$ 2 SUGGESTED DONATION @DenverVOICE TRANSFORMING THE DISCARDED FIERCELY INDEPENDENT, JOHN TORRES SHOWS IT IS POSSIBLE TO TRANSFORM WHAT ONE SEES AS TRASH INTO ANOTHER PERSON’S TREASURE. PAGE 6 ADDRESSING POVERTY IN OLD AGE IS A POLITICAL ISSUE HINZ&KUNZT , THE STREET PAPER OUT OF HAMBURG, GERMANY, DISCUSSES THE REALITIES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS EXPERIENCING POVERTY. PAGE 4 PAYING HOMAGE TO RAUL CHAVEZ PORTILLO JERRY AND JAY JARAMILLO’S COLORFUL AND SYMBOLIC MURAL MEMORIALIZES LOCAL AZTEC DANCER. PAGE 8 VOICES OF OUR COMMUNITY PAGES 4, 12 EVENTS / PUZZLES PAGE 13 RESOURCES PAGE 15 SEPTEMBER 2022 | Vol.27 Issue 9 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 Profi le: JOHN ALEXANDER FROM YOUR VENDOR: CREDIT: GILES CLASEN
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S NOTE JOHN GOLDEN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR I HAD A GREAT DAY RECENTLY because I was able to share in the outstanding news that one of our vendors had secured stable housing. Truly something to celebrate. He was so happy to simply have house keys in his pocket, secure in the knowledge that he would return to his own home each night moving forward. As we move through our busy daily routines, it’s easy to forget how blessed so many of us are to have a roof over our ahead and return to the same place every day. It’s no secret that the cost of living in our area, particularly the price of rent, is prohibitive for many. People can’t afford to live in the communities they work in; they struggle to put gas in the car to make it to work so they can earn a living and feed their families. Fuel, food, and housing prices rise, but their income does not increase. Consequently, it is challenging to survive. Older adults planning to retire may find that they need to keep working. And some, retired and living on a fixed income, are forced to return to the workplace. My passion for working in the nonprofit sector is born out of a steadfast belief in community; the opportunity to join together to help those in need, collaborating on solutions to social issues such as poverty. The majority of us live paycheck to paycheck and are only one financial emergency away from needing help ourselves. During the height of the COVID pandemic, for example, many people who never saw themselves needing assistance, sat in long lines at food pantries. I am privileged to lead the Denver VOICE as we continue our longstanding commitment to help those struggling with poverty and homelessness in our community by providing a low barrier opportunity to make an income. I’m proud of our award-winning street newspaper and so thankful for our incredible team of staff, volunteers, board members, donors, and our many hardworking vendors. We welcome you to be a part of our community as everyone can make an impact! ■ THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS ASHTON BROWN graduated from Metropolitan State University of Denver in May 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts in convergent journalism and a minor in cinema studies. She and her fiance currently live with their two cats in Lakewood. 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. DENVERVOICE.ORG CE.ORG @deeOCE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR John Golden MANAGING EDITOR Elisabeth Monaghan PROGRAM COORDINATOR Lara Keith GRAPHIC DESIGNER Hannah Bragg VOLUNTEER COPY EDITORS Kersten Jaeger Kendall Schmitz Aaron Sullivan Laura Wing ARTISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS Asthon Brown Giles Clasen Gigi Galen 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 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: Monday through Friday, 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 Ashton Brown Giles Clasen David Gordon Raelene Johnson Jerry Rosen BOARD OF DIRECTORS Nikki Lawson, President Chris Boulanger, Vice President Jeff Cuneo, Treasurer Zephyr Wilkins, Secretary Donovan Cordova Raelene Johnson Julia Watson Cabal Yarne 2 DENVER VOICE September 2022 STAFF CONTRIBUTORS BOARD CONTACT US
FEATURED VENDOR THE DREAM OF A HOMELESS PERSON BY JOHN ALEXANDER Several years ago, Denver VOICE Vendor John Alexander wrote The Dream of a Homeless Person. Recently, he added an update at the end of the poem. I WOKE UP THIS MORNING still fighting the fact that I have no home. Transient, indigent, I don’t have a key to anything that I can call my own. Looking at my shoes, frowning at my only change of clothes. I stayed there, I stayed here, where I’ll stay tonight only God knows. Hmm, it could be time for a shave, even a bath and some oral hygiene, too. The library restroom? No, maybe the truck stop over on 5th avenue. Well, now, I am getting kind of hungry, Where I’ll eat today, we’ll have to wait and see. Yesterday was breakfast from a restaurant dumpster, Lunch from a fast-food dumpster, And dinner from a grocery store dumpster. They were all the same to me. I will apply for some more jobs today, stop by a friend’s house, who said they had some money I could borrow. I am selling some plasma and cutting this lawn. Thank you, trust me, you’ll get it all back tomorrow. Everything today that I should do, will do, or can do is done. Since I still have time for it, I’ll enjoy the rest of the daylight, and take in some sun. Ahhhh, just feel the air. Look at the squirrels, the birds, why even all the beautiful women seem to be out. Hey, Hey, Hey, romance and sex is something right now, I can’t afford to think about. PHOTO BY BRUCE TANG ON UNSPLASH Well, it is getting cool. Soon it will be dark and cold again. Wherever I sleep tonight, I hope