A Street Newspaper Aims to Bridge the Disconnect Between the Unsheltered and Sheltered

'The Bridge', the first-ever student-managed street paper founded by Rhodes College sophomores, James Ekenstedt and Evan Katz, was launched March 21 to raise awareness about the plight of the homeless and less fortunate in the Memphis area.

Ekenstedt, a second-year in urban studies, said that through this newspaper they aim to integrate the homeless into the larger community and give a voice to them.

The newspaper will be produced by students and community contributors and sold by homeless "vendors."

The first issue of the Bridge will comprise of 12 pages, while the subsequent editions will feature 16 pages.

These vendors, who will receive training before selling the paper, will initially purchase the newspaper for a quarter each and sell them for a dollar each. This will give them money to buy more papers. Plus, they get to keep 100 percent of the profits.

Talented homeless people can also contribute article to the newspaper ($10 to $25 per story) and submit photos and art for the monthly paper in collaboration with Rhodes student volunteers who serve as the newspaper's staff.

Earning money through these activities might help the homeless community to come off the roads.

Rhodes second-year political science and history major, Caroline Ponseti, who serves as the Bridge's managing editor, said that students engaging in social activities create a good learning environment.

Ponseti said that they decided to start the paper in an attempt to close the gap between the public and the homeless; to make people understand the problems faced by the homeless community as the paper includes personal experiences of such people. The vendors, on the other hand, will gain work and business experience, which might help them fetch a proper job in the future.

"These people that are out here aren't just homeless or drunks or lazy people who don't want to do things or pay their bills. These are viable people who are worth a second chance.This paper to so many people will be that second chance to become a productive member of society and to feel like you are a part of something, " said Memphis resident, Cynthia "Cee Cee" Crawford, a vendor who's been homeless three times.

Currently, there are no free shelter options in Memphis and the shelters that exist cost between $6-$14 per night.