Conversation Piece - Saturday, April 25, 2026

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1. every Saturday from 11 to noon,
2. for a Pan-African perspective on world affairs and a fly music mix.
3. And as always, we stand ready for the revolution.
4. This is Ed Begley, Jr., and you're listening to KPFK, 90.7 FM Los Angeles,
5. 98.7 FM Santa Barbara, and worldwide at kpfk.org.
6. What it is?
7. I am Angela Birdsong, your Conversation Piece host, coming from KPFK Studios with something new or unusual to talk about
8. for stimulating conversation for you on the bus, train, plane, driving, cooking, cleaning,
9. chilling, building, doing whatever, wherever you may be at this moment in time. Today on
10. Conversation Peace, meet and hear Lorraine Moreland's journey. She reached out to me on
11. social media and said she has a story to share with other women to help them along the way
12. to provide healing from addiction, loss of family, loss of self, loss of everything.
13. Since my first interview with Lorraine, we have crossed paths a few times, not with enough time
14. to speak in depth, but clearly remembering our first interview, which is much longer than we
15. can air for you today. The story Lorraine is going to tell us speaks of her struggle and survival
16. of living on the streets in downtown Los Angeles, Skid Row, from 1986 to 1994.
17. Decades later and counting, she is still standing firmly on fertile, solid ground.
18. Storytelling changes lives, saves lives, connects lives, and builds lives together.
19. Welcome to Conversation Peace.
20. I'm just trying to move along.
21. Sometimes I do and then I don't.
22. Tell me what I'm doing wrong.
23. Tell myself that it ain't helping.
24. Second guessing it don't help me.
25. I'm so tired of feeling empty.
26. By my eyes, it's time to fight.
27. It seems like I'm always around.
28. Trust me.
29. Seems like this is never ending.
30. And I refuse to let it end me.
31. Mentally, spiritually.
32. I need my peace
33. I need my peace
34. Lorraine Moreland, welcome to Conversation Peace.
35. I am so excited that you reached out to me on Facebook
36. and said that you had a story that you wanted to share
37. is that she survived living on the streets of Los Angeles on Skid Row Lorraine tell us about life before being homeless
38. Well, I just want to say God is good and he is everything.
39. And without him, I wouldn't have this story.
40. So, and hi, and thank you so much for having me on your show.
41. I really appreciate this opportunity to share some hope and strength to other women and young girls.
42. Well, I was a PTA mother.
43. I worked at Centinella Hospital.
44. I was a wife.
45. I had four children.
46. And I just loved life.
47. I always wanted to be a wife and a good mother.
48. And that's what my journey was all about.
49. And I had a lot of fun with my children.
50. It was amazing.
51. and then the table turned on me in the early mid-80s when they brought the cocaine in
52. and took away a lot of family lives with that stuff, and I guess I was, actually, I was one
53. of the products of that disaster. Didn't know no better. I was doing it with my husband,
54. and he was bringing it in the house.
55. But the basic thing about it, I didn't start with him.
56. He had started a year before me, but it was overwhelming.
57. I just couldn't take it anymore
58. because he was coming in late all times of the hours.
59. One time he was coming through the window,
60. almost shot him because I didn't know
61. who was coming through the window.
62. And it's just me and my babies at home.
63. I have to try to protect them
64. because I know he had a key to the door
65. so he wouldn't be coming through no window. So he's lucky. He's very lucky. And I told him
66. what happened, that I would be his partner because I was tired of him coming home late
67. at night. And his friends was telling me that he was taking other girls to the hotel and all that
68. kind of stuff. That's where they was getting high off the cocaine. Being the person I am
69. and loving my husband at the time, I didn't want him out in the streets. So I said, I'll be your
70. partner. So why did I say that? When I did that stuff, it threw me against the wall.
71. It wasn't for me, but I didn't know I was having fun with my husband.
72. But eventually the fun started getting to be a disaster.
73. I didn't want anymore.
74. I didn't want to do anything.
75. It was very difficult for me, loving my children and trying to deal with addiction.
76. It was very, very, very, took me to another rope.
77. It pulled me away from life itself.
78. And things just went down the tube.
79. My husband had his mother and father, which I just had my mom.
80. My dad had passed away.
81. And I couldn't go to my mother because I don't think my mother would have understood the situation.
82. I could always go home.
83. I always had a room.
84. But I felt too ashamed.
85. I really did.
86. I really felt ashamed.
87. And I didn't know where to get help.
88. I did not know where to get help because you know why? I thought it was a normal thing
89. until it cracked me down to my knees. And I had a house and everything on the corner
90. path and from Mona I left it me and my kids I left that house right there on the corner And we moved to Venice Beach Tapanapo I was hoping to get some freedom because I left my husband and went there And they told me about a month later after I was there that it wasn suitable for my children to live there
91. so I called my mom because I'm waiting on an apartment back up let me back up I was waiting
92. on an apartment they said well if you go through this program you get your own apartment because
93. you have children so I'm trying to stay there and no more drugs or alcohol or anything I'm really
94. trying to do this on my own and then they told me that it wasn't suitable for my children
95. so they would have to be taken away from me.