is better than where I slept last night, or anywhere else I’ve been. But tonight, I’ll go sleep with the same thought as every night before. That I’ll wake up tomorrow with a key to my house, and be homeless, no more! TODAY: DREAMS DO COME TRUE! Every word of every thought in this poem is true, and I lived them all. I have been homeless and on the street for 33 years! Sixteen years ago, I put these words together and organized my thoughts. Fifteen years ago, from those words, I wrote this poem. Today, I especially like these words in the last part of the poem, “But tonight, I’ll go to sleep with the same thought as every night before. That I’ll wake up tomorrow with a key to my house, and be homeless, no more!” For years, I have kept those words of that dream close to my heart every night. Well, today, I want to share with all of you, Dreams Do Come True! I woke up this morning, August 11, 2022, with an apartment of my own and a key to that apartment of my own. Both, belonging to me! ■ 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 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 2022 DENVER VOICE 3
INTERNATIONAL STORY ADDRESSING POVERTY IN OLD AGE IS A POLITICAL ISSUE BY ULRICH JONAS STACZEK [NAME CHANGED] SPENT TWENTY YEARS AT SEA, working for a Polish shipping company. According to the 80-yearold, he now receives a pension of 200 euros per month. In addition, he receives a few euros for the six years he spent as a removal worker in Hamburg. The former Hinz&Kunzt vendor was unable to put money towards a greater pension entitlement, as an employer pressured him to carry out illicit work. Later, various illnesses compounded the problem. Staczek is lucky to be able to live with a good friend at a reasonable rate. Thanks to that, and the 400 euros he receives in basic income support, he can just about make ends meet. But compromises are involved. “I used to be able to go home once a year for a week or two,” he says. “With today’s prices, that’s simply out of the question.” Staczek is one of about 50,000 in Hamburg, aged 65, or older, who suffer poverty in old age and therefore depend on the state’s support. That’s almost twice as many as 15 years ago. And the actual number of people in need is probably much higher. According to various studies, six out of every ten people who could receive basic income support in old age do not take advantage of this entitlement, whether out of shame, ignorance, or because the applications are so complicated. “There are people in Hamburg who tend to make themselves scarce at the end of the month. Because they’re worried about meeting someone who will say, ‘Let’s go have a coffee together!’ And they won’t be able to, because they don’t have any money to spare for that kind of thing,” reports Klaus Wicher, chairman of the Social Association of Germany (SoVD) in Hamburg. There are even people who are starving. “The increase in prices has been so tremendous that some people simply don’t have anything left by the end of the month.” The basic pension, a flagship project of the Federal Minister for Labour and Social Affairs, Hubertus Heil (SPD), helps very few. According to Wicher, only about every 50th affected person in Hamburg benefits from it. “And this is not even a basic pension, but rather a pension supplement,” he clarifies. It is paid under certain conditions to those who have been in employment for at least 33 years subject to social insurance contributions. Those who were not employed on a regular basis, who have only held shortterm positions, or who were self-employed are not eligible. Women in particular often have to get by on “minipensions,” according to the statistics. SoVD-chairman Wicher, therefore, consequently calls for fundamentally higher pensions, equal wages for women, and full recognition of periods of time spent in family and caregiver roles. While these are suggestions that the federal government would have to implement, Wicher believes that the Senate in Hamburg can also combat poverty in old age. One way of doing this is by using some of their own money to pay a 10% surcharge on top of the basic social security benefits, just like the city of Munich is doing. The RedGreen coalition rejected this idea already in 2019, citing missing data. The SoVD-chairman claims that this is simply an excuse. “It’s a matter of political conviction and the willingness to provide the necessary funds,” he says. Wicher insists that the Senate should make life easier for all people in need in Hamburg by implementing further measures quickly. These could include free train and bus tickets, free sports activities, and free admission to museums. He has been presenting these suggestions to the social security office, the SPD, and the Green Party for years – without success. In any case, the relief packages offered by the traffic light coalition will barely help those suffering poverty in old age, according to the SoVD-chairman. “One-off payments are of little use,” he says. “Significant increases in monthly allowances are what’s needed.” Michael David, who is in charge of old-age poverty at Diakonie Deutschland [the social welfare organization of Germany’s Protestant churches], made another suggestion. He suggests that if someone applies for a pension and it turns out to be a low one, it should automatically be reported to the social welfare office. The office could then check and verify the person’s further claims and thereby prevent hidden poverty in old age. “That way, the state can make sure that help is given to those who need it,” David concludes. ■ Translated from German via Translators without Borders Courtesy of Hinz&Kunzt / International Network of Street Papers PHOTO BY BRUCE TANG ON UNSPLASH NEW ITEMS NEEDED: Socks Sunscreen, toiletries (individual or travel-size) Toothpaste, deodorant, chapstick Bottled water Paper products for the office GENTLY-USED ITEMS NEEDED: Men’s shoes or boots (sizes 8-12) Men’s jackets/shorts (sizes L, XL, XXL) Women’s jackets/shorts (sizes M, L, XL) Backpacks Carrier bags USB-C charging cables AUTUMN WISH LIST DENVERVOICE.ORG/VENDOR-NEEDS Drop-offs are accepted Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. or schedule a drop-off by emailing program@denvervoice.org. 4 DENVER VOICE September 2022
