EDITOR’S NOTE A LITTLE MORE THAN HALFWAY through the year, the insanity that appears to be a never-ending party favor that 2020 handed out upon its arrival rendered many of us exhausted. Rumor has it, Denver may undergo another shutdown due to the unrelenting spread of COVID-19. A significant percentage of the U.S. population has no jobs to return to and is facing likely eviction, job loss, and unbearable financial, emotional, and physical strain. The current political climate is intense enough to rival the sweltering heat of the desert southwest, and often, it seems one has to look hard to find any sign of human decency. I doubt I am the only one who feels so beaten down when we still have five months of 2020 remaining. This past month, as I read the drafts Denver VOICE contributors wrote for the August issue, I felt ELISABETH MONAGHAN MANAGING EDITOR grounded again. The experiences or opinions shared in this issue will not make any of us feel “all better.” If anything, these articles may reinforce a sense of powerlessness and frustration. Instead, the stories reflect the ugliness so many in our community deal with daily. No, it isn’t pleasant, but it is real, and until the rest of us finally recognize and speak out against the existence of hate and intolerance, there will never be such a thing as liberty and justice for all. ■ EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Jennifer Seybold MANAGING EDITOR Elisabeth Monaghan PAULA BARD is an award-winning fine art photographer, writer, and activist. She lives on a mountain top southwest of Denver. GILES CLASEN is a freelance photographer who regularly contributes his work to the VOICE for editorial projects, fundraisers, and events. He has also served on the VOICE’s Board of Directors. ROBERT DAVIS is a freelance reporter for the Denver VOICE. His work has also appeared in Colorado Public Works Journal, Fansided, Colorado Journal, and Medium.com. DOUG HRDLICKA is a Denver native who reports on the city’s changes. GRAPHIC DESIGNER Hannah Bragg ASHIRA CAMPBELL is a proud African American woman, activist and Denver native. She enjoys photography and is looking forward to her senior year of high school. ZEPHYR WILKINS is a Denver native interested in languages, travel, culture, food, history, politics, and the human experience. After teaching abroad for more than a decade, he’s grateful to be back teaching English in the Denver metro area. VOLUNTEER COPY EDITORS Aaron Sullivan Laura Wing PHOTOGRAPHERS/ILLUSTRATORS Paula Bard Giles Clasen WRITERS Paula Bard Ashira Campbell Giles Clasen Robert Davis Dean Glorso Doug Hrdlicka Pete Simon Zephyr Wilkins WHAT WE DO The Denver VOICE empowers homeless, impoverished, and transient individuals by creating job opportunities through our vendor program. We give our vendors a job and help them tell their stories; this creates a space for them to be part of a community again. Vendors purchase copies of the VOICE for 50 cents each at our distribution center. This money pays for a portion of our production costs. Vendors can buy as many papers as they want; they then sell those papers to the public for a suggested $2 donation. The difference in cost ($1.50) is theirs to keep. WHO WE ARE The Denver VOICE is a nonprofit that publishes a monthly street newspaper. Our vendors are men and women in the metro Denver area experiencing homelessness and poverty. Since 2007, we have put more than 4,000 vendors to work. Our mission is to facilitate a dialogue addressing the roots of homelessness by telling stories of people whose lives are impacted by poverty and homelessness and to offer economic, educational, and empowerment opportunities for the impoverished community. We are an award-winning publication, a member of the International Network of Street Papers and the Colorado Press Association, and we abide by the Society of Professional Journalists code of ethics. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Nikki Lawson, President Michelle Stapleton, Vice President Lori Holland, Treasurer Jeff Cuneo, Secretary Donovan Cordova Raelene Johnson Josh Kauer Craig Solomon Zephyr Wilkins DENVERVOICE.ORG CE.ORG @OCE EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT editor@denvervoice.org VENDOR PROGRAM program@denvervoice.org • 303.539.7226 ADVERTISING ads@denvervoice.org MAILING ADDRESS PO Box 1931, Denver CO 80201 VENDOR OFFICE 1600 Downing St., Ste. 230, Denver, CO 80218 With the money they make selling the VOICE, vendors are able to pay for their basic needs. Our program provides vendors with an immediate income and a support group of dedicated staff members and volunteers. Vendors are independent contractors who receive no base pay. OFFICE HOURS: For the immediate future, we will be open on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Orientation is held every day we are open. New vendors must arrive between 9 and 10 a.m. 2 DENVER VOICE August 2020 STAFF CONTRIBUTORS BOARD CONTACT US AUGUST CONTRIBUTORS
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