This year at Back on My Feet Philadelphia’s holiday party the annual talent show is becoming an exciting and valuable tradition. We would like to share a particularly special talent shared by one of our resident members. Antwan B. composed and performed a rap about his experience with Back on My Feet, below we would like to share his lyrics.

Antwan performing his rap

Trust

Trust I’mma let the truth be told

Trust that I will never bend, break or fold

Trust that I will never live in the cold

Since I met Back on My Feet

Gradually ya man is Back on his Feet

Tragically I had to endure some bad situations

But nevertheless I’m still out here motivated

Racing to the finish line, yea, the prize is mine

I’m in my prime, like Optimus Prime

But, this is not a cartoon

These streets can suck you in, just like a vacuum

or like a toilet in a bathroom

Killing you with bad fumes

So I suggest I get my A Game!

Straight like Kobe Bryant on a fast break

I have to penetrate my adversaries

The clock is ticking, the cops are riffing,the glock is spitting,

A young thug gets dropped, no pitty

See this is what I see in my cityof Brotherly Love,

you can see a brother get slugged

So I try to avoid these circumstances

And Back on My Feet they gave me second chances

Trust I’mma let the truth be told

Trust I will never bend, break or fold

Trust I will never leave you in the cold.

December’s unseasonably warm temperatures made for a wonderful month of running and training for our St. Leonard’s team. Not only were we busy running, but many of our teammates reached some exciting milestones during the month of December!

Our team welcomed two new members in December. Rob and John joined our team and have been a lovely addition to the group. They are very supportive of one another and the team and are a pleasure to be around. We are so happy to have them running with us!

The month started out with a rainy, but fun, Santa Hustle 5k. Despite the crummy weather, the team had a great time running along the lakefront dressed as Santa. Howard, Jerry, Akbar, Osie, Mingo, and a group of non-residential team members braved the weather for a nice holiday run. Read more…

The Lawson House team had a busy and festive December! We began the month with the Santa Hustle 5k, where 11 residential team members and several non-residential members ran the race dressed up as Santa (some even donned a white beard). Our team kept the holiday spirit going the next weekend as we had our own Lawson House Machine holiday party. Team Leader Randi made a delicious home cooked breakfast consisting of pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage and biscuits! Other team members contributed baked goods, fruit and other breakfast treats! The best part was when residential member Andy surprised us all by dressing up as Santa Claus! Other holiday events included caroling at Warren Barr Pavilion and the Back on My Feet holiday party at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Read more…

On December 19th, Back on My Feet Chicago hosted a Zoo Lights Holiday Party at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Team members met at the Park Place Cafe and were greeted with an assortment of cookies and other treats courtesy of Program Coordinator Kate. Back on My Feet staff presented gifts to Core members to thank them for their year of service, and students from Team Organizer Beth’s Pilgrim Lutheran School distributed hand-made blankets to residential members. Following the celebration, attendees strolled the zoo to enjoy the festive decorations and colorful lights.

Thank you to all that attended this event, especially our special guests from Pilgrim Lutheran School! We would like to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season!

View more pictures from the holiday party here.

YMCA Lake View members began December by running and volunteering in the Santa Hustle. It was quite a sight to see all of those Santas running and a great way to welcome the season! Members also spread cheer by caroling at Warren Barr Pavilion nursing home. It was so heartwarming to see the nursing home residents singing along. The new year has members looking forward to achieving new goals, such as passing mile markers. Steven is well on his way, recently running more than 200 miles and Carmelo continues to train for the F^3 Lake Half Marathon in January!

Osie had a difficult childhood, and spent most of his teenage and young adult life in prison. When he got out, he was determined to make better choices. He moved into St. Leonard’s, and Back on My Feet immediately caught his attention. It had been years since he had been able to run freely outside, and given his energetic personality, he naturally developed a passion for it. Even more importantly, he gained the support of his Back on My Feet team members. It was this support that gave Osie the confidence to begin searching for permanent employment. The St. Leonard’s team has also helped him get through some difficult times. Knowing that his teammates will always be there for him has given him both solace and hope.

