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
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