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JUNE 2022
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GOLFING AND LEARNING First TeeColorado Rocky Mountains ingrains life lessons with golf
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CELEBRATING WITH MUSIC Annual Juneteenth Music Festival takes place June 18-19
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A TWO-DAY EXTRAVAGANZA OF PRIDE 2022 PrideFest takes place June 25-26
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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.
Denver-area photographers and Gallery 6 partners, from left, Tony Eitzel, Scott COURTESY OF TONY EITZEL Wilson 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. Welton Street Café is operating out of a temporary location at 2258 California St. in Denver’s Five Points neighborCOURTESY OF WELTON STREET CAFÉ hood.
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. SEE BRIEFS, P3
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Washington Park Profile 3
June 1, 2022
BRIEFS FROM PAGE 2
CLOSINGS 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-anda-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 allvegan 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,
ON THE COVER
MISCELLANEOUS
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
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.
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 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 10-year anniversary in May. To learn more about High 5 Plumbing, visit high5plumbing. com.
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. Story on page 5. PHOTO BY CHRISTY STEADMAN
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 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.
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.
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June 1, 2022
‘A great leader for the little ones looking for the love of education’ Mamie Howard works to provide all students a life of opportunity BY CHRISTY STEADMAN CSTEADMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
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 expected to open in fall 2023. COURTESY PHOTO
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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 eighth-grade 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 secondgrade 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 high-quality education. “All students deserve a life of opportunity, and they get that with a strong foundation in education,” Bass said. But it has to be a high-quality education, Howard said, adding that low-quality 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.”
Washington Park Profile 5
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.”
Judson Price, 10, of Parker plays on the new First Tee – Colorado Rocky Mountains’ junior course at the Overland Park Golf Course in Denver during the grand opening event PHOTO BY CHRISTY STEADMAN on May 12.
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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6 Washington Park Profile
June 1, 2022
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, P7
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 Art SEE SIDEBAR, P7
Washington Park Profile 7
June 1, 2022
PRIDE FROM PAGE 6
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.
SIDEBAR FROM PAGE 6
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/ DenverArtTour-DragQueen. 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 family-friendly 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
OPENING JUNE 4TH
1200 BROADWAY, DENVER | H-CO.ORG/RAINBOWS
the cultural, 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.
8 Washington Park Profile
June 1, 2022
But Denver isn’t waiting on lengthy timeline to propose local initiatives BY ELICIA HESSELGRAVE SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
When a city experiences low recycling participation, the results end up being higher greenhouse gas emissions and pollution, and an increase in wasted materials. Although the city of Denver’s 26% landfill diversion rate — which includes composting — is currently below the national average of 32%, there are still challenges pertaining to recycling in Denver. These challenges include Englishonly messaging and a general lack of understanding how and what to recycle. Moreover, some Denver residents either do not have easy access to recycling or cannot afford to participate in recycling. Still, Denver’s Sustainable Resource Management plan has set a 50% diversion rate goal for 2027, with an even loftier 70% goal set for 2032. In order to reach these goals, something big has to change. That’s where House Bill 22-1355 might be able to help.
Rep. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, speaks about House Bill 22-1355 — also known as the Producer Responsibility Program For Recycling — during a press conference on COURTESY OF JACOB SMITH/COLORADO COMMUNITIES FOR CLIMATE ACTION April 1.
A game changer House Bill 22-1355, also known as the Producer Responsibility Program For Recycling, has the potential to be a recycling game changer in Colorado, touting a win/win/win scenario for manufacturers, consumers and the environment. By requiring companies that sell printed paper, cardboard, metal, glass and plastic packaging to pay for a statewide recycling system, it has the potential to change manufacturer be-
havior to encourage a switch to more sustainable products. “This bill is about those (that) create the most environmental harm bearing the most responsibility for reducing the harm,” said Denver City Councilmember Robin Kniech. “We need responsibility at the local level, and producers at the largest stream bearing their responsibility, too. We need both components to be successful.” The bill was first introduced to the Colorado State Legislature on March 31. It passed on May 11.
