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 23rd 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 23rd 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
No comments:
Post a Comment