Street Roots Executive Director Kaia Sand speaks to supporters at the annual Street Roots Family Breakfast fundraiser Oct. 4, 2019. She expressed appreciation for a recent visit by U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), who had stopped by Street Roots to meet vendors. Merkley spoke at the fundraiser. Credit: Photo by Eric Elmore
Street Roots celebrated its 20-year mark Oct. 4 with more than 400 supporters gathered for our annual fundraising breakfast at the Oregon Convention Center.
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley delivered a surprise welcome, thanking Street Roots for “20 years of incredible work and decades more to come.” He described Street Roots as “an engine driving social dialogue.”
Street Roots honored Desmond Hardison, who from our earliest days, canvassed to raise funds. “It’s no good having a good paper if you can’t get it published,” he said. He also sells Street Roots at Green Zebra on North Lombard, so please congratulate him!
In her keynote address, Portland Fire and Rescue Chief Sara Boone emphasized the importance of compassion in our city and in the development of Portland Street Response.
“Imagine if you can see the houseless population through the same lens that you’d apply to your own family or friends,” she said.
Didn’t have the opportunity to give at the breakfast? Support us now in honor of our 20 years. In the words of Desmond Hardison, “Support us for another 20 years!”.
Kaia Sand is the executive director of Street Roots. You can reach her at kaia@streetroots.org. Follow her on Twitter @mkaiasand.
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley speaks at the Street Roots Family Breakfast on Oct. 4, 2019, at the Oregon Convention Center.
Portland Fire & Rescue Chief Sara Boone was the keynote speaker at the Street Roots Family Breakfast on Oct. 4, 209.
Street Roots Executive Director Kaia Sand (left) and former Executive Director Israel Bayer (right) accompany Street Roots canvasser Desmond Hardison on stage Oct. 4, 2019, at the Street Roots Family Breakfast. Street Roots honored Hardison for his loyalty to the organization for 20 years.
Street Roots vendor Dan Newth sells a copy of the Street Roots 20th Anniversary Special Edition on Oct. 4, 2019, during the Street Roots Family Breakfast at the Oregon Convention Center. Dan was among Street Roots’ earliest vendors, when the organization launched 20 years ago.
Thank you to the sponsors who made our breakfast possible: Business for a Better Portland, Laughing Planet, Multnomah County Commissioner Sharon Meieran, Multnomah County Commissioner Susheela Jayapal, Uber, CareOregon, Metro, Home Forward, Kathy Kneip & Ed Johnson, Office of Mayor Ted Wheeler, Portland Fire & RescuE, Stephen Gomez and Open School, ACLU of Oregon, Beneficial State Bank, Central City Concern, Israel Bayer, Josha Moss, Kamp Grizzly, Kathrine Deumling, Karen Dischner, Love Portland GrouP, Meg Eberle, Nels Johson, Oregon Beverage & Recycling Cooperative, Partnership for Safety & Justice, Paul & Madeline Gefroh, Portland Housing Bureau, Portland Pearl Rotary Club, Rachel Langford, Rose City Park Presbyterian Church, Toro Bravo Inc., Transition Projects, Trinity Episcopal Church, Welcome Home Coalition, Westminster Presbyterian Church and Zapproved
Street Roots is an award-winning, nonprofit, weekly newspaper focusing on economic, environmental and social justice issues. Our newspaper is sold in Portland, Oregon, by people experiencing homelessness and/or extreme poverty as means of earning an income with dignity. Learn more about Street Roots. Support your community newspaper by making a one-time or recurring gift today.
