$ 2 SUGGESTED DONATION @DenverVOICE THRIFTY A RES U C CUE E ANIMAL CHAMPION DEMI MERRITT CREATED THE PERFECT SPACE FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO RESCUE ANIMALS AND DO A BIT OF THRIFTING. PAGE 8 JEFF TWEEDY FOUNDER AND FRONTMAN FOR WILCO DISCUSSES HIS CREATIVE PROCESS AND THOUGHTS ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY. PAGE 6 DESIGNING SOS HOUSING DRAWING UPON HISTORY, ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS UNVEIL IDEAS FOR TEMPORARY HOUSING UNITS. PAGE 7 KENYA’S TICKING BOMB DESPITE ONGOING INSTABILITY IN THE HORN OF AFRICA NATION, MANY UNEMPLOYED YOUTHS ARE BEING LURED INTO TRAFFIC DENS. PAGE 10 VOICES OF OUR COMMUNITY PAGES 3, 5, 11, 12 EVENTS / PUZZLES PAGE 13 RESOURCES PAGE 15 MAY 2022 | Vol.27 Issue 5 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: CREDIT: CAT EVANS
EDITOR’S NOTE WELCOME TO MAY. It seems to have taken a while for the chilly winds of April to calm down, so here’s hoping we will enjoy a month full of just the right amount of sunshine, plenty of moisture, and an abundance of good health. As you read this issue, you will ELISABETH MONAGHAN MANAGING EDITOR see we’ve included a note on How to Recognize a Vendor (see page 4). Unfortunately, we have discovered an ongoing problem of a few individuals fraudulently posing as Denver VOICE vendors. Keep in mind that Denver VOICE vendors do not have signs or donation boxes promoting the VOICE. Also, if your vendor uses a square reader, it will be their personal account and will NOT have Denver VOICE or any similar name. If you aren’t sure whether a vendor is “legitimate,” look at their vendor badge, which will include their photo, the current year, and their badge number. If they do not have a badge, or if the badge doesn’t say 2022, they are not a Denver VOICE vendor. On a happier note, for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, we sold out of Denver VOICE issues in the middle of the month. It happened in March, which typically isn’t a month our vendors see high donation numbers, so our successful March was due partly to new vendors who’ve joined the VOICE over the past few months. As more folks are going to their workplaces, dining out at restaurants, or enjoying art exhibits, films, and live performances, our longtime vendors are earning more, thanks to our supporters and their generosity. While the pandemic is not yet finished with us, VOICE vendors are reconnecting with their customers and communities, and the resulting smiles on their faces are a welcome sight! ■ THIS MONTH’S 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. DENVERVOICE.ORG CE.ORG @deeOCE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Jennifer Seybold 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. MANAGING EDITOR Elisabeth Monaghan INTERIM PROGRAM COORDINATOR Caitlin Henrie GRAPHIC DESIGNER Hannah Bragg 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. VOLUNTEER COPY EDITORS Andrew Fraieli Kersten Jaeger Aaron Sullivan Laura Wing ARTISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS Giles Clasen Cat Evans Robert Davis Gigi Galen WRITERS 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. John Alexander Lando Allen Brian Augustine Giles Clasen Robert Davis Cat Evans Raelene Johnson Jacob Marsh Marta Shoman Rodney Woolfolk 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 May 2022 STAFF CONTRIBUTORS BOARD CONTACT US
INTERNATIONAL STORY DEBT COUNSELING EXPERT: “TALK ABOUT MONEY” BY SIMONE DECKNER Catrin Sternberg is head of debt counseling at Diakonisches Werk Hamburg. She would like to see more openness when it comes to money worries. HINZ & KUNZT: How difficult is it for people to go to debt counseling? CATRIN STERNBERG: The subject is afflicted with shame. People who call here are initially reluctant. We then say, “It’s good that you’re coming forward!” After the first few conversations, the shame usually subsides and gives way to a great sense of relief. After all, this is often preceded by a long history of suffering. Who comes to you? Many of our clients are poverty-stricken. Since the pandemic, however, we have also received an increasing number of inquiries from people who are on short-time work or self-employed. What are the main reasons for debt? Wh nemployment, illness, and separation. Peter Zwegat used to help people get out of debt on TV. The impression: Many people can’t handle money! Pe im There are people who live beyond their means, but that’s about 8%. According to a new study, for 45%, the main reason for ver-indebtedness is an unforeseen event, such as an illness or he loss of a job. 8% What are the first steps in counseling? We look at: Exactly how much debt do you have? All the documents are put on the table. Then we examine together what the prospects are - on a completely individual basis. There is no one solution for everyone. In the past there was the budget book, today you can track your expenses with apps - does that make sense? Both are very time-consuming. But you often get an “aha” moment when you see how much you have left: I hardly have any wiggle room at the end of the month. People often make installment agreements that they can’t afford. According to the motto: It will work out somehow. It is important to always pay rent, electricity, and water. If the checking account is seized, it should be converted into a garnishment protection account, so that an allowance of 1260 euros ($1362.30 U.S.) is secured against seizure. How can I avoid debts? It is widely said that “one shouldn’t talk about money”. I think one should definitely talk about money. So that you know how the high income and expenses are. Textbook advice is to have three net monthly salaries in reserve. But my clients often say, “I don’t know how I’m going to manage from the middle of the month!” So, this is more of an ideal. Anyone who is insolvent can file for personal insolvency. More and more people are doing this in Hamburg. Is that good or bad? Private or consumer insolvency is a last resort, but also a good one. Since the reform of insolvency law in 2020, the procedure only takes three years instead of six. The clients have their backs free after successful completion. ■ Translated from German by Lisa Luginbuhl Courtesy of Hinz&Kunzt / International Network of Street Papers CATRIN STERNBERG KNOWS THAT THOSE WHO COME TO HER OFTEN HAVE A LONG A LONG HISTORY OF SUFFERING BEHIND THEM. CREDIT: ANDREAS HORNOFF 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. May 2022 DENVER VOICE 3
