By Mauricio Casillas
A group of fifth-grade (year 6) students at National Presbyterian School in Northwest DC, US wrote and performed an original song about homelessness, inspired by a unique relationship between one of their teachers and a man who experienced homelessness for 20 years.
“I wonder if anyone will notice me,” the children sing in a music video that they created. “Will I ever be seen? Will I ever be seen?”
Ken Martin, who inspired their song, says that he feels seen now. But his life has been anything but easy. “I’ve been up. Unfortunately, life has its way of bringing you down,” he says.
Martin experienced homelessness for about 20 years, and although he is off the streets now, he says that homelessness can impact anyone. “I’ve seen the best, the worst and the ugliest of this experience,” he said.
He formed a friendship with Jim Sumner, a teacher at National Presbyterian School. Struck by Martin’s story, Sumner made a request. “He came to me one day and he said, ‘You mind talking to my kids?’ and that was about eight years ago. I’ve been doing it ever since,” Martin says.
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