News
24 hours on the streets of Portland
This report is drawn from the Twitter feeds of Alex Zielinski, Jake Thomas, Joanne Zuhl, Robert Britt, Erin Fenner, Sue Zalokar, Sarah Beecroft, Cole Merkel and Israel Bayer Staff Reports If you traded one day of your life for homelessness, what would it look like? That’s what Street Roots did on Dec. 13. For all…
A lifetime in pursuit of equality
By Jake Thomas, Staff Writer On Dec. 10, Kathleen Saadat accepted the Lifetime Achievement from the Portland Human Rights Commission. The award comes as Saadat, 72, prepares to retire from her position as diversity development/affirmative action manager for the city of Portland. Saadat has long been a presence in Oregon working to advance equality and…
An American classic
By Sue Zalokar, Staff Writer David Grisman is iconic in the world of bluegrass, having played with a who’s who of artists, including Doc Watson, Bela Fleck and Bonnie Raitt, to name a few. He is a mandolin player, composer and producer. While still just a pup (Jerry Garcia of The Grateful Dead gave him…
Opinion
Narratives from the Native American Family and Youth Center
To come and go as I please, between these two identities By Lanie Grimm, Contributing Writer I wake up frantic. It’s 9:39 a.m. and I’m late for school! I rush to get ready and be on my way. I get out of my warm, cozy bed and I grab my clothes, my towel, and I…
Clinic memorial a time for joy, sadness
By Barbara Martin Contributing Columnist Old Town Clinic began as a small walk-in medical clinic on Third Avenue and Burnside, started by the Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon. Now, as part of Central City Concern (since 2001), it is a fully functioning Primary Care Home at Broadway and Burnside, serving adults who are poor, physically and…
Learning how to filter tragedy for a child’s view of the world
by Melissa Favara, Contributing Writer Friday morning, Dec. 14, I was in my old Volvo driving around Vancouver, WA, trying to find my colleague Alyssa’s house — her daughter, Sophia, was selling me her barely-used “Pink Cadillac” bicycle for $50 for Ramona’s Christmas gift; I was annoyed that I’d taken a wrong turn, anxious about…
Director’s Desk: Finishing the year on a high note with great friends
A big thank you to the many people and families that have taken the time to give to Street Roots this holiday season. If you’ve yet to make a donation, Street Roots needs your support now more than ever. A donation to Street Roots this year means giving people experiencing poverty a hand-up through the…
One veteran uses his experiences to connect with the next generation
By Robert Britt I met Brian Bland just before Veterans Day. Brian, a former Marine Corps corporal who served two deployments in Iraq, had been invited to Reynolds High School in Troutdale, just east of Portland. The school was hosting a Living History Day, a day devoted to recognizing area veterans and inviting them to…
Vendor Profiles
Vendor Profile: Vendor sends the happiest of holiday wishes to customers
By Ann-Derrick Gaillot, Contributing Writer One of the first things Wayne Moore tells me upon our meeting is how pleasant his vendor spot is in front of the Starbucks at Northwest 21st Avenue and Lovejoy. “It’s got outdoor heaters and an overhang for when it rains. It’s nice.” Despite these features, Wayne is still warmly…
