$ 2 SUGGESTED DONATION @DenverVOICE MUSIC WILL W PREVAIL WITHOUT AUDIENCES, MUSIC INDUSTRY PROS FIND NICHE IN COVID RESPONSE SERVICES. PAGE 6 HEALTH CENTERS ARE STEPPING UP AS COLORADO’S VACCINATION RATE INCREASES, COMMUNITY HEALTH PROVIDERS LIKE SALUD ARE BECOMING MORE THAN MEDICAL OFFICES. PAGE 4 SKEPTICISM IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY AS RESTAURANTS AND BARS BEGIN TO FULLY OPEN, SOME SERVICE INDUSTRY WORKERS ARE HESITANT TO RETURN. PAGE 5 HYGIENE AND HEALTH LOCAL NONPROFIT “SHOWERS FOR ALL” AIMS TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE. PAGE 8 VOICES OF OUR COMMUNITY PAGES 3, 4, 11, 12 EVENTS / PUZZLES PAGE 13 RESOURCES PAGE 15 JUNE 2021 | Vol.26 Issue 6 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: GILES CLASEN
EDITOR’S NOTE TODAY, WHEN I WENT to the grocery store, the arrows that directed people to go “that way” up or down the aisles, had been removed. There were no reminders to keep two cart lengths between me and the person ahead of me in the checkout line. While countless people ELISABETH MONAGHAN MANAGING EDITOR consistently went the wrong way in grocery aisles when the directional arrows were all over the store, it was strange having the flexibility to decide which direction I would go to get my produce, toilet paper, or coffee. Yesterday, I was at a small outdoor gathering, where all of the attendees had received our COVID-19 vaccinations, so we felt comfortable going mask-less. I forgot how nice it is to see people’s smiles. These are two positives about returning to how we did things before the pandemic, but I wonder how long it will be before we see the negatives. Will those who experienced extreme isolation or depression recover, or have they hit an emotional state of no return? What about those who will continue to consider the virus a hoax or have no intention of getting vaccinated from COVID? How do we get beyond the acrimony that divided so many friends and families? As we return to live concerts, plays, sporting events, restaurants, or any other activities we put on hold during the pandemic, I don’t expect things will instantly (if ever) return to “pre-COVID normal.” I do hope I can appreciate not being paranoid about catching the virus or risking the chance I could pass it on to someone with a compromised immune system. I doubt many of my memories of the pandemic will be positive, but for the most part, I witnessed people coming together, taking care of themselves, and most importantly, looking out for and taking care of each other. ■ June CONTRIBUTORS PAULA BARD is an award-winning fine art photographer, writer, and activist. She lives on a mountain top southwest of Denver. 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. 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. DOUG HRDLICKA is a Denver native who reports on the city’s changes. DENVERVOICE.ORG CE.ORG @deeOCE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Jennifer Seybold MANAGING EDITOR Elisabeth Monaghan PROGRAM COORDINATOR Anthony Cornejo GRAPHIC DESIGNER Hannah Bragg VOLUNTEER COPY EDITORS Haven Enterman Kersten Jaeger Aaron Sullivan Laura Wing PHOTOGRAPHERS/ILLUSTRATORS Paula Bard 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 metro Denver area experiencing homelessness and poverty. Since 2007, we have put more than 4,000 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: Starting June 1, we will be open Mondays through Fridays 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. John Alexander Brian Augustine Paula Bard Giles Clasen Robert Davis Doug Hrdlicka Raelene Johnson Jerry Rosen BOARD OF DIRECTORS Nikki Lawson, President Michelle Stapleton, Vice President Lori Holland, Treasurer Jeff Cuneo, Secretary Chris Boulanger Donovan Cordova Pamela Gravning Raelene Johnson Zephyr Wilkins 2 DENVER VOICE June 2021 STAFF CONTRIBUTORS BOARD CONTACT US
VOICES OF OUR COMMUNITY OUR Streets: IVAN EKONEK BY PAULA BARD “I’M 27, FROM GHANA, Accra, in West Africa. I came to this country for education — Chicago community college. That’s why I came to America. I came to the U.S. for advanced education. I lived in Chicago when I first came to America; I was in Chicago, going to school. Yeah, I got a degree; I’m a good electrician. My parents sent me here. I wanted to come to Chicago because when I was in Africa, they have school online from the U.S. And so, then to Denver after that...because it’s dangerous in Chicago. Chicago is so dangerous. Too dangerous. Oh my God! The police were called on me three times. The first one was out at the park. I was just jogging to the park and trying to, you know, raise myself. The police arrive to ask me a question. ‘We had a call on you,’ so I had to wait like 30 minutes [for them] to run my background, everything. ‘Keep walking, just keep walking.’ I went downtown. So, the second time, and it happened again, it was at night in downtown Chicago. They were just focusing on me. I think it’s because I’m Black. Yep, that’s why. Yeah, they just focus on me. They came straight to me. ‘Hey man, we want to have your ID,’ the man is like, ‘are you selling drugs?’ No, I was not selling drugs! Chicago is too dangerous. I’m focused now on getting out; I just want to go, to go home. In Ghana, we got lands, we got horses, we got a farm. A whole plantation, we grow pepper, okra, tomatoes. My grandfather built a lot of things. Families should be helping if you got family. I’m a Christian. But the truth, without a doubt, the truth — America is getting more dangerous, and America is in trouble. Yes.” ■ CREDIT: PAULA BARD OUR Streets are stories of Denver’s unhoused residents as captured by Paula Bard, who walks the streets of Denver to photograph the faces and collect the stories of those her city has abandoned. 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. DONATE Donations to the Denver VOICE are tax-deductable. Go to denvervoice.org to give a one-time or recurring donation. You can also mail a check to: Denver VOICE | P.O. Box 1931 | Denver, CO 80201 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 @denverVOICE 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. VOLUNTEER We need volunteers to help with everything from newspaper distribution to event planning and management. Contact program@denvervoice.org for volunteering information. 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. June 2021 DENVER VOICE 3
