Storytelling show to feature stories from resilient community

Cleo Lewis has had a whip-lash life story.

Years ago, he went from being a pretty regular guy — a father of six working as a gang investigator for the Phoenix Police Department — to a prison inmate, incarcerated on drug charges.

And after three years in prison, he found himself living on the streets.

Life changed for the better after he sought help from the Department of Veterans Affairs, which referred him to Phoenix-based Central Arizona Shelter Services, whose mission is to prevent and end homelessness while advancing community-based solutions.

“I had a choice. I could repeat yesterday or find myself and pray that my today would change my tomorrow,” Lewis said.

Lewis is among three people from Arizona who will share stories celebrating resiliency at 5 p.m. on Sept. 29 as part of the Arizona Lottery’s virtual show “Helping Our Neighbors,” a benefit for CASS.

The event will be livestreamed on the Storytellers Project’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/USATO DAYStorytellersProject) and YouTube channel (https://bit.ly/StorytellersPro jectYT).

“I want to convey that good can come from a bad circumstance,” Lewis said. “If I can make it back from where I was, anyone can.”

Lewis joins fashion designer MiAsia Pasha and Daniel Iversen in sharing true, first-person stories as the Storytellers Brand Studio, in partnership with the Arizona Lottery, lifts up the voices of the most vulnerable in our population.

In addition, Anthony McGee, a resident at Project Haven, will be interviewed about his experience and the hope Project Haven has brought him as he is experiencing homelessness while battling cancer.

Project Haven is a temporary emergency homeless shelter in Phoenix for vulnerable populations. CASS created Project Haven as a result of the pandemic. It’s utilizing a hotel near downtown Phoenix, offering 95 rooms to the elderly and other vulnerable people experiencing homelessness. Project Haven is providing meals, security, laundry and other basic services. The goal is to eventually find housing for those staying there temporarily like McGee.

This storytelling night aims to raise awareness about the solutions community members can pursue to help alleviate homelessness. The show also hopes to dismantle stereotypes about people experiencing homelessness, said CASS executive officer Lisa Glow.

“Those who enter through CASS’ doors come from all walks of life, and we treasure opportunities to let our community know that there is no stereotype for homelessness,” Glow said. “It can happen to any one of us.”

Iversen, a veteran and staff member at Project Haven, is a CASS Rapid Rehousing coordinator.

Pasha is a longtime CASS board member and former CASS client, and Lewis is a CASS volunteer pastor.

“We are proud to be a part of this effort to help fund a dedicated shelter for seniors suffering homelessness — a population especially vulnerable to the ravages of the current COVID-19 pandemic,” said Gregg Edgar, executive director of the Arizona Lottery.

“The Lottery funds efforts to combat homelessness and support more than a dozen other vital programs across Arizona, serving our state’s most vulnerable populations.”

People experiencing homelessness during the pandemic have been paying a particularly high price because many are older adults or have underlying medical conditions, according to the Center for Disease Control. This has placed more pressure on organizations like CASS providing services and shelter.

“The COVID-19 pandemic will continue to challenge us all, especially our homeless neighbors,” Glow said.