This column is a place for Denver VOICE vendors to respond to questions from fellow vendors, our readers, and staff. IF YOU COULD TELL THE PEOPLE WHO STARTED THE DENVER VOICE 30 YEARS AGO ANYTHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE? SONDRA JEFFRIES DENVER VOICE VENDOR I would like to thank them. They must have been the type of people who really believed that everyone’s voice matters. I love people who see the problems in the world and choose to be the change. There is a quote I love: “We come to love not by finding the perfect people; but by seeing the imperfect people perfectly.” LIZ HUBBARD DENVER VOICE VENDOR I would tell them “thank you” because it is a freaking godsend. It is a pivotal piece of the puzzle for recovery and positive reform and reconciliation, mutual respect from us to others and from others to us. When we get treated with respect, it helps us treat others well. There are just so many positive things. The one thing I JERRY ROSEN DENVER VOICE VENDOR I would say it is a pretty good paper, and it lets you work your own hours and your own days, so it’s a job I can do. It is a pretty good place to work. I have made quite a few friends working at the Denver VOICE, and they help me and give me a lot of tips. I need the Denver VOICE, and I am thankful it’s here. I hope the Denver VOICE is around another 30 years. want people to understand is that it is really hard to sell the Denver VOICE. If you go in on time, put in a reasonable amount of time and have a good attitude, you’re going to sell some papers. But it is hard to always have a good attitude when you’re looked at with disdain by most people for being homeless. Sometimes, I start a shift and have a bad attitude, but one good conversation, not even a sale, will change my attitude. It is hard to do this, and I would tell the founders and current administration that we should build in more support for vendors and expand the training program. The VOICE is a great program, but when I would like to say “thank you.” For seeing the unseen. For being unafraid to dream. Just want you to know, you made a difference. I hope you understand what I mean. REA BROWN DENVER VOICE VENDOR you look at the Maslow hierarchy of needs, we don’t have those basic needs of met, all this harder. making This program is life-changing in multiple ways — holistically life changing. To quote my friend Raelene: “Whatever you put into the void you get out of the void (times a thousand).” If you would like to help out a specific vendor by donating a few extra dollars, scan the QR code to make a payment through Venmo. Thank you! Please be sure to write your vendor’s name in the comments! HOMELESSNESS MYTHS CAN'T SURVIVE REAL CONVERSATION. Every time someone buys a paper from a Denver VOICE vendor, that's what happens. Not a transaction. A conversation. A moment where a Denverite sees past the myths and meets the person underneath, someone going through a hard stretch, trying to make it through. That's the whole model. Vendors earn 100% of what they sell. No handout, just a fair shot and a human connection. Buy a paper. Have a conversation. Change a mind. Keep fighting for those experiencing homelessness. BECOME A MONTHLY DONOR: 14
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