Ask a VENDOR THIS COLUMN IS A PLACE FOR DENVER VOICE VENDORS TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS FROM OUR READERS AND STAFF. Q How would you respond if someone asked you, “If I donate to the Denver VOICE today, how will that money benefi t you six months from now?” A JERRY ROSEN It would benefit me in many ways as it would help me support myself in many ways with having the things I need and being able to get the things I need in the future. RAELENE JOHNSON I would let them know if they donate to the VOICE, the money goes to keeping the paper in print, so vendors can keep earning a living. The money also helps keep the office [running] and pays some staff. Please keep the aper going! Thank you from all of us vendors! BRIAN AUGUSTINE You help the Denver VOICE continue publishing, which means I will be able to continue working. I not only keep earning to pay my rent. But, I stay connected with the community I feel so close to and included in now. Also, you keep me the happiest I’ve ever been in my life by doing the job that I love. It’s people that donate to the Denver VOICE that help all the vendors working. Thank you so very much. From all of us. Please see page 12 for an additional response. What do YOU want to ask? If you have a question or issue you would like vendors to discuss, please email community@denvervoice.org. 4 DENVER VOICE June 2021 CREDIT: GILES CLASEN LOCAL NEWS COMMUNITY HEALTH PROVIDERS TAKE THE LEAD ON VACCINATIONS BY ROBERT DAVIS KARLA CARRANZA of Denver said she got her COVID-19 vaccine because she was ready to reunite with her family and friends after spending a year apart. Dr. Hannah Fields of Estes Park got hers to protect both her family and her patients. Stephanie Flores from Fort Lupton said she got it because her work as a medical provider puts her in close contact with the public. What each of these women has in common is that they got their vaccines from the Salud Family Health Clinic, a community health center that focuses on helping Colorado’s low-income and immigrant communities get vaccinated. As Colorado’s vaccination rate increases, community health centers like Salud are becoming more than medical offices. They are now off-hours service providers, trusted sources of information, and community resource centers, too. They’re also serving as lynchpins of the state’s vaccination efforts. Maisha Fields, the director of community partnerships at Salud Family Health Centers, described this workload to Denver VOICE in an interview as “heavy.” But, she’s found the key to success lies in “connecting with people where they are.” “Normal health care comes with normal business hours. Rather than be another normal provider, we aim to be a trusted provider. We’re able to adjust our method of delivery to meet the needs of our community members,” Fields added. VACCINE EQUITY According to the Center for Disease Control, only 10% of vaccines distributed in Colorado have gone to Hispanic and Latinx communities. Meanwhile, these communities made up 41% of cases and 25% of deaths, according to an analysis of the data by the Kaiser Family Foundation. The song remains the same in the Denver metro area. Communities with strong Hispanic and Latinx populations such as Montbello and Westwood are reporting low vaccination rates, according to the Colorado Health Institute’s COVID-19 Vaccination Map. To address these disparities, Denver opened five community vaccination centers at the following locations: • Barnum Recreation Center - 360 Hooker St. • Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center - 2650 E. 49th Ave. • Swansea Recreation Center - 2650 E. 49th Ave. • John F. Kennedy High School - 2855 S. Lamar St. • Montbello High School - 14274 E. 51st Ave. However, these statistics confirm the fact that several communities in Colorado are not getting the quality of healthcare they deserve, according to Fields. She said that’s why Salud and other community healthcare centers are focusing their efforts on culturally-responsive services in an attempt to increase vaccination rates. Some examples include hosting vaccination drives during the evening or on weekends; driving mobile clinics to churches, parks, and other community centers, and providing walk-in vaccinations. Fields said there have been two keys to Salud’s success: flexible services and building trust in the communities they serve. “It’s not always the voices of the sports stars that people listen to. That’ll work for some, but others will pay more attention to what their neighbor says than what someone on the Denver Broncos says about getting vaccinated,” she said. INFORMATION PIPELINE When Governor Jared Polis retired the state’s COVID-19 dial framework in mid-April, he simultaneously gave local healthcare providers more control over case management and disrupted an information pipeline that many relied on for local data about the pandemic. At the time, officials said the decision was due to several factors including increasing vaccination rates and lower hospitalization rates of elderly Coloradans. In response, several counties—Denver included—made their COVID-19 data publicly available. Others such as Douglas County took the opposite approach. However, the patchwork county-level data available coupled with sensationalized reports of complications caused by the vaccine have made it difficult to repair the information pipeline between scientists and the general public. For community health providers, Fields said, closing this information gap between vulnerable communities and sound science is a critical element of their work. Chief Medical Officer for Salud Tillman Farley told Denver VOICE about some focus groups that Salud has conducted. He said those who self-reported as vaccine hesitant often believed that scientists had a profit motive behind the inoculation. Others were distrustful of medicine more generally. He said these results made one thing resoundingly clear: those who are vaccine-hesitant are becoming tougher sells. Unfortunately, the result is that people distrust an element of medicine that scientists know best: vaccines. “There is nothing that medicine knowns better than vaccines, from the molecular level to the population level,” Farley said. “Immunology is very sound science. There aren’t any hidden dragons left to discover. We’re only getting better at it.” Meanwhile, state COVID data shows Denver County has more than 450 confirmed cases of variant strains – threefourths of which are from the B.1.1.7 strain, which was first identified in the United Kingdom. According to the latest vaccination data from Denver Public Health, 63% of Denver residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine. Another 43% are fully vaccinated. ■
LOCAL STORY Spring WISH LIST THE LOGO OF A CHIPOTLE RESTAURANT IS SEEN IN GOLDEN, COLORADO. CREDIT: REUTERS/RICK WILKING NOT EVERYONE IN SERVICE INDUSTRY FAVORS LIVING WAGE MODEL BY DOUG HRDLICKA THE FINAL HOURS OF COVID-19 may be upon us – so it would seem with the restrictions being lifted. The joyful idea of the pandemic coming to an end starkly contrasts the call for social distancing and mask-wearing because others may be a threat to us, and we may be a threat to them. But of all the doom and gloom that is present now, as restaurants and bars begin to fully open, is that service industry workers are hesitant to return. In the Facebook group Stupid Questions in the Service Industry, which has more than 16 thousand members, the answer to the hesitancy was varied. In some instances, people used this past year as an opportunity to pursue career ambitions outside the service industry, but among the top reasons are low pay and rude customers. The minimum for a tipped employee is $9.30 across Colorado; the remainder relies on the generosity of the guests. That being the case, jobs in the service industry have been less than gainful this past year, and members of the Facebook service industry group report the attitudes of guests being far more egregious. Some