$ 2 SUGGESTED DONATION @DenverVOICE KEEPING THEIR MEMORIES ALIVE COLORADO COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS TALKS ABOUT ANNUAL MEMORIAL VIGIL GIVING COMFORT QUIL TO MARSHALL VICTIMS PAGE 6 PAGE 8 PEDESTRIAN DIGNITY LOCAL ORGANIZATION RAISES AWARENESS FOR THOSE WHOSE PRIMARY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION IS WALKING PAGE 4 MEDIA LITERACY MATTERS STATE REPRESENTATIVE LISA CUTTER EXPLAINS WHY DISINFORMATION IS A DANGEROUS TACTIC PAGE 3 HOPE ON WHEELS HOW SKATEBOARDS ARE BRINGING TOGETHER INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES PAGE 10 VOICES OF OUR COMMUNITY PAGES 3, 5, 11, 12 EVENTS / PUZZLES PAGE 13 RESOURCES PAGE 15 FEBRUARY 2022 | Vol.27 Issue 2 SINCE 1997, WE HAVE PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO WORK. DONATE TODAY TO ENSURE OUR VENDORS CONTINUE TO HAVE JOBS. (DENVERVOICE.ORG) FROM YOUR VENDOR: RYAN PRYOR HOLDS UP HIS QUILT TOP HE MADE THAT HE IS DONATING TO THE VICTIMS OF THE MARSHALL FIRE. CREDIT: ADRIAN MICHAEL
EDITOR’S NOTE THE CONTINUED ACRIMONY over people’s vaccination status and division over political affiliations has kept much of our focus on the ugly side of human behavior. Meanwhile, members of our ELISABETH MONAGHAN MANAGING EDITOR community are in pain caused by the horrific Marshall Fire and the latest shooting spree that killed five of our neighbors. We cannot ignore the darkness or what causes it. At the same time, we must not forget there are more benevolent people in the world than there are evil. That’s why, in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, we are highlighting the words, actions, and creative expression of those whose compassion and caring are making things more tolerable. For this issue, we asked Denver VOICE vendors to share the nicest thing someone did for them over the past two years. Also in this issue, we are introduced to local organizations like the Arapahoe County Quilters and Pedestrian Dignity, whose efforts prove others are rallying to improve the lives of their fellow humans. One of the most meaningful traditions honoring those who died while experiencing housing instability is the annual vigil hosted by the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. For many, this vigil is the only memorial acknowledging these individuals. You can read more about the vigil in Giles Clasen’s interview with the Coalition’s Cathy Alderman. You will also see the Valentine’s Day-themed illustrations created by Denver VOICE Vendors Gigi Galen and Lando Allen. Valentine’s Day may be a commercialized holiday, but it’s also a day when some of us celebrate those friendships and relationships that make our hearts swell. Right now, many of the people we hold most dear are hurting. We may not have the financial or material means to alleviate that pain, but rather than sit back and feel helpless, we can find ways to make their lives a little easier, and I hope the people and work covered in this issue are a reminder that by taking action, good is possible. ■ February CONTRIBUTORS 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. CAT EVANS is a Colorado native born and raised in the Baker neighborhood of Denver. She is a musician, poet, photographer, cinematographer, and free thought enthusiast. She is focused on translatable activism through visuals and sound. ADRIAN MICHAEL is a Denver-based photographer who specializes in editorial, portraiture, documentary and street photography. He’s been creating images for over 15 years and has a passion for capturing the true essence of people. DENVERVOICE.ORG CE.ORG @deeOCE 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 Aaron Sullivan Laura Wing PHOTOGRAPHERS/ILLUSTRATORS Lando Allen Giles Clasen Cat Evans Gigi Galen 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. Adrian Michael WRITERS John Alexander Lando Allen Giles Clasen Cat Evans Raelene Johnson Adrian Michael Jerry Rosen BOARD OF DIRECTORS Nikki Lawson, President Chris Boulanger, Vice President Jeff Cuneo, Treasurer Zephyr Wilkins, Secretary 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. 2 DENVER VOICE February 2022 STAFF CONTRIBUTORS BOARD CONTACT US
VOICES OF OUR COMMUNITY MEDIA LITERACY IN A CHANGING INFORMATION LANDSCAPE BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE LISA CUTTER Editor’s Note: I recently asked State Representative Lisa Cutter to write about media literacy, a subject about which she is passionate. In 2019, Cutter co-sponsored HB1901110, and in 2021 co-sponsored HB21-1103, both of which turn a spotlight onto media literacy and why it matters. ON DEC. 4, 2016, Edgar M. Welch, a 28-year-old from North Carolina, arrived at the Comet Ping Pong pizzeria in Washington, D.C. with a military-style rifle and a handgun. He fired the rifle inside the pizzeria, thankfully hurting no one, and eventually surrendered. Because of a conspiracy theory perpetuated by conservative journalists aligned with alt-right media outlets, Welch believed there was a human trafficking and child sex ring run by high-ranking officials of the Democratic party. The shooting did not put the theory to rest. Purveyors of the theory pointed to the mainstream media as conspirators of a coverup to protect what they said was a crime ring and attempted to link the pizza shop’s branding to satanism. This is an example of disinformation – the deliberate dissemination and promotion of false information. Over the past several years, disinformation has been particularly harmful in the areas of election security, pushing anti-science agendas broadly, and specifically, pushing anti-vaccination information. For example, Russia has used Twitter trolls to fuel the anti-vaccination debate in the U.S., and China stepped up its own efforts attacking the U.S.-based COVID-19 vaccines. In addition to the proliferation of misinformation campaigns, political leaders have claimed that there is such thing as fake news in order to diminish trust, and credible media outlets have experienced significant cuts in newsrooms and distribution. To compound this, there is no barrier to entry in online reporting. Anyone can set up a website and write articles, claiming legitimacy. This has all served to create an environment where disinformation can thrive; preventing us from working together to solve the real problems facing our society. Hence the need for a population well-versed in media literacy has become increasingly critical. Media literacy works to prevent the spread of misinformation on two different fronts: the sharer and the reader. Individuals particularly on social media, have a responsibility. People trust the information they receive from their friends more than from other sources, so individuals can have a huge impact by only sharing information that they are certain is factually accurate. But how does someone know they are sharing credible information? Making a practice to only consume media from respected outlets is the first step. There are many ways to evaluate media, including reviewing their editorial and ethics policies (you should be able to locate this information for most major outlets). In addition, there are some excellent tools online that measure both the factual accuracy of most top-tier news outlets and also their left- or right-leaning bias. Ad Fontes Media and AllSides Media publish such tools, and it’s easy to find them in an online search. Searching