Dear Reader,

Our vendors exhale a collective sigh of relief as our late-afternoon temperatures have finally dropped under 90 degrees in recent days, with more of the same on the way. High temperatures make hard work more so for successful micro-business owners out there making a living, which certainly makes them all the more appreciative of their customers, not just the purchases and tips, mind you, but the smiles and waves, and the occasional bottle of water passed to a thirsty neighbor.

My colleagues and I support these all-important encounters by providing thoughtful and thought-provoking content within the pages of The Contributor each week. Wonder how you can do more to help? Just keep taking the paper each time you buy one.

On this week’s cover is Nicole Brandt, the youthful and energetic executive director of Poverty & the Arts. The organization she founded fosters community for people experiencing homelessness through artistic expression. Page 6

Contributor development officer Brady Banks ruminates on a mother’s tears in Ferguson, Mo. Page 2

This week’s “Vendor Spotlight” falls on micro-business owner Dale P., who prefers his shadow to the company of others, “unless you have four legs,” he says, smiling. Page 3

We also welcome to our pages Ted Williams, a man whose “golden voice” led him to fame a few years back when he was experiencing homelessness. Formerly homeless vendor Anita Smith asked Williams how that changed his life. Page 4

And, as always, our vendor poets and artists enliven our center spread on Pages 8-9. Of particular note due to its timeliness and poignancy is a poem inspired by the We Will Not Go Back March held in Nashville earlier this month. It’s authored by emerging poet Michael E. Woods, who is also The Contributor’s editorial intern and a senior at Vanderbilt.

Also, making his Contributor writing debut is vendor Arend P., who tells us to forgo the deep-fried turkey explosion and opt for game hens! Good idea, Arend! Welcome to our editorial pages, and thank you for cooking up a helpful how-to. Vendor Eileen B. describes her metamorphosis, and Michael G., aka “The Scribe,” offers informed hope to those of us experiencing depression.

Oh! And there may have been a crack in the ongoing identity-crisis-by-proxy I’ve experienced since my arrival at The Contributor more than a year ago! I attended a gathering of writers at Howlin’ Books last week, where a third party introduced me to a man whom the third party swears to be Mr. Mysterio. But I cast my skepticism with good cause. He wore no cape! He wore no turban! His fingers didn’t look capable of waving in a way that could possibly conjure images from a crystal ball, nor did his eyes appear to have the capacity to adopt a sinister eyebrow arch. Although the man denied knowledge of Mr. Mysterio, I think I may have detected a whiff of ozone as he motioned for security to keep an eye on me—somehow both seem to support the third party’s claim. Stay tuned.

Do something nice for yourself this week—buy The Contributor!

With sincere appreciation,

Skip Anderson
Editor, The Contributor

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