This year Streetwise Magazine is celebrating it’s 25th year of helping homeless Chicagoans (or those at risk of being homeless) earn money on their own and become self-sufficient. It is a weekly magazine that sells for $2.00. It costs the individual Streetwise vendor $ .90 to buy one magazine; and they make $1.10 in profit. I try to buy the magazine every week and pay $5.00 for one magazine. It’s a good feeling to know this extra amount is going to the individual vendor so they can reinvest it in their business by buying more magazines or keep it for living expenses.
Streetwise was started in 1992 as a social service organization that empowers the entrepreneurial spirit by offering self-employment as well as supportive social services and resources to assist in meeting basic needs and getting out of crisis. Participants go through a one month training period and become a badged vendor upon completion. They learn customer service skills, financial skills and time management. And the S.T.E.P. Program provides continuous job readiness training and support to ensure participants’ success in the workforce. Since 1992 more than 12,000 people have been employed as Streetwise vendors.
The best part is that it’s not only for a good cause…..it’s also a great magazine with articles about Chicago events, restaurants, sports, books and city life in general. So, if you haven’t read Streetwise yet, get a copy and if you read Streetwise only once in awhile, buy one every week! You won’t regret it.
I hadn’t seen a Streetwise vendor in a long time until the last time I came back from the LaGrange on the Metra. It is a good idea to buy a paper and give an extra contribution. Thanks Linda.
You’re welcome. I see them downtown. I usually get my Streetwise by Union Station.