ASK A VENDOR THIS COLUMN IS A PLACE FOR DENVER VOICE VENDORS TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS FROM OUR READERS AND STAFF. If you have a question or issue you would like vendors to discuss, please email community@denvervoice.org. Q When someone asks “Why don’t you get a ‘real job’ instead of just vending the Denver VOICE?” what do you tell them? A BRIAN AUGUSTINE First, I tell them this IS a real job for me. I’ve kept the same hours, every week, for years. With my back injury, I have to lay on the floor flat on my back, two to three times a day. I will stay that way until the pain lessens enough that I can move. No one else would pay wages to someone who has to do that. DAVID GORDON I would ask what their definition of a real job is. Some define a job as steady, paid employment. As for paid employment, there are many factors to consider, but I hope, if something like that came my way, that it would not interfere with my other job with the Denver VOICE. I define a job as a task or responsibility for a VERY REAL problem. A friendly reminder that being unhoused in this city is a REAL problem. [The Denver VOICE paper] brings awareness to people in a city that has enormous hostility to REAL people who might be considered the most vulnerable on the planet. This is very REAL. I remind people that the Denver VOICE is a grassroots journalistic street paper, that talks about homelessness through those who have experienced it. The VOICE does not push a hateful narrative, based on fear and ignorance. I am on the front lines talking to REAL people about a REAL problem in hopes to have a REAL conversation and REAL solutions. JERRY ROSEN I tell them I AM working a job. I do temporary work and volunteer work, also. I tell them I like selling papers, as I enjoy working for myself. I sometimes do work as a busboy or dishwasher, but I like doing this job, as nobody is on top of me, and I can work my own hours. RAELENE JOHNSON I simply let them know that some of us vendors do not have the required qualifications for an application to be accepted at a lot of places, or that prospective employers would hold our past against us. I would rather be doing the newspaper than holding up a sign or begging for money. This paper gives dignity, self-worth, and respect to the vendors because we are giving our customers an award-winning newspaper, and they’re not just giving; they can see the change in me and the other vendors! JOHN ALEXANDER When people ask, “Why don’t you get a real job?” I express to them that I am not just vending the Denver VOICE; nor am I just working a job, whether they think it’s a “real job” or not. As a Denver VOICE vendor, I am self-employed. I have a job, and I have a real business. The Denver VOICE is my only job. I love it. There is plenty of work for me right here, where I am, and the more I work, the more I am developing and building my OWN business. I am 72. I’ve been working ever since I was seven years old. I have been working this real job for 15 years. I am the employee of the month this month. I have been the employee of the month every month for 15 years, straight. The people that have bought papers from me and the other vendors over the years support us, just like they would any other business, where someone purchases products or services. The ability to give to others is one of God’s kindest and most noble gifts. Helping other people to help themselves is part of the very foundation that our country and all of our American spiritual institutions stand on. Some time ago, a few broad-minded men and women came up with this strange, off-the-hook idea that they could help fight homelessness [by publishing street papers] that would help people get jobs and become self-employed. Wow! Well, today, that concept is practiced in nearly every state in the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. What if the people who had this far-out idea had stood back, and if the only idea they came up with was to ask people, “Why don’t you get a real job?” Because of those few people, there are individuals all over the world, who, like me, DO have a real job, and a real business, too. ■ September 2022 DENVER VOICE 5
