POWERGRAMS

COMMUNITY Photo by Bill Snow Customer Service representative makes Brighter Day for homeless Johnson receives payment from customer at West Jefferson Office. Big people, little people, black or white, men or women – none of that matters to Kenneth Johnson, whose passion is helping people in need. His ongoing concern is the homeless. Growing up in Booker Heights, Johnson never knew anyone who didn't have a place to live. "It was kind of a culture shock moving to the big city," said Johnson, customer service representative, West Jefferson. Seeing the plight of the poor spurred him six years ago to found a Birminghambased nonprofit, Brighter Day Community Outreach Services, which helps citizens in the "rabbit hole" – the places social services don't reach. Each July 4, Brighter Day members hold a holiday celebration for the homeless community in downtown Birmingham's Linn Park. This year, they served free pizza and sweet tea to more than 100 people. "My idea is the homeless are used to getting everyone's leftovers – let's take them something we'd like to eat," he said. Brighter Day members – many of whom sing with Johnson in the Birmingham Community Mass Choir – bought the pizza. "These efforts take a lot of prayer," Johnson said. "We don't receive funding, and the money comes out of our own pockets. It really doesn't take much to put a smile on someone's face and let them know that someone cares for them." Last Fourth of July, Brighter Day served Shoes were given sandwiches to nearly 200 people. The only to the homeless at qualification for partaking, Johnson said, is for Linn Park. people to "want it and be present." On Aug. 22, Johnson and Brighter Day members set up a veritable shoe store in Linn Park. The men neatly lined row upon row of used shoes – about 200 pair – at the park's center, where homeless men and women could try on and select footwear. Johnson's group feeds the homeless each weekend, but the shoe giveaway was a first. "They said, 'We get food all the time. What we need is shoes and clothes, so when we look for a job, we can look presentable.' A lot of the shoes were donated by Alabama Power employees," said Johnson. 6 Many of the needy work downtown, but are still homeless, Johnson said. They try to blend into society. He believes the continuing bad economy plays a part, as well as a lack of shelters. He estimates the majority of homeless in Birmingham are men, at about a 9 to 1 ratio to women. "There are some shelters, but not enough room to take everyone," Johnson said. "People used to be reluctant to let you know they are homeless, but they're not as shy now. Really, what's shocking to me is there are so many young ladies out there with children. I don't really understand how that could continue like it is, but it's out there." Johnson recognizes the value of human dignity. "It's important to be sensitive to people and their situation," said Johnson, who is the minister of music at Abyssinia Missionary Baptist Church in Ensley. "It's a situation where, a lot of times, you smell the person before you see them. There have been several instances where I've gone down there and seen people I know, that I went to school with or grew up with." Johnson helmed several projects despite having stage 4 lymphoma a little more than a year ago. He'd experienced massive weight loss when doctors found the cancer after biopsy of a lump. Oncologists scheduled nearly three years of aggressive chemotherapy, with Johnson taking weekly treatments at UAB Hospital's Kirklin Clinic. During that difficult period, he continued to work. After four months of treatment, however, Johnson's doctors discovered the cancer had disappeared. That revelation didn't surprise Johnson. "I attribute my healing to my faith," he said. "I told people I wasn't worried because my faith in Jesus was going to bring me through it. Many of my co-workers were there for me, and they'll be friends for life." Johnson's illness didn't make a dent in his plans for Brighter Day, his focus remaining on Birmingham's homeless community. "I feel I was meant to help, and I like helping people," Johnson said. "To see them smile is enough for me." By Donna Cope

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