$ 2 SUGGESTED DONATION @DenverVOICE ‘MY MUSIC IS A FIGHT’ LIVING ON THE INSIDE PAGE 7 AWARDWINNING BOOKSTORE TURNS TWO CELEBRATING PETALS & PAGES IN DENVER’S SANTA FE ART DISTRICT PAGE 5 THE RELEVANCE OF SOUL FOOD IN DENVER ADRIAN MILLER ON FELISA HERNANDEZ’S DEEPLY PERSONAL FIGHT DENVER’S CULTURAL FLAVOR PAGE 4 VOICES OF OUR COMMUNITY PAGES 3, 7, 12 EVENTS / PUZZLES PAGE 13 RESOURCES PAGE 15 AUGUST 2025 | Vol.30 Issue 8 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) VENDOR PROFILE: DAVID GORDON FROM YOUR VENDOR: HERNANDEZ BELIEVES FIGHTING INJUSTICE MUST COME IN MANY FORMS.
A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR A PLACE TO CALL HOME ELISABETH MONAGHAN MANAGING EDITOR AUGUST MARKS THE LAST full month of summer, a time when many of us begin to sense the seasonal shift, not just in weather, but in mood, priorities, and routines. This transition from summer to autumn is a fitting backdrop for our Ask a Vendor question this month, which explores how our vendors experience the changing seasons, both in their lives and in their environments. As summer fades into autumn, longtime Denver VOICE vendor David Gordon no longer has to worry about spending nights outdoors. This is because David recently moved into his own apartment, which is why we have profiled him for this issue. I met David on the bus as I was headed to my first day as managing editor of Denver VOICE six years ago. He was easy to talk to and made me feel welcome, so that by the time I got to the office, I wasn’t quite as anxious about starting my new job. David’s story is a reminder that everyone deserves a safe, stable place to call home—a space where they can lay their heads at night and not worry about losing their belongings in a sweep or having them stolen in a shelter. David’s move into permanent housing is a personal victory for him; it’s also a powerful example of why our work matters. To our supporters who have donated to the Denver VOICE over the years, thank you. It is because of your generosity that we can continue to offer opportunities for individuals experiencing homelessness to earn an income, build confidence, and work toward a brighter future. THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS GILES CLASEN is a freelance photojournalist who is a regular contributor to the VOICE. Several of the photos he’s taken for the VOICE have won national and international awards. He also served on the VOICE’s Board of Directors. JULI YANAI is a Japanese-American photojournalist and freelance photographer based in Denver and Beyond. Hailing from Tokyo, Japan, Yanai moved to Colorado in 2017 and received her bachelor’s degree from the Metropolitan State University of Denver in the fall of 2024. KHALEIGH REED is a senior at the University of Colorado Boulder majoring in journalism with a minor in media production. Reed’s work focuses on social issues and highlights in the community. She intends to continue her work within documentary filmmaking and multimedia journalism after graduating. Outside of work she enjoys photography, reading, and all things art and music. DENVERVOICE.ORG E.ORG MANAGING EDITOR Elisabeth Monaghan DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Giles Clasen ART DIRECTOR Andrew Fraieli ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Maddie Egerton VOLUNTEER COPY EDITOR Aaron Sullivan @OCE ARTISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS Rea Brown Giles Clasen Juli Yanai WRITERS Giles Clasen Raelene Johnson Wayne Easterling Charles Spring Juli Yanai 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. 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: Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Khaleigh Reed Jerry Rosen BOARD OF DIRECTORS Robert Davis, President Isabella Colletti, Secretary Michael Burkley Eduardo Platon Edwin Rapp Donald Burnes Jennifer Forker Ande Sailer 2 DENVER VOICE August 2025 STAFF CONTRIBUTORS BOARD CONTACT US
ASK A VENDOR THIS COLUMN IS A PLACE FOR DENVER VOICE VENDORS TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS FROM FELLOW VENDORS, OUR READERS, AND STAFF. THIS MONTH’S SUGGESTED QUETIONS WAS POSED BY DENVER VOICE VENDOR RAELENE JOHNSON Q Do you do anything to celebrate the end of summer or what are you most looking forward to this autumn? A WAYNE EASTERLING I am looking forward to the end of summer because tI will be going out of town to visit my son and grandson. I haven’t seen them in two years. We have a lot to catch up on. I’m also looking forward to winter, because the streets and the city are cooler then. RAELENE JOHNSON The only thing I’m looking for this fall is to have no more medical problems. That would be the best fall I could imagine. CHARLES SPRING I’m looking to the cooler weather in the autumn, when I can take an evening walk to the park and also to see the colors of the leaves change. JERRY ROSEN I enjoy when the wether gets cooler toward the end of the summer. I look forward to seeing the beautiful foliage on the leaves in autumn. It is especially beautiful on the East Coast, where you can see different colors like red, orange, and purple. 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. 1 4 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 DONATE Donations to the Denver VOICE are tax-deductible. 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 3 VOLUNTEER We need volunteers to help with everything from newspaper distribution to event planning and management. Contact program@denvervoice.org for volunteering information. 5 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. @denverVOICE 2 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. August 2025 DENVER VOICE 3
