Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 13, 2015)
Nameless Day by Daniel Cox On this nameless day The funeral procession For tomorrow was way into session The paid mourners and host alike Were wailing and sobbing in unison. Dressed in sack cloth and ashen faces, Moved in the sad beat of the drum. The demise of tomorrow set in stone. Tomorrow will never come. A passage in our Feb. 6 story, “A fresh new start,” unintentionally implies that the East African All-Stars, a group of Somali American teens who have created their own basketball league, is a project of IRCO. It is a project of the Somali American Council of Oregon. Answers to puzzles on page 15 Street Roots • February 13-19, 2015 Vendors Page 6 Aileen and Charles began selling the paper shortly after relocating to Portland from Salem a few months ago. Since meeting through a common friend five years ago, Charles and Aileen have been companions who have bonded BY AARON VON REYN through joys as well as past C O N T R IB U T IN G W R ITER trauma. “If it wasn’t for hances are, if you’ve been out to S t Charles and Jack, I Johns on the weekends, you’ve run don’t know how I’d into Aileen or Charles at their selling spots two blocks apart on North Lombard. survive staying out somedays,” Aileen Whether it’s a soggy Saturday farmers’ says. These tyro market or a lazy, sunny Sunday, you’ll be seem to have greeted by the warmth and positivity of found these two vendors. And of course you can’t 111DOB PBOFItE Charles and Alleen B miss One-Eyed Jack, their “aggressively happy” charmer of a dog who often sports a Street Roots vest fashioned by Aileen herself. Although they sell in close proximity, j these two have very different styles and J demeanors. Charles, who describes himself as quiet, might be secretly singing a triumphant song in his head. Aileen, on the other hand, can rattle off a list of names of all the people she’s met in her time working in the neighborhood,, clearly enjoying socializing and chatting with customers and passersby..'alike. “We joke sometimes that I’m his voicebox,” Aileen says with a chuckle. A self-described “jack of all trades, master of none,” Aileen says she chooses to express herself in myriad ways, from the embellishments and alterations of her clothes to the personalized jewelry she made (or Jack. And of coursei her notebook of drawings and poetry is always close at hand for when inspiration strikes. Dignity Poverty s m a ll open to all 9am- 19pm d aily Please report any errors to our managing editor, Joanne Zuhl, at 503-228-5657, or write to joanne@streetroots.org the sweet spot after relocating from a less- active section of the Woodlawn neighborhood. Aileen cites “all the interesting people” in St. Johns as a perk of the trade, as well as the autonomy that comes with selling the paper. Comparing it with past work, Aileen proudly says that now “I’m the authority figure.” This control over their work, coupled with their involvement in the community at Dignity Village, has led to a newfound stability uncommon in their Respective pasts. Perhaps their ' greatest peace of mind comes from their strong relationship. “Charles . has been the most stable person in my Jife.” Aileen says. “I t don’t know how I > got so lucky.” Over G million people worldwide vole for dignity over poverty when they htty street press. By doing so, they help vendors in 4« countries, selling over too different titles, to change their lives. In return, readers enjoy quality, independent journalism. in the knowledge that they've made a difference. Vote for Dignity. International Network oí Street Papers
