First Annual HOME IS A JOURNEY March at SMU! Saturday November 2!

Dream Angels

Sometimes the ripples are small but powerful. So grateful that my friend Lisa invited me to share the WE ARE ALL HOMELESS project with these young girls for the second time. We talked about the project and then they made their own versions of what home meant to them. Such an inspiring morning!

#weareallhomeless
#signsofhumanity
#dreamangels

Poster for the exhibit at ArtPrize 10 in Grand Rapids, MI.

US, at Muse GR. Exhibit sponsored by SMU Meadows School of the Arts.

YPO Gold Maverick event at The Bridge

Shared the WE ARE ALL HOMELESS project with a bunch of big hearted business leaders at The Bridge in downtown Dallas. They were all able to tour the amazing facilities and learn about all the services The Bridge offers. And through their generosity fed over 300 guests some delicious food as well!

WE ARE ALL HOMELESS with the Dallas Chamber Symphony and the Dallas Street Choir!

So honored to be a part of this!

WE ARE ALL HOMELESS comes to Durango!

The WE ARE ALL HOMELESS Impact Campaign is pleased to take our project to Durango, Colorado this August.  Please join us at a series of FREE events as we help the community  start a conversation about homelessness.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9 - LABOR DAY WEEKEND

PUBLIC ART EXHIBIT

DURANGO TRANSIT CENTER

A public art exhibit of homeless signs will be on display daily during business hours. Artist Willie Baronet has bought and collected over 1400 signs from people on the streets for the past 24 years, and uses them to create art installations to raise awareness, compassion and start conversations about the many causes of homelessness.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 8, 6PM - 7PM

ARTIST RECEPTION

DURANGO TRANSIT CENTER

Meet the artist and learn more about his journey to collect signs for this project, and stories from the documentary, Signs of Humanity.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 3PM - 5PM, 630PM-830PM

SIGNS OF HUMANITY, DOCUMENTARY FILM SCREENING

Signs of Humanity is a documentary film that explores the inter-related themes of home, homelessness, compassion and humanity. During the month of July, 2014, Willie and three filmmakers drove across the country, interviewing more than 100 people on the streets and purchasing over 280 signs. Signs of Humanity is a film about that trip.

Filmmaker Willie Baronet will be present at both screenings for a Q&A following the film.

The event is free, but general admission reservations are required. 

Click here to reserve your seat!

Signs of Humanity wins Audience Choice at FWIFS!

So honored and excited! Signs of Humanity won Audience Choice of all feature length films at the Fort Worth Indie Film Showcase 2017! And also won in the "We're In This Together" genre! The film was also nominated for Best Domestic Doc Feature and Best Overall!! So grateful to all of you who made this happen with your encouragement and support!! Love and thanks!

8th Film Festival! The Fort Worth Indie Film Showcase - July 2017

Signs of Humanity will screen on Sunday, July 16 at 2:35pm! More details about the festival here.

Conrad Leadership Academy - May 2017

Got to share Signs of Humanity with the wonderful students of Emmett J. Conrad Collegiate Academy. Some were from Nepal, Somalia, and Afghanistan. Great questions and lots of selfies!

First International Film Festival - Melbourne Australia!

WE ARE ALL HOMELESS exhibit at Council on Foundations 2017

Was proud and humbled to take part in the Council on Foundations Annual Conference, which brought together philanthropy professionals from non-profits and corporations across the US.  Favorite moment - sitting 20 feet from Ava DuVernay, having my mind blown and heart inspired. Wow. 

SIGNS OF HUMANITY at the University of Montana

Spent a few days at Montana State University for a screening of the film and a workshop with students. Sometimes it’s hard to express how this project impacts people. One of the students posted this comment that does a good job of that - made my day.

My life was changed two nights ago, for a class I was asked to watch a film about homelessness. The director/artist/producer, Willie Baronet, flew all the way from Dallas to present it to us.  The film followed him around the country as the bought signs from the homeless, often being able to ask questions about how they became homeless and what home means to them. Seeing this changed my perspective on many things in my own life.  It forced me to appreciate the homeless so much more and their daily struggles.  It made me appreciate all the blessings I have through friends, family and my day to day life.  Finally his overall theme was We Are all Homeless and to me this means everyone needs help regardless of who they are and it is our job as individuals to do everything we can to help those around us and the less fortunate, and this means far more than just monetarily, this is emotionally, psychologically and every other aspect of life.  Please check out his website and watch his documentary. I was borderline in tears in a large presentation.