COMMUNITY PROFILE THE RELEVANCE OF SOUL FOOD IN DENVER STORY BY KHALEIGH REID IN DENVER, finding authentic soul food can feel like a missing link. As someone from the South who grew up eating traditional meals of greens, gumbos, and other southern staples, I was surprised to discover a lack of familiar or comforting tastes in such a large metropolitan area. Soul food has no simple definition. Instead, it is a history told through spices, aged pots, and cherished recipes, passed down through generations. In Denver, soul food is a bridge between southern cuisine and the innermost parts of Colorado’s largest city. There’s perhaps no one better equipped to talk about soul food in Denver than two-time James Beard Award-winning author and culinary historian, Adrian Miller, aka “the Soul Food Scholar.” Miller studies and writes about the historical aspects of cuisine and its connection to the African diaspora. He also speaks on the relevance and roots of soul food in Denver. Serving as executive director of the Colorado Council of Churches, Miller lives in Denver, but he recently curated the “Proclaiming Colorado’s Black History” exhibit at the Museum of Boulder. Miller believes that Denver’s soul food culture largely stems from the Great Migration, which brought with it diverse cooking techniques, traditions, and a strong sense of pride. “[When people migrate], they try to recreate home, and food is often a great way to do that,” Miller said. According to Miller, Black people have been in this area — especially Denver — since at least 1859, when Clara Brown arrived. “There were others before her, but she’s the one whose name we know,” Miller said. Miller explained that Black-owned restaurants have also been part of Denver’s landscape since the 1860s, including the People’s Restaurant, which was run by a man named Barney Ford. The significance of cultural food and its history has not changed, nor have the ways it has nourished communities everywhere. According to Miller, while many ingredients were not always accessible, soul food was easy to cultivate in various cultures and places. “It’s more about class and place than it is about race,” Miller said. “People of the same socioeconomic status were pretty much eating the same foods, [but] because of racism, they didn’t eat together.” At the time, redlining was at its highest, forcing neighborhoods to create their own community despite their struggles. This dates as far back as slavery. There was always food to help create a safe haven and sense of togetherness. That togetherness also brought stories and appreciation for what people could bring to the table, no matter where they were from. “Soul food is much more complex,” Miller said. “It brings THERE’S PERHAPS NO ONE BETTER EQUIPPED TO TALK ABOUT SOUL FOOD IN DENVER THAN ADRIAN MILLER, AKA, “THE SOUL FOOD SCHOLAR.” | PHOTO COURTESY OF ADRIAN MILLER together the food traditions and culinary techniques and ingredients of three places: West Africa, Western Europe, and the Americas, and this all interacts and comes together in the American South.” “I believe that any cuisine tells a story, and soul food is the journey of African Americans,” Miller said. So, it really asks, ‘What did Africans, particularly West Africans, bring to this part of the world?’ How were those foods embraced? Things like okra, black eyed peas, watermelon, hibiscus, types of sesame seed, just a few to name a few. All of those foods were introduced here.” So, where can you find soul food in Denver? Although the best soul food always begins in the home, Denver does have restaurants that offer good soul food, one of which is Welton Cafe. The prominent restaurant has been around since 1999 4 DENVER VOICE August 2025 and has caught the attention of local news and the Food Network. In 2021, Welton Café was voted Westword’s Best Southern/Soul Food Restaurant. Another standout restaurant is Mattie’s Soul Food Bar and Lounge, just off East Colfax. Mattie’s is a family-owned restaurant that serves its take on soul food to the Denver Metro area with catfish, fried chicken, and various other dishes and sides. Miller will continue to focus on his work, acknowledging the significance soul food has for America and the community. “I am on a mission,” Miller said. “Whenever somebody critiques soul food, I just really implore them to take a more nuanced and comprehensive view because soul food is the celebration food in the South.” by
