Olantis Livingston: the Big Man of Downtown Berkeley
By Katherine Blesie on Meet longtime Street Spirit vendor Olantis Livingston. “I’ve been through the good, the bad, and the ugly, and this right here is my therapy.”
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Street Spirits is a monthly feature in which someone who lives on the street tells us their story.
Alando Williams: friend, father, South Berkeley staple
By Katherine Blesie on Around 12 years ago, Alando began selling Street Spirit. “I’m out here every other day,” he explains. “Some days I come out here and don’t make nothing. I just like conversating with people.”
Ken Jones: Cat owner, Street Spirit vendor, Berkeley staple
By Alastair Boone on Ken Jones stands on the corner of Addison and Shattuck, waiting for people to exit a concert at the Freight and Salvage, or a play at the Berkeley Rep. In the cool evening light, he catches the eye of patrons spilling out of the theaters, flashing a broad smile at each person who looks up as he broadcasts his patter over the crowd.
Celebrating the life of Mike Zint
Michael “Mike” Zint, an outspoken activist whose “Poor Tour” around Berkeley thrust the plight of homeless people in city officials’ faces, died on February 14. He was 53.
Jojo: singer, writer, free spirit
By Emma Arnesty-Good on JoJo doesn’t always consider herself homeless. The twenty-nine-year-old prefers to live outside of that label. “I consider myself a part
Danny McMullan: Advocate, agitator, longtime contributor
By Julia Irwin on in 1984, Danny McMullan was zipping down the highway on his motorcycle —eager to join his friends by the bay—when he hit a power box. The force of the impact tore his right leg clean off and left Danny, then 21, with broken bones in his pelvis, ribs, arms, clavicle, and back.
Travis: Sommelier, traveler, clothing designer
By Emma Arnesty-Good on When Travis moved to San Francisco in 2011, he was 21 years old and had $174 in his pocket. His first job was tossing salads at a restaurant on 2nd and Market. But soon, his career in the service industry would take off. His next job was at Quince, a fine dining restaurant that now has three Michelin stars.
Derrick Hayes: Street Spirit vendor, community member
By Alastair Boone on Walking down Franklin Street in Downtown Oakland you’ll see a larger than life mural of a man in a baseball cap. With gentle eyes and a wide smile, he looks east over the city, watching over the people passing by. Small businesses line Franklin Street to the left and right. Below the mural is a parking lot, and shiny office buildings tower above. In between lies the portrait of Derrick Hayes, a 59-year-old homeless resident of Oakland who has been selling Street Spirit for almost 20 years.
Alunita Nicola: Mother, survivor, Swiss street paper vendor
By Dina Hungerbühler on My name is Alunita Nicola. My surname is the only thing that I inherited from my father. He died when
Vida: bookworm, caretaker, mountaineer
By Julia Irwin on In West Berkeley, not far from Fourth Street’s bright, bustling retail mecca, rows of old trailers hide in the shadows
Tokuchika Nishi: Dancer and street vendor in Tokyo
By Mariko Kazuki on Tokukicha Nishi, 39, has a purposeful gaze and long hair that he has been growing out since his beloved cat passed away. He became a Big Issue Japan vendor in July 2017. Monday through Friday, Mr. Nishi sells papers from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in front of the ‘Konaka The Flag’ store, near JR Shimbashi Station’s Ginza Exit and from 8 to 10pm in front of the bus terminal at JR Shinjuku Station’s South Exit.
Domongoe Scott: writer, musician, mentor
By Lulu Orozco on Domongoe Scott wants to lead by a good example. At 44 years old, the Oakland native believes there is no better opportunity than the present to change the direction in one’s life.