LOCAL FEATURE TRANSFORMING THE DISCARDED BY GILES CLASEN JOHN TORRES hates when people look at his amputated leg and pigeonhole him or feel sorry for him. “Some people look at my leg, stare at my leg — but I don’t give a fuck,” Torres said. “Some people think I need a lot of help, but I get by fine on my own. It kind of pisses me off when people insist on helping. I can do about anything and will ask for help if I need it — which I don’t.” Now, Torres spends his days scavenging anything he can from alleys and dumpsters. Torres makes an okay living finding, repairing, then selling items on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. Torres lost his leg nearly 18 months ago on account of diabetes. He had faced infections and sores for a long time. His leg developed blisters, which caused painful wounds that wouldn’t heal, and those slowed him down. “It wasn’t nothing to lose it. It had to go. It was making me sick. I had sepsis; it wasn’t good,” Torres said. He has a very matter-of-fact demeanor when talking about the amputation. Torres doesn’t lament his leg, and as he talked about losing it, he repeated several times, “It had to go.” Then, after a pause, he said, with a wry grin and in a soft tone, “I never thought I would have a leg like this, though.” While he may not mourn the loss of his leg, Torres misses the community that was once North Denver and the neighborhood where he grew up, surrounded by family members who have since passed away. To honor his loved ones, Torres had a custom tattoo designed with the names of his grandfather, grandmother, and mother listed in one work of art on his left arm. He calls it “the dead arm,” a living memorial to what he has lost. Torres canvases neighborhoods, alleys, and dumpsters for anything of value. He considers it work that is good for his community, the environment, and himself. He is proud that he can find something broken, destined for the landfill — and by showing another person’s trash a little love, he can transform it into a new treasure for someone else. Torres is always on the hunt for items he can make new again. One evening, he received a tip that a mini fridge was sitting in a nearby alley. There also happened to be an abandoned grocery cart near the fridge, so Torres wasted no time getting the shopping cart just right as he positioned his motorized wheelchair. He then lifted his good leg out of the chair, and stood on the concrete, his amputated leg propped on the scooter’s seat. Leaning on the cart for balance, Torres pivoted quickly, wrapping his torso and arms around the fridge. His movement was practiced and intentional. Once he had the fridge within his grip, Torres lifted it and then quickly packed it for the journey home. Torres refers to what he does as both work and a hobby. It gives him purpose and some money. He also enjoys the adventures scavenging offers. “I see it as a treasure hunt. Every day I am searching for something new, something I can sell,” Torres said. There is a lot of skill and a lot of luck in scavenging. It is CREDIT: GILES CLASEN tough to find a diamond in the rough; sometimes it is even harder to find the right person to buy what Torres found, repaired, and returned to service. 6 DENVER VOICE September 2022
LOCAL FEATURE CREDIT: GILES CLASEN He collects disability and has stable housing. But sometimes, money is hard to come by, and his disability payments only go so far. The extra income he earns helps pay the bills. Torres is known to travel 50 blocks a day or more in his scooter, zigzagging through alleys and residential streets. “I charge my scooter and I go,” Torres said. “Just because I’m disabled doesn’t mean I’m going to stop. Losing my leg won’t stop me.” Torres said a lot of people go through depression when they lose a limb or face other serious medical issues. While Torres is upbeat, he acknowledges that he also suffers from depression but says he works hard to fight it and live as normal a life as possible. Torres has the support of his girlfriend, which has been monumental for him. “Sometimes I get down a little bit. But she says, ‘It doesn’t matter, babe. I still love you,’” Torres said with a smile. Torres strives to be the first to find items he believes are worth selling, even though someone else cast them aside. “I’ve got four mortal enemies,” Torres said. “The trash man, skunks, raccoons, and the pawn shop. The trash man’s doing his job, so you let that go. The skunk and raccoon — they don’t know any better. But the pawn shop... they’re thieves. They want to give you nothing in exchange for gold. Pawn shops steal from me, so I only have hate for them.” (And yes, Torres has been sprayed by skunks while working.) When he comes across certain items, Torres sees them as small kindnesses that brighten his day. For example, he came across a TV placed gently against a trash can — as though it had been left there just for him. Torres looked the TV over and noticed a scratch on the surface of the screen, but there was no other damage. He was confident he could CREDIT: GILES CLASEN CREDIT: GILES CLASEN buff out the scratch and make the TV as good as new. He then put the remote control in his chair’s storage and lifted the TV to his lap. With the shopping cart full, Torres flicked his chair’s joystick and motored forward, faster than any jogger or a Lime scooter could keep up with. Then, he proceeded to another neighborhood, another set of alleys to patrol, certain he could fit more in the shopping cart before he headed home. ■ September 2022 DENVER VOICE 7
COMMUNITY PROFILE PAYING HOMAGE TO RAUL CHAVEZ PORTILLO Father and son team’s symbolic mural memorializes local Aztec dancer BY ASHTON BROWN AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER of 10th Ave. and Santa Fe Dr., in the heart of the Santa Fe Art District, is a mural commemorating the life of local Aztec dance leader Raul Chavez Portillo, who passed away in May at the age of 70. The mural is the creation of father and son Jerry and Jay Jaramillo, in recognition of Chavez’s legacy. In 1992, Chavez founded his dance group Huitzilopochtli which he named for the Aztec god of sun and war, as a way to celebrate the Aztec culture and create greater awareness of its customs. THE MURAL CREATED BY JERRY AND JAY JARAMILLO “TLALOC,” IS A TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF RAUL CHAVEZ-PORTILLO, AN AZTEC DANCER AND FOUNDER OF THE DANCE GROUP, HUITZILOPOCHTLI. CREDIT: ASHTON BROWN JERRY JARAMILLO (LEFT) AND JAY JARAMILLO (RIGHT) STAND NEXT TO “TLALOC.” CREDIT: ASHTON BROWN 8 DENVER VOICE September 2022
