Street roots
July 22, 2011
P H O T O B Y IS R A E L B A Y E R
How Street Roots, vendors give perspective
David Joseph Shipley
Feb. 24,1952 — Feb. 3,2011.
BY KAISA MCCROW
om in Nebraska, Dave served in the
C O N T R IB U IN G W R IT E R
Maripe Corp during Vietnam. While
I’ve
always
believed
that
everyone has a story to tell. Each
in the Corp he was a computer
programmer and drill sergeant at the end person’s life has diversity and magnitude, regardless of their
experience as rich or poor, well traveled or homebody, straight or
of his tour while stationed at Barston
gay, redneck or radical. What we share is the uniqueness of our
California, he was a radio D.J. Dave had
experiences as we work our way through this world. If we’re lucky,
many talents, such as being a brilliant
we may be; able to share these experiences with someone else.
artist. Dave worked many jobs, but his
Over the last several months I have found myself in a position to
favorite job he had ever had was selling
celebrate the diversity of the human experience. I have been
Street Roots on the comer of 6th and
¿interviewing Street Roots vendors and writing their profiles for the
Alder. Rain or shine he’d be there. He
newspaper. It is a lucky and humble place to find oneself;
loved telling his off-the-wall jokes. If you
perpetually at the mercy of a hew perspective or lesson afforded by
bought a paper from him, you were sure to
each vendor’s life. I’ve had ideas about what it means to be
hear one, no doubt. After a couple of years
homeless; what it means to have or have n o t Yet interviewing
he was known for this, and he enjoyed
vendors has taught me so much more, simply by listening and
meeting the people downtown in the work
drawing out pieces of an individual’s narrative.
force.
The Street Roots motto is “for those who can’t afford free
Jgss,all
IJ
speech?'
IKe content ana investigative journalism in the paper
who met him. Dave met his wife Rita in
provides stories regarding marginalized communities, inequality,
1999, and on March 17, 2002, Dave and
systemic abuses, addiction, etc. It brings clarify to political
Rita exchanged vows and rings at Pioneer
wranglings over budgets and often complex systems that are
Square on St. Patrick’s Day, his favorite
difficult for people to understand. The newspaper asks what the
holiday. Dave leaves behind his wife Rita,
need is, who the needy are, and what they look like. Street Roots is
son Kane, and daughters Jude and Molly,
also a platform for individuals to publish their voices through
and his best friend and adopted sister
poems, editorials, and opinions. It connects the Portland community
Lorie Pepin. He’s also missed by friends
with each picture, heartfelt poem, and customized cartoon. If the
he’d met at the Hawthorne East
investigative journalism of the paper uncovers the way people are
Apartments where he lived for the past two
being marginalized, the personal side of the paper reminds us that
years.
we are all the same.
Dave was given full military honors at
I’m now finished’with' my stint writing the vendor profiles for
Willamette National Cemetery.
Street Roots. As I gear up to move across the country next month,
I’m admittedly nervous. I worry that where I land my not provide
similar access to a community such as Street Roots.
B
However, thé other day I was reminded an important lesson.
When a man stopped by my house looking for work^ my learned
reaction was that anything being elicited door-to-door was suspect.
Then I reminded myself what I’ve learned at Street Roots: there is
nothing wrong with someone offering a service. He asked if I
needed my lawn mowed and I said, “Sure thing.”
After offering the man, Glenn, a cup of coffee, he got to work. I
was happy to know that the yard was finally mowed, and someone in
need earned some income.
After he was finished, Glenn sat on my front stoop with me and
finished his coffee. Somehow, our conversation went right to the |
losses we had both experienced in our lives. We soon discovered
that we’d both lost brothers, and Glenn has also lost his son.
Relating to others who have experienced loss is a valuable, if
bittersweet connection; something to be honored when it is made.
Glenn asked me about mÿself, and I told him about my upcoming
movë across the country. As our conversation came to a close, he
said, “Well, I guçss I made and lost a friendto dayAHe shook my— -
hand, thanked me fqç the business, and wished me well. A sincere
man, he gave meaning to the phrase, “made my day.”
I realize now that I don’t need to be afraid of finding a community
after I leave. The community at Street Roots has helped me better
connect with people. I thank each vendor I have interviewed for
that. I’ve met so many people who are doing wonderful things.
There’s George, a beautiful man and performer, Terrace, a brilliant
thinker, and Raymond, a man on a spiritual journey. The list truly
goes on and on. These people let me into their lives for a few hours,
all for the sake of a few hundred words.
I graciously say thank you to all of you beautiful people. I insist
that you understand the significance each of you hold in my heart.
(Photo above left to right: Art Garcia, Kaisa McCrow, Becky
Mullins.)
CENTRAL CITY
W W * Ä r w i J r J r
Changing Lives
Building Communities
Creating Opportunities
www.centrctlcityconcern.org
503-294-1681
Want to know a
little more about
your vendor?
Check out www.
streetroots.
wordpress.com for
past articles about
the men and
women selling
Street Roots!
Office Cat Rooty sends a big
thank you to all the folks who
made special donations toward
gear for the vendors. Look for the
bright red jackets and hats
throughout Portland!
VENDOR W ORK ADS
Cassidy Morse: Looking for work. Will do
most anything, light and heavy. $10 an
hour, four-hour minimum. References
supplied. Please call 503-224-5398 or Street
Roots at 503-228-5657;
at 971-255-0440 to speak with Chelsea
Benedict. Two-person team also available
for hire for general labor (moving, house
cleaning, yardwork, small home repairs).
Ready to work immediately.
Chelsea Benedict: Painting service, interior/
exterior house painting. Also specializing in
custom mural artwork. Please e-mail at
crbenedictmurals@gmail.com or by phone
Laura Owens: Dog walking and/or cleaning,
$5 per half-hour walk. Downtown and
Northeast area. Please call Street Roots,
503-228-5657 and leave a message for
LOOKING FOR A N
AFFORDABLE PLACE TO RENT?
Your online n u u .m g searcn just got easier.