This is the 3rd and last part of an episode called The Skipping Rock. When we left Casey in the last episode, in Part Two, she was heavily addicted to street drugs, so much so that she was no longer able to dance at the strip clubs. This not only robbed her income, it took away her sense of being in community. Now that that was gone, she was trapped in an increasingly vicious cycle. Through these events we will continue to explore the idea of choice.

This is Part 2 of a 3 part episode. When we left Casey in the last episode, in Part 1 she was making some big decisions in her life, wanting to not only leave the trauma and dysfunction of her childhood behind, but also coming to grips with having to earn a living. She decided to take a waitressing job at a strip club, which led to dancing, and the fast money of the sex industry. Casey was 18 years old.

In this episode we hear from Casey, a woman who will explore with us the idea of choice. What it means to fit in and find a way in life when choice is limited, or, removed altogether. When all you have in front of you are bad options.

In this episode we talk with Benny The Stone Dancer. He has lived homeless in the Fremont neighborhood, artfully stacking stones on the parking strip, in the same place, for the last 30 years.

We explore why diversity is important in every community.

In this episode we speak with Sparrow Etter Arlson who is a co-founder of Aurora Commons and Seattle Planning Specialist at King County Regional Homelessness Authority.
When responding to complex societal issues, we are all familiar with the shortcomings of treating symptoms rather than causes. How do we shift our focus to successfully addressing root issues rather than symptoms? How do we get past giving in to knee-jerk responses?

In this episode we meet Blair who helped James get into housing and have his basic needs met, she helped reconnect him with family, and maybe, most of all, feel loved in the last few years of his life. And James, what he did for Blair was to change her life. He helped her take an off-ramp.

In this episode we meet Preacher. Personal relationships can be thought of as the foundational supports of a healthy community. By simply getting to know each other, being exposed to different life experiences and views, we broaden ourselves and deepen our ability to empathize within the community.

On this episode we are talking with Rev. Rick Reynolds. He has spent most of his life stepping closer, getting to know those struggling. For nearly 40 years he worked at the nonprofit Operation Nightwatch, most of that time as the Executive Director, engaging in direct action for those in need.

The ‘WE NEED YOU NOW’ episodes are a quick call-out for all of us to step forward when direct and immediate action is needed for someone struggling in our community.

The episodes are typically less than 15 minutes, being short and to the point, just enough to let us all know the situation and what is needed.