COMMUNITY FEATURE PETALS & PAGES WAS OPENED BY DYLAH RAY IN 2023 PETALS & PAGES CELEBRATES SECOND ANNIVERSARY STORY AND PHOTOS BY JULI YANAI STANDING AMONG THE GALLERIES, restaurants, and businesses that make up Denver’s Santa Fe Arts District is Petals & Pages, an independently owned queer and feminist bookstore. The store was opened by Dylah Ray in 2023 and has since been voted the “2024 Best Bookstore” by 5280 Magazine. The Petals & Pages name grew from a love of flowers, books, and the desire to create a beautiful space for the queer community. The store is celebrating its second anniversary this year. To mark the momentous occasion, Denver VOICE had the chance to ask Ray about what led to the store’s inception, what it’s been like to own a bookstore, and what the future looks like for her business. Since opening, the bookstore has quickly become a place where community members can embrace creativity in its various forms. Currently, Petals & Pages hosts a variety of events, including writing workshops, art and dance classes. Explaining what initially sparked the desire to open a bookstore, Ray said, “We opened Petals & Pages to provide a space for the community to connect over a shared love of literature. We wanted to provide a beautiful and relaxing space where folks can go to read, write, and build a creative, literary scene in Denver.” And what started as a space created to foster creative expression around the shared joy of literature has since grown into something much bigger. “We’ve grown our customer base to a large and loyal following and are so grateful for the support,” Ray said. “We have a wide variety of titles in the store, as well as art and merchandise from local artists, and have been able to expand our selection widely based on the support we’ve received in our first two years.” August 2025 DENVER VOICE 5
COMMUNITY FEATURE The bookstore has become a home to regular customers who stop by each week, which has made running the shop rewarding for Ray, even on difficult days. However, the growth hasn’t come without its share of challenges, despite the overwhelming support they’ve received from the community. “It is very hard to be a bookstore right now. Profit margins are low, we face enormous competition from big-chain bookstores and online retailers, and the economy is being challenged, leaving folks with less expendable income to buy books,” Ray said. “Every day is a challenge to keep our doors open, and we rely on our community to continue providing support so we can stay open for many years to come.” Despite the obstacles, Petals & Pages has continued to give back to the community, and they hope to continue providing more events and offerings, specifically for queer and marginalized individuals. “We’ve recently started hosting writing workshops, and they are really taking off. We offer low-cost workshops and free tickets for members of the LGBTQ+ community and People of Color (POC) to keep them accessible, and are looking forward to expanding our offerings even more in the coming year,” Ray said. For information on upcoming events, classes, and the different book clubs, visit www.petalsandpagesofdenver.com. “WE’VE GROWN OUR CUSTOMER BASE TO A LARGE AND LOYAL FOLLOWING AND ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT,” SAID PETAL & PAGES OWNER DYLAH RAY. WHAT STARTED AS A SPACE CREATED TO FOSTER CREATIVE EXPRESSION AROUND THE SHARED JOY OF LITERATURE HAS GROWN INTO SOMETHING MUCH BIGGER. 6 DENVER VOICE August 2025
VENDOR PROFILE DAVID GORDON, HOUSED AT LAST PHOTO BY GILES CLASEN Denver VOICE vendor David Gordon recently received housing through the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. He spoke with Giles Clasen about how adjusting to having a home has been good, but tough. IT TOOK A WEEK for me to get used to living inside. It is different having an apartment. “Different” is really the only word I can think of to describe my new apartment. It is like being in a new city or a new town. Your routine is different. It takes time to get used to your surroundings. Everything is becoming familiar, but it doesn’t feel like home, not yet. When you’re outdoors, sleeping in different places, you wake up, and you’re surrounded by trees, and air, and the outdoors. It isn’t comfortable, but it is familiar, and you get used to the familiar. Familiar was the most I could ask for. Consistently, I didn’t know how to prepare for a day, and I didn’t know what would happen. Every day, I hoped for a cup of coffee in the morning and a shower. But on the streets, the reality is you don’t know when you’re next going to get food or a shower. You don’t even know the next time you will be able to charge your phone. The grind was familiar, and I could navigate it. On the street, you go to a shelter, and you don’t know how long the line will be. You don’t know if you’ll get in. You can’t leave your belongings anywhere because you know they will be stolen. You could lose your clothes and hygiene products. If you put it down for a minute and turn away, it could all be gone. It wasn’t safe, but I knew that world. I was out there for 12 years, off and on. That is a long time to get your mind to accept that you don’t have a home. It is a long time to not expect anything but the grind. Now, my life is consistent, and I have a home. I wake up to the sound of the air conditioning going on and off. I have running water and a bathroom when I need it. It is odd to not have to worry about finding a restroom. It is peculiar to just have one when you need it. I am starting to like it more and more. I say to myself, “Wow, this is cool, this is wonderful. This is everything I was afraid to want.” I never felt I deserved it. That was the main thing over the last 10 years. I didn’t feel I deserved to be inside. But it is so nice now, I know everyone deserves the simple comforts. Hopefully, my time inside will be permanent and become as familiar as the streets once were. August 2025 DENVER VOICE 7