establishments, however, have abolished tips in favor of a salary – the most recent being Chipotle. Starting June 1, the company began paying a minimum wage of $15 per hour in addition to incentives such as education, referral bonuses, and a pathway towards management positions that pay an annual salary of $100,000. “Chipotle is committed to providing industry-leading benefits and accelerated growth opportunities, and we hope to attract even more talent by showcasing the potential income that can be achieved in a few short years,” the company wrote in a newsletter. The decision for a company to pay a salary to its employees is not unique to Chipotle. During the spring of last year Amethyst Coffee, which has three locations in the Denver metro area, also abolished the tips system and began paying their employees $50,000 per year. “We cannot keep relying on tips to pay people a living wage in cities that only get more and more expensive like Denver,” Winn Deburlo with Amethyst Coffee said last year. The move drew national attention and garnered praise from community members and worker advocates. Some, however, disapproved because the wage hike was being passed on to the customers through the price of coffee. The Colorado Restaurant Association added to that by noting employees stand to gain more from a tips system over a salary. Sonya Riggs, the CEO and president of CRA cited Union Square Hospitality Group’s attempt at salary as a cautionary tale. “When Union Square Hospitality Group moved away from tipping, they reported that 40% of their best servers quit,” Riggs said in a letter. “We’ve also heard from some local restaurant groups who have moved away from the traditional tipping model that they lost upwards of 80% of their front-ofhouse staff, who left to work at restaurants operating under traditional tip models.” In the same letter, Riggs, also confirmed the difficulty restaurants are having with finding workers. Small business owners shared similar struggles in the Stupid Questions Facebook group. Many insisted upon wanting to be able to pay workers more, but with the rise in food cost and PPE, they simply didn’t have the revenue. “Restaurants across the state have shared with us that they are struggling to hire enough workers to meet the current demand from diners as patio season gets underway and capacity restrictions ease or are eliminated,” said Riggs. The truth of the matter has yet to be unveiled, though. As of right now, restrictions remain in place, and many people are still receiving pandemic unemployment. But if cases remain low, we may return to normal before summer even begins. “It’s time to say goodbye to capacity limits and distancing requirements,” said Mayor Michael Hancock in a post on his Facebook page, “and for those of us who are vaccinated, time to remove our masks in most circumstances.” ■ DENVERVOICE.ORG/VENDOR-NEEDS Drop-offs are accepted Mon, Weds, Fri., 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., or schedule a drop-off by emailing program@denvervoice.org. June 2021 DENVER VOICE 5 NEW ITEMS NEEDED: Socks Reusable water bottles Sunscreen, toothpaste, deodorant, chapstick Paper products for the office GENTLY USED ITEMS NEEDED: Flat screen TV Backpacks Umbrellas that can fit into a backpack Ball caps/hats for warm weather Gloves Panchos & windbreakers (Men’s L, XL, XXL)
LOCAL STORY When Sarah Slaton lost her work as a musician due to COVID-19, she and others in the music industry, found new work testing patients for the virus. “It was devastating fi nancially. Between losing my job and having all of my shows canceled, I was really in a rough spot. I was really in a place of self-doubt last summer going into last fall.” Credit: Giles Clasen WITHOUT AUDIENCES, MUSIC INDUSTRY PROS FIND NICHE IN COVID RESPONSE SERVICES BY GILES CLASEN FACING DEVASTATION COVID-19 wasn’t the first time Sarah Slaton’s life was interrupted by illness. In 2009, not long after Slaton graduated college and moved to Denver, her mother was diagnosed with brain cancer. Slaton returned to Arkansas and cared for her mother, who passed away 14 months later. “I felt so fucking lost without her,” Slaton said. “It was like the whole world was upside-down, and I didn’t want to have anything to do with it. I bought a one-way flight to Europe. I took off and went backpacking for a little bit.” In time Slaton returned to Denver and started the band Edison as a tribute to her mother, even using a photo of her mom on the band’s first album. “I just always wanted to pursue being a musician, and I was always afraid to really go for it,” Slaton said. “Things changed, having her voice in the back of my head; I knew I had to just try.” 6 DENVER VOICE June 2021 In 2018, Edison broke up and Slaton began her solo career. She had built momentum going into 2020 and had scheduled a national solo tour. The coronavirus pandemic brought everything to a screeching halt for Slaton, as it did for many other Americans. Unlike some businesses during the pandemic, the music industry couldn’t continue at a limited capacity. Events were canceled and concerts were put on hold. The revenue dried up, and Slaton had no choice but to start collecting unemployment insurance. “It was devastating, financially,” Slaton said. “Between losing my job and having all of my shows canceled, I was really in a rough spot. I was really in a place of self-doubt last summer going into last fall.” Slaton was used to pinching her pennies as a touring musician, but this was different. In December of 2020, Slaton found another break, of sorts, in the music industry. She took a job with a COVID-19 response team for Highline Medical Solutions, an offshoot of Highline Events Solutions. FINDING A SOLUTION Highline had been an experiential marketing company that produced music and sporting events around the world since the mid-1990s. But as was the case with so many, when COVID-19 hit, Highline lost all of its business, and the Highline Event Solutions business struggled to survive. James Deighan, Highline’s managing partner and founder, said in the summer of 2020 the company had to furlough most of their 15 full-time staff and inform their 250 contractors around the country that there would be no work until the pandemic ended. “It was devastating,” Deighan said. “It was very, very difficult. It was very sad, but at the same time, there was absolutely nothing I could do. I held on as long as I possibly could before telling employees we have had for 13 or 18 years.” Deighan looked for any solution to keep his company going. He considered selling his house and even considered becoming a bartender again, a job he hadn’t done since the founding of Highline 26 years ago. Highline did qualify for a Paycheck Protection Program loan from the federal government, which helped him keep his staff paid a bit longer, but it ultimately wasn’t enough. “Come late July, early August, there wasn’t a dime left to spend on staff, let alone overhead,” Deighan said. Just as Highline looked like it might fall, Deighan had an idea. A friend with experience in the medical industry told Deighan about the logistical complexities involved in testing Colorado’s population for COVID.
