Unto Us A Child is Lost: A Lenten Tale of Metanoia

Jeannie Alexander baptizes Cherokeewolf a little more than a week before his death.
Photo by Tasha French
The first time I held Cherokeewolf William Parish he was less than 36 hours old and was in the newborn nursery at Vanderbilt Medical Center after having been born in the early hours of the morning onto the streets of downtown Nashville. He looked like a wrinkly old man and was screaming his head off because he was soaking wet. And I loved him immediately. The second time I held Cherokeewolf he was connected to feeding tubes and a ventilator. The last time I held Cherokeewolf he died in my arms. The death of this child has now become part of our community’s narrative. As a community, we were shocked and horrified by the circumstances of his birth, and we have been gutted by the circumstances of his death. Oh what a fine welcome to the world, baby. Welcome to our nightmare.

Read More

Featured Vendor:
Michael Labrie


By Michael Labrie
Homeless Writer

Attitude is everything. How you approach life defines not only who you are, but also how people view you. I must admit, when I first completed the vendor orientation I was eager to get started. My attitude was “let’s sell them all today!” I figured I could make my mark in the Vanderbilt area and set out for 21st avenue with a fresh optimism and great attitude. The funny thing about attitudes, though, is that they can change instantly. And optimism, like milk, will sour if you let your guard down. And I did.

The Contributor is in the Press


We've gotten a good little bit of press attention this year. See what's being said:

• Nashville homeless newspaper sales keep soaring (The Tennessean 11/28/09)

• The USA Today Feature

 • The News Channel 5 Feature

We're Begging So Our Vendors Don't Have To!


Please Support us this Year!

We're two years old and growing stronger every day. We need your financial help to continue growing.
More than two years ago, The Contributor was launched from a sidewalk bench by volunteers providing newspapers to homeless and formerly homeless vendors.

With the help of The Fugitive Foundation, we have launched a campaign to hire part-time staff. Please consider a donation to keep The Contributor in circulation.

The Homeless Man


By Kerry Shawell (a.k.a. Hack)
Formerly Homeless Poet



How can you praise a homeless man
and call him “Father” Sunday,
refuse to shake the homeless hand of a man
that following Monday?
‘Cause one day that man
won’t be so homeless no more.
Won’t it be great to see those gates
him knock on heaven’s door?
And I’m sure our Father’s gonna
welcome ‘em in saying “well how ya’ been?
And by the way, you’re forgiven of sins;
no longer booze you should drink,
not wearing clothes that would stink:
you’re made new.”
And that’s just what my Father
would do, and for you too.
To see you up in heaven would be sweet,
but we must love that homeless man
seven days of the week.