‘MY MUSIC IS A FIGHT’ HERNANDEZ FOUND SIMPLE TASKS DIFFICULT, AND SHE COULDN’T UNDERSTAND WHY IT WAS SIMPLE FOR OTHER MUSICIANS. 8 DENVER VOICE August 2025
DENVER’S FELISA HERNANDEZ ON AUTISM, ANCESTRY, AND ACTIVISM STORY AND PHOTOS BY GILES CLASEN August 2025 DENVER VOICE 9
PERFORMING UNDER THE NAME LATINSOUL, HERNANDEZ BLENDS ACTIVISM, ANCESTRY, AND HER IDENTITY. ELISA HERNANDEZ’S MUSIC IS A FORM of resistance, a spiritual practice, and a deeply personal fight for visibility. Performing under the name LatinSoul, Hernandez blends activism, ancestry, and her identity. Hernandez was diagnosed with autism in 2003 while seeking answers for her daughter’s development. As Hernandez researched her daughter’s behaviors, she began to see reflections of her own experience. “It meant everything to me [to be diagnosed with autism] because I knew that I was different,” Hernandez said. “I knew that my brain sees the world differently. I was always alone, and I’ve always been in this state, like in a whole different world.” She took a self-assessment and scored high, prompting her to undergo professional testing. “It really changed my world, and it allowed me to give myself empathy and patience for myself,” Hernandez said. “And, you know, I’ve started looking into autism, and becoming an advocate, and trying to learn as much as I can for myself, and being able to explain it to others.” Hernandez had always struggled to advocate for herself. She found simple tasks like applying to festivals, negotiating with music executives, and reading difficult, and she couldn’t understand why it was simple for other musicians. When she learned she was neurodivergent, it all clicked “I HAD TO FIND DIFFERENT WAYS TO FIGHT BACK. FOR ME, THAT MEANS MUSIC.” for her. She could see a reason for her struggles, which empowered her to fight on and find new solutions to overcome her struggles. Still, she never stopped creating. Her performances regularly include a large autism awareness sign onstage and an explanation for the need to make space for everyone. “It’s my way of advocating for autism and remembering that I have stories to tell on stage,” she said. Those stories include her heritage as a daughter of parents who immigrated from Mexico as teenagers. According to Hernandez, her parents were about 15 or 16 when they came to the U.S. “My dad came by himself,” said Hernandez. “He left home, I think he said at the age of 14, walked from Mexico to here, [and] said he probably could have died of starvation several times.” Hernandez recalled one story her father told of being without food or water for days while riding a train through the desert to the US border. “He opened up the door to the train, and in front of him, there was just a pile of sugar cane. And that sugar cane sustained him for a good couple of days.” Both of Hernandez’s parents received their citizenship through President Ronald Regan’s 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, which offered amnesty to those who entered the United States before 1982. Hernandez has channeled her family’s history into advocacy during the Donald Trump presidency. Though she hasn’t personally faced deportation, she has seen its 10 DENVER VOICE August 2025
impact on relatives. “I have had family members, cousins, be deported, and it’s sad,” Hernandez said. “I could not even imagine being separated from my child. That should never happen.” LatinSoul brought their big sound to a fundraiser for Denver immigrant rights advocate Jeanette Vizguerra, who is being held at the Aurora GEO ICE Detention Center and faces deportation. Hernandez believes fighting injustice must come in many forms. “I had to find different ways to fight back. For me, that means music. That means prayer. That means keeping the traditions of my ancestors alive,” Hernandez said. Despite her family history and personal beliefs, Hernandez tries to keep her music accessible to everyone. Her goal is to help individuals find her music and then connect with the message. “I just don’t want to get thrown into this, into a lot of the political stuff, because my music is for everybody, not [just] for certain people,” she said. “I want to wake up our senses, and remind people that the little child within you still exists, and it’s wanting to break free to be out. To play, to love, to have fun, to be innocent.” Every performance, she said, is a form of healing and a step toward justice. “We’re not just human,” Hernandez said. “We’re spirit, too. And we’ve forgotten that. But my music is here to help us remember.” WHEN SHE LEARNED SHE WAS NEURODIVERGENT, IT ALL CLICKED FOR HER. SHE COULD SEE A REASON FOR HER STRUGGLES. I HAD TO FIND DIFFERENT WAYS TO FIGHT BACK. FOR ME, THAT MEANS MUSIC. August 2025 DENVER VOICE 11
