Diamond grew up in Reno, Nevada, although she has been coming and going from Portland for nearly 20 years.
“Portland has Washington Park, and I genuinely love that park. I think that’s what keeps me coming back to Portland. I love to be able to escape the city so quickly, and it has the best places to sit and see everything, and I can just chill and just have a quiet space,” Diamond said.
While growing up in Nevada, Diamond split her time in between Reno and the Shoshone-Bannock Reservation in Southeastern Idaho.
“Back home growing up, when my mom was at work, I would go to my uncle's farm and explore by the creek, and was always getting lost exploring,” Diamond said.
Today, Diamond decorates her Portland apartment with framed paintings that remind her of her childhood spent exploring on the farm.
“I’ve been back in Portland for 14 months now,” Diamond said. “My brother got me into the same apartment complex as him, so I have a little studio there, and it really can’t get any better than that.”
Diamond is happy where she is living, and she is always planning her next adventure.
“I come and go from Portland because I need to be out in nature; I’m not much of a city girl,” she said. “Nature is my church — that’s where I get my best healing. I’m always looking for new sites and new forests to discover.”
Her ultimate goal is to see every single state in the United States, especially New York, where she can’t wait to reach Niagara Falls.
“Hiking is my passion,” she said. “I hiked the trail at Bridal Falls in Yosemite National Park, and it was absolutely breathtaking. I was in heaven. I was at peace. I heard the birds and the falls, and I just never wanted to leave. I hope that is what I feel like at Niagara.”
Diamond is fiercely independent and hopes to inspire other women to feel the same way, too.
“No man should tell a woman they’re not worth it,” Diamond said. "I hope women know their worth. Girl power!”
Diamond has four children, two boys and two girls. Her oldest is 21, and her youngest is 15.
“My daughter and I talk about everything,” Diamond said. “She loves nature, just like me. We sometimes leave for weeks and go camping and spend quality time together."
Her daughter, Jade, tells everyone that her mom is her best friend.
“One time, Jade and I searched in an abandoned mine outside of Stevenson, Washington for purple, green and clear quartz,” she said. “We explored the cave together, and we found a few pieces, and I keep them with me always.”
Diamond is grateful that Street Roots is available to her at all times to make the money she needs to get her to her next destination, whether it be alone or with her children.
“Street Roots has always been awesome,” she said. “I’ve been able to come and go for years, and they’ve always supported me. Everybody is friendly, everyone is helpful, everyone actually cares. They actually get to get to know you. I’m not just another employee, I’m a friend and a family member. They are caring and loving people.”
Diamond prefers time alone, and she doesn’t consider herself as much of a people person, even though her customers keep coming back to buy newspapers from her.
“My customers and I don’t talk much, but I do say to everyone ‘have a blessed day.’ I think people like my style. They’ll smile at me even when I’m having a bad day, and it cheers me up,” Diamond said.
She is proud of where she is now, and she has plenty of plans for her time ahead.
Diamond sells Street Roots at Walgreens in the Lloyd District on Northeast Grand Avenue. Find Diamond for the newest edition of the paper and let her know your favorite nature spot in the city to explore. You can also support her through @StreetRoots Venmo by leaving her name and badge number (703) in the comments.