for other stories on a subject can help determine if other, credible news sources are reporting on it the same way. And because we are all predisposed to believe stories or headlines that are in alignment with our own perspective, it can be incredibly valuable to be aware of your personal bias. The study of media literacy also helps people understand the difference between fact and opinion. In this era of 24/7 cable news, it is sometimes difficult to remember that a panel of pundits discussing a topic for 15 minutes is not news, it is their opinion of the news. Widespread access to the internet has completely sharing information, transformed how we as a society communicate, learn, act, and – perhaps most importantly – react to the changing world around us. A few decades ago, there was not such a limitless reservoir of information to draw on. Access to news, and that claiming to be news, is unfettered and unfiltered. But we still have the power to choose both what information we take in, and what we choose to share back out to our family, friends, and colleagues. Media literacy can help inform this power. ■ LISA CUTTER is a Colorado state representative. She advocates for food access, media literacy, first amendment protections, zero waste, wildfire response, education, and mental healthcare in order to protect our planet, our people, and our democracy. HOW TO HELP The money we take in from vendors helps us cover a portion of our printing costs, but we depend largely on donations from individuals, businesses, and foundations to help us pay our rent and keep the lights on. 1 4 GET THE WORD OUT We rely on grassroots marketing to get the word out about what we do. Talk to people about our organization and share us with your network. Support us on DONATE Donations to the Denver VOICE are tax-deductable. Go to denvervoice.org to give a one-time or recurring donation. You can also mail a check to: Denver VOICE | P.O. Box 193 | Denver, CO 80201 3 VOLUNTEER We need volunteers to help with everything from newspaper distribution to event planning and management. Contact program@denvervoice.org for volunteering information. 5 SUBSCRIBE If you are unable to regularly purchase a newspaper from our vendors, please consider a subscription. We ask subscribers to support our program with a 12-month pledge to give $10 a month, or a one-time donation of $120. Subscriptions help us cover our costs AND provide an amazing opportunity to those who need it most. Go to denvervoice.org/subscriptions for more information. @denverVOICE 2 ADVERTISE Our readership is loyal, well-educated, and socially concerned. Readers view purchasing the paper as a way to immediately help a person who is poor or homeless while supporting long-term solutions to end poverty. If you are interested in placing an ad or sponsoring a section of the paper, please contact us about rates at ads@denvervoice.org. February 2022 DENVER VOICE 3
COMMUNITY PROFILE PEDESTRIAN DIGNITY BY CAT EVANS JONATHAN STALLS SPENT 242 DAYS walking across the United States; he now refers to himself as a “walking artist.” Amongst many endeavors, Stalls created a project called Pedestrian Dignity. Pedestrian Dignity is a platform designed to allow everyday people to document and share their experiences operating as pedestrians. There are many fundamental flaws in sidewalks, crosswalks, and accessibility overall, and often, these get overlooked by the general public, making functional needs harder to meet, particularly for people who are handicapped. Stalls, a huge believer in collaboration and unity, believed that togetherness was the only true solution to disrupt apathy toward such important human matters. “I believe in co-creation more than anything,” he said. Pedestrian Dignity exists as a “raw, unfiltered storytelling/ educational/awareness, built around the lived experience.” The education is hyper-focused on people who have no choice but to commute by foot or wheelchair, with an emphasis on the latter. “All the imagery we see, all the lights, all the signals, all the things are the able-bodied person. It’s so important that I use the terms walking/rolling, moving in an unhurried way, and so on,” said Stalls, who through travel and observation, found it apparent there was a huge gap between the streetlevel experience and local government support. “How are our public transportation departments caring for us?” There is much to be documented regarding the lack of support for people who are on foot and even less accommodation for people who are forced to be in a wheelchair. As you walk down Colfax or Broadway, two main, active, huge streets in the Denver Metro Area, you won’t find a single block without the need for upkeep and alterations. Sidewalks have major fractures, certain areas are without ramps from one sidewalk to another, and so on. On some streets, there isn’t even a sidewalk. Pedestrian Dignity has opened a portal of data to tap into for people directly witnessing/experiencing mobility negligence to submit their own findings by sharing publicly on all major social media platforms. The distance between knowing that an issue exists and feeling that a genuine injustice is occurring is the exact bridge Stalls is trying to gap. “We work with local accessibility groups and have them co-host an experience that would have decision-makers move in a wheelchair,” Stalls said. The hope is that people who otherwise would never understand the difficulty of getting from A to B, without the luxury of a vehicle would really see what it’s like “in these totally hostile, irresponsible corridors, intersections.” From his view, apathy shed toward something so crucial exists heavily from a lack of experience. “Moving from a conceptual, theoretical separation into the empathy brain. The heart brain. Like, okay, now I’m out here, and I’m witnessing someone trying to ride this bus during a snowstorm. I’m in proximity to this grandma with groceries waiting for a bus that is 20 minutes late. Most importantly, the physical element being I feel this. I feel the wet spray on Colorado Boulevard as I’m walking down the street. I know because I’ve lived it,” Stalls said. Connecting those two realms is necessary for genuine empathy. Communicating with the City is no easy task but one the project takes on hard-headed. Multiple walks with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) have been organized, and many conversations have been had. Sometimes there is progress, and other times, crickets. Stalls is familiar with the action versus word but is resilient with accountability. “You say you are for a certain thing, but until agency and integration are applied in everyday decisions that disrupt conversations only focusing on motor vehicles, we will continue down the same broken path,” Stalls said. The greater awareness the Pedestrian Dignity community can create, the more pressure the City faces to respond. On a walk with the Colorado State Department, Stalls called out CDOT’s logo for lack of pedestrian inclusion on their updated version. “They say, ‘it’s just a logo.’ No, it’s not just a logo. It’s a brand,” he said. “The current logo shows a road going through a mountain and an airplane — nobody on foot whatsoever. You are communicating in 2021 that you only focus on airplanes and cars as a form of transportation in your logo, publicly branding that there are no people who walk or use public transportation.” Car-centric language and imagery are viewed by Stalls as crucial barriers between visibility and social awareness of street conditions for pedestrians. According to Stalls, there is an air of righteousness in today’s younger generation. With content creation and rapid relay used as tools to influence change and encourage high engagement from younger people, the knowledge of public JONATHAN STALLS OF PEDESTRIAN DIGNITY. CREDIT: CAT EVANS error and room for improvement grows rapidly. “What I’m loving is that young people who never saw it as a space they could organize in, are jumping in, taking JONATHAN STALLS OF PEDESTRIAN DIGNITY. CREDIT: CAT EVANS it to their classes, making it their capstone project, considering urban planning as a career — they’re tangibly weaving their colleagues, teachers, classes, future career framing around this — that is exciting to me,” Stalls emphasized, acknowledging a tangible growth regarding exposure and visibility of pedestrian awareness in younger communities. Stalls is fully aware of the time it will take to make a difference. Each move has to do with raising public awareness, a struggle that will be long and uphill. The lack of support generates an “angst” that encourages Stalls and his collaborators to continue marching forward, creating content, sharing stories, and tapping the shoulder of the City whenever they can get the time of day. When Stalls hosts a walk with City workers, he focuses on dehumanization and the need to get back to each other. “Physically, you are next to the director of the Colorado Department of Transportation. There are so many benefits of us moving together that help us to find each other again. It’s not just about devastation, it’s about healing,” he said. The road to impact will be, ironically, long and bumpy with many progressions, inclines, and plateaus along the way. The more knowledgeable people are about the true conditions of the City-kept streets, the more pressure can be applied to local council members and decision-makers to truly make a difference for those most in need. Pedestrian Dignity has set up its feed inside almost every social media platform: Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok with the handle @pedestriandignity — all submissions highlighting spaces in need of pedestrian focus. For those who have the desire to participate, all forms of support and contributions are welcome. ■ 4 DENVER VOICE February 2022
WINTER WISH LIST Q A NEW ITEMS NEEDED: Socks Toothpaste, deodorant, chapstick Paper products for the office GENTLY-USED ITEMS NEEDED: Men’s shoes or boots (sizes 8-12) Men’s jackets (sizes L, XL, XXL) Women’s jackets (sizes M, L, XL) Hats or beanies Blankets Gloves ASK A VENDOR THIS COLUMN IS A PLACE FOR DENVER VOICE VENDORS TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS FROM OUR READERS AND STAFF. Over the past two years, what was the nicest thing someone did for you? JOHN ALEXANDER When I was a young kid growing up, I was always learning about something. It started with good ole home teaching, followed by school, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, the streets, etc. But no matter where or what I was learning, my parents always made sure that my learning was in balance with something about God. One of the things I was taught about God is that He gave us all gifts, and the most valuable gift of all is the gift of life. About two years ago, I found myself in a situation where I was about to have that gift taken away. I had a double stroke, blood clots, and I was minutes away from a massive heart attack. I was in the hospital for three months, and I was on my deathbed for the first two weeks. I had met a person before this happened, and with God’s help and guidance and the actions this person took, my life was saved. The gift from God was given back to me, which is the nicest thing anyone did for me. LANDO ALLEN The nicest thing someone did for me was to buy me some new shoes. They had seen my shoes were falling apart. I would love to thank them for that and hope they will see this in the VOICE. It’s the small things that count! RAELENE JOHNSON The nicest thing was when a woman, who after years of knowing me, offered to write my life story free of charge. She continues to work on it. All she asked is that I help others, which is no problem at all. JERRY ROSEN (Denver VOICE Vendor of the Year for 2021) The nicest thing someone did for me was give me $100 for being the vendor of the year. Also, I was given a plaque. That really made my day! I enjoy working for the VOICE very much and appreciate the money and plaque. I thought it was the most wonderful thing that could happen to me. DENVERVOICE.ORG/VENDOR-NEEDS Drop-offs are accepted Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. or schedule a drop-off by emailing program@denvervoice.org. What do YOU want to ask? If you have a question or issue you would like vendors to discuss, please email community@denvervoice.org. February 2022 DENVER VOICE 5
COMMUNITY FEATURE ROSE RODRIGUEZ DISPLAYS THE QUILT SHE MADE AND IS DONATING TO THE VICTIMS OF THE MARSHALL FIRE. CREDIT: ADRIAN MICHAEL TERESA BARBAGALLO STANDS OUTSIDE OF TREELOTTA FABRIC AND CRAFT STUDIO, A DROP-OFF LOCATION FOR QUILTS BEING DONATED TO VICTIMS OF THE MARSHALL FIRE. CREDIT: ADRIAN MICHAEL QUILTERS PROVIDE COMFORT TO VICTIMS OF MARSHALL FIRE BY ADRIAN MICHAEL WHEN THE MARSHALL FIRE DEVASTATED sections of Boulder and Louisville, the tragedy was instantly met with compassion from people in the area. “When we heard about the fire, we felt helpless and felt like we were called to help,” said Jenn Dietz, the president of Arapahoe County Quilters. “Nothing helps trauma more than being surrounded by a strong community.” Arapahoe County Quilters was founded in 1986 to bring quilters together to do charitable work within the community. A STACK OF DONATED QUILTS ARE READY TO BE PACKED AND SENT TO THE VICTIMS OF THE MARSHALL FIRE IN BOULDER AND LOUISVILLE AREAS. CREDIT: ADRIAN MICHAEL 6 DENVER VOICE February 2022
COMMUNITY FEATURE QUILTERS SEW QUILTS AT TREELOTTA. CREDIT: ADRIAN MICHAEL SHARON OSBORNE STANDS NEXT TO A QUILT SHE MADE AND IS DONATING TO THE VICTIMS OF THE MARSHALL FIRE. “I HOPE THIS BRINGS COMFORT FOR THOSE WHO LOST THEIR HOMES” STATES OSBORNE. CREDIT: ADRIAN MICHAEL They always look for opportunities to help those in need, and the Marshall Fire inspired them to action. Many members turned to Dietz, wondering how they could help, and she told them, “Start by utilizing your quilting talents.” Working with local churches, ACQ has donated more than 100 quilts to the fire victims. They are also gathering other essential items to donate. “We’ll continue to collect and donate quilts as long as there is a need,” explained Dietz. Englewood Colo-based Treelotta Fabric & Craft Studio is partnering with ACQ to serve as a donation center for the quilts. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to assist,” said the fabric store’s owner Teresa Barbagallo. Quilts may not seem like the first priority for fire victims, but local quilters and members of ACQ Ryan Pryor and his wife Rose Rodriguez see a lot of value in these handmade items. “These quilts are going to people who lost pretty much everything,” explained Pryor. “They are potentially among the first items to help start the rebuilding process.” According to Rodriguez, “Every person who receives a quilt is so appreciative! The quilts are extremely important, and there is a strong connection with a lot of energy in them.” Upon hearing about the fire, ACQ member Sharon Osborne donated one of the quilts she made. “I wanted to help immediately, and I hope this brings some comfort for those who lost their homes.” The Marshall Fire, which destroyed more than 1,000 homes and caused an estimated $500M in damages, has left the community with the daunting task of rebuilding. Dietz hopes to continue providing support to the victims of the fire and plans to reach as many people as she can. “It would be awesome to give one quilt to every family” states Dietz, “It may be a heavy lift, but every bit helps.” ■ THE INSIDE OF TREELOTTA. CREDIT: ADRIAN MICHAEL February 2022 DENVER VOICE 7
