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Vendor Profile, Anthony Thames

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Larissa Butrimowicz
Spare Change News

Spare Change news vendor Anthony Thames, born and raised in the South End of Boston, and has been with Spare Change for two years.

He became a part of Spare Change because he needed to make some changes in his life and find some direction. It has taken him over 25 years to realize that he needed to turn his life around.

Michael Shorey Vendor Profile

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Larissa Butrimowicz
Spare Change News

Michael Shorey was born in New York, but moved to Salem, Mass. with his adoptive parents, who then decided to move to York, Maine, when he was 11.

He was one of six adopted siblings and had an idyllic childhood. He worked at a restaurant in Kittery, Maine for 12 years before he decided to move to Harvard Square when he was in his early 30s.

Unfortunately, this was the beginning of a rocky portion of Michael’s life.

Algia Benjamin, Spare Change News Vendor

Vendor Picture: 

Larissa Butrimowicz
Spare Change News

Algia Benjamin is one of our Spare Change News vendors who has been with the paper since 1992, three months after the paper was created.

He was born in Alabama, but when his parents separated, his mother moved to Boston with him when he was seven. He recalls having a happy childhood with 6 sisters and 2 brothers, whom he is very close with.

Algia went to Dorchester High School and pursued a career as a licensed carpenter. He enjoyed his work as a carpenter and worked for the Big Dig for a year and a half.

Jeffrey Powers

Bio Teaser: 

Many of Spare Change’s vendors have creative passions that define their personalities. Mark Montgomery, last issue’s featured vendor, was a singer. Jeffrey Power’s creative expressions come in the form of artwork.

FullBio: 

Liam Cunningham
Spare Change News

Many of Spare Change’s vendors have creative passions that define their personalities. Mark Montgomery, last issue’s featured vendor, was a singer. Jeffrey Power’s creative expressions come in the form of artwork.

Powers, one of Spare Change’s newest vendors, began selling Spare Change newspapers around two months ago, drawn to the organization by his girlfriend who worked as a vendor at the time. After attending a few meetings and speaking with other vendors, Powers decided to join the team.

"I was homeless and I had a girlfriend who was selling Spare Change. When my girlfriend started selling, I thought 'Wow, maybe I should get on board with this," Jeffrey said. "I came to a couple of meetings, met all the personnel, who gave me an idea of how lucrative it can be. So then I got the vendor ID, and I started selling. It's been a very positive experience, no problems."

When selling the paper, Jeffrey works hard to present the paper to the public as effectively as possible.

"When I present the paper, I look to see what works, what doesn't work. I don't just say 'Spare Change, Spare Change.' I try to invent a working presentation," said Powers. "Pretty much anybody that hears my presentation is going to be drawn to the paper. I put the time and energy into presenting it correctly. Once I do that everything seems to work itself out on its own, and people generally seem to like what I say."

So far, Powers' methods have been very successful. He attributes this to his carefully planned vending strategy, which stems from his experience as a salesperson.

"I don't get too personal, I give people their space, I am a very polite vendor. I am a successful salesperson. I sell artwork as well, so I am very sensitive to what people like and don't like. I'm very in tune with that," Powers said.

Art has been Jeffrey's lifelong passion. He fell in love with art in his teenage years, and has been going strong ever since. He specializes in the technique known as pointillism, which is characterized by the use of small, distinct dots to form an image. The inset self-portrait of Jeffrey is an example of one of his pointillist works. The process of perfecting this style was not an easy one.

"Developing the style I use, pointillism, was a long process. It took me about six years to perfect the style. Once I perfected it, it became my true passion," Jeffrey said.

Powers’ artwork has come to be much more than a hobby and personal passion. He says selling his work over the years taught him how to form a relationship with members of the public, an ability that obviously translates into being a successful Spare Change vendor.

"As an artist I usually sell art on Boston Common, in and around Berklee College of Music. That's how I have developed a love for the public and an appreciation for salesmanship," Jeffrey said. "Once I got into the whole presentation of art and how to present it to the public, that's when I learned how to appreciate the public as a whole, the freedom of being out there and interacting with people from all walks of life."

Powers runs his own business called JAP (his initials), through which he sells his fine artwork. He has run this business for the past 20 years. If you are interested in seeing and/or purchasing Jeffrey's work, send him an email at winit20042000@yahoo.com.