Through Back on My Feet, Osie has gained important knowledge in employment preparation and life skills. Since joining the team seven months ago, he has accrued over 200 miles, participated in four races, and attended Harris Bank Financial Literacy and Accenture Skills to Succeed courses. He also worked at the 2011 Bank of America Chicago Marathon and obtained employment. Though his work schedule keeps him on the job until 1am most nights, he still maintains 95% attendance!

Osie’s determination and self-discipline have made him an important part of the St. Leonard’s Back on My Feet Team. We are confident that Osie will meet whatever goals he sets for himself and we hope to remain a part of his plans!

As Osie can tell you, his experience with Back on My Feet has been:

“Rejuvenating! Back on My Feet has introduced me to a whole new way of life, with emphasis on self-sufficiency and great health. This organization consists of many wonderful individuals who have been great motivating factors in the uplifting and advancement of my current situation. Back on My Feet has not only rejuvenated my body and mind, it has completely renewed my optimistic views on life.”

December has been a busy month for the team at Clean and Sober Streets.  They had a fantastic turnout for the Inaugural Open Mic Night and Talent Show, the not-so-warm Jingle All The Way 10K race on December 12^th and the BOMF Hawaiian Holiday Luau Dinner on December 15^th.  At the Open Mic Night David W. and team captain Ed J. represented the team with a rendition of Under the Boardwalk by The Drifters to start off the evening.  Like all families during the holiday dinner there was a spirited round of foosball games with non-residential member Shannyn S.’s much hyped foosball skills on display.  Worthy of mention from the holiday dinner is the award that Lewis S. earned for having the highest mileage of any member in Back on My Feet Washington DC, with 370 miles (at that time).  Marianne N., the coach for Clean and Sober Streets has worked tirelessly to keep the team running healthy and motivated on the long runs she plans, and runs, with them.  Several members of CSS are planning on running the National Marathon and Half Marathon coming up in March of next year.

The three newest members of the team, Marque E., George S., and Terrence W. have all jumped in with both feet.  They, along with James W. who joined the team in November, all helped volunteer for various duties at the Jingle All the Way 10K race and are looking forward to our January race.

In a somewhat unorthodox, but well deserved, nomination, team captain Ed J. nominated the four newest members of Clean and Sober Streets to be all be the residential Members of the Month.  Attendance for all of newest members is at, or very close to, 100% and when the weather is 20 degrees outside their desire to run and ability to endure the cold with their newfound friends and family within BOMF is a testament to their commitment to the program.  Never having been to a race before, all four men gladly volunteered to help out BOMF at the Jingle All the Way 10K, not entirely knowing what to expect but willing to lend a helping hand nonetheless.

Non-residential Member of the Month goes to Amy D., who has been consistently running throughout the cold weather season.  Her dedication to come out and run with the team when beds are warm and cozy at 5:45am is a shining example of her willingness to encourage her friends in BOMF to take that next step on the road to recovery, and race shape.

Back on My Feet Philadelphia currently serves 100 active members in our comprehensive program and is working to start 25 new members this holiday season! Our unique approach to combating homelessness has proven successful by moving over 220 members forward to educational opportunities, jobs and housing in 2010. We have a goal to start 20 new residential members each month in 2011, for a total of 240 new starts. Each new member who starts receives running gear, which consists of a running shirt, running pants or shorts depending on the time a year, socks and a pair of running shoes.

This holiday season, we’re asking that the Philadelphia Community to rally around BOMF and support our growth. Starting December 1st 2010 and ending December 23rd 2010 Back on My Feet will be holding a sneaker drive to cover our sneaker needs for 2011. BOMF is asking for donations of new sneakers to be sent or dropped off at their office located at 1520 Locust St Suite 804 Philadelphia PA 19102. For sanitary and safety reasons, all running gear must be brand new. If you cannot donate sneakers, you can give a donation online and we’ll purchase the sneakers at $35 per pair. We are currently in need of the following brands and sizes:

Brands
- Asics
- Nike
- New Balance
- Saucony
- Mizuno
- Adidas

Sizes
- 9.5
- 10.5
- 11.5
- 12
- 13

DONATE HERE

www.active.com/donate/BOMF10PhillyHoliday