Past Issues :: 2007 July 1 :: Director’s Desk
Director’s Desk
Street Roots is proud to welcome two new staff members!
Matthew Deschaine will start in July as a freelance journalist helping the organization maintain quality journalism on issues that matter, ranging from environment, labor and poverty to local, county and state government.
Also coming aboard is Eddie Barbosa, a former Street Roots vendor who will take the helm of the Rose City Resources and the office manager position. Barbosa has had a fascinating journey, going from attending Stanford University to experiencing homelessness to working as a bilingual interpreter for local hospitals and volunteering with Street Roots.
Eddie will be helping Street Roots transition the resources to a newly formatted, pocket-size resource guide that will be available to people on the streets, online and to organizations working with people experiencing poverty, including social service agencies, police, hospitals, local city and county government, and first-responders including the fire and emergency services. He will also be working with vendors in the office and helping maintain day-to-day operations.
Street Roots received an Achievement Award from the International Network of Street Papers at a recent conference in Poland for networking and growing public awareness. We are proud members of the global street newspaper movement and continue to work toward raising awareness locally and abroad about a range of issues affecting people living in poverty.
The summer fund drive is coming to an end, with Street Roots raising nearly $10,000. We are still short of our goal of $20,000, but appreciate all the love and support people have given to the organization.
Street Roots hosted the North American Street Newspaper conference in late June. Newspapers from around North America and representatives from the International community were there. Several local individuals led workshops and took part, including consultant and Street Roots board member Bruce Anderson; news editors with the Portland Mercury, Scott Moore and Amy J. Ruiz; Nick Budnick with the Portland Tribune; and Dave Tomaro with the Statesman Journal in Salem.
We would also like to thank Food Front, Tazo Tea, the Bureau of Housing and Community Development and the City of Portland, the Alberta Food Cooperative, and the Society of Professional Journalists for helping sponsor the event. You all rock!
