Today approximately 45 high school students from Milton joined us at PNC. We split them into groups and rotated them through three experiences: walking the neighbourhood with Joanna, participating in the drop-in with me and listening to the story of a man named Steve Grant.

I was thrilled that Steve got to share what living on the streets had been like and how his life is now, living in an intentional community house. I count it such a privilege to have been a part of his journey and to call him my friend. He is a teammate to Joanna and I. Steve helped break down barriers today. Those students understand a bit better that becoming homeless can happen to anyone, that none of us are immune.

Some of the students confessed that at first they felt as though they might be intruding. Interesting that by the end of the day this feeling evaporated. I was so heartened (though not at all surprised) to hear that our community truly hosted them. PNC folks wanted to make sure that the students didn’t “leave hungry”. People who are so used to wondering where the next meal might come from showed selflessness when passing the potatoes.

I’ve written before about hoping to shift around traditional power dynamics. Today was a beautiful example of that. Today the people who some would refer to as PNC’s “guests” became the hosts.

I love it.