FINAL CONTRACT March 22, 2016

COMM 237: Small Group Communication

Professor Romanelli
Group 2: Mattison Moran, Samantha Happ, Molly Tatosian, Jeremiah Johnson, Emma
Buchholz, and Jessie Staed
Our Stake in the Project:
In January 2015, 564,708 people were homeless on a given night in the United States. 15% of
these individuals are chronically homeless suffering from the ills of a life without a roof over
their heads. Chicago alone is home to almost of the entire population of men, women and
children experiencing homelessness in the United States today.
Homelessness is, in and of itself, a crisis in modern day society. However, it isnt just the lack of
a permanent home that causes so many problems its everything that goes along with
homelessness, including lack of access to education, wellness, opportunities, employment,
childcare you name it. Homelessness is not just a current state of living without a home far too
often its effects permeate almost every aspect of an individuals life.
Perhaps the most comprehensive way to address homelessness and extreme poverty is to
provide access to resources and opportunities so often those experiencing homelessness are
the most vulnerable and most marginalized, often members of our minority communities. This
lack of access to resources continues to perpetuate the cycle of poverty, which in the most
unfortunate of circumstances, leads to a life on the streets.
One of the most devastating and longlasting effects of homelessness is low selfesteem. As
privileged individuals that also struggle from selfesteem issues, we empathize with those
afforded less privileges that may be struggling in similar and different ways. Were not experts in
much, but weve witnessed firsthand how a positive self perception can radically change our
outlook on our lives, and we hope to share this type of love for oneself with women
experiencing homelessness.
Were working in partnership with Deborahs Place, Chicagos largest provider of supportive
housing for single women experiencing homelessness, open[ing] doors to housing, healing, and
hope. Were working at the Learning and Resource Center at Marahs Permanent Housing
Program, home 30 women with disabilities live in dormitory housing with shared bathrooms.
Marahs is a program of Deborahs Place, and works with women experiencing learning
disabilities, mental illness, physical disability, substance addiction. The most vulnerable
population in terms of lowself esteem, we believe that by catering an event to fit the needs and
abilities of these women can radically transform how they see themselves, their situations and
the world around them.
__________________________________________________________________________
Project Description: Selfesteem issues affects all of us, but research shows that it affects
individuals experiencing homelessness at higher rates, specifically women with some form of

mental/physical/learning disability. Selfesteem affects every facet of ones life we believe its
the utmost importance to foster a sense of self love in all to create a world of more empowered
individuals. We see selfesteem as both an inward relationship with oneself and an outward
manifestation. Weve devised a 3station workshop, focused on aiding these women on their
journey towards stronger selfesteem and positive views of themselves. 3 Stations, 2 people
at each station
1. Vision Board
Proudest Accomplishments
Things they want to do/be/achieve
2. Photo booth (Polaroid): write something on white board and have them answer and take
photo with it (i.e.: The best thing about me is ____ or I feel most confident when _____ or
I am _____ & hold up for picture)
Journals to selfexpress
Prompts to reflect on in the future (postevent)
Humans of New Yorkesque interview/photo blog, to be published postevent
Photo with caption of their answer to a question/piece of advice/story theyd like
to share
Table Talk game
3. Cookie Wisdom
Fortune Cookies piece of wisdom youd like to impart
Scrapbook paper fortune cookies (make their own) and ask if we can give
them to our class that is graduating/or if they keep them for themselves
http://athriftymom.com/valentinesfortunecookiesdiycraft/
FOOD/SNACKS: root beer floats & light snacks
Roles will consist of the following:
Division of roles during meetings:
Notetaker: Jeremiah Johnson
Meeting Minutes: Molly Tatosian
Organization/document creation: Samantha Happ
Documenting Social Action Project (Videos & Pictures): All Members
Creating Final Documentation of Projects & its Effects: Mattison Moran
Division of roles at Event:
Vision Board
Molly & Jessie
Molly: Poster boards, tape, glue, scissors
Jessie: Magazines, markers, construction paper, artsy materials

