Life on Capitol Hill June 2022

June 2022

LifeOnCapHill.com

A TWO-DAY EXTRAVAGANZA OF PRIDE 2022 PrideFest takes place June 25-26

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GOLFING AND LEARNING First Tee-Colorado Rocky Mountains ingrains life lessons with golf

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GREAT BLOOMS City Park Greenhouse nurtures flowers for all Denver parks

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June 1, 2022

Business Matters Christy Steadman | csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com Business Matters is a monthly column featuring business news in the Life on Capitol Hill and Washington Park Profile coverage areas, which is roughly central and central-south Denver.

If you are a local business that would like to announce any updates to your operations, email Christy Steadman at csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com.

NEW OPENINGS Casey Jones A “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” themed pizza joint has opened at 24 N. Broadway in Denver.

The restaurant describes itself as a 21+ “pizza party dive bar” on its Instagram. Along with New Yorkstyle pizza by the slice, Casey Jones features house cocktails, beer on tap and wine. Offering a late-night slice, Casey Jones’ hours are 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

Casey Jones is a concept of Denver-based Handsome Boys Hospitality. To learn more about Casey Jones, visit its Instagram: caseyjonesdenver. To learn more about Handsome Boys Hospitality, visit handsomeboys.com.

Gallery 6 Gallery 6, a photography gallery, has opened in a new space in the Art District on Santa Fe. The three partners — all Denverarea photographers — are Tony Eitzel, tonyeitzel.com; Kevin

Schwalbe, kevinschwalbe.com; and Scott Wilson, wilsonaxpe.com.

Gallery 6 first opened in March 2021 in Cherry Creek, and opened on Santa Fe for the district’s May First Friday.

Eitzel has been involved with galleries across Denver, including 14 years at John Fielder’s gallery formerly located in the Art District on Santa Fe. “Being back here is like coming home,” Eitzel said.

The new space is about 1,400 square feet and features the partners’ work that includes a good variety of photography — landscapes, cityscapes, portraits, around-theworld, wildlife and more.

Future plans include leasing a space for a weekend to an artist so they can have their own showing, Eitzel said. For now, photographer David Stephens is renting a wall in the gallery.

“There has been a bit of a void (since) the Fielder gallery closed, as far as photography is concerned,” Eitzel said. “We wanted to fill that void.”

Gallery 6, 918 W. Eighth Ave., is open from noon to 7 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The gallery opens on Tuesday for appointments only.

To learn more about Gallery 6, follow it on social media. Additional questions can be directed to 303-4083486 or gallery6denver@gmail.com.

CLOSINGS

Welton Street Café is operating out of a temporary location at 2258 California St. in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood.

COURTESY OF WELTON STREET CAFÉ

Welton Street Café - temporary location Welton Street Café has opened at a temporary location for takeout orders only. The temporary location is 2258 California St. in Five Points.

The family owned and operated restaurant, which offers southern and Caribbean food, got its start in Denver in 1986. In July 1999, it opened a permanent location on Welton Street, but in addition to the building being outdated, the business outgrew the space and let its lease expire in March. The restaurant secured a location at 2883 Welton St., but is still building out the space before it can reopen there.

It is expected that Welton Street Café will operate out of the California Street location Welton Street Café’s entire menu is available through the takeout model. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Thursday through Saturday. To place an order, call 303-296-6602. To learn more about Welton Street Café or to view its menu, visit weltonstreetcafe.com.

Wild Taco opened in May at 215 E. COURTESY PHOTO Seventh Ave. in Denver.

Denver-area photographers and Gallery 6 partners, from left, Tony Eitzel, Scott WilCOURTESY OF TONY EITZEL son and Kevin Schwalbe.

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Wild Taco-Denver A new spot to satisfy taco cravings has opened in Denver.

Wild Taco-Denver opened on May 13. It is located at 215 E. Seventh Ave., which is on the border of Denver’s Capitol Hill and Speer neighborhoods.

According to its website, the new restaurant is co-owned by Rico and Flor Aragon and Yoon Terry. Yoon is originally from South Korea and the Aragon siblings are from Mexico. All three have taken their love of Mexican food and incorporated it — with a twist — into the restaurant’s menu.

“We are happy to be open and excited to be part of this neighborhood,” Terry said in an email.

Wild Taco offers a wide variety of tacos and four unique salsas, among other items. Its drink menu features an array of specialty margaritas, draft beer and a good selection of non-alcoholic beverages.

To learn more about Wild Taco, visit wildtacodenver.com.

Ivy on 7th Ivy on 7th, 410 E. Seventh Ave., had its last day of service on May 8.

The breakfast and brunch spot operated for three-and-a-half years, according to its website.

On Facebook, general manager Noemí Ramos wrote: “It is through our amazing team and loyal guests that we have had a tremendous run. It saddens us to say that our time has come to an end … We can’t thank you enough for your patronage, friendship and support at Ivy. Ivy on 7th will always hold a very special place in our hearts because of all of you.”

According to the post, the reason for the closure was the decision not to extend the lease, and to focus on the other restaurants. These are: Angelo’s Taverna, which has a location at 620 E. Sixth Ave. in Speer and a location in Littleton, angelostaverna.com; Gold Pan Saloon in Breckenridge, thegoldpansaloon. com; and Logan Street Restaurant and Bar, loganstreetdenver.com, and Carboy Winery, carboywinery. com. The latter two are located at 400 E. Seventh Ave., which borders the Capitol Hill and Speer neighborhoods. Carboy Winery also has locations in Littleton, Breckenridge and Palisade.

Nooch Vegan Market Nooch Vegan Market announced in late April that May 14 was its last day of business.

The small specialty grocer sold a variety of vegan products ranging from food items and body care to kitchenware and gifts. It was located at 10 E. Ellsworth Ave., which borders Denver’s Speer and Baker neighborhoods.

“We had an amazing 10-year run as Colorado’s only all-vegan grocery store and are so super proud of all we’ve accomplished and been a part of over the years. Thanks so much to all of our supporters and to all of the wonderful vendors and businesses that helped make our little shop so special. Please know this decision didn’t come quickly or lightly, it ultimately and honestly feels like the right time for many reasons,” states the announcement on Nooch’s website.

Tazu Sushi and Asian Cuisine Westword reported in early May that Tazu Sushi and Asian Cuisine has closed.

The Japanese restaurant, which was located at 300 Fillmore St. in Cherry Creek North, featured a robust menu for lunch and dinner that offered a variety of dishes including sushi, grilled options and poke bowls as well as soups and salads.