96. So I called my mother.
97. I asked my mom, I said, mom, can you come get the children?
98. Because they said it wasn't suitable for the children,
99. but I could stay here until I get the apartment.
100. My mom said, of course.
101. So my mom had to go out and get groceries for four children.
102. But when the worker called my mom, she wasn't home.
103. She was at the grocery store.
104. So she called my mother-in-law.
105. So they went to my mother-in-law because back in the days, the social worker, she's going, she leaves at five.
106. So she's not going to be hanging around with children.
107. So she needed to get rid of four kids.
108. And so she took them to my mother-in-law's house.
109. So that's when I was detached from my children.
110. What was it about the living situation that wasn't suitable for children, according to the social worker?
111. Well, because they had older men there and older people there that was in addiction and stuff like that.
112. So you couldn't because we had to sleep in the church on the on the benches and stuff.
113. And so they just didn't feel and I had four of them. So they just didn't feel that would be a safe place for them.
114. And I can understand that. They knew before I did, because I was just thankful to be with my kids.
115. No matter where we had to sleep, we was together.
116. But maybe it could be a time you could turn your back and something went wrong or something like that.
117. They looked at it that way.
118. These are little kids, pretty beautiful little girls and boys.
119. So before you go further, you're in Venice at a church.
120. And I know in the pre-interview, you told me that at some point you had to go to court to get your children back.
121. But this isn't the point. This isn't this isn't the part where they were officially removed out of your care.
122. Yes. At the Bible attack. That's when they removed them and they went to live with my mother in law.
123. So at that church, that's so it was official when they were.
124. So it was an official act of the remove.
125. It wasn't just a suggestion like maybe this is not where they should be.
126. didn't take them away from me. My mother-in-law, one of them after they came to her house,
127. because basically they were supposed to go to my mother's house, but she wasn't home.
128. So the worker took them around the corner to my mother-in-law's house. And that's when it began
129. that my kids was taken away from me. And I go hard to keep them with me. And I was devastated.
130. I didn't know what to do. What did you do after they were taken from you?
131. Well, I went down to a shelter in downtown.
132. I didn't want to stay there anymore.
133. I didn't have my children.
134. I didn want to wait for no apartment or anything because now I am really back into the mood of addiction So I needed to drink I needed to do what I needed to do in order to get over this devastating feeling that I have within myself So it was like a trick to me
135. And I had had my children with me and I was hoping that we could get together now,
136. have an apartment and not depend on anyone but me and do what I need to do as a mother,
137. even all the time fighting away getting away from their dad because my children was my life it was
138. my everything I was I was in a situation that I had no clue how to deal with it on my own and I
139. know my mom she prayed definitely for me and she was very disappointed that they didn't come to her
140. and overbearing for my mom I think it hurt her a lot that she never really talked about
141. and for me it really hurt me so what happened I went to uh the shelter downtown at 6 11 and it
142. was very devastating to go down there by myself and I almost got raped or killed on my second day
143. there uh they sent me to the shelter 6 11 I never really learned to trust anyone not even guards
144. because in that case, he was the bad person, you know, so, but I said, if I'm going to scream or
145. I need to be outside. So that's how I convinced myself to sleep in a doorway because I was afraid
146. to be inside when I first went down there on Skid Row. And so you're, so you were at the church in
147. Venice. How did they, so did the church take you to Skid Row or you decided to leave the church in
148. Venice? They sent me there really. They actually sent me there to get recovery. You know,
149. I still could drink, but when I got there, I drunk more. So I really didn't get any help
150. actually that I needed. And I'm going through these processes that I don't know anything about
151. never being homeless like that or addicted to drugs or alcohol or anything like that.
152. It was like a newfound direction for me at first that I didn't have no clue what to do.
153. And so I just stayed on the street and I washed windows and cars to make my money so I could drink and use.
154. You know, you have other opportunities to make money and stuff like that.
155. But basically, it wasn't my thing.
156. And after almost getting raped or something, you know, I didn't, that wasn't my thing.
157. So it was very scary being out there.
158. It was just so scary, scary, scary, scary.
159. I wouldn't wish it on any woman, even now.
160. I didn't know how I was going to survive this, but I had to do what I had to do.
161. and I couldn't go to my mother
162. because I wasn't going to go to my mother's house
163. and take anything from my mom for drugs or alcohol.
164. So I had to fight it.
165. And eventually I got help.
166. What were some of the worst things
167. that happened living on the street?
168. You said attempted rape.
169. I don't know if there's anything worse than that,
170. but what are some of the other bad things
171. that happened while you were living on the streets?
172. Just fighting for your life. People want to steal what you got and you ain't got nothing.
173. So I just wasn't gonna let that happen. So I had to fight all the time and mostly stay drunk just to do that because I'm a very kind-hearted person.
