Perhaps Brandon’s most passionate cause is advocating for renewal of the U.S.-Iran nuclear agreement
Brandon Morgrove is working to preserve the Earth. He’s developed a plan to make Portland ecologically sound and has given the plan to Mayor Ted Wheeler. He’s campaigning for the U.S. to stay out of war with Iran. He held a one-person march for awareness of that cause, walking from Southeast Division Street and 30th Avenue, where he sells Street Roots, to the Lovejoy Fountain. He volunteers at a neighborhood park pulling ivy and cutting English holly off trees.
“I call it the Ivy League,” he said wryly. “I’m the only member.”
The last year has been both a challenge and a blessing for Brandon. For the past 20 years, he’s been in and out of hospitals and mental institutions. And while he’s been fortunate to have his own apartment in recent years, he hasn’t gotten out to advocate for his causes as much as he’d like. It was when he decided to get off all his medications – a path he emphasizes is not for everyone and that has been a real challenge for him – that he’s found himself truly able to connect with people on the issues he’s passionate about.
“I wanted to, I needed to show people what I can do,” he said. “I feel like the world depends on me doing this.”
Brandon calls it his reintegration into society, and it’s been a steep learning curve. Living in group homes since he was 21 put his maturation process pretty much on hold, he said.
“I know my social skills are a bit off,” he said. “It’s kinda funny sometimes. I can see people’s reactions. But I’m resilient, so I’m trying to learn from that.”
Street Roots has helped.
“Selling Street Roots is a way for me to learn about the 20 years I missed while I was sitting in a group home, watching Forrest Gump and eating ice cream.”
Perhaps his most passionate cause is advocating for renewal of the U.S.-Iran nuclear agreement. He believes the U.S. and Iran might be heading for conflict and that renewing the nuclear agreement is a way to avoid it. Three weeks ago, he had a sign made, on 36-inch poster board. It reads “Gotta Renew Iran Nuclear Deal.” He’s been wearing it around town ever since.
“Right now, with all the problems the world has, this world doesn’t need another crisis – not over this. There are some issues that all the nations can work on – stopping infectious diseases, keeping the planet viable, forging trust between nations. We’re building a powder keg, and I don’t think this world can afford that.”
He wants to talk with the president about it. He wants to sponsor a concert in Portland this summer to raise awareness. He’s already got a name for it: A Midsummer Night’s Jam.
The new sign has raised some interest and generated some connections. One night he missed the last bus home from his Street Roots post at 30th Avenue and Southeast Division Street. Angry at himself and dreading the long walk home, he lashed out by kicking a garbage can. A couple stopped to see how he was doing, asked about his sign, and ended up getting Brandon an Uber home. They’ve stayed in touch, having dinner together every week or so.
Another friend he met recently is helping him self-publish some of the essays he’s written about his causes. Brandon hands them out to people on the street.
And though he has been back to the hospital off and on, Brandon has been able to maintain the same apartment for six years. His cats, Moshe and Gwinnie, are a big reason for that.
“Every time I got sent to the hospital, I’d always do something to get back home. I don’t want to abandon Moshe,” he said.
“Although I’ve had a hard life, I feel really blessed because I can relate to so many types of people,” he said. “Growing up in Lake Oswego, I can relate to the rich kids. Being in a mental institution, I can relate to people that are a bit odd. And spending time at Street Roots, I can relate to people that don’t have a lot of money.”
He recently used some of those relationship skills to interview people who live on the streets as research for the Portland Street Response project.
“It’s a challenge for me, but when I can relax and go with the flow, understand who people are and appreciate them and what they have to say, it shows I’m trustworthy, and people can start to listen to me,” he said.
“And with trust, there comes opportunity.”
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