Photo Booth
Matti & Sam
Matti: rent out/get camera, tripod, spotlight/photography umbrella, props/
prop table
Sam: photo props/polaroid film/photo booth setup, bring laptop, questions
for discussion, whiteboard
Fortune Cookies
Emma & Jeremiah
Emma & Jeremiah: get paper, glue, markers, prepare paper cutouts,
learn how to make fortune cookie, bring examples, prepare directions
speech, bake cookies
http://athriftymom.com/valentinesfortunecookiesdiycraft/
Division of Tasks and Research:
Samantha Happ: photo booth and creation of props/backdrop, asking stories, HONY
conversation, explaining the day/activity to the women, evaluation & incentive to
complete, follow up
Molly Tatosian: Also create an example vision board. Supplies for vision boards. Cut
out powerful words from magazines that the women can add to their boards (strong,
independent, beautiful, successful)
Jeremiah Johnson: Fortune cookie station materials.
Emma Buchholz: Schedule Learning Center Date & Time Email Deborahs Place
contact Fortune Cookies Station Materials and Directions Ask permission and
guidelines for our measurables (Photos and Videos)
Mattison Moran: Getting camera equipment, editing pictures, backdrop, acquiring
spotlight umbrella, prop table, assisting with creation of backdrop/setup
Jessie Staed: Create a vision board (pictures from magazines), use prompt questions to
ask about what their biggest accomplishments have been or what their biggest goals
are.
Data:
During the course of the 201415 school year it was estimated by the Chicago Coalition
for the Homeless that around 125,848 people were homeless.

Many women have said that homelessness strips you bare of your humanity.They feel
like scum and people generally either do not notice you, or they do with malice and
disgust.
Negativity is very easily absorbed and once it is has been absorbed, it is very hard to
shake, which leads to low self esteem.
Possible causes of low self esteem for homeless women.
Unhappy childhood
Ongoing stressful life events
Domestic Violence
Ongoing medical problems
Mental illnesses (anxiety/depression)
56% of homeless women were victims of domestic violence and 36%
experienced physical or sexual abuse as a child
The reason these women are repeatedly led into homelessness is because of their low self
esteem. Results of this cycle include:
feeling like they are not in control
having low motivation to get help or find a job
feeling inferior to others
feeling like they can not overcome obstacles
Measuring Success:
As the event nears its end, each participant will be asked if they would be interested in
completing a quick questionnaire. It will assess the participants thoughts and overall
satisfaction with the event and how it has contributed to or taken away from their experience at
Deborahs Place as a whole. Everyone who completes the survey will receive a small prize for
their efforts. . The questionnaire will be approximately 810 questions: what they liked about the
event, what they didnt like, as well as what theyd like to see more of in the future. The link
below can serve as a starting point of the questionnaire.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GeneralEventFeedbackTemplate?sm=4wPopkmD5vN2dnc
usyUMXwDj6NGXK4fUkZBUOhEXmp4%3d

Goal:
The goal of our project is to help women who have experienced homelessness to
express themselves and improve their confidence. According to our research this
demographic is susceptible to low selfesteem and confidence due to previous life experiences,
societal stigmas, and everyday life obstacles. Our goal is to conduct three activities at the
Deborahs Place Learning Center. The women we will be working with are around and above 40
and 50 years old, and struggle with learning disabilities, mental illnesses, physical disabilities,
and substance addictions. These women all have experienced homelessness. Our project
builds confidence from the inside out and through selfexpression we hope to help to remind
these women of the strong individuals they are and their past accomplishments.

The goal of vision board station is to allow the women to build confidence through
displaying future goals and dreams. Based on our research this demographic is often denied
opportunities, because of negative past experiences and remaining in a cycle of events. The
simple vision board activity grants a creative medium to express a future a woman can be
confident in, and hopefully will help her seize future opportunities.
As well as the vision board, the photo booth stations goal is to use creativity and verbal
and written selfexpression to improve confidence. The women are allowed to freely express
themselves through creativity of a photo and the station allows them to tell their story. Learning
their stories builds confidence because it gives the woman a voice and allows them to be heard.
The last station is the cookie wisdom station. The cookie wisdom station builds
confidence from the inside out because it allows the women to provide advice and positive
sayings to younger individuals. The goal of the cookie wisdom station is to provide the women
with respect.
Ultimately, the goal of our project is to remind these women they are strong and
incredible individuals, because every person needs that every once in awhile. Our project is
simple, but it caters to our specific demographic because it is not complicated or inhibiting, but
also respects their ages. These womens lives were by no means easy and they have voices to
be heard, and we would like to help them express themselves and improve their confidence,
because it will help them seize future opportunities and appreciate the present.
Repeatable: Jeremiah
The project is repeatable due to the lack of expensive materials needed to put the event
together, the openness for volunteers to come and mingle with the community of women
residing at Deborah's Place, and because it requires no specific training on the part of
volunteers who wish to continue the event at a later date.
Timeline: Date to be determined (out of April 5, 7, 12, 14) 2 hour workshop
Acquire all materials (nonfood) 1 week prior to event
Confirm with contact at Deborahs Place day before
Get food the morning of the event
Reserve/check out video camera 1 day before event
Week/Weekend after event: compose presentation/video/paper
Meeting point and time: Tuesdays at 7 PM on LSC as needed
Primary method of communication: Text message/group chat, Loyola email and Google docs
Virtual meeting: prior to presentation (Wed. 4/20 at 7:30PM)