As a journalism student, I am fascinated with the notion of homelessness and poverty in an economically prosperous setting. Perhaps this fascination comes as a result of living in Las Vegas – a city that has become synonymous with wealth, excess, and awe-inspiring shininess. In contrast, a short trip to the north end of the infamous stretch of pavement known as the Las Vegas Strip seems to defy the town’s luminescent fairytale. The homeless are left with a gritty, unsavory version of the town I call home.
My goal is to explore this destitute subculture from various angles. From the adversity facing the homeless to the surrounding community that simultaneously offers compassion and contempt, I hope to present a comprehensive view of poverty in Las Vegas.
While this issue begs for statistical background, I will try and refrain from relying solely on numbers whenever humanly possible. These statistics are certainly useful in many situations, but they can sometimes lead to a callous brand of storytelling devoid of human elements. I intend to focus on the individuals and their unique stories rather than the various graphs and spreadsheets in which they are represented.
January 31, 2008 at 9:39 pm
You seem very interesting. Can’t wait to see more on what you write with homelessness and poverty in Las Vegas. I’m looking forward to it