THN will soon be the first to receive copies of a new awareness-raising tool, "Sleeping on Bed-rock," an interactive CD ROM created by Aus-tin photographer Dylan Vitone, whose work has been published in The Austin American-Statesman and in the nationally circulated magazine, American Photo On Campus. Vitone completed the CD after having spent four years photographing the street people of downtown Austin

The CD features only a few of the countless street people Vitone came to know as he worked on the project. Recently, he revisited several of them to record their voices, then combined the sound files with his photography to produce a Flash-based animation piece. The result was a stirring portrayal of street life that is sure to serve as a powerful educational and awareness-raising tool for community groups across the state.

"DylanÕs photos speak to me," said THN Continuum of Care Consultant Joyce Pohlman. "They stare with unblinking eyes, refusing to be ignored. They are simple in their compositionÑstudies in black and white, set against spare and lonesome backgrounds that reflect life on the streets. Yet, these photographs are not at all simple. The eyes of the subjects tell complex stories of endurance, defiance and strength. They force you to confront them and the reality of their homelessness. They do not ask for pity. But they are also tired and fearful. In this one quiet moment, the photographer has captured their vulnerability and strength with dignity."

"For the past four years, [the street people] let me and my camera record them with little limitations," Vitone wrote in the liner notes of the CD. "They let me photograph their homes, their usage, and most importantly themselves with what seemed to be full trust that I was trying to do them good. I hope I have. I hope I have given them as much as they have given me."

This summer, two copies of the CD will be available to THN members through the THN library. Look for it in the New Resources section of future issues of HNN.