EDITOR’S NOTE TO QUOTE THE INTRODUCTION ROBERT DAVIS SO ELOQUENTLY WROTE for our “Love on the Streets” profiles in this issue, “It is challenging enough to face homelessness, when laws exist that criminalize basic actions ELISABETH MONAGHAN MANAGING EDITOR like sleeping or sharing food in public places. When the people who are spending their nights in shelters or public spaces have no room for private conversations or intimate moments, it makes it next to impossible for them to pursue or maintain a romantic relationship.” By sharing the stories of Tim and Alyssa, and Jason and Larmarques, we hope to remind our readers that the desire to give and receive love is universal. While many of us glance at encampments as we drive or walk past them, it is too easy to see only the tents. But each of those tents represents at least one person who spends their nights there. And like the rest of us, the people staying in those tents dream of finding love or enjoying the loving relationships they have. Demonstrating love for another is more than giving sentimental cards, flowers, or candy on Valentine’s Day. When we love someone else, we don’t feel that emotion just during commercial holidays. And when we know we are loved by others it makes the good times even better and the bad times less daunting. So, not just on Valentine’s Day but every day – may we all share and experience the gift of genuine love, and may we also make it a habit to let those we care about know they matter. ■ 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, the Colorado Sun, and Medium.com. GRACE THORBURN is a journalism student at the University of Colorado Boulder. She hopes that her writing will make a difference in the community by covering social justice issues such as LGBTQ+ rights, homelessness, and racial equity. 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. 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 2 p.m. Orientation is held every day we are open, but prospective vendors must arrive by 10:00 a.m. PROGRAM COORDINATOR Connie Gaitan GRAPHIC DESIGNER Hannah Bragg VOLUNTEER COPY EDITORS Lanie Lee Cook Aaron Sullivan ARTISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS Giles Clasen Gigi Galen WRITERS Lando Allen Robert Davis Raelene Johnson Jason Martin Larmarques Smith Grace Thorburn DENVERVOICE.ORG E.ORG @deeOCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chris Boulanger, Vice President Jeff Cuneo, President Zephyr Wilkins, Secretary Antonio Diaz, Treasurer Michael Burkley Cassandria Carmouche Robert Davis Nikki Lawson Julia Watson Cabal Yarne 2 DENVER VOICE February 2024 STAFF CONTRIBUTORS BOARD CONTACT US
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