Ed Herrera has been a Street Roots vendor since 2008. In his more than 10 years of selling papers, he’s learned a lot about how to be successful.
“It’s not about selling papers; it’s about being real,” he said.
Ed’s commitment to authenticity has allowed him to create a community of friends and regulars.
“You have to be motivated and be willing to stand for a long amount of time. You have to be willing to open up and talk to people,” Ed said.
Ed is happy today because his hard work is paying off. He is about to celebrate a year of sobriety. And he has just qualified for general assistance, which will help him transition into more stable housing. He is working with a job agency to lock down a full-time job, which is hard due to some past mistakes.
“Having been in prison, it can be hard to get a job. But I’m not giving up,” he said. He is grateful that Street Roots has given him an opportunity to empower himself as he puts his life together.
Ed learned how to work hard from his mother, his first role model.
“She showed up to work every day and never complained. Seeing her work so hard for us really helped me know that I could do anything I put my mind to,” he said.
Ed hopes to sell enough papers today to purchase a calling card so he can call his mother and share the good news.
“I’m just happy to be able to say, ‘Hey I have a job.’ With Street Roots, I can provide myself food and hygiene. This turned out to be one of the coolest jobs I’ve ever had,” he said.
Ed is trying to surround himself with positive energy. One way he does this is by listening to good music.
“I really love Drake’s music,” he said, smiling. “He talks about family, everyday life, stuff I can relate to. He’s real.”
Another way Ed stays positive is by being open with his customers about his past. “When I tell my customers about my life, that I’ve been to prison, they listen; they care,” he said. “It makes a difference when someone takes the time and really wants to hear what you have to say.”
Street Roots offers Ed an opportunity to have a healthy social life, which can be hard in recovery.
“When I was younger, I was a bit of a loner. My only friends were my neighbors, which was fun. But eventually, my mom didn’t want us hanging out so much because we started getting in trouble,” he said.
As he got older, he continued to forge friendships centered on getting in trouble. Now, Ed’s life is filled with safe, sober social interactions, and he’s thriving.
As Ed looks for a job, he’s got plenty of experience behind him. He’s a certified plumber and also has extensive experience working with animals. Ed also has a goal-oriented attitude, which has its roots in his faith. He said faith helps him move forward.
“I like to pray,” he said. “I like to take deep breaths and pray that everything will work out. This too shall pass, I say to myself. This too shall pass.”
You can find Ed selling papers outside the Safeway in the Pearl District. When you see him, remember, he’s open to and thrives on personal conversations.
“I just want to connect with people,” he said, “and I truly appreciate good listeners.”