John is proud of his accomplishments in the years since he served time John Davis was born in San Bernadino, between Los Angeles and Palm Springs. He is turning 40 this year. John loves stand-up comedy and chess. Both pursuits make perfect sense as he pe ...
31 May 2019 - Helen Hill
When Michone came to Street Roots, he discovered a passion: poetry Michone Nettles was born in Vancouver, Wash., the ninth of 10 children. His mother was a homemaker. His father worked for Alcoa Aluminum for 35 years. “She took care of us all, and he supp ...
10 May 2019 - Helen Hill
Vendors and attorneys partner for “Expungement Palooza" The homeless community has long been the target of police action and prosecution, often creating an insurmountable backlog of tickets and nonviolent misdemeanors that can effectively shut people ...
3 May 2019 - Helen Hill
‘It kind of lights up the whole city. But just for the homeless people.’ Early Friday morning, April 19, the sidewalk outside Street Roots was alive with talk of the gleaming full moon the night before. Some vendors were enchanted and left their rooms, te ...
26 Apr 2019 - Helen Hill
Street Roots vendors talk about how they’re ‘spending a hell of a lot of time' Waiting in line sucks. We’ve all had to do it, and we will again. It’s exasperating and humbling, and it robs us of a precious, finite commodity: time. But when you are li ...
12 Apr 2019 - Helen Hill
Kat is saving money so she can renew her hair license, get an apartment and get her daughter back Kat has moved around a lot. She was born in California and traveled from there to New York, Medford, New Orleans and back again to Portland. She’s always lov ...
5 Apr 2019 - Helen Hill
Street Roots vendors talk about how they cope with illness For those who are housed, feeling the first tinges of a winter cold or flu means settling in on the couch with hot tea and soup, a warm comforter and a list of Netflix movies to watch. Rest, fluid ...
22 Mar 2019 - Helen Hill
Cartoonist Sarah Mirk is teaching the class as a way to connect with vendors Street Roots vendors are working with Portland social-justice writer and cartoon artist Sarah Mirk, learning to draw and create their own cartoons. Mirk is a contributing editor ...
8 Mar 2019 - Helen Hill
Street Roots is "like a family," and it helps James put food on the table James McCord was born in Harrisburg, Pa., and raised in Hawaii. He remembers traveling there when he was 3, right after Hawaii became a state in 1959. “Back then, there we ...
1 Mar 2019 - Helen Hill
Street Roots vendors talk about how they get through Portland winters on the streets As soon as the Street Roots office door is unlocked at 7:30 a.m., vendors – the people who sell the newspaper – quickly duck in, seeking relief from a night of cold wind, ...
15 Feb 2019 - Helen Hill