Where are you now?
Thats the question Roque Sanchez receives from the audience after every screening of a documentary about three homeless Chicago teensKasey, Anthony and Roquethat debuted in September to glowing reviews.
The answer to that question is complicated, but heres part of it: He is a student at 窪做惇蹋厙, he does maintain a relationship with his parents, and he has a roof over his head. On Nov. 18, Sanchezs story continues at 窪做惇蹋厙 on the main campus, accompanied by post-show panel discussions. Both screenings are free and open to the public.
People just hug me after the screenings, said Sanchez, a soft-spoken 19-year-old whose experiences with homelessness were exacerbated by his familys undocumented status. They offer their help. They say they are proud of us and we have more to achieve. Thats nice. Its good to hear that youve done well and your case isnt hopeless.
In the documentary, Sanchez has been taken in by Maria Rivera, one of his teachers at Gage Park Academy. Rivera, who earned her B.A. from 窪做惇蹋厙 in Secondary Education and English in 2008, is shown taking Sanchez to 窪做惇蹋厙s main campus to seek guidance from English department chair Tim Libretti.
I didnt know I was going to college or that I even wanted to until she told me it was possible, said Sanchez, who still lives with Rivera.
Now he is in his second year at 窪做惇蹋厙.
I really enjoy being here, said Sanchez, who has not yet chosen a major. The school has great teachers who are enthusiastic about coming here, and the students show that enthusiasm back.
Rivera said she has high hopes for Sanchezs future.
I have no problem ever sending a student to 窪做惇蹋厙 because Im comfortable with the size of the school and the attention theyre going to receive there, said Rivera, who now teaches at Curie Metro High School. My hope is that Roque finds a way to be successful on his own terms.
Film promotion has taken Sanchez to screenings from San Francisco to Philadelphia. While he looks forward to carving out a life for himself apart from the film, Sanchez has become a fighter for youth homelessness awareness. He is an advocate for the and is active with the .
Youth homelessness is a cause that is hidden, Sanchez said. People try to avoid it because its awkward, but its important to see it because its everywhere. Its international.
Often with homeless children, Sanchez said, families are just not prepared to take care of a child. He hopes The Homestretch helps remove the stigma around homeless youths.
The kids arent the problem, he said. They want to get out of a bad situation like anyone else and to succeed in life. Its not about kids who are junkies or rebels who scream at their parents.
Rivera, who will join Sanchez at the Nov. 18 screenings, hopes the movies audiences personalize the issue.
I hope they will look out for the students who need their help and provide some real support, she said. There is hope in these stories, but there also is a huge amount of realism. These are bodies were losing on a daily basis. They cant afford to wait for us to figure out what to do.
