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BY TAKING ACTION, NONTRADITIONAL
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YOU CAN SEE IT, YOU CAN BE IT.
PAGE 6
A PRAIRIE
HOME
UNWANTED
A GAY COUPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS SEEKS
SAME LEVEL OF SERVICES
AS THEIR HETEROSEXUAL
COUNTERPARTS.
PAGE 8
DELIVERING
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COMFORT
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THAT WOMEN OF COLOR
RECEIVE QUALITY CARE
BEFORE, DURING, AND
AFTER PREGNANCY.
PAGE 10
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PAGES 3, 5, 11, 12
EVENTS / PUZZLES
PAGE 13
RESOURCES
PAGE 15
JUNE 2022 | Vol.27 Issue 6
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)
International Vendor Spotlight:
RALF & MARIO
FROM YOUR VENDOR:
KWEEN WERK POSES WITH TREKKING POLES. CREDIT: ADRIAN MICHAEL
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 
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ELISABETH MONAGHAN
MANAGING EDITOR
WHILE IT IS DISHEARTENING that
COVID may not be finished with
us, the good news is more vendors
are returning to the VOICE. That
means more vendors can be found
at their posts with the latest issue of
the Denver VOICE. My hope is the
return of our vendors means more
of them will be able to participate in
our Ask a Vendor section, submit
their work for In Your Own Words,
or write an article or story they’d
like to share with our readers.
Speaking of Ask a Vendor, a few weeks ago, longtime vendor
Rea Brown was working on an art piece for a project on housing
justice for the International Network of Street Papers. He asked,
somewhat rhetorically, “What are the two most important
things people who are homeless need?” Rather than make a
guess, I opened up the question to our vendors. You can see
how some responded in Ask a Vendor on Page 5. While their
answers may not be surprising, perhaps they’ll reinforce why
compassion for and awareness of our fellow humans, matter.
Maybe, if enough of us understand the most critical items and
services needed by people experiencing homelessness,
those
individuals who “just don’t understand homelessness” will
recognize that most do not choose housing instability. What’s
more, those who cannot take care of their basic needs, due to
unstable or unsafe living conditions, have even fewer choices.
In our In Your Own Words section, you can read Brian
Augustine’s story of how he lost the house he’d co-owned with his
brother, suffered a debilitating injury, and now lives in a room,
which by no means is a home.
Augustine recently returned as a volunteer for the VOICE,
helping around the VOICE office on days he’s not vending.
If you’re curious about a specific vendor or would like to see
one of our vendors spotlighted in a future issue, let me know.
Their stories deserve to be heard. ■
THIS MONTH’S
CONTRIBUTORS
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.
CAT EVANS is a Colorado native born and
raised in the Baker neighborhood of Denver.
She is a musician, poet, photographer,
cinematographer, and free thought
enthusiast. She is focused on translatable
activism through visuals and sound.
ADRIAN MICHAEL is a Denver-based
photographer who specializes in editorial,
portraiture, documentary and street
photography. He’s been creating images
for over 15 years and has a passion for
capturing the true essence of people.
DENVERVOICE.ORG
CE.ORG
@deeOCE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Jennifer Seybold
MANAGING EDITOR
Elisabeth Monaghan
INTERIM PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Caitlin Henrie
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Hannah Bragg
VOLUNTEER COPY EDITORS
Andrew Fraieli
Kersten Jaeger
Aaron Sullivan
Laura Wing
ARTISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS
Giles Clasen
Cat Evans
Gigi Galen
Adrian Michael
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.
John Alexander
Brian Augustine
Sue Blosten
Giles Clasen
Shawn Cunningham
Cat Evans
Adrian Michael
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
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.
2 DENVER VOICE June 2022
STAFF
CONTRIBUTORS
BOARD
CONTACT US
׉	 7cassandra://s58oYOHUbAjls-49qhUtIa7wd8LHDB1dawNBINmnCJE#D` b#i^y5M׉EINTERNATIONAL VENDOR SPOTLIGHT
BODO VENDORS RALF AND
MARIO: “LIFE WITHOUT
DOGS? IMPOSSIBLE!”
BY SEBASTIAN SELLHORST
ANYONE WHO IS A GUEST AT A BODO CONTACT POINT will always
meet one or more dogs there. There is hardly a vendor
meeting where a handful of four-legged friends are not
present. We accompanied some of them on a walk through
downtown Bochum.
With Ralf and Mario, we walk through the AppoloniaPfaus
Park. With them is a troupe of three dogs, who are
happy to romp around again after sitting still for an hour at
the vendor meeting. “When I got an apartment in Bochum,
I didn’t know anyone here and fell into a hole. I wasn’t with
bodo at the time. That’s when my family gave me Maja,” Mario
says. “She was 14 months old at the time and came to me from
Macedonia and was my salvation. I couldn’t imagine my life
without her.”
It was much the same for him, Ralf tells us, as he keeps
trying in vain to untangle the two dog leashes with Tyson and
Cassey. “Sometimes there are days when I’m not feeling well
and I wonder why I even bother to get up. Then I look at these
two and know why I’m doing all this.”
