EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S NOTE JENNIFER SEYBOLD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR I HEAR A SENSE OF FRUSTRATION AND DESPAIR from many in our community over Denver’s growing poverty and homelessness crisis. The majority of us stay informed, vote, volunteer, and provide support through mutual aid efforts, but there is much confusion about governmental policy, and, for many, an overwhelming feeling that the problem is just too big. It’s true, these issues are big! They’re complex and cannot be solved through a single approach. The root causes of poverty and homelessness are as varied and unique as the individuals who experience it. Solutions, then, must be varied, too. They must address not just housing, but housing that tackles the issue at every stage. These solutions must include strategies that address equal employment, resource access, and systems of structural marginalization. I’m happy that our community is talking about the need for permanent housing alongside more immediate-need temporary solutions like Safe Outdoor Spaces. It’s great to see organizations breaking apart systems of structural marginalization by building new pathways. Still, there is a lot of work to be done. In a time when jobs are less structured than ever before, ILLUSTRATION BY GIGI GALEN our societal norms and expectations still dictate a pretty limited view of gainful employment – especially when it comes to those experiencing homelessness and poverty. Unfortunately, these shifts toward a less traditional workday, and the changes affecting where and how we work, seem to be reserved only for the privileged. Some supportive employment programs take a rescue approach, trying to fit individuals into a 9-to-5 work box, or a structure where they’ll never achieve financial independence. I’m proud to say that the Denver VOICE has always operated from a perspective of rights not rescue, by offering employment and economic opportunity that doesn’t put those we serve into a series of boxes. We believe that a holistic approach to community wealthbuilding must include opportunities that fall into an important middle-ground; a place where individuals can hold meaningful work that isn’t limited by challenges that prevent them from more traditional work. Beyond providing the opportunity we view as right for the individual, the VOICE provides a space for individuals to decide what opportunities are right for them. Our work is constituent-led, equity-focused, and we value the lived experience of individuals to better their own lives and significantly improve our communities! Today, when we are seeing a more open-minded response to varied and unique housing and access approaches to poverty, I am grateful to our supporters for recognizing the Denver VOICE as a critical and cutting-edge approach to employment! I thank our sponsors and readers for supporting meaningful work and for making it possible for those we employ to take the reins of their own lives in whatever direction they choose regardless of age, race, criminal and personal history, or mental/physical disability. Thank you for your ongoing support as we keep forging into the future! ■ 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-deductible. 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. April 2022 DENVER VOICE 3
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