Food, Clothing, Shelter, and... Karaoke?

by Shannon Moriarty · 2009-11-10 11:11:00 UTC
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Joy is just as important to the human existence as food, clothing, and shelter. But when you're living on the streets, it is easy to forget how to find it; among service providers, joy is a need that is too often forgotten.

But on LA's Skid Row, one couple has adopted the task of cultivating joy with a boom box and a microphone. They have turned their love of karaoke into an outlet for LA's homeless. They have no hidden agenda, no underlying motive. Each week, they simply set up the karaoke machine, open the doors and watch the room come alive with music, dancing, and community.

This simple-yet-powerful project has been captured in documentary form by filmmaker Iris Ichishita. Watch the 8-minute video below, then distribute far and wide. Let the music - and the stories - move you.

Living without a home does not take away one's dignity. Living on the streets does not compromise one's need to feel joy. Karaoke is not going to solve anybody's problems... but it might help someone remember what it's like to forget about them.

Shannon Moriarty has worked in various homeless shelters and service organizations around the country. She is a graduate student studying housing and urban policy at Tufts University.
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