Alexandria, VA — Kem is standing before an audience, but this time he’s not on stage. The artist is dressed casually, wearing a sweatsuit, baseball cap and sneakers. Though he’s not singing at the time, he is doing a bit of preaching:
“I’m a living witness,” he tells the group. “Don’t quit-–don’t give up before your miracle happens”.
Kem is speaking to residents of the Carpenter’s Shelter, in Alexandria, Virginia, a homeless shelter just a few miles outside of Washington, DC, where he just finished touring the facility. He’s in town for a concert at legendary music hall, The Birchmere, where he has also arranged to donate a portion of the evening’s sold-out concert proceeds to the shelter.
The singer-songwriter-producer took time out to visit the shelter just a few hours before the performance, and share with residents that he, too, was once homeless. “I’ve been where you are. Never give up,” he said.
That life seems worlds away from the confident, successful performer he is today — years before the phenomenal success of his self-produced first album, Kemistry, followed by his second album Kem II, which was also certified gold.
Linking his past to the present, Kem went on to relate to residents that the songs from Kemistry “were created in a shelter,” working on a piano there so late into the night “sometimes they had to kick me out of the room,” he laughed.
Although he doesn’t say exactly when it happened, it was after high school when he says his life spun out of control. As he relates the story he was raised in a “professional middle-class” family in suburban Detroit, but when he moved out after high school his life went into a downward spiral, leading him in and out of drug rehab, and eventually, homeless.
Nowadays, he makes it a point to give back to shelters around the country, and share his story to inspire others still struggling with homelessness, and often, addiction. “When we address issues, we can move on,” Kem continued. “Every day I reflect on where I’ve come from.”
Kem’s afternoon visit to the shelter was a welcome surprise. “It is incredible, for an artist of his level to take the time out of his busy schedule to care enough about homelessness and spend time with our people,” says Carpenter Shelter Development Director Jasmin Witcher. She adds that “meeting someone like him is a huge inspiration to others in transition or while they are working through an “episode of homelessness.”
SmoothJazzTime.com came along with Kem as Witcher lead the artist on a tour of the 80-bed facility, where he was shown the shelter’s residential areas, common activity room, kitchen, computer room and library. The shelter helps individuals, as well as families, who find themselves temporarily homeless. It offers many services to help get them back on their feet, including education, and supportive services including life skills workshops, as well as job training services and mentoring. The shelter’s mission is to not only provide shelter but to help residents get back on their feet- and stay there. After leaving, residents receive support through after-care program, and return monthly for life skills classes.
Kem was pleased to learn that the Carpenter’s Shelter also offers psychological counseling, and referrals for substance abuse. He says these are equally as important as job training. “Homelessness is always a symptom of something else,” he said. “Everyone in a shelter is not addicted to alcohol or drugs.”
After the tour, Kem made a special point to meet, shake hands and autograph photos of himself for each of the shelter residents. He also felt moved to speak to the group, offering encouragement and touching on his own life experiences. He shared his life story along with wisdom he has gained along the way.
The residents were clearly moved, as well as inspired. “Sharing his story made an impact,” Witcher says. He showed our residents if I can do it, anyone can.”
Resident Ashley could barely contain his excitement when meeting the singer in person. He knew of Kem’s story of homelessness, and felt it was similar to his own. He says meeting and talking with Kem was an “amazing” inspiration. “If you’ve ever had to overcome something, you can definitely connect.”
Ashley, who admits to previously being incarcerated, is working to change his life with dreams of launching a cleaning service someday. He carries with him a self-made book he calls his “mosaic,” a kind of motivational scrapbook. It’s filled with certificates of his own achievements, along with photos and clippings of others whose stories to inspire him to keep going. He smiles as he shows Kem’s autographed photo now has a page in his mosaic.
While touring and performing can be grueling, Kem says it doesn’t come close to what those living on the streets go through every day. “Homelessness,” he says, “is hard work. “Right now, I don’t have any problems compared to sleeping outside or dealing with addiction.”
“I’m grateful there is a place like this (the Carpenter’s Shelter), to enable and support those trying to overcome homelessness.”
If you’d like to give to the Carpenter’s Shelter Click here to make a donation. [http://www.carpentersshelter.org/news-media/]