LOCAL STORY Highline had years of experience organizing large-scale events like the Winter X Games, Super Bowl Half Time Shows, Vail Snow Days, and Deighan saw this as a great way to parlay that experience into a different type of enterprise. In the early fall of 2020, Deighan began applying for requests for proposals from the state of Colorado to manage and staff COVID testing sites. Highline Medical Solutions, a new wing of the Highline events business, was born. “I was so excited,” Deighan said. “We kind of put the word out across the country, to the Highline family, to anyone that didn’t have work, to apply their very strong skill sets and help address a serious need in fighting the pandemic.” OPPORTUNITIES FOR PAID WORK Deighan wasn’t the only individual in the music business excited to have paid work in a new industry “We lost not only our jobs but our identity this past year,” Stacy Wiseman said. “Not only are we working now, but we are helping the country open back up.” A tour manager for A-list comedians and bands, Wiseman spent 14 years traveling around the world before the pandemic hit. She learned about the job opportunities with Highline through a Facebook group for music industry professionals. At the vaccine sites, Wiseman helps manage the administration side of the vaccination sites. Wiseman said Highline has managed the sites extremely well because they applied the same efficiencies as those they used to produce events. “This is a mini-festival,” Wiseman said. “We set it up like a tour production office because it works. We say put us in charge because we know how to do this work.” Before working for Highline, Wiseman lived on $167 a week from unemployment. Her unemployment was interrupted on two different occasions because she was a victim of fraudulent claims. “I’ve talked with friends [in the music industry] around the country who are really floored that this is what Denver is doing, hiring industry people,” Wiseman said. “Other individuals around the country haven’t had this option, haven’t been this lucky.” WHATEVER COMES NEXT After Sarah Slaton joined the Highline Medical Solutions team in late December, she got right to work in her new role. In no time, she was donning N95 respirators and face shields, traveling to rural communities, and conducting COVID tests. Slaton learned quickly, despite having little medical experience in her background. She said the biggest demand on her team was helping to calm nerves for people scared of a virus they didn’t fully understand. She was also nervous about getting the virus and spreading it to the people she cared about. “I wasn’t vaccinated the first couple of months that I was doing it,” Slaton said. “There were hundreds of people coming Your Own Medicine plays a streamed show at The Armory Denver. “We were the fi rst to close and may be the last to open because you can’t really book a national tour.” Credit: Giles Clasen to the sites every day for tests, and quite a few people were positive. I’m not going to lie and tell you that I wasn’t anxious, but I knew that we were doing good work.” To cope with the anxiety of the ever-present threat of the virus, Slaton was meticulous about cleanliness. She never went anywhere in public without a mask and used copious amounts of hand sanitizer. Being on the road and living out of hotels as part of the COVID response felt a little like traveling as a musician, too. She even brought her guitar and a mobile recording studio to continue writing music. “I have written a lot of music in the past year,” Slaton said. “I don’t have a full album’s worth by any means, but I definitely have been writing a lot of music, and I’m figuring out what way I’m going to release it. I’m figuring out how I’m going to afford to get it all recorded.” Sam Krentzman said he has seen a lot of resiliency in the creative community this year. Krentzman, the founder of The Armory Denver, a music and recording venue, has been working on “When the Music Stops,” a documentary about the pandemic’s impact on the Colorado music scene. “I actually think that’s the thing about the creative community. It’s not like they’re only able to be creative in a particular scenario,” Krentzman said. “Their creative energy transcends difficult scenarios. We actually saw a lot of people who couldn’t tour or play for audiences go to the studio and start recording. There are a lot of people getting ready for whatever comes next.” REBUILDING THE INDUSTRY But the damage to the Colorado music scene may be lasting and has gone beyond hurting musicians and companies that organize shows. Krentzman said thousands of tradespeople lost their incomes due to COVID. Great shows require skilled sound board operators, lighting technicians, riggers, stage builders — even bartenders — to ensure they run smoothly. Some of these tradespeople left the industry completely in 2020, looking for other work. Some moved away from Colorado during the pandemic. “I know steelworkers and riggers who moved to Florida and Apdiela Pulido receives her second dose of the Pfizer vaccine from Laura Vanston. Highline Medical Solutions. Credit: Giles Clasen Texas building stadiums and stages,” Krentzman said. “Those states had fewer restrictions, so production moved. But [those workers] had to expose themselves to additional risks of COVID in those spaces, leaving the regulations of their home state for work elsewhere.” Krentzman said The Armory Denver struggled to survive. The business only survived because of a grant, virtual shows, the support and generosity from the building’s owner, and Krentzman using his unemployment income to pay the business’s bills. “This is a family affair,” Krentzman said. “It is a group of artists who built this place, and it took a lot of people to keep it going this past year.” There is a chance that Colorado will have a lot of work rebuilding the music scene here. But the music industry is important to Colorado’s economic success. A recent study by Economists, Inc., an economic consulting firm, found that for every dollar generated by music activities, an additional 50 cents is created for adjacent businesses. The music industry supports 2.4 million jobs nationally. The total economy does well when the music industry is thriving. “Everyone benefits from every stage of a musician’s development,” Krentzman said. “I just wish there were more direct investments in the creative arts in Colorado, both in industry development and also artistic development.” Krentzman also said he thinks the live music industry will come back slower than other parts of the economy. “We were the first to close and may be the last to