New readers often tell me about Street Roots, “I had no idea the content was so good. You’re actually producing real, in-depth journalism.”
Why yes — yes we are.
Readers then usually follow with, “I wish more people understood the concept and read the newspaper. I absolutely love the vendors.”
Here are a few ways you can help spread the word about Street Roots:
Purchase additional copies of the newspaper from a local vendor and leave them at your place of work. Maybe it’s a break room, or an environment where the public can access the newspaper.
One of the most common ways people find out about Street Roots is stumbling upon it randomly. And, if you’ve been a longtime reader and supporter, you know, that all it takes is opening the pages of Street Roots to understand there’s something special going on.
Introduce Street Roots to peers or at a dinner party. We all have friends that love to read the news or want to understand more about the world where they live. For those friends, don’t be afraid to offer an additional copy to them for their enjoyment. Some of our most avid supporters are people who were turned onto the paper by a friend saying, “Here, read this. It’s the real deal.”
Explain to peers how the vendor program works, and how one dollar can mean one step toward new start for a Street Roots vendor.
Take a fun and creative photo of you or your friends and family reading Street Roots and post it on social media. Give an example of why Street Roots is in your rotation of reading, and why you might support the vendor and what the paper means to you.
Get a bumper sticker and share them far and wide. Put one on your bike, water bottle, your car or somewhere (legally) that offers the public an opportunity to see that you’re a Street Roots reader and supporter.
Vendors will be out and about with the new, “I read Street Roots,” stickers. Get yours today by visiting with a local neighborhood vendor.
Street Roots is truly a community newspaper. It’s a paper all us can use to understand and educate ourselves on the complexities and positive things happening in our community on the social justice front. Giving a hand up to people experiencing homelessness and poverty by providing the means for an income is at the heart of what we do.
The reality is that readers are as much a part of Street Roots as the vendors, volunteers and the staff. It’s a newspaper for the people. Help spread the word.