Past Issues :: 2006 August 18 :: News
Bayer returns as director of Street Roots
Israel Bayer, former director of Street Roots, returned to Portland’s street newspaper Aug. 21 after nearly two years in Seattle.
Joanne Zuhl, managing editor for Street Roots, has served as acting director for the organization since Bayer’s departure in spring 2004. Bayer left Street Roots to work for the North American Street Newspaper Association and as the director of operations at Real Change newspaper in Seattle, a sister street paper to Street Roots.
“Working with papers throughout the country, and Real Change, a weekly newspaper that has a real impact in the community, I'm thrilled to get back to Portland and hit the pavement,” said Bayer, who has worked with Street Roots since its early days as a monthly paper in 1999.
“In those earlier days, it was trial by fire,” Bayer said. “You don't know what you don't know, and oftentimes we hadn't the faintest clue about raising money or having a real impact in our community. Street Roots grew so fast, and we had a broader impact in people’s lives than what our resources could maintain. After years of gaining more experience, and having a seasoned editor at the helm, we as a community are going to take Street Roots to the next level.”
In 2003, Street Roots went from publishing once to twice a month, launched an entirely new design and gradually added single color to its front page. The organization publishes 7,000 newspapers with each issue, which is then purchased for 30 cents by vendors who then sell the paper for $1 each on Portland’s sidewalks. The vendors keep the proceeds of their sales.
This year, Street Roots and all the members of the North American Street Newspaper Association (NASNA) joined the International Network of Street Papers (INSP), based in Glasgow, Scotland. The INSP is an umbrella organization linking street papers sold by homeless and people living in poverty from around the world. The organization provides a consultancy service for its partner papers and advises on the setting up of new street papers and support initiatives for marginalized people.
In Portland, Street Roots continues its focus on local issues, publishing the voice of the streets with a mix of voices from international street papers. Bayer and Zuhl are the organization’s only paid staff members, with volunteers from the organization’s vendor program and the community manning the office and individual services. Published contributions to the newspaper are from volunteers both on and off the streets.
Both Bayer and Zuhl are members of the executive committee for NASNA, and Bayer will continue his work with both NASNA and the INSP in Portland.
Bayer’s work with Street Roots has incorporated writing, vendor outreach, fund raising and community organizing. In November 2005, Bayer was awarded the Cecil M. Shumway Award for his dedication to working with people experiencing poverty.
“Our goal is to be a driving force in local grassroots activism coupled with a professional newspaper for the broader community,” Bayer said. “At the same time, our focus will be to build our vendor program and continue to put more money directly into the hands of poor people.”