open because you can’t really book a national tour,” Krentzman said. “Every state has different restrictions, so it is very difficult to book right now.” The Colorado Music Relief Fund, managed by Redline Contemporary Art Center, has helped support individuals who work in the Colorado music industry, but the biggest thing someone can do to help bring live shows back to Colorado is to get vaccinated, Krentzman said. “In my personal opinion, the vaccines are very important,” said Krentzman, who was vaccinated. “I feel a sense of personal responsibility for my own health and who I’m obligated to care for in my own life and business. There needs to be a sense of social responsibility to prevent the transmission of the disease and the development of new variants. We need to do as much as we can to keep people safe. The more that people get vaccinated, the fewer [number of] people will die of COVID. I think that that’s a very good goal.” If music events are attended by a mix of individuals who are both vaccinated and unvaccinated, concerts could become hotspots for the spread of the virus. Krentzman said that would likely lead to another shutdown of live music. A second shutdown could be a more devastating injury to the music industry and could be even more difficult to recover from. CREATING MOMENTUM Slaton has already given up hope of reviving her national tour that had been scheduled for 2020. She was vaccinated due to her high risk of exposure while working for Highline and now, she feels safe playing live shows. But she will limit any touring to Colorado this year. She is hoping that the U.S. continues to open safely throughout 2021 and she can have momentum leading into 2022. “I create momentum,” Slaton said. “That’s the reason I am where I am. Everything that I’ve ever done, anything that I’m super proud of, it because I worked at it. I’ll create momentum whatever year it is or whatever day it is.” Slaton released two new songs in 2020, “Time to Go,” and “Get Up.” She has received a strong reception to both and is excited about the following she now has and hopes to expand it significantly over the next year. “I feel like I’m still just trying to keep going and keep getting up each day and just loving the present moment as much as I can,” Slaton said. “I don’t know what I’m going to be doing in two or three months; I don’t know when this is going to end or when I can go back to playing music full-time. I just have to remember that I’ll find my way eventually.” ■ June 2021 DENVER VOICE 7
COMMUNITY PROFILE CREDIT: PAULA BARD HYGIENE AND HEALTH The Dignity Project: Outreach to the Most Vulnerable and Threatened. BY PAULA BARD CLEANLINESS ASSURES US BASIC DIGNITY and allows for participation in the world. Could showers and clean clothes also empower the journey away from homelessness and poverty? Could showers and clean clothes encourage those struggling to feel human and remind them that they matter? For Jennifer Kloeppel and Kellen Berrigan, founders of the Dignity Project, the answer is a resounding yes. Floating above a cityscape splashed with fuchsia and blue mountains, the sign on their open shower and laundry trailer boldly declares “Showers For All.” Kloeppel and Berrigan intend, as their mission statement says, to “restore dignity and hope.” The Showers For All mobile trailer is capable of providing 60 loads of laundry and 60 showers per day in sparkling white bathrooms to anyone who shows up and requests one. They aim to build relationships and, in their words, “meet people where they are.” Kloeppel and Berrigan learn names and share stories while offering the much-appreciated free shower and laundry service. Hygiene is inextricably linked to health. According to Kloeppel, living in dirty clothes can lead to skin conditions 8 DENVER VOICE June 2021 and insect infestations. During menstrual cycles, women unable to keep clean are at risk of infection and toxic shock syndrom, which can be deadly. Job seeking is impossible when hygiene cannot be maintained and puts one at a steep disadvantage when competing with other applicants. Regular showers and laundry can also mean fewer missed school days for children. Overall, as Kloeppel explained, “personal hygiene means feeling valued.” Berrigan and Kloeppel crossed paths while working at St. Andrew Methodist Church in Highlands Ranch. Berrigan was doing audiovisual support and Kloeppel is an outreach and worship director. “We started talking at work and realized that we had a similar passion for making this happen,” said Kloeppel. “We just started dreaming about how we could create this nonprofit and what it would look like to build a combination shower and laundry trailer because the need is here all the time.” They jump-started the project with an online fundraiser. This provided the resources to build out the trailer, According to Kloeppel, “Everything after that has come CREDIT: PAULA BARD
COMMUNITY PROFILE CREDIT: PAULA BARD CREDIT: PAULA BARD from small donors, who have helped just keep it alive. We do a lot of talking to people and telling them why this is important — who benefits. People can recognize the need for it.” Both Kloeppel and Berrigan learned independently that access to showers and laundry was important to those experiencing homelessness. Kloeppel was student teaching in Los Angeles, working in Skid Row, where people would say to her, “I can find food and I can find a shelter if I need it, but I can’t find a laundry or shower.” On the other side of the world, Berrigan was in Australia, when he saw a little car towing around a trailer that had a washer and dryer, doing laundry for people. “Well, this is cool,” he thought. They both carried the seeds of the program when they met in Denver and launched the Dignity Project. “It’s a labor of love, so I get to do my real job, and then I get to do this passion project,” said Kloeppel, “and Kellen gets to do the same thing. We have incredible volunteers. It’s fun!” They both work as volunteers themselves, and they set the Dignity Project up as a nonprofit, so they have no paid staff. So far, the trailer alternates on Fridays and Saturdays the Capitol Hill between two safe outdoor spaces in neighborhood, and they’ve just added Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Amphitheater at Civic Center to their schedule. The Denver Public Library refers people that could use CREDIT: PAULA BARD the services. They have been working with Denver Parks and Recreation to add more parks to the schedule. “Denver Parks and Rec has actually been an incredible partner for us, and they’re working really hard to help us find spaces that will work in the