Sister Mary Scullion

Info from article by Jennifer Lin, Inquirer Staff Writer Philly dot com:

Sister Mary Scullion, age 55, is a nun residing in Philadelphia. Time Magazine's "Time 100" lists Mary among the year's most influential people in the "Heroes & Icons" category. Scullion started HOME a nonprofit organization that provides housing and other homeless services.

Elizabeth Gilbert said of Mary, she is trying to help Philly, "one desperate citizen at a time." Mayor Nutter said her "passion and influence have been crucial to the progress we have made in reducing homelessness across our city,

"Scullion has made her mark working with Philadelphia's population of street homeless, which has fluctuated over the years, rising to about 400 people today." Only 400 homeless people in Philly? Or only 400 being helped by Sister Mary? HOME employs 200 people, about 1/3 of them former or current residents. The organization has created "500 units of housing for homeless individuals".

Sister Mary's idea implemented "...the idea of reaching out directly to them, especially those suffering mental illness or addiction - a practice that other cities have adopted."

I hate being a "them". I also wonder how accurate it is to give Sister Mary credit for the idea. I read articles about homelessness many years before I joined the ranks of "them". It seems organizations that helped homeless were always reaching out directly to help homeless people.

Time's managing editor, Rick Stengel said the chosen are: "people who are using their ideas, their visions, their actions to transform the world and have an effect on a multitude of people." and "...not a list of the most powerful people in the world," he said. "It's not a list of the smartest people in the world. It's a list of the most influential people in the world."

Michelle Obama, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Oprah Winfrey, and pilot Chelsey B. "Sully" Sullenberger III are also listed in that category. Um, how did Palin become one of the most influential people in the world? For that matter how come Michelle Obama made the list? I adore Michelle and she was definitely influential in getting Barack elected, but...