Street Sense Media

Washington, DC, United States
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For people living in poverty, getting an abortion was already hard. It’s about to get harder

As the US repeals Roe v. Wade and rolls back abortion rights, Washington DC street paper Street Sense covers what effect this will have on those on the margins, highlighting the already significant barriers that poor people have to obtaining healthcare, especially those seeking an abortion.

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“Better for vendors, as well as for customers”: Washington DC’s Street Sense goes weekly

Despite the uncertainty caused by pandemic lockdowns, Street Sense has made progress and is now going weekly. Located in the US capital, Street Sense Media will start publishing street papers every week starting today (14 April). This increase in frequency is also predicted to attract more vendors and increase their weekly earnings. Testimonials from vendors and INSP show excitement and anticipation for this growth in the street paper.

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An emerging battleground: Housing in the 2020 presidential election

Issues related to poverty and homelessness have long been pushed to the periphery of presidential elections. But with the housing crisis on course to be the most severe in history, they are of vital importance to a record number of Americans. The two candidates offer vastly different views of how to address homelessness in the United States. Trump’s record and statements show he is skeptical of government fiscal intervention and the housing-first model and supports a deregulatory approach, whereas Biden advocates for the federal government to play a much larger role through greater funding and rulemaking. Street Sense outlines the candidates’ platforms.

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Black lives matter: Protest movement against racism, oppression and police brutality sweeps across America

Since the death of George Floyd, a young black man killed by a white police officer as his colleagues stood idly by, protests have sprung up across the US and other parts of the world calling for an end to systemic racial injustices and police brutality. American street papers were present at many of those protests.

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Vendor City Guide: Washington DC

The Big Issue has been reaching out to vendors across the street paper network to get the inside scoop on the cities they know best. This instalment features Street Sense vendor Wendell talking about Washington DC in the US.

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Two Washington DC vendors on a big year to come in American politics

2020 will be a momentous year in US politics. Will Trump evade impeachment to be re-elected? Will the Democrats find a big enough character to run against him? To measure the pulse in the US capital, two Street Sense vendors from Washington DC, with very different opinions, give their take on the state of the nation.

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There are literally thousands of people dying homeless on the streets of America

Days before Christmas, communities across the US joined together to memorialise those who had died while homeless that year. INSP North America director Israel Bayer summed up the tragedies that have beset countless homeless Americans, while a group of the country’s street papers collaborated on making sure these remembrances, and the people they were about, were noticed.

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US street papers collaborate with non-profit Law@theMargins on series centring voices from the homeless community

Four US street papers have collaborated on ‘The Right to a Home’ series with non-profit media organisation Law@theMargins and its Community Based News Room project. The stories produced amplify voices from within the homeless community, exploring how homelessness is being addressed at a local level across the country.

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Street papers respond to President Trump’s homelessness comments

Last week, US President Donald Trump made comments about homelessness that garnered some bewildered reactions. Homelessness is an issue rarely spoken on by Trump. But a community of people who know a thing or two about homelessness in the US are street paper staff and vendors. A selection of them, from Portland’s Street Roots and Washington, D.C.’s Street Sense, had their say.

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A style all his own: Street Sense vendor Franklin Sterling on his poetry

Writing poems since he was a teenager, Street Sense Media artist and vendor Franklin Sterling has developed a unique style based in medieval English and blending other languages to create something all his own.

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Our vendors: Jackie Turner (Street Sense Media, Washington D.C., USA)

Jackie Turner is an artist and Street Sense Media vendor whose experience of homelessness has changed her worldview. She is acutely aware of the fact that homelessness happens for a range of reasons and that being homeless can be a depressing and hopeless experience. For Jackie, learning to love herself and appreciating the beauty around her has helped her to feel a powerful sense of connection to the world.

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INSP Vendor Playlist: Street Sense vendors on the songs that stir their emotions

This year we asked vendors: if you could give a song as a present this Christmas, what would you choose? The result was the INSP Vendor Playlist, which is now available for your listening pleasure. Street Sense vendors in Washington DC talk about their song choices, which range from festive classics to T-Pain.

