Newspaper
Newspaper expands scope, impact
n the nearly three years since Street Roots
became a weekly newspaper, we have expanded
our role as an essential source for news and
information on critical - and often overlooked -
issues important to our community.
After the 2016 elections, Street Roots renewed
our commitment to covering issues we knew were
going to be important in the year to come. We
aligned our journalism around four pillars: climate
change and the environment, free speech and
freedom of the press, immigration and, of course
housing. While our coverage is not exclusively on
those topics, we view them as core responsibilities
in our scope of reporting.
On the environment, our investigation into the
impact of Oregon’s cattle industry opened people’s
eyes to the true cost of our love for beef and dairy.
We’ve covered the forest industry like no other
publication in the region, analyzing the management
of one of our most precious resources and sifting
through the arguments forest industry managers and
environmentalists make for their future.
We also introduced Portland area readers to The
Valve Turners, a group of men and women who shut
down the flow of tar sands oil into the United States
from Canada. We’ve reported on the Native
American communities’ efforts throughout the
region to protect our natural resources against the
fossil fuel and extraction industries.
Our past year has meant a greater awareness on
I
the power of the press and the essence of free
speech. We’ve been bringing readers the voices of
people who are calling out truth to power, including
“Evicted” author Matthew Desmond, consumer
rights icon Ralph Nader and NARAL Pro-Choice
American President Ilyse Hogue. And we brought
you a primer from the Rural Organization Project on
the political and social influence of the radical right
across rural Oregon.
On immigration, we’ve put a spotlight on recessive
and damaging policies, while highlighting the
remarkable and essential contributions of
immigrants in our community. We’ve informed
readers of the grassroots and legislative efforts in
Oregon to protect farmworkers from harmful
pesticides sprayed over their homes. And we’ve
connected the dots on the profit motive behind
incarcerating - indefinitely - immigrants arrested for
violating civil immigration policy.
And of course, we remain true to our roots in
covering the issues of housing and homelessness,
and elevating the voices of people living through the
trauma of poverty.
We’ve also made a more concerted effort to
shepherd more vendor writings in the newspaper.
While vendors have always been the poets of our
team, we’re hoping to bring more long-form pieces
to readers. In our opinion, works by Marlon Crump,
Aileen McPherson, Maddy Brown-Clark and others
are treasures among the published world of Portland.
Street Roots strives to provide news and
information with meaning - whether j t ’s as simple as
Wh-rcï
plugging into local
culture or as complex as a
lifelong commitment to changing the world
around us.
In the coming year, Street Roots pledges to
continue raising the bar on independent, nonprofit
journalism. We will continue to bring you the voices
of marginalized populations. And we’re excited to
announce that with a grant from Meyer Memorial
Trust, we will be diving into the dynamics,
challenges and opportunities in rural Oregon’s
housing crisis. It’s not just a Portland problem.
We’re looking forward to bringing you those
stories - and so much more. Thank you for your
continued support!
About our vendors
S
“°9« it
treet Roots provided a safe place for
they are sick or in an extreme crisis with
more than 700 people experiencing
hotel stays.
homelessness and poverty in 2015-16 -
■ Street Roots offered hospitality 365
including having access to computers, a
days a year, rain or shine.
mailing address, hygiene items, socks,
fresh water, coffee (Thanks, Stumptown!) ■ Street Roots partnered with JOIN,
and public restrooms. This past year:
Northwest Pilot Project, Central City
Concern and Transition Projects to
■ An average of 160 vendors sold Street
facilitate preventing homelessness for
Roots at nearly 100 locations throughout
vendors and supporting new vendors in
the Portland region.
getting access to housing.
■ Street Roots launched a vendor health
■ Street Roots facilitated health care
and wellness program to help vendors
access for vendors working with our
connect with the larger community. The
partner at CareOregon.
program supports vendors in
participating in social events and hosts
■ Street Roots maintained a weekly
parties for the vendors to connect
writers’ group for Street Roots vendors.
socially.
■ Street Roots published two zines
■ Street Roots maintained a vendor
made of vendor poetry and artwork in
health fund to support vendors when
2015-16.