Gwendolyn: Good morning Streetwise
today! Maybe on your way out!
Gwendolyn: How are you doing this morning?
Good morning Streetwise!
Well I could say I was an addict then,
I've been clean now.
I was born and raised in Chicago on
41st and Berkeley on the South Side.
I didn't graduate after 8th grade because
I got hooked up in these gangs,
gang bangers and stuff.
I was about 17, 18 I got pregnant.
Gwendolyn: Good morning how are you doing
today sir, maybe help me on your way out.
Well I was on drugs for 18 years, and
homeless, drinking, and I was panhandling.
Back then, the police would get on you
for panhandling.
He talked to me and stuff and said, "Well,
why don't you go to Streetwise cause 
they’re giving people jobs down there".
I've been working for Streetwise about 20, 24 years.
I thought panhandling was my job before
I started Streetwise.
I was a good panhandler, I always had a smile and
everything, said nice things to people, stuff you know
and they’ll help me out.
Gwendolyn: You know the weather’s changing.
Customer: You got a coat for the winter? It’s
a mens coat but what has is its got a down liner. 
Customer: You can take the liner out and wear
it underneath something that would fit you better.
Gwendolyn: Ok thank you, I appreciate it!
You know you've got your ups and downs up
there, but don't pay no attention to the downs
because you know they just dealing with their
own problems.
Gwendolyn: Good morning sir, maybe help me on your
way out if you can please. I’d appreciate it if you can.
By being friendly, talking to customers and
stuff, they listen to me and help me if they can.
I like to be family with my neighborhood I work in.
Customer: Yeah that’s you! I just noticed that!
Gwendolyn: Yeah.
Streetwise is a lovely organization, it helps us,
it feeds us, they're very supportive to their vendors.
Amanda: We can get more visible, we can
work on our sales pitches, we can get
Amanda: cashless pay, and we can keep working
together, learning from each other by coming to meetings.
I'm grateful and thankful for Streetwise you
know it's been there for me and I'm glad it's here.
Everybody that got no job, got no income, just
come to Streetwise, you’ll get a job.
