EDITOR’S NOTE WHEN WE LET DENVER VOICE VENDORS know our Ask a Vendor question, which Lando Allen suggested for this month — “What can you do to accomplish your goals?” — I was happy to see how many of them submitted answers. All of the answers are good, but a few of the responses stood out to me. To accomplish his goals, John ELISABETH MONAGHAN MANAGING EDITOR Alexander, who is one of the sagest people I’ve met, applies what he calls his “constant persistence” formula. As he explains, when it comes to success, one can’t work for it “sometimes” but, instead, must approach a goal with unwavering faith and firmness. Jason Martin believes it is better to set simple goals he knows he can achieve. When he wakes up each morning, his first goal is to make his bed, so by the time he heads out to begin his day, he already has achieved something. Our vendors’ answers show how differently people approach their goals. Regardless of what they are and whether we share them or not, goals are personal, and we are the only ones who can determine how successful we are in meeting them. Whether our goal is to get through the day without touching a drop of alcohol, cross the street before the light turns red, or be a best-selling author, our goals are our own. And if anyone reading this isn’t sure where to begin with goal-setting, VOICE vendor Larmarques Smith reminds us that the first step is to HAVE a goal, and then, to come up with a plan for how we’re going to meet that goal. ■ DENVERVOICE.ORG E.ORG @deeOCE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR James Kay MANAGING EDITOR Elisabeth Monaghan THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS ROBERT DAVIS is an award-winning freelance reporter for the Denver VOICE. His work has also appeared in Colorado Newsline, Business Insider, Westword, and Medium.com. FRANK DEANGELI is a PNW transplant who has spent six years in Colorado. He has previously spent much of his professional career working in case management at a homeless shelter. He loves movies, making music, and throwing any kind of flying disc. 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 Denver metro area experiencing homelessness and poverty. Since 2007, we have put more than 4,600 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. PROGRAM COORDINATOR Connie Gaitan GRAPHIC DESIGNER Hannah Bragg VOLUNTEER COPY EDITORS Lanie Lee Cook Aaron Sullivan ARTISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS Gigi Galen WRITERS John Alexander Lando Allen Rea Brown Michael Burkley Robert Davis Frank DeAngeli Raelene Johnson Jason Martin Jerry Rosen Larmarques Smith Steve Szloboda BOARD OF DIRECTORS Nikki Lawson, President Chris Boulanger, Vice President Jeff Cuneo, Treasurer Zephyr Wilkins, Secretary Michael Burkley Antonio Diaz Jennifer Seybold Julia Watson Cabal Yarne 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. EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT editor@denvervoice.org VENDOR PROGRAM program@denvervoice.org • (720) 320-2155 ADVERTISING ads@denvervoice.org MAILING ADDRESS PO Box 1931, Denver CO 80201 VENDOR OFFICE 989 Santa Fe Drive, Denver, CO 80204 OFFICE HOURS: Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Orientation is held every day we are open, but prospective vendors must arrive by 10:00 a.m. 2 DENVER VOICE October 2023 STAFF CONTRIBUTORS BOARD CONTACT US
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