UTA Leadership Conference 2017

Two views of the WE ARE ALL HOMELESS installation at The University of Texas at Arlington, in preparation for a leadership conference, where I delivered to workshops to future leaders on the concepts of home, creativity and activism.

SIGNS OF HUMANITY accepted to SLO FILM FEST!

Our 7th film fest! 

ROUGHLY SPEAKING collaboration with WE ARE ALL HOMELESS in NYC!

This installation was displayed throughout the run of “Roughly Speaking” at the Tada Theater in New York, a play with rap based on 200 interviews with the NYC homeless. Thank you to Shara Ashley Zeiger, Artistic Director of The Platform Group, for letting us be a part of this project!

University of Louisiana at Lafayette, 2016

What does home mean to you?  Some of the answers in Lafayette where WE ARE ALL HOMELESS was on display during the screening of “Signs of Humanity”.

Colorado Springs, October 2016

Who else packs a suitcase full of homeless signs when they travel?  Packing for the Philanthropy Southwest Annual Conference at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, where we were screening Signs of Humanity and talking about homelessness.

Be a part of the WE ARE ALL HOMELESS Impact Campaign

Our mission is to create a more compassionate world by creating awareness and provoking conversations about people on the streets, and inspiring others to find and implement solutions to the many causes of homelessness.

YOUR TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION CAN BE MADE HERE.

Your donation will make possible curriculum development for all grade levels, exhibits, books, web and tv content, documentary distribution, speaking opportunities and much more. Blessings and thank you!

Catalyst University 2017

Honored to be speaking at Catalyst University in Kalamazoo, MI! In addition to speaking I did this WE ARE ALL HOMELESS installation, and we will also be screening SIGNS OF HUMANITY! Onward!

It's Just Us | Willie Baronet | TEDxSMU

Next stops: London and Cambridge!

Very excited and honored that WE ARE ALL HOMELESS will be part of this show in the UK. You can check out the official facebook page here. Installation photos will come later. Thanks to all of you for the continued support!

WE ARE ALL HOMELESS at the Democratic National Convention!

So honored to be a part of Truth to Power, a pop up art exhibition in Philadelphia during the Democratic National Convention. Featuring the work of Banksy, Shepard Fairey, Ron English, Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, and dozens of other artists. With 25 hours of programming and speakers like Susan Sarandon, Danny Glover, Rosie Perez and many other artist, activists, poets, musicians. Andra Day played at the opening party, the night before she sang at the DNC!

Special thanks to Help USA, for making the WE ARE ALL HOMELESS exhibit possible both here and in Cleveland for the RNC. And thank you all for your continued support!

Installation at the Cleveland Public Library during the 2016 RNC

Just completed this WE ARE ALL HOMELESS installation at the Cleveland Public Library, thanks to the support of HELP USA. It opens July 18 to coincide with the Republican National Convention. Next week will be installing in Philly for the Democratic National Convention. Homelessness is not a partisan issue. Thanks to all of you for your continued love and support! I've already had some amazing conversations with folks at the Library in Cleveland, and looking forward to more. Thanks to Tim Chumley for all your help!

Signs of Humanity accepted into CHAIN NYC Film Festival!

SIGNS OF HUMANITY accepted into the CHAIN NYC FILM FESTIVAL! Thanks to all of you who continue to encourage and support us. Congrats to the dream team: Judy Gass, Tim Chumley, Eamon Downey, Oli Morrow. And to David Kiger and Veronica Roth Sayles for making this possible. And to all our Executive Producers, Indiegogo supporters, and friends and angels.

SIGNS OF HUMANITY to premiere at Dallas International Film Festival

So excited and honored that our documentary Signs of Humanity will premiere on April 15, 2016 as part of the Dallas International Film Festival! See the article in the Dallas Observer here.

And see the Facebook event page here! Thanks to all of you for your continued support!

#WEAREALLHOMELESS opens at Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA 01.21.16

Time lapse of the full installation at Moravian College. Thanks to all of you for your love and support! If you are in PA, come check it out!

