April 2024 News

Being without a place to live is difficult enough. Being without a place to live AND being told that you are engaging in criminal activity if you lay your blanket, cardboard, or other ground covering in a public place to get some rest is inhumane. Sadly, Grants Pass, Oregon passed an ordinance criminalizing camping in public when there is nowhere else to sleep. The ordinance was ruled unconstitutional by the Medford district court and the 9th Circuit Court in San Francisco, but this did not stop Grants Pass from appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS). On April 22nd, the Homeless Memorial Blanket Project arm of the Charles Bruce Foundation has been granted an official permit from the Capitol Police to display blankets on the capitol lawn across from SCOTUS in support of Gloria Johnson and the other individuals represented in the class action lawsuit. The lead plaintiff behind the Grants Pass challenge was involuntarily homeless in Grants Pass and punished for sleeping outside, facing citation for camping in a park and prohibition from sleeping in her van. If you are interested in joining us in our action, there might still be room on the bus we have rented to go to Washington, DC. We will depart from Create-A-Palooza at 11 East High Street at 5:30 the morning of April 22nd. Show up in your jammies if you like and sleep on the ride down. Our driver will take care of all our cares and woes. Remember, if you haven't dropped off your blanket at Create-A-Palooza, please do so by the close of business April 21st. To confirm your seat on the bus, use the "Bus Riders" button below to email Pat LaMarche to see if there is still room.

The release of the second comic book in the WAM! imprint of the Charles Bruce Foundation opens an opportunity for greater exposure at this year's Four State Comic-Con in Hagerstown, MD. At noon on April 27th, Jason Seaux, pictured center square in the notice to the left, will be featured in the release panel for his new comic book, Major Tom Versus the Spiders from Mars. In this breakout session, he will answer fan questions about the concept, execution, and magnificent colorists involved. Be sure to make the trip and get all of your other WAM!-related questions answered.

It is no secret that challenges to books have been increasing across the country in recent months. In fact, books with LGBTQ themes, as well as other books, have been pulled locally from the Boiling Springs High School library pending an internal review by South Middleton School District. Because we don't believe freedom of expression should ever be challenged, Charles Bruce Foundation has teamed up with Whistlestop Bookshop to provide one free book per student visit, while supplies last. We already purchased a classroom full, but if the demand is high, we can get more!

The titles we have purchased, All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson and Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo, are two of the titles removed from Boiling Springs area libraries. As you may or may not already be aware, Malinda Lo's book won the National Book Award, the ALA Honor Book Award, and others. Be sure to encourage students in your life to make their way down to Whistlestop Bookshop for their free copy of these wonderful reads.

The Charles Bruce Foundation thrives on encouraging new artists to create beauty in the world. This year, in cooperation with Carlisle Arts Learning Center (CALC) and Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center, artists have another great opportunity to submit their work for the American Roulette: A Novel Approach to Conversations about Gun Violence exhibit. It's only $20 to enter, and it allows for 2 pieces. Also, there are stipends for folks who can't afford the fee. If you have art you would like to submit, please use the "Call for Submission" button below to go directly to the CALC exhibit entry page.