Each One Teach One

The gritty and inspiring story of Ron Casanova, who went from homelessness to national homeless advocate

Each One Teach One recounts Ron Casanova’s struggle out of poverty, homelessness, and drug addiction to find dignity and purpose in life. Through his own awakening, this Black Puerto Rican activist ultimately finds his salvation in helping other people. Placed in an orphanage on Staten Island at the age of three, Casanova faced overwhelming odds. His story illuminates significant twentieth-century protests, including the 1988 riot at Tompkins Square Park in Manhattan, the “Housing Now” march of the homeless on Washington, DC, in 1989, and community takeovers of housing in Kansas City, New York, and Philadelphia.
 
Underlying Each One Teach One, with its vivid cast of characters and intimate descriptions of Harlem, the Lower East Side, and Tent City, is the profound sense that, no matter what your circumstance, you can use your experience to help others. Ultimately, Casanova’s story demonstrates the possibility of self-sufficiency and self-empowerment. Amid today’s economic crisis and rising homelessness, Casanova’s story brings a message of hope.