MILESTONES Potager Restaurant & Wine Bar Potager Restaurant & Wine Bar, 1109 Ogden St. in Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, celebrated its 25th anniversary in May. Potager got its start by Teri SEE BRIEFS, P3

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Rippeto and her father, Tom, in 1997. Chef Paul Warthen and wife, Eileen, purchased it in 2019.

Potager is a farm-to-table dining experience that features seasonal menus. Potager staff purchases the restaurant’s ingredients from farmers and at local farmers markets.

“We believe in simple cooking and simple eating, honoring the season and honoring the people that grow, raise and harvest our food,” states Potager’s website. “To them, we add the kitchen and waitstaff who care about the materials of their work, knowing that they’ll take pride in the techniques and expertise they add. We see farmers, cooks and service as an unbroken sequence.”

To learn more about Potager, visit potagerrestaurant.com.

MISCELLANEOUS High 5 Plumbing The Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce has recognized High 5 Plumbing with a Small Business of the Year award.

High 5 Plumbing is a familyowned and operated business co-owned by Levi and Cassi Torres.

The small business serves customers across the greater metro area

High 5 Plumbing, a family-owned business owned by Cassi and Levi Torres, pictured, was named Small Business of the Year by the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce.

COURTESY PHOTO

out of its main location in north Denver, 850 E. 73rd Ave. Unit 4, and its Littleton location at 8000 S. Lincoln St. Unit 3.

“For us, this is a community award,” Levi Torres said in a news release. “Without the support from the community, there would be no High 5 Plumbing. We truly appreciate all of our customers for allowing us to serve them and for being a part of our day-to-day lives.”

High 5 Plumbing offers a variety of plumbing services that include repair and installation, drain

cleaning, pump plumbing, piping, garbage disposal services, sewer line repair, gas plumbing, water heater installation and more, states a news release. In 2018, High 5 Plumbing started its High 5 Cares program, which spotlights a different community nonprofit each month and donates a set amount of $500.

The business celebrated its 10year anniversary in May. To learn more about High 5 Plumbing, visit high5plumbing. com.

CORRECTION Emily Griffith Technical College’s Chef Tim Inzano’s name was misspelled in the May editions of Life on Capitol Hill and Washington Park Profile.

OPENING JUNE 4TH

1200 BROADWAY, DENVER | H-CO.ORG/RAINBOWS

A DJ performs at last year’s Juneteenth Music Festival. This year’s event, which takes place June 18 and 19, features block parties with DJs between 25th and 29th streets in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood.

Story on page 7.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JENSEN SUTTA

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Event to include first-ever sober section, ‘over the top’ entertainment In addition to the events taking place during the 2022 Denver PrideFest put on by The Center on Colfax, there are many additional ways to celebrate pride throughout the month of June. Here are some suggestions:

BY JESSICA GIBBS SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

This year marks the first fully in-person Denver PrideFest since 2019, and organizers are cooking up a “truly over the top” celebration to mark the occasion.

The festival went virtual in 2020 and became a hybrid event in 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The last fully in-person PrideFest, which is produced by The Center on Colfax, had an estimated attendance of more than 525,000 people.

Denver PrideFest will take over Civic Center Park on June 25 and 26.

The lineup boasts pop singer Betty Who, the headliner on Sunday, as well as stars from RuPaul’s Drag Race — Kylie Sonique Love, Yvie Oddly and Silky Nutmeg Ganache.

The Center’s CEO Rex Fuller said it’s difficult to predict turnout, but Pride events elsewhere are indicating this year could be big. Parade entries are also sold out for Denver’s festival, just surpassing 250, and vendor slots are nearly filled.

“People really want to get out and they really want to be with each other and be in-person,” Fuller said.

‘Over the top’ DeMarcio Slaughter, the festival’s emcee of two decades, said he and the main stage team have three years of pent-up ideas and acts ready to dazzle the crowds. For Slaughter emceeing will include 16 custom costumes from his longtime design partner Darlene C. Ritz, and onstage costume changes.

He is particularly excited for the “jukebox” sing-along he leads with the crowd, which will raise thousands of voices into belting everything from pop anthems to rock classics.

“It’s an incredible, incredible thing,” Slaughter said.

The sing-along used to be on Sunday only, but this year Slaughter will lead it both days of the festival.

Slaughter is also working up a version of the singalong for Saturday that will acknowledge hardships people experienced during the pandemic and lives lost.

But it will also take a tongue and cheek approach by including singalong songs that make light of some COVID-19 experiences, like running out of toilet paper.

“Let’s not pretend that craziness did not happen, but let’s also acknowledge that we’re here today and ready to move forward,” Slaughter said.

With a front-row view of the thousands who attend, Slaughter said he knows the Denver audience to turn out for a celebration of individual

The 2022 Denver PrideFest takes place June 25 and 26. The Denver Pride Parade will take place beginning at 9:30 a.m. June 26. It will span 14 blocks on Colfax Avenue SHUTTERSTOCK from Cheesman Park to Civic Center Park.

diversity and having “pride of who you are within.”

“I expect to see good positive energy, smiling faces, dancing. I expect to see gladness,” Slaughter said. “I think the mood is going to be over the top.”

Creating a more inclusive festival This year’s PrideFest will feature its first-ever sober section. Debbie Scheer has been involved with the festival for almost seven years. She has previously co-emceed the main stage and the parade, but this year is excited to both co-emcee the parade and help run the sober section.

People might choose sobriety because they are overcoming addiction or because it’s a health-driven decision that a makes them feel better, Scheer said. Scheer, who chose to become sober roughly four years ago, said navigating Pride as a sober person “can be a little bit tricky.”

She’s excited to see society becoming more embracing of sober lifestyles and that this year’s PrideFest will offer “a safe space” for people who do not want to drink.

“Hopefully our community is ready to embrace and support this kind of a space at PrideFest,” Scheer said.

The section is located down the festival’s main aisle and will have a clear view of the main stage. Scheer said the section is very visible, and that’s important to her.

“I think it sends a message that says, ‘you are an important part of our community and we’re going to create a space that sends a message of that,’” she said.

A sober section expands who is able to participate, Fuller said. While some people come to PrideFest and enjoy a beer, “that can be very difficult for people who are in recovery.”

“One of the points that we have put in our strategic plan for The Center is addressing issues of addiction and substance use in the LGBTQ community,” Fuller said. “It’s something we’ve had calls for before.”

The national climate Fuller said a dramatic uptick in anti-LGBT legislation across the country and the controversy regarding overturning Roe v. Wade could influence this year’s events, “because of how that may indicate a rollback of LGBT rights to follow.”

“There is a lot of importance of being out and being visible in the community, just because many people who are not part of the community suddenly realize that their friends and neighbors are affected by this legislation,” Fuller said.

