Street roots
Jan. 6, 2012
Saul Cortes:
Northwest’s
Shaman in
training
BY COLE MERKEL
S T A F F W R IT E R
aul Cortes watches over the
community around him. During our
interview at his sales location, the
Whole Foods at Northwest 13th Avenue and
Couch Street, he had conversations with
many passersby. It was a cold day and he
asked a friend who passed, “You need some
handwarmers?” She was fine, but the offer
opened five minutes of conversation
between the two. A few minutes later he
yelled, “Hey! Check your bag!” to a mail
carrier up. the block who had dropped a few
letters from his pack.
It’s amazing how many ways Saul has
developed to greet people in the
community. “Hi there,” he said to one
person, followed rapidly by, “How you doing
there?” then, “Howdy, howdy.” He has
developed a personalized style for each
individual he encounters. “I’m just trying to
basically sell papers,” said Saul. “It’s actually
a no-sale sale: saying ‘hi,’ being cordial to
people, trying to remember what they like,
getting to know the people. There are quite
a few people who are basically full-time
customers. I don’t have an extra story for
them.”
A conversation with Saul is straight to the
point: he tells it like it is, as he sees it. His
self-assurance and confidence in his
philosophy of life are refreshing.
“It’s all about tolerance, compassion and
community for me,” said Saul. “We’re all
part of a community; don’t think you’re by
yourself.” As part of the community, Saul
encourages people to rely on him and each
other. “Use what you can from others when
you need it, but at the same time realize
you’ve got to put the effort out there for
yourself. There’s really nobody else who’s
going to take care of your problems unless
they can see your problems.”
Saul’s proclivity toward compassion can
be traced back to his youth in The Bronx.
The oldest of 14 siblings, Saul has been
responsible for others since he can
remember. He vividly recalled a key
moment in his development: “One day I
slammed the door on my little brother,
S
"Thank you, everyone!’
BY CHARLES YOST
I just like to thank all my Street Roots
customers and thank Street Roots for
getting me into this beautiful home that
I’m living in. (“Arriving home after a long
journey homeless,” Street Roots, Dec. 23)
I remember back in August when Israel
Bayer steered me to Northwest Pilot
Projects. He suggested I go see these guys
and I did. Street Roots, Northwest Pilot
Projects and AA — thank you! AA was the
main thing because it basically kept me
sober, and that’s what kept me going.
I just want to thank everybody for their
responses. I got Christmas cards,
housewarming cards from my customers.
An anonymous reader gave me a gift on
Christmas Eve where I live. To everyone
who saw me on Facebook, I want to thank
them all again!
c o ffe e b e a n
I N T E R N A T I O N A L*
tip our mugs to Coffee
Bean International for
donating coffee to Street Roots
and keeping our vendors
warm in the morning!
Thank you!
c o ffe e b e a n
IN T E R N A T IO N A
L*
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VENDOR WORK ADS
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À 9
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Answers to puzzles on page 15
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Craig Preston: Labor work, $12 an hour,
please call 503-890-9271
TlborS.: Available for any labor work
around a house. 1-201-539-1888.
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
P H O TO BY CO LE M E R K E L
didn’t realize his hand was in there, and I
clipped off the tip of his finger. I freaked,
and I realized from that moment on not to
do something that stupid again, to never be
inconsiderate.”
From that instant, Saul was inspired to
move toward working in the medical field.
He worked in emergency rooms for more
than a decade becoming certified as a
licensed practical nurse with experience as
an EMT and advanced cardiac life support.
“Working the medical field, I’ve seen all
kinds of stuff,” said Saul. “I’ve seen that
some people live, some people die, and it
made me ask ‘Why?’ I see that we really do
need the spiritual side of things. I’ve always
been pretty close with God and it’s not just
God, but a spiritual framework I try to
keep.”
Now Saul’s dream is to be a shaman. “I’m
trying to get to a comfortable enough
position where I can start,” he said. “I need
to really get settled, and I’m wondering if
Vendor Wish List
Donations keep Street Roots and our vendors
working by keeping our operating costs low.
■
■
■
■
■
Socks
LII Hotties
Paper cups
Hygiene Items
Towels
■ First-aid supplies
■ TrlM et bus
tlckets/passes
■ Printer paper -
■ Toilet paper
CENTRAL CITY
concern
Changing Lives
Building Communities
Laura Owens: Available for domestic-type
work, cleaning, dog walking, etc. Please call
Steet Roots, 503-228-5657 and leave a
message for Laura regarding work ad.
Street Roots strives for accuracy, but we're
human. So we also strive to correct errors In our
paper whenever possible. Please report any errors to
our managing editor, Joanne Zuhl, at 503-228-5657,
or write to joanne@streetroots.org
Portland’s the best spot for me to do that,
because, pn top of the cost, I have to be in a
place that I’m comfortable with. Everything
about shamanism is about being practical.
Right now it’s not practical for me to do
anything but stay warm.”
Whether or not his dream is fulfilled, Saul
has positive intentions for his present and
future: “I see myself being part of a
community, being part of something that
matters to me, being happy with what I’m
doing and trying to help the most; to pick
up the scarred people who need it.”
As our interview drew to a close, a
woman who works in a nearby parking
garage approached Saul and asked, “Are you
taking care of yourself in the cold, man?” He
told her yes and they chatted for a few
minutes like old friends. It is that ease of
communication, friendliness and willingness
to give that make Saul an asset to his
community.
Creating Opportunities
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