Truly Inspiring Person: Shade Wade
The name of my campaign is “Faith In A Bag”, it isn’t the permanent name but it was appropriate for what I was looking to give. When I first put the campaign together, I literally got the website setup and started taking donations that same day, so I needed a name to represent the cause. My overall mission is to provide as many winter care packages for the homeless here in the city as I can. These packages provide warmth for the cold season, hygiene products, food, hand written words of encouragement and a print out of local resources they can utilize to find shelter. This campaign represents compassion and unity so I try to let others know that when they are donating to my campaign they are helping out family.2. What inspired you to put this project together? What pushed you to begin?
Honestly, this crazy NYC weather inspired me to urgently get something together. Just imagining me without my gloves, hat, coat and scarf during this winter pushed me to get these packages prepared and out to those who need it. I’m a activist for Human Rights on all levels, there should be no reason why we have so many hungry and homeless people here in one of the most admired cities. I don’t do it for recognition, I truly do it because it’s a rough world we live in and everyone needs someone to help them on their feet when they are at their lowest. Just because these individuals are not my immediate family doesn’t mean they get excluded from the support. Compassion is pushing me, their pain, their lives are pushing me to do something everyday. It’s like breathing for me, I don’t about breathing I just do it.
3. Getting others to pay it forward is like pulling teeth sometimes. Why do you think that is?
It’s the culture we live in. We live in a country that breeds individualistic behavior, we are programmed and raised in it. We are taught very young to look at anyone who is not your family as a threat. We are taught to chase high title jobs, high level degrees and how to obtain this in the most efficient way possible. I’m not knocking ambition and advancement but in the midst of climbing the ladder we have collectively lost sight that the person you walk pass in the street is living human being like you. We are detached from anything that doesn’t provide immediate gravitation to ourselves. I too once was like that, always felt someone was out to just steal my money for charities, or I felt like “why should I give my money?”. I believe that once we remove the “I” we can begin to pay it forward because at that moment the bigger picture is clear. The bigger picture being that we are born to use our gifts to help others not ourselves. Living in this world, in this era is about helping others. Some folk can’t handle knowing that this world isn’t about them alone.
4. Homelessness is an epidemic within our communities. Has homelessness effected you? If not personally, how has homelessness affected the spirit of our cities?
The epidemic of homelessness has not effected me personally, but has affected me. I watch how the homeless here in NYC and in the majority of the cities I’ve visited are treated worse than the trash on the street. At least the trash on the street will get bagged and dumped on a sanitation truck. It saddens me deeply because that is someone’s brother, uncle, sister or mother out there being mistreated and shunned. The spirit is broken because we have dehumanized homeless people. We allowed the external appearance of the struggle to influence our internal existence. I truly believe people want to help, but they have to believe that their efforts is not wasted. Totally understanding, but I encourage anyone reading this to give without circumstance. Giving is not only about economics, truly put yourself in a homeless person’s state of mind. If you were hungry, cold, ignored, had no shelter what would your day to day look like? Put value in people’s struggle and pain.
Is it difficult to keep going? What keeps you pushing forward?
At times it can be overwhelming to keep going when you have such an abundance of resistance from others. I often get frustrated with other peoples mentality, never with the mission at hand. My love for people prevents me from giving up. It’s such a fiery passion burning inside me that I truly believe if I wanted to quit my soul wouldn’t allow it. Hate keeps me going, whenever there is negativity its a perfect opportunity to remove it with positivity. Once I remove myself from the vision things become much easier, I have to constantly tell myself that I am the vessel and I can’t afford to give up. I know at some point I will come across someone who will get sparked to start something in their city, and the love just spreads from there. I want to others to have peace in their life, without having to worry about how they will eat, or where can they sleep tonight. I know I can’t feed everyone but I can start and hopefully inspire others to do the same and we can help our communities together.
. You recently attended the "Millions March" in DC. How was your experience with that protest? What did you see?
The experience I had in DC was surreal. I’ve protested before but never have I marched with all different types of people from all over the globe to fight for my brothers and sisters being killed out here. This march was very emotional for me as well, because I felt my ancestors and the victims before me right beside me. I say and felt nothing but love, although we came together for injustices that have been occurring for generations now I felt at peace there. I seen young children holding signs, elderly women walking with their canes and walkers, people joining hands singing and dancing and it was beautiful. I felt at that moment that we have an abundance of power collectively as a people. It definitely made me excited about returning home to start brainstorming on ways to get more people from my generation to have their voices heard. I saw power. I saw unity. I saw strength. I saw passion there.
Your mission seems to extend way beyond the holiday season. What else can we expect to see from you?
Wherever work needs to be done to unify the community is where I will be. You can expect to see me all over (laughing) I am a free spirit, I don’t put strenuous plans on my life. I allow life to happen and I follow my passion. I’ve learned early on that planning is good but it’s not guaranteed to go according to plan, so I stay flexible. I’ve found great peace and stillness by living that way. My next huge project which is fully funded by myself is renting a space out in Manhattan to provide a place where people can come and get realigned. I want to help others achieve internal peace, so this place will be a zen heaven, with yoga and mediation sessions, creative expression sessions and just a second home for others to recharge their batteries. I actually found a spot that is very affordable for all to attend, I’m ecstatic about that. If I can help someone change the vibrations of their energy so that he or she can be at their best, I am all smiles.
Any last words ?
Always listen to your gut. It is the universe's way of guiding you in the right direction. Always trust enough in yourself to know that no major how many rejections may come your way, no matter how hard the struggle is that you will make it through. Call upon your ancestors and loved ones who have physically left us for strength and guidance, I promise they will come to help you through it.
Shade is the truth! She's so amazing and passionate about what she loves. I hope she inspired you to give back. You don't have to wait til next December to pay it forward!
Thanks for reading! Love,
Evelyn