EDITOR'S NOTE WHEN DENVER VOICE VENDORS showed up at our office to buy papers on September 20, they found out what the three staff members discovered the night before: We had no money, and therefore, we were shutting down operations. For the first hour or so, it felt ELISABETH MONAGHAN MANAGING EDITOR like our family that had loved and supported each other through the Great Recession, the COVID-19 pandemic, and myriad changes in leadership was falling apart. Suddenly, the street paper that for 30 years has been a source of income for thousands of individuals experiencing homelessness was no longer. And then, as we prepared to send vendors off with extra pairs of Bombas socks, hand warmers, toiletries, and anything else we could give them before we closed the office doors for good, a few of the vendors started brainstorming ideas to keep us open. By the end of the weekend, what felt like our last goodbye softened to “Farewell for now.” Inspired by our vendors’ resolve, longtime Denver VOICE volunteer and contributing journalist Giles Clasen began making calls to existing and prospective donors. Within a week, he raised enough funds to pay staff any money they were owed and publish the October issue. While we’re only open on Wednesdays — at least for now — the reason our vendors had an October issue, and the reason they will have this issue is because of you, our generous supporters. As you will see from the stories several vendors share in these pages, vending the paper gives them more than an income. It provides them with a sense of community. Thank you for making that possible! ■ MANAGING EDITOR Elisabeth Monaghan ANNUAL WRAPPING PAPER ISSUE VOICE vendors have been busy coming up with wrapping paper designs for our December issue. Keep your eye out next month for the 2024 creations, and use them to wrap your holiday gifts! 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. GRAPHIC DESIGNER Hannah Bragg VOLUNTEER COPY EDITOR Aaron Sullivan ARTISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS Daniel Chavez Giles Clasen Charles Spring WRITERS Lando Allen Rea Brown David Gordon Raelene Johnson Jerry Rosen Charles Spring Charley “Hus” Williams Rodney Woolfolk BOARD OF DIRECTORS Robert Davis, President Chris Boulanger, Vice President Isabella Colletti, Secretary Antonio Diaz, Treasurer Michael Burkley Mackenzie Langley Eduardo Platon Charity Von Guinness Cabal Yarne DENVERVOICE.ORG E.ORG @OCE 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: Wednesdays, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. 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. 2 DENVER VOICE November 2024 STAFF CONTRIBUTORS BOARD CONTACT US 2024 ART BY VOICE VENDOR RAELENE JOHNSON T BY VOICE VENDOR RAELENE JOHNS N NE JOHNSON 2024 ART BY VOICE VENDOR LANDO ALLEN T BY VOICE VENDOR LANDO ALLEN T DO ALLE ALLE 2024 ART BY VOICE VENDOR LAMARQUES SMITH AR
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