The poignant film The Soloist offers a genuine, intimate perspective on the life of a homeless man living with schizophrenia in Los Angeles. Following the lives and relationship between two vastly different Angelenos, Nathaniel Anthony Ayers (Jamie Foxx) and Steve Lopez (Robert Downey, Jr.), the film gives viewers insight into the daily struggles of homeless people and those with mental illness. And not just the lives of the 88,000 homeless people in Los Angeles, but the millions living in big cities and small towns nationwide. Indeed, Nathaniel's life is tragic but not unusual; there are millions of Nathaniels among us.
Homeless people and those with mental illness are frequently marginalized in our society. They are ignored economically (not enough public funding for programs) and socially (how often do you say hello to a homeless person?). And, despite doing nothing wrong, they are often victims of hate crimes. In fact, the state of Maryland is the first state to include homeless people in the state's hate crime legislation.
Despite these depressing statistics, The Soloist imparts a sense of hope; viewers experience Nathaniel's gradual transition from the gritty streets of downtown Los Angeles to the Lamp Community. This is fostered in large part through his friendship with Steve Lopez, who grows beyond his role as a journalist to that of a friend. This sense of individual empowerment is what drove us in Participant Media's Social Action department to develop a campaign for the film that offers individuals a host of tools to address homelessness and de-stigmatize mental illness. By participating in our campaign, you can make a genuine difference in the lives of people in your community. Our individual commitment and collaborative engagement will help to make these seemingly intractable issues closer to being solved.
We can each be Soloists in our communities to make a difference. Here's how:
2. Watch our video about humanizing homelessness and de-stigmatizing mental illness.
3. Keep tips about mental illness and homeless with you in our wallet-sized "pocket change" guide.
4. Learn about art programs for people with mental illness.
5. Get involved with mental health and homeless organizations serving people throughout the US.
6. See the film.
Our cumulative efforts will make a significant difference in the lives of millions of Americans struggling with mental illness and/or homelessness. These are social issues that require significant investment and support from all of us. But, our commitment will make a difference in changing the landscape of our society so that all homeless people and those with mental illness are treated as our equals and nothing less.
Sarah's Social Action Snapshot originally appeared on Takepart.com.