Drum Majors for Justice

Sisters’ Civic Action Group

The Problem Isn’t the People, It’s the System

In response to a recent Oregonian editorial targeting people experiencing homelessness, Sisters wrote a powerful and moving letter which outlines our belief that criminalizing homelessness is not the answer; making real, radical change in oppressive systems is.

Check out Street Roots’ Article
About Our Good Neighbor Agreement

Street Roots has done an excellent job chronicling Sisters’ months of work to come to an agreement with the Portland Police which addresses the chronic nuisance citing and upholds our values.
This blog post sums up the final form of the Good Neighbor Agreement.

Winterfolk 22 “Is a Real Labor of Love”

Coverage of Sisters’ 22nd annual Winterfolk concert in The Columbian, and the second appearance of Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul and Mary) at the event. Second story down the page.

On the Upside…

Living from the Heart: Genny Nelson talks about the passion behind her life’s work as a human rights advocate in the Portland Upside.

Oodles of Online Coverage of WRAP’s Action on January 20th, 2010

Check out all the great videos, pictures and stories from the Action to demand funding for Affordable Housing from the federal government here.

The Criminalization of Mental Illness

An article in the Portland Mercury describes Oregon’s terrible problem of locking people with mental illness in jail or prison rather than a place they can receive proper treatment.

House Divided

Willamette Week’s coverage of WRAP’s January 20th action in San Francisco.

Genny Nelson Served Up Dignity

Wow, check out this fabulous front page article from the Oregonian on co-founder Genny’s retirement after 30 years at Sisters!

Scene and Heard: Hoedown 2009

Sisters’ staff and supporters cut a fine figure at this year’s Hoedown, and a few of ‘em even got their photo in the Oregonian!

Wolf From The Door Win Spirit of Portland Award

Sisters’ wonderful young supporters, Wolf From The Door, were honored Thursday, November 12th with a Spirit of Portland Award. The Wolf From The Door fundraiser has been put on annually since 2004 by an amazing group of dedicated elementary school-aged young people who plan, cook and serve the whole meal as a benefit for Sisters Of The Road. Here is the article from Portland Online. Congratulations, Wolf From The Door!

Extraordinary Executive Director

Sisters’ Executive Director was named Portland Monthly magazine’s 2009 Extraordinary Executive Director through their annual Light A Fire awards. Congratulations Monica!

Another run at keeping sidewalks clear

An Oregonian article that mentions Sisters’ efforts at keeping the sidewalks a comfortable place for everyone, and the city of Portland’s work on its new Sidewalk Management Plan.

A New Meal Deal

Willamette Week article describing Sisters’ efforts to create a safe place for all.

Sisters Of The Road Cafe re-open!

Read our message about why Sisters Of The Road closed this past summer, and what we’re doing to make sure Sisters Of The Road remains a good neighbor and a safe place for all people. Click here.

Sit/Lie Editorial

Read Civic Action Group’s response to the recent decision by the Portland Police to stop enforcing Sit/Lie, and instead charge people sitting or lying on Portland’s downtown sidewalks with disorderly conduct. This editorial was published in Street Roots.

It’s Not a Crime to be Homeless

Sisters’ OpEd about the criminalization of homelessness and civil rights violations caused by Portland’s Sit/Lie ordinance from the Portland Tribune

30 Years, Thousands of Square Meals

An article highlighting Sisters Of The Road’s 30 years in operation from OregonLive.

Sisters Work for Justice

Portland Observer

Matching Grant Challenge

OregonLive

Panhandling, an Alternate Perspective

OregonLive

La-Dee-Da-Dee, We Like to Potty!

After many years of advocacy on the part of PHLUSH, Sisters, Randy Leonard and other allies, a new public restroom has been opened in Old Town Chinatown! Sisters’ Associate Varner Seaman awards City Councilman Randy Leonard with the Golden Plunger.

• See the story in the Mercury.
• See the story on OregonLive.
• The giving of The Golden Plunger was featured on the December 11 edition of the Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC - scroll down to segment titled: “Bush’s New Library will be Thematic”.