COMMUNITY PROFILE Over several decades, Huitzilopochtli performed frequently on the Auraria Campus. While he was a student at Metropolitan State University, Jay Jaramillo was a regular audience member of these performances. During this period, Chavez spent a lot of time with the Jaramillos and became like family to them. Jerry and Jay Jaramillo titled their mural, “Tlaloc,” after the supreme Aztec god of thunder and lightning. In the painting, Chavez is depicted as Tlaloc, surrounded by several Aztec symbols. Just above Chavez’s head is a roaring jaguar, a symbol of power. In the painting, the jaguar is emitting lightning bolts from its open mouth. The feathered serpent in the mural is a symbol of knowledge and is often seen in Aztec and Mayan art. The feathers also represent Chavez being in the “spirit realm,” meaning he now has feathers in the afterlife. The empty space below Chavez’s head is intentional to represent his soul in the cosmos. Jay Jaramillo said he applied for a permit to create this particular mural because that section of Santa Fe Drive has been like a home to him. Jerry Jaramillo, a renowned artist, jeweler, and sculptor, owned an art gallery in the district, and his art shows and exhibits frequently included Jay’s paintings. Since then, the neighborhood has changed significantly. “We really had a home going on here, but we’ve been kind of displaced like a lot of people in Denver,” said Jay. Painting the mural gave Jay and his father an opportunity to interact with their old community. The Jaramillos believe “Tlaloc” brings honor to the Aztec and Mexican cultures and hope the mural will “preserve the culture of the community,” while also honoring Chavez’s life. What makes “Tlaloc” especially significant is that it reflects the Aztec culture without any reference to European influences. It is purely Aztec art. According to the Jaramillos, “Tlaloc” is ultimately about healing for Chavez’s family and the community he inspired so much. “Raul’s family lives not too far from here, and his daughter drove by here the other day so they could have some healing too, I feel like he passed away a little too young,” said Jay. The mural itself is a bit of a time capsule. States that used to be Mexico such as Colorado, Utah, and Arizona, were called Aztlan, the Aztec capital, which is also referred to as “the land toward the north.” This Aztec influence is still present in these landscapes, including towns and cities throughout Colorado. By creating this memorial of Chavez in the Santa Fe Art District Jay Jaramillo says it’s a way of “going back in time,” and showcasing that Aztec influence on modern-day life. With the mural, Jay Jaramillo believes it will ensure legacy Chavez’s lives on. “Sometimes you lose the grandmother or the grandfather of the family. and the family culture falls apart, so we wanted for the people to see him—especially in the neighborhood where his family still lives,” he said. ■ DONATE YOUR CAR! Need to get rid of your car, truck, or motorcycle? Consider donating it to Denver VOICE. Call (855) 500-7433, or go to: careasy.org/nonprofi t/denver-voice. Your donation helps Denver VOICE succeed in its mission to provide individuals experiencing homelessness or poverty the chance towards a more stable life. The Denver VOICE empowers homeless, impoverished, and transient individuals by creating job opportunities through our vendor program. We 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. VOLUNTEER WITH US! We are looking for volunteers to support our program coordination by helping with paper distribution and basic offi ce administration at the Denver VOICE offi ce (989 Santa Fe Dr.) from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. If you are interested and would like to know more, contact us at: program@denvervoice.org September 2022 DENVER VOICE 9
INTERNATIONAL STORY IN CIRKONEO, SERBIA, CIRCUS IS A SPACE FOR SECURITY AND TOGETHERNESS BY DIVNA STOJANOV WHEN I FIRST VISITED CREATIVE PLANT, I was struck by the great joy of everyone present. Within the framework of the Cirkoneo circus school, through workshop activities and playing games, the circus pedagogists teach children and youth circus skills including acrobatics, balancing, and juggling. They start every class in a circle where they talk about what new things have happened to them and how they feel. It’s during these moments that the junior elementary school students can talk about peer bullying or the fact that they have learned to multiply by nine. Thus, Cirkoneo is not only a place where children and youth learn tightrope walking, aerial silks, and nonverbal communication; it is also a space of safety, friendship, and mental and physical development that is unburdened by competitive spirit. As Dragan Jajić, the founder of the Creative Plant points out, pedagogy is prioritized over physical prowess in the circus school. “We develop critical thinking in children, and we discuss bullying and mental health with them,” Jajić says. “We teach them values such as cooperation, mutual respect and recognition, and the acceptance of differences. We never impose our own opinions, but we ask them questions so that they can come up with answers on their own.” Contemporary circus, as opposed to the circus that we see in films or remember from our childhood, doesn’t have animal acts, doesn’t show people with physical deformities, and rejects the familiar structure from the past – the rotation of