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The PRO Once the bill is made into law, the Producer Responsibility Organization will be formed, consisting of and selfgoverned by Colorado manufacturers grossing $5 million or more, with an over-seeing advisory board and participation from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The purpose of the PRO will be to hold higher-grossing manufacturers accountable for the amount of waste produced and sold in Colorado. Participating companies will be required to pay dues of varying prices, depending upon the type of material produced GRANOLA EATING, and howCAMP easy itLOVING, is to recycle. WORLD TRAVELER The PRO will first perform a needsdreams.Mustassessment be fit and love spendinghow to to determine divide up the dues days and nights outdoors in thecollected middle to ensure SINGLE, ARTSY LADY SEEKS SINGLE ARTSY GUY. If you equitable, free and easy access to recyof nowhere. 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In other cases where municipalities already offer free recycling, like in BarbBarb FrankFrank Insur Agcy IncInsur Lori Rickert Insur AgcyAgcy IncInsur Denver, reimbursements from PRO Barb Insur Frank Agcy Inc Agcy Inc Lori Rickert LoriInsur Rickert Inc Agcy Inc Barb Barb Frank,Frank, Agent Lori Rickert, Agent will be given, with the stipulation that Agent LoriAgent Rickert, Agent Barb Frank, Agent Lori Rickert, 261 S261 Downing St S St 714 South Pearl Street the funds be used for expanding and S Downing 714 South Pearl Street 261 Downing St 714 South Pearl Street Bus: Bus: 303-777-4989 Bus: 303-757-7440 improving recycling programs. 303-777-4989 Bus: 303-757-7440 Bus: 303-777-4989 Bus: 303-757-7440 www.loririckert.net “The idea is that recycling should Barbwww.barbfrank.com Frank Insur www.barbfrank.com Agcy Inc Lori Rickert Insur Agcy Inc www.barbfrank.com www.loririckert.net www.loririckert.net be as easy as trash pick up is now,” Barb Frank, Agent Lori Rickert, Agent Barb Frank Insur Inc Lori Rickert Lori Rickert Inc Barb Frank BarbInsur Frank Agcy Insur Inc Agcy Inc Agcy LoriInsur Rickert Agcy Insur Inc AgcyInsur Inc Agcy said Jacob Smith, executive director 261 S Downing St 714 South Pearl Street Barb Frank, Agent LoriAgent Rickert, Agent Barb Frank, BarbAgent Frank, Agent Lori Rickert, LoriAgent Rickert, Bus: 303-777-4989 Bus: 303-757-7440 of Colorado Communities for Climate ® 261 S Downing St 714 South Pearl Street statefarm.com 261 Sstatefarm.com Downing 261 Sstatefarm.com Downing St St ® 714 South 714 Pearl South Street Pearl Street ® www.barbfrank.com www.loririckert.net Action. “If you don’t have recycling, Bus: 303-777-4989 Bus: 303-757-7440 Bus: 303-777-4989 Bus: 303-777-4989 Bus: 303-757-7440 Bus: 303-757-7440 you’ll get it. 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paying won’t have to pay anymore.” Supporters of HB 22-1355 believe this bill could result in a new system of drop-offs or collection methods, potentially with entrepreneurs offering more reliable waste streams. While recycling equity is important, some Denver residents believe change must happen from the top to truly make an impact. “Mitigating climate change and helping the environment should fall on the shoulders of the manufacturers rather than the consumers,” said Abby Peterson, a recycling advocate who has lived in Denver for eight years. She added it’s important to keep pushing the boundaries of how things are manufactured in the first place. “Why not stop making products that require recycling? I think a greater emphasis on manufacturers to create compostable products, along with providing more resources to the consumer about how to compost, would be beneficial.”
Solving statewide recycling equity The bill’s sponsors — Rep. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County; Sen. Kevin Priola, R-Adams County; and Sen. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver — and advocates believe the end result will be a win for everybody. “Recycling is a statewide equity access issue,” said Ean Tafoya, a Denver resident who serves as the state director for GreenLatinos, in a news release. “This is the first step in ensuring that we acknowledge the responsibility we have as a state to make sure that we are recycling and that our community is at the root of implementation.” It is thought that Colorado residents will benefit from the bill by having free and easy access to recycling, manufacturers will benefit from lower cost of materials and product reliability, and the environment will benefit from less pollution and lower emissions. The bill suggests that recycling will be easier for all Colorado residents. One provision of the bill is that recycling will become uniform across the state. Regardless of where one lives in Colorado, the same types of materials will be accepted for recycling. This will take out the current guesswork of what can and cannot be recycled depending upon the zip code. The dues paid by the manufacturers can be used to provide more recycling bins in communities, generating higher recycling rates. Ideally, fewer recyclable materials will end up in landfills and there will be a reduction of plastic and trash pollution. When recyclable materials end up in a landfill, it is essentially money being thrown away. “Millions of dollars of valuable material goes into the landfills every year,” Cutter said, adding that this leads to the production of raw materials, resulting in increased carbon emissions. With the PRO, Colorado manufacturers will have the option to buy back materials that are recycled, creating a closed-loop system. This will not only reduce cost for the manufacturers, but also ensure product reliability and