Sit-Lie law Truth Commission

August 7, Sisters held a powerful and emotional Truth Commission about the Sit-Lie law. Here is some coverage:
Mercury Blog
Street Roots
Willamette Week

SAFE listening session

We then joined many concerned citizens at the SAFE listening session at the First Unitarian Church on Monday, August 11, where many people spoke out against Sit-Lie:
Mercury Blog 2
Willamette Week 2

Postcard Campaign

Street Roots and Sisters Of The Road presented almost 2,000 postcards to Portland City Council on Wednesday, June 11 at 9am asking for the repeal of the sit-lie and anti-camping laws. The postcards were signed by citizens who are concerned that the ordinances punish thousands of Portlanders who lack adequate, safe and affordable shelter. Here’s some coverage:
Portland Tribune
Portland Mercury
Willamette Week
Loaded Orygun

Sisters leaves SAFE Oversight Committee

http://wweek.com/wwire/?p=11854#comments_view
http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/2008/05/sisters_out_of_safe_wants_sitl.php
Mercury: Homeless Nonprofit Resigns from Sit-lie Group

Sisters’ Community Organizer on OPB

former community organizer, Patrick Nolen was on OPB’s “Think Out Loud” talking about the legality of homelessness. Click here.

Sisters’ Voter Registration Work

Check out an article from the Willamette Week on our Civic Action Group’s (CAG’s) voter registration work.  Although we are pleased that the Willamette covered this topic, we also want to clarify some of the inaccuracies in the article.  The title byline “A good meal and a chance to choose between Obama and Clinton” suggests that we are telling people to choose between Obama and Clinton and this is not true!  We are not suggesting that people vote for any candidate in particular.  Rather, we are just registering people to vote and they can choose to vote for whomever they want!  We also don’t understand the title “Vote by Shelter” because we are not a shelter.
 

Thank you again Willamette Week for writing about the important work of the Civic Action Group and hopefully next time some of these misrepresentations can be avoided. 

Sidewalk Ordinance Unfairly Applied

Portland Mercury reporter Matt Davis weighs in on the Sidewalk Obstructions Ordinance; Sisters’ organizer puts in his two cents.  Click here.

Sisters Awarded Largest Grant for Solutions to Homelessness

In December, Sisters was awarded a $225,000, three-year grant through the Kaiser Permanente Community Fund at the Northwest Health Foundation.  The grant will be used to help end homelessness in Portland and the nearby region by addressing the social policies and attitudes that impact homelessness.  To read the press release, click here.

Erik Sten Did Good Work on Homeless Center

Sisters’ staffer Orion Lumiere letter to Portland Tribune editor (second story down).  Read the letter.

Reporter and CAG Member Sleep on the Street

Mercury reporter Matt Davis spent a night on the street with former community organizer, Patrick Nolen (at top left). Read the story.

Portland Business Journal - Sisters’ ‘Revenue Redemption’

Sisters’ rise to financial health since 2002: http://portland.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2007/10/15/smallb1.html

Sisters’ Meal Coupons a More Human Answer

A response to an August 2, 2007 article by the Oregonian’s Margi Boule on how panhandlers should be given nothing. http://blog.oregonlive.com

Sisters’ Research and Voices from the Street

• PDX Magazine article on how Sisters’ book Voices from the Street it is a book of national significance despite being based on interviews conducted in Portland.
• Street News Service EDITOR’S CHOICE: Voices from the Street
• Street News Service EDITOR’S CHOICE 2- Voices from the Street
• Street News Service Story:Voices from the Street - Chapter 2

Sit? Lie? Stand!

Since around 2001, Sisters Of The Road and their allies have been active in fighting for the just and non-discriminatory regulation of Portland’s urban public space. Read more about it in the Portland Mercury:

• Standing up to the Man  Click here.
• Buying your Rights?  Click here.
• Worse in LA?  Click here.

RJ Anheier’s Lack of Justice

Sisters’ dear friend RJ Anheier (pictured left) died and was pronounced ‘homeless and indigent’ although he was carrying his ID and address with him; his death and the circumstances of it are mourned by his community.  Read more on Indymedia.

Is the U.S. Ready for Human Rights?  Yes.

Sisters’ Systemic Change Manager Devin DiBernardo was quoted in Yes magazine in reference to economic human rights.  Click here.

Genny Wins 2005 National Caring Award

This prestigious award, created to honor Mother Teresa, was granted to Sisters’ Cofounder as one of “the most caring Americans.”  Click here to learn more.