circus acts and clown performances. Instead, it focuses on the process and the mutual work of all participants, it deals with socially relevant subjects, and it uses elements of physical theatre, dance, acting, and improvisation. However, one thing that circus has maintained from its very beginnings to this day is the understanding of the marginalized. “Circus has always, through both its ups and downs, communicated with the rejected, with the marginalized, and with those who refuse to fit into the system,” Jajić points out. The Creative Plant association, according to him, explores and practices social circus, which gathers the community together, promotes imagination, provides support, and improves the position of people of all ages through the artistic, social, pedagogic, and community values of the circus. A very significant activity of Creative Plant is related to their work in the villages of Vojvodina and the founding of independent cultural outposts in rural areas where the cultural content has been reduced to a minimum. Creative Plant starts working with these communities by organizing circus workshops in small locations, which gives the locals of all ages an opportunity to become closer, build trust, exchange ideas, and share problems; then, they work 10 DENVER VOICE September 2022 PHOTOS COURTESY OF CIRKONEO together to resolve problems through joint action. Creative Plant succeeded in rallying the locals of one village to take the initiative and renovate a children’s playground, while in another village, a cultural center was set up in a formerly dilapidated space. Creative Plant helps the local population by empowering them and helping them connect with municipal institutions to gather funds in collaboration with businesspeople or by writing projects. It also assists them in planning projects’ sustainability, and it also helps with renovations, furnishing the space, and networking with other cultural centers. When one cycle ends, Creative Plant stays in active communication with the community, supports their new actions, provides them with the tools for solving future problems, and shows them that it’s possible to affect the quality of life in a local community through activism. Through the new project titled “Find Your Balance – With the Circus”, this organization is going to hold balancing technique workshops in ten elementary schools in Novi Sad and, through them, explore the effects of practicing circus skills on the development of social and emotional skills in children. “Circus improves focus, builds selfconfidence, promotes persistence and patience, and develops communication skills, tolerance, and the feeling of responsibility for oneself and others,” says Ivana Grković from Creative Plant. This is exactly why, in many developed countries, the contemporary circus is one of the favorite compulsory and optional subjects in schools. “Our wish is to foster these skills in our country as well,” she smiles. ■ Translated from Serbian via Translators without Borders Courtesy of Liceulice / International Network of Street Papers
INTERNATIONAL STORY HOUSING FOR THE PEOPLE: “THE LANDLORD GREED MACHINE” BY BRONWYN JONES CARVER MY NAME IS BRONWYN JONES CARVER. I have been homeless for seven years this June. At the time, Portland was just starting to experience the landlord greed machine as they raised rents by ridiculous amounts. I was no exception to this. My two-bedroom apartment in inner southeast Portland — where I had lived for 15 years, raised a family, buried pets, and planted flowers — became a casualty of said greed. I paid $850 a month, and the landlord’s son wanted to raise it to $1,625. The increase was not acceptable, let alone affordable. I worked a job I would soon leave due to the burden of high stress. My husband was not employed at the time. I agonized over the impending no-cause eviction. It was June 2015. We went to court to try to mediate an agreement. We had been late twice in the previous five years and could not understand why this was happening. Court was a joke. The judge sided with the landlord and told us we could reapply at the new price of $1,625. Our other option was to vacate voluntarily by June and avoid a formal eviction. Needless to say, we vacated. My husband and I moved into our minivan with our three cats in tow. I tried to make it a positive thing, some kind of adventure we were setting out to encounter. I couldn’t have been more wrong. That summer, we dealt with extreme heat, and I did not know how to cool us down. As the summer moved into fall, we continued to live in the van. We would park for as long as we could in various spots away from the public’s view, to maintain some form of privacy. Portland Bureau of Transportation, commonly referred to as PBOT, seemed to be following us. Each time we found a new spot that seemed out of the way, they would post us for removal. Each time, we packed up, and off we went in search of another spot. As fall turned to winter and the rain came, we discovered the places our van leaked. We discovered how the cat litter would get soaked and spread everywhere. When the cold snap hit and temperatures got so low — into single digits — my husband, myself, and our three cats lay under a pile of blankets shivering and praying we did not die that night. It was horrible. Neither of us had any idea how to stay warm. Our van was slowly starting to have mechanical issues, mostly struggling to start, and PBOT was hot on our bumper, posting those green notices everywhere we parked. Nowhere was safe. I began to get really depressed. The husband and I started to bicker over stupid