Harry, a longtime artist, has connected with newfound family Harry Richards couldn’t believe it. Two of his sisters had met a woman they were convinced was his daughter. “Nah,” he scoffed, “I wouldn’t have any daughter that I didn’t know about.” She was ...
6 Apr 2018 - Pat Zimmer
Harry recently met his 33-year-old daughter for the first time We’ve profiled vendor Harry Richards in the past, but this reflection looks at a new development in his life. A couple of months ago, Street Roots vendor Harry Richards met his 33-year-old dau ...
3 Aug 2018 - Pat Zimmer
Sparky lost his vision as a result of diabetes. But now, he's keeping fit and sharing his story. In March 2013, Sparky Reese started going blind. “My right eye was going crazy, like those glarey mirrors at carnivals,” he said. It, perhaps, wasn’t a ...
11 Jan 2019 - Pat Zimmer
Bronwyn is a writer, an artist and an avid reader Bronwyn Carver is pragmatic. About three years ago, she suddenly became homeless. She calls the experience, simply, “an adjustment.” She knew some things; she learned others. “Not that I’m a tough girl or ...
8 Feb 2019 - Pat Zimmer
Terra knows and loves a lot of people In an early episode of “Star Trek,” Capt. Kirk and his crew meet an empath named Gem. Empaths are deeply affected by emotions. They even take on others’ wounds. Terra Johnson said she relates to Gem. She reflected on ...
22 Mar 2019 - Pat Zimmer
Rediscovering his religion has helped Tyler recover from hard times “I have nothing, but I have everything,” Tyler Roberts said. “I haven’t had a dollar in my pocket for the longest time, and I’m so grateful. “I’ve come to accept that everything is exactl ...
29 Mar 2019 - Pat Zimmer
Vince left academia and a tech career for a life free of materialism When Vince Masiello headed out for Portland in the summer of 2017, he had money in his pocket. He had a used Prius he’d purchased with a buyout from a tech business he’d helped start. He ...
19 Apr 2019 - Pat Zimmer
Peaches is continuing her late boyfriend’s work with Lions Club, and she organizes programs to bring Street Roots and Lions together Peaches Youngerman’s first Lions Club meeting was in Portland’s northeast Hollywood neighborhood in October 2017. Her boyf ...
26 Apr 2019 - Pat Zimmer
Mykel has led a troubled life but has become 'a really good person' Mykel Garner wears a monkey costume to sell Street Roots at his post at Case Study Coffee on Southwest 10th Avenue near the Central Library. “The monkey is around my waist here ...
17 May 2019 - Pat Zimmer
Brent, and advocate for people on the streets, has been involved with Portland’s street paper since the 1990s – before it was Street Roots Brent Snyder wants to help people bridge the gap. “How do we transcend the gap between homeless and poor and an op ...
24 May 2019 - Pat Zimmer