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Home Is a Poem: Voices of Resilience
ForKids and The Norfolk Street Choir offer insight into the experiences of those who have faced housing insecurity
University News | April 24, 2026
On April 23, in Brock Commons, a powerful gathering invited attendees to reconsider what “home” truly means. "Home Is a Poem: Poetry, the American Dream, and Unhoused Voices" brought together poetry, storytelling, music, and dialogue to focus on the lived experiences of individuals who have faced housing insecurity. The Robert Nusbaum Center hosted the event, in partnership with ForKids and The Norfolk Street Choir Project, to amplify voices too often overlooked, offering a deeply human perspective on freedom, dignity, and belonging.
At its heart, the program centered on expression. Through poetry and performance, participants shared not only the hardships of instability but also the emotional landscapes that accompany it: hope, resilience, fear, and the longing for permanence. The creative works presented challenged attendees to move beyond stereotypes, inviting empathy and connection.
The event was structured around a conversation with community leaders Robert Shoup, Founding Artistic Director of The Norfolk Street Choir Project and Thaler McCormick, CEO of ForKids. Together, they explored how art and community engagement can disrupt assumptions about homelessness, reduce the “othering” of vulnerable populations, and open pathways toward advocacy and systemic change.
ForKids, a nonprofit serving Southeastern Virginia, has spent more than three decades working to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty. What began in 1988 as a grassroots response by Ocean View residents—who opened Haven House as an emergency shelter—has grown into a regional organization supporting more than 70,000 individuals annually. Today, ForKids operates major centers in Chesapeake and Suffolk, providing housing, education, and critical services to families in need. Each day, the organization assists nearly 400 families, including more than 850 children, with a strong emphasis on long-term stability. Notably, 90 percent of students in its education programs advance to the next grade level, underscoring the transformative impact of consistent support.
Complementing this work, the Norfolk Street Choir Project uses music and the arts as a bridge between housed and unhoused communities. With a mission rooted in affirmation and inclusion, the choir created a space where individuals affected by homelessness could find joy, connection, and a sense of purpose. Its vision was simple yet profound: a caring city where vulnerable individuals are uplifted through creative expression.
Together, these organizations demonstrate that addressing homelessness requires more than shelter—it requires community, understanding, and opportunities for people to be seen and heard.
Home Is a Poem invited attendees to reflect on their own role in shaping a more inclusive future. It asked: What does freedom look like when stability is uncertain? How can communities move from awareness to action? And what might change if more people listened to the stories of those living on the margins?
In a time when housing insecurity continues to affect families across the country, the event offered not just insight, but a call to engagement. Because when voices are heard and stories are shared, the idea of “home” expands—becoming not just a place, but a collective responsibility.