Now working as a Spare Change vendor, Jeffrey typically sells his papers around Back Bay station. Don't be surprised if you are drawn in by his carefully honed and practiced sales method.

LIAM CUNNINGHAM is a writer and editor at Spare Change News.

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Marc D. Goldfinger

Bio Teaser: 

Marc D. Goldfinger, a homeless heroin addict in 1993, began selling Spare Change News in March of that year. It was the first honest work he had done since 1987.

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The job lifted his self-esteem. Marc was able to kick heroin, for the first time since 1964, in March of 1994. By September of 1994 Marc was not only a vendor for Spare Change News but he was the head of the Editorial Committee. He did both until March of 1996 and then he went back to vending and writing full-time.

Since then Marc has served as the Editor of the paper four other times and worked as a full-time vendor until 2003 while going to school to become a drug counselor.

Today, Marc vends the paper part-time, acts as the Poetry Editor, and authors a regular column in the paper. He has published a book, which will soon be available on the internet at Smashwords, about addiction and recovery. Marc says, "Spare Change News was one of the major elements that saved my life."

Marc lives with his beloved wife, Mary Esther, on a quiet street in Belmont. As the direct result of his writing being published on the internet, he was re-united with his daughter, Jasmine Tyler, in November of 2007. He had not seen her since 1985. "If it wasn't for Spare Change News, that wouldn't have happened. I thank God for the gifts in my life now."

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Aaron James

Bio Teaser: 

I am a twenty-six year old recovering addict. I am ten months clean from alcohol and all other illicit drugs and non-prescribed medications.

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I received an Associates Degree from Dean College in 2003 and am roughly six courses away from completing a B.A. in Political Science at Suffolk University. I made many mistakes in the past and thus am working hard to get back to school to be able to finish up. I hope to be able to afford to complete school in the fall of 2012, God willing.

I was born in Arizona and moved around quite a bit before my family finally settled in Massachusetts in 1998. While I was born out West, I considered my self a true Easterner. I have a keen interest in politics. Like most Americans, I am independent and ambitious. Will I ever run for elected office? Only time will tell. I certainly have a lot of work to do to be able to consider the idea. At the very least, government intrigues me and I hope to be involved with it at some level later in my life.

As for now, I enjoy writing for Spare Change and fundraising for Democratic causes. And while I am an addict in remission I do not want my entire life to be focused on my life threatening disease. I want to move past this challenge like a person who is diabetic yet never mentions it. I am not quite there yet at this point in my life as I still need to talk about it which is why I appreciate all that Spare Change has offered me. I am also grateful for my all of my readers.

Those of you who have helped out during this period in my life mean the world to me. I had put myself in a difficult position, I write about it, and folks are still supportive. It is one thing when a close friend helps out with something, but when strangers come up to me and show me that they care, that is on a whole other level. I am forever grateful.

And by no means do I downplay what friends and family have done for me. Without a very select group of friends, my parents, brother, girlfriend, and God, I would not have made it this far. The Spare Change articles I have written never would have seen the light of day. My bed would not have been made and I would still be blaming others for it.

Life is a blessing. To my loved ones and close friends, I can never thank you enough. To my readers, please, keep reading, keep giving me the time of day, I can not put into words how much this means to me. And I promise all of you, loved ones, friends, and family, I can not afford to let you down, I will not let you down, because I refuse to let myself down again. The support is not in vain, this man, this life, Aaron James, one way or another, will be one worth celebrating!

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Robert

Bio Teaser: 

While I was already enrolled as a vendor, my writing for Spare Change News began two and half years ago when I responded to a posting in the newspaper. The editorial staff was requesting story ideas, specifically for articles about community gardening.

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I replied to the request by submitting a community gardening article highlighting my family's garden while growing up on Long Island, New York. I wrote about my mother taking over my maternal grandmother's garden and growing a variety of vegetables, herbs and flowers over two decades. I relived my K through 12 grade years writing about our neighborhood, and later focusing on local community garden networks in Boston.

After this article was published, I was invited to attend an editorial meeting. I developed a story outline for what would be my next piece and reviewed it with the editor. The editorial and newspaper management were receptive to a vendor/writer contributing journalism focused on community service, food and health related issues.