MAJA SITS BY A RECENT ISSUE OF BODO. COURTESY OF BODO
LEFT - RALF WITH TYSON AND CASSEY, RIGHT - MARIO WITH MAJA. COURTESY OF BODO
As we walk down Kortumstrasse, we keep stopping to say
hello to other dog-human teams. “You inevitably strike up a
conversation with other pet owners,” Ralf explains. “For many
people on the street, their dog is the only constant in their
lives. They would never part with their animal. That’s why,
for many, overnight shelters where you’re not allowed to take
animals are out of the question.”
After a few meters, we pass the sales place of Petra, who has
already set up with Milo and Amy. For her, too, the animals
come first. She can plan expenses for food well. It is difficult
with veterinary costs. That can quickly become expensive.
“But I would rather save on food than on the health of my two,”
she says as she slips them a treat.
When we arrive at Mario’s selling point, the first thing we
do there is spread out Maja’s blanket. “At first she was skeptical
when it came to selling. But now, she’s relaxed and knows all
the regular customers,” Mario reports as he fills a small bowl
with water. Recently, Maja and Mario had another offspring.
“Bella, a beagle with extra length,” as Mario describes her
with a laugh. Actually, she should only stay with him for a
short time for care, but at the moment it looks like she will
stay longer. Because there was one thing everyone agreed on
today: A life without a dog? Impossible! ■
Courtesy of bodo / International Network of Street Papers
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.
June 2022 DENVER VOICE 3
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בCט   
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 
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stems originally from the Latin “radix,” meaning root. So,
getting to the roots of the climate debate means asking
ourselves where the climate crisis comes from and how we
can mitigate it, while also looking for another system that
safeguards our livelihoods. We need radical approaches
beyond symbolic politics! Because, if we only introduce a
small tax on CO2, then nothing will change. The reasons for
our crisis lie deeper. Is it because my neighbor drives a car?
Or is it because corporations extract oil from the ground
and a few rich people profit from it? Talking about this in a
reasonable way is indeed a challenge, but it is also our way
out of the crisis.
How about radicalizing empathy, that is, by focusing on humanity
in a broader sense?
This question is vital. But I see a problem here too, in
making the individual responsible for solving a global crisis.
Put simply, many people cannot concern themselves with
the environment or other political issues because they must
secure their own livelihoods first. Of course, climate justice
is a movement for the people, not just for nature – our
climate crisis is a social crisis! Another important question
that we must tackle is: why are we living in a system that has
normalized a way of life that is environmentally harmful?
NISHA TOUSSAINT-TEACHOUT HAS BEEN ORGANISING CLIMATE PROTESTS SINCE 2018. SHE CO-FOUNDED FFF IN STUTTGART, SPEAKS TO MEDIA OUTLETS AND ALSO GIVES TALKS. SOLARISYS - STOCK.ADOBE.COM
TALKING TO FRIDAYS ABOUT
THE CLIMATE CRISIS
BY DANIEL KNAUS
TROTT-WAR:
Greta Thunberg dismissed existing climate policies as “blah blah
blah”; that is, as being insufficient. She was criticized for not being
constructive. What did you think about this response to her words?
NISHA TOUSSAINT-TEACHOUT:
Greta’s criticism has not been limited to these three words,
neither at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 26) in
Glasgow, where she said these words, nor before then. For
decades, the aim of the climate movement has been to call
out policies that don’t meet their responsibilities. And yet
Greta is criticized for her tone? Her words are justified, after
all: there have been 26 COPs held so far, and yet emissions
continue to rise.
Humanity will not become extinct immediately as a result of
climate change, but a large number of species will. Rising
temperatures will desertify countries, leading to hunger, mass
migrations, and conflict. How can we counter this?
The answer is in what we shout during our demonstrations:
“What do we want? Climate justice! When do we want it?
Now!” Because, where does the climate crisis stem from?
If we look throughout history, we can see that the roots of
the climate crisis lie in how we organize our societies and
economies. Infinite growth is not sustainable on a planet
with limited resources, and the exploitation of nature is
linked to exploitation by humans. At the same time, the
climate crisis is not something for the distant future.
Catastrophes are already here: they are being felt globally
throughout the South, and here too. The first steps to
combat the climate crisis are eliminating climate-damaging
subsidies and fossil fuels, ending intensive livestock
farming, improving disaster prevention, and practical
solidarity with countries that are severely affected. First
of all, however, something must fundamentally change;
we must democratize the economy instead of orienting it
towards growth. This goes hand in hand with overcoming
our patriarchal and colonial roots.
In his book How to Blow Up a Pipeline, human ecologist Andreas
Malm proposes using violence against things as a means of taking
action – no people should be harmed by such actions. Malm
argues that such an approach is warranted as a result of the
urgency of halting the ecological damage humans are causing to
the planet. FFF speaks out clearly against violence. How would
you assess Malm’s approach?
If we look back through history, liberation movements have
always taken different forms of action. For example, there is the
Civil Rights Movement in the U.S., the English women’s rights
movement, and also similar movements in India. And within
these forms of action, there has always been civil disobedience
and sabotage. To change something, we need different
approaches – without, of course, endangering people.
FFF Activist Carla Reemtsma spoke of a “radicalization of forms
of action.” She was criticized for her comments, even though she
also opposed violent action. Is it possible that the climate debate
is facing communication issues?
Definitely. The word “radical” does not mean “extreme.”
