DIRECTOR’S NOTE BRITTNI JOY WEST-WARE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DEAR DENVER VOICE COMMUNITY— I am thrilled to join the Denver VOICE as your new executive director. With a deep commitment to amplifying community voices and fostering meaningful connections, I look forward to working alongside our dedicated team to continue the impactful work of this incredible organization. Together, we will strive to empower individuals through storytelling, advocacy, and support. With this in mind, I am excited to share the updates and new additions to the Denver VOICE organization. After careful consideration and considering the ever-changing needs of our community, we are transitioning, so that we are no longer “just a street newspaper “ to a workforce development agency. This change is driven by our mission to empower individuals with the skills and opportunities necessary for long-term, sustainable employment. We are about to continue not only the tradition of the street paper, but also, to elevate our vendors’ skills to ensure their continued success through workforce development and training. We know that the paper is a valuable part of that growth and development, and therefore, we have no intention of replacing what we know is a needed resource. The goal of course is to provide new experiences and opportunities that include the paper, while also allowing our vendors to excel and grow in the directions they choose, rather than a source that is chosen for them. I encourage you to keep close to the Denver VOICE as we make this transition. Thank you for welcoming me into this vibrant community. I am excited for the journey ahead and the positive change we will create together. Warm regards, Brittni Joy West-Ware Executive Director, Denver VOICE ■ THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS FRANK DEANGELI is a PNW transplant who has spent seven years in Colorado. He has previously spent much of his professional career working in case management at a homeless shelter. He loves movies, making music, and throwing any kind of flying disc. JAMIE MILLER graduated from the University of Georgia with bachelor’s degrees in journalism and business management. She enjoys exploring the Colorado mountains, reading a good book at a local coffee shop, and doing yoga. JACOB RICHARDS is a community organizer and writer on the western slope of Colorado. His columns have appeared across the West including The Denver Post, Salt Lake City Tribune, and The Daily Sentinel. When not working in the wilderness, he is working on a project called “A People’s History of the Grand Valley.” DENVERVOICE.ORG E.ORG @OCE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni Joy West-Ware MANAGING EDITOR Elisabeth Monaghan PROGRAM DIRECTOR Connie Gaitan GRAPHIC DESIGNER Hannah Bragg VOLUNTEER COPY EDITORS Lanie Lee Cook Emma Hurt Aaron Sullivan ARTISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS Rea Brown Jacob Richards Charles Spring 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. WRITERS Lando Allen Frank DeAngeli David Gordon Raelene Johnson Jason Martin Jamie Miller Jacob Richards Jerry Rosen Larmarques Smith Charles Spring BOARD OF DIRECTORS Robert Davis, President Chris Boulanger, Vice President Isabella Colletti, Secretary Antonio Diaz, Treasurer Michael Burkley Jeff Cuneo Johnna Flood Eduardo Platon Charity Von Guinness Cabal Yarne 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 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Orientation is held every day we are open, but prospective vendors must arrive by 10:00 a.m. 2 DENVER VOICE September 2024 STAFF CONTRIBUTORS BOARD CONTACT US
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