By Maggie Schroeder
SR Vendor Program Coordinator
A compass.
A hand-carved cutting board.
A bullet.
A guitar.
A poem.
A skateboard.
A key.
A journal.
A painting.
Each of these items is a subject of “What I Carry,” a narrative photography project in progress at Street Roots. The project, led by Portland photographer Jim Lommasson, invites Street Roots vendors to annotate a photo of a memento, telling that object’s story. The project offers a glimpse into the pockets, stories and symbols of Street Roots vendors. More than simply showing what someone might have on their person, these annotated photographs serve as an avenue to connection and a reminder of shared humanity.
The Vendor Edition of Street Roots is a special one. Inside these pages, you’ll find stories of vendors celebrating recent wins, quotes from our volunteers, exclusive interviews with vendors throughout the city and so many beautiful poems. In these ways and more, the vendor edition is a glimpse into the many stories our Street Roots community carries.
My own story at Street Roots began when I moved to Portland as Street Roots’ AmeriCorps Jesuit Volunteer. When I packed my bags in August 2023, I knew exactly zero Portlanders by name. But over the weeks of my orientation to Portland and to Street Roots, I found my footing in the Street Roots community. I learned nicknames and badge numbers, coffee orders and traditions. I leaned on the expertise of vendors who helped me find my bus routes on the first day, who taught me Portland’s quadrant structure and bridges, and who corrected my pronunciations of “Couch” and “Willamette.” As my daily interactions in the office stacked up, I began to recognize and be recognized by vendors selling the paper around the city. Today, Street Roots’ 200+ active vendors represent the vast majority of my Portland community.
When I call my family, they ask what I like about my service. My response is lightning-quick: “The people. By far, the people and the relationships are the best part,” I say. This week, I learned that I’m not alone in that sentiment.
Outside the Alberta Co-op grocery store, Dumpsta D enjoys connecting with customers through witty conversation. By the Safeway in Southwest, Gail says hello to every passerby. At the Portland State University Farmers Market, Roger is glad for all the interesting people he meets. By the Goodwill on Broadway, Makavalie holds his customers’ stories and struggles: “(Readers) tell me their problems, as if I can help. It makes me feel good… Vendors get people to open up to them because people don’t have nobody to talk to,” he said.
Each vendor I interviewed shared a similar story: The people are the best part. Together, Street Roots’ vendors, readers, supporters and staff are a community. We care about each other, and we carry the stories and values of this community together. It’s an idea that reflects Street Roots’ core values of relation, which ask us to build solidarity by knowing each other across differences.
For me, it’s a privilege and a joy to share in this community and its stories. Especially in recent weeks, I have seen the dedication and creativity of Street Roots vendors at work. Whether the Flight Crew’s projects, the poetry workshop’s stanzas, or the jokes and papers passed across the desk, my daily encounters at Street Roots leave me feeling fulfilled, challenged, hopeful and curious all at once. My service term ends in August, and the “What I Carry” photography project has me wondering what I will carry after my time as Street Roots’ Jesuit Volunteer has concluded.
I imagine I’ll carry the daily early-morning greetings from vendors waiting outside the office. I’ve never liked the taste of coffee, but I’d like to stow away the quiet connection that brews when pouring a cup for someone across a counter. I’ll carry trivia learned from solving crossword puzzles with vendors in the office. I’ll carry a tune: “King of The Road,” a favorite song among vendors.
I’ll carry the enthusiasm of Flight Crew, the team of vendors working to repurpose old furniture for our new space. When they come back from a day of construction work, these vendors bring a special celebratory energy back with them.
I’ll pack a commitment to learning more, sharing knowledge, and asking good questions. Whether it’s new vendors attending orientation, longtime vendors learning at our recent tax workshops, Street Roots journalists writing top-notch investigative stories or office visitors seeking Rose City Resource guides, I’m energized by our community’s commitment to continuous learning.
Certainly, I’d like to bring with me the artistry, thoughtfulness and vulnerability of the creative writing workshop community. To everyone who has submitted a poem, sat in on a workshop, or supported a writer with words of encouragement: thank you. I am happiest here when I am reading, writing and creating alongside vendors, and I’m proud of our group for crafting such an uplifting, inclusive and growth-oriented space.
I’ll fold up our collective excitement about Street Roots’ new building. Just recently, a vendor team began training to lead tours of the space. This team will share with our wider community how our building will strengthen Street Roots’ resources and mission. Alongside vendors featured on page 10, I eagerly await our first day of Street Roots at Northwest Third Avenue and West Burnside Street.
I’ll carry the paper stories published weekly here, and I’ll carry the lived stories shared by vendors navigating the challenges of systemic injustice. In line with the vendor stories featured on page 8, I’ll hold onto hope that even more vendors experience even more wins.
I am certain my packing list will continue to grow. Already, I could annotate a whole photo album with stories and memories; I’ve felt grateful to know and be known by such an amazing community. More than anything else, I will carry the people, the relationships and the stories of this place. There is always enough room.
Thank you for supporting your vendor and your Street Roots community by buying this special Vendor Edition of the paper. In these pages, I hope you find something special to carry with you too.
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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