The festivals started in the 1970s to protest police harassment. Focus shifted in the 1980s toward addressing the AIDS crisis and calls for LGBTQ civil rights ramped up in the 1990s and 2000s, Fuller said.

“Throughout the history of Pride events, there have always been some sort of pressure on people,” Fuller said.

Slaughter said grassroots advocates will be able to highlight legislative accomplishments, particularly within the festival’s messaging as the weekend draws closer.

“Because in addition to having years of built-up energy and songs, there’s a message to the community,” he said.

The festival will celebrate a return to a new normal, and areas where there have been gains in support for transgender communities, young people and women, Slaughter said.

“As we take back to the stage, we are celebrating not only this return to in-person, but the education that the world has allowed itself to go through,” Slaughter said. “There’s a new-found awareness and accountability.”

A growing event A version of Denver’s Pride festival has been running for 46 years. The Center on Colfax started producing the festival in 1990, and it remains the organization’s biggest fundraiser of SEE PRIDE, P5

Black Pride Colorado Black Pride Colorado has a number of events taking place throughout June. The events range in variety from a gala event at the Denver Botanic Gardens to the familyfriendly Queer Cookout. To learn more about the events or to purchase tickets/RSVP to any of them, visit blackpridedenver.com and select the events tab.

Denver Arts & Venues Cultural Runway Series: Pride The Denver Arts & Venues Cultural Runway Series: Pride takes place at 7 p.m. June 11 at the McNichols Civic Center Building, 144 W. Colfax Ave. in Denver. DeMarcio Slaughter will emcee a runway show that will include glamorous drag fashions by DCR studios. Guest performances include RuPaul Drag Race All Stars contestants. The event also includes a mixed media installation titled “In Sickness and In Health,” which explores the intersection of disability and queer. Tickets range in price from $10 for standing room to $50 for VIP. Tickets should be purchased in advance as they will go up in price on the day of the event. Tickets are available through AXS.com, or by visiting tinyurl.com/CulturalRunwaySeriesPride.

Eye to Eye: Portraits of Pride, Strength, Beauty A photography exhibit titled “Eye to Eye: Portraits of Pride, Strength, Beauty” physically located at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is available for free online viewing. This exhibit by Carey Candrian, an associate professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, is a collection of portraits of about three dozen LGBTQ women aged 59-85 years old accompanied by their powerful quotes. The exhibit is not available for in-person viewing for the general public, but everyone is welcome to view it online for free: tinyurl.com/ Eye-to-EyePortraits.

Golden Triangle Public Art Tour: Drag Queen Edition Denver drag queen Shirley Delta Blow will lead attendees on a walking tour that explores a broad array of contemporary and historical public artwork in Denver’s Civic Center Park and near the Denver SEE SIDEBAR, P5

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the year.

Proceeds help The Center function year-round, run adult programming, youth programming and providing mental health support for the LGBTQ community.

“I feel blessed to have watched the LGBTQ movement” evolve into what it is today, Slaughter said, adding that what started as an event lasting a few hours on a Sunday is now a two-day extravaganza in Denver.

“Twenty years ago, when I started it was one of those things where I covertly asked for time off work to work for this,” he said.

Now Slaughter’s office jokes about not bothering him the entire week, because employees know how important the week of PrideFest is to him.

“It just makes my heart smile,” Slaughter said.

The 2022 Denver PrideFest takes place June 25 and 26 with a variety of entertainment at Civic Center Park, 101 W. 14th Ave., in Denver. Other main events include the Pride 5K on June 25, and the Denver Pride Parade will take place beginning at 9:30 a.m. June 26. It will span 14 blocks on Colfax Avenue from Cheesman Park to Civic Center Park. For more information on this year’s Denver PrideFest, including bios of this year’s headliners, visit denverpride.org.

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Art Museum and the Denver Public Library, and includes a short visit to two LGTBQIA+ exhibits at the McNichols Civic Center Building.

The tour is being offered at 5:30 p.m. on both June 21 and June 22. Cost is $5 per person and children aged 10 and younger are free. All youth younger than the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. It is recommended to purchase tickets in advance. Attendees are encouraged to dress up.

To learn more or to purchase tickets, visit tinyurl.com/DenverArtTourDragQueen.

House of Flora’s Nintendo KiKi Ball House of Flora’s Nintendo KiKi Ball takes place at 9 p.m. June 11 at The Perplexiplex, which is the event venue located within Meow Wolf’s Convergence Station, 1338 First Street in Denver. This show is for ages 18 and older. Tickets begin at $25 per person and do not include admission to the Convergence Station exhibit. Tickets to the exhibit must be purchased separately and are based on availability. To learn more about Convergence Station or House of Flora, or to purchase tickets to Nintendo KiKi Ball, visit tickets.meowwolf.com/events/Denver.

Melodies of Pride The Mile High Freedom Bands is presenting its Melodies of Pride concert at 7 p.m. June 21 at the City Park Pavilion, 2001 Steele St. The concert

is free to attend and no registration or RSVP is needed. This is a familyfriendly event and attendees are welcome to bring picnic dinners. To learn more about the Mile High Freedom Bands or the Melodies of Pride concert, visit mhfb.org.

Pride with JCC Denver The Staenberg-Loup Jewish Community Center (JCC Denver) is celebrating Pride month with a few events in June. The Two Remain Education Panel and LGBTQIA+ Song Recital takes place from 2-3 p.m. June 12. This event features the Central City Opera, which will perform an opera centered on Holocaust survivors visited by ghosts of their past and a love story of two gay German Jewish men. Librettist, Gene Scheer, LGBTQIA+ Holocaust survivors and Judaic studies experts will be a part of the education panel. The Pride Shabbat takes place beginning at 6 p.m. on June 24. This event includes a free Shabbat service followed by a Shabbat dinner, which is priced on a sliding scale with hardship pricing available. Both events take place at the JCC Denver, 350 S. Dahlia St. An RSVP in advance is required. To learn more or to RSVP, visit tinyurl.com/ PrideWithJCCDenver Rainbows & Revolutions The “Rainbows & Revolutions” exhibition opened on June 4 at the History Colorado Center, 1200 Broadway in Denver. This museum exhibit takes a “dive deep into the struggles and successes of LGBTQ+ Coloradans and their allies who changed the cul-

tural, business and political landscape of our state,” states a news release.

Through oral histories, photos and historical artifacts from Colorado’s LGBTQ+ community, attendees will have an opportunity to learn about the earliest record of LGBTQ+ Coloradans, as well as contemporary artists, activists, entrepreneurs and allies pushing the movement forward today. To learn more about History Colorado or to purchase tickets, visit historycolorado.org.