174. hurting you or anything because I know I haven't done anything to you but it was so many evil
175. people out there and they drunk being drunk makes you evil too so you had to balance out your mind
176. to be something like them sometimes so you could fight your battles and win because if you didn't
177. win you're gonna die they're out to kill you because they're not in their right mind either
178. And then you have some people just devils, puny devils.
179. You don't even have to be high to be a devil.
180. They're just devils, puny, nasty talking, rude people.
181. And a lot of men think they could just push women around anytime and any place they want.
182. And I found that out to be so true because that's what they do.
183. That's what they do on Skid Row.
184. They'll steal from you, rape you and everything because they think they're big and bad and
185. and mighty because we don't have nowhere to go.
186. We don't have nothing.
187. So they want to steal our last little dignity if we let them.
188. But I still carry that muster seed that God is love.
189. And I love love.
190. So I had to hold on to that.
191. I let myself believe and to hold on to the love of God
192. because I knew he was the only one that was going to be able to save me
193. so you so you're you're sleeping on doorsteps and I know in the pre-interview you tell me that
194. you also you chose to live in the park too so you I did doorsteps parks and why the park
195. well everybody kind of hung in the park it was a beautiful park excuse me it was surrounded by the
196. Belmar Hotel,
197. old factories
198. that's high risers like
199. people working in factories
200. making all kinds of stuff
201. that they would sell some of the
202. beautiful Bullocks and May
203. Company, the stores they had on Broadway
204. back in the days.
205. And Park was
206. most of the people
207. lived there in the park
208. at night because they didn't have anywhere
209. to sleep. So they had this
210. big empty pond there. At first it had water and then they emptied it and people would sleep in
211. there. I would call it my bed because it felt like one. It was like surrounded by the edges so you
212. can get in the little corner and if you had cardboard or I always kind of had a blanket or
213. something I would go to sleep in there and people would be getting by and communicating with each
214. other that was on the street. It wasn't a very safe place, but you get used to the danger of
215. being out there because you see so much, not always at you, but at others. And you see so
216. many things and it was devastating. And you had the big bullies and sometimes you would walk over
217. the bullies the next night, they would be dead. Because your bullies just don't last long. They
218. just don't last long on the streets. People get tired of being pushed around, no matter what
219. condition they're in. They don't want to be pushed around by some bullies. And so that's what kept it
220. kind of balanced. And you said that in the pre-interview that you chose the park because
221. it gave you energy, it gave you hope. You saw people going to work and some people would talk
222. to you, the spirit of life
223. will give you life when you're dying.
224. Specifically said that during the interview and that stuck with me because you know because as you know because we walk by homeless people we drive by them not too many people talk to them
225. And a lot of people didn't talk to them then. It was act like maybe they was afraid, but a lot of
226. people did talk. They would stop and talk to you and ask you if you want something to eat or did
227. you need a coat or a blanket. And most of them, they have coffee, hot coffee, which I didn't drink
228. coffee then, but it would be so cold sometimes. I'd drink it anyway. But it was the joy of people
229. not discreet, not treating you bad and talking with you. And they're on their way to work or
230. they're on their lunch break or something. But you walk or you're in a corner, but people would
231. talk to you and say, you know, your life can be changed and I'm going to pray for you. And I just
232. sucked that in because I needed it. And I needed to hear that even from a stranger. Yeah, it was
233. very touching and wonderful because it lifts me up and I rise from those words, encouraging words.
234. That's why they always say, if you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all.
235. because somebody might need to hear something nice to lift them up.
236. You don't know what a lot of people are going through, you know.
237. It's a beautiful and it's historic park.
238. And I got a chance to make a movie out of that park, be a part of it anyway.
239. Which park is this and what movie?
240. Oh, it's called Persian Square.
241. And the movie is called Redemption Square by John Moody.
242. and how did you end up in that movie well I was walking through it with my dog and I saw these
243. young and I love handsome men so I wanted to know what they was doing and they told me they was
244. doing a school project I said oh wow I would love to be a part of it because I know all about this
245. part yeah and he said okay and um I was I was one of the biggest parts in it I got the part to sing
246. and walk around and talk to the homeless people
247. and tell my story and my dog's in there.
248. And he showed Clifton's Restaurant
249. with my mom and my daddy's picture
250. because we used to go there when I was a little kid.
251. That's the only way I knew about downtown
252. because my parents would bring me down here, you know.
253. So it's a documentary
254. and I hope people get a chance to watch
255. is called Redemption Square.
256. It's about Persian Square.
257. It's a park on Fifth and Hill
258. and it's by John Moody, M-O-O-D-Y.
259. Okay, well, you know, we're going to take a break.
260. And when we come back,
261. I want us to talk about some of the resources
262. that you found while on Skid Row.
263. And of course, the road that led to sobriety.
264. I'm Angela Birdsong.
265. You're listening to Conversation Peace.
266. with my guest, Lorraine Moreland, who is telling us her amazing story of living, surviving,
267. and overcoming life on Skid Row. We'll be right back.
268. of every corner you facing testing out a future Gestapo on immigration power consolidation information restricted Just like the iron law of oligarchy predicted Incarcerating the poor among the drug addicted
269. But not the families of the ruling class that's afflicted
270. Cause it's a f***ing system like corrupted Hinduism
271. I think you should listen, I've been through the system in prison
272. I've been through religion, carried the cross as a Christian
273. Like it was anti-disestablishmentarianism
274. Until the seeds of despotism arrested my vision
275. Lyricism with cynicism and syllogisms
276. Until they bear through Albi's sucampos and kill me in prison
277. Chemtrail conditions, stem cells of Leo Strauss' philosophy
278. The birth of neocon policy, but I laugh at America's fear
279. Of a new world order controlling the hemisphere
280. Cause my people been living that for the past 500 years
281. Intelligence, understanding, the facts they deserve to know
282. No governmental plan should impose its restraints
283. Against your will
284. I'm Angela Birdsong and you're listening to Conversation Peace with my guest Lorraine
285. Moreland, where she says, if somebody takes you out to the sea, you better know how to swim back.
286. Lorraine, what was the turning point for you to not being homeless?
287. Well, that's a good question.
288. Thank you for asking me.
289. I remember I was in my doorway on 3rd and Alvarado, and I had my head laying on the ground.
290. It was raining that day, and I couldn't wait to get to the shelter that I go,
291. Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women, to take a shower and get me something to eat because I was cold.
292. See, I would piss on myself.
293. that one second it would be so hot that gave me hope because it warmed me up that second
294. and I couldn't wait to get to the shelter to take a bath clean myself up and eat a lunch because you
295. have to clean up before you go in the dining room and when I got to the door was a nun sister and
296. sister Mary Murphy came running to the door she saw me coming in there she said uh-uh
297. today no matter what I do you are not sleeping on the streets no more that was October 6 1994
298. and she said no matter what I do today you are not sleeping on those streets no more
299. she said and I saw you on my way to work and you was laying in that doorway with your head
300. on the ground and your foot up on a stroller it just broke my heart I had tears all the way
301. to work and I knew that day I had to help you with all my heart and my soul and she said this is the
302. day and she was telling me and I'm like what is this woman talking about it was like okay so there
303. was an intern there that was helping her trying to find me a place to go for recovery so she called
304. the alcohol center for women and she called others but this one particularly said I can come
305. the next day, which would be October 7th. So, okay. So I'm going to leave out again
306. because I'm going to get recovery. That's what they called it. I heard the girls all the time
307. say that. I'm going to get my last drink of night train was $1.38 around the corner at the market.
308. I went to touch the doorknob. I didn't get my hand on it. And the girl came running and said,
309. They said, you can come today.
310. So I never got a chance to go out the door.
311. I got a shower.
312. I ate lunch.
313. Sister called the cab for me and took me to 12th and Alvarado I walked in that place I was told the counselor there pulled me in a room Myra I never forget her name She sit down It was a gay and lesbian
314. place and all the counselors was gay. She sit me down there, which I'm straight as a board.
315. She sit me down there and she said, don't worry and don't be ashamed. She said, we're going to
316. help you. Whatever you need, we're going to help you. Just follow the rules and do what we ask you
317. to do. Don't start any fights. Don't get mad at other women because we're all in this together.
318. So they went to show me my room and it was in the dormitory. But a whole lot of women,
319. I started crying. I said, I won't be able to make it. I wasn't that close to women like that.
320. And so she put me in a room, beautiful room, had three beds in there.
321. Mine was just by the window.
322. I knew I was going to make it then.
323. Oh, I knew I was going to make it then.
324. That bed was so pretty.
325. After sleeping off on the streets, but see that beautiful bed.
326. Oh, my God.
327. I just knew I was home now.
328. I wasn't going to leave that bed nowhere.
329. That bed was so beautiful and sitting by the door with my by the window with my dresser.
330. I had a long closet and I went to my first meeting there.
331. I think it was that night, too. And I remember a lady coming looking so good.
332. She was so beautiful, beautiful black woman. And she said how she got her life back together.
333. Got her children and her life. And she was so happy. And she had her lover sit next to her.
334. She got a job and all that. And even my first time hearing a person shared a meeting, that sound good to me, but I still didn't recognize it.
335. But one day at a time, they would tell us because we would go to meetings every day in these rooms.
336. And the counselor said, you know, these windows, these walls got ears.
337. So watch what you say. And I stayed one day at a time.
338. I worked hard. The lesbian women were so nice to me.
339. They wouldn't let me lift up nothing because I was a good cook. So I had to cook for them and they loved my cooking.
340. And they was always so kind to me. Never try to hit on me or nothing.
341. There was always like a big brother toward me or something. So I love that.
342. I learned a lot to respect women by lesbian women because they have feelings and they have wants and needs as well.
343. And they have they share what's inside of them, how they became that way.
344. And different things.
345. You can't do nothing but have sympathy for them and love them.
346. And I embrace women a whole lot different than I ever in my whole life.
347. Because I understood them a lot better.
348. Because we all go through something.
349. And it changes our lives.
350. And we all want peace.
351. We all want love.
352. So it was a beautiful place.
353. And they pushed me along.
354. They wouldn't let me do anything to get me in trouble.
355. That I got in trouble or anything.
356. You know, they was there for me to hold me and walk me through this journey that I was going and recovering.
357. And they helped me. And I can say today I'm very thankful.
358. I'm very, very thankful for this program. And I graduated from that program.
359. My mama got sick while I was in this program. I said, Mama, you want me to leave this program and come take care of you?
360. You say, oh, my mom said, uh-uh, child. No, no, no. You stay right there.
361. My mama got better.
362. She was able to come to my graduation March 31st, 1995.
363. And she was so happy for me.
364. you know, I was happy for myself too, but I ate good and I slept good. Every night I
365. got down on my knees and I would pray. If it was song or Proverbs, Proverbs 1,
366. the first of the month, I'd read that and I'd go to bed reading it. Second day, I'd read it.
367. I'd keep on to the Proverbs 31. The month didn't always go to the 31st, so I always had the first
368. to go back to and read that Proverbs 31, but Proverbs was so powerful, and it let me know
369. what I was walking through, through the day, so I started reading it in the morning, and I'd
370. tell you some of the things it said, and be aware of, that's what made me make it through the day,
371. because it was true, God's word is the truth, and it helps you, and it gives you, and it gives you
372. the right spirit to make a big thing. Place that you're talking about on 12th and Alvarado,
373. that's the alcoholism center for women. Yeah. A great place. I would just, any woman,
374. if she has an alcohol problem or she needs somewhere to go get her head together and her
375. life back in order, I would definitely call them. I would definitely call them and get help. So they
376. definitely helped me. One day at a time. Figured I was out there for eight. Let me see if I can be
377. cleaning. So for eight, then the eight came. Okay. And let me see if I can double it for the six,
378. for, for, uh, 32. No, no, no. I'm sorry. Six, eight and eight, 16 and 24. So I wanted to see,
379. I didn't know I was going to make it to the 24, but I did want to double up the time
380. go think for one day at a time have the hope for it and you have to embrace it with God
381. because it's a God program God me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change the courage to
382. change the things that I can and the wisdom to know the difference and I walk with that each
383. and every day because I cannot control nobody I am powerless over people places and things
384. and I ain't running nothing. I just suit up and show up for my life and hope I can make somebody
385. else's life better as well. Amen. Amen to that. Now, what were some of the other services that
386. you used while you were on Skid Row? We know that you went and would shower and have lunch at the
387. Good Shepherd Center for homeless women. And then you started your turnaround, the pivotal moment
388. when Sister Mary Murphy spoke to you on that day in 1994,
389. and then you went to ACW
390. for your first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.
391. Were there any other services
392. that were available to you on Skid Row then?
393. Absolutely.
394. It was the Women's Center.
395. It was on 4th and Los Angeles.
396. I never made it to the one on 5th and San Pedro.
397. But I did go to the very first one they had and they would give you food and clothes and just treat you so much better than you felt inside your own soul.
398. I went to a hippie kitchen that was on 6th and Gladys.
399. They give you some really good hot soup with some bread.
400. And that woman would give you, you need a coat, she'll give it to you.
401. You need some shoes, she's going to make sure you got them.
402. Matter of fact that woman is still there serving the community of Skid Row today And she makes sure you know and it was very difficult for women on the street at that time but they made it so possible that women was treated with such kindness
403. you know, and that's what I liked about it. Because some places I went was not nice at all.
404. I mean, really not nice at all. And I don't want to mention their names because they had to deal
405. with who they are, what they put out. But the ones that really put out love and gave women back their
406. dignity and let them feel that they are part of society. I could say Good Shepherd Center,
407. the Women's Center, LA Mission was just amazing. I went back there to be a pastor there for people.
408. I wanted them to know that they'd like to change just like my life changed as well. And I see a
409. lot of them on the street now and they say, thank you, you changed my life. I worked for Good Shepherd
410. for 15 years because I wanted to give back what they so freely given to me because it's not easy
411. dealing with women that became homeless or spousal abuse or anything like that. It seemed like people
412. don't understand that if they haven't felt that, but I knew it all and I knew how to treat them
413. with tender, loving care, because that's what they need. It's not about a business. It's about
414. somebody's heart and dignity and who they are, especially as a woman and a mother and a daughter,
415. grandmother, I mean, sister, auntie, you know, an employer. It's just something about us that
416. we need to know that if we put ourselves to it and treat ourselves good and not let people take
417. advantage of us, we will make it through. We will make it through. And people that work with less
418. unfortunate women need to know that. It's not about a paycheck. It's about helping. Helping.
419. Helping someone in need and going an extra mile. And that's when you see the glory and the results
420. So if you're hardworking and when you get that paycheck, you know, you got paid for something real, not just for the money, but because you earned it.
421. One of the other services that you said that you there was a woman named Myra Turley with a group called TLC.
422. Tell us about Miss Myra and the group that what she did for women on Skid Row.
423. Well, Miss Myra, she was a counselor for us. She taught us how to believe in ourselves, to do our paperwork and our footwork, and always get on the phone with a good attitude.
424. Nobody owes you nothing.
425. You got to act like you want some respect.
426. And you got to remember that person is the gatekeeper.
427. So you want to get past her or him.
428. So you can't go cussing them out.
429. You can't be angry cussing them out.
430. You don't think you can do it.
431. Let somebody else make the call for you.
432. But don't you take it upon your emotions to control anything or make anything happen
433. because it's not going to happen.
434. So you have to be kind if you want to get past the gatekeeper.
435. And that's what she taught us.
436. And she would teach us to get to women should get together, have a lunch together, talk about different things.
437. One might know more than the other to help you with your paperwork or how to fill them out But it very important you know how to fill paper work out And don feel ashamed because you don know how because some people are masters at filling out paper
438. They know what the dot means.
439. So she would teach us that.
440. And she would teach us to always be loving and kind to one another,
441. get together on holidays and share gifts or just kind words to one another.
442. And she worked so hard for us.
443. And she had a partner.
444. Her name was Kathy.
445. And she would also help a lot with the paperwork and different things like that.
446. And they was just angels, just purely angels to women that needed help.
447. You know, you can be the smartest woman in the world.
448. But when you come to the point where you have lost your glory, your mind forget about everything.
449. because it's trying to rob you of your knowledge
450. until you get other people to care about you,
451. to bring that knowledge back into existence,
452. into your being as a woman.
453. Because we all have it there, but sometimes we lose it.
454. And then speaking of breaking through the gatekeepers,
455. how did you get your children back?
456. Oh my God.
457. Well, the Shepherd Center, oh, they worked so hard for me.
458. I had to get a job. So I got a job at Denny's. I worked there for two years because I wanted to go to the shelter I worked for.
459. I told them when I started there, I'm going to school for psychology because I want to learn how to be able to communicate with people much, much better and to work with people and have group therapy.
460. and they understood.
461. So when it was open at the Shepherd Center,
462. I filed, I put in the paperwork.
463. I asked for help because my mind wasn't fully developed
464. into back to normal situations, you know?
465. So I got the job.
466. And so I left Denny's.
467. Oh, and when I was at Denny's, I saw Rodney King.
468. I got a chance to sing to him
469. because I was the singing Sundays at Denny's by the airport.
470. I would sing to the people while I'm taking their order.
471. And they said, where's that singing waitress?
472. So I just had fun.
473. I just enjoyed my life being clean and sober.
474. And I let people into my life that wanted to help me to stay that way.
475. And I still do it today.
476. So that's what happened at Good Shepherd Center.
477. I'm sorry.
478. I keep talking so much.
479. I forget the question.
480. No, it was how did you?
481. You said the Good Shepherd Center helped you get your kids back.
482. Yeah, how did I get my kids?
483. So that was the journey.
484. So, yeah, so I started going.
485. I worked at USC.
486. So I had to work at USC, too.
487. So I did my hours there and different things like that.
488. You know, when you're trying to get your kids back, you have to do a lot of things.
489. They don't play.
490. Because they think you're not going to do it.
491. Oh, but let me tell you, I was doing whatever.
492. if I could do all that drinking and youth I could do whatever's right and I would do everything I
493. was told which you had people what do you call them people um training you right training you
494. to go in the right direction and I respected that and that's so the the nuns that worked at
495. Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women they was working on my um I had to graduate from ACW
496. Then I got a chance to come back there and live for a year.
497. And then I got Section 8 and I lived at Hawks which they call a residential place And then we moved to St Michael And then I got my Section 8 And then my kids my kids came back to live with me And that was wonderful Because even when I was homeless
498. I would write them and at Christmas time, I would send them gifts and money and different
499. things like that. You know, I made quite a bit washing windows. So that was my job,
500. washing store windows or car windows. I think I'm the woman that started it.
501. So Myra, she helped me move into my apartment, my counselor. She was my counselor. And this lady at
502. Denny's, her aunt had died. And she said, well, with $75, you can get anything out of my
503. on top you want. First thing I saw was a beautiful medal of cross. That's the first thing I held in
504. my hand. I wanted a dresser, bed, all these things. And Ms. Meyer, my counselor, they came and got all
505. this stuff and brought it to my new apartment. And I asked God, please give me God's apartment
506. with windows in it. So it was up there with windows all on it. It was a beautiful first apartment
507. in so many years. And then my baby daughter came to live with me and it was just amazing.
