Are you in London during CogX (June 10 - 12)? Have you ever helped a homeless person? Do you believe AI & emerging technology can create greater job opportunities? Do you believe actions speak louder than words?
If you've answered "Yes" to all four questions you have officially qualified as someone who can participate in #HomelessEntrepreneur's 34th monthly sleepout between June 10-12 at Granary Square, Kings Cross.
Why is #HomelessEntrepreneur participating in CogX again?
Before answering that question, we’d like to give a special thank to Tabitha Goldstaub and the amazing CogX team! Your inclusive support means more than you all can imagine!
If you’re in London on June 10-12, 2019 and love AI & Emerging Technology, you should definitely buy tickets for this event!
““We believe that the tech world can promote a symbiotic relationship between humans and technology to speed up the process of creating sustainable work and dignified housing for and with homeless people interested in telling their story and working to become active citizens again.”
Watch Andrew Funk’s presentation during CogX 2018!
SLEEPING IN THE STREET IS NOT A JOKING MATTER
Sleeping in the street for one night isn't going to kill you, but sleeping there every night can and will especially in winter and during cold fronts. Cardboard gravestones have even appeared in England to honor homeless people who have passed away. In 2017, “an estimate of 574 homeless deaths in urban England and Wales took place, compared with 26 in rural areas.”
What are #HomelessEntrepreneur’s goals at CogX this year?
Raise Awareness both online and offline: We will communicate with CogX guests online and offline to build upon our 3 strategic pillars; knowledge, recognition and change. The goal is that these conversations with AI and emerging tech professionals, influencers in the business world and journalists lead to specific proposals that create real change.
Example: During our last monthly sleepout at Cannes Film Festival, I received a message from Guy Gadney via Twitter asking to meet up in CogX. One of the things I love the most about social media is how it comes to life when we connect with like-minded professionals.
Build Partnerships: We are looking to partner up with corporations and individuals who would like to help create more job and housing opportunities for and with homeless people in our program.
Example: As soon as we create a new partnership, we will share it in this article. Contact us if you’re interested!
Raise Funds: On a small scale, we’d like to raise between 30,000€ to turn our association into a foundation. On a large scale, we’d like to raise 222,622€ more to create our own #HE Home/Hub that will house 60 homeless people, who will be provided with all the necessary network, resources and tools through our 1 year program to become active, working citizens again.
Example: As soon as we raise funds, we will share it in this article. Our event is currently being sponsored by Dinners That Matter: Please contact us if you’re interested in donating as an individual or organization.
How is #HomelessEntrepreneur participating in CogX?
We will be attending CogX conferences and networking events all three days and sleeping out at Granary Square from June 10-12 as well as communicating a clear positive message with every person who sees us, be it online or offline, Don’t be surprised if we smile and wish you an amazing day and successful event!
Example of commitment: Even if it’s -14ºC, like it was in Davos during our sleepout during the World Economic Forum, we’re still sleeping out. Homeless people can’t choose not to be homeless when the weather’s bad and we’re not going to act any differently.
We will be starting and continuing conversations with those attending the event in a formal and informal way, which will depend on each person/organization.
Example of a continued conversation: I met Jon-Jon Hilton, who is the Manager of the Day Centre @LonJesusCentre and host the @BigFatFeast & other services for people experiencing #homelessness and #poverty in London, on June 27, 2018 and we are planning on catching up during our sleepout.
Building our network means taking care of those we meet and building a long-term relationship.
We will be creating customized proposals and closing deals with all interested parties.
Example: As soon as we close deals, we will share them in this article. Contact us if you’re interested!
And most importantly, we will start working with the new partners who decide to help speed up the process of creating sustainable work and dignified housing for and with our organization.
Example: As soon as we start working with a new partner, we will share it in this article. Contact us if you’re interested!
WHAT SHOULD YOU BRING IF YOU WANT TO SLEEP OUT WITH US?
1) A sleeping bag
2) An open mind
3) A few good jokes (optional)
HOW TO PARTICIPATE IF YOU CAN'T SLEEP OUT WITH US?
Share this post with people you know who may be interested in joining us. It's free and you can do it on your phone from wherever you are!
You can also participate as a sponsor like Invoice Ninja, who sponsored our sleepout for Web Summit in Libson, in future events! They also sponsor one of the #HomelessEntrepreneur projects!
CAN WE CREATE A BETTER FUTURE FOR & WITH HOMELESS PEOPLE?
Yes, and we should do it because active citizen participation is the only solution!
IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE A DONATION TO HELP US SPEED UP THE PROCESS OF CREATING WORK AND HOUSING FOR AND WITH HOMELESS PEOPLE IN OUR PROGRAM, PLEASE CLICK ON THE BUTTON BELOW.
““For further information, please email us at funk@homelessentrepreneur.org or call us at +34 697 877 089.”