Life on Capitol Hill May 2024

Parents may qualify for grocery money

Pioneers to face Minnesota at Ball Arena next November

BY JOHN RENFROW

e University of Denver’s championship hockey program will host the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game for the third time, according to the school’s athletic department.

e Pioneers — who recently won their fth national title in the last 20 years and 10th overall (an NCAA record) — are set to face the University of Minnesota anksgiving weekend at Ball Arena in 2025.

“ e University of Denver is honored to host the 2025 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game and excited to rekindle a rivalry between two of

the most storied programs in all of college hockey on the heels of Denver’s 10th national championship,” said Josh Berlo, Denver vice chancellor for athletics and Ritchie Center operations, in a press release. “ e eyes of the college hockey world will be on Denver and Ball Arena over that holiday weekend.”

It’s a rematch between Denver and Minnesota’s 2004 matchup in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game in St. Paul. Denver lost 5-2.  e two programs are some of the most decorated in all of college hockey. e teams have combined for 42 Frozen Four appearances, 15 national championships and fea-

tured a total of 25 NHL Draft picks on their respective rosters during the 2023-24 season.

DU is 13-3-1 in the last 17 meetings against Minnesota since the start of the 2007-08 campaign and has a 41-39-5 all-time mark against the Gophers in Denver.

e Pioneers have an overall record of 73-94-12 all-time against the Gophers in a series that dates back to Jan. 1, 1951 and are 4-2-1 against their former WCHA foe in seven neutral-site contests.

DU is getting support from its local parent-pro team, the Colorado Avalanche.

Summer EBT program to o er up $120

per child

BY ANN SCHIMKE CHALKBEAT COLORADO

Starting in June, hundreds of thousands of low-income Colorado families will get $120 per child to pay for groceries during summer break.

e program, called Summer EBT, aims to help parents of children who attend preschool through 12th grade in public schools pay for food when free school meals are unavailable or harder to access. State o cials expect families of more than 300,000 children to bene t.

A Colorado law passed during a special legislative session in November enabled the state to join the new program, which is mostly funded by the federal government with a small contribution from the state. Nearly three dozen states are o ering the program this year.

In recent years, Colorado has taken several steps to reduce the number of children who go hungry in the state. Starting this school year, the vast majority of Colorado students can get free school meals regardless of family income because of a universal meal program approved by voters in 2022. A program similar to Summer EBT was in place during the pandemic, but it expired last summer.

Colorado families are eligible for Summer EBT cards if they receive public bene ts such as SNAP, Medicaid, or Colorado Works, or if their children qualify for free or reduced-price school meals.

Most families will automatically receive a letter in May for each child eligible for Summer EBT, with preloaded cards arriving in the mail shortly after. To access the money on the card, families must set up a personal identi cation number. ey can do this by calling 888-328-2656, entering the card number, and following the prompts.

Families who believe their child is eligible for Summer EBT, but who didn’t receive an eligibility letter can contact the Summer EBT Support Center at 800-5365298 (text 720-741-0550) or email cdhs_ sebt_supportcenter@state.co.us.

Chalkbeat is a nonpro t news site covering educational change in public schools.

The University of Denver’s championship hockey team was awarded the 2025 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game. The Pioneers will play the University of Minnesota at Ball Arena next November. Above, the Pioneers play against the Colorado College Tigers at Ball Arena in Denver in 2023.

C.OURTESY OF MORGAN ENGEL/CLARKSON CREATIV

HALL OF FAME

“ e state of Colorado has a rich tradition of college hockey and what better way to showcase that than with one the most successful programs in NCAA history, the University of Denver, taking on another powerhouse, the University of Minnesota,” said Avalanche General Manager Chris MacFarland. “ e U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame weekend is always a special event and the Avalanche and Ball Arena are proud to be a part of the festivities.”

Tickets for the game start at $25. Visit denverpioneers.com for information updates on pre-sale and other ticket packages, including premium seating and suites.

e date and time of the 2025 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game will be announced following the NHL schedule release.

The Denver Pioneers compete against the Colorado College Tigers at Ball Arena in Denver last January.

TYLER SCHANK/CLARKSON CREATIVE P

Barista David Jepson stands behind the bar at Purple Door Co ee. Proceeds from the cafe, which recently opened in Capitol Hill, benefit the Denver-based nonprofit, Dry Bones, which supports unhoused teens and young adults to get them out of the homelessness cycle. Story on page 4. PHOTO BY NATALIE KERR

The cafe is an extension of Dry Bones, a nonprofit working to

BY NATALIE KERR

SPECIAL TO LIFE ON CAPITOL HILL

Several years ago, Robbie Goldman accompanied a young, unhoused mother to court as she was forced to give up her parental rights.

