The Contributor

The Disposables

nctasha — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:56:39 +0000

The DISPOSABLES
A benefit for The Contributor featuring photography by our homeless and formerly homeless street paper vendors

Ever seen Nashville through the eyes of those considered to be “disposable” members of our community?
Soon, you will have the chance to do just that while enjoying good food, music and the company of others who want to give back.

Saturday, January 7, 2012
6:00 – 9:00pm
Downtown Presbyterian Church
Fifth and Church, Nashville
Doors open at 6pm ~ No cover fee, but donations are accepted and greatly appreciated!

FEATURING the music of MIKE FARRIS and DAVE PERKINS

MUSIC.ART.AWARDS.

Join us for an unforgettable evening.

Call 615.499.6829 for more information

Invest in The Contributor’s Next Step!

nctasha — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 21:18:11 +0000

The Contributor has come a long way since 2007 and is ready to take “The Next Step” as an agent of change in Nashville.

The Contributor is currently sustained by more than 400 individual donors each year with donor support comprising 18% of our annual budget. To meet the growing demands of our vendor force and organization, The Contributor will need to double our donor support in 2012. To learn more, click HERE.

The long-term success of The Contributor as an organization comes from you, our supporters, and we are calling on you to invest in The Contributor‘s “The Next Step” toward a greater level of service and impact in our community.

Please send a check to:

The Contributor / P.O. Box 332023 / Nashville, Tennessee 37203
or

make an ONLINE PLEDGE HERE.

ACLU Defends The Contributor and First Amendment

nctasha — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 15:15:10 +0000

Want to find out more about our fight for our First Amendment rights and how the ACLU has come to our aid? Check out our ACLU Defends The Contributor and First Amendment page.

My Vendor Rocks…

nctasha — Sat, 21 May 2011 16:36:35 +0000

Williamson County Update

nctasha — Tue, 03 May 2011 00:35:08 +0000

You may have heard about the situation The Contributor is facing in the cities of Brentwood and Franklin. I just wanted to make sure that our supporters have the most accurate and up to date information about these recent events.

First we would like to say a big “thank you” to all of our supporters in these cities. Our currently and formerly homeless newspaper vendors choose to sell in Williamson County because they have found overwhelmingly gracious and supportive customers there. Thank you to the citizens of Brentwood and Franklin for being respectful and welcoming toward our vendors.

What’s going on in Williamson County?

This year 7 of our vendors have received citations for selling newspapers on public sidewalks in Brentwood. On March 17th a Brentwood judge upheld the ordinance under which these citations were filed. The ordinance states that no one can sell anything on public property within Brentwood city limits.

As of today, the city of Franklin–which has a similar ordinance on the books–has not given any citations, though representatives from Franklin have implied to news media that this may begin soon.

This month an attorney working pro bono with The Contributor appealed the Brentwood court decision.

Why are we appealing the ruling of the court?

Freedom of the press is the right not only to print the news, but also to distribute it. We strongly believe that selling a newspaper on public property is an activity protected by both the U.S. Constitution and the Tennessee State Constitution.

Before selling The Contributor, each of our homeless and formerly homeless vendors must complete a training course and agree to a code of conduct. In these training sessions, Tom Wills, our director of vending always recites this quote:

“Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter”
–Thomas Jefferson

A free press has always been a crucial part of life in a democracy. Each individual selling The Contributor is exercising that freedom.

We believe the right to distribute the news is guaranteed in every county in the country.

What can supporters of The Contributor do to help?

• Keep supporting your vendor, wherever they sell.
More than 35% of our vendors have gone from homeless to housed since beginning to sell The Contributor. This is thanks to their hard work and your continued generosity.

• If you are a business or property owner in Williamson county, please consider allowing a vendor to sell on your property. If you would like to allow your business or church property to host a vendor on a limited basis, please let us know.

• Stand up for our vendors’ rights in your workplace, churches and with families and friends.
Supporters like you are crucial for helping people understand our mission and telling those in your community about the difference you’ve seen The Contributor make.

