Street Roots vendor, writer and poet Bronwyn Carver and Street Roots are a great match for one another. She started with Street Roots four years ago, and since then, she has fully embraced all that Street Roots has to offer, including as a program participant for Street Root’s School of Mobile Journalism and Communication program, or “MoJo” as it’s affectionately called.
“Writing for me is like breathing," Bronwyn said. "It helps me focus and get rid of some of what builds up in my head. And (Street Roots editor in chief K. Rambo's) crash course on writing is fantastic.”
A longtime poetry contributor to Street Roots, she recently applied to a one-year fellowship program for writing through Oregon Wild.
“There is a great loving relationship between Street Roots and me,” Bronwyn said. “I never would have had the confidence to apply without Street Roots.”
In addition to the fellowship application and continuing to write, she recently took a multimedia course through the MoJo program, which inspired her to create a documentary about women over 50 years old experiencing homelessness in Portland. She's working with the newspaper staff to publish three video installments on the Street Roots website, plus a 500-word written piece.
“If it weren’t for MoJo, I wouldn’t have had the tools to make this happen,” Bronwyn said.
Bronwyn has lived in Portland since 1999. The mother of three grown daughters, Bronwyn hopes to strengthen her relationship with them through her continued recovery and the steps she is taking in her life.
“They are incredible human beings, and I love them so much,” she said. “I think about them every day. They don’t understand why I live outside. But I’m applying for Social Security and I hope that leads to housing.”
Bronwyn avoids shelters because she has three cats who she relies on for comfort and companionship. Recently widowed, she is now back in therapy and is doing a lot of writing about her loss.
“I remain outside for my cats,” Bronwyn said. “They keep me alive — I can’t leave them — I can’t go to a shelter. I miss my husband terribly.”
But she said Street Roots gives her many positives to focus on and she is so grateful for the opportunities it provides.
“Street Roots saves your life,” Bronwyn said. “It gives people a reason to wake up and be purposeful. It gives opportunities you can't even imagine without it. Without them, I can’t imagine where I’d be.”
Bronwyn sells Street Roots most afternoons at the Interstate 405 exit near Legacy Emanuel Medical Center. She also sells Street Roots at the Beaverton Farmers Market on Saturdays. She can be supported via
@StreetRoots Venmo by entering her name and badge number (143) in the notes.
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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