As director of spiritual and emotional formation at the nonpro t, Dry Bones, Goldman sat with her as her lawyer walked her through her options and while she wrote her statement for the court and for her son. But in her palm, the woman held a small silver coin, given to her by sta members at Dry Bones.

One side of the coin read: “you have unsurpassable worth and value,” and the other side, “you belong.” e woman turned it over and over in her hand, counting on those words to get her through the court process.

“She said, ‘ is is who you guys are, this is how I’m getting through this today,’ and I just lost it,” Goldman said. “She was holding on to something that could have been just a statement, but for her, it was a treasured idea and knowledge of who she was, no matter what happens in court.”

Brewing hope

Dry Bones is a Denver-based nonpro t that works with unhoused teens and 20-somethings on professional development and job training to give them the skills and support needed to get out of the homelessness cycle. It had a grand opening of Purple Door Co ee, 1640 Sherman St. in March — the proceeds of which fund the nonpro t’s mission.  e support the nonpro t provides runs the gamut, but includes everything from supporting a person through various court proceedings to nding a full-time job to helping someone access medical care.

end youth homelessness

as they complete their 12-month job readiness program.

or toothbrushes, without an ulterior motive.

e Dry Bones network originated in 2001 when Executive Director Matt Wallace and the rest of the founding team noticed the distinct need for youth job training. ey opened their rst co ee shop in Five Points in 2013 and an Englewood-based co ee roastery in 2016. e spaces serve as training grounds for Dry Bones participants

Purple Door Co ee closed the Five Points location in 2019 and moved to its new location in Capitol Hill to be closer to Denver’s economic hub and the large population of unhoused youth in the neighborhood, though its outreach extends across the city. e menu focuses on local goods, with ethical co ee from the roastery and food from nearby vendors like Guard and Grace, Stuebens and Hinman Pie.

David Jepson is a barista at Purple Door who completed the Dry Bones program in 2015. Dry Bones stood out to him because of its dedication to consistently showing up at homeless encampments, ready to have di cult conversations and provide necessities like clean socks

Most of the people who enter encampments are police o cers trying to break up the temporary shelters, which creates an automatic distrust for anyone coming into those spaces, Jepson said. But the Dry Bones outreach team centers people’s needs and wants, demanding nothing in return, which proved to Jepson that those involved with Dry Bones truly want what’s best for him.

“Ostensibly I’m coming here to get a job, but you’re also coming here to change your mindset,” Jepson said. “You trust the people you work with enough to share things, to talk about your fears, things that you might not have shared for years.”

Dry Bones calls the approach

“companioning,” and operates under the notion that they are building friendship connections with people who enter the program. Friends are on equal terms, show kindness, compassion and respect towards each other, and can be life-long, Wallace said.

Companioning can include helping someone get the medical attention they need so that they don’t otherwise medicate with something else, or helping someone access counseling and therapy. Dry Bones’ program administrator also works with each participant through barriers to employment, like outstanding warrants, addiction, housing, IDs, a social security card, a birth certi cate, etc.

David Jepson works behind the bar at Purple Door Co ee on March 28.

PHOTO BY NATALIE KERR

COFFEE

Sometimes companioning just means meeting up for co ee or going bowling, Wallace added. It’s a two-way street in which both people are companions to each other through life’s ups and downs.

“We see soul to soul,” Wallace said. “I don’t see all the dirt. I don’t see all the addiction. I don’t see bad behavior. I see the best in you.”  Goldman has felt his entire life and perspective change because of companioning, he said. At some of his toughest moments, the friends he made through Dry Bones were there to support him.

For example, after his mother passed away, Goldman got a call from Wallace’s phone, but when he picked up, it wasn’t Wallace’s voice. Rather, it was a friend, Tiny, from the program who he had only met a few months earlier. Despite everything going on in Tiny’s own life, he called to check in on Goldman and ask if there was anything he could do for him.

“It just blew me away, and that set the tone for what I knew the rest of my life was going to be,” Goldman said. “I was going to be surrounded by these folks that cared so deeply and wanted to care so deeply.”

