About Real Change
The Magic of Real Change. Seattle's street newspaper Real Change.
Changes Them ... Changes You. The Real Change newspaper in Seattle is transforming the lives of poor and homeless people by offering work, meaning, and community. Find out how we're building long-term solutions to poverty while we make a real difference in people's lives right now.
Our Mission
Real Change exists to create opportunity and a voice for low-income people while taking action to end homelessness and poverty.
Real Change Organizing Principles
Real Change approaches all of our activities with the following principles. We believe:
• All people have the right to dignity.
• Diversity has intrinsic value.
• Poverty is political—systemic change is necessary.
• Building community is essential to social change.
• Political effectiveness requires staying power.
• Solutions to poverty must involve people who are directly affected.
• Risks are necessary to create positive change.
• Meeting people where they are honors their skills and potential.
• We are committed to quality, professionalism, and accountability in everything we do.
A Real Difference
The Real Change Homeless Empowerment Project has many faces, a newspaper, an advocacy group, a Homeless Speakers Bureau, and literary workshops. We do a lot, and all of it is working toward building bridges among the poor, homeless and the greater community, while engaging the broader public in fighting for economic justice. By publishing the newspaper and mobilizing the public around poverty issues, Real Change organizes, educates and builds alliances to find community-based solutions to homelessness and poverty. The Real Change is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization.
Our Programs
Real Change Newspaper
Real Change is Seattle’s weekly activist publication with an ear to the street. Real Change readers are educated, socially-concerned, and loyal. Our publication is sold by Seattle’s homeless, and helps them earn the money they need to get ahead. Each month, more than 400 different vendors are out selling our paper throughout the Seattle area. Real Change is a hand up, not a handout.
Our publication strives to create fairness, opportunity and community by covering issues that socially conscious people want to know about, from topics surrounding poor and homelessness, to stories about labor, the environment, public health and civil liberties (to name a few).
Real Change News went weekly (from bimonthly) in Feb. 2005, and carries a paid circulation of 18,000 per issue. Our vendors pay 35 cents a copy for their papers, which are then sold on the street for a dollar donation.
Real Change Organizing Project
Builds grassroots support for a more humane Seattle, by advocating that creating low-income housing and providing adequate shelter for all should be among our city’s highest priorities. The Real Change Organizing Project is working to ensure that elected officials know voters care about homelessness.
Homeless Speakers’ Bureau
Arranges for homeless and formerly homeless people to speak to schools. businesses, civic organizations, and religious groups. Speakers are drawn from the homeless and formerly homeless community.
About Real Change
Real Change Organization
Homeless Speakers' Bureau
Contact Information
Links and Resources
Our Mission:
Real Change exists to create opportunity and a voice for low-income people while taking action to end homelessness and poverty.(Read more...)
