CHICAGO, IL, October 23, 2008
/24-7PressRelease/ -- StreetWise will begin a new life as a full-color glossy magazine on November 5. StreetWise -and the 200-plus vendors selling it-have become a fixture in Chicago, and StreetWise, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, is keeping ahead of the curve in a time of growing economic challenge. The new format and new content directly addresses the need to help the growing number of homeless people in Chicago and the suburbs.
"Our theme for the launch is 'A Better StreetWise, A Better Life,'" said StreetWise's executive director, Michael Speer. "It's a great move forward for us and we have great hopes for the new format. During the past 16 years we've helped thousands of people who otherwise would have had no means to earn a living. The new StreetWise will be even better than before and we expect it will become a must-read for many Chicagoans." The goal is to increase readership, revenue, donations and involvement at a crucial time when economic distress and homelessness are on the rise.
When the newspaper StreetWise was launched back in 1992, founder Judd Lofchie couldn't have guessed that, sixteen years later, the paper would count more than 8,000 homeless or near-homeless Chicagoans among those it has helped to keep their heads above water. "Over the years, StreetWise has given our vendors hope, dignity, camaraderie and most importantly, a way to earn a living when few others could," said Lofchie.
Many Chicagoans don't realize that StreetWise vendors are entrepreneurs who buy the publication at a wholesale price and sell it at the retail price on the streets. As a full-color glossy, StreetWise must raise the price to $2 per issue (it has stayed at one dollar for sixteen years) and the vendors, who will pay a higher wholesale price for the magazine, will nonetheless have the opportunity to earn more per issue. The new $2 price will help StreetWise provide new programs for its vendors and move the organization toward self-sufficiency.
Editor-in-Chief Suzanne Hanney explained that this move is not unusual for street newspapers. "Editorially speaking, we are following a welcome trend among street newspapers in moving to a magazine format. Most people don't know there is a global network of street newspapers, The International Network of Street Papers (INSP). It's a global movement to alleviate local and global poverty by providing entrepreneurial opportunities for those in poverty. These papers have evolved over time and, for many of them, as magazines they are better able to deliver high quality editorial content while adding visually interesting production values.
In its new format, StreetWise will have greater flexibility in its editorial content. "For shorter, to-the-point stories, our rotating series of departments will offer structure and topical focus," says Hanney. "For in-depth stories-issue-oriented, human interest or lifestyle-we can offer lengthier features that are journalistically compelling with great photography."
Economics are also playing a role in the move to the magazine format. "Many of our advertisers and potential advertisers have told us that a full-color glossy publication would be a much more attractive vehicle for advertising," said Rob Federighi, a Streetwise board member who heads the publication committee. He and his wife, Grace Federighi, who serves as advertising sales manager, are bringing new life to the business side of the publication. "We recognize that StreetWise's mission needs to expand and to do this we need a strong revenue base and generous support from the committed public."
"We are taking a proactive stance by moving to a magazine," says Grace Federighi. "We are anticipating there will be a greater numbers of homeless people due to the economic problems in our country. Increasing our advertising pages is one way we will be able to add financial muscle to StreetWise's program."
Another first for StreetWise will be subscriptions. "We are making final arrangements to offer annual subscriptions to people outside the city limits who want to read StreetWise and help fund its programs," said Lee Barrie, V.P. at marketing/PR firm Kurman Communications and a board member who is helping to develop the subscription program. "Subscribers will be people who typically can't find StreetWise in the suburbs. Switching to a magazine format is one way to make sure we give them a good publication for their subscription dollar." In addition to individual subscriptions, StreetWise will soon be encouraging businesses and corporations to purchase bulk subscriptions and make StreetWise available to their employees.
"Many companies are on board with the StreetWise mission but do not necessarily want to give a corporate check because they are asked for donations all the time," said Barrie. "By purchasing 50 or 100 copies a week-hopefully more-and letting employees pick up a copy in the company cafeteria or front lobby, corporate subscribers will offer a nice value-add to their staff-an interesting, non-partisan issued oriented magazine that is a good read and keeps them informed about the various ways they and their community organizations can get involved."
The vendors will also directly benefit from subscription sales, as a portion of the proceeds from subscription sales will go directly back to them; StreetWise will also use these revenues to fund new initiatives. Among these, StreetWise has begun discussions with area colleges and the city of Chicago to develop innovative career skills training for those vendors who are able to participate in a structured learning program.
Longstanding Board member and U.S. Congressman Danny K. Davis (Illinois, 7th District) has played a key role in helping StreetWise forge ahead with these new programs. "For many of our vendors, selling StreetWise should be a means to a greater end, which is moving into the mainstream job market with tangible skills. For some of our vendors who have sold the paper for years, they love what they're doing and consider it their profession. They'll stay as StreetWise vendors. For others, StreetWise could best serve them as a temporary but stable safety net that empowers them to move on to other life-changing pursuits."
StreetWise has expanded its board roster and is actively seeking volunteers to help with fund-raising and support programs for its vendors. People who would like to learn more are encouraged to contact Michael Speer at the StreetWise office by calling (312) 829-2526 or sending an email to mspeer@streetwise.org.
Magazine Launch Party on Wednesday, November 5
Streetwise will commemorate its new life as a magazine with a "A Better StreetWise, A Better Life" celebration and fundraiser to be held 6 p.m.-11 p.m., Wednesday, November 5 at the popular jazz club CloseUp2, located at 416 S. Clark Street. "Everyone is behind StreetWise," said Frank Goss, general manager of the club. "We are pleased to be a part of the new StreetWise and we're informing our lengthy mailing list about the event." Chicago's own rising star, contemporary jazz saxophonist Ray Silkman and his band will be the featured performers, with sets at 7 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. Other noted contemporary jazz artists will appear on stage as well. Admission is $25 with a cash bar; complimentary buffet will be served. The public is invited to attend; advance tickets can be purchased online. Guests can also buy tickets at the door but are asked to please RSVP to StreetWise by November 1 by calling Ben Cook at StreetWise, (312) 829-2526, or sending an email to bcook@streetwise.org.
About StreetWise
StreetWise, with offices at 1201 W. Lake Street, Chicago, IL 60607, is a social enterprise designed to help severely impoverished men and women out of poverty. StreetWise publishes the weekly "StreetWise", a general interest newspaper with a gritty "from the streets perspective" to give insight to its readers on what is really going on in Chicago. By using vendors as the distribution mechanism, we are able to personalize the face of poverty and create income for the vendor.
By selling "StreetWise" each vendor is given an opportunity to learn important business skills, improve his or her confidence, and ultimately earn enough income to become self-sufficient. The best way out of poverty is opportunity. StreetWise provides people with an opportunity to get started and to help themselves with dignity.
In addition to helping our vendors, we also serve any individual who is facing homelessness with access to all the programs and services of StreetWise. Successful participants in the StreetWise opportunity seek a hand up, not a hand out. For more information about StreetWise and/or to become involved in supporting its programs, please contact Michael Speer, Executive Director, by telephone at (312) 829-2526 or by email at mspeer@streetwise.org. Please visit the StreetWise website at http://www.streetwise.org. StreetWise is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization.
About Kurman Communications, Inc.
Kurman Communications, Inc. is a Chicago-based public relations agency specializing in lifestyle media relations and events. Media strategists, brand masters, and leaders in social networking, Kurman is celebrating its 25 anniversary this year. To learn more, visit http://www.kurman.com or call us at 312-651-9000.
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- barrie, better, charities, chicago, communications, homeless, kurman, lee, life, magazines, michael, newspapers, speer, street, streetwise, vendors
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