Who Am I?

It appears that nearly a hundred of you have viewed my profile. I would be happy at this point if just half of those read my posts. If you do so, please leave comments. If you have something to contribute, I'll address that again in a bit.

I cannot do this alone. I know many of you out there feel you lack a voice, or that nobody is listening. Well, I'm listening, and I want your help to make a lot of other people listen.

"Who is this guy?" you're asking yourself. Let me be as transparent as possible. For employment reasons and other considerations, I prefer to remain behind the scenes. I don't want this to be thought of as a one guy venture. I don't desire to step forward and say, "Look at this great thing I'm doing."

I will not personally take any money from this, though I will take donations to grow the concept and take it to the streets of Salt Lake City, where I feel it will be most effective. Any money generated by any ads here will be donated to "The Rio Grande Report." This is about helping homeless people and educating the public about our issues. so we may find solutions. I'm looking into options to set up a direct deposit for those who want to donate cash. If you'd like to donate services, office space, equipment, or any other needs, e-mail me at riograndereport@live.com with the subject line "donations."

Any news people who might like to give permissions to reprint articles and use photographs, use the subject line "news."

Those of you who want to contribute your own art, poetry, prose, fiction, personal stories, etc., use the subject line "submissions." I can't guarantee I'll print everything. Chances are good as long as your piece is coherent, non-offensive, does not promote hate or violence that it will see light here.

Back to who I am (can you tell I don't like talking about myself?) I'll try to weave it into more information about how I stumbled upon this concept.This isn't exactly how I envisioned the original incarnation of a dream I've been pursuing and educating myself about for several months. Just the initial phases of research have grown to the point where one person can't absorb the prerequisite materials on taxes, marketing, legal issues. etc. required to even think about setting up a non-profit, then moving toward producing a print version of this "street paper." Again: Please Help.

Let me tell you what set me on this road:

Last September I sat at a picnic table reading the Sunday Salt Lake Tribune. I happened across an article on tent cities in Reno NV. It reported that these homeless communities were growing in most major U.S. cities. What caught my eye was a quote from a man described as an editor of a street newspaper in Seattle WA.

Street Newspaper? I'd never heard of that and it immediately piqued my interest. I Googled it immediately, and I've been gathering information ever since. I have mountains of stuff I've downloaded and printed that I haven't given more than an initial precursory glance.

After eight months of that without getting any closer to the producing of an actual paper, I've decided to start virtual. So here it begins.

What qualifies me to speak with and for homeless people? Until 6 weeks ago, I had been homeless for the better part of the last 10 years. I've walked the walk, and can talk the talk. Also, I am a locally published writer/journalist.

I want to improve the content dramatically in the not too distant future. I want to include actual news stories and photographs, information on resources for the homeless to help themselves, those who offer services to the homeless, and those who want to know how they can help. there is an actual Street News Service, which I hope to utilize soon.

But the most important contributions will come from you, the homeless, formerly, homeless, at risk for poverty people of the world. See above on how to submit to this blog. I can even set it up so you can directly write your own content, as I'm doing now. I am the editor, however, and all content is at my sole discretion.

Some of you may not have access to computers. You may "snail mail" me at P.O. Box 3001 Salt Lake City UT 84110. Do not send originals, but copies of your works. I cannot verify receipt, so check here often to see if your submission was accepted. Letters to the editor under 200 words are welcome.

In all submissions, please include some sort of signed statement that you give "The Rio Grande Report" permission to publish your work, and that you understand that you will receive no compensation. You retain all rights to your work. The Report's rights are only one-time North American. If anyone wants to use your work further, they have to contact me, then I'll contact you. Wow. I hope this works. Look for fliers in the Rio Grande neighborhood advertising this blog. Get involved. Nobody else can make things better for us, no one knows about us if we fail to speak out. I need all of you.

Until next time

your editor


Send me your experiences, letters art work, poetry, stories.

E-mail me at riograndereport@live.com subject line: "submissions." You may always remain anonymous. If you'd like to donate services, office space, equipment, or any other needs that will help "The Rio Grande Report" become a printed publication, e-mail me with the subject line "donations." Any news people who might like to give permissions to reprint articles and use photographs, use the subject line "news." Letters should use the subject line "letters." Snail mail: P. O. Box 3001 Salt Lake City UT 84110.

In all submissions, please include some sort of signed statement that you give "The Rio Grande Report" permission to publish your work, and that you understand that you will receive no compensation. You retain all rights to your work. The Report's rights are only one-time North American. If anyone wants to use your work further, they have to contact me, then I'll contact you.