We are a professional newspaper sold by more than 70 vendors throughout the Portland metro area. Each vendor buys the newspaper for 30 cents and sells the publication in the community for $1. Thousands of relationships have been built and stereotypes have been broken. Support your local vendor. Recieve a great newspaper. Get educated. Take action!
Our dedicated vendors are at the heart of Street Roots' mission
Our dedicated vendors are at the heart of Street Roots' mission.
Over 70 active vendors buy and resell street roots in the Portland metropolitan area and Vancouver. Since 1998 Street Roots has help put more than $1 million dollars directly into the hands of poor people.
Becoming a vendor
Vendor orientations take place on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1PM in the Street Roots office at 211 NW Davis. Vendor applicants must attend a one-hour training orientation to earn a badge certifying them as a street roots vendor. You won't be turned away as long as you are not under the influence during the orientation. As a new vendor you are given 10 papers to sell, on the house, to kickstart sales.
Vendors purchase papers for 30¢ each and sell them for $1 each. The high and continually improving quality of the paper makes street roots an easy sell in the community.
Benefits of becoming a vendor
Many street roots vendors are homeless and living on the street. Selling the paper enables them to look forward to another day. For quite a few of our vendors, selling street roots is the sole lifeline keeping them healthy and sane. Selling the paper has enabled scores of our vendors to put homelessness behind them.
When selling Street Roots for just a few hours can generate as much income as a full day of back-breaking day labor, it's no wonder that most of our vendors pursue this as a full-time endeavor. People who are unable to secure any other type of employment, whether due to chemical dependency, disability, a troubled history, or circumstance, welcome the opportunity to invest in themselves by selling street roots.
Our writers group helps vendors acquire the literary skills to compose and get published. Many street roots vendors regularly contribute poetry, art, and stories to the paper. A number of vendors have joined the staff as writers and columnists.
Vendors play a lead role in guiding the future of the organization. Vendors regularly hold meetings of a special council to resolve issues and disputes of key concern to those selling the paper.
In the planning stages are a micro-enterprise launcher, a small press publishing collective, and an arts & crafts workshop/gallery, among others—all engaging and employing impoverished people who are seeking to reclaim their lives.
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