When Dirk Benson sits down in the Street Roots office, his priority is to plug in his aging cellphone. There’s no electricity in his hut at Dignity Village, and the phone is a lifeline to the two most important things in his life: his faraway family and a ...
15 Mar 2015 - Leonora Ko
Jermaine Johnson likes living in a place that has low crime and no hurricanes. He lived through Hurricane Katrina, with his home knocked off its foundation, alligators in the streets, and a local man robbed and shot for his shoes. When Jermaine moved to S ...
27 Mar 2015 - Leonora Ko
Dave Shoop and his brother, Daryl, are identical twins. “We’re exactly the same size, the same weight. People seem to get a kick out of it, which is something I enjoy,” says Dave. Their mother loved dressing them alike, but when they got older, he says, ...
23 Apr 2015 - Leonora Ko
John Munro has worked in some of the most picturesque places in the country. “I’ve seen a lot of America. It’s got a lot of beautiful scenery,” John says. “I remember going out on the Gulf of Mexico, (working) where British Petroleum is. If you’re starvin ...
14 May 2015 - Leonora Ko
The activist talks home, activism and engagement from the streets When Amber Dunks sits down for her interview, she is clearly exhausted. She explains that while her fiancé has a job, he returns late, and last night they had a difficult time finding a s ...
29 May 2015 - Leonora Ko
Unrest lured the Rev. Osagyefo Sekou away from the pulpit and into the streets ‘in the communion of protest’ The Rev. Osagyefo Sekou — organizer, pastor, theologian and author — has found a new calling on the front lines of Ferguson and Baltimore. Sekou ...
19 Jun 2015 - Leonora Ko
"The houseless community is full of all different types of people, but the key is that we’re people" Brian Castor is houseless and a model neighbor. “I keep my roll military-tight, so everything is straight and even. Both me and my girl have OCD ...
6 Jul 2015 - Leonora Ko
Fluffy Seymour has found a place where he can be himself. He grew up in the California foothills and came out when he was around 12 years old. To protect him, his mom moved the family to urban Sacramento, a more liberal community. “She’s big, she loves me ...
10 Jul 2015 - Leonora Ko
Michael Krieger has an electrifying connection to a popular reality show. “You ever hear of that guy?” Michael asks. “The Cake Boss? He’s on TLC.” He explains: “I’m an electrician by trade. (The Cake Boss) has a huge building where he makes all of his pas ...
20 Jul 2015 - Leonora Ko
Louis Adams has moved into Bud Clark Commons after medical issues pushed him to top of waiting list Louis Adams is back indoors after being homeless for 17 years. “It is just like winning the lottery,” he says. Louis had just been chased out of his campin ...
30 Jul 2015 - Leonora Ko