Unbreakable: The Untold Story of our Community Celebrating Pride and its 40th anniversary, the Denver Gay Men’s Chorus is presenting “Unbreakable: The Untold Story of our Community.”

These performances are the Colorado premiere of a new musical from renowned Broadway composer Andrew Lippa. A press release posted on The Center on Colfax’s website states that “the stunning choral work for chorus, guest artists and a chamber orchestra takes audiences through a chronological musical journey of the gay experience in America, from 1900 through today.” In Denver, “Unbreakable” performances are offered on June 10 and 11 at the King Center on Auraria Campus, 855 Lawrence Way, in Denver. Showtimes are offered at 7:30 p.m. on June 10, and 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on June 11. Tickets cost $28 for general admission with discounts available for students, military and seniors. The 7:30 p.m. June 11 show will be available for live stream for $20.

To learn more or to purchase tickets, visit denverchoruses.org.

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CONCERTS IN THE PARK 2022 season is packed with a variety of music BYDIANNEBLOMBERG SPECIALTOCOLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA

With the cost of everything going up, does the word free get your attention?

The Denver Municipal Band has been performing free concerts for the Denver-metro area since 1861.

“This year we are back to a full schedule, performing more than six concerts in a month.

Last year we only offered about three each month due to COVID restrictions,” said Tami Matthews, volunteer marketing director for the DMB. The DMB 2022 season kicked off in City Park on June 3 with an ice cream social. The per-

formance schedule continues through mid-September.

For an organization more than 200 years old, changes are inevitable.

“For the past five years, we have made decisions to include more diversity,” Matthews said. “This is reflected in our band members, the volunteers, even the music we play and our venues.”

For example, the band performed at the Westminster Latino Festival in 2019, and in 2018, the DMB was broadcast in Ethiopia for the Taste of Ethiopia as they played live in Denver.

Band manager Dan Leavitt said, “at one concert we performed a waltz from Venezuela and there was a couple in the crowd who grew up singing that song. They were clearly emotionally moved by our

piece.”

For some, a municipal band conjures thoughts of John Philip Sousa marches, small town main streets and the Andy Griffith show. That’s way off base. Attending a DMB concert, it’s possible to hear funk, jazz, Big Band standards, orchestral pieces, soul and yes, even marches. The music is selected by the artistic director, Dr. Joseph Martin and Leavitt.

“We are constantly evaluating what we play and where.

We want to bring our music to the vast cultural spectrum that makes up the Denver area … we are very intentional about putting the community first.

We learn from the community, and we hope the community can be enhanced by the music we share. What can be better than that for a communitysupported arts organization?”

The Denver Municipal Band performs at Mayfair Park in east Denver in a past year. The band recently announced that its free summer concerts in the park will take place in locations throughout the metro area this COURTESY OF DENVER MUNICIPAL BAND year.

said Leavitt.

The DMB is comprised of professional musicians, which are paid positions, even though the concerts are free. Many of the performers belong to other professional ensembles like the Colorado Symphony, the Queen City Jazz Band, the Central City Opera and more. This variety of backgrounds supports the many elements of the band. The DMB is made up of a 40-piece orchestra, a 20-piece jazz band, a brass quintet and smaller ensembles. Flexibility is the band’s hallmark.

When asked about the challenges he faces, Leavitt said, “funding. It’s always funding.

We serve the community for free. So, we have no ticket sales revenue. For me, this makes the Denver Municipal Band a very special part of the entire Denver-area citizenry and not just for those who can afford a ticket.”

In addition to public concerts, the DMB, a nonprofit, serves the public through education and enrichment of children’s musical talent and enjoyment.

Looking to the future, Leavitt hopes for even more. One goal is for more performance opportunities.

The public enjoys nationally known musicians who regularly join the DMB. This year, you’ll listen to Shane

Endsley, a trumpeter, drummer and composer who is an active leader and sideman with New York jazz ensembles. In the past, prominently known bassist Charles Burrell, the first African American to be a member of a major American symphony, played with the band.

These are rain-or-shine performances.

“The only time we cancel is when something like hail or lightening threatens the safety of our performers or the public.

Other than that, we’ll even play in the rain,” said Matthews.

Matthews encourages public participation.

“People should attend these free concerts to enjoy our beautiful parks, gather with friends and get to know their community,” Matthews said. “Many entire families show up and we watch the kids dance and play to the music. It makes for a special summer event when people pack picnics and relax while enjoying professional musicians as the Colorado sun sets.”

To learn more about the Denver Municipal Band, visit denvermunicipalband.org. Its summer concerts are scheduled from June to September. Most are free concerts, and they take place across the city. Visit the website and click on ‘calendar’ to view a full schedule.

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June 1, 2022

Juneteenth Music Festival in Five Points takes place June 18-19

BY CHRISTY STEADMAN CSTEADMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Growing up in Denver, Charles Luis Cox II remembers celebrating Juneteenth every year with family.

They would pack a picnic and go to the park. Or, they would go to Lincoln Hills — historically a vacation resort for African Americans in Gilpin County — as his grandparents owned a cabin there.

With his dad serving in the military, Cox also recalled celebrating the holiday in Germany.

Cox, 69, a retired Air Force Veteran, like his dad, is currently the owner of Charlie’s Smoked Meats and Fine Catering. He will be one of the many vendors offering his food to this year’s attendees of the Juneteenth Music Festival, which takes place June 18 and June 19 in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood.

He is looking forward to connecting with friends and relatives again this year, Cox said.

“And getting out to enjoy and celebrate the occasion,” he added.

According to the Juneteenth Music Festival website, “Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. Juneteenth today, celebrates African American freedom and achievement while encouraging continuous self-development and respect for all cultures.”

A Juneteenth celebration in some form has been a staple in Five in Points for decades, said Norman Harris, executive director of JMF Corporation, the nonprofit that organizes the annual festival.

“Five Points is unique in that it was one of the few commercially zoned areas in the country that had Black land-and-business ownership,” Harris said. “Five Points was a mecca for jazz and African American businesses. It was a place of opportunity for African Americans in the West.”

Five Points started to see community Juneteenth celebratory gatherings in the mid-1950s, Harris said.

By the 1980s and `90s, crowds of hundreds of thousands were coming together in Five Points to celebrate.

Festivities experienced a decline in the 2000s, Harris said, adding that in 2011, only about 1,000 people gathered in Five Points. But in 2012, which is when JMF Corporation branded the event as the Juneteenth Music Festival, between 20,000 and 30,000 people attended.

People always enjoy the food and artisan vendors at the festival, and the children’s activities are always a fun attraction, Cox said.

