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About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (April 13, 2018)
Street Roots • April 13-19, 2018 In Memoriam Cherie Manning: 1950-2018 very Wednesday morning for three years, Cherie Manning helped a table of Street Roots vendors express their voices through creative writing. In 2013, when she applied to volunteer at Street Roots, E waited to be lead the weekly vendor creative writing group. V From the beginning Cherie’s calm, kind demeanor was an inspiration to the vendors - some who had written for years, others who were exploring creative writing for the first time. Each week she came with a new poem or short piece of fiction to set the theme for the group. Through it she introduced the vendors to new authors and new styles of writing. She inspired all of us to read. Sadly, Cherie passed away Feb. 25. Cherie was a teacher, but ultimately she was as willing to learn from her students as she was to teach. She was an introspective listener who helped people experiencing the trauma of homelessness and poverty to feel My Dear Cherie by Aileen McPherson She not only knew the perfect edit to make a vendor1 s poem souhdJbetter, but also knew when a vendor was h av b g a bad day and she would give extra care and attention to them as they processed.it through writing. Over the years Cherie and I developed a close friendship. Both writers at hearty we exchanged voluminous emails with suggestions for books, writing prompts and Netflix offerings, and simple chedc-ins on how the \ day’s workshops had gone. I miss those emails, and I miss Cherie dearly, k It’s an understatement to say that Street Roots’ venclor writing would not be where it is without Cherid>She spent more than three years encouraging dozens of vendors to find tS e irW e F T O ^ .^ h e was an integrallqrce in helping us publish our first four vendor zines. Even after she became sick and moved away froniyPortland, Cherie was dispensing writing advice as I sent her packets every week, Cherie was gentle and soft spoken but her impact on this corner of the world was mighty, as the vendors’ reflections on this page demonstrate. Thank ydu, Cherie. You are so missed, - Cole Merkel My Friend Cherie by Duane Wagner My friend Cherie As I hear of your passing I feel sad and lonely You were a true friend gone before your time As you move into a new realm always remember that you are truly missed here on Earth At Street Roots we thought you were a true gem Thank you for applying your knowledge of poetry with us May you rest in peace 4-3-18 by Marlon Crump A.K.A. " Mad Man Marlon Cherie Manning was very instrumental and demonstrated in her facilitation during creative writing classes which Street Roots has provided for vendors for a very long time. Finding, the creativity and the passion within ourselves to provide to the world that reality regardless of how the world perceives us as people! I personally felt so much energetic love by Cherie, whose aura and demeanor reminded me of a quiet, humble version of Michelle Pfeiffer in the movie “Dangerous Minds.” I have not been to every creative writing workshop session for along time, hut from here on but I feel that Cherie’s spirit in the space of writing remains within us even though she is no longer with us! I salute her soul! How will I immortalize you? By remembering, telling a snippet of a story, with heartfelt words sin cere. I was entreated by Cole, Wednesday Creative Writing 9 a.m., what do you think, check it out, something like that, an OK think about it. I met Cherie one Wednesday at Street Roots, and creative writing was almost over when I arrived, it had been a bad morning. Cole made introductions and left us there, she was quiet and pleasant, she made me feel at ease, and I would learn that her thoughts and strength were anything but meek or mild. She taught me how to look through windows, then express what I saw inside, she saw how truths were shared in riddles and rhymes, and prompted with creative thoughts, while asking to reach deep inside and write outside the box. Reminding always, your only limitations lie within, and this is a safe space to create and share openly if you choose friends, ip u s is the Cherie I remember, kind and compassionate, teaching respect for others and the space, sometimes you could see she wasn’t quite feeling well, yet she smiled. It was a sad day when she had to leave, her health was more important all agreed, missing her prompting thoughts and smiling heart, we would write on inspired by our teacher with whom we must part. Now the time has come for while her body be deceased, her spirit lives on inspiring others, through every heart touched as she teached. Cherie’s Dream by Daniel Cox It may havebeen 10 free papers That inspired me to write Cherie was like a guide That steered me into A poet. C h e r ie M a n n in g C arried a Sense of Calm for All of Us by Lori Lematta ; I looked forward to bur Wednesday writing group Because I knew Cherie would be bringing her calming voice And alwàys a little bit extra. She would come prepared with some piece of professional writing And help u& explore the wisdom we could learn from it A>she proceeded to encourage our own expression. Her entire demeanor emanated respect for those around her. Ihàvem issed hér. Cherie Manning (1950-2018) by Ron Sanford She was so mild mannered and kind She was always in search of questions Not presuming she had the answers Though she was well-versed in the classics Cherie gave us a trove of poetry I can recall her diligent looks Like the school librarian Donned with the stylish horn-rimmed glasses Cherie spoke much about social justice And she was always eager to help Handing out pens and supplying treats What a joy she was to be around She left an example of service She will be missed dearly by us all RIP, Cherie, and may God bless your s o u l s ’^ We lost ourjnspti&tion at creative writing This is my thank you to her\ -A \ Cherie, you w erethe light thalfocused the darkness of the streets \ I never missed a Wednesday % You inspired us I came out of that 90 minutes Feeling good about myself Because no m a tte r w hat I wrote You never criticized it In fact, you praised i t Cherie, you will be missed greatly. Godspeed, Angel.