The age gap

ough Dry Bones only recruits participants who are in their teens and 20s, it never ages out anyone in the program and will continue to be friends with them as long as that person wants it.

at is often not the case for other social support systems, Jepson said. When someone turns 30, many program quali cations get much more challenging to ful ll, and a person who has been experiencing homelessness or unemployment for years may decide to ultimately give up after too many setbacks.  Jepson has witnessed it rsthand as friends of his turned 30 and the well of compassion that people had for them when they were younger dries up. It’s one of the reasons he thinks it’s vital that programs like Dry Bones help pull people out of poverty cycles while they’re still young.

“We have to stay ahead of that shelf life of people who decide, incorrectly in most cases, that this person is out of time,” Jepson said.

“We want to do everything in our power to help people come back into their own before the rest of the world decides that they can’t.”

e most recent State of Homelessness report from the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, which came out in 2023, identi ed 14,439 unhoused individuals during its 2022 Point in Time Count — though it estimates the true number could be as high as 134,197, based on the number of individuals without stable housing covered by Medicaid.

In the past decade, chronic homelessness — experiencing homelessness for at least a year or in repeated instances while living with a disabling condition — in Colorado increased by 150%. Between 2022-2023 alone, overall homelessness statewide increased by 39%. is placed Colorado as the state with the fourth-largest percentage increase in the country, according to the report. Youth age 24 and younger accounted for 21% of the total homeless population in 2023, but in 2022, the 35-44 age group had the highest percentage of people experiencing homelessness at 22.8%.

Many of the people Goldman has met never accessed support systems, even by the time they were 30. When they try for the rst time at that age, they often nd they are already too old, he said.

If they did work with a system like foster care or the healthcare system, they often had a negative experience, which leads them to not want to work with any systematic aid ever again, Goldman said. Dry Bones has found it challenging to get youth to follow through on accessing aid, even when they need it and have started the process towards achieving it.

“ ey weren’t able to follow through with what was required,” Goldman said. “ ere were multiple steps, and their lives are in such disarray, that if they made the rst appointment, the second appointment just didn’t happen.”

If people can be reached before they gain that distrust or before other people write them o as a lost cause because of their age, people can have a slightly easier time making meaningful changes to their lives, Jepson said.

“When you’re younger, there’s still that deeper psychological sense that ‘oh this person is going through something, that’s tragic, I want them to change.’ at com-

passion is still there,” Jepson said. “We can use that compassion to help people get out.”

Mental health, housing and co ee

For Jepson, Wallace and Goldman, the resources needed to cure and prevent future homelessness come to mind immediately: mental health care and a ordable housing.

Poor mental health is the underlying factor of so many other problems, Jepson said. When people can’t access a psychiatrist, they turn to the only other source they know.

“I need medication, and that guy on the corner, he’s got something that can help and I can get it from him for far cheaper,” Jepson said. “If you don’t see any other way ... you’re going to give that guy $15.”

Goldman often sees cases of misdiagnosed or untreated PTSD and ADHD in people who come to Dry

Bones, he said. Many of the children they meet have never been to a pediatrician.

Dry Bones connects participants with psychiatrists and therapists, but ultimately, a nonpro t can only serve so many people.

“Mental health care from birth to 18 is almost non-existent,” Goldman said. “If we could bring in more professionals that weren’t just trying to x one or two things, but are there for whatever general knowledge and experience and trust building is needed, that would change people’s lives.”

People experiencing homelessness often don’t have the support network of family and friends to talk to about their struggles, give advice or take them to a physician or therapist, Wallace said.

Matt Wallace, executive director of Dry Bones, sits in front of Purple Door Co ee products in the cafe on March 28.

PHOTO BY NATALIE KERR

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“Tri Tri Tri Again”

Columnists & Guest Commentaries

Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of Life on 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.

This maze was inspired by triangles and creating a maze with multiple steps. To solve, start at either ‘S’ found in the bottom of the far left and right corners, and maze-out to any of the three ‘E’s for end, found in the three corners of the center triangle.

Imagine a world that values aging

Idon’t know about you, but I cringe when I see young people talking loudly to people who look older than themselves. Or when people say to one another, “Wow, you still look really good for your age.” It never ceases to amaze me just how ageist we are to one another and to ourselves.

Ageism is stereotyping and discrimination against individuals or groups based on their age. Studies have shown that 82% of older adults experience ageism daily. We develop ageist attitudes as early as age 3. And, unless we do something about ending ageism, it may get worse for all of us because we’re an aging society. According to the

LIVING & AGING WELL

Census, by 2029, we will have more people over 65 than under 18.

