Street Party

By Margaret Hicks in News on Feb 14, 2007 5:23PM

Streetwise is celebrating its 15-year anniversary this year, and they’re having a big party at the Garfield Park Conservatory with drinks and prizes and dancing. Streetwise — the newspaper that has homeless people as its vendors — is a pretty good deal at a dollar a copy. We like Streetwise, we think it feels better for all sides to get something of value in return for our dollar, and the calls of "Streetwise!" in the Loop have become part of our urban lexicon.

According to the Trib, Streetwise sells about 15,000 copies a week at a profit to the vendor of 65 cents. Some critics have said it’s not enough to start a new life with; but Streetwise maintains that it is enough to get its vendors out of truly desperate situations and has the added incentive of making their vendors feel like they have control over their lives.

We’re curious — do you buy Streetwise? After you buy it, do you read it, or does your satisfaction come from the act of buying it?

Celebrate with Streetwise on Friday, February 16, from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Garfield Park Conservatory. You can R.S.V.P. online or call 312-829-2526.