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November/December 2004 Featured Stories
Community stars
Sisters Of The Road Café!

New Connexion recognizes people, businesses and organizations that lead by example, and make this world a better place.

Many of you may have heard about Sisters Of The Road, that they serve hot, nutritious food for little or no money and offer job training opportunities for people experiencing homelessness. But what is it that is so special that is happening down there is that Sisters, at its core, is about building community.

Sisters Of The Road Café, Inc. began on November 7, 1979. After hours of conversation with neighborhood residents, Sandy Gooch and Genny Nelson opened the cafe with three goals that have remained unchanged for 25 years: 1) to create a safe and welcoming environment for neighborhood residents, especially women and children; 2) to offer nourishing meals at little cost or in exchange for work; and 3) to provide job training and employment experience.

Shortly after it opened, the Café was anonymously christened when a circle containing three Xs – the hobo symbol for good food and hospitality – was chalked on the pavement outside the restaurant door. This symbol became SORC's logo.

For more than two decades Sisters' staff, volunteers and customers have been creating radical, get-to-the-root change – the kind of changes of heart and understanding that we believe lead to individual and community efforts and solutions to end the calamities of homelessness and poverty. At the least, it helps us to end our acceptance of these calamities as a given in our community.

How does Sisters Of The Road do this?

They listen to their customers, people who have experience with homelessness, and they involve their customers in the solutions. Sisters Of The Road Café’s model of paying a small amount ($1.25) or working a little (the barter program) for a meal was created from the input of their customers. It provides them with a dignified way to get a meal and participate in community.

Sisters has just completed 600 one-to-one interviews with people who are currently or were previously homeless, asking them "What are the solutions?" Their community organizing research project is partnering with the University of Washington to bring to the table solutions from the interviews.

Sisters also initiated Crossroads, a people’s organization where people experiencing homelessness work together with housed people at the table where decisions are being made on homeless issues. Crossroads has met regularly with police, the business community and City officials, and is represented on the City’s 10-year plan to end homelessness. This resource is changing the face of homeless planning in Portland, Oregon.

Breakfasts For The Soul are free, quarterly breakfasts open to the community. They offer a venue to share a meal and conversation and hear what is new and exciting at this vital organization.

By providing the opportunity for housed and houseless people to get to know each other, these programs break down the belief that we are so different from one another, and reinforces the belief that we all have something to learn from each other. The public uses Sisters’ meal coupons (sold for $2 each by calling Marilyn at 503-222-5694 ext. 12) as a positive response to panhandling, and a way to share a conversation with someone they see regularly on the streets. The Café is a perfect venue to share a meal, volunteer and participate in many ways. Crossroads is a great way to get involved and work side by side for solutions.

Sisters Of The Road is about hope and it is about community. It welcomes participation from all of us - each in our own unique way. How can you help? Through Sisters’ Matching Challenge Grant - during the months of November and December all donations will be matched by a pool of generous donors giving 50 cents for every dollar. A $1 donation becomes a $1.50 donation and a $100 donation becomes $150. To make a contribution stop by the Café (NW Sixth and Davis) or mail your check to 133 NW Sixth Avenue Portland, Oregon 97209. To find out more about volunteer opportunities, go to www.sistersoftheroad.org, call Monica Beamer at 503-222-5694, ext. 12 or just drop by.

[If you know of an individual, business or organization "that leads by example, and makes this world a better place", please send your nominations for Community Stars to editor@NewConnexion.net, or to PO Box 80397, Portland, OR 97219.]