LOCAL FEATURE CREDIT: GILES CLASEN KEEPING THEIR MEMORIES ALIVE: An interview with Cathy Alderman BY GILES CLASEN Cathy Alderman, chief communications and public policy officer for the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, helps organize the annual “We Will Remember Homeless Persons’ Memorial Vigil. After the event, she spoke with the Denver VOICE. Following is the interview, which has been edited for clarity and length. WHY IS THE VIGIL IMPORTANT EACH YEAR? Every year, we honor those who have passed away in the Denver Metro area. We hold the event on the solstice because that’s the longest night that those who are forced to sleep outside are going to be enduring the nighttime. This year, we honored 269 names, and that was not even the full list because we had several people give us names of people they know who have passed, so that number was well over 270 people. We believe the vigil is important because many of these people would otherwise not have a service and like their lives, their deaths would otherwise go unnoticed. We also believe it is a really important community event to make sure everyone is aware of the struggles and dangers for those experiencing homelessness, and that we can bring some community support and advocacy for homelessness resolution. CREDIT: GILES CLASEN HOW DOES THE MEMORIAL IMPACT YOU EACH YEAR? I find the event to be very somber. It is impactful to stand together in community and acknowledge how many people without homes have passed away. It’s a little bit of a double-edged sword. We are doing something that I believe is absolutely right to do. At the same time, it weighs very heavily on my heart that we have to do it. IT SEEMS THE INTEREST FROM MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA FLUCTUATES FROM YEAR TO YEAR. HOW DOES THAT IMPACT THE EVENT? The media is kind of a mixed attendee at these events. Sometimes, the visual aspect of people coming together, holding candles, and speaking together sometimes draws more interest. It is a bit discouraging to report because we’re seeing increases in the number of people who pass every year. We’re seeing increases in the number of people experiencing homelessness every year. But it is an important story to tell. We’re also not able to talk as broadly about the successes [we have in addressing the needs of those experiencing homelessness], or what is working for those people we aren’t honoring on that night. 8 DENVER VOICE February 2022
LOCAL FEATURE CREDIT: GILES CLASEN CREDIT: GILES CLASEN We have seen a lot of progress with the City of Denver in terms of making investments and creating partnerships for homelessness resolution that are very encouraging. I point to a lot of the things that we did during the COVID response, including changing shelters from checking in at night and checking out in the morning, to 24/7 access. That has been lifesaving for a lot of people because they’re not having to go from place to place for different services; they can get all their services in one spot. That is stabilizing, which puts people on a path to housing resolution. We have also seen efforts like the Social Impact Bond that allow us to expand those things that we know work: housing with supportive services, really intensive engagement with people on the street, and other efforts. We do still see plenty of people sleeping outside, too many people accessing shelters, and too many people dying on the streets. We just have to ramp all of these efforts up and bring them to scale so that we’re not losing more people next year than we lost this year. HOW HAS COVID-19 IMPACTED THE COUNT FOR THIS YEAR’S VIGIL? We are aware of 12 lives [of people experiencing homelessness], whose deaths are tied directly to COVID. There have been more people that have died due to other causes where COVID was maybe the secondary cause. It’s not what we were expecting two years ago. We were really fearful that we were going to lose a lot more of our community members who are unhoused due to COVID. They are vulnerable because of where they sleep and because of their pre-existing health conditions. Some of the measures we put in place have saved lives — especially the efforts to get people vaccinated and into protective action hotel rooms. That being said, we know that people who are experiencing homelessness are at higher risk, especially when they’re staying in shelters. Staying in congregate settings — sharing air, restroom facilities, and food eating spaces — all of that creates higher risks for this particular virus. HOW HAS THE STRAIN ON HOSPITALS DUE TO THE PANDEMIC IMPACTED THE CARE THAT INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS RECEIVE? I haven’t seen any data, but I can certainly say we speak with our hospital partners all the time. They are under enormous pressure. In the past, they may otherwise have been able to hold someone [who is experiencing homelessness] for longer before releasing them. Hospitals just don’t have that option now, and there are just so few places for people to be released to — especially if they have COVID. HOW DOES DRUG USE PLAY INTO THE NUMBER OF DEATHS WE SEE EACH YEAR? Opioids continue to play into the number of people who have died. We’re seeing a higher number of overdoses across all populations. We have to remember that a lot of people experiencing homelessness who use substances or have substance use disorders are doing so for very different reasons than their housed counterparts. Being unhoused is such a struggle. It’s so traumatic, it’s so dangerous on the streets that sometimes, substances are the only thing people kind of can really lean into to deal with the experiences. Also, because they are living on the streets, the unhoused are much more vulnerable to substance distributors and predators just because they’re already struggling so hard. People who are selling and distributing drugs will find a population of people living in an encampment, already struggling with trauma, mental health, and physical health issues, and target them. HOW DO FAMILY DYNAMICS PLAY INTO THE CAUSE OF HOMELESSNESS AND DEATH ON THE STREET? A lot of people are in the cycle of homelessness because of something that has happened in their homes. They’ve gone through a divorce, or they’ve lost a family member. Some are the victim of abuse by a family member. Often, they exit that home and are unable to find another one. One of the reasons why we feel it is important to continually hold this event is that when a relationship is broken, families lose track of each other. This is sometimes