IN YOUR OWN WORDS TO MY YOUNGER SELF, YOU’RE STRONGER THAN YOU REALIZED YOU COULD BE. SELF, YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER that you are so much stronger than you ever imagined you would be. Hard times are going to come your way, and sometimes, they will be even harder than you expected, but you can overcome anything that’s thrown your way. Even when you get old, things RAELENE JOHNSON DENVER VOICE VENDOR are going to happen to you that are beyond your control. Surgeries, for one, can be very difficult when you get older. You have to keep reminding yourself that the pain will go away and that you can overcome it. You have to keep your spirits up even when you’re in hard times. If so, don’t remind self that it’s okay. Then, self may give up, and then you’re in trouble. When you were younger, Self, you thought that you could handle everything and nothing would bother you. That’s not always true.. When things are bothering you, you need to get help. I wish that when I was younger, I had asked for help because maybe I wouldn’t have struggled so hard to get where I am today. I am grateful that you survived everything you did to get me to where I am now, Self. Today, for our mental health, I reached out to get us help. Even if you’re not depressed, but a lot is going on and you don’t know what to do about it, and you think you can handle it by yourself, please get help. Reach out and tell someone that you’re struggling. Always ask for the help that you need. If you can’t find help, keep asking for it until you do find it. You are worth that and so much more. Only you can ask for the help you need. When I was younger, I had trouble asking for help. Now that I’m close to 70, I know that self has to take care of self and get the help that self needs. I’m letting you know that there’s no shame in saying that you need to talk to a therapist just to help you get through what you’re going through. That does not mean that you’re crazy for needing a therapist; that’s what it used to mean if somebody thought that you were seeing a psychiatrist, that you must be crazy. That’s not true. Today, I’m grateful to have a care team that really cares about me that I can say I need some help to process everything I have been going through since the cancer diagnosis. I’m grateful that I’m cancer-free. Now I love myself enough to ask for help, and when I ask, help is there for me. People tell you to forget the past, but you have to deal with the past, come to terms with everything that you might have gone through, and then, after you come to terms, you’ll be able to live a better life! With everything going on in this world today, a person can get overwhelmed. If you feel that you’re overwhelmed, please get help. Having your brain be overwhelmed for a long period of time is not good, so if you need help, get the help you need. I want you to know that asking for help is not a sign of weakness; it is a sign of strength because nobody is meant to go through everything by themselves. Be kind to yourself, take self-care and self-love, and hold on to them as tight as you can because self-love, self-care, and selfkindness are the most important things you have for you to have a good life, Self. Next week I will speak with a therapist, and I’m looking forward to it, especially since I don’t have family out here and a few friends who are not in a position to help me through what I’m experiencing. I need a professional, and there’s no shame in asking for help. I wish when we were younger that I had somebody let me know it was okay to ask for help. When you live on the streets for so long, you give up hope, and when you get inside, you’re grateful to be there. No one can love you better than you can love yourself, and that’s asking for help when you need it! My prayer is that everyone who is reading this and is struggling and needs help will get the help that they need. I thank you so much for caring enough about you to request a therapist to help you get over all that you have gone through the last few years. Please do not struggle by yourself and get the help that you need! Self, I thank you for being strong today, stronger than you ever thought you could be. You even shocked yourself by how strong you can be when needed. Thank you for never truly giving up on yourself. My prayer is that everyone will love themselves enough to get help! I did, will you? 12 DENVER VOICE August 2025 2025
