ART, MUSIC AND THEATRE FOR HOMELESSNESS AWARENESS WEEK, November 11-17th

In recognition of Homelessness Awareness Week, The Daily Planet invites local businesses, residents and community groups to attend the first annual event series of art, music and theater productions designed to promote greater awareness and understanding of issues surrounding homelessness. On November 15 at The Camel – Richmond’s New Social Oasis, 1621 W. Broad Street, will open its doors at 7:30 pm to host the entertaining and educational artistic series with Slash Coleman, author and playwright of the award winning shows will perform a "Matzo Ball Sampler" - monologues from his various shows including "The Neon Man and Me" and "Slash Coleman has Big Matzo Balls". At 9:30 pm, the VeKams, a Richmond based rock-pop creation, featuring Virgil Jones, Scott Gordon and Karen Shealy with drummer, Mackie Blaylock.

Friday, November 16, The Daily Planet will open its doors to the public, offering facility tours on the hour beginning at 11 am until 2 pm. Everyone is invited to experience the inner-workings of the Daily Planet’s health care, mental health, vision, and dental clinics. This community outreach initiative is designed to increase awareness of The Daily Planet’s holistic approach to serving the homeless, uninsured, and underserved of Greater Richmond.

SPADES: a book without a cover will offer one performance on Saturday, November 17th at 7:30 pm at the The Camel. Suggested donation is $10 with proceeds to benefit Daily Planet. SPADES is a co-authored dramatic work conceived and directed by Dr. Tawnya Pettiford-Wates, a national and international touring artist and is a collection of the life stories and journeys of the people who live on the streets and shelters of our community. SPADES uncovers the reality of how closely the lives of the homeless intersects with the lives we all live everyday. The Camel – Richmond’s New Social Oasis will host Saturday’s performance of SPADES, which will travel to Washington, D.C. to perform at the Kennedy Center for the National Alliance to End Homelessness Awards and Fundraising Gala on April 7, 2008.

Dr. Tawnya Pettiford-Wates is a playwright, director, actor, poet, writer and teacher. She has appeared on Broadway and in both National and International Touring Companies. The play’s producing co-collaborator, Marc Taylor, MA, Ed.S, LPC, is a mental health clinician on the staff of Daily Planet.