VOICES OF OUR COMMUNITY OUR Streets: NATE BY PAULA BARD I LOST MY JOB IN MARCH, when Covid hit. I had a custodial job. But I was low man on the totem pole. I worked in restaurants, bars. Kind of my own business. Freelance. They couldn’t keep me because they could find someone cheaper. I was already homeless when I lost the job. I was also a professional magician and also a musician. I charged $150 an hour when I was a magician, but that was before Covid. I play bass, drums, piano, guitar. Started out in high school with the clarinet, and then I played French Horn. I played in the jazz band, honor band, and marching band. I was the second chair. I helped out in the school cafeteria, but the school bully messed with me. I defended myself. I got kicked out of school. I still play music with church bands and those outside pianos. Grew up in Alaska and California. I have family in Colorado Springs. My parents don’t approve of my lifestyle; I am an alcoholic. Beer is legal. I have heart problems and lung disease. I got Covid, but it wasn’t that bad. I didn’t vote this last time. I have voted, but the people I voted for don’t take care of me. What am I supposed to do? Where am I supposed to go? ■ 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 our 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. 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-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 193 | 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. September 2021 DENVER VOICE 3
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