EDITOR’S NOTE REGULAR READERS of the Denver VOICE, or anyone familiar with the street paper model, knows our monthly publication is only a part of the Denver VOICE’s mission. As the managing editor of the paper, my job is to produce a paper written by journalists or journalism students. The Denver VOICE is not a ELISABETH MONAGHAN MANAGING EDITOR resource provider, meaning, we do not offer services like shelter, daily meals, or medical services. While we have consistently provided our Resource List both in the paper and on our website, it is only recently that we’ve implemented programs to provide our vendors with more than that resource list. Since joining the VOICE, Program Coordinator Connie Gaitan has established new, or built upon existing relationships with our community service providers. By doing this, she can reach out to professionals, if a vendor is struggling with addiction or other mental health issues. If a vendor needs a medical doctor, or needs other assistance, Connie helps them track down whatever resource may be the best avenue to get vendors the care they need. She also makes sure there is always a supply of hand and feet warmers, socks, hats, clothing, or toiletries for vendors who could use them. As important as it is to publish a quality street paper that features articles by professional journalists, while including sections dedicated to VOICE vendors, the program is the primary reason for the VOICE’s existence. Sometimes, it can be easy to overlook the people working behind the scenes to keep a mission-driven organization like ours on track and ensure that it is fulfilling its potential. Connie is not one to seek attention and would probably tell you she’s just doing her job, but in the six months since she joined the VOICE, Connie has made an immeasurable difference, which is why I wanted to acknowledge her. ■ THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS ASHTON BROWN graduated from Metropolitan State University of Denver in May 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts in convergent journalism and a minor in cinema studies. She and her fiance currently live with their two cats in Lakewood. is trying to find housing, GILES CLASEN is a freelance photojournalist 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 James Kay MANAGING EDITOR Elisabeth Monaghan PROGRAM COORDINATOR Connie Gaitan GRAPHIC DESIGNER Hannah Bragg 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. VOLUNTEER COPY EDITORS Aaron Sullivan Laura Wing ARTISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS Giles Clasen 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 Zakiyyah Brooks Ashton Brown Rea Brown Giles Clasen Bree Davies Raelene Johnson Jacob Marsh Steve Szloboda Grace Thorburn BOARD OF DIRECTORS Nikki Lawson, President Chris Boulanger, Vice President Jeff Cuneo, Treasurer Zephyr Wilkins, Secretary Albert Bland Donovan Cordova Antonio Diaz Raelene Johnson Jennifer Seybold 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 1 p.m. Orientation is held every day we are open, but prospective vendors must arrive by 10:00 a.m. 2 DENVER VOICE May 2023 STAFF CONTRIBUTORS BOARD CONTACT US
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