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SEE RECYCLE, P9
Washington Park Profile 9
June 1, 2022
A European climate change delegation visits Colorado What did they say, and what did they hear? BY MICHAEL BOOTH THE COLORADO SUN
Colorado and European Union climate and energy leaders are eager to exchange visitors on policy scouting trips to their equally desirable destinations. Never a shortage of volunteers. If they were expecting breezy tours of sightseeing highlights and factfree nights on the town, May 26 was a bracing wakeup call: This Colorado summit with the EU is jammed with dense explications of kilowatt hour clean energy prices, and hydroelectric-to-hydrogen storage projects. And both sides lapped it up. The European Union’s previous focus on climate change policy has been sharpened by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and western desires to get completely off Russian fossil fuel imports. Colorado is busy carrying out 57 pieces of landmark energy and climate change legislation passed over three years, and looking for new ideas on how to accelerate cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. “Climate is no longer a niche policy, it’s all of the economy,” said Mercedes Garcia Perez, leader of the three-day Delegation of the EU (similar to an embassy) learning mission to Colorado. After an exchange of ideas in downtown Denver on Tuesday, the delegation will also visit the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, internationally recognized atmospheric research labs and the University of Colorado in Boulder, and energy analysts at the Rocky Mountain Institute. Here’s a roundup of what EU and Colorado are eager to tell each other:
RECYCLE FROM PAGE 8
protect businesses from supply chain vulnerability. “Take glass, for example,” Smith said. “Getting high-quality glass is really difficult. If we can find a way to improve and strengthen the (recycling) infrastructure, one result is greater recovery of glass, and businesses can access that and get it cheaper than from out of state.” The closed-loop benefits the environment as well. As transport from out of state decreases, so will carbon emissions. Supporters of the bill also believe the PRO could shift the way manufacturers package their products. “Right now, if I’m producing this particular product and I’d like to reduce my liability and replace that product with something more sustainable, we might change what producers are selling in our state,” Cutter said. “If we change that behavior, that could have a big impact on us meeting our goals in Denver and across the state.” Denver does more The timeline of HB 1355’s recy-
Some of the 750,000 solar panels of the Bighorn Solar project in Pueblo are shown in this Oct. 21, 2021 photo. The Evraz Steel Mill (shown at the top of the frame) will purchase the energy generated by the array to power a new rail mill currently under PHOTO BY MIKE SWEENEY/SPECIAL TO THE COLORADO SUN construction.
What the EU Delegation is telling Colorado: • They are fascinated by the buyin from Colorado’s major electrical utilities to retire coal power plants and replace them with solar and wind power. They were impressed by Colorado’s apparent progress toward the goal of cutting 80% of electrical plant emissions by 2030, and wanted to know whether nuclear power or carbon capture and storage underground would be part of those plans. • Hydrogen energy will be a key part of the EU’s clean energy transition. Garcia Perez pointed to a new clean steel plant in northern Sweden that will use hydroelectric power to produce hydrogen, which in turn will be the fuel for the steel furnaces. European car companies are already contracting for the steel, which will be used in part to build electric vehicles. • To cut dependence on Russian oil and gas even faster, EU nations will be cling plans are lengthy. It could be years before every Denver resident has free bins in their garage or are within walking distance of one. The City of Denver, however, isn’t going to wait — there are other proposals on the table that might push Denver further and faster with increasing its recycling participation. For example, the Pay As You Throw changes to trash pick up services will be voted on in June. In this waste management model, compost and recycling pick up are free, while trash pick up involves a fee. It is meant to encourage greater composting and recycling participation. Another Denver initiative is called Waste No More, which targets commercial waste. This will be on the November 2022 ballot. Thanks to these efforts that can make headway alongside HB 22-1355, recycling in Denver will eventually be easier and more convenient for everyone — even if it takes a while to get there. “I know that Denver residents want to recycle, but it is confusing, inconvenient and costly,” Cutter said. “This bill is removing all those barriers so Denver residents can participate in creating a green city.”