city,” said Kloeppel. “I’m so grateful for them and the work that the team has done to help this happen in city parks.” Showers For All is not the only mobile laundry and shower service available. Denver-based Bayaud Industries also runs a fleet of laundry and shower trucks. Their first laundry truck was created as a result of a specific request from individuals in the unhoused community and was inaugurated back in 2016. According to Cindy Chapman, who oversees Bayaud’s mobile units, participants have said that being able to wear clean clothes can change their whole week. During the pandemic, the City of Denver contracted most of Bayaud’s fleet for the emergency shelters. But when summer warms up, their trucks will again roam throughout the city with their regular schedule published on the Bayaud website. This summer, they look forward to introducing their new combination laundry and shower truck. The attractive Showers For All trailer sits at Denver’s safe outdoor sites on Fridays and Saturdays, and Civic Center’s Amphitheater all day Tuesdays and Thursdays. It is staffed with welcoming volunteers who are busily doing laundry and cleaning while talking to folks. It’s a lively scene. Laundry and showers are free for anyone who just shows up. To see their current schedule, visit www.showersforall.org. ■ June 2021 DENVER VOICE 9
INTERNATIONAL STORY FUNDING NOT GOING DIRECTLY TO TRIBES Typical of this year’s wildfire bills is House Bill 3160, which would establish a fund for community protection against wildfires. The fund draws from a proposed surcharge on insurance policies. It sends the money to the state fire marshal, the Department of Forestry, and the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board. None of that money is set aside for tribal efforts, such as the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde’s fire program, which has previously collaborated with Oregon Metro on prescribed burns. Rep. Pam Marsh (D-Ashland), vice chair of the House Special Committee on Wildfire Recovery, said this bill is designed to distribute funding through existing state agencies, but some of it might reach tribes secondhand. “Although tribes aren’t called out in the initial legislation, I am confident that they would be targeted in the funding process,” she said. “However,” she added, “We should think about that.” But Danny Santos, interim director of the Legislative Commission on Indian Services, said the perception that non-tribal participants, such as the Forestry Department, will take up tribal interests has not historically worked in the best interests of tribes. “Some state agencies, other governmental entities, and PHOTO BY KARSTEN WINEGEART ON UNSPLASH WHY ARE INDIGENOUS TRIBES EXCLUDED FROM POLICYMAKING WHEN THEIR PRACTICES ARE USED TO FIGHT WILDFIRES? BY BRIAN OASTER Last year, lawmakers responded to 2020’s devastating wildfires, which burned over a million acres in Oregon, by introducing a slew of bills aimed at wildfire prevention, management, and recovery. Also last year, a growing body of scientific research came to light supporting the effectiveness of traditional Indigenous land management practices in preventing uncontrolled wildfires. But Native representation in decision-making processes is meager compared to business interests. ANOTHER WILDFIRE SEASON IS ALREADY UNDERWAY, with fires burning around Klamath Falls. Drought conditions across 85% of Oregon have threatened a worse fire season than last year. Lawmakers responded to 2020’s devastating wildfires, which burned over a million acres in Oregon, by introducing a slew of bills aimed at wildfire prevention, management, and recovery. Also last year, a growing body of scientific research came to light supporting the effectiveness of traditional Indigenous land management practices in preventing uncontrolled wildfires. Foremost among these practices are prescribed burns, a method of intentionally burning the land every few years, under controlled conditions, to prevent the build-up of fuel like deadfall and overgrowth and promote fire-adapted ecosystems, thus preventing uncontrolled outbreaks of wildfires like the ones we saw last year. But despite the research supporting Native expertise, Oregon lawmakers have left Native people almost entirely out of the decision-making and funding processes aimed at changing the pattern of uncontrolled summer and autumn fires — even as the state works to implement tribal knowledge. legislators may still assume that tribal interests (for one and sometimes every tribe) are covered in their meetings, memos, policies, and proposals,” Santos said. But consultation means “having meaningful dialogue in developing plans, not simply informing tribes of what actions (are) to be taken.” Another bill, House Bill 2273, seeks to establish a forestry task force and doesn’t specify the inclusion of tribal representatives. Yet another proposal, House Bill 3282, would require the Forestry Department to study and make recommendations about wildfire prevention, but makes no mention of consulting Indigenous scientists. The absence of Native people from these bills contrasts starkly with the strong representation of business interests. A few fire bills have overt economic tones. House Bill 3279 would offer grant money to private contractors with air curtain burners to help with fuel reduction — money that could go to tribal fire programs for the same purpose. House Bill 2795 aims to give $5 million from the general fund to support “Good Neighbor Authority Agreement projects.” These are projects, according to Oregon law, “that increase timber harvest volume” and “maximize economic benefit to this state.” One wildfire bill mentions Natives directly. House Bill 2722 seeks to create a committee to advise policymakers on land use and wildfires. The 22-person committee would include one Native person to represent the nine federally recognized tribes across Oregon. Also around the table would be developers, real estate agents, farmers, utility companies, and landowners. One Native person out of 22 slightly over-approximates Oregon’s Native population by percentage — 3% of Oregonians are Native — but doesn’t necessarily account for the unique expertise Native communities can bring to the table and their unique stake in caring for the land. Santos said that expecting one person to represent the diverse governmental, economic, and environmental positions of the nine tribes — which are not always in strict accordance with one another, or with settler conservation efforts — is like expecting a representative of Portland to speak for other parts of the state. “The city of Portland cannot be seen as speaking for all Oregon cities. Malheur County cannot be seen as speaking 10 DENVER VOICE June 2021