Instead, and similar to the root of the word for radishes, it
Many people are finding that switching to environmentally
friendly alternatives is more expensive. How does change work,
in social terms?
Ecological change must involve social change as well
because individualizing this global crisis will not work. A
statement along the lines of “If everyone used bamboo
toothbrushes, there would not be a climate crisis anymore”
is wrong. A small proportion of the richest people and
corporations are responsible
for a large proportion of
global emissions. Climate justice has to involve everyone,
including, for instance, workers in car factories, which
is why we sometimes work with trade unions. We need to
initiate a broad discussion to hear from those that have been
affected by the climate crisis in different parts of society and
the world. The good news is that a solution to our climate
crisis will also tackle many other injustices. ■
Translated from German by Laura Prieto Calvo
Courtesy of Trott-war / International Network of Street Papers
WITH AN INCREASE OF TWO DEGREES IN GLOBAL TEMPERATURES, 99% OF CORAL
REEFS WILL DIE; WITH A 1.5-DEGREE INCREASE (WHICH WILL PROBABLY OCCUR
AS EARLY AS 2030), THIS FIGURE WOULD BE 70-90%. AFTER CORAL BLEACHING
EVENTS, ONLY THE WHITE LIMESTONE SKELETONS OF THE CORAL REMAIN.
4 DENVER VOICE June 2022
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WISH LIST
Q
What are the two most important things people
experiencing homelessness need?
With the weather beginning to change,
we have updated our list, but we can
always use coats and jackets.
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 (sizes L, XL, XXL)
Women’s jackets (sizes M, L, XL)
Ball caps, hats
Fold-up umbrellas, backpacks
A
JOHN ALEXANDER
Medical care, mental health care, safe shelter, food, clothing, water, and more are a package deal. No
separation. All these things should be held right up there with drinking water, breathing clean air, and
eating good food!
The other most important things people experiencing homelessness need are acknowledgment,
compassion, great consideration, understanding, and love from society as a whole. All of these are
needed for our spirit and our emotional and mental needs.
BRIAN AUGUSTINE
There are so many things the homeless need. I believe a place to get clean – both body and clothes – and
safe shelter year-round are the basic needs, but mental health and additional treatment are always in
high demand.
SHAWN CUNNINGHAM
I think mental health care. I have mental health problems, and it’s a daily struggle. The people
[experiencing homelessness] that I see who have mental health issues can’t get much help due to
insurance problems. There’s only one place that accepts homeless people with mental health issues –
Stout Street Clinic. Anywhere else wants top-of-the-line insurance providers.
There are only a few shelters in the Denver area, and they are completely packed, and some people have
to resort to sleeping outdoors, and then they’re harassed by law enforcement.
JERRY ROSEN
The most important things people experiencing homelessness need are good healthcare and a safe
shelter, where one can feel comfortable in different surroundings. Also, good/healthy food is imperative.
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.
ASK A VENDOR
THIS COLUMN IS A PLACE FOR DENVER VOICE VENDORS TO
RESPOND TO QUESTIONS FROM OUR READERS AND STAFF.
THIS MONTH’S QUESTION WAS SUGGESTED BY VOICE VENDOR RAELENE JOHNSON.
What do YOU want to ask?
If you have a question or issue you would like vendors to discuss, please email community@denvervoice.org.
June 2022 DENVER VOICE 5
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KWEEN WERK (MIDDLE) AND HIKING GROUP HAVING FUN. CREDIT: ADRIAN MICHAEL
ENVIRONMENTAL K.W.E.E.N.
Challenging the conventional conceptions of an environmentalist one narrative at a time.
BY ADRIAN MICHAEL
THE SUN RISES OVER THE HORIZON of the Flatiron mountains and
a group of seven people, all of whom are of different ethnicities,
genders, shapes, and levels of hiking experiences, have come
together to enjoy the outdoors and camaraderie while tackling
the beaten path of the Flatirons Vista Trail.
The organizer of the hike, Parker McMullen Bushman,
believes whether you’re a person of color, plus-sized, or new to
nature, the outdoors is meant for you.
McMullen Bushman is known as K.W.E.E.N. WERK, an
stands
acronym she developed that
for Keep Widening
Environmental Engagement Narratives.
“I was looking for something to encompass who I am as a
person,” said McMullen Bushman. “I love wearing makeup,
fun blingy accessories, and very colorful clothing. I saw that
those styles did not fit in, and I started thinking about all of my
different identities as a fat, Black femme, fashion-loving type of
person. I looked for a name that embodied all of those things,
and that’s how K.W.E.E.N. WERK was formed.”
McMullen Bushman describes herself as a nontraditional
environmentalist, who has been in environmental, conservation,
KWEEN WERK RECORDING VIDEOS FOR SOCIAL MEDIA AND PROVIDING UPDATES ON
HER HIKING ADVENTURES FOR ALL HER FOLLOWERS. CREDIT: ADRIAN MICHAEL
and outdoor spaces, where she didn’t fit the mold.
“I like hiking because I have the ability to go at my own pace.
It is always nice to walk in nature, and I realized that it is really
important to have a conversation about who is and is not
represented in these spaces.”
McMullen Bushman’s conservation efforts began when she
was young, but she didn’t realize it at the time.
