Daniel Campbell has been a cook, a construction worker and a reticulated lift operator. But most importantly, he’s working on getting a degree in English literature. Because what he really is, is a writer.
“I write about day-to-day things, things that interest me, politics,” he said. With the recent election, “I feel like I’m losing a lot of cannon fodder.” But that’s a good thing, he said. “I really feel like things are going to get better.”
“I find a lot of catharsis by writing,” Daniel said. Several years ago, he published a book of 36 poems, “We Were Soldiers Once,” through a local, now defunct, publisher. He did poetry readings and sold the 400-book print run at the readings.
Daniel describes the poetry as personal.
“It was really emotional for me because a lot of it had to do with mom and dad. I had a pretty tumultuous youth.”
More recently, writing has helped him process the deaths of his mother and father. “I’ve had a lot of tragedy in my life in the last three years,” he said.
Daniel came to Street Roots through a friend. “It’s turned into my full-time gig right now.” Daniel has to come up with $160 a month in order to stay in his subsidized housing. Street Roots is helping him do that.
Daniel has been working on his English degree at Portland Community College for about three years and needs just eight more credits to get there. Fortunately, he loves to read.
“I tend toward nonfiction,” he said, “but it really runs the gamut.” He likes William S. Burroughs and Chuck Palahniuk, but he especially likes finding oddball stories that people don’t think about much. Like the plight of the menhaden, a fish that’s been used for “literally everything,” he said — industrial grade oil, fertilizer, food for livestock. “It’s really one of those weird things that our economy is actually kind of built on.”
Daniel journals every day, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, he’s mostly “gritted his teeth and made the best of a bad situation.” He’s gotten out of the routine of writing poetry, and he’s lost some confidence about what he can do.
“I look forward to the day when I can get some of my poetry published again,” he said, “maybe even an article here or there.” He’s interested in writing about gentrification and all the changes he’s seen living in Portland since 1996.
For now, Street Roots is his main gig. He’s been at his post at the Whole Foods on Northwest 13th Avenue and Couch Street for a few months. He’s getting to know more customers every day.
He loves the freedom it gives him to work his own hours and to “at least scrape by.” He likes the camaraderie of the vendor community, and loves that vendors are now on the staff at Street Roots. It contributes to the feeling of community, he said.
“I’m very thankful for the opportunity to work with Raven and Tina and everyone else that works behind the desk (at Street Roots) now.”
To his customers, he says, “I’m a friendly guy, please don’t ever be afraid to approach me if I’m standing there in front of Whole Foods. I’m always up for talking.”
Per Daniel’s wish, this profile is dedicated to Portland poet Walt Curtis.
