Men and women stand at every corner in neon green vests, holding folded newspapers, shouting the latest headline. People run by on their way to work, but because they need to have the latest news in poverty and inequality, they drop a buck in the “newsies” hand and read it on the subway or over coffee.
This is my vision for Street Sense. It’s a slightly different reality than the current reality. Sometimes I meet people who, when they find out I work for Street Sense, tell me they buy the paper, but sometimes they don’t read it. They ask me what we really cover. I imagine that most buyers of Street Sense buy it because they feel bad for our vendors, and it’s a valid feeling to be had.
Most of our vendors are homeless. They stay in shelters, on the street or in transitional housing. Some have apartments from saved up money. Most do not have a savings account. But pity does fuel empowerment, which is why I am so excited for my new role as online/multimedia editor and the return of Mary Otto.
With Otto’s return as editor, we now have two positions to focus on editorial content and my hope is that our content will become stronger and more in-depth than before. I want vendors to be proud of the product they sell. My goal as web editor is to increase web content and our presence as a player in D.C.’s local media world. And this, in turn, will strengthen our vendor’s sense of empowerment. If they are proud of selling a product, and not themselves, they will really be empowered.
As I move in the role of online/multimedia editor, I am excited to develop Street Sense as a media brand that more people recognize along the ranks of The Washington Post, DCist and Washington City Paper. If I can add to the journey of Street Sense, it’ll be a job well done.