PROGRAM UPDATE HOW TO RECOGNIZE A VENDOR BY JENNIFER SEYBOLD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BEFORE YOU GIVE MONEY TO A VENDOR via cash, Venmo, or credit card, verify the person is a current and authorized Denver VOICE vendor. (If they take a credit card, the account will have their personal name and will not have Denver VOICE or anything with VOICE in the name.) HERE’S WHAT TO LOOK FOR: • Denver VOICE vendors wear a badge while they’re working. (Below is a mockup of the VOICE badge. We have added a circle around the date on the badge mockup.) If the vendor’s badge date is not dated 2022, or if the badge looks like it has been altered, do not purchase the VOICE from that vendor and please call the Denver VOICE office: (720) 320-2155 • Vendors will never ask for tax-deductible donations on behalf of the Denver VOICE – your donation on the street is for that vendor to keep. • Vendors will never have tables or booths set-up. If they have a sign, telling you the money goes to the Denver VOICE, they either are in violation of their vendor agreement or they are not a current vendor. • Vendors do not sell any product other than the monthly publication, and they do not take donations for anything other than those you give in exchange for your copy of the VOICE. • While vendors are permitted to give away old VOICE issues free of charge, they should only be vending the current issue of the paper in exchange for a donation. • Each VOICE issue should have the vendor’s name and badge number on the upper left side of the issue. (Check that the vendor’s name and badge number matches that of the vendor you’re getting your paper from.) • Payments should be made in cash or directly through the Venmo app by assigning your gift to your vendor using their name and/or badge number in the notes. The Denver VOICE and our vendors take great pride in the work we do, and we appreciate community supporters like you! If you see someone saying they’re a Denver VOICE vendor, but they do not have a current badge or is they are doing any of the things listed here, please do NOT purchase a paper from them. Please do take note of the name on the badge and call the Denver VOICE with the name of that individual and the location where you saw them: (720) 320-2155. ■ GRAPHIC BY JENNIFER SEYBOLD 4 DENVER VOICE May 2022
SPRING WISH LIST With the weather beginning to change, we have updated our list, but we can always use coats and jackets. NEW ITEMS NEEDED: Socks Sunscreen, toiletries 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) Ball caps, hats Fold-up umbrellas, backpacks LANDO ALLEN The Denver VOICE shows people how to start a business. It helps people who have lost everything, ID, job, and hope. It also shows you how to budget your money because you’ll have to buy more papers. I know it took me a while to learn to put money away. A lot of people who were working for the VOICE told me to do this. The Denver VOICE will do a lot of good for people who do the right thing. [Vending the VOICE] keeps people out of trouble. BRIAN K. AUGUSTINE I love feeling a part of the neighborhood. When I first became homeless, I felt separated from the normal society. While vending the Denver VOICE, I became included with every one. RAELENE JOHNSON This is a job that I excel at. I went from being homeless to owning a home, and if I didn’t have the Denver VOICE, I wouldn’t have a job! Some people can’t get a job because of their past. I thought I was going to die homeless and on drugs. Now I’m clean and sober. That is the reason why I do the VOICE. JACOB MARSH Being able to spend time with my family while I vend is one of the main reasons why I enjoy being a vendor. I enjoy being able to meet new people every day and make new, repeat customers for myself and the Denver VOICE as well. 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. RODNEY WOOLFOLK Talking with people about the VOICE and the smiles I can generate from customers. What do YOU want to ask? If you have a question or issue you would like vendors to discuss, please email community@denvervoice.org. May 2022 DENVER VOICE 5 ASK A VENDOR THIS COLUMN IS A PLACE FOR DENVER VOICE VENDORS TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS FROM OUR READERS AND STAFF. THIS MONTH’S QUESTION WAS SUGGESTED BY VOICE VENDOR RAELENE JOHNSON. Q What do you like most about being a Denver VOICE vendor? A JOHN ALEXANDER There are many things I like about being a Denver VOICE vendor, but none of them compare to what I love about being a VOICE vendor. I have been with the VOICE for 15 years. From the first moment of that first day, there were changes. I became financially independent by becoming self-employed and operating, building, and developing my own business. I found respect for others and self-respect. I’ve developed a relationship with myself – one that I love, and I have discovered I have endless opportunities. I can walk out among people and share these blessings with others. I have learned things about myself, like I am a good person to work with as well as work for. I am the employee of the month, every month of the year, and have been for 15 years, straight!
