From vending to phone banks, to other volunteer opportunities, Joseph, also known as Whitecloud, has carved out his own space among the Street Roots community. He focuses on whatever he can do to help those around him, especially new vendors seeking help getting started.
Whiteclouds' journey with Street Roots started two years ago, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic hit, he worked at Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative (OBRC). When he began working there, Whitecloud was unloading and loading trucks. It was the beginning of something special for him.
“I felt like I could have gone far there,” Whitecloud said. “I actually felt a part of something bigger.”
He eventually moved away from unloading and started working in the facility itself, operating machinery and even helping manage different teams at times. It came fairly easily to him, as he was always good at learning things on the fly. The job seemed secure enough until COVID hit Oregon in March 2020.
After being laid off, Whitecloud applied for COVID relief and unemployment with the help of his former supervisor. Neither program ever got back to him.
It wasn’t long after that Whitecloud found Street Roots, a place that he is happy to call his community. When he began selling papers, he took every opportunity he could to learn from older vendors. Whether it was the best ways to sell the paper or the best places to do so, Whitecloud always sought the opportunity to gain more experience.
Nowadays, he is paying that forward by helping new vendors with whatever they need and encouraging them to publish their art and writing in the paper. Whenever Whitecloud sees someone in need of help, he always recommends they attend Street Roots’ orientation.
“Street Roots for me is also wonderful, because beyond the (office) resources, there are people who are there to help,” Whitecloud said.
Outside of Street Roots, Whitecloud also has a passion for staying involved in Portland city politics. Whenever there is a city council meeting, you can bet he will be sitting in and paying attention to whatever is being discussed.
“I want to be involved in these things,” Whitecloud said. “Schools, law, everything.”
While Whitecloud believes there are good people sitting on the council, he also voiced his displeasure with a number of politicians in Portland that he says do not work for the people.
You can support Whitecloud via @StreetRoots Venmo by entering his name and badge number (712) in the notes.
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