Peter Kaldes

We see ageism everywhere — but it seems it does its most harm in our education system, in the media and at work. From schools celebrating the rst 100 days by requiring children to wear costumes as if they’re 100-years-old to universities denying access to lifelong learning opportunities. If we valued aging, our education system would

prepare us for getting older, not mock it. Imagine universities that prepare leaders for the demographic shift with courses such as “ e Economics of Aging” or “National Security and Aging.”

As adults, we get wrinkles and tell ourselves we need to reverse the signs of aging, or that we’re too old to be wearing certain things. If we valued aging, we would be less “youth-obsessed” and more “life-obsessed.” Studies show that all these negative views of aging double the risk of cardiovascular events and increase the likelihood of dementia. But with a positive view of aging,

Strong bones for strong women

An unknown, yet highly common change that women might feel in their journey through life is a di erence in physical strength from a loss of bone density. Also known as osteoporosis, this progressive condition is a decrease in bone mineral density and bone mass with a heightened risk of fractures.

One of the main causes of osteoporosis is aging and menopause. Up to 20% of bone loss in women happens as women age and one in two women above the age of 60 will suffer a fracture in their lifetime from menopausal osteoporosis. Women are at a higher risk of the development of osteoporosis than men be-

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has a science-based plan for managing mountain lions

I am a Colorado native, and my wife and I have been Washington Park residents for over a decade. We are not mountain lion hunters or trappers. I came face to face with a mountain lion while hiking in Colorado a number of years ago, and since then, have done a lot of research on them.

WOMEN’S WELLNESS

ere appears to be a lot of misinformation being spread in regards to the initiative to ban trophy hunting mountain lions. In response to this,

Dr. Terry Dunn

cause menopause is the most common cause, according to the Endocrine Society. It is never too early to build stability and strength in bones. Women should increase their intake of Vitamin D and calcium, as they play a major role in bone health. Vitamin D allows the body to absorb calcium, a mineral that is crucial to bone density. Spending time in the sun is a primary source of Vitamin D. Some calcium rich

Colorado Parks and Wildlife put out a 24-minute video detailing the tools they use to manage mountain lions. ey support the continued use of all the tools they have available, including hunting, to manage mountain lions, bobcats and other furbearers.

In this video, Mark Vieira, CPW’s Carnivore and Furbearer Program manager, states that “hound hunting (mountain lions) is an important tool we have in Colorado” to manage mountain lion populations. Hounds are not only used for hunting, but also used by CPW as a tool to collar lions so they can be studied. He also

foods to incorporate into a diet to build bone strength are broccoli, chia seeds, milk, oranges and salmon. Including regular resistance strength training, such as dumbbells or weight machines, can support bone health.

e hormone estrogen slows down the natural breakdown of bones in women. erefore, during the aging process when women’s hormones begin to change, one thing that can occur is uctuating, lower levels of estrogen increasing the possibility of osteoporosis development. e decrease in estrogen continues for postmenopausal women, which is why it is important to build and maintain bone strength

before it is too late.

Women can receive an osteoporosis diagnosis during a routine checkup. A doctor will take an X-ray or body scan to measure how many grams of calcium and other minerals are within a section of the bone. e spine, hip or forearm are the commonly tested bones because they are the most prone to breaking from osteoporosis. A diagnosis will help monitor the progression of bone loss and how to take preventative measures.

Dr. Terry Dunn is the owner of Foothills Urogynecology, a Denver-based practice specializing in women’s health. To learn more, visit www.urogyns.com.

at behavior change because of a lifetime of committing to reaching goals.

states that by law, “all harvested lion meat must be made suitable for human consumption.”

Please watch CPW’s video for more information on how they manage mountain lions in Colorado. e video is titled “Mountain Lion Management Update” and was published in January of 2024 in response to the misinformation about their stance. CPW’s video can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=PP01E9qO2MU or on the CPW website.

As proposed, the initiative would in fact remove CPW’s science-based

we could live nearly eight years longer.

Imagine if we stopped using the line, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Because, actually, you can. Studies show that older dogs focus and concentrate better than puppies. Older adults are better

ABOUT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Colorado Community Media welcomes letters to the editor. Please note the following rules:

With unemployment levels at near-record lows, we’re in a tight labor market and employers are having a tough time lling vacancies. Yet, they overlook older workers which, according to AARP, costs the U.S. an estimated $850 billion in gross domestic product. If we valued aging, we’d encourage generative, productive aging

— not rely on centuries-old ideas that we want to do nothing as we age. German Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck is given credit for our modern version of retirement, which the U.S. later adopted when life expectancy was 62. But now it’s 77, and more people want and need to work, yet the hiring practices of businesses ignore older workers. Imagine if businesses intentionally recruited or retrained older workers. ese multigenera-

• Email your letter to csteadman@ coloradocommunitymedia.com. Do not send via postal mail. Put the words “letter to the editor” in the email subject line.