NATIONAL FEATURE CREDIT: GILES CLASEN JEFF TWEEDY: ONE SONG AT A TIME BY GILES CLASEN JEFF TWEEDY, founder and frontman of the band Wilco, finds the act of creating — whether it is a song, a book, or any other art form — to be about intentionally interacting with your imagination and have benefits that go far beyond the final product. Tweedy spoke about his career, creative process, and thoughts about justice in the music business at the Paramount Theater Denver on April 9 in “A Conversation with Jeff Tweedy.” The talk was in support of his recently published book, “How to Write One Song: Loving the Things We Create and How They Love Us Back.” Excerpts from his conversation with comedian John Hodgman have been edited for clarity and length. ON “HOW TO WRITE ONE SONG” JT: I came up with the title trying to give a little direction on creativity. I thought, “Where am I going to start if I want to write a book about creativity?” I tried to boil it down to what I start with when I create. I have realized over time I can’t create songs, or create an album, without first creating one song. That subtle distinction helps simplify things for me because it automatically takes up the ego-side of my brain, which is a little more ambitious and wants lots of songs. That side of me wants to write lots of songs and wants to be somebody and puts it squarely in the world of one task. I just want to make one song that wasn’t there when I woke up this morning. To me, a song is something really simple. The simplest definition of a song is to intentionally create a moment and then be able to recreate it again. CREATING IS AN EXALTED THING Whatever you think of God, I guess the center of the concept of God is creation. I was in a mental hospital. I was in group therapy and art therapy class. The counselor was a very kind and sweet woman who was kind of drawing people out of catatonia. People who had struggled with heroin abuse and other things. People who were real human wreckage struggling to even feel human again. I was probably one of them. The counselor described it as something that “puts you closer to God.” At first, I was like, “That is a lot of weight to put on it.” But it was the opposite. There would be a real, and beautiful, transformation in people. I was good at art. That was my conflict-free zone. I had a lot of trouble in other types of therapeutic environments. The art therapy, I was going to ace that. I was going to get an A-plus there. BEING CREATIVE CHANGES YOU One of the other reasons being creative is so uncomfortable for people is that you can’t spend time in your imagination without learning about yourself, and there are things you don’t necessarily want to know about yourself. Everybody has junk thoughts and things they don’t want to think about — to be free to create and spend time in your imagination, you confront these things all the time. That, I get that. I get not wanting to spend that much time there. WRITE WHAT YOU EMPATHIZE WITH JH: In your book, you point out that Woody Guthrie is the one who said, “Write what you know.” Why is he wrong? JT: Far be it from me to say that anything Woody Guthrie did was wrong. I think he said the right thing, but it has been taken and misinterpreted by a lot of people. People have taken it to mean that if you don’t have an experience, you can’t write about it. I know enough about Woody Guthrie to know he wrote about a lot of things that he didn’t experience, but he did it well because he had empathy, and because he had an imagination. 6 DENVER VOICE May 2022 I think a lot of songwriters have taken that advice and intentionally lived harder lives than they needed to live in order to have something to write about. I want to tell you that is unnecessary. You should take care of yourself and live to write another day. JUSTICE IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY I don’t understand why it is hard for people to wrap their heads around the idea that when you have more people comfortable, happy, taken care of, and feeling like they can live safely, that you have a better world for everybody and a better community. I don’t understand why that’s a weird thing to suggest. There is a racial component in the music business that is undeniable to me in terms of which particular artists were taken the most advantage of, and how much that genius has transformed our culture without being acknowledged as the major contribution in all of our lives. I’m not saying it’s not acknowledged at all; I just don’t think people understand how deeply it touches every type of musical entertainment that you have in your life — from country to, obviously, soul music. But rock n’ roll — Black genius — that’s where it comes from. I think as a band, Wilco always looked at itself as part of the community in every city we play. We donate a portion of our poster sales to a local charity because for that day we are a citizen of that community. We’re using their streets, we’re using whatever resources in every city, so I think it just makes sense that you want to be a good citizen wherever you are. ■ If you liked this story, check out these events at the Paramount Theater: Neil Gaiman, 7:30 p.m. May 9 Annie Leibovitz, 7 p.m. June 15 ticketnetwork.com/venues/paramount-theatre-denver-tickets
