By Rita Okoye
Nigerian-American soldier, filmmaker and Nollywood actress, Yewande Olugbodi Fagunwa, popularly known as Olori Wendy, has completed a month-long road trip across the United States, to raise awareness about homelessness.
On August 1, 2025, Wendy set out from California with a rental car, determined to drive through all 48 contiguous states. The journey, which had been in her heart for a decade and planned for over a year, was more than a personal adventure.
“This wasn’t just about me driving around the country. It was about sharing the experience of people who live without a home, and giving them a voice,” she said.
To cut costs, Wendy turned her car into her shelter, sleeping at truck stops and rest areas, and relying on snacks and simple meals to get by. She showered at gyms and truck stations, enduring storms, fatigue, and even car troubles along the way.
In four states — Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee, and New York — she found brief refuge with family and friends, but for the rest of the journey, the road was her home.
At every stop, Wendy distributed cash and relief items to homeless individuals she encountered, sharing in their struggles. “Sleeping in a vehicle was symbolic for me,” she explained. “It was a way to feel, even just a fraction, of what so many homeless people endure every night.”
Although she covered 48 states, Wendy says her mission isn’t finished until she visits Alaska and Hawaii. “It all started as a dream. But the dream became a mission. And the mission is far from over.”
Leave a comment