Multi-talented Tera Paisley has been a vendor for Street Roots since 2015. She has woven her passion for artistic expression into her dedication to selling the paper, having published several poems with Street Roots — most recently, “The Great Gray White Shark.”
Since her last profile, Tera has continued to pursue her artistic endeavors. She now attends Portland Community College, nurturing her love for the written word through creative writing studies. Retiring from her dancing career, she now channels her energy into playing cello and violin and writing poetry. Beyond Street Roots, Tera reported one of her collections, “Poems for the Queer Society Group,” is being sold on Amazon.
When asked about her poetic inclinations, Tera credits her deep-rooted connection to the arts through dance and music.
“Dance and music,” Tera said. “I’ve been dancing since I was young. I’ve been playing since I was in second grade through college at University of Oregon.”
Tera has observed shifts within the Portland community throughout her years as a Street Roots vendor.
“At first people were really generous, people aren’t as generous now. But I like seeing that customers are more conscientious about their money. My customers have still been very generous to me,” she said.
Despite these changes, Tera appreciates the conscientiousness her customers demonstrate and the continued support they provide.
Tera said she hopes to continue “playing music in Portland, writing poems, doing more expensive prints on paper.”
For Tera, selling Street Roots holds deep personal significance.
“A friend suggested (I do) it to help sell the paper,” Tera said. “It’s meant a lot to me. It helps me pay my bills. I like to know how people feel about the paper, and the expression in Portland is really important to me.”
She further emphasized the unique aspect of Street Roots, “It is a place that people can work together as a team and create their own space, their own environment, to relate,” she said.
Reflecting on her time with Street Roots, Tera fondly remembers the sincerity and helpfulness of her colleagues.
“I really like working for Street Roots,” Tera said. “I have a lot of good memories about Street Roots. The people I’m dealing with right now are very sincere and helpful. Things are fun and exciting.”
Gratitude is an integral part of Tera’s life, and she expressed she is incredibly grateful for her parents, her family, son and daughter-in-law.
Alongside her artistic pursuits, Tera is currently studying creative writing at PCC to become an elementary music teacher.
“(My program is for) creative writing,” she said. “It’s for an educator certificate. I’m a certified music teacher. I’d like to be an elementary music teacher one day.”
Tera Paisley sells Street Roots at Pine Street Market on Southwest 2nd Avenue and also sells on Southeast 36th Avenue and Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard. You can also support Tera through @StreetRoots Venmo by entering her name and badge number (865) in the notes.
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