Over the past year, I became the second writer with the exception of Poetry Editor Mark Goldfinger to write in every issue. Under our current editor, Adam Sennott, I am now one of five vendors who writes regularly for the newspaper.

Everyday people frequently come up to me and share supportive comments, always saying, "I've read one of your articles." I realize that writing for the newspaper has been a tremendous selling point. Two years later, I estimate that sixty to seventy percent of my newspaper sales go to someone who has read one of my articles.

My work at Spare Change News has helped me to create a journalistic base with career growth potential. I am utilizing my writing skills to compose grant letters and proposals for my nutrition outreach work. In addition to my roles at Spare Change, I serve as the director of the Nutrition Education Outreach Project.

My future goals revolve around continuing to write for Spare Change while continuing to develop a professional journalistic style. I would like to develop a third ongoing series focused on current events, which would include interviewing our political leaders. In addition to writing for Spare Change, I would like to finalize my two long terms goals: complete the incorporation of the Nutrition Education Outreach Project and obtain grant funding for this organization that I have founded.

Spare Change News represents a progressive, entrepreneurial organization that provides many individuals with a job selling the newspaper. This organization shows people how to successfully be their own boss and earn a living. For me, the paper has also provided a second job: that of a staff writer. I am proud of the fact that I am one of two vendors who writes regularly for the paper.

Links to my articles:

Reaching Out: Harvard Divinity School
Food Not Bombs
Healthy Meals for the Homeless
CHAF
Cambridge Farmers Markets
Origins of the Tea Party Movement
Faith Based Groups and Fair Practices Mortgage Lending
Interview with Mark Flanagan
Federal Relief for Mass. Farmers
Ted Kennedy's Legacy

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Frank Mangini

Bio Teaser: 

Frank Mangini is a man with many “likes”. In his free time, he enjoys chess, fishing and bike riding. But Frank doesn’t mind working because he also likes his job, selling Spare Change in Back Bay.

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In the past, Frank sold the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald. However, he says that he prefers selling Spare Change because it allows him to be more independent and set his own hours. Frank also says that because of the increased autonomy, he is able to earn more money with Spare Change than he did with the Globe or the Herald, counter to what some might expect.

Frank says he loves the Boston area, though he’s not originally from the HUB. After growing up in Hartford, CT and spending time with his family in New Briton, Frank has been in Boston for the past five and a half years. He’s spent much of his life playing chess, a hobby with which Frank has been enamored since he was 12 years old and continues today. Currently, he studies the game with tenacity at the Copley Library.

Frank is currently homeless but is hoping to secure an apartment in the near future through the Pine Street Inn. Although his situation is presently insecure, Frank doesn’t dwell on the negative, but instead focuses on how he can better his life. In addition to selling Spare Change, Frank collects bottles and cans for income. He says that sometimes, he exchanges as many as 150-200 pounds of glass at once.

In the future, Frank hopes to expand on his entrepreneurial activities by taking classes and one day starting his own business. He says he’d like to own his own recycling company, newsstand, or food vendor wagon. In the meantime, though, Frank can be found in his regular spot, at the Back Bay T station, every day except Monday, liking his work.

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The Reverend Edward Ivory III

Bio Teaser: 

The Reverend Edward Ivory III is a man of the world. Born in Milwaukee, WI and ordained in Tacoma, WA, he is now promulgating his vision of justice on the streets of Boston, MA, preaching the Good Word and selling Spare Change.

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“The Rev”—as he is frequently called by other vendors—spent his youth travelling in the South and up and down the West coast, “making up my mind about what I want to do with this life I’m living.” Eventually he found himself in bad times in Seattle, battling a predilection for alcohol. After deciding to make a change in his life, Rev. Edward checked himself into rehab in Tacoma. Here, he said he attended church daily and prayed constantly that he would change his life.

Upon successful completion of his rehabilitation program, the minister at the church that Ed devotedly frequented endowed him with a tool that would enable him to change not just his own life, but those of others as well. After countless years of searching, Edward Ivory III had found his calling—he was ordained as a minister of Christ.

The Rev. describes his mission as helping people to overcome struggles with drugs and alcohol. “My ministry,” he elaborates, “is to help people with addiction through the gospel of Jesus Christ.” However, Rev. Edward maintains that he is not out to convert people to a particular denomination of Christianity. He says “it’s more about faith,” and explains that while he was raised in the Roman Catholic and Baptist churches, his own work is interdenominational. “Some ministries are out to dominate, but not me. You can believe it or not; my job is to show love, to show care.”

