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'Underheard in New York' Gives a Voice to Homeless People on Twitter
Created by advertising interns Rosemary Melchior, Robert Weeks and Willy Wang, the program provided four homeless men with their own pre-paid cell phones, a month of unlimited texting, and separate Twitter accounts. The four men -- Danny (@putodanny), Derrick (@awitness2011), Albert (@albert814) and Carlos (@jessie550) -- have been regularly tweeting about their activities, thoughts and the struggles they face on a daily basis. Whether they're heading off to an employment agency or feeling particularly blue, Twitter allows these men to share their often heart-wrenching lives with the rest of the world.
In giving a digital voice to a traditionally voiceless demographic, Underheard's founders hope to provide others with more insight into the hardships that the urban homeless face every day, and to inspire the more fortunate to donate their time or money to local shelters. And, though the interns were challenged "Do something good... Famously" by their bosses, the trio behind this project decided to loosely interpret the latter part of the edict. "We decided famous was just another way of saying make people listen. Go big. Be heard. Make real change," their site reads.
Although Underheard in New York will end once the founders finish their internships at BBH ad agency, they're hopeful that their project will spawn similar endeavors. "I think for us the project is over when it's over, unfortunately," Weeks told Mashable. "But hopefully the project has a lifecycle beyond what we're doing. Maybe another organization will adopt our strategies, raise awareness."
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Comments
3
Subscribe to commentsCOME87484Feb 19th 2011 7:10AM
This of giving the homeless a voice in the twitter media is on of the greatest things I have seen on here of late! To add the that I want to chime in for a like sort of our countries residents very few if any Americans or the world for that matter is aware of or seem to care about! Those are the families and especially school aged children of varioue refugees coming to this country but especially those from African countries as well as those referes to as YOTO and ancronym for; Youth On Theri Own; who are simply children who are homeless and/or semi-homeless who are still in our schools and doing very good attendance and grade wise; who this country in all aspects seem not to give a damn about! My research shows this is NOT indigenous to the state of Arizona and the city of Tucson; it ie rampant every where and I guarantee you a great percentage of these children being driven to overcome their current situations in dividually and collectively will be our future Doctors,Engineers, Lawyers, various Technicians and such to name but a few! That is not to forget our futur leaders in every aspect! We as Americans need to stop worrying so much about what is happening abroad and look wat what is happening within and utilize all that is available to us to enhance our abilities to return our country to its formerself on yester year! Nikita Kruschev the Russian Leaders of years gone by said repeatedly',"America will fall from within and not from without." Wakeup America time is drawing nigh as my beloved Grand-mother woulkd say!
COME87484Feb 19th 2011 7:17AM
Unfortunately I have only just now taken the time to review what I wrote. Consequently; I was very disappointed to see several words misspelled and typographical errors anger and annoy me to no end when I make and post them before proofreading them! It bothers me not when I receive and/or read where others have made them! I apologize for them and in the future will fully proofread them before posting!
xoxogakkaigirlFeb 19th 2011 6:39PM
What's wrong w/this picture? All men of color. There's gotta be equal opportunity homeless. Get some white and Asian people in there!