LOCAL FEATURE DESIGNING THE NEXT GENERATION OF SOS CAMPSITE HOUSING BY ROBERT DAVIS CREDIT: ROBERT DAVIS CREDIT: ROBERT DAVIS CREDIT: ROBERT DAVIS ON MARCH 30, architecture students at CU Denver unveiled their design for the next generation of temporary housing units for Denver’s Safe Outdoor Spaces (SOS). Known as a Conestoga Hut, the structure is a micro-shelter that has approximately 60 sq. ft. of interior space for people experiencing homelessness. It looks very similar to a Conestoga Wagon, the precursor to the Prairie Schooner covered wagon that the settlers used when they moved westward. Each structure has lockable doors and windows, as well as insulated floors, walls, and roofs. The hard-shelled structure also has a modular design, which makes for easy assembly, disassembly, and refurbishment. This design also makes Conestoga Huts an affordable shelter option, with a total build cost of approximately $2,500 compared to $10,000 or more for tiny homes. The new design also comes as Denver continues to expand its SOS options. The City approved a contract extension with the nonprofit Colorado Village Collaborative (CVC) for $3.9 million back in February to operate the City’s four SOS campsites until the end of the year. “This is by no means the end of the project,” said Richard McSwain, director of Freedom By Design, a nonprofit architecture firm that helped fund and construct the prototypes. “It’s more like the middle of the road.” The project started in December 2020, when McSwain approached CVC about building better shelters for the SOS sites. Some of the issues that the project seeks to solve are water leaking into the SOS tents, reducing smoke in the surrounding neighborhoods, and building hand-washing stations that don’t freeze in the winter. The team drew inspiration from an operational Conestoga Hut village in Portland that is operated by a group called Community Supported Shelters out of Eugene, ORE. Members of the Freedom By Design team said the legal precedent set by the sites in Oregon gives them hope that Denver will adopt the model. To reduce waste and improve efficiency, the team decided to “flat-pack” their design. This means that all the pieces necessary to build the structures are outlined on plywood using a CNC routing machine and then packaged in a flat assembly box, thereby making it easier to transport. Each structure uses approximately 14 sheets of plywood and an insulated canvas, but McSwain said that the total amount of supplies can be reduced during mass production. The project will also be open-sourced, McSwain said. This means that all of the files required to cut out the structure are available to CVC, and the organization can take them to any supplier or manufacturer to get the best price possible. The opensourced nature of the project also allows future architecture students to continue working on it for years to come. “We want the people to take ownership of this project and carry it forward,” said Andrea Orejas, a graduate architecture student and one of the project’s team leaders. As for the next steps, Freedom By Design is currently working through feedback it received during an open house event on March 30. Members of the public were invited to check out the design and leave comments or suggestions for improvement. Some expressed concerns about the structure’s ability to withstand Colorado’s high winds and the ambient temperature inside the structure itself. CVC also needs to approve the final design before it is introduced at any SOS site. Maslin Mellick, a graduate architecture student and additional team leader, described it as a “labor of love” that will help serve the broader Denver community. “I can’t wait to see where it goes from here,” she said. ■ May 2022 DENVER VOICE 7
COMMUNITY PROFILE CREDIT: CAT EVANS A THRIFTY RESCUE BY CAT EVANS DEMI’S ANIMAL RESCUE (DAR) IS NOT YOUR AVERAGE ANIMAL SHELTER – it doubles as a thrift store as well. Tucked off Evans Avenue in Denver, the no-kill rescue focuses on solving pet homelessness through adoption, spaying and neutering, and increasing pet retention. The nonprofit has been operating for 11 years and is open to taking all cats and dogs, regardless of breed or special care required. The thrifting component was a mid-COVID addition that was initiated to help drive traffic through the rescue. Walking inside, the thrifty nature of the establishment is immediately apparent with recycled, donated clothes stacked high and low, and one room leading to another. There are two cat rooms with glass sliding doors, also known as the cat lodge, which is reserved for high-risk cats – cats that are harder to get homes for. Interested adopters can engage with the cats upon request and observe them as they go by. DAR’s goal is to find long-lasting homes for the pets while providing resources and outreach while promoting awareness on behalf of pets in need. Behind the scenes, you’ll come across a young woman named Demi Merritt. Merritt founded the rescue in high school, after working and volunteering with various animal and human rights organizations. She found herself to be an activist fighting to end breed-specific legislation and, eventually, developed DAR in her parents’ basement. She officially made it a nonprofit when she was just 14 years old. For the first three years, Merritt fostered cats in her own home, and as DAR grew, she began establishing a network with reliable fosters. She now has five board members who have remained the same for the past eight years. Everyone who works at the rescue also has a full-time job, so Merritt is working to expand DAR’s volunteer base. CREDIT: CAT EVANS 8 DENVER VOICE May 2022
