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.