• Take our buyers’ survey.
We would love to know more about who buys our paper, how often and why.
Click here and take a few minutes to complete this short survey.

• Make a donation to The Contributor directly.
To this point, all of our legal services on this matter have been rendered pro bono. However, we still need your financial support to continue creating a newspaper and to continue supporting our vendors’ needs. Click here to donate online.

Thank you so much for your continued support!

Press Release

nctasha — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 02:42:01 +0000

Please read this press release concerning the recent legal battle in Brentwood following several vendors being given citations.

Press Release 4-21-11 3:31pm

No Easy Answers

nctasha — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 01:59:59 +0000

Things in real life are often more messy and complex than we wish they were. In the absence of a clearly discernible black and white, determining the “right” action can prove difficult. Jeanie Alexander examines this truth in her telling of the real-life story of Renee and Lisa. Read it here.

“How Come They Don’t Look Homeless?”

nctasha — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 01:50:04 +0000

A letter by Jeanie Alexander that provides an insightful look at our culture and the many unconscious prejudices we may hold against the homeless amongst us. Read it here.

The Disposables – Photo Gallery 2010

nctasha — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 07:11:00 +0000

Did you miss it? Still want to purchase some prints for friends and family? Click here to visit our photo gallery entitled “The Disposables.” The gallery was created as a benefit for The Contributor featuring photography from homeless and formerly homeless newspaper vendors.

My Vendor Is…

nctasha — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 02:57:12 +0000

With approximately 400 active vendors selling throughout the greater Nashville area, it is safe to say that every morning, afternoon or evening—rain, snow, sleet or shine—Nashvillians see a currently or formerly homeless person selling The Contributor for $1.00. Do we stop, make eye contact, learn their name, buy a paper and say, “Thank you, take care, see you tomorrow!”? Many of us do. The past four years is proof that The Contributor and our vendors have been a game-changer for Nashville.

“You change people, and I don’t mean the homeless…You change homeful people like me because I don’t have the feelings I used to have, of wanting to help—considering myself pious but too smart to be conned; of being a generous person, but wary of handing money to someone with a scrawled cardboard sign…as I read not only about the people in the articles, but about the man or woman who sold it to me.” - Racquel, Customer

This is a two way street.

“My customers are super friendly. They always ask if I need anything and will bring me bottled water or breakfast. Sometimes I don’t need anything and just tell them, ‘No, I’m good. God bless!’… I’m trying to change my life and I think people see that. Because of selling The Contributor, me and my wife have been able to get off the streets and she is going to school for Cosmetology.” - Michael, Vendor

The Contributor is changing lives.

Submit ‘My Vendor Is…’ here.

Just in the last year, The Contributor’s circulation has grown a tremendous 1000%—from a monthly circulation of 12,000 issues in January 2010, to a record-breaking 130,000 issues sold in March 2011. The Contributor has now effectively doubled the circulation of the highest-circulating street newspaper in North America. These months of sales have put more than $1 million directly into the hands of impoverished Nashvillians. We have found that with increased income, housing rates also increase and homelessness decreases. According to a recent vendor survey, vendors who have sold The Contributor have a 35% success rate of obtaining housing.

Please continue changing lives by making a donation to us today.

Many readers and vendors have expressed the desire to see The Contributor published twice a month. We are hoping to raise $20,000 by June 29 to begin to fund our vendor supplies and bi-monthly expansion.

Vendor Supplies such as:
Bottled Water, Sunscreen, T-shirts, Newsboy Caps, Official Ponchos, Messenger Bags, Aprons

Staffing Needs such as:
Field Organizer, Outreach Organizer, Journalist, Graphic Designer, Editorial Assistant

This is possible through your support. This year we have already increased our ability to better serve our vendors by hiring a Development Coordinator and Office Cashier!

Thank you so much for partnering with us as we continue to change the landscape of Nashville.

Sarah Lehner
Development Coordinator
The Contributor, Inc.

P.S. Please donate directly to us today either online or via mail to The Contributor, P.O. Box 332023, Nashville, Tennessee 37203. Thank you so much for your support!