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management plan for mountain lions, bobcats and furbearers. is would hamstring CPW when it comes to these species. CPW supports a balance of all wildlife in this state and uses a lot of tools, including hunting, to manage the wildlife based on CPW’s objectives for each species.

Please educate yourselves before signing petitions to get things on ballots. ere’s a lot of important details beneath the headlines that must be read and understood before making a decision.

Tyler Streich, Denver

tional workplaces would be more innovative, have stronger pipelines of talent and be more resilient.

I’m optimistic that we’re all becoming more aware of age bias in everything we do. Imagine if society valued all our future selves.

Peter Kaldes, Esq., is the president and CEO of Next50, a national foundation based in Denver. Learn more at next50foundation.org.

should not be submitted to other outlets or previously posted on websites or social media. Submitted letters become the property of CCM and should not be republished elsewhere.

BY CHRISTY STEADMAN CSTEADMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Nine Denver schools helped make some special wishes come true during this academic year. Students at these schools participated in MakeA-Wish Colorado’s student-led fundraising program, Kids For Wish Kids. e high schools’ Wish Week fundraising activities and events were unique to each school, and ran the gamut from a 5K and a dodgeball

tournament to a talent show and school assemblies.

Each of the Denver schools got a wish kid to support, and many got to visit the schools and meet the high schoolers who helped make their wishes come true.

“ e Kids For Wish Kids program raises enough money to fund onethird of the wishes Make-A-Wish Colorado grants annually,” said Sarah Grosh, Make-A-Wish Colorado’s director of community development. “We are so incredibly grateful

for the impact made by students all across the state.”

More than 200 schools throughout Colorado took part in the 2024 Kids For Wish Kids program. Here are some highlights from the nine schools across Denver that participated.

Denver East High School

Wish kid: Liam, 5, of Denver who received a liver transplant.

Liam’s wish: To go to Walt Disney World Resorts.

Wish Week: March 18-22. Years participating: is is the rst year that East has participated.

Denver South and Denver North high schools

Wish kid: Both of these schools had Honey, a 6-year-old from Denver who has been diagnosed with cancer.

Honey’s wish: To go to Disneyland.

Three-year-old Ny’lear is greeted with a giant banner at Northfield High School during the school’s Wish Week, which took place Feb. 26-March 1. PHOTOS COURTESY OF MAKE-A-WISH COLORADO

Wish Week: South’s Wish Week took place March 11-15, North’s Wish Week took place March 3-10.

Years participating: South’s fourth annual year, and North’s second time participating.

John F. Kennedy High School

Wish kid: Luna, 5, of Parker who has been diagnosed with a respiratory disorder.

Luna’s wish: To go to Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii.

Wish Week: Feb. 5-9.

Years participating: sixth Wish Week.

DSST: Cedar High School

Wish kid: Foster, a 7-year-old from Denver who has been diagnosed with cancer.

Foster’s wish: To go to Walt Disney

World Resorts and meet Darth Vader.

Years participating: is is Cedar’s rst year to participate. April 8-12.

George Washington High School and DSST: College View School

Both of these schools had Ke’Zon, a 6-year-old from Aurora who has a kidney disease. Ke’Zon’s wish: To go to Walt Disney World Resorts

George Washington’s Wish Week took place March 11-15, and College View’s took place April

Years participating: is is the rst year George Washington has participated, and the third year for

Thomas Je erson High School Haven, 7, of Pueblo who has been diagnosed with a brain tu-

A couple of students at DSST: Cedar High School operate a fundraising booth during the school’s Wish Week, which took place April 8-12. COURTESY

MAKE-A-WISH COLORADO

May in Denver o ers plenty of things to do. From a comedic play by the Cherry Creek eatre players to celebrating Mother’s Day with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, this month will surely keep you entertained.

