Vulnerable People and Places Blog

  Did you know every single day, supermarkets, restaurants and food chains across the country throw away tons of food, fruits in good shape, slightly dented cereal boxes, and unsold prepared meals? That donut shop near your house at the end of day throws all unsold products in the dumpster. We aren’t talking about rotten food, what I am talking about is surplus inventory. In fact, did you know nearly 20 - 30% of all food in grocery stores is wasted before it ever reaches a shopping cart? At the exact same timing, millions of families in our community are struggling to figure out where their next meal will come from. I don’t believe this isn't just a logistics issue, perhaps it’s a massive missed opportunity. Allowing retail food waste to end up in landfills, we aren’t only wasting what it looks like food or meals, but also a waste of water, labor, and fuel it took to grow and transport that food. Rescuing these ingredients by redirecting them to local shelter places can make a mass...

       Imagine you're hungry on the street, trying to find your next meal. Someone walks up trying to help, but something is pointed right at your face. While you feel low on hope, you're being filmed. As something that could be seen as something nice someone did for another human being, instead, they are using this person in need of help as content.      When does this go too far? When does it stop feeling helpful and start feeling degrading? From an outsider's perspective, or as a viewer through the phone, we could see this as something positive. One human helping another. This could be helpful and encourage others to do the same, go out of their way to help, and spread the word. Seeing someone helping another may help spread awareness.       The person who is receiving the help and being filmed might not see this in a positive way. Someone who's experiencing this hardship might not want their face blasted all over the internet wh...

  A lot of our perception of the homeless that we currently have has been propagandized or semi unrealistic notions. I'm sure we've all been told at one point in our lives when coming to portland “Portland is dangerous” “the homeless are dangerous” "you'll get drugged and robbed” A lot of these talking points have been exaggerated to sell a news story , although while these things are said with an intent to keep you safe; it instead causes more fear and and stigmas against homeless people.  These assumptions have caused people to be less willing to help a homeless person on the street or consider making a small donation to a charity or facility. Oregon as well has a problem with upkeeping shelters and facilities open for longer than a year and with significant cuts and reductions many people never end up back on their feet. In particular the Portland metro area is going through a significant job crisis that is impacting hundreds of Portland residents and according to t...

  Rakai (far left), a Twitch streamer and content creator, slams a turkey onto a dining table as others watch and record. (Screenshot from YouTube) Social media has reached a point where almost anything can become entertainment, including wasting perfectly good food. During a livestream involving streamers Rakai and Deshae Frost, Rakai was seen throwing food around at Deshae's family home. While some viewers might have found the situation funny, I think it raises a bigger question: Why has wasting food become something people are willing to do just to entertain an audience? Watch the clip: Rakai and Deshae Frost Thanksgiving I'm not saying every joke involving food is a serious problem. People mess around, and sometimes things get out of hand. However, there's a difference between accidentally wasting food and deliberately treating it like something disposable because people are watching. When influencers do this on camera, they're turning wastefulness into part of the...

  Homelessness remains at the forefront of Oregon’s policy concerns. This is especially pertinent given the context of the midterm elections, as homelessness sits as the top issue for a third of Portlanders. The situation seems to be getting worse. Recent data on homelessness also shows the issue intensifying in Multnomah County, with a 29% increase from January 2025 to January 2026. Increasing worries surrounding homelessness bring about questions surrounding housing access and how that has affected unhoused Oregonians. Data collection on unhoused people in Oregon has massively improved in recent years. Though statistics are more accurate, the new collection method has contributed to spikes in Oregon compared to the rest of the country. This improved data collection has contributed to a better ability for local governments to coordinate with both shelters and unhoused people. In Central Oregon, this has led to a 20% decrease in the homeless population from 2025 to 2026. However, i...

Housing First Program: Is it an effective way to end homelessness? Homelessness is a debilitating experience for individuals that can deeply traumatize and impact one’s quality of life, as well as the safety and experience of people living in urban cities such as Portland. The Housing First program has been adopted in many cities as a potential solution to the homelessness crisis, aiming to address the issue at its source by providing housing first, and other mental or rehabilitation services second to individuals in need.  The idea behind this program is the assumption that no one can heal or recover from mental health or substance abuse issues without having their basic human needs met such as a safe and stable shelter. The organization “Path Home” offers rapid rehousing services and claims housing as a “human right”. I would argue in support of these types of organizations as I fully believe every human deserves access to safe and sustainable housing, health care, and food. Rese...

  Why AI Will Have a Difficult Time Replacing Creative Careers Artificial intelligence has the ability to produce images, write stories, generate music, edit videos, and assist with graphic design. Because of these advancements, many artists are concerned that AI could eventually take over in creative careers. However, having the capacity to generate creative content won’t be enough to allow AI to replace a creative’s mastermind that works in creative industries. There’s more to a creative approach than just producing a finished product. Graphic designers, writers, filmmakers, animators, musicians, photographers, and other creative professionals often execute their ideas through different experiences, audiences, cultures, emotions, and personal perspectives. For example, a designer often prioritizes on a set of goal that expands beyond visually attractive. They start to recognize what a client wants and narrows down to the intended audience, respond to feedback, solve problems, rec...