EVENTS POP-UP AT ZEPPELIN STATION Patrons and Guests are invited to relax, sample local fare and mingle with friends. Plus, browse and shop local upscale retailers, all in the comfort of Zeppelin Station! WHEN: Aug 02- 12-6 p.m. COST: Free WHERE: 3501 Wazee St. INFO: bit.ly/3GEzOJJ CHILDREN’S MUSEUM, JOY PARK FREE NIGHT Joy Park at the Children’s Museum is a regional destination for children and caregivers where play is combined with the arts and sciences in a dynamic space for learning and engagement with the outdoors. Explore, imagine, and physically engage with this “metaphorical” river of water, landforms, and fun. WHEN: Aug 15, 4:30-8 pm COST: Free WHERE: 2121 Children’s Museum Drive, Denver INFO: mychildsmuseum.org/event FOUR MILE HISTORIC PARK FREE DAY Travel back to 1859…for free! General admission is free on the 4th Friday of the month. The Park is a hub of cultural and outdoor exploration, offering a diverse array of educational programs centered around Colorado history. WHEN: Aug 22, 10 am-4 pm COST: Free WHERE: 715 S. Forest St INFO: fourmilepark.org U-PICK SUNFLOWERS AT ANDERSON FARMS Gather the family, grab your camera for a truly unique summer experience exploring the farm’s 15-acre sunflower field. There are over 50 varieties of sunflowers & wildflowers as well as photo ops along the way. Multiple purchase options are available for you to take home a beautiful pick-your-own summer bouquet! WHEN: Aug 2-24 COST: Admission includes your wagon ride to and from the sunflower field and access to walk around and take photos with the flowers and props. Picking flowers to take home not included in admission. WHERE: Anderson Farms, 6728 County Road 3 ¼, Erie, CO INFO: andersonfarms.com/sunflowers/ DENVER INTERNATIONAL FEST After a long-awaited return, the Denver International Festival is back—bigger, better, and more flavorful than ever! Join us for a day of global food, live music, and cultural performances, all set in Denver’s Historic Five Points Neighborhood. WHEN: August 23, 12-8 pm COST: Free WHERE: 2736 Welton St. INFO: denverinternationalfest.com PUZZLES 1 15 17 19 23 27 31 36 38 45 50 54 58 63 65 ACROSS 1. Mooch 9. Robed govt. group that serves for life and is unelected 15. Persuade 16. Print slips? 17. Amphitheater 18. Tire material 19. Groupie 20. Mourn 22. British singer Rita (anagram of OAR) 23. White-barked tree 25. In ___ (peeved) 26. Stretch of turbulent water 27. Ticks off 29. List ender 30. It may be dominant 31. Get along in years 32. VCR button 34. Performs for the class 36. Second in a series 59 51 55 60 64 66 DOWN 37. Yemeni port 38. Agrees to 41. Neighbor of Ger. 42. “Monty Python” airer 45. “___ of the Flies” 46. Loo 48. Family subdivisions (anagram of ENRAGE) 50. Pasta suffix 51. Renaissance fiddle 53. Sire 54. Jerk 55. An American in Paris, maybe 57. Semicircle 58. Lying face-up 60. Makes bank 63. It comes after 7 64. Restricted blood supply to an organ 65. Bourbon or Sesame 66. Intangible 1. TV monitor? 2. Thatcher’s job 3. Swell 4. Display 5. Sue Grafton’s “___ for Lawless” 6. Earth’s pull, briefly 7. Upscale Honda 8. End 9. Vested creature 10. Salad oil holder 11. Sun, e.g. 12. Backless seat (anagram of ABETTOR) 13. Womb-related 14. Mexican shawls 21. Catch 23. Pastoral sound 24. Person on a hiring committee, often: Abbr. 28. Lawsuit resolution 30. Certain variety of rummy (and what the winner of the game says as they lay down their cards) 33. Hot sushi condiment 35. Star 36. Fourposter, e.g. 38. Jones and Smith, maybe 39. Seek advice from 40. Refrigerator compartment 42. Make filthy 43. Sedimentary rock composed of angular fragments cemented together 44. Tabby 47. ___ burger 49. Comparatively close 51. Zellweger of “Jerry Maguire” 52. Colgate rival 56. Carve in stone 59. “___ had it!” 61. That vessel 62. Computer in “2001” 39 40 46 47 52 56 61 32 24 28 33 20 25 29 34 37 41 48 53 57 62 49 42 43 44 35 30 21 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 COURTESY OF STREETROOTS 9 16 18 22 26 10 11 12 13 14 5 1 3 2 3 8 1 6 4 5 7 2 7 1 3 4 8 2 8 3 6 1 8 5 8 3 5 8 5 4 2 7 1 August 2025 DENVER VOICE 13 4 8 9 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 $10,000+ Meek-Cuneo Family Fund Anonymous Individual Donor Matt and Nikki Seashore Acorn Hill Foundation Inc. Pivotal Energy Partners USA, Inc. Cisco Francis Trainer and Trainer Family J. Albrecht Designs Master Goldsmith Mary Walker & Walker Family Foundation $5,000 - $9,999 Alexander Seavall Anschutz Family Foundation Laurie Duncan and Duncan-Mcwethy Foundation Colorado Housing and Finance Authority Joshua Kauer Frederic K Conover Trust The Christian Foundation Bank of America Charitable Foundation Sustainable Housing and Development Foundation Joshua Kauer $1,000-$4,999 Christopher Boulanger Michael Dino Katherine Standiford Jill Haug Whole Foods Foundation Alex Salva Signs By Tomorrow Rose Community Foundation Russell Peterson Kneedler Fauchere Donald Weaver Chris and Susan Pappas Julia and David Watson Gaspar Terrana Alexander Seavall SEI Giving Fund Sidney B and Caleb F Gates Fund Megan Arellano Warren and Betty Kuehner Jeremy Anderson and Thomas Stalker Russell Peterson Maggie Holben Keyrenter Property Management Denver Mathew Rezek The Credit Union of Colorado Foundation Elsbeth Williams Jana and Jim Cuneo Kroger Paul Manoogian Lori Holland Michael J. Fehn and Jan Monnier Jim Ashe Courage and Community Foundation George Lichter Family Foundation Lisa Wagner KO Law Firm Graham Davis Peter Iannuzzi $500-$999 Margaret Ramp Megan Sullivan John Gibson Sheryl Parker Ruth Henderson James and Cyndi Lesslie Kathleen McBride John Phillips Strawberry Mountain Craig Solomon Watermark Properties Seth Beltzley Jennifer Thornton-Kolbe Raymond and Brenda French Laura Saunders Jeff & Peg Davis Michael Brewer Drew Conneen Jerry Conover Robert E and Anne T Sneed Family Foundation Barbara and Robert Ells Carol and Louis Irwin Edwina Salazar James Stegman Jennifer Stedron Stephen Saul WalMart Nikki Lawson CEDS Finance Impact Assets Courage and Community Foundation Louis Irwin Mary Livernois KL&A Engineers and Builders Paula Cushing 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 August 2025
