Street Sense Media

In Our Own Voices: Jacqueline Turner

Born in Leesburg, VA, into a religious family, Jacqueline Turner, a Street Sense Media artist/vendor, reflects on her experience growing up in and around Washington, DC. She details what it was like to live in DC during the 60s and 70s, especially her time attending go-go dances. Turner’s experience with homelessness began shortly after she joined the Street Sense Media team, once she left her husband. She recounts how Street Sense Media and other organizations in DC helped her leave an abusive relationship and rebuild her life. Aida Peery was interviewed May 6, 2022 by fellow Artist/Vendor Aida Perry as part of Street Sense Media’s Oral History Project, “In Our Own Voices: Artist/Vendors 2003-2023.”

In Our Own Voices: Eric Thompson-Bey

Street Sense Media artist/vendor and reporter, Eric Thompson-Bey chronicles his experiences growing up in Anacostia, as well as other parts of DC. He recounts how his mother was murdered when he was only two years old, as well as how his father died when he was only nine. After that, he was raised by one of his sisters. Thompson-Bey shares his experiences with homelessness, as well as how he discovered Street Sense and how the organization has helped him over the last 14 years to find housing, as well as develop his skills as a writer. Additionally, Thompson-Bey details how the case managers at Street Sense Media have helped him navigate struggles with mental illness. He also shares how selling Street Sense papers helped keep him out of prison, as it provided away for him to be financially independent without having to resort to anything against the law. Thompson-Bey discusses an investigation into the violent conditions at his apartment building, though ultimately he had to quite the investigation due to threats against his housing situation. Finally, Thompson-Bey talks about his aspirations for the future, which include getting a college degree, and the ways in which the staff at Street Sense Media have and continue to support him in achieving those goals. Thompson-Bey was interviewed October 7, 2022 fellow Artist/Vendor Jacqueline Turner as part of Street Sense Media’s Oral History Project, “In Our Own Voices: Artist/Vendors 2003-2023.”

In Our Own Voices: Aida Peery

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Street Sense Media artist/vendor Aida Peery grew-up in Chicago, IL and Washington, DC. She studied networking and information systems at Strayer University, after which she worked for the Department of Defense for five years. She is now an artist/vendor and vendor program associate at Street Sense Media. She started working with Street Sense Media ten years ago and has continued her work both selling papers and advancing to the role of vendor program associate, as well. Her work with Street Sense Media was integral to journey out of being unhoused. Peery was interviewed May 5, 2022 by fellow Artist/Vendor Jacqueline Turner as part of Street Sense Media’s Oral History Project, “In Our Own Voices: Artist/Vendors 2003-2023.”

In Our Own Voices: Conrad Cheek Jr.

Former biomedical engineer and graduate of George Washington University, Conrad Cheek has been an artist/vendor for Street Sense Media since its first issue in 2003. Cheek reflects on his experiences as a biomedical engineer at Arlington Hospital, as well as being the first African-American to work at the UCLA Medical Center’s Biomedical Engineering Department. He discusses his experiences with being homeless off and on over the years, after struggling with discrimination in the workplace, particularly at UCLA. His article on his father is at https://www.streetsensemedia.org/article/an-unsung-african-american-hero-my-father/#.Y_z2-R_MIdU. He also chronicles his experience living in his car, being kidnapped, carjacked, and stealing his own car back. His article on that is at https://www.streetsensemedia.org/article/kidnapped-carjacked-and-i-stole-my-car-back/#.Y_z_PB_MIdU. He discusses how he found out about Street Sense during its founding. Cheek was interviewed October 21, 2022 fellow Artist/Vendor Aida Peery as part of Street Sense Media’s Oral History Project, “In Our Own Voices: Artist/Vendors 2003-2023.”

In Our Own Voices: Phillip Black

Street Sense Media artist/vendor, Phillip Black shares his experiences growing up in Washington, DC. When Black was in high school, he was an All-Metropolitan basketball player. He details how that led to a lot of attention, which was at times distracting. Black was the youngest of a family of nine, and after the death of his parents and a divorce, he became homeless. He discusses how he found out about Street Sense Media from a pastor at St. Alban’s Church. Black recounts how eventually he started selling Street Sense papers dressed in a Cat in the Hat costume, which set him apart from other vendors and helped him gain a following of regulars, some of whom are prominent Washingtonians. Throughout his tenure at SSM, Black has brought in over 45 other vendors, including his own son. Black was interviewed August 4, 2022 by fellow Artist/Vendor Jacqueline Turner as part of Street Sense Media’s Oral History Project, “In Our Own Voices: Artist/Vendors 2003-2023.”

In Our Own Voices: Daniel Ball

Street Sense Media artist/vendor Daniel Ball shares his story about growing up in and around Washington, DC, as well as his work with Street Sense Media over the last ten years. He recounts details about his childhood, as well as his experience with chronic homelessness. He has struggled with homelessness at various points in his life, dating back to the 1990s. He is currently unhoused. A former fast-food and carwash employee, Ball has been able to sell the paper for Street Sense, as well as become a regular contributor, for the last ten years. He has also partaken in many of the classes offered by Street Sense Media, including their writing classes and drawing class. Ball was interviewed August 18, 2022 by fellow Artist/Vendor Jacqueline Turner as part of Street Sense Media’s Oral History Project, “In Our Own Voices: Artist/Vendors 2003-2023.”