A comedy for the ages

Bea and Althea navigated the ups and downs of their lives and careers arm-in-arm as best friends for 50 years. Now, as the spit re pair adjusts to senior living, they reminisce about their lives. Billie McBride and Anne Oberbroeckling star in this comical and heartwarming production by Colorado playwright Melissa Lucero McCarl, inspired by Cherry Creek eatre’s newplay reading series. “ e Heartbeat of the Sun: A Buddy Comedy for the Ages” is showing from May 3-19 at the Staenberg-Loup Jewish Community Center’s Mizel Art and Culture Center, 350 S. Dahlia St. in Denver. Tickets can be purchased through the MACC Box O ce by calling 303-316-6360 or sending an email to boxo ce@ jccdenver.org. To learn more about Cherry Creek eatre, visit cherrycreektheatre.org.

Celebrate MSU’s student talent at the Spring 2024 BFA Thesis Exhibition

As a celebration of, and culmination of, their undergraduate studies at Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Studio Art and Communication Design program, 24 student artists and designers will present their thesis work in a gallery exhibition at MSU’s Center for Visual Art, 965 Santa Fe Dr., in Denver. e exhibition is on view until May 10, and is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, and from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. ese distinctive exhibitions re ect and mark the novel perspectives of these talented and strong arising artists and designers. Come out and celebrate the bright talent and explore a diverse range of artistic expression transcending the traditional and conventional norms of art and design. Learn more at msudenver.edu/cva. Photo: A crowd of people admire art during a previous BFA esis Exhibition. Photo by Jenna Miles.

Welcome Home 2024: Celebrating Unity and Empowerment

e International Rescue Committee’s annual Welcome Home fundraiser takes place from 6-8:30 p.m. May 16 at Space Gallery Denver, 400 Santa Fe Dr. e IRC is a not-for-pro t internationally headquartered in New York with its local o ce located in Denver’s Virginia Village neighborhood. is year’s Welcome Home event will feature an art exhibition and auction, a cocktail

hour and a full dinner provided by the authentic Mediterranean cuisine of Pita Fresh. ere will be opportunities to talk with Ukrainian refugee Mila Solodovnikova, whose works will invite you to experience a wonderful state of joy and contentment, and IRC’s leader Tanya Vitusagavulu and their direct service sta . Additional entertainment will be provided by Colorado singersongwriter Rebecca Folsom. Ticket prices begin at $75 and can be purchased online at www. events.rescue.org.

‘Building a Stronger Community, One Step at a Time’ Southwest Vida’s Fun Run & Walk takes place from 8 a.m. to noon at Gar eld Lake Park, 3600 W. Mississippi Ave. in Denver. Afterwards, stay to enjoy the Finish Line Fair, which will feature live performances, giveaways and opportunities to interact with local businesses and community organizations. All levels of runners and walkers are welcome and registration is free. All those joining in will receive a t-shirt, water bottle and a gift bag with coupons from local businesses. Also included is a free breakfast. Individuals, families and businesses register at southwestvida.org. A full schedule of events can also be found on this website.

Courtesy logo.

Photo: Cleo Parker Robinson. Photo by Jerry Metellus.

Photo:

COMPILED BY KATIE SALE

SPECIAL TO LIFE ON CAPITOL HILL

Denver Philharmonic Orchestra: Song and Dance

Denver Philharmonic Orchestra’s season nale will celebrate with “Song and Dance,” an upbeat, fun and “harmonious fusion that will leave you exhilarated and moved,” states its website. Pieces to be performed include selections from Gioachino Rossini, Franz Schubert, Johann Strauss II and Aaron Copland. It will also feature dance choreographed by Cherry Creek Dance. e concert takes place at 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:15 p.m.) on May 23 on the Antonia Brico Stage

the prestigious Prix de Lausanne ballet competition in Switzerland. She has performed around the world with the Dance eatre of Harlem and has taught and coached at Oakland Ballet and Cleo Parker Robinson Dance. e conversation will touch on the book, “ e Swans of Harlem,” by Karen Valby, which focuses on the forgotten story of a pioneering group of ve Black ballerinas, the rst principals in the Dance eatre of Harlem. e event takes place at 5 p.m. on May 22 at the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance eatre, 119 Park Ave. West, in Denver. e event is free to attend, but RSVPs are required. Contact lsullivan@bricfund.org for more information.

Photo: Book cover of “ e Swans of Harlem,” by Karen Valby.

man experience post-con ict.” “ e Silhouette Project: Newcomers” features the work of Dona Laurita, who captures the resilience and humanity of young immigrants. e Colorado Photographic Arts Center, 1200 Lincoln St,. Ste. 111, in Denver always o ers free admission. Learn more at cpacphoto.org.