PAGE TITLE for all Oregon counties,” Santos said. “At the same time, notifying a tribe and consulting with them clearly does not reflect all the interests, concerns, and needs of Oregon’s nine federally recognized tribes.” NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBES At a federal level, Santos noted, two Oregon tribes recently became the first to be nationally recognized for their forest management systems. The Coquille Indian Tribe was the first to apply for, and to be granted, the Indian Trust Asset Management Plan. This federal program gives Coquille the authority to manage their lands, which are held in trust by the Department of the Interior, without needing approval from the secretary of the Interior. Earlier this year, the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians in Southwest Oregon became the second tribe to win land management sovereignty through the Indian Trust Asset Management Plan. The program gives the Coquille and Cow Creek Umpqua tribes sovereignty to manage their forest lands as they see fit, but it doesn’t provide funding or engage them with statewide land use planning or wildfire prevention efforts. Susan Ferris, public affairs person with the Cow Creek Umpqua Tribe, said Native people should be included in statewide discussions about land management and wildfire prevention. “In the beginning,” she said, “all the forest lands in Oregon were managed, and managed well, by Oregon’s Indigenous peoples. … It would seem now that people are making a concerted effort to manage our forests better, that it would only be sensible and right to include Oregon’s nine federally recognized tribes.” USING KNOWLEDGE, BUT NOT LEADERSHIP While Native people are largely omitted from state wildfire legislation, Native knowledge is not. Controlled burns have arrived at the doorstep of Oregon law. House Bill 2572 would allow neighboring property owners to collaborate on controlled burns. This would update the current state law, which calls any fire crossing property lines “uncontrolled.” And House Bill 2571 would commission a study of liability for prescribed fires, to see what’s worked in other states. Marsh, the Democrat from Ashland, acknowledges these two bills are explicitly based on traditional Indigenous knowledge. “When we talk about them, we always note that we are trying to re-establish traditions that were known and implemented by our tribes,” she said. These two bills pave the way for more prescribed burns, but they don’t mention Natives, designate Native leadership, or fund Native wildfire efforts. Santos said there remains a lack of understanding of how much tribes have to contribute to statewide discussions. “While challenges remain, there have been great advancements in having tribal voices around the table,” Santos said. At a meeting on 13 April for the Natural and Cultural Resources Task Force, part of Gov. Kate Brown’s disaster cabinet response to the wildfire relief and recovery efforts, Santos said, “Tribal representatives got information and made valuable inquiries related to tribal interests” and were “made aware of funding opportunities.” He said tribal consultations like this are happening more frequently across other cabinets and state agencies, as well. Government-to-government relations between tribes and the state have improved, Santos said, but there’s still a long way to go. ■ Courtesy of Street Roots / INSP.ngo 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 WRITING THROUGH HARD TIMES COURTESY OF DENVER PUBLIC LIBRARY AND LIGHTHOUSE WRITERS WORKSHOP DANIEL ANGEL MARTINEZ MY MAKESHIFT HOME Why would I want a roof over my head? Why would one want boxed-in isolation? I would rather have open space instead. I can go anywhere in nature’s spread With no particular destination. Why would I want a roof over my head? As for partnerships that share a bed, Maybe I don’t need cohabitation. I would rather have open space instead. “There is room for everyone,” they said. Yet, shelters lack accommodation. Why would I want a roof over my head? With a world of campsites, no need to dread Whether one can book a reservation. I would rather have open space instead. All the so-called comforts of home I shed In my bittersweet emancipation. Why would I want a roof over my head? I would rather have open space instead. A COLLABORATION BY THE EDGEWATER HARD TIMES WRITING WORKSHOP HOPE Hope is the breath that makes survival possible, a little word, well-balanced. When you’re an outsider, it’s almost impossible to come inside— so hand out public encouragement, for we are picked & pruned for the purpose of romance. Hope is a bird once nestled in a tree beneath your ribs, an eagle in flight that will escape. It is the phoenix within us that will soar. Hope is the last crumb that tells me I can go on. June 2021 DENVER VOICE 11
IN YOUR OWN WORDS Pain, BE GONE! BY RAELENE JOHNSON, VOICE VENDOR FOR SO LONG GROWING UP, all Self felt was pain, misery, despair, and unhappiness. How does Self know to just let go, tell someone their pain, keep telling someone until someone can help Self? What about for kids, that don’t know they keep the pain going, lost, trapped? Self gets good at hiding their pain, masking all they went through. Over time, Self believes they can handle it – “the pain.” As Self gets older, drugs and alcohol will numb the pain, RAELENE JOHNSON. CREDIT: CORTNEY TABERNA and at first, it works. Self feels better with a little help! Self just doesn’t know what will happen over time to them until it is too late! Self will keep killing Self until Self lets go of what is holding them back. Deal with whatever Self went through or is still going through so Self can heal! Once healing happens, Self can start a better life. Freedom is the best gift Self can give Self, so, Self, let go of pain. Let pain be gone! Self, is worth it! ■ Subscribe online: NEVER MISS AN ISSUE! DENVERVOICE.ORG/SUBSCRIPTIONS Become a Denver VOICE subscriber and get the paper delivered directly to your mailbox every month. Both personal and business subscriptions are available. Your donation goes directly to support our program! Ask a VENDOR BY JOHN ALEXANDER, VOICE VENDOR The following is John’s response to this month’s Ask a Vendor question. Because there wasn’t room to fit his entire answer on page 4, we have published it in this section. The question was, “How would you respond if someone asked you, ‘If I donate to the Denver VOICE today, how will that money benefit you six months from now?’” IF I AM OR WERE TO EVER BE BLESSED to cross paths with a person wanting to donate the Denver VOICE, and their only requirement of me in exchange would be to give them some idea of how that money would benefit me six months later, I would start by sharing that their support enables the VOICE to accomplish things like paying for the lease for the office, the utilities, [the cost of printing] our papers, and the many, many other obligations that are constant. The fact being pointed out here is that your support, donations, and cash are gifts that keep on giving. For example, six months from now, I and many people like me will still be able to come to a sheltered place, buy papers, and maintain our business. We will still have a place to congregate with friends and seek help, counsel, etc. There will be many things and countless ways that I will benefit from any donations, six months or even six years from now. ■ JOHN ALEXANDER. CREDIT: GILES CLASEN 12 DENVER VOICE June 2021