the only way to kind of close that loop for a lot of family members. Sometimes, this event is the only way a family is aware of a death. We also have family members who say, “I wish my person’s name didn’t appear in your program, I feel like that’s more information than I wanted the public to have.” I think we have a responsibility to make sure that anybody who’s passed away while experiencing homelessness is recognized and honored. MANY WHO ATTEND THE VIGIL EACH YEAR ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK WITH AND SERVE THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY. WHAT DOES THIS EVENT MEAN FOR THEM? Like any other funeral, it’s a combination of feelings. There are those thoughts of, “Could we have done better, was there something else we could have done to prevent this?” There is also the sense that a person’s suffering has ended. I think there are a lot of emotions that people who come into the homeless service community feel when they attend this event. What we try to do is provide the space for people to feel all those things and to say a proper farewell. ■ To learn more about the 2021 We Will Remember memorial vigil, visit https://www.coloradocoalition.org/vigil. February 2022 DENVER VOICE 9
INTERNATIONAL STORY HOPE ON WHEELS: How skateboards are being used to bring Indigenous communities together BY REBECCA BOLLWITT The non-profit Nations Skate Youth fosters bonding through skateboarding in Indigenous communities throughout British Columbia, Alberta and the Yukon. Megaphone spoke to its founder and those working with her. ONE PANEL DISCUSSION in a room of 200 people a few years ago has resulted in hundreds of donated skateboard decks, visits to more than two dozen First Nations communities, positive change in the lives of hundreds of Indigenous youth, and a mission being fulfilled for Rose Archie with the creation of Nations Skate Youth. It all started in 2019, when Archie curated a panel at the Vancouver Skateboard Coalition’s All Aboard Festival on Granville Island. The topic was the impact of skateboarding on education, mental health, and social awareness. Archie shared her story about her own youth, her passion for skateboarding, and how she dealt with the loss of her sister, who died by suicide. Having been born and raised on a reserve in the B.C. Interior, Archie spent her teen years hitch-hiking for hours to the nearest skatepark in order to skateboard. Through this experience she made a connection with the skateboard community that would last the rest of her life. After the panel discussion, many people reached out to Archie personally to thank her and tell her they were going to see a therapist or talk to a counselor. She then made it a mission to normalize talking about mental health issues— particularly in the skateboarding community. “I wanted to go back to the traditional healing ways,” said Archie, who hails from Tsq’escemcl (Canim Lake, B.C.). “I didn’t even know what that was or what it looked like until my friend got me back into the sweat lodge, and I was talking to more Elders that I didn’t talk to before, asking them for guidance.” She says she realized she needed to work on her own mental health, but didn’t know how to do that. The more she talked to other skateboarders, the more she realized she wasn’t the only one suffering and looking for help. “Even I learned about what intergenerational trauma was – words that [for me] have never been said, never been used – and being on my own healing journey, I was able to share with people in an open, respectful manner about what helped me.” The momentum – and the conversation – was growing. That’s when Archie sat down in her living room with fellow skateboarders Joe Buffalo, Dustin Henry, Tristan Henry, and Adam George and developed the idea of Nations Skate Youth – a non-profit society that empowers Indigenous youth through the positive impacts of skateboarding. Launching in early 2020, the group members aimed to share their stories with First Nations youth in a meaningful way. “The disconnection is there where you don’t have a connection with your culture, your language, or your traditions,” Archie said. “But you’re never too old to start learning.” Nations Skate Youth members began to plan trips to Indigenous communities around B.C. and Alberta, where they would give talks, tell their stories, and center the events around skateboarding. “It’s something as little as skateboarding that we’re bringing to a community, but it’s much more than that when we leave,” said Archie. The group started with a GoFundMe fundraising goal of $10,000 to cover travel costs and other expenses, and within 12 hours, it was reached. Within the first year, Nations Skate Youth was able to crowdfund an additional $92,000, which helped the team get to 25 communities. Archie, who is president of Nations Skate Youth, says the support has been overwhelming and rewarding. By engaging with youth and inspiring them, she says she sees an instant impact. The Nations Skate Youth team – currently made up of Archie, Buffalo, and Dustin and Tristan Henry – roll directly into Indigenous communities (where youth feel comfortable and at home), bringing skateboards, clothing, and shoe donations, and even their own ramps if need be. Dustin and Tristan are Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation. Dustin is a professional skateboarder and Tristan has been skateboarding for 15 years. Buffalo is from Maskwacis, Alberta and is a member of the Samson Cree Nation. Skateboarding helped Buffalo overcome the trauma of residential school and he shares his experiences to inspire a new generation of First Nations skateboarders. Starting in a circle, Archie will often burn sage, then make introductions. It’s at that point they have the full attention of the youth. “The communities that we go to, we can really see the statistics of drug and alcohol abuse, struggles with mental health and suicide rates, and how it affects the next generation. A lot of the kids that we see in the communities are still in the foster care system, so when we’re talking with them, they can get easily triggered by what we say, so we have been learning a lot with that part of it,” Archie said. “It’s can be as simple as something like, ‘Oh, did your dad teach you how to skateboard?’ and [the youth] break down and cry because they don’t have a dad raising them. We learned that really early on.” The community’s youth coordinators are usually present during the skateboarding events for support so the team can reach the kids in a sensitive and effective way. Dustin and Tristan Henry share their personal stories of feeling disconnected and how they used to be ashamed to tell people their father was Indigenous. Archie says Buffalo’s story also leaves a big impression on the youth, demonstrating through his own life choices to never give up. “He went to residential school and he fought with drugs and alcohol. Him sobering up and being on the [recovery] path – I think that’s why I was so inspired to have him because he’s now 45 years old. I know the old Joe, I know how far he came to get to where he’s at.” In 2021, in addition to the sharing circles, Archie introduced another element to the team members’ visits: they give the youth their own skateboard to assemble on site. From picking out their deck, to applying the grip tape, the action builds connection. “We’re teaching them something new, because a lot of the time, they haven’t had that opportunity,” she said, adding that skateboarding is an expensive pastime, with most new brandname models costing $200. The team provides skateboard lessons, helping the youth learn to stand up and get comfortable on the boards. It’s also a great social opportunity for kids who have been so isolated due to COVID-19 for the better part of the last two years. “At the end we do a circle talk again and ask how everyone’s doing, and what they loved about the day. It’s awesome. We see the impact right away when they’re like, ‘Oh my God, it was so fun, I learned something new, I was really scared and now I’m not so scared.’ The good thing about skateboarding is that no one’s JENNICA PIERR, 7, LEVI RATCLIF, 5, AND ANGELINA LEARMONTH, 8, TRY SKATEBOARDING FOR THE FIRST TIME. JILL SCHWEBER PHOTOS. FAITH TURNER, 16, LEARNS HOW TO PUT TRUCKS ON A SKATEBOARD WITH ARCHIE IN THE (SEMA:TH) SUMAS FIRST NATION. JILL SCHWEBER PHOTO. 10 DENVER VOICE February 2022
