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Samantha Slankard
Professor Jacob Stewart
ENC3331
October 2, 2015

Homelessness remains a consistent problem in each and every part of

the world. It seems inevitable that homelessness will never entirely be
conquered, but that does not stop devoted, empathetic people from trying.
IDignity is a selfless organization that was created by volunteers to provide
the homeless with a sense of direction and hope by restoring Florida
identification cards, birth certificates, and Social Security cards. IDignity
stemmed from another organization, Project Homeless Connect, which was
successful in that it only occurred annually. Ever since the start of the
combined new and improved organization, IDignity took off in May of 2008.
Volunteers from various locations and churches around Orlando began
holding events each month with close to 225 clients each time. The majority
of people that see IDignity ads and know what it is about are not the ones
that will benefit from it. No one realizes just how vital something as simple as
an ID can mean. The overwhelming impact that IDignity has made thus far
should only be the beginning of a bright and humbling future. These
homeless people live in our town; they share our sidewalks and street
corners. Awareness of this situation is so minor to such a powerful, insightful
movement. Volunteering for IDignity means volunteering to forever change a

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life. The rhetorical situation at hand involves too many people enlightened by
this idea, without motivation to take action. Striving toward a movement that
will better yourself, your community, and the homeless people that need
your guidance will only make the city of Orlando a better home. Take action.
Help the helpless.
IDignity could do a stronger job reaching out to the people of Orlandoregarding volunteers. All in all, the backbone of this entire process relies on
volunteers and agencies to devote their time to accommodate to each
clients needs. As explained in Rhetoric and Civic Life, Deliberative
discourse is rhetoric that addresses broad public audiences and concerns the
merits of proposals for future courses of action (202). As a college student,
I was unaware of this organization until brought up in class. The intended
audience that IDignity reaches out to are not targeted specifically toward
college students, however, with more awareness and advertising comes
more volunteers-of all ages. The purpose of IDignity is to encourage people
to volunteer to help restore IDs to the homeless. Therefore, that is directed
towards anyone with extra time willing to help. As long as advertisement
stays consistent, there will be definite future courses of action. IDignity ads
are geared generally toward a selfless, faith-based persona. The members of
five downtown Orlando churches originally recognized the organization in
hopes to make it something bigger than themselves. With faith and heart in
mind, the people of IDignity strive to make the city of Orlando a better place.
Not only are these individuals determined, but public servants of the Orlando

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community also volunteer to help out. An Orlando Police Chief claims, I am
100% behind this program, thats why I volunteer. I believe in it, thats why
its coming near and dear to my heart, and Im sincere about it
(IDignity.com). The selfless persona reflects the importance of having police
officers, nurses, DMV employees, and even Mayor Dyer on scene to give the
organization the attention and resources it deserves. If important civically
engaged employees can find time to volunteer, so can you. With that being
said, IDignity touches on all three of Aristotles forms of persuasion. The
ethos regarding IDignity focuses on the character of the organization and the
inspiration that it portrays. The concept of IDignity solely touches on the
character of the people of Orlando willing to volunteer. The logos regarding
IDignity claims that having forms of identification is essential to participating
in every day society- you would, too, be able to accomplish nothing without
your ID, so help where help is needed. Finally, pathos is used ultimately
throughout the entire organization touching on the fact that there are
homeless people in need of selfless volunteer work. In order for sustainable
growth in the city of Orlando, homelessness needs to be addressed and
resolved. All that is being asked is your time and dedication toward a
community problem that will make an outstanding impact. Pathos affects the
audience with emotion to genuinely consider making a difference.
The most important aspect of IDignity refers back to Orlandos
homeless problem- too many people without a home; too many homeowners
without a purpose. It is clear that volunteering your spare time toward an

