Street Roots is celebrating the first anniversary of being a weekly publication. Only the fourth street newspaper around the globe to be a weekly publication, we are proud of the work we have been able to accomplish. We couldn’t do it without you, Portland.
We ask Portlanders to support Street Roots and vendors, and you have responded overwhelmingly. Overall, sales for vendors have increased by 65 percent. We hope to continue to grow both the vendor program and newspaper appeal to readers in 2016.
“Weekly has made my life so much better! I used to have to save my money the first week to spend it the second. I used to have to struggle every day,” said Street Roots vendor Tony Boone. “Now I look forward to the new paper every Friday. So do my customers. The one thing I’ve been told over and over again is that the paper has gotten better.”
History tells us that people expect less from street newspapers, oftentimes thought to be simply a homeless newspaper for “those people.” It’s not an exaggeration. In fact, I hear it all the time from people who aren’t regular readers.
For those of you who are regular readers, you know how much Street Roots prides itself on delivering quality journalism and commentary from a wide range of voices in the community. That includes voices from people on the streets. You also know how important the relationship between readers, local businesses and vendors selling the newspaper is.
Beyond gaining an immediate income, it really is the relationships and community that are created that make Street Roots special. We all need self-confidence to be the best we can be in the world. It’s your support of vendors that not only gives people a hand up through purchasing the newspaper, but you’re offering people the opportunity to believe in themselves. It’s hard to measure. You can’t measure love. It’s infinite. It’s powerful. It’s real. It’s that love that is at the heart of what drives Street Roots.
“I’m grateful for the fact that I have friends and family here at Street Roots that I have come to love and count on,” said Billy Meyer. “Street Roots is pretty much the only thing that has kept me alive and going.”
Street Roots is built on Dorothy Day’s philosophy of social work. Embrace nonviolence and meet people where they are at, regardless of their circumstances. What matters most is that we are all human beings — with all of our hardship and grime, failure and heartache, greatness and achievement.
You can help spread the word about Street Roots to co-workers and peers by purchasing the newspaper and leaving it in your break room and talking with friends and family about the newspaper. Street Roots’ success depends on relationships and readers’ spreading the word. We can’t thank you enough for having your support and readership.
From all of us at Street Roots, thank you and happy new year!
Israel Bayer is the executive director of Street Roots. You can reach him at israel@streetroots.org or follow him on Twitter @israelbayer.
