Jason Scheer may well be the most outgoing introvert you will ever meet. When we meet for coffee, Jason seems as though he does not have much he wants to talk about, but as time goes on he shyly reveals himself to be a mindful and sensitive artist, a determined worker, and a proud father of two young daughters.
“Everyone always tells me how shy I am,” he says, “But once I get to know someone, I just talk talk talk talk talk.”
Jason says growing up he always preferred to spend time alone, drawing and reading poetry. Today, he still loves art, poetry, and spending some time by himself, whether at the library or exploring the city. “A lot of times I’ll walk through neighborhoods and look at different buildings,” he says. “Different murals on the wall.” Despite his seeming shyness, Jason admittedly loves people. He recently began selling the paper outside City Target from 3 to 7 p.m. every weekday, and enjoys the greater number of people he gets to interact with. Jason credits his time with Street Roots for helping him connect with more people and overcome his social anxiety. “Whatever I can do to interact,” he says. “I used to never just sit or talk to large groups. Now I can sit and socialize.”
As a young adult, Jason loved to travel. He has held jobs all over the country, from working construction in his hometown of Joliet, Ill., working at a restaurant in Disney World to traveling all over Utah, California, Nevada and Oregon. What keeps him in Portland now? “Probably the art. The architecture and art, and the people. The weirder the better!” he says. “Also, just being close to my kids.”
Ever since the birth of his daughters, Jason prefers to stay close to his kids, spending summers with his daughters in California and the rest of the year in Portland, where he has been involved with Street Roots on and off for the past year. Jason admits he likes to stay busy and gets bored easily. He has recently taken up making chainmail jewelry. When he isn’t making art, working or reading, he can be found volunteering around town. So far Jason has volunteered at Sisters of the Road and as a helper at a school for children with special needs. In addition to getting the opportunity to help others, Jason enjoys the valuable work experience volunteering provides. “I love learning new things,” he says. “It’s actually kind of a need!”
Lately, Jason has been focusing his attention on improving his construction skills. With his wealth of job and volunteer experience, he hopes to secure a full-time job soon. “That way I can get my kids here,” he says with a smile. He also has high hopes to beat his record of 30 papers sold in a day as the holiday season approaches. If you happen to see Jason downtown one day, be sure to help him beat his latest goal!