“And then, of course, there’s the music,” he added. “That’s a very big part of it. It’s part of our culture.”

This year’s music lineup is exciting, boasting both national and local headliners, said Erica Wright, one of the Juneteenth Music Festival’s organizers.

The music festival this year will have a main stage at 27th and Welton, a secondary stage at 29th and Welton and block parties with DJs between 25th and 29th streets.

Rapper Dave East will be taking the main stage on June 18, and the main stage will feature Twista on June 19. Other highlighted performances included Kayla Rae, who is from Denver but now lives in L.A., said Wright; and Colorado’s own Conjunto Colores.

With about 15 headliners plus all the other performances throughout the two days, the entire festival will entail not-to-miss performances, Wright said.

“We’re calling it a weekend festival,” she said, adding each day boasts a different musical lineup.

Another highlight of the event is the annual Juneteenth Parade, which represents the “historic walk through the streets of the last freed slaves,” states a news release.

The parade will feature community and government organizations, social clubs, dance troupes and more. Jim “Dr. Daddio” Walker, known as the Father of Black Radio, will be the 2022 parade’s Grand Marshall.

The parade kicks off the festivities at 11 a.m. June 18 with the route running along East 26th Avenue.

Additional attractions include appearances by Denver’s pro sports mascots, the Denver Broncos Cheerleaders, surprise guests from Meow Wolf and a Youth Zone with inflatable bounce houses, arts and crafts and other activities for children.

Harris was raised in a family of Five Points business owners. Like Cox, he and his family celebrated Juneteenth each year. While the festival has grown through the years, organizers still take the same approach, Harris said, which is “looking at including all of our communities, starting with: why is it important that we celebrate Juneteenth.”

“We as a country need to acknowledge the impacts of the institution of slavery,” Harris said.

“It’s an important step to give all Americans an understanding of our history.”

Now that Juneteenth is a holiday recognized locally, at the state level and federally, there are opportunities to invite “the entire community to come together and figure out ways to move forward,” Harris said.

He added that the Juneteenth Music Festival in Five Points can serve as a model for how to celebrate the federally-recognized holiday.

The Juneteenth Music Festival is a “culturally-based celebration,” Harris said. And “music is a connector. It allows us to bring multiple sections of our community together.”

A group of people dance at the 2021 Juneteenth Music Festival. The event this year takes place June 18 and 19 in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood.

The Juneteenth Music Festival is a family-friendly event, boasting live music and entertainment, food, a parade and Youth Zone with a variety of children’s activities.

A crowd of people gather at the stage during last year’s Juneteenth Music Festival.

Headliners for the 2022 Juneteenth Music Festival are Dave East on June 18 and PHOTOS COURTESY OF JENSEN SUTTA Twista on June 19.

LEARN MORE The JMF Corporation is a local nonprofit with a mission “to celebrate freedom through community engagement by focusing on the historical significance of Juneteenth,” states its website. It uses its annual Juneteenth Music Festival as a platform to “promote inclusivity, educational and economic empowerment and support of the humanities,” states the website.

In addition to the Juneteenth Music Festival, the JMF Corporation honors “individuals who have set high standards for achievement in business, education, arts and service” states its website, with its Dream Big Awards.

To learn more about the JMF Corporation’s Dream Big Awards, visit juneteenthmusicfestival.com/dreambig-awards.

IF YOU GO The 2022 Juneteenth Music Festival takes place June 18 and 19 in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood.

The annual Juneteenth Parade kicks off the festivities at 11 a.m. June 18 with the route running along East 26th Avenue.

The music festival’s main stage will be located at 27th and Welton, and a secondary stage will be located at 29th and Welton.

The Juneteenth Music Festival is free for general admission, with VIP packages available for purchase. It is a family-

friendly event and will offer many activities for children to enjoy.

On June 16, all Cheba Hut locations in Colorado will participate in Juneteenth Eats Day, during which a portion of Cheba Hut’s proceeds will be donated to the Juneteenth Music Festival and JMF Corporation’s year-round community and social justice programming.

To learn more about the Juneteenth Music Festival, visit juneteenthmusicfestival.com or follow it on social media: @ JuneteenthMusicFestival.

8 Life on Capitol Hill

June 1, 2022

LOCAL

VOICES

Intro to criminology: CSI Regis

M

y first job as a journalist was covering the cops/ courts/crime beat in Cañon City.

It was an odd job, to say the least. But FROM THE I learned a lot — not EDITOR only as a journalist learning how the journalism industry functioned, but also all the insand-outs of court proceedings.

During that time, I reported on every type Christy Steadman nearly of criminal activity one could imagine — from arson to homicide and everything in between. I commuted back to the Denver area to visit often, and I’d bring my friends the newspapers upon their request, as they always wanted to catch up on the non-fic-

tionalized true crime stories.

Perhaps that job was what piqued my interest in criminology. It’s probably nothing I would pursue for a degree or certification, but it is an interesting topic when community learning opportunities present themselves.

On May 13, I went to a CSI Regis University presentation. For this one, Don Lindley, a retired Denver police officer, who has been a Regis faculty member for 20 years, brought in Lt. Darren Versiga of the Pascagoula Police Department in Mississippi. Versiga presented on his role in investigating on the Samuel “Sam” Little case.

Little is known to be one of the most notorious serial killers in U.S. history. Between 1970 and 2005, he confessed to killing 93 people. As of Nov. 2021, law enforcement has confirmed 62 of those confessions.

I wasn’t sure what to expect at the event, but I knew it would good.

Universities always put on excellent programming.

If I were to describe the presentation, I would say it was like a mix between a documentary like one would watch on John Wayne Gacy or Ted Bundy, and a conversation with a homicide detective combined with a crash course in criminology.

Versiga was an excellent presenter. Of course, some of the details in the case were gruesome — this was an adults-only event. Versiga was tactful during these parts, and discussed the finer details of how the investigation was conducted in layman’s terms so that all of us who were not criminology students, and don’t have a background in the criminal investigation fields, could understand the information.

The CSI Regis presentation on Little was associated with the university’s Criminology Speaker Series, which is expected to start

back up again this fall. All the presentations are free and open to the greater community.

Though the 2022 schedule has yet to be announced, to learn more about Regis University’s Criminology Speaker Series in general, visit regis.edu/signature-events/criminology-speaker-series.

While I’m on the topic, I must mention that it saddens me how many cases go cold and unsolved. I would encourage everyone to take a moment to look through the unsolved cases listed on Metro Denver Crime Stoppers: metrodenvercrimestoppers.com/unsolved-cases.

If any information comes to mind about any of the unsolved cases, contact Crime Stoppers — a nonprofit that operates only on contributions and without taxpayer or government funding.

