Contact Jacalyn C. Spoon
A Review of the Annual Homelessness Marathon available on Cassette
By Jacalyn C. Spoon
The Annual Homelessness Marathon (available on cassette tape) is not about raising money but about educating people to the way society is structured and the changes that are necessary to end homelessness in the United States. This approach makes this recording timeless as an educational tool. Whether to supplement classroom teaching at the middle, high school or College level or, for use in the public library by citizens wishing to learn more about homelessness, the price paid for a set of tapes is money well spent. Hosted by Jeremy Weir Alderson the Annual Homelessness Marathon broadcast takes place outdoors in the winter in an effort to “dramatize the plight of people with nowhere to go in the cold” (Alderson). This outdoor recording is of exceptional quality; background noise is easily interpreted as the voices of people and the sounds of the city. Very little hiss or wind interferes with the recorded message. Now in its 5th year, excerpts from previous marathons, as well as a list of stations which will be airing the 6th event are available on the Internet at http://www.homelessnessmarathon.org. Topics included on the cassette tapes have a wide range but all are appropriate: interviews with homeless people, legal issues surrounding homelessness, funding for shelters, the impact of welfare reform, suggestions for locating family or friends who are believed homeless, and statistics. The broadcast, while unique annually even in its location, is consistent in its message as originally envisioned by Alderson, “this isn’t right”. The most recent 14 hour event, the 5th Annual Homelessness Marathon, was recorded February 14, 2002 and is available on 7 sound cassette tapes for $80.00.
Jacalyn C. Spoon received her bachelors’ degree in Anthropology from Ithaca College in 2001 and is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Library and Information Science at the State University of New York, University at Buffalo.
Alderson, Jeremy Weir. Third Annual homelessness marathon (sound cassette). The Homelessness Marathon Ithaca, NY, 2000. Available via the Internet at (http://www.homelessnessmarathon.org).