“I was 9 years old, living in the Bronx, and didn’t even know
what conservation and environmentalism were, but I knew I
cared very deeply about the environment. My dad and I would
recycle aluminum cans, and I would notice all the trash that was
being left behind, and I worried about it.”
After a suggestion from her parents to write a letter to the
New York Times, McMullen Bushman’s deep passion for the
environment grew even stronger.
“I remember writing my letter saying, ‘Dear people, we are killing
our planet,’ and this helped me gain my sense of place.” Unsure if
her article was ever published, McMullen Bushman learned that
it is important for people who are living in urban environments to
have a voice “I had a love for the environment but never had an
outlet for it and didn’t know that conservationist was a job.”
After graduating from college with a degree in Anthropology,
McMullen Bushman began working at an environmental
education center, which would be her introduction to finding her
6 DENVER VOICE June 2022
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voice. As McMullen Bushman explained, “Being in this space,
I was exposed to the conversations, environmentalism, and
conservation — I realized a lot of this stuff was what my family
had already been doing naturally, but we were doing it out of
necessity and didn’t call it environmentalism. And we need to
have this conversation about what is environmental engagement.”
For
example, McMullen Bushman
recalls
how her
grandmother’s garden was used to provide food for her family.
and how she reused Tupperware containers to wash clothes.
Her uncle, who didn’t have a car, rode his bike to work but never
realized he was saving the planet from carbon emissions. These
were conversations they were not having because what they
were doing was out of necessity.
McMullen Bushman considers herself an Environmental
Justice Warrior, a term founded by Dr. Robert Bullard, who
focuses on environmental impacts and harms. These harms are
a form of discrimination because they are denying lower-class
communities equal protection under the law.
“Environmentalism and conservation has a rap of being only
for white, wealthy people who are able to reuse and recycle
items. Sadly, urban areas don’t have access to these services, and
it is important to change the narrative around them,” McMullen
Bushman said.
Ecoinclusive is the name of McMullen Bushman’s consulting
firm, where she teaches diversity, equity, inclusion, and
accessibility training for conservation organizations. She also
created the Inclusive Guide, a tech startup she co-founded,
where people can rate outdoor spaces for safety and how
welcomed the business makes them feel. The goal is to change
the entire system.
“I think that the way our system has been developed, it is not
a fluke that we have these disparities,” McMullen Bushman
said. “Our policies were designed and developed by white,
landowning males. When you’re in power, you are going to
create something that works for you, and when we don’t have
all people represented at the table at the inception, we end up
with the disparities that we see now.”
Colorado State Representative Leslie Herod recently
contributed to passing HB21-1318, the Outdoor Equity
Grant Program, which works with grassroots organizations in
Colorado to provide funding to organizations that are trying to
get traditionally underrepresented people into outdoor spaces.
“Leslie is a champion,” said McMullen Bushman. “I also think
of people like Tayshia Adams, who is the first Black woman
commissioner to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. She’s been
working over the last few years to really try and have a voice
and to make a change. There are so many amazing, strong Black
women here now and throughout history, so I really feel like I
am standing on the shoulders of giants.”
Social media has been beneficial in leading the charge
for environmental freedom. “I realized there needed to be
more representation in this field. I never thought of myself
as outdoorsy, as the things I was doing were not typically
associated with outdoorsy activities. I wasn’t sky diving or
mountain climbing, activities that are traditionally represented
as white. I realized it is important to see myself, a plus-sized
Black woman, in these outdoor spaces.”
With more than 17 thousand Instagram followers and 209
thousand TikTok followers, McMullen Bushman has a strong
platform to elevate her voice.
“People have told me, ‘Wow, I never thought I could do
something like that. You’ve inspired me just by seeing someone
that I recognize as my same body shape or size. You’ve inspired
me to give it a try,’ and I think that is also really important
KWEEN. CREDIT: ADRIAN MICHAEL
because if you can’t see it, it is hard to be it,” McMullen
Bushman said. “Most of all, I want to encourage everyone to
use their voice around the causes that are important to them.
These conversations for diverse representation in outdoor
spaces and environmental justice can seem daunting, but if
each one of us does what is meaningful to us, it will have the
biggest effect. We have to believe in ourselves, that we can do
things that are worthy of change.” ■
THE HIKING GROUP NOTICING AND ENJOYING WILDLIFE. CREDIT: ADRIAN MICHAEL
June 2022 DENVER VOICE 7
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 
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A PRAIRIE HOME UNWANTED
BY GILES CLASEN
CREDIT: GILES CLASEN
A RIDE ON THE RTD A LINE, from downtown Denver to Denver
International Airport, provides a unique picture of Denver.
The train starts at the feet of downtown skyscrapers which
give way to old and new neighborhoods, industrial parks,
and city parks.
Just before the train reaches the airport one blue tent
stands in swaying prairie grass. The tent houses two men
Niko and Chris.
The two moved to Denver from Oklahoma and lost their
car in a flood near Trinidad, Colorado a year ago. Their
car had been their primary form of income driving for
DoorDash and Lyft. Losing their car and income forced
them into homelessness.
“Unfortunately, there has been very, very, very little help
for us in Denver,” Niko said. “Being two gay males with dogs,
nobody wants to touch us with a 10-foot pole.”