All tips remain anonymous and who knows, you might be able to help solve a cold case.

At last, Denver can require affordable housing in new development

F

or years, you wrote, called and pulled me aside to ask -“Why aren’t we requiring affordability in new development?” The answer until now was - “It is illegal GUEST under state law.”

COLUMN At least it was for rental housing, the most common development in Denver and the housing needed by residents struggling the most to stay in our city.

In 2021, State Councilmember Reps Susan LonRobin Kniech tine, D-Denver, Serena GonzalesGutierrez, D-Denver and senators Julie Gonzales, D-Denver and Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver, sponsored a bill to give cities like Denver the power to regulate affordable housing in new rental development — A policy commonly known as inclusionary housing.

Denver and I worked closely with the legislators, and we were ready with a stakeholder process known as, Expanding Housing Affordability, to take advantage of the opportunity to get more affordable housing from the market rate growth Denver continues to see.

I couldn’t be prouder that the people of Denver have invested heavily in affordable housing through the Affordable Housing Fund, approxi-

A publication of

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mately $30 million per year, and the Homelessness Resolution Fund, more than $40 million per year.

This has a significant focus on housing those experiencing homelessness, plus a one-time bond investment for housing and shelter construction totaling $38.6 million.

These investments are housing thousands of households a year and sheltering or serving thousands more, but we know the need is even greater.

Denver residents overwhelmingly supported an affordable housing contribution from market rate development to complement their investments.

The proposals that were developed through Expanding Housing Affordability will likely be law by the time you read this article, with a vote scheduled on June 6. The policies will: Provide affordability in more projects: Every residential development larger than 10 units must build affordable homes or satisfy alternatives: • Rentals: 8 or 10% of units built below 60% of Area Median Income. For a family of two, 60% of AMI is below $56,280; 70% of AMI is below $65,660; 80% of AMI is below $71,550; 100% of AMI is below $93,800. Rental voucher holders may earn incomes from $0 to approximately $28,150 for a family of two, depending on the type.

Or, 12 or 15% of units built averaging 70% AMI. The higher percentage

requirements apply in highest-cost areas such as downtown, Cherry Creek and Golden Triangle.

• Ownership: 8 or 10% of units built at 80% AMI or 12 or 15% of units built averaging 90% AMI. Support housing affordability at deeper levels: On-site affordable housing would reach households earning less than past policies, and those with much lower incomes could also rent these homes by combining them with housing vouchers like those issued by the Denver Housing Authority.

Incentivize building on-site: State law requires developer options like donating land or paying a fee, but incentives encourage building on-site and opt-out fees are high to discourage buying out.

Provide for more creative options in large redevelopment: Large sites receiving public funds must meet with the city to discuss community-responsive affordability plans.

Helps those building 100% affordable housing build more: Incentives can also be used by those building all-affordable projects to cut their fees, reduce parking costs or build higher on some sites, helping them serve more residents.

Increase funding for Denver’s Affordable Housing Fund: Fees paid by all other residential or commercial development increases to $2-8 per square foot by 2025, so the city can meet more of the affordable

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housing needs of our workforce, including very low-wage workers.

A companion policy coming to council soon will help ensure that new affordable inclusionary housing also helps mitigate displacement through a Prioritization Policy. The proposal aims to combat displacement in our city by providing households at risk of, or who have been, displaced from their neighborhood or from Denver priority access to a portion of homes in newly developed or preserved affordable housing so they can stay or return to their community.

Denver will maintain a pre-qualified database of eligible renters and buyers to improve the efficiency of matching residents with affordable housing.

Inclusionary housing isn’t designed to meet every housing challenge Denver faces. It will create a modest but steady supply of moderate income housing in mixed income buildings and communities across the city.

This will help us meet more of our challenges than we can today. Let’s celebrate its passage and keep working together tomorrow.

To learn more about these policies, visit denvergov.org and type the policy name in the search bar.

Robin Kniech is an at-large member of Denver City Council. She can be reached at kniechatlarge@denvergov. org or 720-337-7712.

Columnists & Guest Commentaries Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of Life in Cap Hill.

We welcome letters to the editor. Please include your full name, address and the best number to reach you by telephone.

Email letters to csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com Deadline 5 p.m. on the 20th of each month for the following month’s paper.

Life on Capitol Hill 9

June 1, 2022

First Tee celebrates opening the Overland Park Junior Course BYCHRISTYSTEADMAN CSTEADMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

It was barely a year ago when 16-yearold Layla Duong first put her hands on a golf club.

Back then, she knew nothing of the sport.

“Golf is for the rich,” she thought.

“Golf is boring.”

But in April 2021, through a friend’s encouragement, Duong applied for, and obtained, a job with First Tee-Colorado Rocky Mountains.

Today, Duong serves as a First Tee junior coach and works directly with about 40 youth as their mentor. She plays golf on South High School’s varsity golf team and, being the first in her family to play golf, she is teaching them how to play the sport so it becomes something they can do together.

“I have a deep passion for the sport now,” Duong said. “I will continue (playing) golf my whole life.”

Though Duong has fallen in love with golf, it’s not just the sport that she enjoys so much — it’s being involved with First Tee. “I learned not only golf, but I learned how to be mentally strong, and how to stay true to myself,” Duong said. “As a minority, I thought I’d be looked at differently. I thought I would have to change myself in order to fit in. But everyone was very open and non-judgmental.”

First Tee is a national for-youth nonprofit organization that was established 25 years ago. Youth get to play golf, but moreover, the organization creates learning experiences that build inner strength, self-confidence and resilience.

“What First Tee does is use golf as a tool to educate youth, socially, academically and physically,” said Paula Purifoy, CEO of First Tee-Colorado Rocky Mountains. “We do a lot of mentoring — it’s so much more than golf.”

The organization does this by instilling nine core values related to golf, which can be carried through a youth’s development.

The core values are: Honesty - This encourages youth to honestly self report scores and penalties.

Integrity - This pushes youth to be responsible for their own actions on the golf course, even when no one is looking.

Sportsmanship - A value that teaches youth to observe the rules of play, and win or lose with grace.

Respect - To show respect for oneself, playing partners, competitors, the golf course and traditions of the game.

Confidence - Through being positive, this core value focuses on youth being more confident.

Responsibility - The lesson is to allow youth to learn and take responsiblity for their own actions.

Perseverance - Pushing youth to succeed in golf where players must continue through bad breaks and their own mistakes.

Courtesy - Starting and ending a game of golf with a handshake among competitors.

Judgment - Deciding strategy, and when to play safe and when to take a

chance.

