PAGE TITLE GUEST EDITORIAL SPRING WISH LIST Drop-offs are accepted Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., or by appointment. WHO GETS TO TELL OUR STORIES? BY BREE DAVIES, HOST OF CITY CAST DENVER WHO GETS TO TELL OUR STORIES? Who is chosen as an “expert” or source when the reporters show up asking questions about your community? Who gets to be the reporter in the first place? As a journalist, I know who I’ve been instructed to seek out as a source. But sometimes, the source in a story isn’t the one who should be interviewed; they’re the person who should be writing the story. As a journalist, I also know that journalism itself has been consumed by academia, abducted and abused by capitalism, and dominated by newsrooms often full of reporters with similar economic situations and backgrounds. But at its root, journalism is a medium by and for the people. The Denver VOICE embodies that root. That place where journalism should come from. That foundation from which communities can tell their stories because they are the experts. When I first met a VOICE vendor on the street in Capitol Hill many years ago, I bought a paper because I was curious. I had no idea the VOICE would become a crucial part of my media consumption and a go-to source for information, perspective, and opinion on my community and my city. But my favorite part? Chatting with a Denver VOICE NEW ITEMS NEEDED: Socks Toiletries (individual or travel-size) Toothpaste, deodorant, chapstick, sunscreen Bottled water BREE DAVIES SITS AT BREAKFAST KING. PHOTO COURTESY OF BREE DAVIES vendor while grabbing a paper, then getting home, opening it up, and finding a piece written by that vendor. That’s onthe-ground journalism. That’s community-first journalism. That’s real journalism. That’s the Denver VOICE. ■ Editor’s note: On May 7, Bree Davies will be the guest speaker at the Denver VOICE’s Rise and Thrive breakfast fundraiser. She will also present the Denver VOICE Vendor of the Year award at the event. Davies is a long-time champion of the VOICE and the individuals we serve. GENTLY-USED ITEMS NEEDED: Men’s shoes or boots (sizes 8-12) Men’s jackets/shorts (sizes L, XL, XXL) Women’s jackets/shorts (sizes M, L, XL) Backpacks, carrier bags USB-C charging cables VENMO YOUR VENDOR: If you would like to help out a specific vendor by donating a few extra dollars, scan the QR code below to make a payment through Venmo. Please be sure to write your vendor’s name in the comments. Thank you! @DenverVOICE 4 DENVER VOICE May 2023
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