Chris said being a gay couple makes it harder to find
support services together.
“There are services and programs for homeless straight
couples,” he said. “But there isn’t the same support for
gay couples.”
Chris and Niko grew up in Maryland. Niko was raised in
the foster care system after both of his parents died. Chris
was removed from his father’s home after being a victim of
child abuse. They met in Maryland’s Pathfinder program, a
public service program for disabled individuals.
Niko and Chris built a life together. Disabled after
sustaining a Traumatic Brain Injury in a car accident, Niko
received Social Security survivor benefits, which offered the
two a basic level of stability to build upon. Meanwhile, Chris
worked to pay for their apartment in Southern Maryland.
“We felt Maryland wasn’t our future. There wasn’t an
opportunity for us,” Niko said. “We moved to Chicago, and
then Oklahoma, to find a lower cost of living.”
When they moved Niko lost his Social Security benefits.
The reason has never been fully clear to him – especially given
that he was told moving states wouldn’t impact his benefit.
Niko walks with a limp, has slow, gentle speech and his
eyes veer in different directions causing vision disorders –
8 DENVER VOICE June 2022
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all injuries caused by the car accident he survived. Niko
reapplied for his Social Security benefits in Colorado but
was declined. He is in the process of finding a lawyer to help
him appeal the decision.
“I don’t understand it,” Niko said. “I have a Traumatic
Brain Injury. I qualified in the past. When I apply and
interview I get confused. When I try to bring Chris to help
me they say he can’t be there. I don’t understand and am not
sure what more they need from me to verify I am disabled. It
is very frustrating.”
Despite the injuries, Niko finds day labor jobs, often with
Goodwill of Colorado, using the Veryable app. On the days
Niko can’t find work by using the app, he panhandles.
“I never thought I would be homeless because I work hard,
I work every day still,” Niko said. “We figured if I worked, we
could afford a place to live – but the housing costs here do
not scale with pay even if you’re working full time.”
Niko has tried to find higher-paying work too. He worked
as a greeter at an Aurora Walmart for a while.
The two lived in the Walmart parking lot during this
time, hoping to save for an apartment. Ultimately the store
manager required they stop living in the lot. Transportation
instability made it impossible for Niko to consistently make
it to work on time, which caused him to lose his job.
According to Niko and Chris, saving money is nearly
impossible because it is expensive to be homeless. They can’t
prepare food, so they need to buy more expensive prepared
food. They can’t use a restroom without buying something
from a store. Trying to travel anywhere is expensive, too.
Niko and Chris aren’t able to both work because one must
stay with their tent and their dogs during the day or risk
having their tent and supplies stolen or destroyed.
“Colorado’s experience being homeless is unreal,” Chris said.
“It’s very terrible and hard. It’s hard to keep a job. It’s hard to get
services. It’s hard to stay sober. It’s hard to have hope.”
The two men moved near the airport to get away from
people and feel safe. Both said they were embarrassed being
homeless and only participated in an interview or allowed
their photos to be taken so long as their identities were hidden.
“It isn’t safe on the streets,” Niko said. “That is why we are all
the way by the airport. When we tried to be near day centers
or near downtown, we experienced violence, animosity from
other homeless people, harassment by police. Confrontations
with people who don’t want the homeless around. So, we’re
out here.”
But being so far from services for those experiencing
homelessness has made it more difficult to receive help.
“[Any time we try to find resources] we’re told that we live
in the wrong zip code,” Chris said.
The two also feel like there aren’t enough services available
to individuals who are actively working to get off the street.
“There is no room in this world for people like us,” Chris
said. “It is too hard to reach a caseworker. It feels like no one
answers their phone or just wants to put us on a list with no
promise of when we will get help. They just put us on a list,
then don’t return our calls or requests for help. There is a
waiting list for everything and no promise on when you will
get to the front of the line, so you just wait without knowing.”
The two have hope that they will be able to move from
their tent into some form of housing soon.
Niko’s grandmother died and left him a small inheritance.
They plan to use the money to buy a car and camper, which
they’ll live in, and use the car so they have transportation to
jobs and can earn a living again.
“Without that inheritance, the future would be bleak. I
don’t know how long we would have to wait for help. or if we
would ever get it,” Chris said.
Chris said he finds his tent oddly beautiful in its location
but he is excited to move on. ■
CREDIT: GILES CLASEN
CREDIT: GILES CLASEN
June 2022 DENVER VOICE 9
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 
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MAMA BIRD
BY CAT EVANS
OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES, the maternity mortality rate
in the U.S. has become higher than at any other time since
2000, according to CDC data. The maternal mortality rate
is considered a “key indicator of the state of women’s health,”
according to the Department of Health and Human Services.”
The U.S. ranks poorly compared to other developed nations,
ranking 46th among 181 countries” (usafacts.org).
A highly relevant topic that is rarely talked about —
especially in predominantly white populations — is how Black
women experience maternal mortality at a rate that is two to
three times higher than white women (CDC.org). There is a
major lack of Black representation in medical spaces and little
assistance or information provided for Black women to access
maternal care needed, specifically, from women who they can
directly identify with — other Black women.