Daniel Reeves has been with First Tee for 20 years, starting when he was 19.

Today, he serves as the executive director of the local chapter.

“We focus on making it fun and the relationships,” Reeves said, adding he enjoys seeing the youth grow up, become successful and, “creating as big of an opportunity as possible for others to help others.”

First Tee-Colorado Rocky Mountains offers two primary programs — on course and in school/after school.

The on course program runs for six weeks. It is a fee-based program, but scholarships are available.

The on course First Tee program is offered at 28 facilities across the state, with eight of them being in Denver, Purifoy said.

The in school/after school program is free to families. Part of this program entails working with physical education teachers to provide the training, equipment and lesson plans for their students.

First Tee’s school program is probably best known for its Read `N’ Swing. Aiming at continued education, a student reads with a First Tee staffer or volunteer, then after quality reading time, students participate in a golf activity.

Read `N’ Swing got its start at Columbine Elementary School, a Denver Public School located at 29th Avenue and Columbine Street, when the school was rated one of the lowest in the entire country for reading, Purifoy said.

The program saw so much success that it has now been expanded to 55 schools in the Denver-metro area, Purifoy said.

Headquartered at the City Park Golf Course in Denver, First Tee-Colorado Rocky Mountains is one of about 150 chapters located across the U.S. There are also some chapters abroad.

First Tee-Colorado Rocky Mountains is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

“In the beginning, (First Tee) served about 200 kids at City Park,” Purifoy said.

The program has grown since 2002.

Citing 2019, Purifoy said, about 10,000 youth across the state are involved with First Tee annually.

On May 12, First Tee celebrated the grand opening of the Overland Park Junior Course — an event that was postponed for two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Prices, of Parker, attended the celebration. Their son, Judson, 10, has had golf lessons in the past, but it was not a favorable experience, Sandra Price said.

The family is now thinking about getting Judson involved with First Tee. “I like the fact that everyone is so engaged,” Sandra Price said. “And I like the community involvement.”

The Overland Golf Course was established in 1895. For adult and more experienced golfers, the course boasts challenges to players of any skill level.

Now with the junior course, Overland will be able to serve at least 500 youth, said Happy Haynes, executive director of Denver Parks & Recreation, at the May 12 event.

“We’re creating new leaders in this community,” Haynes said. “Through the game of golf, kids are growing in every way you can think of.”

Layla Duong practices her swing at the grand opening event of First Tee - Colorado Rocky Mountains’ junior course at the Overland Park Golf Course in Denver.

PHOTO BY CHRISTY STEADMAN

To learn more about First Tee-Colorado Rocky Mountains, visit firstteecoloradorockymountains.org.

The organization hosts open houses for members of the community. There are a number of them scheduled

through June and July. To register or to find an open house in a nearby Denver neighborhood, visit the website above and select `get involved.’ Then scroll to `open houses’ and click on it to open the link.

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10 Life on Capitol Hill

June 1, 2022

Inside the city greenhouses, a table of blue lobelia contrasts with pink, red, and fuchsia petunias, interspersed with dusty miller, a silvery foliage plant native to the MediterPHOTOS BY TIM COLLINS ranean.

Parks will blossom after two years of sparse planting

BY KIRSTEN DAHL COLLINS SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Many people never stumble upon the lush world of the City Park greenhouses, just west of the Denver Zoo. Yet these nondescript buildings at 2500 E. 23rd Ave. supply Denver’s parks with dazzling arrays of flowers, help grow fresh produce for needy families and keep zoo gorillas happy with a steady supply of hibiscus flowers — one of their favorite snacks.

This spring, after two years of grappling with manpower shortages and cost issues spawned by the pandemic, the 36,000-square-foot nursery is back in business. In late May, flats of fiery-colored Indian paintbrush, pastel petunias, cascading blue lobelia and many other plants began departing their warm, steamy home, bound for Denver’s 250 city parks.

According to Denver’s Horticulture and Open Space Manager Julie Lehman, the parks’ ornamental beds will be planted at 100 percent this year — a joyous change from all the bare soil on view during 2020 and 2021. Many parks, including Washington, City and Alamo Placita, will offer especially dramatic floral displays.

Lehman and her staff preside over a humid plant kingdom, where a seemingly endless expanse of grow benches support the 250,000 seedlings that emerge every spring.

The hothouses nurture not just flowers, but enough vegetable starts to generate 13,000 pounds of tomatoes, peppers, cabbages, kale and eggplant.

The vegetables are tended by local nonprofits and used to help feed low-income families. Three of the hothouses are operated by zoo staff, who grow hibiscus, bananas and ginger for the animals to snack on, along with plants that serve as landscaping and browse for munching giraffes.

Over the years, as Coloradans have grown more environmentally conscious, the greenhouses have

followed suit. Lehman says she stopped using pesticides several years ago, and now relies on beneficial insects to keep the pests at bay. She also noted a shift towards native flowers and other plants that nourish the soil and require less water.

Vastly outnumbered by their leafy charges, Lehman and her staff of four rely on 20 freelance master gardeners and 40 horticulturalists, who pitch in to get the parks planted every year.

Lehman reviews all designs personally, taking many factors into consideration. Agastache and chocolate daisies, for instance, thrive in the sandy soils of eastern Denver, whereas asters and showy pink echinacea, also known as coneflower, prefer the clay soils of western neighborhoods like Capitol Hill and Washington Park.

Lehman, who grew up on a ranch in Nebraska, still cherishes a fondness for prairie flowers, including purple prairie clover, agastache, Indian paintbrush and penstemons.

Many of these are also native to Colorado and have a nice habit of giving more than they take from the soil. She is also partial to those chocolate daisies, a Southwestern native that enjoys hot, dry conditions. Look for them on sunny traffic medians in eastern Denver and if you get the chance, inhale. They aren’t called chocolate daisies for nothing.

This year, it’s been a challenging spring, with unseasonable heat forcing many seedlings to jump and flower too early, according to Lehman, who has been on the job for a decade. She said Denver has a short growing season because of its wildly variable weather, sudden freezes and limited water supply — all exacerbated by climate change.

Despite the hurdles, Lehman observed with pride that Denver has a long history of horticulture. The City Greenhouse began as a Victorian-style palm house, built in 1892.

In the 1940s, the city built its first modern greenhouses, giving them major updates in 2005 and 2010. The original 19th century conservatory building now houses the aviary at the Denver Zoo. And fittingly, the aviary’s feathered residents are now benefitting from the modern nursery next door.

Greenhouse staff spend their workdays nurturing flowers like blue salvia and Dakota Gold helenium. Pictured left is Tim Edens, seasonal member of the parks horticulture staff, parks horticulturalists Corey Harris and Jason Smith, and utility worker part of the seasonal staff, Alex Cordova.

