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About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 26, 2016)
Page 6 Vendors S treet D ream s by Almos Dunne Old fables tell of no guts no glory Characters change and so may the story Everyone remembers the name of their first kiss And how it feels to get dissed or skipped. At the end of the fast lane livin’ Most old doggs practice taken & giving. Reminisce on old cars owned & Driven Knowing the game is half the battle Rules were simple we were young And knew better than to tattle Been shuffled through industries like Cattle. If there’s no thug’s mansion Should we believe in Marilyn Manson Or please the 5th or grab the gas Peddle and find the times. Answers to puzzles on page 15 8 6 2 9 4 9 L P 8 V 9 L z 8 le 6 9 8 8 8 6 Ir 3 9 9 L P le 9 P 8 L 9 8 6 L P Z 8 9 8 Z I 9 6 Ì V 8 6 8 Z L 9 6 8 P 9 p Z 8 9 le L Z L le 9 9 P 6 Ÿ 9 L 8 8 8 8 9 Z 6 le VENDOR PROFILE J J . Wright BY SAVANNAH DIMARCO C O N T R IB U T IN G W R IT E R TT.J. Wright is a reader of classical I literature, a street musician - and an I environmental advocate. “I’m glad I have this,” he said, as he raised his reusable mug. “Your Starbucks plastic cup or little straw - do you know it takes 100 years for one little straw to biodegrade?” J.J. asked, laughing in desperation. “Why do you need a straw?” As a University of New Mexico graduate and former unit director at Boys and Girls Club, at times J.J. has struggled with his social identity. “When you speak in an articulate manner,” he explained, “people may look at me and say, ‘he doesn’t really need money.’ “I have to compete with all the homeless people for all the services. I need shoes right now, and I have size-13 feet! I can't wait for hours in line just to be told: ‘We don’t carry shoes that big.’” he said. “On top of that, I’m competing with mainstream status-quo Street Roots • Aug. 26-Sept. 1, 2016 J.J.’s life had a rough beginning. At age 5, he was adopted, and for 12 years he was “bounced back and forth” between Las Vegas, Nev. and Juneau, Ala. He still remembers the day a social worker came into his classroom at school to talk to him: “Hey, I heard your parents aren’t treating you well. Do they hit you?” After examining his bruises, the social worker asked, “Do you want to stay in this home?” Looking back, he said the social worker shouldn’t have put a decision like I that on him. f “You’re asking an 8-year- old, if I wanted to stay in that place, when you all are the authority,” he said, adding that it was the adults who should make a decision like that — he was just a kid. “That question itself scared me,” he said.” He said he’d like to work in the adoption field and change the policies so other kids don’t have to go through what he did. “I ended up staying in that home, and living with the abuse and growing up in it, and becoming rebellious against the abuse, and becoming an uncontrollable, depressed teenager. I mean, I really don’t understand what else you think is going to happen when you abuse kids.” At age 17, he remembers being kicked o u t His adoptive parents told him, “Well, we can’t really handle you anymore.” “I’ve been on my own, really, my ft whole life,” J.J. laughed. “I have my j| brothers, and that’s the only family I’ve f ever known.” i These days, JJ. said what he really wants is to have his own place - one that’s economical and ecological, with a nice garden. But “not austere, minimalist,” he said. “I don’t want a tiny home, cause '• I’m not a tiny person,” he chuckled. “A one-bedroom place for me would I I be fine.” J.J., who can be found periodically selling Street Roots at Pine Street Market on Southwest 2nd Avenue, offered some parting words of advice: “If we start thinking/with our hearts, using our hearts, the Earth will become better. The time has come for us to be one, and that’s it. If people can’t get it, then they’re going to be lost in darkness for a long, long time.” people for jobs and employment - and for dignity and respect. I’m still looking for those, so I’m really stuck in the middle.” Holistic • Self-Empowerment Physical & Emotional Well-Being Curiosity • Engagement »Choice o C E N TR A L C IT Y C O FFEE Skink, well. £)& good. Sourcing & roasting craft coffee to benefit programs at Central City Concern. IN STORES New Seasons Market, Whole Foods, Food Front Cooperative Grocery, Green Zebra, Chuck's Produce and Will Leather Goods. "Nothing happens until something moves. " Intentergy (888) 391-5059 AT YOUR OFFICE Interested in serving Central City Coffee at your office? Get in touch with us and we can help you make that happen. 503.226.7387 ON OUR WEBSITE Buy Central City Coffee online and have it shipped directly to you or a friend. SE Portland Office Follow our Facebook page for updates arid specials. Veterans/Mihtary/FMS personnel Sliding scale (firs t session, free) centralcitycoffee.org facebook.com/CentralCityCoffee coffee@ccconcem.org
