A valued life FROM THE EDITOR

Afew weeks ago during a regular sta meeting, Colorado Community Media reporter Nina Joss brought up a story she was working on regarding a homeless man who had been found dead in Englewood. Police said he was a “transient” and no foul play is suspected.

Story done — right? Not even close. After hearing some tips about who the man was, Nina dug a little deeper, learning that he was a former pro athlete who was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams and later became a wrestler.

You see, Je Gaylord was not just some problem on a park bench. He was a human being who had fallen on hard times after losing his career. He made some bad choices, he became reliant on alcohol. All these things lead many to homelessness. It’s a series of trapdoors that for some reason just keep opening and closing behind someone. is story is what humanity should be about. We so often look past the person. We so often see that homelessness is a problem but do not want to look at the human part of it. Yes, homelessness is a problem not just in the Denver metro area, but the entire nation.

People in this situation — whether through choices or bad luck — should not be looked past but instead considered a part of society. ey are people who matter to their families, friends and others they have helped throughout their lives.

In this case, Nina attended the funeral for Je Gaylord. She listened to the stories from his friends and family about his natural talents in sports. About his abilities and dedication. She heard about his service to members of those going through the Treasure House of Hope where he coached and helped fellow members make good nutritional choices.

I loved this story for so many reasons. It took me into a life of someone we would have never given another thought to. Had Nina not followed up on a tip we would have just passed this o as a data point. So often the homeless population is boiled down to numbers. How many are there on any given night? How much funding is needed to help address the problem? How do they impact the healthcare system? How many have died?

In this case — Nina skipped the data and got right to the heart of who this human being was and why we should stop and think about how people who are struggling to survive deserve some sympathy and empathy.

Am I saying he was perfect? No. In fact, Nina, being a journalist, found that he also had a criminal record that took him to prison and likely helped lead him to the streets. However, he served his time and we are supposed to be a society driven by second chances.

In the end, he was just a member of our population who died alone without truly knowing the love many had for him. I appreciate Nina for giving us a little more insight into a life that mattered to many.

elma Grimes is the south metro editor for Colorado Community Media.

LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher