Teacher shares music to raise awareness of homelessness

  • 2014-12-25
Joe Battaglia, a teacher in Hartford's public school system, knows that some of his students are homeless, and has decided to do something about it this month.

Battaglia, who teaches English, transforms into “Joey Batts” at night, when he performs hip-hop. Battaglia said he loves music, creativity, art, and teaching, and puts them all together in his performances.

Battaglia teaches five classes a day, and discovered some of his students have no homes to go to. When he discovered that people he knew personally were facing this problem, it became real to him, and he decided to help.

He and his friend organized a series of concerts titled “Hip Hop for the Homeless.” The series took place at the start of this month, and the artists played a different venue every night. They are also taking donations and selling T-Shirts at the door, and all the money they collect will go to help nonprofit organizations.

Dave Martineau, who is with Hartford's Mercy Housing and Shelter, said Connecticut has approximate 13,000 homeless people across the state. He notes that the Christmas season is probably the worst time to be homeless, because the festivities can remind people of what they have lost.

Battaglia and his friends could work with a poster printing company to create displays for use at future concerts.
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