“Bee The Solution” Float In The 135th Rose Parade Is A Conversation Starter About Homelessness On New Year’s Day

Union Station Homeless Services’ first ever entry, “Bee the Solution” has been designed to be whimsically cute while starting conversations for the public to recognize their collective power to bring an end to homelessness.

The “Bee the Solution” theme creatively embodies the 50th-anniversary tagline of Union Station Homeless Services and empowers individuals to realize that they can contribute to ending homelessness in their communities, according to the nonprofit.

All float riders are from Union Station Homeless Services. Joining Anne Miskey, President and CEO, will be Cynthia Kirby. Cynthia Kirby faced over a decade of homelessness due to a disability and the devastating impact of domestic violence. Working with Union Station Homeless Services, she not only found a place to call home but also secured a job. Today, Cynthia is an integral part of the organization, serving on the Board of Directors and leads the Lived Expertise Advisory Group, offering valuable insights to guide and shape the organization’s work to end homelessness for everyone.

Also riding on the float are Alexis Paniagua, Associate Director, Family Services; Erin Butler, Director, CES & Adult Services; Evelyn Brathwaite, Associate Director, Permanent Supportive Housing; 35-year employee Liz Lamb Shelby, Care Coordinator; Dominick Correy, Board of Directors and District Representative Senator Anthony J. Portantino; and Jay Walters, Board of Directors and CEO and President WMD Racing.

Fourteen other Union Station staff members will walk alongside the float to the rousing music – The Flight of the Bumblebees.

“As a Pasadena-born organization, being part of this tradition was always a dream. We are thrilled to announce that for the first time, Union Station Homeless Services will have a float in the parade. Because of the generosity of an anonymous organization, we are able to take advantage of the national platform and create some buzz along the parade route,” shared Anne Miskey, President and CEO of Union Station Homeless Services.

For a behind the scenes view of how Union Station Homeless Services was able to culminate its 50th year anniversary with its first ever float, listen to the “Creating a Buzz to End Homelessness” episode of the Changing the Narrative About Homelessness podcast at https://unionstationhs.org/changing-the-narrative-series/. Host Anne Miskey chats with key players in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity —Jay Walters, the mastermind behind the opportunity, John Ramirez, the creative and talented float designer at Artistic Entertainment Services (AES), and David Eads, CEO at the Pasadena Tournament of Roses who sheds light on the significance of this impactful collaboration.

For more information, visit www.unionstationhs.org.