Displaying his work, titled "Elephant," Javier Salinas, 23, is one of the many D.C. area artists helped by the After-Breakfast program at Miriam's Kitchen, a non-profit center that offers assistance to the homeless population in D.C. Since 1983, the program has served breakfast every weekday, including holidays to its guests, 75 percent of whom are sleeping on the streets or in shelters. In 2004 alone, over 48,000 meals were served. The center is run mostly by volunteers, along with three full-time Case Managers who help guests find jobs, set up legal and medical appointments, arrange for food stamps and other public benefits as well as assist them in finding transitional or permanent housing.
The After-Breakfast program offers 16 different therapeutic and artistic groups ranging from painting, to literary discussion groups, to psychiatric support groups. In addition to art shows, like the one held in the Batelle Atrium on Wednesday, Miriam's Poets, a group from the After-Breakfast program, participated in seven readings of their works in the D.C. area.