‘Whiskey From Strangers’

‘The Swans of Harlem’ e Black Resilience in Colorado Fund is hosting an author talk with author and ballerina Karlya Shelton-Benjamin. Shelton-Benjamin began dancing at the age of 4 and at 17, became the rst person of color to represent the U.S. in

Fundraiser for the Youth Employment Academy

e Denver Housing Authority is hosting its Wings and Whiskey event on May 19 at Ace Eat Serve, at 501 E. 17th Ave. in Denver. General admission doors open at 4 p.m. and VIP admission doors open at 3 p.m. is culinary event bene ts DHA’s Youth Employment Academy, a nonpro t that provides vulnerable youth with programming to help them achieve their educational, employment and mental health goals. Wings and Whiskey attendees will have an opportunity to enjoy unlimited samples of chicken wings from participating restaurants, including the YEA’s Osage Café. Tickets range from $70-$90. To purchase tickets and learn more about the event, visit aceeatserve.com/wings-whiskey.

Photo: Courtesy image.

“Whiskey From Strangers” is a live album and a Denver mythology, all in one show. is album release concert is a love letter to friendships, the ones that last a lifetime and the ones that don’t. e bandmates of Teacup Gorilla present the ups and downs of friendship. is will also be a show for the new Teacup Gorilla EP album release. e music and story are based on Miriam Suzanne’s novel, “Riding SideSaddle.” Both the album and novel will be available after the show. ere will be 10 showings, with opening night on May 10 and running through June 1. To reserve tickets, visit https://grapefruitlab.com.

Exhibits at the Colorado Photographic Arts Center

e Colorado Photographic Arts Center is presenting two exhibits that will be available from May 10-June 22. “ e Presence of Absence Art Exhibit” features New York City-based artist Inbal Abergil who “navigates the depths of hu-

Plan ahead: Historic Elitch Walking Tour with the Denver Architecture Foundation

e Denver Architecture Foundation is inviting the community to explore the historic Elitch eatre, which hosted Colorado’s rst moving picture in 1896 and entertained local audiences until its last production in 1991. e tour will include learning about how the Historic Elitch Gardens eatre Foundation is working to restore the building and help celebrate its legacy as an arts nationally renowned venue. Tickets will be available beginning on May 21, and it is expected tour slots will ll quickly. So mark your calendar for June 4 and 5 and visit the website for more information: denverarchitecture.org.

Photo: e Denver Architecture Foundation is o ering a tour of the Historic Elitch eatre in early June. Photo courtesy of the Historic Elitch eatre.

Dry Bones tries to ll that gap by providing “support under and support alongside.” So many other approaches to addressing homelessness — such as law enforcement and jails — are “power over,” Wallace said. But placing infrastructure underneath someone and walking alongside them through their journey gives them the tools to nd self-con dence and a sense of selfworth, Wallace added.

“I’ve got a college degree, I slept well last night, I took a shower this morning and I ate three good meals yesterday. So I’m in good condition right now to think with you and alongside you, to help you make decisions and see yourself di erently than you’re able to see yourself right now,” Wallace said.

But even with this support, peo-

ple are facing the same housing issues that so many other Denver residents are, Wallace said. People can’t a ord housing on minimum wage jobs, and there is not enough housing aid to help everyone who needs it.

Colorado is the eighth most expensive state to rent or purchase a house in, e Colorado Sun reported. Denver’s cost of living index is 128.7, compared to the national average of 100, meaning goods and services are about 29% more expensive in Colorado than in the rest of the country, according to the Denver Relocation Guide.

e median rent for a one bedroom apartment in Denver is $2,000, according to the Denver Relocation Guide. Someone making Denver’s minimum wage of $18.29 would have to work 109 hours just to a ord rent, which doesn’t include utilities, food, medication and other basic needs. is means a person who works a fulltime job

of 40 hours per week — roughly 160 hours per month — is using nearly two-thirds of the wages from hours worked per month on rent alone.

Understandably, encampments forming across the city are frustrating residents, Wallace said. But people are taking it out on the people who can’t escape the homelessness cycle, rather than the factors leading them to be unhoused.

“I get it, but you have to have a perspective shift to go, ‘something is unhealthy community-wide,’” Wallace said. “It’s not just about that person’s tent in my front yard. ere’s something deeper and bigger going on, and it’s going to take a shift in consciousness.”

Even when someone does nd stable housing or employment, their background can lead them to being tokenized or mistreated. At Dry Bones’ former location in Five Points, people would come in and try to guess if any of the baristas behind the bar were formerly un-

housed, or would at out ask the workers if they were homeless, Jepson said.