Birdie, who is the owner of Mama Bird Maternity Wellness
Spa, has made it her mission to ”create resources that would
support families of color,“ focusing on health and wellness
along with self-care routines. According to Birdie, there
are various reasons why there is a lack of support for Black
women during pregnancy from other Black women.
“We don’t know that we are out there. Everyone who has come
to me has told me they have been looking,” Birdie explained.
“There is only one midwife of color in the Denver and Aurora
areas. A lot of women don’t even know what a doula is, or
that they can become a midwife, without having to become a
doctor,” Birdie said.
Of 49 registered Certified Practitioner Midwives (CPM) in
Colorado, only three of them are women of color.
After graduating from massage therapy school in
2010, Birdie discovered a newfound passion for working
with pregnant women. Shortly after, she began her doula
certification. Birdie is now a full spectrum birth and
postpartum doula. A doula is defined as a woman employed
to provide guidance and support to a pregnant woman
during and after labor (Oxford Languages). A midwife assists
in childbirth. Birdie differentiates a doula as focusing on the
waist up (emotional, spiritual, physical), while a midwife
focuses on everything from the waist down. The two work
together to assist in a smooth, healthy pregnancy.
At the Wellness Spa Birdie, does all she can to have women
of color educating other women of color, providing the
CREDIT: CAT EVANS
CREDIT: CAT EVANS
10 DENVER VOICE June 2022
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WRITING THROUGH
HARD TIMES
COURTESY OF DENVER PUBLIC LIBRARY
AND LIGHTHOUSE WRITERS WORKSHOP
SUE BLOSTEN
PLAY
CREDIT: CAT EVANS
support and care Birdie knows is not offered elsewhere. “In
my experience with my three children and four pregnancies, I
was never offered support,” Birdie explained. “I never knew it
existed. I never knew there was lactation support, or that there
were classes for childbirth education. There is a gap between
the things women of color are educated on in medical offices.”
The biggest concern surrounding the topic of Black women
and childbirth is that no one is discussing it. “How would
I know what we lacked, if I hadn’t become a doula?” Birdie
asked. “In healthcare, the way we go through the healthcare
system, it’s our normal. We don’t know what isn’t being
provided or proposed.”
Being pregnant with and then giving birth to a child is
expensive. The lack of discussion surrounding the role of a
doula and a midwife has the potential to take away from our
for-profit medical system, where women choose to have
children with support from inside of their own private spaces.
It otherwise remains a mystery.
According to Birdie, support for pregnant women of
color is not typical, and many, many women representing
minorities are left in the dark or reliant on systems not set up
for them.
Birdie explained that many predominantly white
organizations that reach out to her after learning about Mama
Bird’s, tend to ask if her team can offer services for free. Her
initial reaction has been thoughts like, “Wait! You’re the
organization that receives funding but then, you ask me to
provide free services?”
Such requests only perpetuate the idea that it’s okay to
step over underserved communities. As Birdie pointed out,
too many Black birth workers provide free services because
they feel pressured to take on more work to improve their
resumes and build on their professional experience. As a
result, they get taken advantage of. Recalling her work with
predominantly white birth workers, Birdie said, “They’re not
doing anything for free. Not one of them is doing a free birth.
There’s no sliding scale. I ask women of color working with
me why they are doing anything for free – we are for profit.
We have to eat. If we are not good, how can we be good for the
people we serve?“
According to Birdie, it’s not uncommon for people to
exploit minorities working in healthcare. “We are authentic in
our purpose; we deserve to be paid for what we do. This is our
life. Corporate America isn’t paying for our livelihood. Black
birth workers are way underpaid.”
Mama Bird offers classes in childbirth education and yoga,
as well as various massage classes and wellness circles — all
taught by Black women. Black doula support and midwife
support are also available. For more information, visit Birdie’s
website, mamabirdinc.com. ■
Hey say play yay
Dance, Prance perchance
Jump, bump
Pump the swing
Shout and sing
Zing a sling
Sling a dart
Stop and start
Laugh and giggle
wiggle a finger
Feel the sun and
Have some fun
Smell a rose and linger
longer than usual
Twirl and teeter
catapult and somersault
Start and halt
Slice the air
Break a stare
Don’t prepare
Hop and skip
Give some lip
Slip and slide
Push aside
Skip a rock across the creek
Simon says, “Take a stride”
“Mother May I” go outside?
Hide and seek
Spin the bottle
Kiss a cheek
Squish some sand
Build a castle
Dig a moat
Float a boat
Pound a drum
Hear it thrum
Tag you’re it
Never quit
Launch a kite
Lick a cone
and take a bite
Hula hoop
Spy and snoop
Cross a log
Catch a frog
Step on a crack
Break your mother’s back
Talk and tease
Make a breeze
Ride a wave
Feel the air
Without care
Freeze then fly
Flee this place
Make a face
Blow a bubble
No toil no trouble
Splash the water
Shake a branch
Smash a pumpkin
Toss a ball
Think of something
Think it up
Stir the muck
and make a pie
Mud in your eye
Twiddle your thumbs
Shake your bum
Enjoy amuse
Take a snooze
All work and no play
can’t rule the day
Shout or say
The word “Hurray!”
Reach to the sky
Touch a star
Wherever you are
Climb a tree
Skin your knee
Carve on bark
Leave your mark
Quick sit in a chair
If the music isn’t there
Then run round and round
To the sound
The Hard Times Writing Workshop is a collaboration between Denver Public Library and Lighthouse
Writers Workshop. It’s open to all members of the public, especially those experiencing homelessness.
Each month, the Denver VOICE publishes a selection of writing from these workshops.
Virtual workshops: lighthousewriters.org/workshop/denver-public-library-hard-times
More writing by these featured poets: writedenver.org
June 2022 DENVER VOICE 11
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UNTIL I
CAN MAKE
MY DREAM
HAPPEN
BY BRIAN AUGUSTINE, VOICE VENDOR
Editor’s Note: This was originally published by the International
Network of Street Paper for its “Housing for the People” series.
BRIAN AUGUSTINE. CREDIT: GILES CLASEN
BEFORE I BECAME HOMELESS, I had a mortgage, truck, and dog.
I was buying a house in Northglenn, Colorado, a suburb of
Denver. Me and my brother went in on the house together to
give our mother a stable forever home. This was going to be
my forever home too.
We had gotten lucky and found a five-bedroom, twobathroom
house for $110,000 – just before Colorado’s housing
market started to climb.
People offered us $120,000 to buy the house from us. This
was home to me because when I came home from work,
people were waiting for me, and Ruth, my dog, was thrilled to
see me each and every time.
After nine years, I came home, and my brother had moved
out. His explanation didn’t make sense to me. He said he felt
threatened for his life. In my family, that meant someone had
a weapon and was coming after them. (Yes, I come from a very
dysfunctional family.)
I found out later, he had taken a $45,000 loan on the equity
of the house, without my knowledge, to pay off his credit
cards. He could do this because we didn’t sign an agreement
saying he couldn’t. (Yes, that’s the law.) I was stuck not only
with the mortgage, but also his loan.
So, I got a second job and prepared to spend my next ten
years paying only bills. A few months later, my world fell apart.
It was the middle of May, and I was raking up the last of
the leaves that had fallen after the first snow of winter. That’s
when my back blew out. I blew a disc out, plus three vertebrae.
The doctors told me it was just a matter of time before it
ruptured, and I would be wheelchair-bound for life.
I walk with a cane because I refuse to listen to doctors. I still
use the cane to stand up straight.
I now live in a room, where the rent has more than doubled
in the ten and a half years I have lived here, and it would have
been tripled if not for the pandemic or having a good landlord.
This is in no way a home. There is no one to come home to,
nothing waiting for my return – just a shelter.
Don’t get me wrong, having a shelter is great after living on
the streets. I don’t miss the cold winter nights of Colorado.
The house I ended up losing to foreclosure recently sold for
$450,000 – four times the amount I paid for it 20 years ago. I
don’t miss the house, but the home is a loss that still leaves an
ache in my heart.
Now, I sell the street paper Denver VOICE to pay my rent,
and to live in the place I call home, but it isn’t. Home now are
the corners I work. That is where people are happy to see me,
where I feel welcome and comfortable.
The price of housing has gone up so dramatically, that if
I wanted to buy a house in Denver and qualify for a loan, I
would have to make in a month what I used to make in six
months. But there are no places I could afford to live or a town
where a home is affordable and livable. I would move to one
of these places.
But being on a fixed income, I don’t have the money to
move or the transportation to even do my shopping.
I don’t mind small towns or country living. I don’t need to
be where things are happening, or where there are thousands
of things to do, most of which I can’t afford to do anyway,
My dream is to have a nice house on 40 acres of land
where I can grow food. I’d take that food to poorer areas of
big places and give healthy food to people who need it most.
And I believe I will be presented with the ability to have what
doesn’t come easily.
I would spend my free time writing the stories that come to
me, maybe get a book published.
I’ve heard that throughout America, there is more than
enough housing, that everyone could have a place to live
without building even one new house. But we build big cities,
bigger, while small towns are emptier.
Until I can make my dream happen, I will keep stepping
forward, looking at the short-term future, and getting prepared
for more tough times, while at the same time, keeping an
optimistic outlook on life. ■
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
FREE ADDICTION SUPPORT
FOR DENVER RESIDENTS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS OR FINANCIAL HARDSHIP
(855) 539-9375
WeFaceItTogether.org
12 DENVER VOICE June 2022
׉	 7cassandra://UmMoyzm3ZaLRuLNO89RJ2b-LeQqbFxVa3DAcHE-Zs74#` b#i^y5W׉ECEVENTS
WHEN: June 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30, 8 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
WHERE: Western Sky Bar & Taproom, 4361 S. Broadway
INFO: facebook.com/westernskybarandtaproom
CITY PARK JAZZ
Jazz in the park is back! Enjoy live music, sunsets, food trucks, adorable dogs, and a sense
of community at this beloved city event.
WHEN: June 5, 12, 19, and 26, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
WHERE: City Park Pavilion, 2001 Steele St.
COST: Free but donations accepted.
INFO: cityparkjazz.org
REGIRAMA SUMMER MOVIE SERIES: ENCANTO
Come on out for a free outdoor screening of Encanto. Guests are encouraged to bring their
own blanket, chairs, and picnics. There will also be a couple of food trucks on-site.
WHEN: June 10, 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: 3333 Regis Blvd.