RESOURCE LIST MEDICAL / MENTAL HEALTH / DENTAL SERVICES ACS COMMUNITY LIFT: 5045 W. 1st Ave., Denver; https://rentassistance. org DENVER HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER: 777 Bannock St.; https://www. denverhealth.org DETOX LOCAL: Features information including mental health and substance use resources specifically for the AAPI (American Asian and Pacific Islander) community; http://www.detoxlocal.com DRUG REHAB USA: Addiction hotline - 888-479-0446; Organizations that take Medicaid: http://www.drugrehabus.org/rehabs/treatment/ medicaid/united-states/colorado/denver HARM REDUCTION ACTION CENTER: 112 E. 8th Ave.; 303-572-7800; HIV/ Hep C/ Gonorrhea/ Chlamydia testing available. Services are restricted to active IV Drug Users. Offers clean syringes to active users, as well as safety training on proper disposal of dirty syringes; M-F – 9am-12pm: http://www.harmreductionactioncenter.org INNER CITY HEALTH CENTER: 3800 York St.; Emergency walk-ins - 303296-1767; Dental – 303-296-4873; M-F - 8am-2pm 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, 800-359-9272; info@hepcconnection.org; https://www.viventhealth.org NATIONAL AIDS HOTLINE: 800-342-AIDS/800-344-7432 NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE: Text or call 988; https:// www.988lifeline.org NATIONAL RUNAWAY SAFELINE: 800-RUNAWAY/800-786-2929; https:// www.1800runaway.org RAPE ABUSE AND INCEST NATIONAL NETWORK: 800-656-HOPE; https:// www.rainn.org SALUD CLINIC: 6255 Quebec Pkwy, Commerce City; 303-697-2583, 970-484-0999; https://www.saludclinic.org/commerce-city STOUT STREET CLINIC: 2130 Stout St.; 303-293-2220; Clinic hours for new and established patients - M, T, Th, F - 7am-4pm, W - 9am-6pm; https://www.coloradocoalition.org/healthcare SUBSTANCE ABUSE REHAB GUIDE: HELPLINE – 888-493-4670; https:// www.detoxrehabs.net/states/colorado/ U.S. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE: 800-799-7233 (English and Spanish); 800-243-7889 (TDD); https://www.thehotline.org EMERGENCY SHELTER INDIVIDUALS IN NEED OF SHELTER ARE ENCOURAGED TO GO TO “FRONT DOOR” SHELTER ACCESS POINTS: • For individual men – Denver Rescue Mission Lawrence Street Community Center, 2222 Lawrence St. • For individual women – Samaritan House, 2301 Lawrence St. • For youth ages 15-20 – Urban Peak, 1630 S. Acoma St. • Families in need of shelter should call the Connection Center at 303-295-3366. ADDITIONALLY, DENVER PARKS AND RECREATION WILL OPEN ALL CURRENTLY OPERATING RECREATION CENTERS AS DAYTIME WARMING CENTERS DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS ON FRIDAY, NOV. 8 AND SATURDAY, NOV. 9, FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED A PLACE TO WARM UP. Denver Public Library locations are also available during regular business hours. Double-check library hours: denverlibrary.org/ locations. For more information about shelter access, visit denvergov.org/ findshelter or text INDOORS to 67283 for updates. DROP-IN DAYTIME CENTERS HAVEN OF HOPE: 1101 W. 7th Ave.; 303-607-0855; Mon.-Fri. 7am-1pm. Private showers & bathrooms, laundry, lunch, etc; https://www.thoh. org THE GATHERING PLACE: 1535 High St.; 303-321-4198; 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, etc; https://www.tgpdenver.org HARM REDUCTION ACTION CENTER: 231 East Colfax; Mon.-Fri. 9am12pm; 303-572-7800; Provides clean syringes, syringe disposal, harm-reduction counseling, safe materials, Hep C/HIV education, and health education classes; https://www. harmreductionactioncenter.org FOR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS IN DENVER DENVERVOICE.ORG/RESOURCE-LIST LAWRENCE STREET COMMUNITY CENTER: 2222 Lawrence St.; 303-2940157; day facility, laundry, showers, restrooms, access to services https://www.homelessassistance.us/li/lawrence-street-communitycenter OPEN DOOR MINISTRIES: 1567 Marion St.; Mon.-Fri. 7am-5:30pm. Drop-in center; bathrooms, coffee/tea, snacks, resources, WIFI https://www.odmdenver.org T. FRANCIS CENTER: 303-297-1576; 2323 Curtis St. 6am-6pm daily. Storage for one bag (when space is available). Satellite Clinic hoursMon., Tues., Thurs, Fri. 7:30am-3:30pm; Wed. 12:30-4:30pm https:// www.sfcdenver.org SENIOR SUPPORT SERVICES: 846 E. 18th Ave. For those 60+. TV room, bus tokens, mental/physical health outreach, and more. https://www. 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. https://www.soxplace.com THE SPOT AT URBAN PEAK (YOUTH SERVICES): 2100 Stout St. 303-2910442. Drop-in hours Mon.-Fri. 8-11am. YOUTH AGED 15-20 IN NEED OF IMMEDIATE OVERNIGHT SHELTER SERVICES: 303-974-2928 https://www.urbanpeak.org/denver/programs-andservices/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 https://www. urbanpeak.org FREE MEALS CAPITOL HEIGHTS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: 1100 Fillmore St., Sat. lunch at 11:30am; https://www.capitolheightspresbyterian.org CAPITOL HILL COMMUNITY SERVICES: https://www.mealsforpoor.org CATHEDRAL OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION: 1530 Logan St.; sandwiches & coffee Mon.