Portland thrives on its colorful crowd of individuals who breathe life and color into the city — one that holds space for all things weird, vibrant and collectively unique. Nataly Johnson moved to Portland three years ago from Minnesota, looking for safety as a transgender woman after facing prejudice and threats to her life. Portland’s reputation as an LGBTQIA2S+ friendly city is integral to its unique charm. It upholds a sense of solace for people often written in the margins of normative society — those prone to coloring outside of the lines.
Art has always been a source of comfort and creativity in Nataly’s life. In recent years, coloring has become a favorite pastime amongst her other interests. For her, coloring is a freeing activity that allows her meditative time to relax and be as wildly creative as she wants.
“When I’m stressed, I’ll listen to music, or I’ll color using my markers,” Nataly said. “I’ve colored on pretty much anything I can get my hands on, like my Street Roots sweaters, printed pages — just not buildings or anything like that.”
Nataly has no limits to her artistic choices. She intends to show other folks that the sun drawn in the corner of your page can have sunglasses, and the dolphins can be pink or purple. Sometimes logic prevails, and sometimes, our chosen colors are better than our reality.
“There’s always another way to do something,” Nataly said. “With what I do and how I do things, it can be whatever color I want.”
Music, too, plays a significant role in her life, bringing back memories of her childhood. Her family would often go to piano concerts and dinner theater shows. Memories of seeing A Christmas Carol performed live in Minneapolis left a lasting impression, shaping her appreciation for creativity.
“We hated it as kids, but it gave me a perspective on art,” Nataly said.
Nataly’s artistic streak can also be traced back to her father, a pastor, graphic artist and cartoonist, whose work she deeply admires. With the artistic values, grace and active hands passed on to her, Nataly has fortified her love of music, art and community.
From quirky statues lining the streets to community-driven advocacy spaces like the Q Center — a hub for Portland’s LGBTQIA2S+ community — Nataly has had the opportunity to grow a greater appreciation for how individuals can wield their expression through creative means. Despite health challenges, including a cancer diagnosis and the pressure of anti-trans movements across the country, Nataly maintains an optimistic outlook.
“I try to be as happy as I can,” Nataly said. “Try to make at least five people smile every day. It goes a long way.”
Her work as a vendor for Street Roots, which she joined nearly a year ago after being introduced by fellow vendors and friends, has deepened her connection to the community. One of her favorite spots is Bernstein Bagels, where employees and customers have welcomed her with open arms and compassion.
“I try to sell there every day,” Nataly shares. “They’re just great people. They’re always happy and have such a good atmosphere, which makes me feel better going in there.”
For Nataly, life is about focusing on what truly matters and letting go of what you can’t control.
“You can’t worry about something you don’t have no control over,” Nataly said. “If you do, you’re going to make yourself crazy. Life’s too short to worry about things I have no control over.”
Whether selling papers, coloring or simply making others smile, Nataly embraces each day with an unwavering will to live with creativity and authenticity.
You can support Nataly by buying a paper outside Bernstein Bagels downtown or tipping her via Venmo @StreetRoots by including her name and badge number (984) in the memo.
Street Roots is an award-winning weekly publication focusing on economic, environmental and social justice issues. The newspaper is sold in Portland, Oregon, by people experiencing homelessness and/or extreme poverty as means of earning an income with dignity. Street Roots newspaper operates independently of Street Roots advocacy and is a part of the Street Roots organization. Learn more about Street Roots. Support your community newspaper by making a one-time or recurring gift today.
© 2025 Street Roots. All rights reserved. | To request permission to reuse content, email editor@streetroots.org or call 503-228-5657, ext. 40.
This article appears in February 12, 2025.