COMMUNITY PROFILE Why DAR transformed into a thrift store as well had a lot to do with generating external income for the cause. “We take a ton of hard cases, we have a cat right now getting ready to get two knee replacements,” Merritt explained. People who are aware of DAR drop clothing goods off without being asked. The clothes are provided without the need for much outreach. The organization started collecting donations ahead of time, before their official opening of the thrift store component. According to Merritt, “It just shows up. I don’t know how these people find us. It’s nice stuff. We throw away stuff way less than I thought we would.” She runs the foster program, working with fosters regularly, scheduling vet appointments, trainer appointments, and so on. The intention is to prepare animals for adoption which can be a difficult process as many are not ready to be placed in a home or adopted. “Once we get more systems in place it will be easier to grow within the space itself, be more efficient.” There are many developments with the organization moving into the building mid-COVID. “Everything is a work in progress, trying to navigate new aspects, it’s been a learning process. It’s been fun. I’m exhausted but it’s been fun,” Merritt explained. Although her name is in the title, Merritt is quick to give credit where credit is due. “I am Demi, but it’s all of ours,” she said. “We have a huge team. The board of five does the major decisions. They’ve been working on it the same amount as me for eight years. We also have 10 to 15 volunteers that go so far as to work from home on all the little details.” Getting everything in order is no easy stretch, and there are always new challenges presented that the team is constantly working to improve. There are different people on the staff tasked with different responsibilities. Anybody can be trained on the basic services – DAR offers microchipping and deworming methods in-house. For more complicated medical needs, DAR has specific vets that they partner with, even one right next door. “If it’s basic, we can get on top of it right away, but unfortunately, a lot of them do come in sick,” explained Merritt, and contrary to what one would expect, kittens often come in the sickest. Prior to taking care of the animal, fosters are now required to go through training as many of the animals come in ill, and the care required is often underestimated. Bad health associated with any animal is always a challenge; however, that doesn’t hinder DAR’s desire to help, in fact, it is further incentive for them to step in. “When we go through kill lists or something, we like to take the ones that we think are going to be the least likely to be helped,” said Merritt. Currently, there is a bonded pair of orange tabby cats at DAC that had drawn blood every day at their previous shelter. This shelter reached out and specifically asked for help. Describing the pair, Merritt said, “We are making progress but there have been battle wounds.” The potential for roughness inside the two cat rooms on site is not unfamiliar, and the staff who work with the animals know exactly what sort of personalities they are dealing with. As Merritt explained, “We tell our new cat leads, ‘You may get bitten, you may get scratched, here is the first aid kit.’ We detail who you can just force pet, who you can’t, and so on. They’re all very complicated little creatures.” DAR also encourages fosters to take animals that are less adoptable. The engagement with the volunteers, employees, and shoppers helps to boost socialization with humans and other animals. For those interested in helping DAR, there are plenty of volunteer opportunities, and you can find sign-ups that explain various requirements and duties. Outside contributions of kitten food and kitten litter, as well as dog toys, are always appreciated. Simply shop at their location at 5895 E. Evans Ave. #102. All help is welcome. You can find more information at demisanimalrescue.com. ■ CREDIT: CAT EVANS CREDIT: CAT EVANS May 2022 DENVER VOICE 9
INTERNATIONAL NEWS KENYA’S TICKING BOMB AS UNEMPLOYED YOUTH LURED INTO TRAFFICKERS’ DENS Young people in Nairobi and Kenya’s coastal regions are particularly vulnerable to human trafficking into Somalia. Despite ongoing instability in the horn of Africa nation, many young people are lured with promises of opportunities to work in humanitarian NGOs and as teachers and translators. BY JOYCE CHIMBI AHMED BAKARI’S ILL-FATED JOURNEY to ‘greener pastures’ started with a social media private message from a stranger back in 2017. The message said an international NGO was recruiting teachers and translators to work in Somalia. “I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Communication in 2013. Other than for the odd job here and there, I was mostly unemployed,” Bakari says. “My mother raised five of us single-handedly, and I was her hope. Taking loans to put me through university, but it was all amounting to nothing.” With a starting salary of $500 and additional food and housing allowances, Bakari had no dilemma – he was going to Somalia. Growing up in Lamu, a small group of islands situated on Kenya’s northern coastline, he knew that Somalia was not far from the border, and the journey there was uneventful. Upon arrival in Somalia, he says, the unexpected happened. Bakari was taken to a house where he cooked and cleaned for between 10 to 20 men – without pay. “I do not know what was going on in that house because they would come in and go at all hours. I lived under lock and key TRAFFICKERS TARGET UNEMPLOYED YOUTH IN KENYA. WHILE THE GOVERNMENT IS WORKING TO COMBAT THIS CRIME, COVID-19 IMPACTED THEIR EFFORTS. HERE A POLICE OFFICER IS IN DISCUSSION WITH A COMMUNITY POLICING COMMITTEE THAT WORKS TOGETHER TO COMBAT CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES, LIKE TRAFFICKING. CREDIT: JOYCE CHIMBI/IPS FREE HOT MEALS Capitol Hill Community Services at Trinity Church 1820 Broadway HOURS Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 11:45 – 12:30 11:45 – 12:30 closed 11:45 – 12:30 11:45 – 12:30 Closed on National Holidays YOU ARE WELCOME HERE 10 DENVER VOICE May 2022 for one year. One day there was a disagreement among them, and a fight broke out. During the chaos, I found my chance to leave the house,” he recounts. “I remained in Somalia for another six weeks until somebody helped me get to the Dadaab