-Fri. 8:30am; https://www.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; https:// www.christsbody.org CHRIST IN THE CITY: Home-cooked meal, weekly; Lunch in the Park is on Wednesdays from 12-1 at Benedict Fountain Park (Tremont and 22nd); https://www.christinthecity.org CITYSQUARE DENVER: 2575 S. Broadway; 303-783-3777; Food pantry Tues. 10am-6pm; https://www.citysquare.org CAPITOL HILL COMMUNITY SERVICES: 1820 Broadway (in front of Trinity United Methodist Church); Hot meals served M, T, Th., F - 11:4512:15; https://www.mealsforpoor.org DENVER RESCUE MISSION: 1130 Park Avenue West; 303-294-0157; 3 meals 7 days/week, 5:30am, 12pm, 6pm; https://www. denverrescuemission.org HAVEN OF HOPE: 1101 W. 7th Ave.; 303-607-0855; M-F. 7am-1pm. Not open weekends; Breakfast is at 8am, lunch is served at 11am; https:// www.havenofhope.org HARE KRISHNA TEMPLE: 1400 Cherry St., free vegetarian feast on Sun., 6:45-7:30pm; https://www.krishnadenver.com HIS LOVE FELLOWSHIP CHURCH: 910 Kalamath St.; Community dinner on Thurs., 6-6:45pm, Men’s breakfast 1st Sat. of the month, 8-10am, Women’s breakfast 2nd Sat., 9-11am; https://www.hislovefellowship. org HOLY GHOST CATHOLIC CHURCH: 1900 California St.; Sandwiches, M-Sat., 10-10:30am; https://www.holyghostchurch.org OPEN DOOR MINISTRIES: 1567 Marion St.; 303-830-2201; Sat. morning breakfast: 8am, Sun. dinner (required church attendance at 4:30pm); meal served at 6pm; https://www.odmdenver.org/home ST. ELIZABETH’S: Speer Blvd. & Arapahoe St. on Auraria Campus, 7 days/week, 11:00am; Food, coffee; https://www.stelizabethdenver. org ST. FRANCIS CENTER: 2323 Curtis St., Wed. & Fri. 3-4:30pm (except third Wed. of each month); https://www.sfcdenver.org SAME CAFÉ: 2023 E. Colfax Ave; 720-530-6853;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; https://www.soallmayeat.org VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA: 2877 Lawrence St., breakfast (8am), lunch (11:30am), dinner (5pm) Mon.-Thurs., 12pm on Fri., 1pm on Sun. August 2025 DENVER VOICE 15 Food & clothing bank 9:30am-4pm Mon.-Thurs.; https://www. voacolorado.org/gethelp-denvermetro-foodnutrition-themission LGBTQ+ SUPPORT THE TREVOR PROJECT: 866-488-7386: https://www.thetrevorproject.org LGBT NATIONAL YOUTH TALKLINE: 800-246-7743: https://www. lgbthotline.org/youth-talkline PRIDE INSTITUTE: 800-547-7433 TRUE COLORS UNITED: 212-461-4401, https://www.truecolorsunited. org VETERANS & SENIORS DENVER INNER CITY PARISH: 1212 Mariposa St.; 303-322-5733; VOA Dining Center for Seniors, aged 60 and older, W-Sat. 9am-12pm; Food Bank, W-F; Tickets at 9am, food bank open 10am-12pm; dicp. org SENIOR SUPPORT SERVICES: 846 E. 18th Ave.; For those aged 60 or older; TV room, bus tokens, mental/physical health outreach, 3 meals, M-F -7am-7pm; Sun. 11am-4pm; https://www. seniorsupportservices.org VA MEDICAL CENTER: 1700 N Wheeling St.; Aurora 303-399-8020: https://www.va.gov/findlocations/facility/vha_554A5 VETERANS GUIDE: https://www.veteransguide.org; Veterans Disability Calculator https://www.veteransguide.org/va-disability-calculator YOUTH SERVICES SOX PLACE (YOUTH SERVICES): 2017 Larimer St.; 303-296-3412Daytime drop-in shelter for youth 12-30; Meals, socks, clothing bank, personal hygiene supplies, internet access, intentional mentoring and guidance, crisis intervention, referrals to other services. T-F - 12-4pm & Sat. 11am-2pm. Instagram: @Soxplace THE SPOT AT URBAN PEAK (YOUTH SERVICES): 2100 Stout St. 303-2910442; Youth aged 15-20 in need of immediate overnight shelter services, 303-974-2928; Drop-in hours Mon.-Fri. 8-11am https:// www.urbanpeak.org/denver/programs-and-services/drop-in-center SUNSHINE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (YOUTH SERVICES): 833-931-2484; Services for youth facing substance abuse, addiction, mental health disorders, or a combination of these conditions; https://www. sunshinebehavioralhealth.com URBAN PEAK (YOUTH SERVICES): 730 21st St., Denver; 303-974-2900; Ages14-24; Serving Denver & Colo Springs; Overnight shelter, food, clothing, showers, case workers, job skill/straining, ID and birth certificate assistance, GED assistance, counseling and housing; https://www. urbanpeak.org 9 2 7 1 3 4 5 8 6 5 1 3 6 8 7 4 2 9 4 6 8 2 5 9 3 7 1 7 3 4 8 2 6 1 9 5 2 5 1 7 9 3 8 6 4 8 9 6 4 1 5 2 3 7 1 7 5 3 6 8 9 4 2 3 4 2 9 7 1 6 5 8 6 8 9 5 4 2 7 1 3 F R E E L O A D S C O T U S C O N V I N C E B I R C H A S N I T R I P A N G E R S E T C G E N E A G E R E W R E C I T E S B E T A A C C E P T S A D E N P O L B B C L O R D L A V G E N E R A I N I A S S R E B E C B E G E T E M I G R E A R C S U P I N E G E T S R I C H E L E V E N S T R E E T I S C H E M I A E T H E R E A L E R R A T A C O L I S E U M R U B B E R F A N G R I E V E O R A
DENVER NEW LIMITED EDITION POSTER Designed and hand-screened by Ravi Zupa for new Denver VOICE donors Thanks to Denver VOICE co-founder Rick Barnes, every purchase will now be matched dollar-for-dollar You can purchase a poster by setting up a $5 per month recurring donation or a one-time donation of $55 coloradogives.org/organization/denvervoice
1 Publizr