EVENTS FIRST FRIDAY: JAZZ IN THE PLAZA Free jazz in the plaza, featuring Purnell Steen and LeJazz Machine. WHEN: June 4, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. COST: Free WHERE & MORE INFO: Charles R. Cousins Plaza, 2401 Welton St. | facebook.com/FirstFridayFivePoints SATURDAY NIGHT BAZAAR: SLOAN’S LAKE This weekly market will feature 30+ local vendors, pop-up bars, food trucks, live music, and more. Well-behaved dogs are welcome; this event runs through October 2. WHEN: June 5, 12, 19, and 26, 3 p.m. – 8 p.m. COST: Free entry WHERE & MORE INFO: 1611 Raleigh St. | facebook.com/DenverBazaar BOULTER’S FARMERS MARKET ACROSS Check out this new Thursday morning market, featuring fresh produce, prepared foods, and a variety of crafts and quality goods from local makers. WHEN: June 17 and 24, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m COST: Free entry. WHERE & MORE INFO: 5505 West 20th Ave. | boultersfarmersmarkets.com LOST CITY LIVE WITH SARAH SLATON AND BRIANNA STRAUT Come on out for a night of live, local music and feel-good vibes on the patio of Lost City. WHEN: June 25, doors at 6:30 p.m., show at 7:30 p.m. COST: Tickets start at $25 WHERE & MORE INFO: 3459 Ringsby Ct. | facebook.com/lostcitydenver DENVER PRIDEFEST Denver PrideFest 2021 is combining both virtual and in-person events for folks to celebrate however they’d like. Participants can enjoy a virtual parade, a virtual + in-person 5K, an online marketplace, and in-person pride hubs, featuring a pool party, live music, DJs, drag brunch, family-friendly events, and more! WHEN: Jun 26 and Jun 27, times vary COST: Donations accepted WHERE & MORE INFO: Online and various locations | denverpride.org 1. Andean tubers 5. Glasgow gal 9. Imitates a crow 13. Big name in pineapples 14. Celtics point guard ___ Irving 15. Assortment 16. In an unsettling manner 19. Does without 20. Held off 21. German river to the North Sea 22. “Back in the ___” 23. Big name in child education 27. Big-ticket ___ 31. Fencing swords 32. Disobeyed a zoo sign? 33. Ricelike pasta 34. “My Name Is Asher ___” (Chaim Potok novel) 35. Plant bristles 37. Painter’s medium 38. Not kosher 40. “___ you nuts?” 41. Hot spot 43. Wrapped garment 44. Plan that has no chance of success 47. X-ray units 49. Breakdancing move, with “the” 50. Operatic villains, oft en 52. Capital of Indonesia 55. Reproduction without fertilization 58. Jewish month 59. Basic assumption 60. Rational 61. Frost-covered 62. Newspaper page 63. False alternative DOWN 1. Eccentric 2. Hairdo 3. ___-ran (loser) 4. Exude 5. French high schools 6. Greek war god 7. Knight’s title 8. Reserved 9. With vigor, musically 10. Aquatic plant 11. Cunning 12. Kind of sauce 14. Door openers 17. Makes eyes at 18. “___ magic!” 22. Fertilizer compound 23. Cheesy sandwiches 24. “Th e Barber of Seville,” e.g. 25. “Well, I ___!” 26. Frequently 28. Rainbow ___ 29. Online publication 30. Back tooth 35. Home of a famous zoo 36. God of love 39. “To begin with...” 41. Kitchen wrap 42. Chair part 45. Bent or shaped metal 46. Arcade coin 48. ___ Wednesday 50. “___ Ha’i” 51. Lily variety 52. “By ___!” 53. Boris Godunov, for one 54. Hokkaido native 55. Th e “p” in m.p.g. 56. Chill 57. “Didn’t I tell you?” COURTESY OF DEBORAH LASTOWKA PUZZLES Thanks to Deborah Lastowka, who provides this list of ideas for entertainment people can enjoy while practicing social distancing. COURTESY OF STREETROOTS ANSWERS ARE ON PAGE 15 June 2021 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+ Kenneth King Foundation Denver Foundation Max & Elaine Appel DEDO Nonprofit Emergency Relief Fund The Christian Foundation $5,000 - $9,999 Anschutz Family Foundation $1,000-$4,999 BNSF Railway Foundation Bright Funds Russell Peterson Phoenix Capital, Inc. Signs by Tomorrow Energy Outreach Colorado City Side Remodeling SEI Giving Fund Matthew Seashore & Nikki Lawson Josh Kauer Caring Connection Kroger Gaelina Tesfaye Network for Good Charities Aid Foundation of America Jim Ashe Walker Family Foundation The Sidney B. & Caleb F. Gates Jr. Fund Matthew Rezek Conover/Wonder Family Fund The Sidney B. & Caleb F. Gates Jr. Fund Patrick & Jan Rutty Conover/Wonder Family Fund Phoenix Capital $500-$999 Colorado Cross Disability Colalition Graham Davis Betty & Warren Kuehner Jeremy Anderson Lighthouse Writer’s Workshop, Inc. Community Health Charities Michelle Stapleton & James Thompson Michael Dino Paul Hoffman Michael J. Fehn & Jan Monnier Jennifer Stedron Mr. Paul Manoogian 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 Gaspar Terrana Catherine Hegedus Christine Muldoon and Pete Iannuzzi James Stegman 3M Foundation 10X Business Consultants SEMOptimize Laura Wing Meek-Cuneo Family Fund Pivitol Energy Partners Donald Weaver Key Renter Property Management 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! 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 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 June 2021
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. 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 ST. PETER AND ST. MARY 126 W. Second Ave., dinner at 6 on Tues. 303-722-8781 stpeterandmary.org 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.-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 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, 1055 Clermont St. 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 June 2021 DENVER VOICE 15 DON’T LOOK NOW! PUZZLES ARE ON PAGE 13
EAT & benefi ts the GIVE! Bring this ad to Fat Sully’s Tennyson location, and they will donate 25% of the cost of your meal to the Denver VOICE! TJUNE 15 uesday, 5-11 p.m. 4275 Tennyson St. 80212 WHEN / WHERE
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