Rev. Ed discovered Spare Change during conversation with a vendor while staying at Long Island shelter in Boston. He says that he had encountered Real Change News, the street paper in Seattle, while living there, but that he was not ready to enroll in a vendor program at that point in his life. Now, the Reverend is energetically making up for lost time, selling Spare Change with supreme dedication, while still finding time for his ministry.

The Rev uses a portion of the money that he earns from newspaper sales to provide for people in need, especially individuals experiencing homelessness or struggling with addiction. Edward contributes to the transportation, food, and medicinal needs of people who often have nowhere else to turn. Although the Rev does not enjoy a stable, permanent housing situation himself, he is devoted to helping people help themselves. “It’s the only Godly thing to do,” he explains.

When asked about the future, Rev. Edward envisions it as “very happy, very bright.” He wants to stay with Spare Change, to take what he is learning as a vendor and “run with it.” Ed is also exploring the possibility of engaging in journalistic advocacy work through publication in the newspaper, and is also eager to assist with the orientation of vendors for the new Worcester Edition of Spare Change.

Although the Rev’s future plans are still unfolding, it is certain that he’ll be doing ‘the Good Work.’

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Shawn

Bio Teaser: 

When Shawn Lawrence started selling Spare Change News over two years ago, he wasn’t sure he was going to make it. “It was rocky roads,” Shawn recounts, recalling his original spot near a loud truck unloading zone in Downtown Crossing. “People could barely hear me, even when I yelled ‘Spare Change’, in that spot,” Shawn remembers.

FullBio: 

But after accruing advice from other vendors and garnering much encouragement from customers, Shawn has succeeded as a Spare Change vendor. “The customers were great,” Shawn says, a smile dancing with the tips of his blonde mustache. “They saw that I was struggling, so they asked me my name, helped me to relax, and encouraged me to stay.”

Shawn is adamant about how important sticking it out has been. He insists that “This job has been a lifesaver for me,” enabling him to weather a period of homelessness with food in his stomach and on the right side of the law. Recently, through the help of a caseworker and the financial support provided by selling Spare Change, Shawn has overcome his situation of homelessness. He currently resides in transitional housing, but hopes to move into a Single Room Occupancy apartment in the near future.

While Shawn appreciates the income that working as a Spare Change vendor provides, he asserts that “it’s not just about the money.” Elaborating, Shawn explains that being a vendor affords “that sense of purpose that you get when you have a job.” Such a feeling is especially important for people who have experienced relatively prolonged periods of unemployment, in order to ward off psychological ills such as depression or lowered self-esteem. Aside from the economic benefits, it is this intangible egocentric boost that many vendors report which makes Spare Change News a unique model for self-empowerment. As Shawn puts it, “The encouragement and friendship I’ve found through Spare Change have enabled my transition.”

As a man who has seen substantial success in his life, to Shawn there is a clear link between self-esteem and the ability to effect positive change for himself. Prior to moving to Boston six years ago and becoming homeless three years later, Shawn once owned a home as well as his own computer repair shop in Bennington, New Hampshire. However, through what he describes as a series of bad investments and business decisions, he was forced to shutter his business and leave his home. Later, after a few years of working in carpentry and construction while based in Boston, Shawn was injured on the job and rendered unable to work. His assets gradually dwindled and he became homeless.

Today, though, Shawn’s outlook is positive. Now housed and anticipating further steps forward—into an SRO and beyond—Shawn is beginning to formulate renewed career plans. First, he hopes to return to college and complete the two and a half years that remain before completing a degree in computer science. Later, Shawn envisions himself as a help desk technician, perhaps at a local university.

Until then, Shawn will continue to vend Spare Change, meanwhile planning his future. You can support Shawn's education by selecting the "donate" icon on this page - proceeds will go towards enabling him to finish his computer science degree. If you want to buy a paper from Shawn, you can find him in Boston Common next to Park Street station, behind the information booth, from 11-4pm, Monday through Friday, Saturday morning and Sunday after 11am. Towards you, his customer base, Shawn will dedicatedly strive to impart the friendship and support that he has found in Spare Change News.

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Schedule: 
M-F, 11 AM-4 PM; Saturday AM; Sunday after 11 AM
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