border. I crossed over into Kenya like a refugee because I was afraid of telling my story.” Young people in Nairobi and Kenya’s coastal regions are particularly vulnerable to human trafficking into Somalia. Despite ongoing instability in the horn of Africa nation, many young people are lured with promises of opportunities to work in humanitarian NGOs and as teachers and translators. Bakari, who now runs an eatery in Mombasa, says criminal groups are particularly interested in young people who can speak Arabic, Swahili, English, and Somali. “Criminals take advantage of historical marginalization of communities in the coastal region, very high youth unemployment rates, and poverty. They also use radical Islamic teachings to lure young and desperate minds,” says Abubakar Mahmud, an activist against human trafficking. “There was a time when the Pwani si Kenya (Swahili for ‘coastal region is not Kenya’) was gaining traction as a backlash campaign against the national government. These are the emotions that terror groups are happy to stir and exploit,” Mahmud says, adding they also take advantage of the high levels of youth unemployment. According to the most recent census released in 2020, youth unemployment is a serious issue in Kenya. More than a third of Kenyan youth aged 18 to 34 years are unemployed, and the situation has worsened since COVID-19. Kenya National Crime Research Centre says this East
PAGE TITLE African nation is a source, transit route, and destination for human trafficking victims. People from Uganda, Burundi, and Ethiopia are trafficked into Kenya for hard labor. Ethiopians are trafficked into South Africa for hard labor. The US Department of State 2021 Trafficking in Persons Report finds that the government of Kenya does not fully meet “the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so.” These efforts include the Counter-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2010, which criminalized sex trafficking and labor trafficking and prescribed penalties of 30 years to life imprisonment, a fine of not less than $274,980, or both. The government also allocated $183,320 to the National Assistance Trust Fund for Assisting Victims of Trafficking in 2020-2021. The report finds that “criminals involved in terrorist networks lure and recruit Kenyan adults and children to join non-state armed groups, primarily al-Shabab in Somalia, sometimes with fraudulent promises of lucrative employment.” For years, Al-Shabab has operated clandestine bases in Somalia just across Kenya’s eastern border, enabling the terror group to expand its operations into Kenya and other East African countries. “From my experience, they will befriend you and some of your friends and relatives on social media. You will feel safe because you have friends in common. They will even tell you that you grew up in the same neighborhood years ago. You end up trusting them very quickly and getting involved with them without asking the right questions,” Bakari cautions. Mukaru Muthomi, a police officer with the National Police Service, says that in 2019, Kenya banned trade between Kenya and Somalia through the Lamu border due to insecurity and combat criminal activities such as existing networks and syndicates dealing in human trafficking. The Lamu border crossing is one of four that join Kenya and Somalia, and other border points are in Kenya’s Mandera, Wajir, and Garissa Counties. He says the government is vigilant along the Dadaab and Mandera border point routes used by Somali refugees crossing into Kenya. Kenya hosts more than 500,000 refugees from Somalia. Mahmud says human trafficking is a pressing issue in Kenya partly because criminals are increasingly taking advantage of the large numbers of refugees from Ethiopia, Sudan, and Somalia to complicate the country’s fight against human trafficking. In 2019, the government identified 853 victims of human trafficking and another 383 victims in 2020. Mahmud is quick to warn that many cases have gone unreported, and COVID-19 hampered efforts to counter human trafficking. He also says there are not enough officers to combat human trafficking. Nevertheless, Kenya’s Trafficking in Persons Report shows the country’s investigative capacity of the Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Protection Unit is gradually increasing. Personnel increased from 33 to 37 officers deployed in human trafficking hotspots. There are 27 officers in Nairobi and 10 in Mombasa, with plans to open a third office in Kisumu. “Increasing personnel is good, but the government must address the root of these problems because human trafficking into and out of Kenya is interlinked with poverty. Find job opportunities for young people,” Mahmud observes. The census, he says, showed that “3.7 million young people between 18 and 34 years without a job were not even actively looking for work because they have no hope of finding employment in Kenya. This is a ticking time bomb.” ■ Courtesy of Inter Press Service / International Network of Street Papers MARTA SHOMAN WORRY, BE GONE I am a renter in senior public housing. Growing old with failing vision and spotty hearing, supported by a personal economy of constriction: this, a formula for worry, fear and fret. I worry. And worry some more. What does it take to slow the anxious, slippery worry mind? To hear its’ monotonous beat each day and give it the kick? Worry: Who invited you to become an unwelcome companion messing with my emotional navigation system? Worry: You may be familiar, Like the dripping faucet whose washers are not replaced. Drip, drip, drip the worry until it runs dry. Worry: I call you out for what you are: a despot of distraction, determined, to derail confidence and hope. I pass you by. As I go, I feel your metal breath breathing across my neck: It is only worry. It is not me. A gift from life: all that is out of balance can right itself. You are a memory that no longer haunts me. Adios, worry. I leave you and head out into the morning sun to sing. To you, a ragged, colorless worry: you who has out-lived your droning mission. I give gratitude for daily, life lessons sharp and numbing; they now lie far behind me. Worry: I see you now. An empty frozen force that chokes courage from the heart, stirring jagged knives of doubt in the mind. WRITING THROUGH HARD TIMES COURTESY OF DENVER PUBLIC LIBRARY AND LIGHTHOUSE WRITERS WORKSHOP 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 May 2022 DENVER VOICE 11