Purple Door Co ee is not meant to be a place that puts people going through chronic challenges on display. It is meant to be a part of the solution that anyone can contribute to, simply by purchasing a cup of co ee, Wallace said.

When people come into the cafe, Wallace wants them to feel hopeful and empowered to create positive change. e Purple Door logo represents the passageway of opportunity that Dry Bones creates for people. ose people have to be willing to walk through it of their own volition, but the door will never close, Wallace said.

“ at opportunity never goes away. It’s always there, and you just didn’t choose to accept it on that particular day,” Jepson said. “But we’ll leave the light on for you, and when you’re ready, we’ll still be here to guide you back in.”

KEEP THE HEAT IN AND THE COLD AIR OUT!

Warren Village celebrates 50 years of providing education opportunities, housing and economic mobility

BY BRUCE GOLDBERG

SPECIAL TO LIFE ON CAPITOL HILL

At some point along the way, Lauren McCoy — short on resources but loaded with moxie — made a vow to her oldest child.

“I made a commitment to my daughter so she could have anything that any other child has,” said McCoy, 40.

McCoy previously studyed nursing while working at a children’s psychiatric hospital in New Mexico. She

moved to Denver in 2006, got a job at an adolescent treatment center in Denver and changed majors to earn a degree in special education.

“I enjoyed helping kids that a lot of people are a little more in fear of working with,” she said. “I was good at it and could build a rapport with them and their families.”

She was close completing her studies when she got pregnant with Lanaya, who is now 16, and McCoy fretted over being able to handle both student teaching, a requirement of earning her degree, and the cost of raising an infant — one cannot student teach and work at the same time, McCoy said.

A friend told her about Warren Village, and McCoy and her daughter found a home there in August 2008. Warren Village is a nonpro t that offers transitional housing to single par-

ents in need. It has a two-generation approach to end the cycle of poverty and empower families to reach selfsu ciency. Just some of the resources Warren Village o ers includes transitional, private housing, parent services and advocacy, and early childhood education and childcare.

anks to Warren Village, McCoy was able to be the mother her child deserves and continue her education.

McCoy eventually earned her undergad degree from Metropolitan State University and a master’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado.

McCoy also got married, and had her second daughter, Skye, who is now 6 months old.

And her career is going well, too. Next year, McCoy will become an assistant principal at a DSST Public

The community is invited to celebrate Warren Village’s 50th anniversary on May 31. A block party with food trucks, games, live music and more will take place from 3-7 p.m. at 1323 Gilpin St. in Denver. To learn more about Warren Village, visit WarrenVillage.org.

School.

All this strengthened her desire to stay in Denver.

“I had built a life here,” McCoy said. “My need and my drive are what kept me here.”

Ethan Hemming, who for the past eight years has served as Warren Village’s president and CEO, wishes for the entire community to know about Warren Village and its value to community.

At George Washington High School, an assembly took place for the school’s wish kid, Ke’Zon, 6, who has a kidney disease. Special guests of the assembly included Mickey Mouse and Manolo, a wish kid alum, and his entire first-grade class at Downtown Denver Expeditionary School.

Northfield High School

FROM PAGE 15

“Everyone deserves opportunities for education, housing and economic mobility,” he said.

As Warren Village celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, it is also growing. Warren Village owns two communities, and provides services at another. A third Warren Village community is expected to open in the fall at 1390 W. Alameda Ave. It will o er 89 units of a ordable housing plus an early learning center.

Haven’s wish: To meet Mickey Mouse at Walk Disney World Resorts.

Wish Week: Feb. 5-9.

Years participating: This is Thomas Jefferson’s first year to participate.

Wish kid: Ny’lear, a 3-year-old from Aurora who has been diagnosed with cancer. Ny’lear’s wish: To go to Walk Disney World.

Wish Week: Feb. 26-March 1.

Years participating: Northfield has participated in Wish Weeks since 2021. To learn more about Make-A-Wish Colorado, visit https://wish.org/colorado.

Caroline Turner has served on the organization’s board of trustees for at least 22 years and has helped Warren Village residents wrestle with: How do I go from living on people’s couches to having my own place? Or, how can I earn a college degree? And many other life challenges.

“It’s a unique combination of elements that work to enable people to go from the dependency on public services (and move toward) self-su ciency,” Turner said. “ at’s where resident services have been key. It’s the wrap around, the totality of it. ey’re so worried about rent or their kid, and we can get their focus on turning their life around.”

COURTESY OF MAKE-A-WISH COLORADO