From staff reports
CHAPEL HILL -- Mental health and homelessness often run in tandem, and Orange County's Partnership to End Homelessness hopes to bring together experts in both fields in a public "Community Read" of the book "The Soloist" by Steve Lopez.
The event is the first in a series of community education activities that will explore the issues of homelessness.
"The Soloist" is the true story of the friendship between Steve Lopez, a Los Angeles reporter, and Nathaniel Ayers, a gifted musician and mentally ill homeless man. The book was made into a movie starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr. that recently was released in DVD.
Community Read participants will read the book (or see the movie) and can post comments to our blog, www.ocpehdiscussions.blogspot.com. Books are available at Orange County, Chapel Hill, and Carrboro public libraries.
Discussion groups will be held around the county in September and will include mental health and homelessness professionals. The goal is to have a diverse group of Community Read participants including people who have experienced homelessness. The discussion groups will be held in the following locations:
n Carrboro Cybrary, 100 N. Greensboro St., Carrboro, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Sept. 14.
n Orange County Main Library, 300 W. Tryon St., Hillsborough, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Sept. 15.
n UNC Campus Y, 180A Cameron Ave., Chapel Hill, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sept 15.
n Chapel Hill Public Library, 100 Library Drive, Chapel Hill, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sept 17.
In addition to learning about the issues of homelessness and mental illness, the discussion groups will be an opportunity for the community to learn about how they can become involved in helping to end homelessness.
For more information about Community Read, contact Jamie Rohe, Orange County Homelessness program coordinator, jrohe@co.orange.nc.us. To learn more about the Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness and the Community Read, go to: http://www.co.orange.nc.us/housing/endinghomelessness.asp.
