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About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 13, 2009)
Melissa Walsh is 30 years old and a Street Roots vendor. Diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, a high-functioning form o f autism, Melissa moved from Spokane in Ju ly with her husband Sean after they lost their home to foreclosure. Melissa Walsh is a Street Roots vendor. She is 30 and married. She used to have a home. This is her story. BY LEAH NASH C O N T R IB U T IN G P H O T O G R A P H E R A N D W R IT E R 11 these people pass me by and avoid my eyes, I want to tap them on the shoulder and say, ‘Look at me; I am not invisible.’” This was my introduction to Melissa Walsh, Street Roots vendor. And so to tell her story, I began by listening. I listen to her cry - 1 listen to h er argue with her caseworkers, and I listen to her talk excitedly about her next knitting project. I begin to follow her: to the food bank,; to urgent care, to the mental health unit to visit her husband. Her days are hot easy, and sometimes just following along is a burden that I find difficult to bear. Now three months later, I look at Melissa and the images I have created and think, “There but for the grace of God go I.” For in this modern-day Great Depression she really could be any of us. By photographing her everyday moments, these little slices-of life, my goal was to tell her story as best I could and to help give a voice to people who are sometimes not heard. Enjoy. ■ SEE PHOTO ESSAY, PAGES 7-9 Melissa and her husband married five weeks after meeting. She thinks their relationship has survived the hard times because, “Neither o f us can bring ourselves to give up on anything. That is our greatest weakness and our greatest strength. We will hot quit.” No joke. Your support matters now more than ever! Give to Street Roots this year at www.streetroots.org or at www.wweek.com/giveguide/. See pg. 16 for more details. GIVEIGUIDE2 BROUGHT TO