things. The stress of living in the van in such a tight space was unraveling our marriage. The cold continued, and the snow that started to fall added to the frigid temperature in the van. I worried for the cats more than myself and my spouse. We then saw the Mister Buddy indoor heater another friend used inside their tent. That little heater saved our lives, I am sure. The radiant propane heat was so warm. I can still remember how good that first bit of heat felt on the body. The cats stopped shivering, and it helped to dry the inside of the van. After two years of PBOT chasing us around Portland and placing those green stickers on our windows demanding we move, the van was no longer registered. My husband and I were unemployed, so there was no money to register the vehicle. One Thursday afternoon, PBOT caught up to us. We had parked the van in a spot we thought was OK. It turns out that once you are issued the green notice to move your vehicle, PBOT then excludes you from the “zone” where you have been stickered. However, there is no mention of this on those green stickers, and I found it impossible to decipher what zone I was in. The police also showed up and asked how long I needed to remove my contents. I said, “an hour,” to which the officer replied, “I will give you 30 minutes.” “Then why did you ask me if you already knew how much time you were going to give me?” I responded. I was livid. I scrambled to get as much out as I could. Then the cats and I watched our home for those two years get towed away. I cried so very hard that night as we lay under a tarp in the parking lot in the rain. The next day, my husband came up with a tent and set up a camp for us. That was 2017. We have been camping since. Housing is not really a dream for me. I have a travel trailer now. I got it for free, and it is in great condition. I will be living in the camper as soon as I find a place where PBOT will not hassle me. There are times, though, when I mourn the apartment where my daughters grew up. I miss the color of the living room and how warm and inviting it looked from outside the window. I reminisce about celebrating the highs and getting through the lows together. I don’t know what the immediate future holds. My husband and I are trying to work things out, as we separated for the last two years. My mental health was a subtle killer as I allowed it to run my life, succumbing to the negative speak and being negative all the time. This was a huge factor in my husband’s “taking a break.” I have worked on myself to be a better person, and I am. I owe so much to Street Roots for giving me the opportunity to submit my poetry, which they print, as well as attending the Mobile Journalism and Communications program, which will give me the tools to write for Street Roots and other publications. I already pitched my first freelance story outside of Street Roots in late February. The pitch was accepted and published by a digital publication. Writing is my everything, and I give it my everything. I write because I must. It helps to deal with the reality that is my life. I love when my husband, family, and those at Street Roots who believed in me and my words, are proud of my work. I, too, beam with pride. ■ Housing for the People is a column produced by the International Network of Street Papers from people on the frontlines of the housing justice movement in America and beyond. Courtesy of INSP North America / International Network of Street Papers BRONWYN JONES CARVER SAYS HOUSING IS NO LONGER A DREAM FOR HER, THOUGH SHE DOES MISS THE HOME SHE RAISED HER CHILDREN IN. PHOTO BY STREET ROOTS. September 2022 DENVER VOICE 11
IN YOUR OWN WORDS REMEMBER, SELF BY RAELENE JOHNSON, VOICE VENDOR RAELENE JOHNSON. CREDIT: CORTNEY TABERNA NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS AROUND YOU, remember, Self, you have the power to control your life. Only you can allow how people treat you. Get the power of your voice, because if you don’t have that, you will become a victim of abuse. Remember, Self, you allow people to hurt you by not speaking up. Remember to say, “You can’t talk to me like that! Don’t tell me I am useless. Don’t tell me, ‘You can’t do it. You are worthless,’ and things like that.” By not speaking up, you give them permission to continue to talk to you that way. The first time you speak up for yourself will be scary, but you must care about Self, so you can find peace in Self. Remember, Self, to truly love Self. No matter the pain you find yourself in, love of Self will get you through it. Love will get your life in better shape than hate will. Hating Self for this or that keeps you angry and more self-destructive towards Self. Remember, Self, people come and people go. Some are good, some, bad. You have to trust Self to know Self and let Self do what is best for Self. And that comes with loving Self and believing in Self. Self, remember, I love you, and you can love yourself, too. ■ ILLUSTRATION BY GIGI GALEN 12 DENVER VOICE September 2022
