CHICAGO — A local high school student is making waves in the community by sharing the stories of individuals who sell StreetWise, the well-known magazine that provides employment to Chicagoans facing homelessness or financial hardship.
Anthony Mateos, a young Chicagoan, is the author of a new book titled Who We Are: Stories From the Chicago StreetWise Community, which highlights the experiences and voices of the magazine’s vendors. The project offers a humanizing look into the lives of those often overlooked on the city’s street corners and storefronts.
StreetWise: A Chicago Institution
StreetWise was founded in 1992 with a mission to empower people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity by giving them a chance to earn a modest income through magazine sales. Vendors purchase issues at a discounted price and sell them on the streets of Chicago.
If you’ve walked through the Loop, stood near busy intersections, or exited a grocery store on the North Side, chances are you’ve seen StreetWise sellers in action. For decades, the publication has served not just as a magazine but as a vital economic opportunity for hundreds in the city.
A Student’s Vision to Amplify Their Voices
Inspired by personal interactions and a desire to deepen public understanding, Anthony Mateos collected and curated stories directly from the vendors themselves. Through interviews and conversations, he gained insight into their lives — each shaped by resilience, loss, grit, and hope.
In an interview with ABC7 Chicago, Mateos explained how certain stories stood out to him — not just for their emotional impact, but for the honesty and strength of the individuals behind them.
Why It Matters
The book is more than just a collection of narratives; it’s a platform to shed light on systemic issues like homelessness, unemployment, and public perception. It gives readers a firsthand glimpse into the challenges and triumphs faced by vendors who are working to survive and be seen.
Mateos hopes Who We Are will inspire empathy and awareness — helping Chicagoans see vendors not as statistics or strangers, but as real people with stories worth telling.
Where to Find the Book
The book is available online through Lulu.com, where readers can support Mateos’ mission and the broader StreetWise community.
Have you ever had a conversation with a StreetWise vendor? What was your takeaway? Share your experience in the comments on ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com and help amplify the voices of those working hard to be heard.
