a difference
Covenant House Michigan
2959 Martin Luther King Jr
Detroit, MI 48208
(313) 463-2000
All material © 2008 Covenant House Michigan unless noted.
CHM logo music written and recorded by Joe Smith.
Urgent Call for Greater Advocacy - Candlelight Vigil 2007
“These kids have been deprived of basic human rights and need a second chance. Who are we not to help them? Their life is not over and we need to help our fellow brothers and sisters and society as a whole.”
--Reginald Anthony, member of Young Men in Transition and senior at Mumford High School
--Reginald Anthony, member of Young Men in Transition and senior at Mumford High School
“Today, we come together to make an urgent call for greater advocacy on behalf of homeless youth still fighting for their lives on the streets,” stated Kyra, Channel 955 Mojo in the Morning host, during Covenant House Michigan’s (CHM) Annual Candlelight Vigil on November 15, 2007.
CHM’s Candlelight Vigil raises awareness of youth homelessness and offers ways for the community to get involved to end this plight. Each year, this event coincides with National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. Covenant House’s mission is to carry out God’s covenant with his children to provide unconditional love and support. We make a covenant with these young people who have been abandoned, abused and neglected and offer them hope for a better life. CHM held its first Candlelight Vigil in 1997. Since then, the annual event has become a powerful voice of hope for the 5,000 plus youth who sleep on the streets every night in Michigan.
At this year’s Vigil, hundreds of supporters gathered in the chapel on CHM’s Main Campus as the RPM Praise Band, featuring CHM’s own Katie Zimmer and Mike Coppens performed a set of uplifting music. Longtime supporter and friend Pastor Jenkins of Biblical Faith Ministries offered an opening prayer. A slideshow shared pictures of the faces of our kids, past Vigils, and the supporters who have joined the Covenant House mission to provide hope for our youth.
Jenell’s Story
Jenell, an 18-year-old Crisis Center resident, shared her inspiring story. “I had a hard life growing up. I was taken away from my mother at the age of seven,” she began. “Moving from foster home to foster home was hard for me, especially having been split up from my siblings.” Jenell left her last foster home at the age of 15. She lived wherever she could find warmth: on the streets, in shelters, or any place that would take her in. She moved to Florida for a job opportunity and stayed with her aunt. Soon after, she found out she was with child. Although Jenell was employed, her aunt began taking all of her wages. Jenell moved back to Detroit with no housing option and eventually delivered her son. “I continued my pattern of moving from shelter to shelter,” she stated as tears filled her eyes. “It was so stressful not knowing what my son and I were going to eat.” Jenell found her son’s grandmother who agreed to help care for him while she got on her feet.Jenell made her way to Covenant House. “I came in with nothing but a carry bag in my right hand and a prayer in my left,” she said. “Everyone was so kind and welcoming. Just to know that I would have a bed to sleep in brought tears to my eyes. That was the day I met my guardian angels: Mr. Carlos, Ms. Norma and Ms. Johnson. They look after the residents like we are their own kids.” Jenell said that many of the residents don’t have families or relatives so they count on each other for support. Jenell recently transitioned into the Rights of Passage Program and is attending the GED program. Covenant House has changed me for the better. I appreciate everything the staff has done for me. One day I hope to have the chance to come back and help others like me.”
Briana’s Story
Rights of Passage resident Briana arrived at CHM shortly before last year’s candlelight vigil, where she first shared her story. She was taken from her mother as a child and endured physical, emotional, verbal and sexual abuse. She was eventually adopted and was living a “normal” life until her adoptive father, the only father she ever knew, passed away. This caused a plethora of behavioral problems including violence, shoplifting and drug and alcohol abuse. She was then kicked out of the home. She bounced from house to house and eventually made her way to CHM. During this year’s Vigil she wanted to share the changes that have happened in her life.“Covenant House provides me with counseling that helps me get through hard times when I’m remembering my father. They also connected me with a mental health provider who explained that my behaviors were a call for help, and diagnosed me with having bi-polar disorder. Covenant House helped me get the insurance I need to pay for my medication to keep me stable,” she stated. Briana has achieved her goal of obtaining a job, and is enrolled in Henry Ford Community College. “I plan on graduating from Covenant House by the age of 21, which gives me a year to get where I need to be, and I have all the faith in the world that Covenant House will be there backing me up 100% of the way!”
Courville Concert Choir, under the direction of Mr. Heinz, who periodically visits CHM to perform concerts for our residents, sang, “I Expect a Miracle” at this year’s Vigil.
Supporting the Vigil
William Brodhead, CHM Board Chair, acknowledged all those in attendance and those who have been supporting CHM. “The Young Men in Transition from Mumford High School, under the direction of Mr. Staley, Hibbet, Gilbert and Owens, have committed to helping youth at Covenant House and have worked to teach their peers about youth homelessness. They have also held a coin drive and collected hundreds of dollars to help our programs,” said Brodhead. He then called the Young Men in Transition to come forward to receive a plaque of gratitude.Reginald Anthony, member of Young Men in Transition and senior at Mumford High School, spoke about the importance of helping. “These kids have been deprived of basic human rights and need a second chance. Who are we not to help them? Their life is not over and we need to help our fellow brothers and sisters and society as a whole.”
Mr. Brodhead continued by thanking others in attendance that went above and beyond in their support of the Vigil. “Today, I would especially like to thank the brothers of Phi Kappa Theta from the University of Detroit Mercy for volunteering to help during this event and Alpha Phi Omega at Wayne State University for collecting and donating so many needed toiletries.” CHM interns Trina Page from Wayne State University and Lauren Welch from University Preparatory High School, as well as CHM volunteer Sandy Vasquez, were acknowledged for their outstanding involvement in planning the Vigil.
Following the acknowledgements, attendees proceeded outdoors to the bell tower where they lit candles of hope and joined together to sing Amazing Grace. “Our candles will serve as symbolic lights to help guide young people still on the streets who are in need of immediate help and healing,” stated Kyra. “Each time we light a candle we send a message to homeless youth that says ‘your life matters.’ Every time we light a candle, it says, ‘we care about you and your dreams.’”
The Candlelight Vigil also honors the memories of all the young people who have died alone and anonymously on the streets of our towns and cities, as well as celebrates the lives of the homeless youth who have found their way off the streets and through the doors of Covenant House. Stephanie Taylor, CHM Outreach Manager rang the bell at the bell tower as two young girls from CHM’s Community Service Centers read the Children’s Bill of Rights. These are “rights” Covenant House believes every child is entitled to. Every child deserves the chance to experience that essential passage of life known as childhood. We hold these truths below to be absolute "rights" - basic and inalienable - as necessary to a child as air to breathe and water to drink. After the vigil, guests were provided refreshment and baked goods graciously donated by Beans and Bytes Coffee House.