LA+-+Liz+Murray

1 Liz Murray has bright eyes and a dazzling smile. She has sleek, dark hair. You would never guess that she has faced many challenges in her life. Her story inspired a TV movie. It was called //Homeless to Harvard//. Liz hopes that her story will make people aware of homelessness in America.
 * Liz Overcomes Homelessness in America **
 * By Colleen Messina **

2 Liz was born in the Bronx, New York. Her parents used drugs. They were poor. Both of her parents were sick. They had AIDS. Her mother bought drugs instead of food. Her mother was also blind. She died when Liz was only 15. Liz's father moved into a homeless shelter. Liz moved to the streets.

3 Liz still wanted to follow her dreams. Can you imagine being homeless at the age of 15? Liz did not give up. She stayed at friends' houses. She slept on their couches. She even slept on buses at night. She had one good friend who helped her have some fun, but Liz did not want to be homeless all the time. Liz decided that education was the key to her future.

4 Liz finally went to school. She finished high school in 2 years. One teacher helped her. He became her mentor. With his encouragement, Liz worked hard. She got good grades. She won a scholarship. The scholarship came from //The New York Times//. Liz then went to Harvard University.

5 Many people are homeless in America. One estimate is that 3.5 million people are homeless. These are people who don't have a regular place to sleep every night. Many people are homeless because of unexpected events. They might have large medical bills. They might have lost their jobs. Many honest, hardworking people become homeless. This is difficult for their families, especially their children. Being homeless is very hard for children. They get sick often. They have infections. They have stomach aches. They are hungry. They have emotional problems because of stress.

6 You can do something to help homeless people. Is there a homeless shelter in your town or city? You can donate food or money to the shelter. You can give warm clothes to the shelter. The best thing that you can do is to treat homeless people with respect. Liz Murray remembers what a difference that made for her.

7 Today, Liz gives inspirational speeches. She helped produce the movie about her life. She also wrote a book. Liz wants to help others achieve their potential. She says, "The main message is that your life is what you make it. And no matter how many things are thrown in front of you, there is always a way to get past them so long as you recognize the power that you have."

**__ Extended Activities: __**

1. Draw a picture of a house for a homeless family. Pretend that you are a rich person who will give this house to a needy family. Draw a picture of the family who will receive the house in your picture. Write a paragraph describing the family.

2. Many people are homeless, and it would be hard to select the right family to receive a new home. Write a list of five interview questions you would ask each potential family that wanted to receive a new home. Include the answer for each question that you would like to see in order for the family to receive the new home. Copyright © 2010 edHelper

** Liz Overcomes Homelessness in America ** Lana Liz Leslie Laura || || ||  2. || Liz grew up in a wealthy family. A False B True || || A Being deaf B Being blind C Being crippled D None of the above || || ||  4. || What did Liz's mother buy instead of food? A Candy B Cat food C Clothes D Drugs || || A //The Daily Planet// B //The Wall Street Journal// C //The New York Times// D //The Chicago Tribune// || || ||  6. || Who helped Liz reach her potential? A Her grandparents B Her parents C Her sister D Her teacher || || A A substitute parent B counselor C A mentor D An advisor || || ||  8. || How should you treat homeless people? A With pity B With respect C With disdain D None of the above || || ** How do you feel about Liz after reading her story? Write a short story to Liz describing how here story made you feel. **
 * || 1.  ||  What is the name of the girl in the article?
 * || 3.  ||  What disability did Liz's mom suffer from?
 * || 5.  ||  Which newspaper gave Liz a scholarship?
 * || 7.  ||  What term did the article use for the teacher who helped Liz reach her goals?


 * Draw a poster advertising items needed for the local homeless shelter. Use words and pictures that will make people want to help the homeless. **