FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK THIS SEASON is a time of reflection. It’s a time to look back on the ROBERT DAVIS BOARD PRESIDENT accomplishments of the previous year and plan out the course to achieve next year’s goals. But this year feels different. As of January 1, 2026, I will no longer be the president of the Denver VOICE’s board of directors. It has been an honor of a lifetime to lead this great organization through a time of upheaval and uncertainty. I will also be stepping down from the board of directors when my tenure as president ends. It’s difficult for me to imagine a life without leading the Denver VOICE. As many of you know, the VOICE is my home away from home. The VOICE was the first place where I saw that my writing mattered to someone other than myself. There are no awards or accolades I could ever win that come close to matching the feeling of seeing how proud our vendors are of the work we do. I have received several questions about this transition, and I want to address as many of them as I can. This experience has taught me that nonprofits live and die by the energy and the attitude they put out into the community. I am proud that I have been entrusted to carry that mantle for the last two years, but I can’t be the only one to do it. We have recruited a wealth of people to our organization who exemplify what Denver VOICE is all about—community, care, and trust. They are fully capable of making this little, but mighty, organization even greater than it is today. I also want to be clear: I am not leaving the VOICE entirely. In fact, just the opposite. I will be going back to writing for the paper once my tenure ends, so you’ll (unfortunately) be hearing from me more often. We have accomplished a lot together at the VOICE since I took over the President’s chair. But the accomplishment I am most proud of is that we helped people who are homeless in Denver get their VOICE back. We exist to forge positive relationships between people who are homeless and the broader community. We will never forget that. There are far too many people to thank without obliterating the word count Elisabeth gave me, so I will leave you with a reminder. Homelessness is as much a cultural issue as it is a housing issue. People fully escape homelessness when they feel like they belong to a community that cares about them, not just when they get a home of their own. Community is not something policy or politics can create. If they could, we would have already legislated our way out of this mess. It is incumbent on each one of us to take part in this fight to end homelessness, no matter how small a role we play. Say “hello.” Be kind and courteous. Give what you can. But most of all, be genuine in your pursuit of making this world a better place for all. The only way we can end homelessness is by doing it together. With immeasurable love, Robert Davis Editor’s note: The Denver VOICE staff (Giles Clasen, Maddie Egerton, Andrew Fraieli and Elisabeth Monaghan), along with the vendors, are grateful to Robert for his time, wisdom, and generous spirit. BOARD OF DIRECTORS DENVERVOICE.ORG E.ORG MANAGING EDITOR DEVELOPMENT MANAGER ART DIRECTOR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT VOLUNTEER COPY EDITORS ARTISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS WRITERS @OCE Elisabeth Monaghan Giles Clasen Andrew Fraieli Maddie Egerton Jennifer Forker Aaron Sullivan Robert Davis Giles Clasen John Alexander Giles Clasen Wayne Easterling Maddie Egerton Raelene Johnson Jamie Miller Yvens Alex Saintil Rea Brown Jerry Rosen Mariana Ortega Rivera Robert Davis, President Isabella Colletti, Secretary Michael Burkley Eduardo Platon Edwin Rapp Donald Burnes Jennifer Forker Ande Sailer Linda Shapley 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. THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS YVENS ALEX SAINTIL is a multidisciplinary artist and veteran born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and raised in Queens, NY. Saintil creates art that connects past injustices to present systems of oppression. JAMIE MILLER graduated from the University of Georgia with bachelor’s degrees in journalism and business management. 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. MADELINE EGERTON joined the Denver VOICE as Administrative Assistant in February 2025 She enjoys working with the VOICE vendors and loves hearing and sharing their stories. 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. MARIANA ORTEGA RIVERA recently graduated from the Metropolitan State University of Denver with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in film studies. Currently, she is freelancing in both photography and graphic design. 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. 2 DENVER VOICE December 2025 CONTACT US
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