Tim Edens trims back a plectranthus seedling before it leaves the greenhouses for a Denver park. Commonly known as spurflower, plectranthus is valued by gardeners for its decorative foliage and festoons of blue, purple, pink or white flowers.

Maintenance tech Mike Beroske, who helps out part time, gives a drink to a stand of deep red nicotiana.

Denver’s Horticulture and Open Space Manager Julie Lehman favors prairie flowers like the pink agastache just behind her. Hummingbirds and butterflies share her fondness for this flowering, edible herb.

Life on Capitol Hill 11

June 1, 2022

Honoring the Class of 2022 The graduating class of 2022 worked hard to persevere and achieve success. Here are some stories that the grads shared of their high school experience.

Bicky Campos Morales High School: DSST: Cole High School Future plans: Attend the University of Denver and major in biochemistry and minor in public law.

Quote: “What makes the class of 2022 special is the perseverance and grit each and every student has. We had to go practically a whole year of virtual learning that challenged us to adapt to new learning strategies and connect even more with our teachers when we needed help. In the end, we came out even stronger, and now all have bright futures. What I learned most from high school was to be more attentive to my mental health. While completing the work is important, there are also moments when you need to take a step back and just rest your mind a bit in order to produce the best work you possibly can.”

Andrea Cordova-Cisneros High school: DSST: Byers High School Future plans: Attend Bowdoin College on a full-ride scholarship.

Quote: “The class of 2022 is special due to its versatility; we were able to adapt to online learning and then make the quick transition back into school successfully.

One thing I learned during my high school experience that I will take with me is that if you don’t step outside of

your comfort zone, you will never know what you are capable of. Risks work out in the end.”

Daniela Carolina Ibarra-Hernandez High school: Denver South High School Future plans: Major in business management at the University of Colorado-Denver where she will attend as a Denver Scholarship Foundation Scholar.

Quote: “Coming back from the pandemic, our class of 2022 is privileged to have received a final in person year before heading out to the higher education and career world.”

CLASSIFIEDS

Christine Strayer High school: Denver South High School Future plans: Study neuroscience at the University of Colorado-Boulder.

Quote: “The class of 2022 was made special because of the close bonds that were built after coming back from the pandemic.”

Silas Swartzendruber

High school: Northfield High School Future plans: Attend the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, School of Business.

Quote: “During my high school experience, I learned that social interaction is incredibly important and provides a unique educational opportunity aside from academic content. My viewpoint comes from the experience of being remote for a portion of my high school education. I will never again take for granted the privilege of social exposure.”

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12 Life on Capitol Hill

June 1, 2022

‘A great leader for the little ones looking for the love of education’

BY CHRISTY STEADMAN CSTEADMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Mamie Howard puts her whole heart into her students.

“She is super passionate about what she does,” said Susanna Pasillas, a parent of two. “She wants the best for all the kids, and she advocates for them.”

Currently serving as principal resident, Howard is on the leadership team for University Prep., or more commonly known as U Prep. The schools are tuition free public charter schools that serve kindergarteners through fifth graders. U Prep has two locations — Arapahoe Street in Five Points, 2409 Arapahoe St., which was founded in 2011; and Steele Street, 3230 E. 38th Ave. in Denver’s Clayton neighborhood, which was founded in 2016.

Howard is a founder, and will become principal of, U Prep’s Commerce City location, which is expected to open in fall 2023.

“Education is the gateway to everything else. Education is our opportunity to give everyone access to a life of opportunity,” Howard said. “All children should have access to a highquality education.”

Howard, 29, a mother of two, went to college with the intention of becoming a lawyer. But after taking the Law School Admission Test, Howard decided law school wasn’t the path she wanted to pursue.

She started looking for jobs and found an opportunity to become a math fellow for sixth graders at the

Denver Center for International Studies at Montbello. She moved to Denver in the summer of 2014, doing a math fellowship for a year and eventually, bought a home in Aurora.

“I decided teaching was what I wanted to do,” Howard said. “If we do education right, and if educators are not only equipped to do their job, but also positioned to do their job … if those two things exist, our future is great.”

Howard believes that with providing access to high-quality education for all children, all of society will benefit. There will be less poverty, less homelessness and “less people miserable at their job because they just didn’t have the opportunity to go after the career that they wanted,” Howard said.

In 2015, Howard got involved with the Hill Campus of Arts & Sciences, of Denver Public Schools in Hilltop.

Through a program called Denver Teach Today, which is no longer in existence, Howard was able to earn her teaching liscense and professional development training. By 2018, she became a team specialist at the school, and the following year, she assumed a position as a coach for the eighthgrade math teachers.

Howard eventually enrolled at Western Governors University — an accredited, online nonprofit university — and earned her Master of Educational Leadership.

She obtained a job at a charter school in Aurora and served as that school’s assistant principal before coming to U Prep.

Howard believes the best way to design a school is by getting families involved.

“Families voices should be at the table,” she said. “Working with families gives them the power to shape the school. We (educators) cannot do it alone. Families know their kids best — they are their child’s first educator.”

Pasillas learned of U Prep because her nephews attended the school. She saw her nephews excelling — mainly because of the parent-teacher relationship, she said. She wanted her kids to also attend U Prep. Pasillas’ 2-year-old is not in school yet, but her 7-year-old attends U Prep Steele Street.

“The kids are in tremendously good hands,” Pasillas said. “(Howard) is a great leader for the little ones looking for the love of education.”

Howard’s goal is for U Prep to become the No. 1 school in the nation.

“I don’t consider myself just an educator in Denver,” she said. “I consider myself to be an educator of our country’s children.”

Jacqueline Bass is a second-grade math teacher at U Prep Steele Street.

Howard always “goes all in,” she said.

“The joy she brings to the classroom is palpable,” Bass said. “Whether it be in the classroom or the hallways or at an afterschool meeting — she is a joy to work with.”

Like Howard, Bass believes every student deserves access to a highquality education.

“All students deserve a life of opportunity, and they get that with a strong

Mamie Howard works with students at University Prep. Currently serving as principal resident at the school’s Steele Street location in Denver, Howard will become principal of University Prep’s Commerce City location, which is exCOURTESY PHOTO pected to open in fall 2023.

foundation in education,” Bass said.

But it has to be a high-quality education, Howard said, adding that lowquality education won’t get a person anywhere.

“Putting efforts toward highquality education, and making sure our schools are strong and that our schools are functioning to serve our kids is what gets our next generation equipped to be successful,” Howard said. “And that’s where our future becomes so much brighter.”

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