The UNZINE connects vendors of Nashville’s CONTRIBUTOR street newspaper with local artists to create zines – low fi, low cost, easily distributable comic books – that vendors author and sell independently. Working in a workshop format on a bi-weekly basis, the UNZINE has helped Contributor vendors create dozens of unique zines that have sold in the 100’s and generated significant income.
THE CONTRIBUTOR AND THE UNZINE
People who are experiencing homelessness often go unseen by the general population. They are often overlooked as a fixture on the street or in public spaces. Pretending this population does not exist just perpetuates the cycle of helplessness and marginalization. The Contributor serves our homeless community by offering opportunities for stability, accountability, and housing. The Contributor extends their hand to those who reach for it, offering the chance to share their stories and have them printed, thus enabling them to sell the paper and begin again.
UNZINE Nashville is a new in-house publication that gives newspaper vendors another opportunity to explore their creative side and get their voice back. Through the UNZINE project, vendors have the opportunity to connect with local artists, have their stories illustrated, and create another product alongside the newspaper to sell.
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
The Contributor is a nonprofit social enterprise providing economic opportunity to people experiencing or who have experienced homelessness and poverty. The Contributor street paper is an award-winning bi-weekly, hyperlocal newspaper that challenges stereotypes surrounding homelessness and tells the stories of our Contributor vendors. Through newspaper sales, our vendors build their own micro-businesses, establish meaningful relationships, and work their way into housing.
