It had been a long time since Jul had a paid job. Now, she proudly sells the newspaper.
Sometimes it just takes the right encouraging friend to make a life change. Jul Karp, a Street Roots vendor since September, knows this well. She credits longtime vendor, neighbor and friend Cheryl Lewis with introducing her to Street Roots.
“Sheryl brought me to Street Roots for the first time. It was on a Friday. I won 50 papers! It takes courage to do something new. At first, I felt like I was begging. I have a very different opinion now — now I’m proud of it. I’m proud of the articles, of the vendors, and I’m proud to represent Street Roots,” Jul said.
The 81-year-old former New York resident came to Oregon from Long Island, via Puerto Rico, first settling with her father in Grants Pass before making her way to Portland.
“I was a city gal,” she said, explaining her move. She’s lived in the same building, on Northeast Broadway in the Hollywood district, for 31 years.
Jul has a long and varied employment history, including her first job as a long-distance operator for the telephone company and later as a massage therapist. She eventually earned her Master of Arts degree at Portland State University in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), but a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome sidelined those dreams.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve had a paid job,” she said. “I found out at age 81 that I’m not incapacitated. You can start anew. Street Roots makes me feel alive again at 81.”
Jul has deep appreciation and respect for her fellow vendors.
“The poorest of the poor can be so generous. I see it in the Street Roots office. I was there (recently on a) Friday and asked for a pair of gloves. The man next to me traded me so that I would have the better pair. I try to give back, too. If I have extra change, I’ll give it to someone who looks like they could use it. People are always so grateful, and it’s so rewarding for me.”
Jul is quick to recognize her own fortune as well.
“I am so utterly grateful to have a roof over my head,” she said. “I see so many people on the streets with tents in the rain and the wind. It breaks my heart. I’ve learned to appreciate it a lot more because of Street Roots.”
Jul has the late shift selling Street Roots at the Hollywood branch of the Multnomah County Library. Longtime vendor Randy has the shift between opening and 3 p.m., and Jul takes the shift from 3 to close. Her affability and ease with people make her a good match for the spot.
“It’s a good spot. It’s a positive group of customers at the library,” Jul said.
One of her favorite things about her new job selling Street Roots is interacting with those customers.
“It’s been so therapeutic to talk to customers. People come talk to me. They treat me with respect. I feel respected, worthy.”
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.
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