Menu
Millions of families are subject to extreme poverty and homelessness in the United States, and contribute to the thousands of deaths that are counted by agencies across the country. Children and youth exposed to extreme hazards such as an unsafe living environment or a dangerous living space, are subject to lifelong health risks. Youth.gov reports that homeless young people experience higher rates of chronic health problems, trauma-related injuries, and nutritional problems, including starvation, obesity, and associated dental complications. The trauma and unnecessary suffering of women, children, family and youth needs to end to prevent further suffering, death, and health disparities.
On April 22nd, 2022 at 2pm EST, Stetson University and Bring America Home Now are partnering to host a launch that discusses the experiences and struggles of Women, Children, and Families that experience extreme poverty and homelessness.
Christian F. Nunes, MBA, MS, LCSW, became NOW president in August 2020. She was previously appointed Vice President by the board in May 2019. As the second African American president in the organization’s history, the youngest person of color, and the youngest president in more than 40 years, Nunes is leading the organization through an intersectional lens, bringing a diverse coalition of grassroots activists to work against structural sexism and racism.
Christian is a former NOW board member and committee chair, as well as a licensed clinical social worker, consultant, and woman-minority business owner. She is an active community organizer and public speaker, regularly featured at events such as the March for Black Women, Women’s March Events, and rallies around the country in support of the Equal Rights Amendment and immigration rights. Along with her activism for mental health, Christian has more than 20 years of experience advocating for children’s and women’s issues.
Dr. Rajni Shankar-Brown is an internationally renowned and award-winning Professor and Endowed Chair of Social Justice Education at Stetson University, the Vice President of the National Coalition for the Homeless, author, consultant, coach, poet, artist, and equity activist. She is the Founder and Director of the Poverty and Homelessness Conference, Co-Chair of Equity and Justice for the International Society for Teacher Education and Information Technology, Advisor for New York University’s Moral Courage Project, and the Co-Director of the Acts of Kindness and Justice Movement. Dr. Shankar-Brown has worked in a variety of leadership roles with communities, organizations, government agencies (federal, state, and local levels), corporations, PreK-12 schools, and institution of higher education in urban, rural, and suburban areas across the United States and around the world. She is currently involved in public policy efforts connected to economic, housing and food justice at national, state, and local levels, and working to combat poverty globally. She also has a mentoring program for diverse low-come youth in Florida and serves as the Faculty Advisor for the Student Homeless Coalition. As a civically engaged educational leader who is deeply committed to advancing economic, racial, and intersectional equity for students. Dr. Shankar-Brown actively works to confront systemic oppression and cultivate justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. She has presented around the globe and published over 60 articles, book chapters, and creative works in leading sources. She has also published internationally celebrated book projects including Tuluminous (2020), Bending the Arc Toward Justice: Equity-Focused Practices for Educational Leaders (2021), and Re-Envisioning Education: Affirming Diversity and Advancing Justice (2022). She works tirelessly to end and prevent homelessness, particularly for women, youth, and children. In addition, Dr. Shankar-Brown is an Amma (mother) and coffee/chai enthusiast.
The Women, Children, Family, and Youth Initiative Event will be featured as the kickoff for Stetson’s Poverty and Homelessness Conference, taking place on Saturday, April 23rd. To attend the launch, please use the registration link on Stetson’s website below:
