From the Editor T Elisabeth Monaghan was born and raised in Denver, joining the VOICE as managing editor in 2019. She is passionate about social justice, and believes that writing and creative expression are some of our most powerful tools in combating homelessness and poverty. DENVERVOICE.ORG The VOICE is Still Here, and its Mission Still Matters HERE IS NO EASY WAY TO SAY THIS. After seven years, I am stepping down as managing editor of the Denver VOICE. This has been such an incredible opportunity, and I will be forever grateful for this experience. I came to the VOICE to do journalism, but over the past seven years, I have learned far more than I ever expected about the responsibility of telling stories, the importance of listening, and the power of giving people a platform to speak for themselves. I have also had the privilege of meeting people I might never have otherwise known and hearing stories that have changed the way I see the world. The work has reminded me that everyone has a story worth hearing and that sometimes the most important stories are the ones that too often go unheard. What impresses me the most about our vendors, staff, and board members is their perseverance. On Friday, September 20, 2024, the Denver VOICE board and staff ended the day thinking we would be shutting our doors. Nearly two years later, the VOICE is still here. While that’s a good thing, I don’t think our continued existence would have been possible without the quick response from then-board chair Robert Davis, who also volunteered as interim executive director, or without the time and energy Giles Clasen devoted to reaching out to former and new donors during that uncertain period. Aside from Robert and Giles’ efforts, another reason the VOICE remained open is the assistance we received from our local media partners, who interviewed our staff and vendors and used those stories to remind the community that the Denver VOICE’s mission matters. With the near-shutdown behind us and a dedicated team of staff and board of directors, the organization is in the best shape it has been in since before the COVID-19 pandemic. In January, Giles was appointed executive director. Giles has been involved with the VOICE as a volunteer and contributing journalist since 2008, and over the years, he has established relationships with service providers, community leaders, and Denver VOICE vendors. Since Giles assumed his role, the organization has seen a steady increase in new vendors joining our program. Our program coordinator, Maddie Egerton, who joined the organization in early 2025, has been instrumental in recruiting new vendors and ensuring that all vendors know what resources are available and how to access them. Additionally, we have an exceptional board of directors, which has supported VOICE’s continued growth and success. To those who have donated their time and money over the past several years, thank you for helping to keep the organization going. Thank you to all of the volunteers, journalists, past and current board members, and Denver VOICE staff. Most of all, thank you to all of the vendors who have taught me what compassion, kindness, and resilience look like. You have welcomed me into your lives, shared your stories with me, trusted me with those stories, and taught me lessons I will carry with me long after I leave the newsroom. The VOICE has survived because people believed it was worth saving. I hope that belief continues for many years to come. EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT VENDOR PROGRAM ADVERTISING MAILING ADDRESS VENDOR OFFICE OFFICE HOURS BOARD OF DIRECTORS MANAGING EDITOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ART DIRECTOR ADMIN. ASSISTANT ARTISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS CONTRIBUTORS @denverVOICE Elisabeth Monaghan Giles Clasen Andrew Fraieli Madeline Egerton Robert Davis Joshua Abeyta Lando Allen Donald Burns Robert Davis Jennifer Forker Sondra Jeffries Michael Burkley Wayne Easterling Jerry Rosen Jennifer Forker, President Donald Burnes, Vice President Edwin Rapp, Treasurer Ande Sailer Linda Shapley Lisa Schlichtman editor@denvervoice.org program@denvervoice.org editor@denvervoice.org PO Box 1931, Denver CO 80201 989 Santa Fe Drive Denver CO 80204 10 a.m. -1 p.m., Wednesdays - Elisabeth Monaghan Managing Editor Since 1996, the Denver VOICE has served individuals experiencing housing or financial instability by providing lowbarrier income opportunities. In the time since our inception, we have put more than 4,600 vendors to work, selling the paper throughout the Denver metro area. By focusing on poverty, housing, social justice, local arts and entertainment, and the human experience behind the headlines, we tell the stories that Denver media often overlook. An award-winning publication, the Denver VOICE is a member of the International Network of Street Papers and the Colorado Press Association, and we adhere to the Society of Professional Journalists’ code of ethics. TO HELP, YOU CAN: GET THE WORD OUT: VOLUNTEER: ADVERTISE: DONATE @ denvervoice.org@denverVOICE Contact program@denvervoice.org Contact ads@denvervoice.org SUBSCRIBE @ denvervoice.org/subscriptions THE COVER: Thomas Evans, the artist known as Detour, hangs his artwork, “What We Carry Forward,” at the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Center for the Healing Arts in Denver in late July. The two-panel artwork brings participants’ memories to life through treasured and everyday mementos of the dance school. PHOTO BY JC FUTRELL DENVER VOICE SEPTEMBER 2026 3 ABOUT US
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