For many of our neighbors who rely on food pantries and soup kitchens to make ends meet, the reality of not having a roof over their heads is precariously close. They’re just one step away from financial misfortune that could leave them homeless.
For actor, activist and humanitarian Richard Gere, homelessness is more than a role; it’s an issue he cares about deeply. In his latest film, Time Out of Mind, Gere portrays George, a homeless man struggling with life on the streets and a system that offers no comfort. The film will be shown during the Montclair Film Festival on Saturday, May 2 at 4:30 PM.
And for Partners for Health Foundation, the screening of Time Out of Mind presents a unique opportunity to harness the power of film to address a growing problem. “The Festival provides a platform to inspire a solutions-based conversation about hunger and homelessness,” said Pam Scott, Executive Director of the Foundation.
The Montclair Film Festival and Partners for Health will co-present A Community Conversation on Hunger & Homelessness in Montclair on Saturday, May 2 (10 AM at the Audible Listening Lounge, 544 Bloomfield Avenue). The Conversation is free and open to the public.
Moderated by Steve Adubato, Ph.D., Emmy Award-winning broadcaster (WNET/NJTV) and author, the panel will include these statewide and local experts:
Kathleen DiChiara, Executive Director, Community FoodBank of NJ
Deb Ellis, Executive Director, NJ Coalition to End Homelessness
Michele Kroeze, Business Manager, The Salvation Army
Anne Mernin, Director, Toni's Kitchen at St. Luke's Church
Beverly M. Riddick, Executive Director, HOMECorp
Partners for Health Foundation will also be committing resources to continue the conversation with local stakeholders who want to be part of a community-wide coalition to work collaboratively on potential solutions.
“Hunger and homelessness are symptoms of the complex issue of poverty; only through a collaborative approach can we make substantial progress in addressing the issues. Hunger and homelessness are health issues too, not just social problems. Physical and mental illness hold back so many from upward mobility. We need to address that too,” noted panelist Kathleen DiChiara.
According to another panelist, Michele Kroeze, “Montclair has a long history of collaboration to address issues like homelessness and other needs that the community has faced. Finding solutions to end homelessness has become increasingly complex, and today a range of services are needed to assist people into secure housing. We’re fortunate to be part of a community that cares and whose members are willing to partner for the greater good.”
"Hunger and homelessness are critical issues affecting way too many people. I am proud to moderate this important panel discussion with such a terrific group of leaders who are working every day to make a difference for those who are struggling to find a better life for themselves and their families. I applaud Partners for Health Foundation and the Montclair Film Festival for bringing us together and bringing this issue to light,” said Steve Adubato, Ph.D.
Oren Moverman, the writer and director of Time Out Of Mind, added, “We hope that Time Out of Mind is a starting point for conversation about the homeless, the dispossessed, those trying to survive on the margins of society, because, at its core, it is a movie about compassion, the most essential element in dealing with any human problem. The film offers no policy solutions, it offers love and attention. The rest is in our hands.