PAGE TITLE telling you what to do. There’s no right there’s no wrong, there’s no one judging you, and I think that is where a lot of the kids like that.” Last summer alone, Nations Skate Youth gave out 300 skateboards, and the organization forged a partnership with a popular international skatewear brand VANS. Archie said the support has been incredibly valuable as sometimes when they arrive in a community, the youth turn up in moccasins, gumboots, or with holes in their shoes. Nations Skate Youth also partners with Squamish Training and Trades Centre in North Vancouver, which constructed ramps to take to Kamloops, B.C. for a visit. The team traveled there immediately after the Lytton, B.C. wildfire that destroyed the entire town. Team members met with youth and families who were camping at the powwow grounds. They were able to skateboard with youth from Lytton and other communities affected by the fires who had lost everything. “I get emotional because to go there and see their smiles… I couldn’t imagine losing everything… and then seeing how a piece of wood with four wheels makes a big difference,” Archie said. She was also able to collect more clothing donations when she told friends about their trip to Lytton, and VANS provided several boxes of clothing and shoes. “One of the ladies from Lytton said thank you because often the youth are forgotten. People take care of the babies, people take care of the Elders. But the youth, they get forgotten.” She and the team also took the time to talk about mental health and the importance of their culture. “I wish I had someone like that when I was a teen to remind me that when I get out there in the real world and leave the reserve, to not be ashamed of who I am and to not be ashamed of the color of my skin. To honor that my parents and my grandparents taught me the language. They taught me the culture and the history. If the younger kids don’t get that and don’t hear that as a reminder, then what we’re all working for can be lost. That’s a huge reminder when we go out.” After numerous events and trips around B.C., Alberta and the Yukon, Archie says the results of their visits are hugely rewarding. “Youth counselors say, ‘We’ve never seen them smile like that before. We’ve never seen their confidence go up in a matter of a day or a couple of hours even.’ That really means a lot, because a lot of us have got on that healing path of what it takes to do this work.” For now, Nations Skate Youth is a passion project for Archie, who has a different full-time job and usually takes vacation time to go on community trips. As a non-profit society, Nations Skate Youth is grateful for donations as every bit helps with travel expenses and supplies. The money is passed on to the youth through programming and equipment. The organization also accepts donations of skateboards. Your used deck that you’ve upgraded from might be the perfect starter board for a youth. “We want to build future leaders. We want to build the youth up so they can start organizing their own skateboard meet-ups. Another big part of what I want to do is work for more skateboard parks and stuff like that in communities that we work closely with, because they do see the impact right away,” Archie said. “People who watch our videos or who follow our journey, they know. They see the work that we’re doing and it brings them joy. It shares the importance that we need to hold their Indigenous youth high and we need to respect and honor them. That’s my big ‘why’ and why I wanted to start something like this.” ■ Courtesy of The Conversation / International Network of Street Papers The Hard Times Writing Workshop is a collaboration between Denver Public Library and Lighthouse Writers Workshop. It’s open to all members of the public, especially those experiencing homelessness. Each month, the Denver VOICE publishes a selection of writing from these workshops. Virtual workshops: lighthousewriters.org/workshop/denver-public-library-hard-times More writing by these featured poets: writedenver.org D. GLORSO ONLY A WISH Oh he wishes he still had A warm body To lay next to It just did the mind Such good Feel the moment Of sighs and giggles Or count the seconds still Radiant heat passes From one body to the other A glorious gift is transferred With only blood pumping From the hearts To the extremities of limbs A life shared by two souls In love is a splendid mindset Now quietly the lady’s breath Slowly warms the man’s back Aroma soft and clean He can feel her hair Brushing his shoulders wide Sending tingles through to his heart All the way to his toes Won’t you please comeback Just for the feelings Love gives And the scent of beauties missed No more anger Rattles his bones Life is too short And the nights without her Too long Such is the life of an old man Regretful Forgetful And alone BENJAMIN ERIC NELSON OPACITY Strain of the earth To not see snow Like cosmic rebirth Losing control Bringing danger From lack of change A type of weather Now seen strange Leaders have opacity They don’t listen To the cries of the city Lies are given Going backwards Becoming brute force WRITING THROUGH HARD TIMES COURTESY OF DENVER PUBLIC LIBRARY AND LIGHTHOUSE WRITERS WORKSHOP EDWARD CURLEE VISIONS Where does the time run? It’s just you and me And we Agree and disagree We share wine and laugh, We move in and out of rhythms With the greatest of ease. You are my reason to be You are the light with which I see Colors of love in the world. It used to be me, Just me Outside the inner dream, Playing what’s said to be, Sometimes it made the scene Sometimes it just wasn’t me. You are my stability You are the air in which I breathe Moments of magic disbelief. So, where does the time run? Where do those feelings fly, Why won’t this heart stop Beating in and out of rhyme? You are my reason to be You are the light with which I see Colors of love..... February 2022 DENVER VOICE 11
