Michael Anderson, a
Street Roots’ board member and longtime housing advocate recently wrote a piece
about how Street Roots makes Portland a better place for all. He pinned the
following commentary for the organization:
I love Street
Roots. For the news that matters most to
me, there is no better media outlet in Oregon. Whether I am reading a vendor
profile, a music review, an in-depth news article, or the hilarious April Fools
edition, Street Roots keeps me informed and entertained.
The quality of
reporting and the commitment to journalism of the editorial staff make Street
Roots a unique and wonderful community asset. Street Roots covers stories that
might otherwise go unreported, such as tracking the number of people who die on
the street each year or profiling community heroes like Kathleen Saadat.
Nowhere else can you find in-depth reporting on issues related to poverty in
Oregon.
What makes Street
Roots all the more amazing is that the newspaper is just one facet of the
organization. Or perhaps, more accurately, the newspaper is a means to an end.
Where it all begins with Street Roots is with the vendor and creating an
opportunity to earn a legitimate, consistent income for people otherwise locked
out from the job market. Selling Street Roots may not make a person rich, but
for many vendors selling papers is a huge part of paying the monthly bills—and
that is a big deal in year five of a recession. All of us who buy the paper
know at least one vendor. Like the
person from whom we buy our morning coffee or the Tri-Met driver that takes us
to work each day, vendors are part of the daily routine that define our
experience in Portland and make us love this city.
In addition to the
newspaper and the vendor program, Street Roots provides real time news coverage
through its website and social media, maintains and distributes the Rose City
Resource, and engages in advocacy efforts related to homelessness and housing
in Portland, throughout Oregon and around the United States. For the second
consecutive year, Street Roots is playing an essential lead role in the We Are
the Safety Net campaign to protect out most vulnerable neighbors from being
damaged by upcoming budget cuts in Portland and Multnomah County.
I know you love Street Roots as much as I do. For Street Roots to
continue to grow its wonderful work, community members like us need to step up
and lend our financial support. Join me
in becoming a supporter of Street Roots, and a part of the Street Roots
community. Supporting Street Roots makes Portland a better place for us all!
Give now!
