Street Roots vendor Jennifer says Street Roots has given her back something she had lost
Jennifer Bradford can inspire us all to stay positive with compassion through difficult times.
“There’s hope for everybody,” she said.
During her years as an RA (resident advisor) at Portland shelters, she was able to use her experiences as a survivor of domestic violence and drug addiction to better understand and help women. “I was able to have conversations with women who were escaping domestic violence and trying to manage addictions, women who were having to make hard choices,” she said. But six years ago, Jennifer had a stroke and soon after, her leg was amputated. “Since then I have to do things differently,” she said. “But I’m a fighter. I’ve been through so much in my life. This (stroke and amputation) is just another part of my journey.”
Staying positive and helping others is what drives Jennifer. “I’m not a victim. I’m a survivor of domestic violence,” she said.
After her stroke, she said the women she used to support at the shelters then helped her. Jennifer met one woman recently who told Jennifer, ‘You helped me so much when I was in the shelter. Now I’m clean. I’m in housing. I’m married. I just have to say thank you. You helped so much.’ Jennifer’s positive enthusiasm is infectious: “I may be 52 years old, and I may have disabilities, but that’s not who I am. I still go and do and do and do. If there’s something I want to do, I do it. Just watch me.”
Four years ago, after having encouraged so many others to “go down to Street Roots,” Jennifer started working with Street Roots herself. “It gave me back something that I had lost,” she said. “The most important part was being with others, talking with people. Street Roots gave me a social life.” Jennifer is proud of the paper she sells. “My paper speaks for itself,” she said. “I never have to try hard to sell it.” What is most important for Jennifer is being a part of the Street Roots’ community.
“At first, I would just come in on Fridays,” she said, “just come in and get my papers and leave. But one day, one of the volunteers said ‘you should come in and help us make the kits for the outreach team (Coronavirus Action Team).’” That’s how Jennifer got involved. “I said, well I guess I can do that! And then there was the Christmas party. And then I’d come into the office for meetings and workshops.” One day Jennifer participated in a jewelry making workshop at Street Roots and now she is making jewelry and selling her jewelry at trunk shows and holiday events.
These days, in addition to selling Street Roots, Jennifer is a part of the Street Roots Ambassador Program. She works ten hours a week doing administrative jobs: collecting surveys, inputting survey data, ordering and conducting inventory for the Ambassador Program. And when she’s not working for Street Roots, Jennifer finds other ways to help. “I can’t go out and do outreach the way I used to, but I still go out in the streets and help people who are having a hard time,” she said.
“There’s hope for everybody!” Jennifer opened Street Roots’ Family Breakfast this year by reading her poem Who Am I? It’s a question her poem answers. Why not drop by her Lents post and introduce yourself?
“I love the connections I make selling papers. I don’t know where my journey will take me when my selling post at the farmers’ market in Lents closes this winter. But I wanna be productive. I’m raring to go. That’s just who I am.”
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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