News
Oregon forest fires: Let them burn
July 2015: On the tail of back-to-back, historically severe fire seasons, drought-stricken Oregon has lit up once again as fires began raging across the state a month early. Meanwhile on Capitol Hill, the Resilient Federal Forests Act (H.R. 2674) was introduced. If it moves forward after passing the U.S. House earlier this month, it will allow for…
Art for All
Peter Claesson is beside himself. “You should have seen the faces of these men,” he says enthusiastically while talking over the phone about his experiences in La Línea, the Spanish city on the Gibraltar border of Spain. “They were so happy and proud!” Together with internationally renowned street artist Victor Ash, eight homeless people have…
Interview: Alice Gerrard, bluegrass pioneer
Alice Gerrard, born in Seattle, raised in California and now settled in North Carolina, is an American banjoist, guitar player and singer with a career that has spanned five decades. From the mid-1960s to the mid-’70s, Gerrard co-released four influential albums with the legendary Hazel Dickens. Gerrard and Dickens paved the way for generations of…
Street Roots Love Bomb
On Thursday, July 9, Mary Nichols, Murmur Creative and the Radio Room hosted a party for Street Roots. The event, titled Love Bomb, was created to honor organizations for their work in the community. Last year’s Love Bomb featured Basic Rights Oregon. This year, more than 200 people attended the event, helping raise money for…
Opinion
Commentary: Seattle took the LEAD; Oregon should follow
A Utah-based harm reduction advocate once said to me, “I love cops.” That surprised me — just a little bit. If you aren’t familiar with the “harm reduction” movement and its philosophy, think of syringe exchange programs and safer-sex education. Basically, harm reductionists acknowledge potentially unsafe and illegal activities, such as drug use and sex…
Remembering Vendor Bruce Heino
Bruce Heino, one of Street Roots’ original vendors, passed away on July 6, 2015 after a long fight with cancer. What follows is a personal letter from one of his customers, who was by his side during the last days of his life. When I moved to Portland, I felt really shaky and isolated. Bruce, my…
Director’s Desk: Saying goodbye to a hero of Street Roots
Michael Votta passed away on Portland’s streets last week. He was an artist and a friend to many people, inside and out. For many, Michael’s life represents the failure of a system to help thousands of people suffering to find stability and housing. They wouldn’t be wrong. Saying that, Michael Votta’s life was more than…