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impactful movement will benefit your community in the end. Aristotle stated,
The virtues and actions of those who are superior by nature are more
honorable (The Public Sphere, 241). In regards to this, it is more effective
and noticeable for someone more fortunate to volunteer their time helping
the homeless, rather than, for example, a homeless person giving his only
source of food to a stray animal. Because the homeless people have just
recently starting receiving positive attention, their previous efforts toward
society were somewhat insignificant. IDignity targets people devoted to
Orlando that are willing to give back with the use of emotional language and
pride. In the video displayed on IDignity.com, a disadvantaged woman with
three kids is interviewed explaining her story. The empathy her unfortunate
situation brought the viewers immediately craves for more information. This
use of a narrative effectively draws more attention to the site. It makes you
want to learn more about each client on a personal level. Mayor Dyer himself
got to know quite a few clients at the IDignity on May 21, 2015. Mayor Dyer
claims that IDignity is an integral part of his efforts to make sure the City of
Orlando is livable for everyone (Lafser, Fagan). IDignity, in this case, is
personifying the fact that anyone can become civically engaged and get
involved. Having Mayor Dyer active in these events allows for effective
advertising- both for IDignity and the Mayors career. The impact that
IDignity is already/will have on Orlando is benefiting in itself.
IDignity does, however, come with constraints. The fact that IDignity is
strictly volunteer work could possibly become an issue. The entire

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organization significantly relies on volunteers to help with the many roles of
the process. IDignity would not be able to run effectively without the help of
those volunteers. Luckily, there has been an overwhelming outcome so far.
As long as the organization continues further with success and outreaching
advertisement, IDignity will continue to flourish. Nevertheless, IDignity does
not solve the problem of homelessness, it simply aids toward progression.
From the reading in Rhetoric in Civic Life, Bitzer states Constraints restrain
and enable choices that a rhetor might make in response to the exigence,
audience, and the rhetors own history. They do not determine or dictate a
specific response to a situation; rather, they limit and provide opportunities
for the rhetors persuasive choices (206-207). In accordance, homeless
people will remain homeless until they are motivated to do something about
it. IDignity gives them their first step toward a positive direction. This process
is only as strong as the minds of the homeless people involved. There is a
difference between homeless and lazy, and homeless and unfortunate. The
people unfortunate enough to have lost their life and belongings, but are still
determined to make something of themselves are the reason IDignity was
established. IDignity gives people a second chance at life. Exigence is
referred to as the feeling that calls the rhetor to say something or take
action. Gronbeck states, The very unexpectedness of events call for
particular messages at particular times (205). Being affected by a situation
is not always expected. Do you think those people that volunteer every
month have always been determined to help the homelessness? Sometimes,

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life introduces you to new experiences that youre encouraged to act upon.
Those volunteers experienced exigence and were motivated to do something
about it. The IDignity organization pushes exigence in their ads, on their
social media website, in their videos, etc. The volunteers want to reach the
people that will be as moved regarding the cause as they are.
The goal of this movement is solely dependent on the people of
Orlando willing to civically engage themselves toward a rewarding purpose.
Although the homeless people are the main focus in this organization, none
of it would be possible without the volunteers hard work and dedication. The
process IDignity consists of is lengthy, but crucial. The overall impact that
has been made on the people of Orlando, including the homeless, has been
remarkable. IDignitys objectives throughout this movement have been to
spread awareness, encourage action, and make an impact. All have been
achieved so far, but this should only be considered the beginning. The fact of
the matter is-there are so many things we, as a community or city, can do to
improve not only our living conditions, but the homeless living conditions as
well. With IDignity, we can implement a stop to homelessness and a start
toward a directive future. Take action. Help the helpless.

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WORKS CITED:
Bitzer, Lloyd F. The Prospect of Rhetoric; Report of the National
Developmental Project, Sponsored by Speech Communication Association.
Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1971. Print.

Calhoun, Craig J. Habermas and the Public Sphere. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT,
1992. Print.

Gronbeck, Bruce E. Principles and Types of Speech Communication. 11th ed.

Glenview, Ill.: Scott, Foresman/Little, Brown Higher Education, 1990. Print.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer Volunteers to Provide for the Less Fortunate with
IDignity." City of Orlando News. Web. 7 Oct. 2015.

Palczewski, Catherine Helen, and Richard Ice. Rhetoric in Civic Life. State
College, Pa.: Strata Pub., 2012. Print.