Doug and River are moving on to Greater Good Northwest, where they will continue the work they’re passionate about
Street Roots ambassadors Doug Marks and River Reese are familiar faces around the Street Roots office, both known for their warm energy and hard work ethic. They both started at Street Roots around early 2020 and since then graduated to Street Roots’ Ambassador Program, providing outreach and assistance to people living on the streets.
As ambassadors, Doug and River kindled a passion for outreach work, and now they’re moving on from the ambassador program to Greater Good Northwest, a new sister organization of Do Good Multnomah, where they will continue their outreach work in the shelter the organization manages.
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Doug, who is staying at a shelter run by Do Good Multnomah, said he and River will be doing many of the same things they do as Street Roots’ ambassadors, with a few added duties.
“We’ll be interacting with the participants, sitting and listening, offering resources, helping with their laundry, doing check-ins with them, de-escalating situations, helping them get IDs and birth certificates, helping them find jobs, and also providing services for people living on the street that don’t want to live in a shelter,” Doug said.
While they’re both excited about their new positions, Doug and River said they’ll miss the familial atmosphere at Street Roots, and that they’ll be back to volunteer.
“Everyone just feels like family at Street Roots,” River said.
“At Street Roots, people are happy to see me because they’re just happy,” Doug said. “They’re like, ‘Hey, you made it another day. You’re above ground. You didn’t lose the fight. I’m happy to see you.’ That’s what I’m really going to miss.”
Doug and River both recounted a special experience they had while doing outreach work.
“I really understood Street Roots when Doug and I went out on a specific call,” River said.
“It was an assistance call with Portland Street Response,” Doug said, “and when we ended that interaction with that person, that was life-changing.
“I made a difference in this person’s life,” Doug said. “So don’t let the discouragement get you down. Just keep fighting through it. You never know; you might be the person that changed somebody’s life as well.”
River said that after that call, “I realized that I’ve been doing this work my whole life, and I fell in love. That’s why I’m still here. Through a heart problem, lung issues, my Parkinson’s — I was still here working, doing the best that I could because I felt like I belonged.”
Doug and River noted the community support they have witnessed at Street Roots.
“During this heat wave, I saw that people really do have heart, and they care about people on the streets,” River said. “It was an amazing effort by the community. And that’s what makes you feel good, is being part of that effort.
“We saved a lot of lives,” River said. “Unfortunately, we lost a few, too, but we did save a lot of lives over this thing just by being the community. So it just gives me a little bit of hope that a person coming through in the beginning at Street Roots has the opportunity to be part of that hope, and be part of that community, to help change things for the better.”
While they’ll always remember their time at Street Roots, Doug and River are looking forward to the future.
“I want to let all of our readers and all of our staff know that I love you sincerely,” Doug said. “I am so grateful for each and every one of you. And to the new vendors: I don’t know you yet, but I love you too, and if I can do this, it’s anybody’s game to win.”
“I don’t want anyone on the street,” River said. “But people who have sicknesses and illnesses, or terminal disease, veterans who served our country, people who really do want to be off the streets but just can’t be — that’s who I want to see get off the streets quickly.”
Doug agreed.
“When you’re dealing with people living on the streets, you have to keep an open mind,” he said. “Love them the way you would want somebody to love you. Love and care for someone in a traumatic situation the way you would want to be loved and cared for in a traumatic situation.”
Street Roots is an award-winning weekly publication focusing on economic, environmental and social justice issues. The newspaper is sold in Portland, Oregon, by people experiencing homelessness and/or extreme poverty as means of earning an income with dignity. Street Roots newspaper operates independently of Street Roots advocacy and is a part of the Street Roots organization. Learn more about Street Roots . Support your community newspaper by making a one-time or recurring gift today .
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