Maddy Brown-Clark calls herself a starving writer. Maddy learned to read early, at age four. The magic of books sparked her imagination and allowed her creativity to pour through.
“I started making up stories and writing and telling them,” Maddy said. “I sang and wrote songs.”
That early passion turned into a love of writing that continues to inspire Maddy. She writes poems and short stories and is even working on a teleplay. Despite challenges that have come her way, Maddy is determined to keep trying to make it as an author.
“My writing keeps me motivated,” Maddy said. “Because I figure someday I’m going to have some big success.”
Street Roots has played a meaningful role in Maddy’s endeavors as an author. Maddy has been selling the paper off and on for about 12 years.
“Street Roots was the first one to publish me,” Maddy said. “First, it was poetry, then it was short stories, then it was articles. I enjoy the (writing) class here too. Street Roots offers a writing class where we write short stories and poetry and work on the zine, and I’ll be helping work on editing the zine.”
Beyond the support for her writing, Maddy has gained confidence and some financial stability by selling Street Roots. As a disabled person, Maddy sees Street Roots as having given her a valuable opportunity.
“It’s been very important,” Maddy said. “I feel like I’m doing something worthwhile. I’m working. Even though I’m disabled, it’s something I can do. I’ve met a lot of wonderful people. I have a lot of regulars.”
Regular customers are important to Maddy. Maddy considers the paper a vital way to help homeless people earn an income and help readers understand homelessness.
“This is a wonderful thing, the existence of this paper, because it gives homeless people the opportunity to make money legally and the chance to work for a living,” Maddy said. “They can use this work to find other jobs. And it makes people aware of what people who are homeless are going through.”
As for her own experience, Maddy has been in and out of homelessness and is housed now. She encourages those who are low-income to keep trying to better their position. She also encourages housed people to adopt a caring approach toward those experiencing homelessness.
“Do everything you can, even if you’re low income, to supplement that income so you can keep from ending up homeless,” Maddy said. “It’s very dehumanizing. When I’m selling Street Roots, and people just pass me by and act like I’m invisible, that hurts. If you see someone really struggling like that, call Central City Concern and get them some help. Have compassion.”
Maddy looks toward the future and is hopeful. She’s currently writing a novel that’s based in Portland about a Black detective from Los Angeles who comes up to Portland to solve an unsolved crime.
“I’m grateful to be able to sell Street Roots and have income,” Maddy said. “I really hope that I get this novel published by a big publishing company and get a television series out.”
Maddy Brown-Clark sells Street Roots at Great Harvest Bread Company on Southwest 2nd Avenue and Southwest Yamhill Street and part-time at Powell’s Books on West Burnside Street. You can also support Maddy through @StreetRoots Venmo by entering her name and badge number (364) in the notes.
Street Roots is an award-winning weekly investigative publication covering economic, environmental and social inequity. The newspaper is sold in Portland, Oregon, by people experiencing homelessness and/or extreme poverty as means of earning an income with dignity. Street Roots newspaper operates independently of Street Roots advocacy and is a part of the Street Roots organization. Learn more about Street Roots. Support your community newspaper by making a one-time or recurring gift today.
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