When I first meet William, downtown was shuttered by a snowstorm. Despite having slept outside in the cold the night before, William is in a good mood. “Today is a good day,” he says. “Sympathy day.” For William, it seems bad weather makes for better sale ...
10 Mar 2014 - Ann-Derrick Gaillot
In stark contrast to the ancient city that once flourished with ideas and commerce, today there is only the exchange of small arms fire and artillery shells within the city center, as the soldiers check their weapons. Reloading clips, stocking grenades, a ...
15 Feb 2014 - William Holmes IV
On the chilly afternoon when we spoke, Tony Boone was about to go to Canby for three days where he has a job making clothes at an old friend’s house. He doesn’t think of it as work though. “It’s a vacation,” he tells me. Over the next few days, as Portlan ...
15 Feb 2014 - Sam Bouman
Every morning at 5 a.m., Street Roots vendor Shaun Followell wakes up, carefully packs up his gear and heads to the Starbucks on 15th Avenue and Fremont Street to sell papers. After a couple of hours, he hops on the bike he made himself and rides downtown ...
29 Jan 2014 - Ann-Derrick Gaillot
If you’ve shopped at the Lloyd Center Safeway during the past few months, you’ve probably seen George Burdine selling Street Roots outside, lifting the spirits of passersby and shoppers. One of the first things one notices about George is his large spirit ...
19 Dec 2013 - Ann-Derrick Gaillot
Jason Scheer may well be the most outgoing introvert you will ever meet. When we meet for coffee, Jason seems as though he does not have much he wants to talk about, but as time goes on he shyly reveals himself to be a mindful and sensitive artist, a dete ...
21 Nov 2013 - Ann-Derrick Gaillot
He turned the key in the lock and opened the door. To his horror he saw a brick wall with the words of an unknown language written in crimson paint. He passed his lantern over the letters in the cave. Only now was his shock wearing off from the great oak ...
9 Nov 2013 - William Holmes IV
Raymond Thornton, your Street Roots vendor at Peet’s Coffee at Northeast Broadway and 15th Avenue, received top honors with the 2012-13 Vendor Community Award from the North American Street Newspaper Association. Thornton has sold Street Roots for the pas ...
9 Nov 2013 - Street Roots Staff
Rick Buck is one very busy man. In addition to dedicating time every day to selling Street Roots, Rick also holds three part-time jobs and volunteers his time with the Salvation Army and Sisters of the Road. From the time Rick wakes up in the morning to t ...
6 Nov 2013 - Ann-Derrick Gaillot
I was adopted at a young age, yet I still remember my adopted parents telling me they were my new parents. Then asking if it was OK, I answered, “yes.” They were pleased; next they told me I could change my name if I wanted to. They gave me some examples ...
21 Oct 2013 - Leo Rhodes