COST: Free entry
INFO: facebook.com/regisuniversity
ACROSS
RIVERFRONT PARK SUMMER SESSIONS
Check-out Denver’s newest music series, which also features food, drink, and local
makers selling their wares.
WHEN: June 16, 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
WHERE: 19th Street Bridge, S. Platte River Dr.
COST: Free
INFO: riverfrontparkevents.com
1. Dirt
5. Fishhook’s end
9. Play thing
13. Pop singer Amos
14. Mountain nymph
16. Nevada gambling city
17. Twofold
18. Renter’s agreement
19. “What’s gotten ___ you?”
20. Controversial
power source
23. Pasture (Var.)
24. ___ syrup
25. Cause of ruin
29. First US space station
33. “Cool!”
34. Monastery
37. In poor health
38. In a form that a
computer can process
42. Biblical verb ending
43. Pass-the-baton race
44. Dark loaves
45. Expression of gratitude
47. Medicine men
50. Himalayan legends
53. Sean ___ Lennon
54. Mind-numbing
60. Approximately
61. Be a bad winner
62. Pink, as a steak
64. Hammer part
65. Magical wish granter
66. Kuwaiti leader
67. Lays down the lawn
68. Be inclined
69. ___ good example
DOWN
1. “___ be an honor!”
2. Verb preceder
3. Lady of the Haus
4. Waterproof fabric
5. Anne ___, Henry
VIII’s second wife
6. Length x width, for
a rectangle
7. Provide new weapons
8. Iraqi port
9. Spendy
10. Monthly budget item
11. “I’m ___ your tricks!”
12. Impoverished
15. Kind of fi shing or diving
21. Floral necklace
22. Resin in adhesives
and paints
25. Not fulfi lled
26. Poet’s “below”
27. Russian country house
28. Scottish Celt
30. Country home to a
2011 revolution
31. ___ wrench
32. Sanctify
35. Lingerie item
36. Ottoman governors
39. Annoyed
40. Savings
41. Wardrobes
46. Hosiery
48. Made an owl sound
49. “___ questions?”
51. Land in the ocean
52. Pebble
54. Absorbs, with “up”
55. Black-and-white cookie
56. Preowned
57. Drops from the sky
58. Appoint
59. Sand
63. Historic period
COURTESY OF
DEBORAH LASTOWKA
PUZZLES
SOUTH SOUTH BROADWAY COMEDY SHOW
Come see some of Denver’s best comedians perform at this friendly, neighborhood bar.
COST: $5
COURTESY OF STREETROOTS
ANSWERS ARE ON PAGE 15
DENVER PRIDEFEST
Denver PrideFest 2022 is live, inperson,
and making up for lost time!
Attendees can enjoy a Pride Parade,
Dyke March, Pride Rally,
a
5K, live
entertainment, local vendors, and a number
of other pride-related activities!
WHEN: Jun 25 and Jun 26, times vary
COST: Free to attend; donations accepted
WHERE: Civic Center Park, 101 W 14th Ave.
INFO: denverpride.org
ILLUSTRATION BY GIGI GALEN
June 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
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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+
Rose Community Foundation - CMP
The NextFifty Initiative
John & Laurie Mcwethy Charitable Fund
$10,000+
Max & Elaine Appel
The Christian Foundation
$5,000 - $9,999
CHFA Direct Effect
Anschut Family Foundation
Cranaleith Foundation, Inc
$1,000-$4,999
Russell Peterson
Bright Funds
Pivotal Energy Partners USA, Inc.
Jerry Conover
Jill Haug
Meek-Cuneo Family Fund
Paul Manoogian
Creating Healthier Communities
Sustainable Housing and Development Foundation
Keyrenter Property Management Denver
Sidney B and Caleb F Gates Fund
SEI Giving Fund
Walker Family Foundation
Benevity Communtiy Fund
Whole Foods Foundation
Kroger
The Credit Union of Colorado Foundation
Jana and Jim Cuneo
Matthew Rezek
Network for Good
Lori Holland
Megan Arellano and Paul Karolyi
Matthew Seashore
Michael Dino
Michael J. Fehn & Jan Monnier
Gaspar Terrana
Courage and Community Foundation
Jim Ashe
George Lichter Family Foundation
$500-$999
Christopher Boulanger
Lighthouse Writer’s Workshop, Inc.
Warren & Betty Kuehner
Fire on the Mountain
Alistair Davidson
Laura Wing
Michelle Stapleton & James Thompson
GivingFirst, Community First Foundation
Maggie Holben
Giles Clasen
Laura Saunders
WalMart
Ridley, McGreevy & Winocur
Cake Websites & More
10X Business Consultants
Barbara & Robert Ells
Stephen Saul
Jennifer Stedron
James Stegman
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
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!
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 ($50 value)
• Business logo highlighted on website homepage, and in the Fly Sheet Sponsorship list
• Logo highlighted in our annual report, along with logo in quarterly support feature of the paper
14 DENVER VOICE June 2022
׉	 7cassandra://C8i9POJhPagBCNzp_W8vOUNBCZFTJ0cuP8JIVn1k9mY!X` b#i^y5Y׉E$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
June 2022 DENVER VOICE 15
DON’T LOOK NOW!
PUZZLES ARE ON PAGE 13
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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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