EVENTS YOGA ON THE LAWN Revive Bodywork and the Levitt Pavilion Denver are partnering to promote mental and physical wellness. Classes are free to attend and encouraged for people of all skill levels and ages. Bring your own yoga mat, towel, or feel free to practice in the grass. WHEN: Sep 3, 10, 17, and 24, 9 a.m. COST: Free WHERE: Levitt Pavilion Denver, 1380 W. Florida Ave. INFO: levittdenver.org COURTESY OF DEBORAH LASTOWKA PUZZLES COURTESY OF STREETROOTS ANSWERS ARE ON PAGE 15 WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW: STAND-UP COMEDY We all need more laughter in our lives. What the World Needs Now is a bi-weekly comedy showcase featuring some of the city’s best comedians, as well as its rising stars. This FREE event occurs every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month. WHEN: Sep 8 and 22, 8 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. COST: Free WHERE: First Draft Kitchen & Taproom, 1309 26th St. INFO: firstdraftdenver.com ACROSS ORTHODOX FOOD FESTIVAL & OLD GLOBEVILLE DAYS Come sample homemade cuisine from Greece, Russia, Romania, Serbia, Ukraine, and Italy. Afterwards, stick around for live music, dancing, art displays, and tours of the historic Orthodox church. There will also be a full-service bar to wash down all those pirozhki. WHEN: Sep 10, 10 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. COST: Free entry WHERE: Holy Transfiguration of Christ Cathedral, 349 E. 47th Ave. INFO: globevilleorthodoxfoodfestival.org Across 1. Way, way off 5. “Get ___ of yourself!” 10. With skill 14. Grain with jasmine and basmati varieties 15. Person with Hansen’s disease 16. Hip bones 17. Excited punctuation 20. Bubble makers 21. Shoves 22. Synthetic silk 23. Remote abbr. 24. Sweet-sounding 31. Show the way 35. Free from 36. Ancient alphabetic character 37. Cornstarch brand 38. Campaigner, for short 39. ___ Minor 40. “La Vie en Rose” singer 41. Sun helmets made of pith or cork (Var.) 43. Reply to “Shall we?” 44. Act 47. Grazing area 48. “To err is ___...” 52. Bombard 56. Hilton rival 59. Fluffy French dessert 61. Timbuktu’s land 62. Accustom 63. Bottom of the barrel 64. “Brown ___ Girl” 65. Cavalry weapon 66. Talk back DOWN 1. Carpet layer’s calculation 2. ___-upper 3. Capital of Ghana 4. Pass on 5. One who distributes charity 6. Get wind of 7. Chooses, with “for” 8. Hawaiian garland 9. Fall asleep 10. Goals 11. Hardly thrilling 12. Former Italian money 13. Gabs 18. Bit of physics 19. Partner of void 23. Certain string instrument 25. Type of fatty lump 26. Parkinson’s medication 27. Eurasia’s ___ Mountains 28. Yorkshire river DREAMING NEW DREAMS THROUGH POETRY In this weekly workshop, participants will explore how poetry can help guide them through the aging process, dream new dreams, and live joyful lives. They’ll also learn the fundamentals of poetic craft, write new poems, and get feedback on their work. WHEN: Sep 12, 19, and 26, 12 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. COST: Free, registration required WHERE: Online INFO: denverlibrary.org/events/upcoming VIVA SOUTHWEST MARIACHI FESTIVAL The Latino Cultural Arts Center and MSU Denver Department of Music are teaming up to bring you an evening of Mariachi at the Levitt Pavilion Denver. This event is free and open to the community. WHEN: Sep 25, 5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. COST: Free entry WHERE: Levitt Pavilion Denver, 1380 W. Florida Ave. INFO: levittdenver.org 29. The U in ICU 30. Caribbean and others 31. Arctic native 32. Canal of song 33. Gelatin substitute 34. Remove, as a hat 41. Vine support 42. Person who plots 45. Assortment 46. Coin with 12 stars on it 49. Uses claws to wound 50. Baffled 51. They smell 52. Crowning point 53. Open carriage 54. It’s under a foot 55. Battery contents 56. Ticket remnant 57. “Try this!” 58. Loch ___ monster 60. Santa ___ winds September 2022 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+ Rose Community Foundation Max & Elaine Appel The Christian Foundation $5,000 - $9,999 Anschutz Family Foundation Cranaleith Foundation, Inc $1,000-$4,999 Meek-Cuneo Family Fund Walker Family Foundation Whole Foods Foundation Katherine Standiford Jill Haug Bright Funds Pivotal Energy Partners USA, Inc. Russell Peterson Sustainable Housing and Development Foundation Jerry Conover Sidney B and Caleb F Gates Fund Keyrenter Property Management Denver The Credit Union of Colorado Foundation Kroger Jana and Jim Cuneo Creating Healthier Communities Paul Manoogian Lori Holland Warren & Betty Kuehner Matthew Seashore Michael J. Fehn & Jan Monnier Gaspar Terrana Jim Ashe Courage and Community Foundation George Lichter Family Foundation $500-$999 Michael Dino Fire on the Mountain Blackbaud Giving Fund Christopher Boulanger GivingFirst, Community First Foundation Sheryl Parker Maggie Holben Alistair Davidson Laura Saunders 10X Business Consultants Barbara & Robert Ells Cake Websites & More Edwina Salazar James Stegman Jennifer Stedron Jeremey Anderson Ridley, McGreevy & Winocur Stephen Saul WalMart 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 September 2022
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. CLARE’S MINISTRY AT ST. PETER AND ST. MARY 126 W. 2nd Ave., dinner at 4pm on Tues. Also offer a change of clothes, toiletries and sleeping bags when available. 303-722-8781 stpeterandmary.org 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 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.a-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 DRUG REHAB USA Addiction hotline: 866-716-0142. Organizations that take Medicaid: https://drugrehabus.org/rehabs/treatment/medicaid/united-states/colorado/denver 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, 1700 N Wheeling St., Aurora 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 September 2022 DENVER VOICE 15 DON’T LOOK NOW! PUZZLES ARE ON PAGE 13
WHAT DO WE DO TO HELP? Since 2007, the VOICE has provided jobs for more than 4,600 people experiencing homelessness. For every dollar we take in, we put $3.00 directly back into the pockets of those who need it most. WITH YOUR HELP, WE CAN DO MORE. SCAN THIS CODE TO SET UP YOUR DONATION TODAY! DENVERVOICE.ORG/DONATE
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