DIRECTOR’S NOTE JENNIFER SEYBOLD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THE DENVER VOICE offers a unique employment model. A nonprofit media outlet, our publication exists to create income opportunities for those experiencing homelessness and poverty through a low barrier entry that creates entrepreneurs – micro-business owners who earn an income by vending the paper to help break down community-held misconceptions. Their income, and our operations, are all fueled by the generosity of the public. This year that incredible work celebrated 25 years! It’s a challenging time to operate an employment program of any kind, as evidenced by thousands of small business employer challenges across the U.S. It’s even more challenging to operate one that depends entirely on public engagement to be successful. At the start of 2021, the Denver VOICE had largely returned to normal operations in our office. Equipped with new tools to help our vendors succeed, including a robust online news platform, cashless payments, and a “find your vendor” tool, we were ready to see street sales increase again and vendor numbers climb. But as businesses struggled, restrictions remained in place, and some employers changed their models, altogether, we learned it wouldn’t be quite that easy. We’d have to be patient, and we’d have to remain adaptable. Vendor numbers remain lower than usual even as we enter the last month of the year, much the way that many employers are struggling everywhere to find employees. Sales have also increased more slowly than we projected. But, thanks to ongoing community support, and the incredible community generosity, as of November 1st, we hit 75% of normal distribution numbers. That’s better than any street paper in our North American network! And thanks to Venmo, we now know that the average donation per paper to our vendors is at least $18,000 of collective income a month for our vendors! For an organization to endure 25 years and be as relevant today as it was at its founding is quite a feat. To be more relevant and more valuable today is an honor that goes to few. That honor is ours because of you! Even through what continues to be one of the most challenging times in our history, you keep showing up with generous support! I am so proud of the community you’ve helped us build, for this unprecedented year of success, and for 25 incredible years that have allowed us to employ more than 4,600 people to date. Thank you for your ongoing support as we keep forging into the future! ■ December CONTRIBUTORS ROBERT DAVIS is an award-winning freelance reporter for the Denver VOICE. His work has also appeared in Colorado Public Works Journal, Fansided, Colorado Journal, and Medium.com. ADRIAN MICHAEL is a Denver-based photographer that specializes in editorial, portraiture, documentary and street photography. A graduate of the Art Institute of Colorado with a degree in photography, he’s been creating images for over 15 years and has a strong passion for capturing the true essence of people and telling stories in visual media. DENVERVOICE.ORG CE.ORG EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Jennifer Seybold MANAGING EDITOR Elisabeth Monaghan PROGRAM COORDINATOR Anthony Cornejo GRAPHIC DESIGNER Hannah Bragg VOLUNTEER COPY EDITORS Ashton Brown Haven Enterman Kersten Jaeger Kate Marshall Aaron Sullivan Laura Wing PHOTOGRAPHERS/ILLUSTRATORS Lando Allen Brian Augustine Patrick Balerio Rea Brown GiGi Galen David Gordon Raelene Johnson Adrian Michael Jerry Rosen Penny Sandoval 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. WRITERS/RECIPE PROVIDERS John Alexander Lando Allen Brian Augustine Zakiyyah Brooks Rea Brown Anthony Cornejo Lainie Lee Cook Robert Davis Michael Roman Dixon Frances Ford Raelene Johnson Jacob Marsh Jennifer Seybold BOARD OF DIRECTORS Nikki Lawson, President Michelle Stapleton, Vice President Jeff Cuneo, Treasurer Zephyr Wilkins, Secretary Chris Boulanger Donovan Cordova Raelene Johnson 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 12 p.m. Orientation is held every day we are open, but prospective vendors must arrive by 10:00 a.m. @deeOCE 2 DENVER VOICE December 2021 STAFF CONTRIBUTORS BOARD CONTACT US
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