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As the rest of the country gears up for Christmas, US street papers mark National Homeless Persons Memorial Day

Since 1990, communities across the US, while shoppers frantically prepare for Christmas, meet on the first day of winter and longest night of the year to commemorate those who have died while homeless in the last year. This year, 150 such gatherings took place on what is known as National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day. Among them were those attended and organised by US-based street papers, accounts of which are collated here.

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#INSP2018: Summit scholarships opened doors to inspire more street paper staff

INSP was pleased to offer a series of scholarships to support 14 delegates from 9 countries in attending the Global Street Paper Summit that took place in our home city of Glasgow in August.

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Doctor Who, Aretha and Anniversaries: A round-up of September’s street paper covers

As September draws to a close, we’re pausing for a moment to reflect on the impressive street paper covers that have been seen across the INSP network this month.

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Our vendors: Chon Gotti (Street Sense, Washington DC, USA)

Chon Gotti, a vendor and salesman, discusses how he found himself without housing and how he moved beyond that point. A former officer, an advocate and parent, Gotti sees life as a matter of pride, confidence and strength. Along with discussing his business strategies, Gotti works to be a reminder that the homeless are not a stereotype, but people just like anyone else.

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IN PICTURES: INSP Awards 2018 Winners

Our picture gallery of the 2018 INSP Awards. Relive the highlights!

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INSP Awards: 2018 Winners Announced!

The winners of the 2018 INSP Awards have been revealed at the official Awards Ceremony, as part of the Global Street Paper Summit in Glasgow.

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INSP Awards: 2018 Best Breakthrough Finalists Unveiled

It’s just one week until we crown the winners of the 2018 INSP Awards, and the excitement is reaching fever pitch!

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INSP Awards: Here are the 2018 Best Photograph Finalists

We’re kicking off our second week of INSP Awards announcements by bringing you the Top 5 entries who’ve each snapped a place as Best Photograph Finalist 2018.

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INSP Awards: Presenting the Finalists in Best Vendor Contribution 2018

With just two weeks to go until the INSP Awards 2018 are presented, we reveal the Finalists for Best Vendor Contribution.

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INSP Awards: the Nominees in Best Vendor Contribution 2018 are here

Our final Editorial category to be revealed is the Top 10 nominees for Best Vendor Contribution – here’s who made the list…

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INSP Awards: Say cheese! It’s the 2018 Best Photograph Nominees

Strike a pose and get ready to smile…it’s time for us to announce the Best Photograph nominees for the INSP Awards 2018!

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February Feels: A round-up of street paper covers this month

With entries for the 2018 INSP Awards opening very soon, has February delivered us any potential winners in the Best Cover category?

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Christmas Covers: we unwrap December’s street paper front pages

With Christmas just around the corner, street papers around the world have been getting into the Yuletide spirit and emblazoning their front covers with all things festive!

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September Swansong: A look back on the month’s street paper covers

We bid farewell to September by having a look back at the best of the street paper covers from the month.

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INSP Awards: Finalists for the 2017 Best Project Award

Our last set of finalists are here – which innovative projects have captured our imagination and made it to the top five?

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Summer cover-lovin’: our round-up of July’s covers

We’ve been having a blast looking at the highlights from July of what our network has been producing.

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Our round-up of June’s street paper covers

June has been and gone in a flash – but we’ve taken time to stop and look back on a superb month of street paper covers.

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INSP Awards: Best Vendor Contribution 2017 Nominees

The final set of nominees are here – have a look to see who’s made the top ten in the Best Vendor Contribution category.

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INSP Awards: Discover our Best News Feature Nominees for 2017

This year’s nominees for Best News Feature are in – take a look at the stories that have captured our imagination and made the longlist.

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INSP Awards: Best Cultural Feature Nominees for 2017

What do Game of Thrones, Jon Bon Jovi and a street cat named Bob have in common? They’re all topics of our Best Cultural Feature nominees in this year’s INSP Awards!

