Join me at our open houses this March 16 and 18!
Are you curious about Real Change journalism? This is the perfect opportunity for you to learn all about it.
Meet the people behind our people-first journalism, including myself and longtime vendors Carl Nakajima and Bryant Carlin.
I’ll be on hand to answer all of your burning questions, from how the paper comes together, how we approach our work, new projects coming up to how you can get involved, should you feel inspired. Nakajima and Carlin, who contribute their perspectives and work to the paper regularly, can give you their thoughts as Real Change vendors.
Vendors are centered in every aspect of our journalism, from profiles to editorial feedback to op-eds. Their voices are critical to our reporting and are incredible assets to the paper — no other outlet in the city has such a resource.
Nakajima has been a Real Change vendor for nearly 10 years and a writer for even longer. He is a near constant presence at protests and other actions, and his involvement shows up in his writing. Nakajima has published articles in Real Change on social housing, the alt-right and government’s responsibility with regard to public land — his work focuses on the humanity of people victimized by capitalism and hate, and he does not shy away from calling out electeds for failing to care for the most vulnerable.
“Real Change is bigger than people think. We pick issues that big media never pick. We are the perspective of more vulnerable people,” Nakajima said.
Nakajima handwrites all his work. He never learned how to type on a computer, so either I or volunteers type his articles for him to get them ready for publication.
All people, regardless of their access to resources, literacy level, or other barriers, deserve to be heard. That is Real Change’s people-first journalism in action.
Our open houses this March 16 and 18 are wonderful opportunities for you to see the impact of Real Change firsthand. There are so many behind-the-scenes steps that lead up to getting this newspaper in your hand, and we want to show you where and how it happens.
We featured Carlin’s stunning wilderness photography twice in the past year. He uses our computers to upload and edit the thousands of photos that he’s taken over the years on trips hiking deep into the Olympics.
“As a media organization, we remain true to our mission statement of giving voice to people and issues that are often neglected. We work towards breaking stereotypes of what it means to be homeless,” Carlin said.
People-first journalism isn’t just a slogan.
It’s the result of staff, vendors and volunteers whose work centers people with lived experience in our newspaper. It’s a movement for a better future led by the most vulnerable in our community.
Real Change is as dedicated as ever to reporting on homelessness and other issues impacting our community in new, creative ways.
Come to our open houses this March to learn more. Thank you for supporting us.
WHEN: March 16, 11am-1pm and March 18, noon-2 p.m.
WHERE: The Real Change Office, 96 S Main St.
RSVP: tinyurl.com/RCOH23
This is a free public event.
Ashley Archibald is the editor of Real Change News.
Read more of the Mar. 8-14, 2023 issue.