The Humanity of Homelessness

In this powerful episode of "The Humanity of Homelessness," we sit down with Aurora Granado, a single mother of five whose story is a testament to resilience, faith, and transformation. Aurora shares her journey through two experiences of homelessness, her path to recovery from addiction, and how finding her faith became the cornerstone of rebuilding her life.

From a childhood marked by foster care and instability to becoming a mother determined to break generational cycles, Aurora's story reveals both the complex factors that can lead to homelessness and the profound impact of community support. Now a participant...

In this episode of The Humanity of Homelessness, we sit down with Kyle Dickinson, the executive director of Salem Leadership Foundation. Kyle shares his personal journey—from his roots in Redding, California to his roles in ministry, fundraising, and community leadership. He reflects on formative moments that shaped his vision of community, belonging, and stewardship, weaving together stories of sports teams, the lessons learned from his father, and deep experiences with faith-based service. 

Kyle discusses the importance of connection across Salem’s nonprofit, faith, and civic sectors as essential to building a healthy, thriving city. He also offer...

In this heartfelt episode of The Humanity of Homelessness podcast, host John Marshall sits down with Paul Fairchild, a case manager at Church at the Park’s family shelter in Salem, Oregon. Paul bravely opens up about his journey through homelessness, addiction, incarceration, and recovery. He shares personal stories from his upbringing in Tacoma, the instability he faced as a youth, and the hard lessons learned through substance use and incarceration. Paul discusses the challenges of building a new life in Salem, the resources that supported his recovery, and how his lived experience now guides his work supporting families fa...

In this episode of The Humanity of Homelessness, host John Marshall sits down with internationally recognized peacemaker, faith leader, and activist Ben McBride. As co-founder of the Empower Initiative, Ben has dedicated his life to fostering radical belonging, building bridges across lines of difference, and guiding communities through conflict and polarization. Ben shares stories from his upbringing in San Francisco, his early days in theater and church, and his transformative journey into activism and community organizing—work that has taken him from the streets of Oakland to global peace efforts in South Africa and the Middle East.

Be...

In this powerful episode of The Humanity of Homelessness, John Marshall sits down with Maria Madariaga, Director of Programs at Church at the Park, for an honest and deeply moving conversation about resilience, healing, and the transformative power of community. Maria shares her journey from a childhood marked by domestic violence and instability in Los Angeles, through years of navigating the foster care and juvenile justice systems, to becoming a young mother facing homelessness and adversity.

With vulnerability and wisdom, Maria reflects on how her lived experiences shaped her empathy, her approach to service, and her leadership...

In our inaugural episode of "The Humanity of Homelessness," we sit down with DJ Vincent, founding pastor and CEO of Church at the Park in Salem, Oregon. DJ shares the remarkable journey from humble beginnings-hosting monthly potlucks in Cascades Gateway Park-to becoming a multimillion-dollar operation providing emergency shelter, supportive housing, and comprehensive services to neighbors experiencing homelessness.

Through powerful stories about Steve, Juanita, Kay, and Randy, DJ reveals how relationships with unhoused individuals shaped the organization's approach and values. He explores the complex root causes of homelessness-from broken relationships and health challenges to systemic barriers-while explaining Church...

Welcome to The Humanity of Homelessness, a podcast from Church at the Park in Salem, Oregon. In each episode, we hear from a member of our community who is experiencing or has experienced homelessness. We invite them to share their story in their own words so that they and we, might remember their goodness, their courage, their hope, and their humanity.