IN YOUR OWN WORDS VALENTINES FROM OUR VENDORS Denver VOICE vendors Gigi and Lando created artwork for Valentine’s Day RAELENE JOHNSON. CREDIT: CORTNEY TABERNA SELF, DO YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU COULD DO? BY RAELENE JOHNSON, VOICE VENDOR SELF, DO YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU COULD OVERCOME? You went through so much and didn’t give up! You survived all kinds of abuse, and now look at you! You overcame death too many times to count. You learned to love Self. You overcame being lost and lonely. You overcame fear that people will hurt you. Do you not know now your past can help others, if you care to help others? Even if no one was there to help you? Did you know you can get help for drugs, alcohol or ____ (fill in the blank with words that work for your struggle )? Did you not know, Self, that you had power over your life? Find your power, only you can do your life! You can do anything you put your mind to. Do your part in your world to make life better! Self, I believe you can DO what is best for Self, and the world! ■ ILLUSTRATION BY GIGI GALEN ILLUSTRATION BY LANDO ALLEN FREE ADDICTION SUPPORT FOR DENVER RESIDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR FINANCIAL HARDSHIP (855) 539-9375 WeFaceItTogether.org 12 DENVER VOICE February 2022
EVENTS IN-PERSON STORYTIME Come listen to a handful of stories selected each week. Each story is about 20 minutes— just long enough to keep your little ones engaged and excited. Open to children ages 2-13. WHEN: Feb 2, Feb 9, Feb 16, Feb 23, 11 a.m. WHERE: Tattered Cover Book Store – various locations COST: Free INFO: tatteredcover.com/event COURTESY OF DEBORAH LASTOWKA PUZZLES COURTESY OF STREETROOTS ANSWERS ARE ON PAGE 15 FREE DAY AT THE DENVER ART MUSEUM Engage with art, explore onsite activities, and experience exhibitions on view with free admission! Advance ticket reservations are encouraged. WHEN: Feb 8, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. WHERE: Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy. BEEKEEPING 101 Curious about beekeeping? Learn everything you need to know to care for your own hive. This event is in person and no registration is required. WHEN: Feb 12, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. WHERE: The Table Public House, 2190 S Platte River Dr. COST: Free INFO: denverlibrary.org/events ACROSS SELF-CARE WORKSHOP: MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION Excessive or prolonged stress can have negative effects on physical and mental wellbeing and even lead to serious illness. In this workshop, participants will learn about the research behind Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and how to incorporate it into their lives. WHEN: Feb 14, 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. WHERE: Online FREAK TRAIN Held the last Monday of each month, Freak Train has remained Denver’s most unique live entertainment experience for more than 20 years. The fi rst 12 people to sign-up get 5 minutes to do anything they want on stage (well, just about anything). It might be the best 5 minutes of your life; it might be the worst. Either way, there’s free beer! WHEN: Feb 28, 8 p.m. WHERE: Bug Theatre, 3654 Navajo St. COST: $5 INFO: bugtheatre.info COST: Free; advance registration required INFO: denverlibrary.org/events . Big name in mapmaking 5. Aroma 9. Ponzi scheme, e.g. 13. Hodgepodges 15. Teeming 16. Pasty 17. Brazilian dance 18. Aff ectedly creative 19. Pond organism 20. Put together, as IKEA furniture 22. Sovereign state 24. ___ v. Wade 25. Insect commonly called a mosquito eater even though it doesn’t eat mosquitoes 27. Tarzan, e.g. 30. Legal wrong 31. Th e Sail constellation 32. Feeding, as livestock 37. Long-armed primate 39. Load from a lode 40. Tendon 41. Motor home brand named aft er a Native American tribe 43. “Finding ___” (Pixar movie) 44. Arrive 45. Volunteer 47. New York borough 51. Trick taker, oft en 52. In-between states 53. Convert into code 58. Superfood berry 59. Hawaiian tuber 61. Everybody’s opposite 62. Penny 63. Flight data, briefl y 64. Showy fl owers, informally 65. ___ Kringle 66. Bank (on) 67. Formerly, formerly DOWN 1. Civil rights activist Parks 2. “Ah, me!” 3. “___ Island” (2008 Jodie Foster movie) 4. Guard dog breed (Brit.) 5. Kind of hygiene 6. Senior executive position in many agencies and organizations 7. Frequently, in poetry 8. “___ the Fox” (classic fable) 9. Outpouring 10. Ore. neighbor 11. Star in Perseus or a programming language family 12. “A Prayer for Owen ___” 14. Pago Pago’s place 21. London’s Big ___ 23. Chips in 26. Cowbody competition 27. Affi rm 28. Start to scope? 29. Brio 32. Like a latte 33. Roof beam 34. Aware of 35. Roman emperor aft er Claudius 36. Nell ___, 17th-century British actress and mistress of Charles II 38. Small lizard 42. Shore up 45. Amniotic ___ 46. Cake topper 47. “___ is beautiful” 48. Kitchen gadget 49. Muscat native 50. Bye lines? 54. Like a busybody 55. Frost 56. Aims 57. Medical advice, oft en 60. Absorbed, as a cost COST: Free INFO: denverartmuseum.org February 2022 DENVER VOICE 13 PUZZLE COURTESY OF STREET ROOTS, DENVER VOICE’S SISTER PAPER IN PORTLAND, OR PUZZLE COURTESY OF STREET ROOTS, DENVER VOICE’S SISTER PAPER IN PORTLAND, OR
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RESOURCE LIST FOR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS IN DENVER DENVERVOICE.ORG/RESOURCE-LIST DIAL 211 FOR A MORE COMPLETE LIST OF RESOURCES IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH. PROVIDES INFORMATION FOR FOOD, MEDICAL CARE, SENIOR SERVICES, YOUTH PROGRAMS, COUNSELING, EDUCATION, SHELTERS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, HOLIDAY ASSISTANCE, AND MORE. EMAIL EDITOR@DENVERVOICE.ORG WITH CORRECTIONS OR ADDITIONS. FREE MEALS AGAPE CHRISTIAN CHURCH 2501 California St., Sat., 11am CAPITOL HEIGHTS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 1100 Fillmore St., Sat. lunch at 11:30am capitolheightspresbyterian.org CAPITOL HILL COMMUNITY SERVICES Go to mealsforpoor.org for meal locations CATHEDRAL OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION 1530 Logan St.; sandwiches & coffee Mon.-Fri. 8:30am denvercathedral.org CHRIST’S BODY MINISTRIES 850 Lincoln; Mon. closed, Tues.-Thurs. 10am-3pm, Fri. 8am-11pm; groceries & hot meal on Sat. at 2pm (at 16th & York); Sun. church service at 6pm, dinner at 7pm. christsbody.org CHRIST IN THE CITY Home-cooked meal; Civic Center Park at Colfax & Lincoln at 1pm every Wed. & 2nd Sat. christinthecity.org CITYSQUARE DENVER 303-783-3777, 2575 S. Broadway; Food pantry Tues. 10am-6pm citysquare.org CAPITOL HILL COMMUNITY SERVICES Hot meals served at 1820 Broadway (in front of Trinity United Methodist Church), Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri. 11:45-12:15 mealsforpoor.org DENVER INNER CITY PARISH 303-322-5733, 1212 Mariposa St., VOA Dining Center for Seniors, free 60 yrs and older, Wed.-Sat. 9am-12pm. Food Bank, Wed.-Fri., tickets at 9am, food bank open 10am-12pm. dicp.org DENVER RESCUE MISSION 1130 Park Avenue West, 3 meals 7 days/week: 5:30am, 12pm, 6pm 303-294-0157 denverrescuemission.org FATHER WOODY’S HAVEN OF HOPE 1101 W. 7th Ave. 303-607-0855. Mon.-Fri. 7am-1pm. Not open weekends. Breakfast is at 8am, and lunch is served at 11am frwoodyshavenofhope.org FEEDING DENVER’S HUNGRY Food service on the second and fourth Thurs. of each month; locations found at feedingdenvershungry.org/events.html FOOD NOT BOMBS Wed. 4pm/Civic Center Park facebook.com/ThePeoplesPicnic HARE KRISHNA TEMPLE 1400 Cherry St., free vegetarian feast on Sun., 6:45-7:30pm krishnadenver.com HIS LOVE FELLOWSHIP CHURCH 910 Kalamath, community dinner on Thurs., 6-6:45pm, men’s breakfast 1st Sat. of the Month, 8-10am, women’s breakfast 2nd Sat., 9-11am. hislovefellowship.org HOLY GHOST CATHOLIC CHURCH 1900 California St., sandwiches, Mon.