IN YOUR OWN WORDS SELF, WHAT THOUGHTS ARE YOU HAVING TODAY? RAELENE JOHNSON. CREDIT: CORTNEY TABERNA SELF, WHAT THOUGHTS ARE YOU HAVING TODAY? Good, or Bad? Self, Why do you think that about people you don’t know? You probably cursed someone today, Self, even if it wasn’t said out loud. Did you get impatient with someone or try and help that person? Did you look at Self and say, “I wish I was dead”? or did you say, “I love you, Self”? Yesterday, you may have messed up. But today, you can do better! Did you promise to do something for someone, and then leave them hanging? Did you get mad because things didn’t go Self’s way? Did you help anyone today or just wish someone else could do what you know you could have done? Do you hate Self so much, that you blame everyone else for your troubles? Did you make another just as unhappy as you are? Did you think, “If I help others, Self’s problems are not so big after all”? Self, Always talk love to Self, so you will change how you look at the world, or how Self feels and thinks. Let people know who you are by your actions. Happy Self means happy people around Self. Mad Self makes people not want to be around you! Self, You need to control what you think. Be more careful about what you feel because feelings turn into actions that can be good or bad. So, Self, Be careful of your thoughts. ILLUSTRATION BY GIGI GALEN Do good for Self! Believe you are worth nothing but good around you. Always put Self first. Then, you will treat people the way you feel. ■ BY RAELENE JOHNSON, VOICE VENDOR FREE ADDICTION SUPPORT FOR DENVER RESIDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR FINANCIAL HARDSHIP (855) 539-9375 WeFaceItTogether.org 12 DENVER VOICE May 2022
EVENTS THE ART OF POETRY In celebration of National Poetry Month in April and Older Americans Month in May, the Lighthouse Writers Workshop presents this poetry writing workshop for older adult poets of all levels – even ones who don’t consider themselves as poets. This event will be a combination of both discussing and writing original poetry. WHEN: May 2, 9, and 16, 12 – 1 p.m. COST: This event is free, but registration is required. WHERE: Online INFO: denverlibrary.org/events/upcoming COURTESY OF DEBORAH LASTOWKA PUZZLES COURTESY OF STREETROOTS ANSWERS ARE ON PAGE 15 WHAT WE’RE WATCHING WITH JOHN ANZALONE Pixar Studios’ award-winning Monsters, Inc. tells the story of two monsters who must help a little girl return home, and in the process, realize that things aren’t always the way they seem. Join film professor, John Anzalone, for an in-depth look at this classic comedy. WHEN: May 8, 1:30 – 3 p.m. COST: This event is free, but registration is required. WHERE: Online INFO: denverlibrary.org/events DYKETOPIA FILM SERIES Every month, local comedians and queens, Kate McLachlan and Lee Robinson, present a throwback movie + hilarious commentary that will have you LOLing all night. Arrive early to get a good seat! WHEN: May 18, doors at 6 p.m., movie at 7 p.m. COST: $10 WHERE: Wide Right, 2100 Curtis St. INFO: widerightdenver.com ACROSS DOWN 1. Opening 6. Have a bawl 9. Th ey’re entered in court 14. Cat’s cry (Var.) 15. Afghani coin, once 16. Calculus calculation 17. Horse breed with a spotted coat 19. Old Spanish card game 20. Polite palindromic title 21. Common sense 22. Skin layer 23. Coves 25. Talk, talk, talk 26. Post-Civil War period 32. Stage pieces 33. Butcher’s cut 34. Taqueria La ___, restaurant in Northeast Portland 37. Desert of Chile 41. News bit LEARN TO COMPOST Learn the ins and outs of composting at this free, community event. WHEN: May 21, 10 – 11:30 a.m. COST: Free WHERE: Montbello Branch Library, 12955 Albrook Dr. INFO: denverlibrary.org/events/upcoming SLOAN’S LAKE SPRING BAZAAR This outdoor market will feature 80+ local vendors, pop-up bars, food trucks, music, and more. Well-behaved dogs are welcome. WHEN: May 21, 12 – 6 p.m. and May 22, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. COST: Free entry WHERE: 1611 Raleigh St. INFO: facebook.com/DenverBazaar 42. Indian melodies 43. Hoovers 48. Hair raiser? 49. Some billiard balls 50. Lexicographer’s concern 53. ___ of the above 54. Pass over 58. Flummoxed 59. Fish gelatin 61. Gathers leaves 62. Half a score 63. “Be-Bop-___” (Gene Vincent hit) 64. Quench 65. Part of a joule 66. Less ruddy 1. Muslim holy man 2. Asian palm 3. Spanish appetizer 4. Wander 5. Wise one 6. Gone bad, in Britain 7. Removal from power 8. Early stage of an animal 11-Down 9. Trudge 10. Citrus fruit 11. Fertilized egg 12. Flyboy 13. Porterhouse, e.g. 18. Keeps 23. As originally found 24. Sean Connery, for one 26. Dashboard abbr. 27. Bard’s “before” 28. Trigonometry abbr. 29. Kind of nerve 30. Pageant wear 31. Machu Picchu native 35. Greek god of thunder 36. Coiled fossil shell 38. “Act your ___!” 39. Blemish 40. Biblical beast 43. Ancient Rome’s ___ Virgins 44. Baked ___ 45. Less distant 46. Silver ___ 47. Garden with a snake 48. Food thickeners 51. Avid fan 52. “___ on Down the Road” (“Th e Wiz” song) 54. Stewpot 55. Injure severely 56. ___ of Man 57. Abdicator of 1917 60. Mind the ___ May 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
