Israel Bayer, Street Roots’ former executive director, was awarded an honorary doctorate from Portland State University on Sunday, June 16.
The graduation ceremony at the Moda Center, where he received his degree and gave one of several commencement speeches before a crowd of 5,000, was his first. In high school, he struggled with dyslexia and dropped out his junior year, opting for a GED instead of a diploma.
But in the years since, he’s earned another kind of education – one that can only be earned through action, advocacy and human connection.
Lisa Hawash, the Master of Social Work online coordinator at the university, first nominated Israel to receive the degree for distinguished public service to the community. Seconding the nomination were ACLU of Oregon Director David Rogers, U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury, Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish and Ashley Henry, Business for a Better Portland’s chief collaboration officer.
Bayer was overwhelmed when he heard he would be awarded such a high honor, but being the ever-humble advocate that he is, he said he immediately began to think of all the mentors and friends who helped him along the way.
“In this work, when you get honored for these things, it is about everybody else,” he said.
From 2007 to 2017, Bayer served as director of Street Roots, taking the fledgling, volunteer-run, sometimes-monthly publication to the robust weekly newspaper that it is today. Since passing the torch to Street Roots’ new executive director, Kaia Sand, 18 months ago, Bayer has continued his advocacy for people experiencing homelessness.
FURTHER READING: Bayer hands over the reins: ‘Thanks for believing in Street Roots’
He’s close to finishing his first book, an introduction to the national homelessness crisis, which is slated for publication in the fall of 2020. He said the book seeks to “provide a snapshot of how we got here, where we are today, and tangible solutions for addressing homelessness and housing in America.”
In January, along with the International Network of Street Papers and Seattle’s street paper, Real Change, Bayer launched INSP North America, of which he is the director. This bureau of the international street paper organization will support new and existing street papers in Canada, Mexico and the United States and will serve as a template for the development of regional bureaus in other areas of the world.
Street Roots is built upon the foundation of love, family and compassion that Bayer helped to build, and it’s an ethos that he conveyed to Portland State University graduates during his commencement address.
Below are excerpts from Bayer’s speech, which he gave before graduates from Portland State University’s School of Social Work, College of Education, Maseeh College of Engingeering, College of the Arts, College of Urban and Public Affairs and School of Public Health.
Excerpts from Israel Bayer’s June 16 commencement address to Portland State University graduates:
I’ve personally spent most of my adult life living and working with people experiencing the trauma of homelessness.
I’ve witnessed the strength of the human spirit when faced with some of the harshest living conditions in the modern world.
I’ve witnessed ordinary people do extraordinary things for other human beings.
I’ve seen good people forced to do horrible things, and bad people provide profound acts of kindness towards others.
Never giving up on the idea that regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in to never give up hope, and to never stop believing in one another.
When I first started working on the homeless front, there was an old World War II vet named George who was sleeping on the streets in Portland. I’d always go and talk with him about everything from life to politics to times long gone.
The most important advice he gave me was that there are going to be times when it feels like the whole world is bearing down on you – simply breathe and think about who you’re here to serve.
“It’s the people,” he would say. “If that’s the only thing you accomplish in life, then you’ve done your job.”
The reality is we all need one another. All of us.
The human experience does not happen in isolation. We are not self-sufficient creatures, no matter what you’ve been told or taught. No one person walks on this earth alone.
In fact, none of us would be here today without the support from other human beings, regardless of our own circumstances or experiences.
Together, we make up a series of social circles and villages that are all connected to one another.
If we can do anything in this life, we can take the time to listen to one another, to ask forgiveness, to forgive, to believe in one another regardless of our flaws or missteps.
The reality is we all will fail in this life. We will fall on our face. We will screw up. We will do things we are both proud of, and things we are not proud of.
Regardless, it’s up to all of us to continue to work to make it right, both individually and collectively.
The vast majority of human beings want to do the right thing given the opportunity. It’s up to us to be humble enough to admit when we are wrong, but courageous enough to never stop trying to make the world we live in a better place.
After all, we don’t need a passport, or borders, or walls, or a nationality or a religion, or an institution to determine what the experience of love and justice means for the world.
Today, and every day moving forward, we have the opportunity to strive for a radical love of others and to work towards justice for all people.
Today, we have people marching for the rights of gay, lesbian and trans people in the streets of Portland – celebrating Pride.
Today, a father is sitting in the crowd on Father’s Day and couldn’t be more proud of a child who has overcome great obstacles to walk on this stage.
Today, a single mother is raising a child that will one day graduate college at Portland State University.
Today, a student is here that doesn’t have any family to celebrate with, but will go on to have a beautiful family of their own and do great things in this life.
Today, there are thousands of immigrants walking a long road across many continents in search of a place to call home.
Today, there is a future scientist being born who may alter the course of human history and life on this planet.
Today, a homeless person is sitting alone in a park, dreaming of better days.
Today, someone has lost someone they love.
Today, we have the opportunity to collectively celebrate that we have people from all over the world graduating from Portland State University. Give yourself a round of applause.
All of you have worked so hard and have succeeded by earning a degree in your respective fields. That is a great accomplishment in itself and one you all can be very proud of.
As you begin the next chapter in your life, remember, don’t forget the simple value of the human experience.
For today, we have the opportunity to overcome great challenges in this life.
We have the opportunity to refuse hate.
We have the opportunity to walk out into the world and choose love.
We have an opportunity to serve one another.
We have an opportunity to make the world a better place.
We have the opportunity to live together in community.
Let’s go change the world!