Ron's advice to other vendors: look up, smile, be nice It was 1963 and Ron Britt was a teenager who had just moved from the Haight-Ashbury district in San Francisco to his parents’ home on Corbett Street in Portland. “I was in the first hippie moveme ...
14 Aug 2016 - Leonora Ko
Mike is working toward becoming eligible to be a drug and alcohol counselor Mike Dusek remembers clearly the date his sobriety began. “I’m coming up on five months on (July) 20, so I’m almost at my half-year mark. Then I’ll have only 18 months to go befor ...
14 Jul 2016 - Leonora Ko
Adam, a seasonal fisherman, also attributes his sales success to his experience selling Real Change, Street Roots' sister paper Not long ago, Adam Ruark was on a ship and sleeping in a room not much bigger than a commercial crab pot. “I got back from ...
7 Jul 2016 - Leonora Ko
Mr. and Mrs. Geist began their adventure a year ago in New York City Can you be homeless and joyful? Mr. and Mrs. Geist would say yes. They found each other and happiness while on the street. During this interview, the couple laughed, finished each other ...
16 Jun 2016 - Leonora Ko
Rachel was depressed and suicidal when she kept her true self hidden. But she persevered, and she hopes she can help other transgender people do the same. When Rachel Amber Leigh sits down for the interview, the first thing she does is pull out a paper wi ...
2 Jun 2016 - Leonora Ko
April came out to her Mormon family with mixed results Family is important to April Harrison, and she has had to make hard choices for herself and her loved ones. April grew up in Utah and cared for her father until he died as a result of diabetic complic ...
26 May 2016 - Leonora Ko
Tina came out with her true self two years ago Honor is everything for Tina Drake. “It’s just the way I live my life,” Tina said. “(It means) dignity, kindness, keeping yourself honest. It’s a big thing with me.” Tina follows her sense of honor when she s ...
19 May 2016 - Leonora Ko
One customer's generosity fueled Mike's commitment to helping fellow bike riders It all started when a Street Roots customer gave a bike to vendor Mike Lang. Mike describes what happened: “She bought a paper and asked me how it was going. I said ...
12 May 2016 - Leonora Ko
Dennis, who has made friends through Street Roots, now stays in a shelter; his next goal is an apartment Dennis Chavez is an Army veteran with a different kind of mission: finding permanent housing and a steady job. He was born in Orange County, Calif., a ...
28 Apr 2016 - Leonora Ko
Street Roots was a catalyst that helped get Shayne off the streets It has been a long road, but Shayne Methvin is creating a better life for himself. He was born at Emanuel Hospital in Portland, began reading around 3 years old and attended Chapman Elemen ...
21 Apr 2016 - Leonora Ko