508. it was just amazing I miss them so much and I'm so I was so glad that I was able to come back and
509. be in their life again and working and doing the right thing like I always wanted to do I wanted
510. to be a good wife and a good mother yeah you know we're gonna we're gonna take another break and
511. when we come back I I want us to you know I think I can talk to you forever your your your story is
512. so powerful and amazing and obviously inspiring and helpful to, to others. But when, when we come
513. back to, to wrap up, I want us to go into what you're doing now and also that you got remarried,
514. you got remarried and how and where you found that husband when we come back. Yes. Yes. I'm
515. Angela Birdsong, you are listening to Conversation Peace with my guest, Lorraine Moreland. We'll be
516. back with her amazing story.
517. We'll be right back.
518. All night long, the bang-a-thong, baby, keep hanging on.
519. We like it with the lights on.
520. Don't have to blow 20 thou to get to know Honeystown.
521. Show of the town, steal a heart, no money down.
522. Hard talk, real hell.
523. I meant to nationally know when I be on the mic.
524. Hard talk, real hell.
525. I meant to nationally know, yo.
526. My guest Lorraine Moreland says the ultimate desire is to go in the right direction.
527. If you need information about Downtown Women's Center, please call 213-
528. 680-0600. For the Alcoholism Center for Women, you can reach them at 213-381-8500.
529. And for the Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women, 213-235-1460. I'm Angela Birdsong,
530. and you are listening to Conversation Peace. Lorraine, tell us, how did you get remarried
531. and where did you meet that second husband? Oh, thank you for asking me that. Because it's so
532. special. Well, I met my husband, well, my friend, he was just my friend. And when I was homeless,
533. and I would hang in the alley by his apartment, and he would come out there and ask me, was I
534. hungry and take me to get me something to eat and sit and talk with me and take pictures and he took
535. a picture of me and he was the photographer for the city and I said would you send that picture
536. to my mother she hasn't saw me in a while and he said okay so I gave him my mother's address and
537. he said he would send it I just trusted him because he would come out every day concerned
538. about me and the guys in the alley and say oh Chris been looking for you and I would say what
539. What are you looking for me for? And he was. He just wanted to see how I was doing.
540. He was just a good friend, just a good, honest friend. And he went through a relationship that didn't work out for him.
541. And I felt sorry for him. And he shared it with me and, you know, didn't work out.
542. But anyway, we just start talking more. And I got when I got clean and sober, he sent me my first card.
543. So it was under my door before I even opened my door.
544. And I thought that was very special, very, very special.
545. He was very special guy.
546. And he had a motorcycle accident when he was 23 years old.
547. So it landed him in the wheelchair.
548. But he was still so handsome and so beautiful and so kind.
549. And he loved taking pictures of the homeless people downtown.
550. He took gobs of pictures of them.
551. And he would develop them 16 by 20s. He just loved the homeless people. He would ask them their story and they would so freely share them with him. And we just kept being friends and graduated from the ACW, went through the process, got my job and everything.
552. And then I got my first apartment. And like I told you before, I asked for windows.
553. And one day I was in my apartment and something told me to look out the door, which was a nice thing to do anyway, because it was beautiful houses across the street.
554. So I loved it anyway. And I saw a hand going down.
555. Just look at time when somebody when something's buried or something told me, look out the door.
556. and I went to the door with him and he looks up at me and he said now do you see how much I love you
557. and that's when I fell in love with him I just was going to think he was going to be my friend
558. but when he got left his wheelchair at the end of them stairs and climbed those stairs and he was
559. not the type within there climb those stairs okay he was sweet and kind but I don't think he was
560. going to take that chance, but he did. And it went on from there. And I was happy because
561. I felt I had someone that loved and cared about me And I didn have to do this journey anymore on my own So I took it for what it was and loved every moment of it And one day he asked me to marry him
562. And I said, yes, in the restaurant, screamed it.
563. And everybody looked at me.
564. I said, yeah, you just asked me to marry him.
565. And I got on his lap and he wheeled out the restaurant and everybody was cheering for us.
566. It was such a beautiful moment.
567. And I'm very thankful even for today.
568. and we had a good life together.
569. But he died.
570. He died October 6, 2011.
571. And he died on my sobriety date.
572. And he always made sure I went to the mountains
573. and prayed and 12 and 12 studied.
574. He always gave me my cake
575. and went along with my daughter,
576. my oldest daughter.
577. She always gave me my cake too.
578. And he did too.
579. So it was really nice
580. not to have to go through this journey alone
581. and then losing two sons.
582. He was there with me to embrace me and keep me strong.
583. But I could have went out.
584. I could have went out, but I didn't.
585. I lost my mother.
586. He was there.
587. I didn't go out.
588. And I thank God.
589. I thank God I had someone.
590. I think a woman needs someone strong in her life.
591. I mean, you can have a kid or something like that,
592. but I think a good, honest man is worth having a good life with,
593. or even a woman.
