The power of the people sustains a city in crisis

0 Comments | Insight on the News, April 28, 1997 | by Susan Crabtree

As sales continue to climb, Malcolm hopes to open his own store by year's end. He already makes enough money to pay his tuition at the University of the District of Columbia as well as meeting his living expenses and sending money to his mother in Jamaica. In retrospect, Malcolm thanks his father for throwing him out. "Before I became involved in NFTE, I don't know if I would have thought that a business would be my exit strategy [from homelessness]," he says. "I now know that I never have to worry about being that close to poverty again."

A great deal of time, money and effort have been invested to produce such encouraging success stories, but the people behind the scenes credit the young people who have worked hard to change their lives. "We're just a vehicle, that's all," says Johnson of the Alliance of Concerned Men. "We keep it very simple, and things just start happening."