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“It’s impossible to count the number of lives Michael Stoops changed”

U.S. campaigner Michael Stoops, who passed away this week, spent decades fighting for people experiencing homelessness. Street Sense pays tribute.

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Our vendors: Sheila White (Street Sense, Washington D.C., USA)

Sheila has lost many things in her life, but never her creativity or her desire to make a difference. Through art, poetry and activism, she uses her experience with homelessness to educate the public and advocate for others in her position.

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Vendor wishes: “My goal is starting school”

Today in our vendor wishes series, Street Sense vendor Sheila has a message for the US government about affordable housing.

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“How will you reach out to people like me?” street papers respond to President Trump

International street paper staff and vendors responded with surprise and apprehension following the election of Donald Trump as the next President of the USA.

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Hundreds gather in D.C. to spread the love at event organised by former Street Sense vendor

Hundreds gathered in Washington D.C.’s Franklin Square Park for a community event organised by former Street Sense vendor Don Gardner.

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October global street paper covers get scary

Between Halloween and Trump, there’s a frighteneing vibe on this month’s international street paper covers. Thank god for Street Cat Bob…

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Hundreds gather in D.C. for ex-Street Sense vendor’s community event

Former Street Sense vendor Don Gardner’s Real Love Ministry aims to provide entertainment and spiritual fulfilment as well as food and clothing. They brought hundreds together in Washington D.C.

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Prophets of Rage: “elite taskforce of revolutionary musicians” take on homelessness

“Homelessness is a crime. It’s almost a war crime,” says guitarist Tom Morello, formerly of Rage Against the Machine and now rocking again with supergroup Prophets of Rage. They spoke to street paper vendor Ronald Dudley (a.k.a. rapper Pookanu) before the first show of their Make America Rage Again tour.

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Prophets of Rage to Bridget Jones – September street paper supporters

There’s support from big name stars featured on this month’s covers – but also stark reminders of why street papers are so necessary for homeless people.

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EmergencyBnB: can the sharing economy be a caring economy?

Washington D.C social entrepreneur Amr Arafa’s EmergencyBnB is more than just AirBnB with a twist. It’s offering hope to refugees and victims of domestic violence.

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Olympic fever gripped world’s street papers this August

August’s street paper covers have the Olympic spirit, featuring ‘cuddly lawnmowers’, a homeless wedding, Steven Spielberg, and a cheeky little bit of rickrolling.

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“I’m in the country now” Street Sense vendor reflects on new life on the farm

Street Sense vendor Eric Thomson-Bey recently left Washington D.C. for employment on a farm in Pennsylvania. He reflects on his new rural life.

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Street Sense vendor explains why his paper is a “lifeline from drowning in depression”

In this uplifting and inspiring personal essay, Damon Smith explains exactly what it means to be a street paper vendor. He reveals how selling Street Sense in Washington D.C. helped him overcome the “mental torture” of homelessness.

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Our vendors: Martin Walker (Street Sense, Washington DC, USA)

“I felt the reality of poverty,” says Martin Walker of his upbringing in Southeast DC. His mother worked full-time but paying the bills for her five children was a constant struggle.

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Sizzling summer street paper covers are animal mad!

Soak up a summery selection of animal-mad street paper covers with pugs, wolves, chickens, seagulls and crabs – plus Pikachu and the fish star of Finding Dory.

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Washington D.C. Street Sense vendor stands with Baton Rouge

Street Sense vendor and artist Angie Whitehurst reflects on the death of Alton Sterling, the 37-year-old black man from Baton Rouge, Louisiana who died in an altercation with white police earlier this month. Here, Angie praises the “fierce resistance to violence” of the vast majority of protesters.

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Brexit: world’s street papers react

The UK’s monumental decision to leave the EU sent shockwaves around the world. In the wake of the referendum vote, we hear from the world’s street papers about their views on Brexit.

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Hard-hitting, striking… phizz-whizzing: it’s June’s street paper covers

A gloriumptious look at the world of Roald Dahl, a red-haired mischief-maker, a mafia flower plot and Yanis Varoufakis at the INSP Summit… explore June’s street paper covers.