IN YOUR OWN WORDS STOP SAYING I CAN’T, SELF BY RAELENE JOHNSON, VOICE VENDOR SELF, STOP SAYING, “I CAN’T!” When you do that, it gives you permission to not do anything. Every time you say you can’t, what you’re really doing is giving up on Self. You, and no one else, can do anything for Self. You have the power over Self to fail or succeed – even when others keep telling you, “You can’t do this,” or “You know you can’t do that because it will not come out right,” or “You will mess it up, you know you will fail,” or other statements like that. It is up to you to change how you react when people tell you such things. You either believe them when they tell you that you can’t, or you tell Self, “I don’t care if they tell me I can’t. I believe in Self, and Self doesn’t care what they say. If it is not something good, I don’t have to listen to them. The only person who can help me make it in life is SELF!” RAELENE JOHNSON. CREDIT: CORTNEY TABERNA Be your own voice for Self. No one but Self can think, feel, or speak for Self. Don’t ever tell Self you can’t. Love your Self enough so you don’t believe those negative words because they are not true. You don’t want to fail Self. You can do anything you put your mind to. Believe in Self because no one can believe in Self but YOU. No one can live your life, but Self. So, LOVE SELF and ONLY TAKE IN GOOD THINGS! Let go of hateful words from others. Always tell Self, “I CAN DO ANYTHING I WANT TO DO!” You can do it, Self. I believe in you. Always say, “I CAN,” to SELF! ■ DENVER VOICE CONTRIBUTORS, CLASEN, DAVIS, RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR WORK BY ELISABETH MONAGHAN, MANAGING EDITOR DURING THE FIRST HALF OF 2023, longtime Denver VOICE contributors Giles Clasen and Robert Davis each received awards for their stellar journalistic efforts. In April, Davis, who received his Master of Science in journalism this past December from New York University, picked up two Top of the Rockies awards from the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ). In addition to winning third place in the Climate Reporting category for an article he wrote for Yellow Scene magazine, Davis also placed first in the Enterprise Reporting category for his work on the Chasing Progress series, which was a project coordinated by the Colorado News Colaborative (COLab). Additionally, Davis won first place from the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing for his work on an Insider’s Warehouse Nation package. Giles Clasen has received several awards for one of the photos he took for “RV Living on the Road to Housing,” which was the cover story for the Denver VOICE’s October 2022 issue. This includes first place in the SPJ’s Top of the Rockies awards in the Feature Photography/Videography category. The photo will also be included in the Colorado GILES CLASEN’S COVER PHOTO FOR THE OCTOBER 2022 ISSUE OF THE VOICE HAS RECEVED SEVERAL AWARDS. IMAGE COURTESY OF AI-AP 39. 12 DENVER VOICE June 2023 Photographic Arts Center Annual Juried Members’ Show later this summer. Perhaps the most prestigious coverage Clasen’s recent work received is the inclusion of his photographs in the American Photography 39 annual award book. Of more than 7000 entries, the jury — which is composed of distinguished photographers, artistic directors, and creative directors from outlets like ProPublica, National Geographic, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The New York Times — selected 443 images representing the best pictures from 2022. Two of the 443 were taken by Clasen. According to Clasen, he is thrilled with the recognition that his work has earned, but what means even more is that the people in the photographs are just as excited about the attention and hope the coverage will instill a better understanding of those experiencing homelessness. The Denver VOICE may be among the smallest papers in the International Network of Street Papers, but our exceptional team of award-winning contributors continues to position us as one of the very best. ■
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