In this part two conversation with Church at the Park staff member Sterling Cunio, the Humanity of Homelessness digs into a single, urgent question: what does meaningful involvement actually look like when it comes to our neighbors experiencing homelessness? Picking up where the first episode left off, Sterling walks through “minimum, medium, and maximum” pathways of engagement—from simply learning someone’s story, to building sustainable rhythms of service, to re-imagining how land, housing, and policy can be used so that everyone has access to shelter. Along the way, he reflects on his own journey with Salem, the power of tiny consistent actions, and what he learned about rest, ecosystem, and burnout from a recent artist residency in Costa Rica.

Listeners will hear a candid invitation to join a community of people who are, in Sterling’s words, “consciously and deliberately engaged” in making things better, without romanticizing sacrifice or ignoring real limits. This episode is for anyone who has ever sat at a dinner table conversation about homelessness and wondered, “But what do I actually do next?”

In this episode of The Humanity of Homelessness, John sits down with writer, organizer, and former Church at the Park storyteller Sterling Cunio to trace a life that spans suburban Texas, Salem’s streets, nearly three decades in prison, and a surprising new vocation: waging joy in hard places. Sterling reflects on losing his grandmother, becoming homeless as a teenager, committing a serious act of violence, and receiving consecutive life sentences—then describes the interior work that began when a victim’s family member asked him a single, destabilizing question: “Why did you do it?” From that point, he talks about choosing nonviolence without any promise of release, discovering that “doing good felt good,” and being met by a web of community support that eventually opened the prison gates.

Now, as a poet and member of the Ubuntu Commons Initiative, Sterling travels to places like Costa Rica, Washington D.C., and New Orleans, using story and art to help communities imagine systems change grounded in joy, relationship, and shared responsibility. Along the way, he shares what he sees when he walks Salem’s shelters and encampments, why he keeps “adopting” neighbors living outside in every city he visits, and how simple acts—like saying hello to someone on the street—can become small rebellions of hope

Join us for a powerful conversation with Bill Hardman, a staff member at Church at the Park’s family shelter site in Salem, Oregon. Bill shares his journey through decades of addiction, repeated incarceration, and homelessness, offering an inside look at the challenges faced by many in his community. With honesty and humor, Bill reflects on the vital role of trust, support, and consistency in healing, and how building relationships in safe spaces helped him find stability and joy after years of hardship.

Bill’s story is one of resilience and hope—reminding us that transformation is possible at any stage of life, especially when people feel seen, accepted, and empowered to write new chapters for themselves. Whether he’s cracking jokes, mentoring younger shelter guests, or simply holding a baby so a parent can take a breath, Bill exemplifies the compassion and honesty that can change lives.

Tune in for lessons on recovery, generational trauma, accountability, and the unique power of genuine connection.