Every time I head into the Nashville area, I am reminded by the prolific sight of vendors on street corners of the wonderful time when Tasha French, Tom Wills, Will Connelly and I got together and began creating, implementing, and writing for The Contributor, Nashville's "Street Newspaper."Back in 2007 at the start-up we faced a lot of challenges, in both the homeless and the larger "public" community, but we persevered. We couldn't have done it without the help of some very tenacious and persistent vendors, either, and eventually, The Contributor not only became recognized, it became accepted and even desired in the downtown area as property owners soon learned that where The Contributor Vendors stood, panhandlers disappeared.
Folks who purchased The Contributor also quickly realized that the paper wasn't specifically written "by the homeless, for the homeless" but rather was meant to raise awareness about the issues causing homelessness while at the same time smashing the stereotypes about those who were actually experiencing homelessness.
This is why you really can't subscribe to the paper unless you're a business, as we wanted to make sure folks who purchased the paper also had a moment to interact personally, face to face, with a vendor of the paper. There is no better way for someone to realize "the homeless" are people just like you and me, and it pays to remember "but for the grace of God...."
Tasha French and Tom Wills are all that is left of the original founding members, but they''ve always been the backbone and the drive behind the mission, and they've dedicated their lives - at least at this point in them, anyway - to ensuring our original mission that any person experiencing homelessness on the streets of Nashville - or anywhere within distance that makes getting papers into one's hands a reality - has an opportunity to earn money legally, legitimately, and to do so without having to jump through the traditional employment hoops that keep so many folks on the street from working.
If you haven't seen this trailer or don't know the story of The Contributor, check it out. It's a story about people helping people and overcoming every obstacle and challenge thrown at them in order to do so.
Wikipedia currently describes The Contributor thusly:
Some of the more than 400 homeless and formerly homeless vendors of The Contributor.
The Contributor was established in 2007 by a core group of volunteers. The first issue was published in November of that year and had a circulation of about 800 copies. The paper publishes consistently on a monthly basis and has greatly expanded its circulation and vendor network to become the highest-circulating street newspaper of its kind in North America—circulating more than 100,000 papers per month.[3][4][5][6]
In 2010, The Contributor received 501(c)(3) status, becoming an independent non-profit organization. One of the founders of The Contributor received the Tennessee Titans Community Quarterback award for their volunteer efforts with the paper.[7] The award came with a $10,000 grant.
In July 2011, the newspaper sued Brentwood, Tennessee for banning the sale on its premises.[8]
The Contributor is one of many street newspapers in the United States, including Real Change in Seattle, Washington and Spare Change News in Boston, Massachusetts.
Info on the Street Paper Documentary and the trailer included below:
Street Paper takes the viewer inside the lives of Nashville's homeless population through street newspaper, The Contributor. This documentary offers a unique look into the lives of the founders, vendors and writers as the newspaper experiences exponential growth during September 2010. The Contributor is a member of The North American Street Newspaper Association (NASNA), which has 31 members. Addressing the issues of poverty and homelessness, a street newspaper is distributed by homeless and formerly homeless vendors. By sharing personal stories, street newspapers attach lives, faces and hearts to the idea of homelessness. These publications allow a bridge connecting the gap between the very poor and the rest of society by helping them understand the issues that concern homeless individuals. For many homeless people, this opportunity gives them a chance to get back on their feet and the real possibility of securing housing.
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