A ubiquitous feature in the Portland landscape, Street Roots vendors make the city better
Letter from the editor:
Readers are no doubt familiar with Street Roots vendors. Fixtures of the community, vendors brave cold, heat, rain, snow, pandemics and a litany of other hardships to ensure neighbors have access to the only nonprofit newspaper in Portland.
Vendors also faced the elements to distribute information and resources throughout the pandemic — including early on, when there was little infrastructure for such ventures. Some vendors make the trek to Old Town every Tuesday to learn about journalism and communications. Other vendors volunteer with local shelters and religious organizations. Some vendors write letters to donors and supporters to show gratitude.
Many vendors contribute their art, poetry, stories, experiences and opinions to the Street Roots newspaper and community at large; this issue highlights these contributions.
As you will read below, Street Roots expanded its vendor programs in recent years, both to better serve the community and better serve vendors. The programs created avenues for vendors to put their skills to work in new ways, including service through paid social work in some cases or writing a story that is currently a finalist for an international journalism award in another case.
Regardless of the particular brand of contribution, Street Roots vendors are a vital and vibrant part of what makes Portland a city worth living in. With that, I’d like to welcome you to an issue celebrating and highlighting some of the hardest working and most important people in the city: Street Roots vendors.
Sincerely,
K. Rambo Editor in Chief
Ambassador program:
What has become the Street Roots ambassador program began in March 2020 on the side of Interstate 5 in a medical tent established by Raven Drake. Through Street Roots, Raven began to advise the Multnomah County Health Department on materials to accurately communicate information about COVID-19 to unhoused people and then helped launch a coronavirus action team of Street Roots vendors to deliver that information to over 1,000 unhoused people.
The Street Roots ambassador program creates low-barrier income opportunities for people by building on their strengths, skills and aptitudes. The program prioritizes partnerships as bridges to employment opportunities. Each year, 10 ambassadors are selected from an open sign-up in June to participate in a year-long learning and work opportunity focused on outreach, civic engagement and advocacy. The goal of this program is to help selected vendors not only affect change in their community, but also develop in a professional and personal way in hopes that they can architect the next steps in a pathway from the streets to a more sustainable life. Out of the first groups of ambassadors, we have seen many move on to jobs around the city, working in shelters, outreach programs and many other directions. We hope this becomes an avenue for vendors to cultivate and strengthen their skills.
Over the past two and a half years of this project, we have seen vendors develop in ways we never anticipated. I have and will continue to believe that our vendors can achieve any goal they dream of. This program is the embodiment of that idea here at Street Roots. As we look forward to the future, our ambassadors will continue to develop new opportunities and possibilities for each group that follows.
— Raven Drake
Ambassador Program Manager, former vendor
Street Roots School of Mobile Journalism and Communications (MoJo):
We developed a curriculum and program to teach vendors communication and journalism skills. These are skills that help them understand themselves and grow into open-minded people with a greater understanding of the events around them.
In addition, the program helps them be well-informed so they can make better choices. I have great hopes for them.
I have issues and problems myself, but I can spot things that you normally wouldn't see. I work on my changes and grow with them. I can share my experience so they can see that I do understand them. MoJo is a great program that keeps me going in the right direction.
We also work to provide vendors with more employment opportunities and opportunities to grow.
The program, though Street Roots only launched it in 2021, has accomplished a lot. Vendors in the MoJo program have worked as freelance reporters, contract communications professionals and are even gaining recognition from the International Network of Street Papers for their work.
Though there are still strides to make, I’m very happy with the growth.
— Gary Barker
MoJo Coordinator, former vendor
Street Roots is an award-winning weekly investigative publication covering economic, environmental and social inequity. 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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