1817-Movement

For the Twins, Khan and Quan Evans, donating to the homeless is about more than just giving to others; it's about helping your own. Influenced by their past experience with serving the homeless, which resulted in uniting with a family member for the first time, the twins are determined to bring resources, encouragement, and community-bonding to the homeless, again.

A few years ago, the twins, their mother, and fellow church members volunteered to go to Lancaster Ave. in Fort Worth and pass out plates of spaghetti to the homeless. While there, they talked to, prayed with, and fed the homeless. As they were interacting with those in attendance, the twins' mother noticed a familiar face in the crowd. She grabbed her two boys and led them to the man who caught her attention. It was then that Khan and Quan were first introduced to their maternal great, great grandpa.

Up until this point, neither Khan and Quan,  nor their great, great grandpa knew the other existed. As you can imagine, they were all shocked; not so much at the circumstances but at the immediate outcome of “giving back.” Had Khan and Quan not set out to serve their community, they would have never been presented with the opportunity to develop a relationship with their great, great grandpa.

Most of you may be familiar with Khan and Quan from their 2002 appearance on Apollo, or for their contribution to Fort Worth’s rap industry as the Hardhead Twinz. Instead of allowing their growing popularity and fame to distance them from their community, Khan and Quan are using it as a platform to bring recognition, resources, and reunification to the exact place that has, for years, molded and supported their talent.

Growing up as African Americans in the inner city, the twins are well aware that homelessness isn’t as distant as one would hope it to be. As of this month, 1 in 5 U.S. adults now live in households either in poverty or on the cusp of poverty (Financial Times). Even more horrifying is that chronic homelessness in Tarrant County has increased by 60 percent since 2013 (Star-Telegram). More than 2,000 people are homeless in Tarrant County at any given time, and 1 in 5 out of this population is a child (DRC Solutions). Homelessness is our epidemic!

Freighting, but real statics like these along with the fact the homeless are far from strangers, rather they are our family members, are the reasons Khan and Quan are taking action. As up-and-coming artists, the twins know what it’s like to need support. Fortunately, they also acknowledge the trade off of giving support in order to receive it. How can one expect their city to promote them if they have forgotten where they came from? One cannot grow without nourishing their roots, right?

Therefore, on December 23^rd from 12-3pm, Khan and Quan are gathering all entertainers, artists, hairstylists, barbers, and all of the other self-proclaimed faces of Fort Worth to go to Lancaster Ave. and pray for, donate to, and encourage the homeless. The twins are asking people to come out and show their support, and/or donate blankets, pillows, and canned goods. (Please bring your donations with you on the 23^rd Between 12 and 3pm).

The exact location will be made available in the next few days.

You never know whose life you will impact, or who will become a part of your life until you join the 1817 Movement!

Those who have already committed to giving back include, but are not limited to: Cap-Innovation Autos, GetMoneyLilRonnie, Go Yayo #HoodFame, AceBee, Run C, NeNe-SheCook!, Nola-Beautiful Designs, Oh Boy Prince, Kataztrofee, Miah Ross, Kalessia Wallace #BookTheDiva, and Demarcus Williams-PurpleVizionPhotography.

“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” –Muhammad Ali

She's Got His Heart

10 years ago, two teens almost lost their lives. Instead of giving up, they came together and gave each other what one was lacking

My cousin was only 17-years old when she was told she needed a heart transplant. At this time in your life, your biggest fear is being told you're short too many credits to graduate, not "you're life may be cut short." Even though I was one of the people staying the night at the hospital with her and witnessed the process, I can't effectively or accurately relay to you what she was going through. Words can't capture that kind of pain and fear. Nor should they try, as that would just reduce both her hurt and her strength to mere sentences and I think she's owed much more than that.

By the time the hospital found a donor, my cousin didn't want the heart anymore. She had only been released for a few days before they called her back and told her they found a donor. To everyone else, this phone call was nothing short of a miracle. Our prayers had been answered. But my cousin was initially reluctant. Can you blame her though? What 17 year old would want to keep going back to the hospital? Isn't spending your homecoming, thanksgiving, and birthday, in there enough? For a kid, the hospital is a robotic torture camp. It drains you before it fixes you. Once you leave, you never want to go back. Even if it's your last chance.

I think it goes without saying that her mom drug her butt up there and made her get that heart transplant.

Over the years my cousin was able to discover more about her donor and his family. Thanks to technology, both my cousin and my aunt have been able to communicate with his family via social media. As a result, my aunt was able to plan an amazing celebration for my cousin's 10th year anniversary, in which her donor's mother and sister attended.

Seeing them there made me realize that the heart didn't just keep my cousin alive, in a way it kept their son/brother alive too. At the request, of my cousin I have vowed to be an organ donor. I want to be able to do for someone else's family what this young man did for mine. However, I overlooked a critical benefit of begin an organ donor.

Donating your organs means your family doesn't have to lose their loved one either. Donating your organs allows you to give a life and preserve your life at the same time. Donating your organs gives your family the opportunity to keep watching you grow. Donating your organs makes mourning a little bit easier when families know their child has decided to stay around longer just to do the work of a hero. Because this young man donated his heart, neither one of our families has had to say goodbye. His heart has never stopped beating, he has yet to stop living, and he could never possibly be forgotten.

Please, donate your organs. We all deserve to live a little longer.