DONOR LIST WE LOVE OUR DONORS! WHEN YOU SUPPORT THE DENVER VOICE, YOU ARE HELPING SUPPORT HUNDREDS OF HOMELESS AND IMPOVERISHED INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WORKING TO REALIZE SELF-SUFFICIENCY THROUGH EARNING A DIGNIFIED INCOME. YOUR GIFT MAKES A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS. HERE, WE LIST THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN $500 AND MORE IN THE LAST YEAR. DENVERVOICE.ORG/DONATE $25,000+ The NextFifty Initiative John & Laurie Mcwethy Charitable Fund $10,000+ Rose Community Foundation - CMP Denver Foundation Max & Elaine Appel The Christian Foundation $5,000 - $9,999 CHFA Direct Effect $1,000-$4,999 Cranaleith Foundation, Inc BNSF Railway Foundation Jerry Conover Bright Funds Jill Haug Key Renter Property Management Meek-Cuneo Family Fund Matthew Seashore & Nikki Lawson Russell Peterson Phoenix Capital, Inc. Sustainable Housing and Development Foundation Mary Walker Walker Family Foundation Pivotal Energy Partners Whole Foods Foundation Signs by Tomorrow Michael Dino Energy Outreach Colorado SEI Giving Fund Colorado Credit Union Foundation Mr. Paul Manoogian Donald Weaver Josh Kauer Creating Healthier Communities Kroger Matthew Rezek Network for Good Charities Aid Foundation of America Gaspar Terrana Patrick Hagan Jim Ashe The Sidney B. & Caleb F. Gates Jr. Fund Patrick & Jan Rutty Megan Arellano Audrey Chumley Christopher Boulanger George Litcher Family Fund $500-$999 Betty & Warren Kuehner Lighthouse Writer’s Workshop, Inc. Community Health Charities Dave and Julia Watson Michelle Stapleton & James Thompson Fire on Mountain Paul Hoffman Michael J. Fehn & Jan Monnier Lori Holland Jill Haug Travis & Meggie Ramp Alistair Davidson Jim and Nancy Thomas Jennifer Seybold Sheryl and John H Parker Susan B. Jones Maggie Holben Elsbeth Williams Michael Vitco Catherine Hegedus Christine Muldoon and Pete Iannuzzi James Stegman 3M Foundation Laura Wing Eileen Di Benedetto Katherine Standiford Ridley Mcgreevey and Winocur Charles and Jennifer Thornton-Kolbe Jennifer Stedron Stephen Saul Matthew Deller Erin Bowers Laura Saunders Dana Rinderknecht Alexander Seavall Courage and Community Foundation ABOVE THE FOLD: $5,000 • One complimentary full page ad in the newspaper ($1,000 value) • Table of 10 and Sponsor recognition at annual Rise and Thrive Breakfast (200 attendees) • Sponsorship recognition at our annual Pints Fighting Poverty event (200 attendees) • Business logo highlighted on website homepage, and in the Above the Fold Sponsorship list • Logo highlighted in our annual report, along with logo in quarterly support feature of the paper SPONSORSHIP LEVELS THE DENVER VOICE’S ANNUAL SPONSORSHIP SUPPORT LEVELS PROVIDE BUSINESSES LIKE YOURS THE OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST IN WORK EMPOWERMENT, HOMELESS PREVENTION, THE CHALLENGING OF COMMUNITY PERCEPTIONS, AND TO BE A PART OF PROVIDING OUR COMMUNITY WITH QUALITY AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISM THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE THROUGH OUR WRITERS AND VENDORS – AN INVALUABLE PART OF DENVER’S COMMUNITY. YOUR INVOLVEMENT WILL HELP HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING POSITIVE ACTION TO COMBAT HOMELESSNESS AND IMPOVERISHMENT. AS A SPONSOR, YOU HAVE A WAY TO REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND GIVE SOMETHING BACK AT THE SAME TIME. ANNUAL SPONSORSHIPS BENEFITS INCLUDE YOUR LOGO LISTED ON OUR WEBSITE HOMEPAGE, MONTHLY AD SPACE IN OUR PAPER, AND SPECIAL EVENT PERKS FOR YOU AND YOUR EMPLOYEES ALL YEAR LONG. IT’S A GOOD DEAL FOR A GOOD CAUSE, AND YOUR GIFT IS 100% TAX-DEDUCTIBLE! GALLEY: $2,500 • One complimentary half page ad in the newspaper ($600 value) • Table of 10 and Sponsor recognition at annual Rise and Thrive Breakfast (200 attendees) • Sponsorship recognition at our annual Pints Fighting Poverty event (200 attendees) • Business logo highlighted on website homepage, and in the Galley Sponsorship list • Logo highlighted in our annual report, along with logo in quarterly support feature of the paper HONOR BOX: $1,000 • Table of 10 and Sponsor recognition at annual Rise and Thrive Breakfast (200 attendees) • Sponsorship recognition at our annual Pints Fighting Poverty event (200 attendees) • Business logo highlighted on website homepage, and in the Honor Box Sponsorship list • Logo highlighted in our annual report, along with logo in quarterly support feature of the paper FLY SHEET: $500 • Two complimentary tickets to our annual Pints Fighting Poverty event ($50 value) • Business logo highlighted on website homepage, and in the Fly Sheet Sponsorship list • Logo highlighted in our annual report, along with logo in quarterly support feature of the paper 14 DENVER VOICE May 2022
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 DRUG REHAB USA Addiction hotline: 866-716-0142. Organizations that take Medicaid: https://drugrehabus.org/rehabs/treatment/medicaid/united-states/colorado/denver 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 May 2022 DENVER VOICE 15 DON’T LOOK NOW! PUZZLES ARE ON PAGE 13
D E N V E R T V S O I A C F E 2 A F 2 E U 0 B M N 2 D G R A , METLO ROOFTOP 1111 N Broadway Denver, CO 80203 SUNDAY, MAY 22 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. A 2 N I Y JOIN THE DENVER VOICE FOR OUR ANNUAL RISE & THRIVE BREAKFAST! This complimentary event, put together by some of Denver’s best breakfast and brunch locations, helps raise awareness and funds for our programs and services. Together, we can give those experiencing homelessness and poverty the opportunity to earn a dignifi ed income. I S 2 TO RSVP, SCAN THIS CODE or visit denvervoice.org/rise-and-thrive R K
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