5
street roots
Jan. 7, 2011
makers, it’s that everybody deserves a
second chance.
“We have two hundred employees
farmers or developmentally disabled adults.
altogether, and fifty of them are ex-cons, so
PSU’s website describes social practice as
we have a lot of people who were basically
something that “might appear to be more
on the street when we hired them. I can
like sociology, anthropology, social work,
show them by example that it works hiring
journalism, or enviromSentalism than art,
these people. Of course you have to do your
or his part, Dave liked the idea of
yet it retains the intention of creating
homework on anybody you hire. But if you
creating a larger project around the
significance and appreciation for audiences
story of his life. “I’ve never had any problem hire people who have been through
in a similar .way to more conventional art.”
adversity and have come out of it stronger,
telling people about my story. It kind of
The program was a great fit for Varinthorn,
helps me stay clean and remember where
who was now determined to create projects
I’ve been." Varinthorn suggested that they
around people.
create a book that would expand on his
“It’s something that makes the most
story, and from the beginning, they both
sense to me. When I first started focusing
agreed that whatever their collaborative
on sustainability, I visited the UN website
project produced, it would be offered free to
and it said “sustainability can’t be successful
correctional facilities and juvenile detention
in only one area. It must cover four areas:
centers across the United States. Over the
human, social,
next few years, Dave worked and reworked
economy, and the
his story while Varinthorn proposed various
environment”
book designs. When Dave told her she could
Varinthom’s projects - use photos from his past, including a string
were also informed by
of intimidating mug shots from his more
her own struggles as
"We have two hundred
troubled days, she went to request copies at
an immigrant to the
the courthouse in Portland, a particular
employees altogether, and
United States, trying
thrill since she had just become a citizen
fifty of them are ex-cons, so
to find work, and to
and it was her first visit there.
learn a new language.
we have a lot of people who
This fall, Varinthorn received, a grant
In her project
were basically on the street
from the Regional Arts and Culture Council
“Friggen Rich,” she
to publish a final version of their book
when we hired th e m .... If
helped design new
project, which is titled “Good Seed.” The
you hire people who have
menus for food cart-
book begins with an introduction by
owners whose first
been through adversity and
Varinthorn, and then Dave’s story takes off.
Told with unflinching candor, he describes
have come out of it stronger, language was not
English. In 2007, the
his drug addiction and violent crimesi his
those people can be some of
Willamette Week
incarceration and his eventual
your very best, most
published an editorial
transformation. There are photos of his
motivated, most accountable by her, defending a
family, of him both in and out of prison, and
former co-worker who
many of the aforementioned mug shots,
people. A ll you've got to do
had been criticized by
some of them showing a defiant Dave, some
is give them a chance.
a food reviewer for
battered and bloody. The first half of the
lacking adequate
those people can be some of your very best,
book is handwritten in No. 2 pencil by
English.
most motivated, most accountable people.
Varinthorn, a nod to the tool of Choice
“I love the
All you’ve got to do is give them a chance.
allowed in prisons. When Dave gets out of
underdog story,” she
Give them a chance to prove themselves
prison for the last time, the text of the story
says, “people who go
an d th e y will m a k e y o u r company better.”
is typewritten, a^ y m b o lic gesttffe o f th e '
through something and change themselves,
Varinthorn Christopher continues her
change he’s undergone, and the'hew
or transform themselves.” But it took the
social sustainability projects, and is an
possibilities available to him now.
prompting of her professor, artist Harrell
adjunct professor a t PSU and PCC. She
Varinthorn organized an event in
Fletcher, for Varinthorn to screw up her
credits the faculty at PSU for her success.
December to celebrate the publication and
courage to contact Dave.
“They are so dedicated to their teaching and
offer free copies of “Good Seed.” “When I
. “I’m shy so it was a challenge to contact
they also inspired me and my projects as
saw Dave signing the book that day,” she
him,” she says. But she believed his story
well.”
says, “I thought it was the most fulfilling
was compelling, and saw in it the perfect act project. The moment I saw it, I felt like
The “Good Seed” project has reinforced
project. “I read his story <5n the bread bag,
Varinthorn’s belief in the possibility of
everything was complete. Everything I have
and thought about it as a larger story.”
redemption. “Don’t judge a person based on
been doing for three years was worth it
H er challenge, once she made contact
the way they look dr dress. I think everyone
Seeing him sit and sign copies of his book
with Dave, was to explain her interest in
deserves a second chance. Just like the
was really incredible.”
him. At one of their first meetings,
ex-con that saved me. Because he did that,
Today, Dave Dahl is vice president of the
Varinthorn says Dave asked, “Be honest
he gave me a second chance to live. And so
bread company and continues to advocate
with me:'Why are you interested in an
I want other people to believe in the same
for people who are trying to make positive
ex-con?” H er answer was its own compelling
thing too.”
changes in their lives. If there’s anything he
story: As a child, she had eaten some of her
has to say to business owners and policy
grandmother’s sleeping pills and heart
BREADMAKER, from page 5
medication while her grandmother was
away at the market, and it was an ex-con
neighbor who discovered her and drove
her to the hospital, saving her life.
F
Giving Back
Albina Community Bank
Varinthorn
Christopher, right,
with Dave D ahl at
the book signing fo r
Good Seed.
P H O TO COURTESY OF
V A R IN T H O R N
C H R IS T O P H E R
SISTERS
OFTHE
Meet Your Local Branch Manager:
“C om m unities aren’t ju s t streets a n d build
ings. C om m unities are thriving places
where cultures, commerce a n d souls grow
stronger together. ”
- M a ry
Mary Edmeades
Social Impact Banking
503.445.2155
medmeades@albinabank.com
< — p M em b e r
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