Upworthy features WE ARE ALL HOMELESS!

So honored to be featured by Upworthy, and the video had over a million views in the first 24 hours. Amazing and so grateful for all the love and support. You can watch it here!

It's been a busy two months

After teaching a class in London this summer for SMU, where I (or my students) were able to buy 14 homeless signs, this is the only one I've bought in Italy (so far). The language barrier has been a factor, although some people are from countries other than Italy. Some of the people on the street asking for money either kneel or bend face down and hold out a cup, which is very sad and sobering. Meanwhile, editing on the documentary is in progress, and there should be news about other installations coming soon. And please follow us on facebook:
WE ARE ALL HOMELESS group
WE ARE ALL HOMELESS page
My artist page

Thanks to all of you for your continued support, and have a glorious day!

Home. Again. TEDxSMU talk from April 2015 is up!

Thanks to all of you who came to Inside SMU to hear the most recent TEDxSMU talk on the WE ARE ALL HOMELESS project. You can watch it here!

In 2012 I spoke at TEDxSMU about my 20 year art project: WE ARE ALL HOMELESS. It was in that talk that I first mentioned wanting to travel across the US buying signs in cities along the way. In 2014, from July 1- July 31, I did just that. With a 3 person documentary film crew, 6 cameras, 2 rented Dodges, and not enough coffee, we traveled from Seattle to San Diego to New York. Stopping in 24 cities, we bought almost 300 signs, and interviewed roughly 150 of the people I bought signs from. Asking them about their stories and background, and asking them "What does home mean to you?" This project continues to feed my spirit and is helping me answer the question that I keep asking everyone else, "What is home?"

TCR does a story about WE ARE ALL HOMELESS!

Great job by Bob Phillips and the crew. Honored to be a part of this show.

Rashad does his magic on the Street View Podcast!

Rashad does a great job of interviewing me and Charles on the Street View Podcast. Delving into art, homelessness, changing perspectives, and being nice to each other. Give a listen here. And thanks to Ann Bever for making this happen! 

WE ARE ALL HOMELESS - exhibit at NYU sponsored by HELP USA.

The signs from our cross country trip are part of an exhibit currently up at the Kimmel Center at NYU. There will be a panel discussion on Thursday, Jan 29 with Maria Cuomo Cole (with HELP USA and an impact campaign partner for the project), Willie Baronet, and Eamon Downey (producer with Other Side Pictures). You can find out more about it here!

On HooplaHa - Eclectic Artist Brings Homelessness To Light Through Thought-Provoking Collection

Article in Dallas Morning News and other updates!

Thanks to Melissa Repko for this wonderful article in the Dallas Morning News (photos by Kirsten Kearse and Tom Fox). A great job of capturing some of the poignant details from our cross country trip. You can read the story here! So much going on with the project these days, speaking engagements in Texas, Pennsylvania, and Indiana in the next couple of months. Meetings with possible donors to help fund our last phases of post-production. Yesterday got an email from Money.com (part of TIME magazine) about interest in a story. Overwhelmed by the interest in this project AND by all the love and support from so many big-hearted people. Thank you.  #gratitude #weareallhomeless 

Art and Seek story by Jerome Weeks on WE ARE ALL HOMELESS

Many thanks to Jerome for this thoughtful piece! You can listen to the story here.

A (partial) media recap of the WE ARE ALL HOMELESS cross country trip!

We were blessed to get SO much attention during our cross country trip, beginning in Seattle and lasting pretty much throughout our travels. There are still at least 4 stories in progress as this is being written, but below are some of the links to stories of the project. Many thanks to all the wonderful reporters that spent time with us buying signs in cities across the country, and to Adrienne, who helped us with PR along the way. The team is hard at work on the documentary and the upcoming exhibit, so stay tuned, and thanks as always for your support and encouragement!

