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About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 22, 2017)
Street Roots • Dec. 22-28, 2017 Page 3 O p in io n Vendors support each other with dignity, strength s I prepared for my new role as executive director at Street Roots, a large group of vendors gathered to talk with me. One vendor named Brantley issued me this challenge: Work as a vendor my first day on the job. I accepted Brantley’s challenge. Twice a week the vendor program hosts an orientation for anyone who would like to sell papers, so I showed up for a Friday session. The ««« 5 urgency of people’s lives buzzed around me. “This time of year is hard,” one woman said to me, apologizing if she seemed short-tempered. Poverty makes the holidays more difficult. I joined a group of about seven people to go through the orientation. We picked up a number of tips from experienced vendors by watching a custom-made training video, particularly an emphasis on courtesy and respect: “Say good morning.” “Be courteous.” “Remember to thank people.” Some vendors engage passersby with newspaper content; others take a more low- key role, letting the content and mission speak for itself. A number of experienced vendors talked about their relationship with customers in terms of not only selling papers, but also improving their customers’ day. M y n e w ly m i n t e d b a d g e d a n g lin g f r o m my A K a ia S a n d is the executive director o f Street Roots. You can reach her at kaia @streetroots. org. Follow her on Twitter @ m kaiasand It was a few days later, when I was filling my cup with coffee in the vendor office and Mark, a Street Roots vendor who was there that day Brantley issued his challenge, asked, ‘How did it go out there?’ I described how I felt shy, and several vendors sipping coffee nearby offered encouragement. I described how I realized that the only way I sold papers was because of the work of other vendors hitting the pavement every week. “As Isaac Newton said, ‘On the shoulders of giants,”’ said Mark. I looked at him, astonished. I told him how that exact phrase kept coming up in my mind. He kindly pointed out that it makes sense. After all, that is the strength of Street Roots. Each of us need not start over. When a person comes into the Street Roots’ office for orientation, they are not starting from scratch. They are lifted up by the respect cultivated by hundreds - thousands - of vendors. Folks struggling with poverty and homelessness collectively help each other by adding dignity to the work. Each morning, vendors line up at the Street Roots front desk to buy more Hours: 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat. and 7:30-1 p.m. Sun. Executive Editor Joanne Zuhl joanne@streetroots.org Vendor Program Director Cole Merkel cole@streetroots.org Development Director Andrew Hogan Senior S ta ff Reporter Emily Green Operations Director Sarah Beecroft Program Assistant Caelin Miltko, Jesuit n eck , I s e t o u t on m y b ik e to m y a ssig n e d turf for the afternoon: a patch of public sidewalk by New Seasons in Sellwood. The day was cool but sunny, far easier than most winter days that the vendors brave. As I prepared to sell, a swell of shyness waved over me. I stalled, convincing myself that if only 1 had a cup of coffee, it might be easier. A cup of coffee downed, I had no more excuses. I propped my bag against my ankles, which seemed cumbersome unti reminded myself that I didn’t have to lug al of my possessions everywhere I went. I summoned the posture that Id witnessed time and time again: I stood, the upper fold of Street Roots clearly visible clutched to my body. And waited. People began to stop: Oh I haven t bought my Street Roots yet. I love Street Roots. Every single paper I sold was because someone already recognized and appreciated Street Roots. “On the shoulders of giants. That phrase kept waving through my mind. What was the origin of that phrase? I promised newspapers, and this is a moving scene. Some folks as of late have been adding holiday decorations to their outfits or bags to bring cheer to passersby. For some vendors, the mere feat of showing up each day is beyond impressive. They are braving disrupted sleep from the outdoors or shelters, health struggles, sorrows. Hardship tugs at the spirits of many, and they still myself to look it up. v t Finished for the day and biking home, I manage to extend customers courtesy and respect. (For the record, all money made saw a rainbow-colored sign: “Street Roots, $1 ” There on Southeast Milwaukie and during my sales were donated straight to Bybee was a Street Roots vendor, animated, Street Roots’ vendor program.) Each of us passing vendors on the streets smiling, engaging people, summoning admirable energy. I walked across the street can remember the grit and courage it takes to meet the vendor whose name, I learned, for them to sell newspapers seven days a week, 365 days a year. Please continue to let W3One of her regular customers was chatting our vendors know you appreciate them. with her and told me that Deb brings joy to And in these last days of December, each customer. I was reminded how please invest in our vendor program by important the vendor relationship is for all of making a recurring donation on Street Roots us not just the vendors. We have the website or a one-time donation at the opportunity to meet each other across our Willamette Week Give’.Guide. Thank you! differences. Volunteer Vendor Assistant Scott Jackson, Alex Giliow-Wiles Development Assistant Rosemary Wilson Editorial Producer Monica Kwasnik Reporters Sarah Hansell, Leonora Ko, Emilly Prado, Jared Paben, Amanda Waldroupe, Stephen Quirke, Helen Hilt Photographers Diego Diaz, Arkady Brown Canvasser Desmond Hardison Board of Directors The author, center, with two new vendors after orientation. Chairman Brad Taylor Vice-Chairman Rachel Langford Treasurer Heather Stadick Secretary Dan Jones Directors Michael Anderson, Sandra Hahn, John Brown, Nels Johnson and Alison Hallett Volunteers Jan Bayer, John Barker, Stacey Heath, Anjali Rathore, Zoe Klingmann, Dan Jones, Dennis Hogan, Monica McKune, Susan Wolfe, Lucas Hawthorne, Thomas Buell Jr., Jason Cohen, Doug Spangle, Susannah Kamaia, Jon Raymond, Diana Richardson, Paul and Madeline Gefroh, Mary Anne Joyce, Brooke Anderson, Gillian Floren, Mark Oldani, Bianca Butler, Alex Cherin, Jenny Farres, Evan Firsick, Camber Hansen-Karr, Miranda Woods, Henry Brannan, Megan Smith, Helen Hill, Mary Emerson, Brooke Anderson, Kathleen McFall, Robb Hengerer, Bronwyn Miles, Maile Yeats-Rowe, Erin Parsons, Bridget Brown, Faye Powell, Jon Raymond and Megan Pickerel-Winer. If you're interested in volunteering with Street Roots, please submit a volunteer application at streetroots.org/volunteer. Or you can