-Sat., 10-10:30am holyghostchurch.org JORDAN AME CHURCH 29th and Milwaukee St., Tues. lunch 11:30am-1:00pm jordanamedenver.churchfoyer.com OPEN DOOR MINISTRIES 1567 Marion St., Sat. morning breakfast: 8am, Sun. dinner (required church attendance at 4:30pm) meal served at 6pm. 303-830-2201 odmdenver.org/home ST. CLARE’S MINISTRY AT ST. PETER AND ST. MARY 126 W. 2nd Ave., dinner at 4pm on Tues. Also offer a change of clothes, toiletries and sleeping bags when available. 303-722-8781 stpeterandmary.org ST. ELIZABETH’S Speer Blvd. & Arapahoe St. on Auraria campus, 7 days/week, 11:00am; food, coffee. stelizabethdenver.org ST. FRANCIS CENTER 2323 Curtis St., Wed. & Fri. 3-4:30pm (except third Wed. of each month). sfcdenver.org ST. PAUL’S LUTHERAN 1600 Grant St., Street Reach meal Mon. 1-4:30pm. Grocery room open at 11:30am every Mon. saintpauldenver.com SAME CAFÉ 2023 E. Colfax Ave. Restaurant serving mostly organic food—not free, but pay what you can or work off your meal in the kitchen: Open Mon.-Sat., 11am to 2pm, Closed Sun. & holidays, 720-530-6853 soallmayeat.org SENIOR SUPPORT SERVICES 846 E. 18th Ave. 3 meals, Mon.a-Fri. 7am-7pm; Sun. 11am-4pm. 55+ seniorsupportservices.org/programs URBAN OUTREACH DENVER 608 26th St., Thurs. dinners, 6pm-7pm lovedenver.org VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA 2877 Lawrence St., breakfast (8am), lunch (11:30am), dinner (5pm) Mon.-Thurs., 12pm on Fri., 1pm on Sun. Food & clothing bank 9:30am-4pm Mon.-Thurs. voacolorado.org/gethelp-denvermetro-foodnutrition-themission CAREER SERVICES COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY CENTER Level 4, Denver Central Library, 14th Ave. & Broadway. 720-865-1706. Hours: Mon. & Tues. 10am-8pm; Wed., Thurs., Fri. 10am-6pm; Sat. 9am-5pm & Sun. 1-5pm; FREE services include computer/internet use, wifi, computer classes, job search/resume classes and one-on-one tech help appointments. denverlibrary.org/ctc THE WESTSIDE ONE-STOP CAREER CENTER Denver Department of Human Services, 1200 Federal Blvd., Mon.Fri., 7:30am-4:30pm; Services include: employment counseling, assisted job search, résumé preparation, job/applicant matching, phone bank for calling employers, access to computers, copiers, fax, etc. careercenteroffices.com/center/231/denver-westside-workforce-center MEDICAL & DENTAL SERVICES ACS COMMUNITY L.I.F.T. CareVan at Open Door Ministries, 1567 Marion St., Tues. 9am-12:30pm DENVER HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER 303-436-6000, 777 Bannock St. denverhealth.org HARM REDUCTION ACTION CENTER 303-572-7800; 112 E. 8th Ave.; Mon.-Fri., 9am-12pm. HIV/Hep C/ Gonorrhea/ Chlamydia testing available. Our services are restricted to active IV Drug Users. Offers clean syringes to active users, as well as safety training on how to properly dispose of dirty syringes. harmreductionactioncenter.org LIVER HEALTH CONNECTION 1325 S. Colorado Blvd., Suite B302. Resources and support for those affected by Hep C. Free Hep C testing offered. 800-522-4372, info@hepc-connection.org, liverhealthconnection.org INNER CITY HEALTH CENTER 303-296-1767, 3800 York St. Mon., Wed.-Fri. 8am-5pm; Tues. 9am-5pm; Sat. 8am-2pm. Emergency walk-ins. SALUD CLINIC 6075 Parkway Drive, Ste. 160, Commerce City; Dental 303-286-6755. Medical 303-286-8900. Medical Hours: Mon.-Wed. 8am-9pm, Thurs.-Fri. 8am-5pm; Sat. (Urgent Care only) 8am-5pm; Dental Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8am-5pm; Pharmacy Hours: Mon.-Fri. 1-5pm; After Office Hours: 1-800-283-3221 saludclinic.org/commerce-city STOUT STREET CLINIC 303-293-2220, 2130 Stout St. Clinic hours for new and established patients: 7am-4pm Mon., Tues., Thurs., & Fri. The clinic is open Wed. 11am-7pm. coloradocoalition.org/healthcare SUNSHINE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (YOUTH SERVICES) Services for youth facing substance abuse, addiction, mental health disorders, or a combination of these conditions. 833-931-2484 sunshinebehavioralhealth.com VA MEDICAL CENTER 303-399-8020, 1700 N Wheeling St., Aurora va.gov/find-locations/facility/vha_554A5 WORKNOW 720-389-0999; job recruitment, skills training, and job placement work-now.org DROP-IN & DAYTIME CENTERS ATTENTION HOMES 303-447-1207; 3080 Broadway, Boulder; contactah@attentionhomes.org. Offers safe shelter, supportive programming, and other services to youth up to age 24 attentionhomes.org CITYSQUARE DENVER 303-783-3777; 2575 S. Broadway; Mon.-Thurs. 10am-2pm, Denver Works helps with employment, IDs, birth certs; mail services and lockers citysquare.org FATHER WOODY’S HAVEN OF HOPE 303-607-0855; 1101 W. 7th Ave.; Mon.-Fri. 7am-1pm. Six private showers & bathrooms, laundry, lunch & more thoh.org THE GATHERING PLACE 303-321-4198; 1535 High St.; Mon., Wed.-Fri. 8:30am-5pm, Tues. 8:30am-1:30pm. Daytime drop-in center for women, their children, and transgender individuals. Meals, computer lab, phones, food bank, clothing, art programs, GED tutoring, referrals to other services, and more. tgpdenver.org HARM REDUCTION ACTION CENTER 303-572-7800, 231 East Colfax; Mon.-Fri. 9am-12pm. Provides clean syringes, syringe disposal, harm-reduction counseling, safe materials, Hep C/HIV education, and health education classes. harmreductionactioncenter.org HOLY GHOST CATHOLIC CHURCH 1900 California St., help with lost IDs and birth certificates holyghostchurch.org HOPE PROGRAM 303-832-3354, 1555 Race St.; Mon.-Fri. 8am-4pm. For men and women with HIV. LAWRENCE STREET COMMUNITY CENTER 2222 Lawrence St.; 303-294-0157; day facility, laundry, showers, restrooms, access to services homelessassistance.us/li/lawrence-street-community-center OPEN DOOR MINISTRIES 1567 Marion St.; Mon.-Fri. 7am-5:30pm. Drop-in center: bathrooms, coffee/tea, snacks, resources, WIFI odmdenver.org ST. FRANCIS CENTER 303-297-1576; 2323 Curtis St. 6am-6pm daily. Storage for one bag (when space is available). Satellite Clinic hours- Mon., Tues., Thurs, Fri. 7:30am-3:30pm; Wed. 12:30-4:30pm sfcdenver.org SENIOR SUPPORT SERVICES 846 E. 18th Ave. For those 55 and older. TV room, bus tokens, mental/physical health outreach, and more. seniorsupportservices.org SOX PLACE (YOUTH SERVICES) 2017 Larimer St. Daytime drop-in shelter for youth 12-30 years old. Meals, socks, clothing bank, personal hygiene supplies, internet access, intentional mentoring and guidance, crisis intervention, referrals to other services. Tues.-Fri. 12-4pm & Sat. 11-2pm. soxplace.com THE SPOT AT URBAN PEAK (YOUTH SERVICES) 2100 Stout St. 303-291-0442. Drop-in hours Mon.-Fri. 8-11am. If you are a youth aged 15-20 in need of immediate overnight shelter services, please contact 303-974-2928 urbanpeak.org/denver/programs-and-services/drop-in-center URBAN PEAK (YOUTH SERVICES) Youth 14-24 in Denver and Colorado Springs. Overnight shelter, food, clothing, showers, case workers, job skills and training, ID and birth certificate assistance, GED assistance, counseling and housing. 730 21st St. 303-974-2900 urbanpeak.org February 2022 DENVER VOICE 15 DON’T LOOK NOW! PUZZLES ARE ON PAGE 13
WHAT DO WE DO TO HELP? Since 2007, the VOICE has provided jobs for more than 4,600 people experiencing homelessness. For every dollar we take in, we put $3.00 directly back into the pockets of those who need it most. WITH YOUR HELP, WE CAN DO MORE. SCAN THIS CODE TO SET UP YOUR DONATION TODAY! DENVERVOICE.ORG/DONATE
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