Jo Bruno here, peer support specialist and lived-experience advisor. My story starts in the streets of Antioch, 94509 in early 2001. The lifestyle I lived isn’t a secret #CupOfJoBruno style, but this isn’t about that.
This is about healing and therapy. This is about support!
During the hard times, I always found myself at the local pool hall on 2nd street; it’s no longer there, but I’m still playing pool along the same delta shoreline. I played pool to relieve the stress. I used the game to focus my mind. I spent time in a safe place when I didn’t have any safe places. It was like that for years, but I eventually left the street life and didn’t play pool for many years. Until recently.
I found myself homeless, on the same delta roads nearly 25 years later. The only thing I did was play pool because, once again, I found a safe place where I was out of the elements of homelessness and safe from my abuser. It was in 2020, I found myself surviving through the covid shut down and sleeping in my car.
The only thing I did for myself was play pool, and I did it every day. I am now on two pool leagues in Antioch; one of which is leading me on a journey of professional pool.
I am officially registered for the the May
I am stoked!
But, I need help. I’m asking for help to buy equipment, the travel and hotel stay while I’m there, and administrative fees associated with registration. Currently, the bill is nearly $500, without hotel stay or travel expenses. I have put the charge onto my credit card that I was finally approved for after years of fighting bankruptcy and homelessness. I’m still without a steady income, and currently working on establishing my ACoJB business of guided story-telling and a wellness cafe. It’s only a matter of time before I have my own establishment with my own pool table. But, I need help now.
It’s intriguing to me to think that I could find sponsors and donations for my travels to Vegas for a National Pool Tournament. To have used pool as a healing journey throughout my lifestyle of chaos and abuse, I would be over the moon ecstatic to get support from you. Will you support me, please?
My journey has led me down paths that were never met with support, and in the world we live in today as we step into the Fire Horse season, I am hopeful this request will find the people who will support me.
Much love and thank you for your time.
Organizer
