STREET GEMS
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Street Gems is a social enterprise through which individuals with a history of chronic homelessness make unique art from discarded plastics for public sale. The art takes the form of jewelry (necklaces and earrings) and whimsical flowers. Artist-designed products and shelter training sessions began in June of 2012 at the Lodestar Day Resource Center on the Human Services campus with sessions later moving to a supported housing facility where some of the makers were  housed. Regular sessions for the Street Gems team ended formally in about 2017, but limited products were produced as needed by a few remaining members of the original Street Gems group through 2018.

“Unlocking the innate potential in individuals who have experienced chronic homelessness to instill the confidence
to build a sustainable, independent life through simple acts of creative and productive art making”
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2012 - 2018
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AZCentral Republic newspaper article
PBS - Arizona Horizons, Art Beat