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Bio:::
Luther Coram (Kansas City, MO) is a community organizer with a rich history of supporting LGBTQ+ communities and youth in Northwest Arkansas. Luther’s career reflects that of the independent entrepreneur and sole proprietor: baker, carpenter, and restauranteur.
After experiencing employee discrimination at the age of 23 for being gay, Luther became a founding board member of PRISM, a nonprofit which serves to create safe spaces for queer people of color in Northwest Arkansas through hosting celebrations, variety shows and fundraisers for local supporting organizations. Which include assisting in adoption processes and the local women’s shelter, raising funds for feed communities. It was later that he also served as president of PRISM.
During this time of activism, Luther also served for four years as the University of Arkansas’ Razorback concessions supervisor. This position led to Luther’s late 2019 transfer to Kansas City to work at the Kansas City Chiefs’ stadium for the same company. Looking to be challenged further in his career he took the job knowing that living in Kansas City would be more expensive. Since he had transportation, he decided to take the leap anyway. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Luther became unemployed and has recently picked up employment as an essential employee with Walmart for significantly reduced pay.
Narrative:::
This past Sunday when I finished my shift at Walmart, I walked out to the parking lot to find my motorcycle gone. I circled the parking lot twice and when it reality hit, I went back inside with tears in my eyes.
Inside of Walmart, I told the asset protection team that my motorcycle was gone. They later looked at the footage and saw that the thief first tried to hotwire my motorcycle. When that was unsuccessful, they simply walked it out of the parking lot.
The stimulus money I was intending to use to move into a more affordable apartment is now paying for Uber rides to and from Walmart because the KCMO bus system’s schedule doesn’t work with my shift schedules. This money will inevitably run out and I can’t tack on three hours of commute time indefinitely. The additional stress is affecting my sleep and ability to do anything other than work and sleep. This is why I am asking for financial assistance in helping to purchase a used motorcycle.
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In 2014 a bicycle was my primary mode of transportation. I would wake up at 5 AM, bike from Springdale to Fayetteville, and be at work by 6. After three months, a friend noticed how tired I was. He decided to pay for the motorcycle I was saving up for and I paid him back over the course of the year.
My motorcycle was my freedom from poverty and it was my independence. It’s how I could afford a $300 apartment in Springdale( prior to me living in Fayetteville) and work and hang with friends in Fayetteville on the weekend.
When I was the PRISM Director I had to buy materials for events across town and then organize the events sometimes as close as a half an hour after I got off of work, which would not have been possible if I did not have my own transportation. And in Kansas City? Having a motorcycle meant being able to get to work at 4:30 AM on game day when the buses start at 5 AM or when I’m leaving work after a football game at 2am when all the trash and food stands are cleaned. My motorcycle is what makes my schedule work.
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Right now I’m see-sawing between believing everything will be okay and the anxiety that since my financial situation as of right now doesn’t afford me another vehicle, returning to my previous position as the Kansas City Chiefs concessions supervisor when the pandemic is over will not be possible.
My work requires me to be at the stadium anywhere between 4 and 5 AM to prep and meet my team, and then to leave between midnight and 1 AM. This is my normal schedule, but football games can last later than that and private events vary. In addition, there are many days I have to travel in between venues where being timely is of utmost importance.
Due to my personal financial situation, including insurance not assisting me because of the circumstance of my motorcycle being stolen, I am asking for financial assistance in helping to purchase a used motorcycle at $5000. With the ability to replace my stolen motorcycle I will be able to buy a used 650 cc Scooter. Whatever you choose to give I just want to say from the bottom of my heart thank you. Thank you for reading, thank you for sharing. I appreciate all this more than you can know.
Luther Coram (Kansas City, MO) is a community organizer with a rich history of supporting LGBTQ+ communities and youth in Northwest Arkansas. Luther’s career reflects that of the independent entrepreneur and sole proprietor: baker, carpenter, and restauranteur.
After experiencing employee discrimination at the age of 23 for being gay, Luther became a founding board member of PRISM, a nonprofit which serves to create safe spaces for queer people of color in Northwest Arkansas through hosting celebrations, variety shows and fundraisers for local supporting organizations. Which include assisting in adoption processes and the local women’s shelter, raising funds for feed communities. It was later that he also served as president of PRISM.
During this time of activism, Luther also served for four years as the University of Arkansas’ Razorback concessions supervisor. This position led to Luther’s late 2019 transfer to Kansas City to work at the Kansas City Chiefs’ stadium for the same company. Looking to be challenged further in his career he took the job knowing that living in Kansas City would be more expensive. Since he had transportation, he decided to take the leap anyway. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Luther became unemployed and has recently picked up employment as an essential employee with Walmart for significantly reduced pay.
Narrative:::
This past Sunday when I finished my shift at Walmart, I walked out to the parking lot to find my motorcycle gone. I circled the parking lot twice and when it reality hit, I went back inside with tears in my eyes.
Inside of Walmart, I told the asset protection team that my motorcycle was gone. They later looked at the footage and saw that the thief first tried to hotwire my motorcycle. When that was unsuccessful, they simply walked it out of the parking lot.
The stimulus money I was intending to use to move into a more affordable apartment is now paying for Uber rides to and from Walmart because the KCMO bus system’s schedule doesn’t work with my shift schedules. This money will inevitably run out and I can’t tack on three hours of commute time indefinitely. The additional stress is affecting my sleep and ability to do anything other than work and sleep. This is why I am asking for financial assistance in helping to purchase a used motorcycle.
----------
In 2014 a bicycle was my primary mode of transportation. I would wake up at 5 AM, bike from Springdale to Fayetteville, and be at work by 6. After three months, a friend noticed how tired I was. He decided to pay for the motorcycle I was saving up for and I paid him back over the course of the year.
My motorcycle was my freedom from poverty and it was my independence. It’s how I could afford a $300 apartment in Springdale( prior to me living in Fayetteville) and work and hang with friends in Fayetteville on the weekend.
When I was the PRISM Director I had to buy materials for events across town and then organize the events sometimes as close as a half an hour after I got off of work, which would not have been possible if I did not have my own transportation. And in Kansas City? Having a motorcycle meant being able to get to work at 4:30 AM on game day when the buses start at 5 AM or when I’m leaving work after a football game at 2am when all the trash and food stands are cleaned. My motorcycle is what makes my schedule work.
----------
Right now I’m see-sawing between believing everything will be okay and the anxiety that since my financial situation as of right now doesn’t afford me another vehicle, returning to my previous position as the Kansas City Chiefs concessions supervisor when the pandemic is over will not be possible.
My work requires me to be at the stadium anywhere between 4 and 5 AM to prep and meet my team, and then to leave between midnight and 1 AM. This is my normal schedule, but football games can last later than that and private events vary. In addition, there are many days I have to travel in between venues where being timely is of utmost importance.
Due to my personal financial situation, including insurance not assisting me because of the circumstance of my motorcycle being stolen, I am asking for financial assistance in helping to purchase a used motorcycle at $5000. With the ability to replace my stolen motorcycle I will be able to buy a used 650 cc Scooter. Whatever you choose to give I just want to say from the bottom of my heart thank you. Thank you for reading, thank you for sharing. I appreciate all this more than you can know.