CBSChicago
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/07/18/artist-buying-signs-from-homeless-for-exhibit/

D Magazine
http://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/2013/september/signs-of-the-homeless

Daily Gazette
http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2014/aug/06/artist-crafts-homeless-signs-advocacy-art/

Daily Good
http://www.dailygood.org/story/835/what-does-home-even-mean-michell-burwell/

Digital Journal
http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/2087196

Fast Company Blog (posted by Katie Couric)
http://blog.fastcompany.com/post/85742148223/katiecouric-dallas-artist-willie-baronet-has

Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/15/willie-baronet-homeless-signs_n_5332592.html

IndyStar
http://www.indystar.com/story/life/2014/07/18/artist-collects-homeless-signs-indy/12840879/

INSP
http://www.streetnewsservice.org/news/2014/july/feed-436/cardboard-canvas.aspx

KERA
http://keranews.org/post/handmade-signs-homeless-people-lead-art-understanding

Kindness Blog
http://kindnessblog.com/2014/07/18/we-are-all-homeless/

Las Vegas Channel 13
http://www.jrn.com/ktnv/now-trending/Artist-collecting-homeless-signs-makes-stop-in-Las-Vegas-266031931.html

MKP
http://mkpusa.org/willie-baronet/

NPR - All Things Considered
http://www.npr.org/2014/07/27/335839155/handmade-signs-from-homeless-people-lead-to-art-understanding

North Carolina Public Radio
http://wunc.org/post/handmade-signs-homeless-people-lead-art-understanding

NUVO
http://www.nuvo.net/indianapolis/we-are-all-homeless/Content?oid=2880012#.U93DMlZw740

Perspective Daily
http://perspectivedaily.com/2014/08/we-are-all-homeless/

Philly.com - The Philadelphia Inquirer
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20140730_Plowing_the_pleas_of_the_homeless_into_art.html

Pittsburgh City Paper
http://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/signed-prints-artists-work-brings-voice-of-the-homeless-off-the-street-and-into-galleries/Content?oid=1768547

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2014/07/25/Professor-buys-signs-from-homeless-for-art-project/stories/201407250035

Pocono Record
http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140726/NEWS90/140729864/-1/NEWS

PRWeb
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/07/prweb12048081.htm

Real Change / Seattle
http://realchangenews.org/index.php/site/archives/9134

San Angelo Times
http://www.gosanangelo.com/entertainment/arts-and-culture/artist-crafts-homeless-signs-into-advocacy-art_83984947

San Diego Living
http://www.sandiego6.com/san-diego-living/The-Homeless-Finding-Hope-Through-Art-266461851.html

Seattle Times
http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2023979996_jdlcolumn03xml.html

SFGate
http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Across-the-Country-Willie-Baronet-is-Seeing-the-5655151.php

TruthAtlas
http://truthatlas.com/home-even-mean-one-mans-asking-homeless/

Twin Cities Pioneer Press
http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_26159168/20-guys-homeless-sign-st-paul-this-artist?source=rss

UTNE Reader
http://www.utne.com/community/its-a-sign.aspx#axzz392bs6d7b

Washington Times
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jul/25/professor-buys-signs-from-homeless-for-art-project/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS

The Week
http://theweek.com/speedreads/index/265431/speedreads-to-raise-awareness-artist-buys-signs-from-the-homeless-turns-them-into-art

WKRC Cincinnati
http://www.local12.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/artist-buys-signs-homeless-people-project-14858.shtml#.U80YyTR1byw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2poX656UafM

WTMJ - Milwaukee
http://www.620wtmj.com/news/local/Texas-artist-in-Milwaukee-on-nationwide-homeless-sign-buying-tour-267229851.html

Yahoo! News
http://news.yahoo.com/artists-unusual-homeless-sign-collection-makes-some-people-uncomfortable-144416870.html
http://news.yahoo.com/video/willie-baronet-buys-homeless-signs-220612134.html

All things considered, this was amazing.

The WE ARE ALL HOMELESS project was featured on one of my favorite programs of all time: All Things Considered. What an honor it was to be on this program.

You can hear the story here!

Thanks to all of you for your continued support!

Article in the Philadelphia Inquirer!

Thank you Jeff Gammage for this wonderful article. And for hanging out with us in Philly for a few magical hours.

Thanks to our Day Sponsor David Kiger (for all you do) and to Worldwide Express, our official shipping partner.

UTNE Reader covers WE ARE ALL HOMELESS

It's a Sign. You can read the article here.

Today is the last day of the cross country journey. Above are the signs we bought yesterday in New York. It was a good day. Today we package and ship our final shipment of signs and begin the process of saying goodbye to this phase of this project. But there is more to come!

