About Our TourThe members of Take ACTion are particularly passionate on the issue of homelessness. So this May, Take ACTion Leader Sierra Fisk reached out to a man named Ron Crockett, who prefers to go by “Coach Ron, The One and Only.” Ron is not only a passionate literacy advocate, a sports coach, and a great soul, but he is also greatly involved with homelessness. He is the founder behind the “U.S. Vets Homeless Feeding N’ Housing Services Tour,” “The World Famous Skid Row Community Clean-Up” and “The Fun Zone Reading Club 4 Homeless/Low Income Kids Tour.” Coach Ron daily strives to help the homeless community in many hands-on ways. In his words,“You look at housing which is #1, and then feeding is #2.” And with that, Ron “joyfully” brings awareness to our local government systems, “joyfully” visits our State Capitol, “joyfully” visits Washington D.C. to “joyfully” engage our elected officials so that they know “the severe conditions of our beloved homeless US Veterans and other beloved homeless people.” Coach Ron organizes homeless feedings, cookouts, haircuts, coat drives, and more. After meeting us on Zoom, Coach Ron took Take ACTion on a tour of Skid Row. Ron walked our members around a few streets, showing the harsh real world and living situations that hundreds of people are going through. We didn’t have time to see all of it, but the couple blocks we saw were a big eye opener. To find information or get involved, please visit: https://funzonereadingclub.webs.com Take ACTion: “To others who are wanting to start small, what are some ways to help out”? Coach Ron: “To joyfully host food and clean clothing drives, or start a podcast and joyfully invite positive people to share what they do.” Take ACTion: “A lot of people know that homeless people need food, clothing, shelter and hygiene kits. What are some of the needs of the homeless community that people may not realize?” Coach Ron: “They joyfully need shoes, open wound care, trash bags and cans, bikes, eyeglasses, high quality haircuts, nail and toenails care, money management, work and work training.” Sierra DietzI have never seen someone so passionate about something like Coach Ron is. As our members of Take ACTion walked through the streets, we got to see how people make do with what they have. Not everyone was sad either, there were a lot of people who were laughing with their friends, listening to music, and waving to the Take ACTion group as they walked by. It is our job as people to be there for one another. Not only can Coach Ron make a difference, but so can everyone else. So, how are you going to help? Maya ClaytonMy experience involved mixed emotions…including hope, love, and concern. It was disheartening to see how much of a lack of drive there seems to be to provide resources but I have hope that it will get better. I hope more people will come to realize that homeless people just need help and consideration from others. |
Take ACTion: “What is your favorite part about what you do”? Coach Ron: "Joyfully meeting and networking with like-minded positive people who are joyfully willing to help.” Take ACTion: “Are there challenges in what you do? How do you overcome them? Coach Ron: “Yes, because so many people have deep-rooted hate for our beloved homeless people and my best way to overcome this is to joyfully invite them on a walking tour, or to joyfully serve in safe spaces.” Noah BernsteinTake ACTion member Noah Bernstein recalls his personal experience from his time at Skid Row.
One particular interaction with a beloved homeless person truly changed the way I viewed the lives of unhoused folks. A man Coach Ron seemed to know walked up to him and asked for bleach and concrete. That was it. Bleach for cleaning and concrete to fill holes made by pests in the ground in their encampment. Not money, not food, not alcohol… One more thing that really stuck with me was the immense sense of community between all of the individuals. The feeling that although they are in less than ideal situations, they are in it together and will make it together. Take ACTion: “Why do you think the government seems to not be as present in terms of helping with the homeless?” Coach Ron: “Because most of them are not made aware of their needs, so they cannot joyfully help our beloved homeless people”. Take ACTion: “What can we do to spread awareness in our community to what you are doing? Is there a website or something you can refer people to?” Coach Ron: “You can joyfully invite them to joyfully serve this Summer in World Famous Skid Row, CA. And you can joyfully donate to get my book "Walk the Talk 2020." Or, go to google and joyfully type in ‘Fun Zone Reading Club 4 Kids." Take ACTion: “We noticed you use the word ‘joyfully’ often, and why is that?” Coach Ron: “To use a positive word is best when I talk to a human being. And to help adults and kids know that bringing JOY is what I do best.” Take ACTion: “When did you know you were so passionate about helping the homeless and what caused your interest?" Coach Ron: “When I became homeless myself. Three of my family members were U.S. Veterans.” |
Coach Ron played football and baseball for 14 years and has been a coach since 1994. He loves to teach, and “incentivize my people.” A traumatic divorce brought him to Skid Row in 2008 from the San Gabriel Valley. Recognizing the vitality of the community, Ron quickly got involved with the Funky Trashcan Campaign, working to provide trash cans that had been removed by the city. From 2008 - 2011, Coach Ron ran the Fun Zone Reading Club at the Huntington Hotel, teaching adults and kids how to read. In 2009, with OG and JoJo, he started the Skid Row Brigade with the assignment to clean up Skid Row. The Brigade wanted the City of Los Angeles to understand that Skid Row streets can be clean and safe too. The City got the message. The Brigade was given responsibility for cleaning the VOA Drop-In Center, and later, Gladys Park, where The Brigade, since 2011, serves meals Saturday and Sundays. And in the park, Coach Ron is the announcer for the acclaimed Skid Row Three on Three Street Basketball League. Right now, The Brigade is working with the City to monitor the port-o-potties and hand washing stations, deployed in Skid Row to ensure that they are supplied and available to the community.