594. as long as you guys have a good life together and you're bonded in a good beautiful way so i'm mad
595. at people that's gay because like i said i made it through a gay program so i'm mad at people we
596. all need love we need to embrace people and he gave me back my dignity gave me back i could be
597. that mother and that and and have that husband and i did and i'm very thankful today it's kind
598. lonely now, but I just, I'm not going to take anything or anybody. I wait on the Lord. I wait
599. on the Lord, child. I wait on the Lord. Yeah. Beautiful love story. Yeah. He gave me so much
600. love. I think it would just be a waste not to be able to share it with someone else that needs it.
601. Right. You mentioned your two sons. I know that's a whole nother story, a whole nother show
602. about their stories and the loss of your two sons, one in 2001, another one in 2007,
603. to senseless gun violence. My condolences to you.
604. Not easy every day. The day is my son's birthday, my second one that got killed, birthday today.
605. and so much was going in my mind but something stopped me in my track and said you know what
606. it was you and that baby when he was coming out just you and him now when he hit the world it
607. was a whole different thing but when he was coming out of my womb it was me and him right that
608. my heart right back up where it belonged because when these days come their anniversary days oh my
609. I just, my whole body just breaks down. I mean, I really, I feel for any mother that has lost a
610. child. Some are stronger and some are not, but it's all the pain that we're all carrying from
611. carrying our beautiful baby inside us. And I know that we carry that pain and I was not as strong.
612. And I don think I still not but I can let it take me out to go drink or use or feel like I not worthy or something like that I getting punished for something or whatever because I don think I ever did anything in my life to be punished to lose a child and be taken away from me
613. My children was my life, you know, so my heart goes out also to any mother that has lost a child.
614. I know it's never an easy thing to grasp in losing a precious child.
615. I saw, I read, they said, no, the mother's supposed to go before the child.
616. I don't look at it that way.
617. I don't think it's either way a parent goes before the child or the child goes before you.
618. Because we're God's children and he's the one that says so.
619. So we have to adapt to loving one another and not taking life for granted, period.
620. It's just every moment we have with our family, our children, endure it and love it and embrace it.
621. That's all we have.
622. we don't have the answers to all the other stuff that goes on so i want to give my heart my love
623. my concern and my condolence to mothers that has lost children and i'm not leaving the fathers off
624. but it takes two to tango and my love and my condolence for you guys too
625. and there's always a healing process
626. never get over the pain
627. never ever
628. yeah
629. yes
630. now what are
631. what are you doing
632. now because we know you
633. were the singing waitress
634. so let's
635. share with the conversation piece
636. family about Urban Voices
637. Project and the Los Angeles
638. Poverty Department. Yes, Urban Voices is a project that pulls people into singing.
639. We sing at many different places, events all over. We sing with Boosie Collins. We sing with
640. Dick Van Dyke. We sing with LA Care when they have an employee's luncheon or something like that.
641. We sing at LA, Los Angeles, the Midnight Mission on Thursdays, the Street Symphony.
642. We sing whenever they call us.
643. I have been to some really good gigs, but I'm not with them anymore.
644. I'm with Los Angeles Poverty Department that does plays and anyone is able to join.
645. All you have to do is go online to the Urban Voice Project or Los Angeles Property Department.
646. And I know you will love Los Angeles Property Department.
647. We do plays.
648. If you'd like to read and want to be a part of a play, contact Los Angeles Property Department.
649. And you're welcome to be a part of our family.
650. and we love people and we love people that want to act and want to learn how to act in a play
651. and it's amazing and it's serving skid row we're coming straight out of the heart of skid row
652. and letting people know that life goes on and that life is in session and no one should be left
653. behind Yeah Well on that note on that note we are going to end our conversation for a conversation piece because like I said this your your your life is so full and your journey is so impactful that we can we can do a whole nother show
654. But thank you so much for giving me your time today.
655. And I just want to make sure that conversation piece for crisis support, helplines, and warm
656. lines, go to namiurbanla.org under resources.
657. Thank you to Lorraine Moreland for your story of hope, struggle, survival, and thriving.
658. Thank you to our audio engineer here at KPFK, Adam Rice for editing the show,
659. and Michael Washington of M. Wash Soul for the opening and closing theme song.
660. And always you, our listening audience.
661. If you missed any part of my show today or you simply want to replay, revisit and review today's conversation piece or any of my previous shows, they are available for 60 days after the air date on our website at KPFK.org.
662. To reach me on social media, go to MTASProductions.com.
663. Follow KPFK on all social media platforms as you listen to us worldwide anytime on kpfk.org.
664. I'm Angela Birdsong.
665. Once again, thank you for allowing me to share this special experience, a conversation piece with you.
666. Remember to be on guard, stand firm in the faith, be brave, be courageous,
667. and let all that you do be done with love.
668. Next, Freedom Now.
669. Hey folks, join me every Saturday at 12 noon on The Signal, news information and analysis.
670. I'm your host Dino.
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682. Hey folks, join me every Saturday at 12 noon on The Signal, news information and analysis.
683. I'm your host Dino.
684. Every week we bring you vital information to help you break down what's happening globally, nationally,
685. and right here at home.
686. That's every Saturday at 12 noon.