Thanks to our Day Sponsor David Kiger (for all you do) and to Worldwide Express, our official shipping partner.

Magic in Baltimore

Me and Elli and Michelle in Baltimore. Elli sold me her sign that she used a year ago while living on the streets. She also sold me her mother's sign, her cousin's sign and 2 more. She is 17, from Romania, speaks 5 languages and is trying to go to school. Michelle is an angel who is trying to help her (along with fellow angel Patty). And I met both of them because of another angel,Kara, who is a dear friend of mine in Baltimore. 

It was a magical and powerful time in Baltimore.

Followed by an interesting time in Atlantic City, where we saw NOT ONE sign.

Followed by a great day in Philly, where we bought 8 signs (so far) and did an interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer. And had some good conversations on the streets. And met a bartender who teaches his 8th graders about homelessness by having them interview a homeless person. His name was Dan, he served us dinner on a restaurant on a boat, which is apparently the only 4 masted sailing vessel on the planet. And the food was good.

Today we leave for New York, our final stop. I'm sad and happy and grateful and tired. And the Dream Team seems like they might be tired too. It ain't over yet, and it's been indescribable. More to come!

All posts on social media today are sponsored by Indiegogo donor Bob Lilly Jr., my friend with a big ole heart!

WKRC in Cincinnati - A full day of buying signs

WKRC in Cincinnati did this story last night about the project. It was a powerful and fulfilling day there of buying signs. Had so many meaningful conversations with the homeless that ranged from my telling some other Navy veterans about my brother Neal, who is in the Navy, to hearing one young man tell us he'd do anything (including prostituting himself) in order to get heroin. It's overwhelming to hear all these stories, and the best I can do sometimes is listen and try to send out some love in that way. It's heartbreaking on a regular basis, and the Dream Team (Tim, Eamon, and Oli) and I have to work to take care of ourselves in this process as well. More and more it becomes clear how complex the problem of homelessness is, and how much help is needed. Thank you all for your continued support and encouragement, we read it to each other each day and it makes a difference. It's been hard to keep up with all the media, but we're sharing when we can, and will compile a complete list once the trip is over. Bought our first sign in Detroit right after arriving here last night. Will post a photo of it soon! Also ate Skyline Chili in Cincinnati, which is a thing. Thanks to Samantha Eve andJustin Bagley for their help in Cincinnati yesterday (and for the humor!).#weareallhomeless #grateful

St. Paul Pioneer Press article by Richard Chin

Our trip continues to be full of wonderful encounters with so many people. Had good days in both Minneapolis and Milwaukee, and are now in Chicago! Wanted to share this article in the St. Paul Pioneer Press, written by Richard Chin, who rode with us for a while as we bought signs. And special thanks to Scott Simmons and Margaret Mary Kelly for hanging with us and sharing about some of the work they do in the city. And extra special thanks to Tanya, who made an "almost" surprise visit to Chicago and bought 2 signs for us before we even arrived! It's a glorious day and I'm feeling #grateful. #weareallhomeless

http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_26159168/20-guys-homeless-sign-st-paul-this-artist

A Magical day in Omaha.

#weareallhomeless #homeless #omaha Had a beautiful conversation with Michael, a Vietnam vet who lost one leg to type 1 diabetes. He was with a group of Lakota who didn't want to be on camera, but who liked the project. And as we were leaving one of them said "all my relations" which is the one phrase I know in Lakota. Two of the signs we bought were drawn by Running Bear. It was a magical day. Again.

Dinell and I interviewed for the Albuquerque Journal

Article from the Albuquerque Journal. Meeting Dinell was one of the highlights of this trip so far. #weareallhomeless

Article in Seattle Times

Read the article here!

Day 1: Seattle

First 3 signs of the trip! Seattle, day 1. Had a great interview with Real Change newspaper, and met Mike Johnson of the Seattle Union Gospel Mission. And met a homeless man from New Orleans! Fulfilling day. #weareallhomeless #waahctc

Care2.com features WE ARE ALL HOMELESS

Budapest, New York, and Dallas. Three projects raising awareness about homelessness. So honored to be one of them! Thanks again for your support and encouragement. 

Read the article here!