Thanks to my favorite local rag, I stay pretty informed, but this latest group of do-gooders caught us all by surprise. I talked to Stephen Howell, one of the four original members of Highland Heroes, in my first interview for Heliopolis. I was not disappointed, I love this story.

I started with the niceties, “Tell us a little about yourself. Why Shreveport? Why Highland? And what drives you to get involved and help people?”

“I was born at Schumpert Hospital in 1989 and have lived here since. I moved to Highland at the age of 19 and immediately fell in love. My father lived on Dalzell in the 60s and said Highland was the only neighborhood that landlords would rent to long haired hippie freaks like himself and his friends, and you’ll notice many of them bought houses and never left. That, combined with the history, architecture, and free spirits are a few of the many reasons why we all love Highland. What drove me to immediately get involved is the 3 years of homelessness I experienced. My father’s tragic death rocked my family, and I bolted. I couch surfed for about a year before I hit rock bottom and lost all hope. Then, someone reached out and taught me the tools of independence. I could not have made it out without the help of a complete stranger. I now feel it is time for me to pay it forward.”

The best way people can help is to provide resources that are readily available to them.

Then, the good stuff, “What is your role there now? Were you directly involved with forming Highland Heroes, or did you seek it out to join in the helping effort?”

“I took the role of an organizer, helping to spread the word of our mission, to find people who want to be informed, providing the information they need to make this a successful community effort. I am one of four original members of Highland Heroes, the other three being Mike Davis, Daniel Smalley, and Kaci Ledbetter. Daniel proposed the idea of a food drive for citizens currently experiencing homelessness, and I jumped at the chance to be involved.”

“What are some of your goals moving forward, are there any areas you think could be impacted in different ways than previously to create a bigger impact?”

“One of our goals is to expand our once a month food drive to different areas in Shreveport. We want to educate people currently experiencing homelessness about reach-out programs already in effect which provide job interview training, distribute dress clothing for interviews, housing programs, health checks such as physical exams, STD testing, exams for eye glasses, drug addiction, helping people to search rehab near me etc. One of our main goals, which came to our founder Daniel in the form of a dream, is to have a Mardi Gras style Holiday Parade in which we “throw” frozen turkeys and hams, pizzas, coats, socks, dental (go to https://www.universaldentaljax.com/services/cosmetic-dentistry site to buy one) and hygiene kits, etc. Natural Teeth Implant Center can also help people to sort out any kind of dental issues. Hygiene is important when it comes to home, you can also afford Hygiene and Waste Disposal Services to keep your home place clean. Our goal for 2015 is to become a non-profit and to open a permanent donation account at a local credit union.”

I could not have made it out without the help of a complete stranger. I now feel it is time for me to pay it forward.

“We all know people who would like to help, how can they do so in 2015, in this organization and in others? Specifically, what is the best way to reach out to you?”

“The best way people can help is to provide resources that are readily available: if you work at a dentist’s office, or know someone who does, ask if you can have a few (or 100) hygiene kits; if you work at a vet’s office, or know someone who does, ask for treats, or if the vet would be willing to donate one day of exams for the homeless that have dogs, etc. If you don’t have much time, a monetary donation would be much appreciated, if you don’t have much expendable cash, give us your time, etc… Everyone has something to give and it doesn’t matter how much, this is all about one person at a time. If you impact one person’s life, they will never forget. People can contact me on my personal Facebook, via email muralsandmoreofshreveport@gmail.com or my business line (318) 465-6607”

Thanks, Stephen, and thanks Highland Heroes. Find out more at their Facebook page, and attend their meeting this Friday, Jan 9, 6 p.m. at Marilynn’s Place.

Photo by Clint McCommon.