A Sanctuary. A Purpose. A Voice.

When I heard about Roaddawgz through a friend of mine I was skeptical of the whole thing, as I am of most “free-lunch” programs or “homeless drop-in centers”. It seems to me that they’re just places for other street-kids to sit about and do nothing, slowly becoming more and more disconnected from the rest of society, making less and less of an impact than they already do. I was skeptical of the whole place, until I checked it out.

Roaddawgz program director, editor and publisher Machiko Saito was the first thing I came nose to nose with as I walked into one of the two rooms Roaddawgz inhabits in the basement of the local community art space and shelter, Hospitality House, a landmark in the heart of the legendary San Francisco Tenderloin district. Machiko is quite easily the most excitable person I’ve ever met; her laugh is at times infectious and nerve-racking, more because sometimes she’s the only one who gets the joke quite so well. She is consistently streaming ideas out from the bottomless pit of inspiration that seems to be her brain.

Machiko is always encouraging me to write more, write harder and write in ways that refine my “style” yet don’t detract from my content or message. Through practice I’ve grown as a writer and a poet. This gives me hope that I’ll be able to keep driving home the point of my essays, prose, poetry, stories and articles for a long time after I’ve moved on.

I am a writer. Visual art, music and mixed-media are the farthest things from my strong-suit; but my words will knock the wind out of photographers, painters and musicians alike with their vivid colors, amazing textures, and sharp details, to say nothing of the eclectic soundtrack accompanying them – my language will take on any shape it must. I am a writer from the foundation up, and that is something that Roaddawgz has helped me recognize since my first publication on the website in early February this year. That is what I think gives me faith in what Roaddawgz accomplishes with more artists and writers than just myself.

Roaddawgz, with its one super-woman staff and myriad of youth, builds a solid place where I feel I can always come if I’m in need of a venue for expression. Or if I just need a sure place to bitch. Roaddawgz has one benefit that I cannot attest to finding anywhere else: I get paid to write, paid for my art, whatever artistic value it may have, and because of that I have the privilege of saying that I am a published journalist, poet, and author. I find recognition and self-esteem in being able to say something of that magnitude, have it be true, and be able to show anyone that accomplishment at anytime. I am grateful for that, for much more than that, and it is here that I find joy and freedom in such an amazing outlet.

Roaddawgz isn’t just another place to sit or rest your feet for a moment. We’re a community of youth often in overwhelming positions of being chronically homeless, strung-out/kicking, unhealthy, or alone, yet we’re able to connect with one another if we need to. We get information about places to sleep, resources, free food, events, recovery, literature, and art from one another. That wouldn’t always be possible without a place like Roaddawgz, a place that doesn’t care what you look like, smell like, talk like, or act like, so long as you are as cool to everyone as they are to you. For me, knowing that these services remain and that the people who make them possible continue to come to work takes such a huge pressure off me. It is incredible to be able to count on anything in such a chaotic life; it is a much-needed blessing to such very tired souls.

Roaddawgz isn’t only a place to be, to come and relax or nourish ourselves, but a place that makes us feel included and appreciated. A place where we can be comfortable enough to create all those dreams and fantasies about adventure and excitement we get told to forget; we can live them, make our dreams solid concrete reality with enough determination and stamina. Roaddawgz lets me get excited about my writing and my effect upon my readers.

I am a writer, a poet, a journalist, and I am a published author. I am a Roaddawg; I am part of something with purpose, something motivated to flourish as it holds course. I am an author and poet worth reading. Just so you know, we’re not going anywhere. We’re here to stay and we’re going to find our way into your bookstores and galleries and homes. Sooner or later, just watch us. There is one thing for sure, if nothing else, that Roaddawgz has done for me: It’s stopped me from being a skeptic. It stopped me from being skeptical of my own worth, talent and ability. Or anyone else’s for that matter.