demanding more sacrifices by consumers and industry. That will include lower speed limits on roadways to save fuel, and restrictions or incentives to get a larger share of power used overnight when electricity is cheaper and more available. What Colorado officials are telling the EU: • Colorado’s transition has benefited greatly from close cooperation with the six major electric utilities in the state that have been largely on board with
demands for a rapid switch to cleaner energy. Colorado projects are now hearing bids for 2 cents a kilowatt hour for wind, and less than 3 cents for solar with storage, Colorado Energy Office Executive Director Will Toor told the EU delegation, while operating existing fossil fuel plants costs utilities 4 to 4.5 cents a kilowatt hour. • Colorado’s urgency for change has been focused by seeing the initial impacts of climate change: decadeslong megadrought in Western Colorado, more frequent and severe flooding from heavy rains or snowmelt and breathing problems from an increasing number of wildfires across Colorado and neighboring states. • Transportation is the next big sector to target, Toor told the delegation. With so much success in electric utilities’ plans to make the transition, transportation has passed electric power as the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions for Colorado. Colorado’s initially ambitious goal of getting 1 million electric vehicles on the road by 2030 now appears on track, Toor said, and the state must carry through plans to decarbonize the medium to heavy vehicles, such as school buses and delivery trucks. This story is from The Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support The Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun.com. The Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.
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10 Washington Park Profile
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. FROM THE But I learned a EDITOR lot — not only as a journalist learning how the journalism industry functioned, but also all the ins-and-outs of court proceedings. During that time, I reported nearly every Christy Steadman on type 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-fictionalized 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
What’s that buzz? A pollination syndrome in your garden
J
une is the time of year gardeners of the Denvermetro area are busy growing crops in hopes of an end-of-summer bounty of fruits and veggies to GUEST be harvested. COLUMN Leading up to this harvest, Brooke Palmer gardeners tend diligently by fertilizing, pinching and, of course, watering. But there is one more thing that is essential to a good backyard harvest, and that is the right pollinator to finish the job. In this day of age, it is no secret that we rely on pollinators for plant biodiversity and crop sustainability. But did you know it sometimes takes a specific pollinator to be able to fertilize those veggie flowers in your garden? Some pollinators, specifically certain species of solitary bees and bumblebees, use distinct vibrations made by contracting their flight muscles to help extract pollen from flowers. They hold on tight to the flower and start vibrating away — in doing so, the bees incidentally fertilize flowers as they busily visit them. This term is known as buzz pollination, or floral sonication. This is important because in some flowers’ morphology, the pollen is crammed tightly
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into the anther - the part of the plant that holds the pollen - and can only be released from the tip through pores or slits (the technical term is poricidal). The classic example one can think of is by looking at a nightshade family (i.e. Solanum, or tomato) flower, where the pollen is tucked away in the center yellow, column-like tubes protruding from the flower. Without sonication, most insects are unable to access the nutritious pollen that is packed in this way. But, in buzzing and booming away at the perfect frequency and amplitude, bumblebees can access this nutritious meal and meanwhile drop off pollen from earlier stops they make, therefore fertilizing flowers as they go. As mentioned above, not all pollinators are capable of this buzz pollinating. Only about half of all bee species can generate the frequencies required to release pollen — this buzzing mechanism is restricted to bumblebees and many types of solitary bees. Oddly enough, honeybees are unable to pollinate in this manner. Although the honeybees can do some of the pollinating, they are not as efficient in producing the same high crop yields that the SEE POLLINATORS, P11
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.
Join us for Earth Day Remastered
T
Physalis philadelphica, a tomatillo, is an example of a flower that requires buzz pollination to ensure fertilization. PHOTO BY BROOKE PALMER
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here are many issues of real importance facing Profile readers as we approach the mid-point of 2022. Denver’s GUEST cost of living has priced out entire COLUMN sectors of hard working families who want nothing more than to call Denver home. We struggle to get unsheltered residents into housing with the services they Councilmember need to return Paul Kashmann them to independent living. Violent crime, especially gun-related incidents, continues to rise while simple property crimes like burglary, cartheft, pilfering of catalytic converters and the like are driving residents to distraction. And our pledge to Vision Zero — reducing deaths and serious injuries on our roadways to zero in the coming years — has not born fruit, but is heading in the wrong direction despite the best efforts of our Department of Transportation and Infrastructure. SEE KASHMANN, P11
Columnists & Guest Commentaries Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of the Profile. 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.
Washington Park Profile 11
June 1, 2022
As Latino leaders, it’s time to prioritize investing in our students
I
n the United States, 82% of Latino students graduate from high school. But compared to Latino students, twice as many white students earn bachGUEST elor’s or graduate degrees. COLUMN While Colorado has one of the nation’s most highly educated populations, only a quarter of Hispanic residents have a college credential, the lowest among Ismar Vallecillos all groups. Just 41% of Hispanic men at Colorado’s public four-year universities make it to graduation, according to recent federal data. At community colleges, less than a third graduate. Unfortunately, this data is not surprising as we continue to see research on the pressures put on our Latino young men, who lead families while balancing jobs and community obligations. However, I see a brighter and sustainable path for our Latino males to advance — in part because I have lived that same journey. As an immigrant from El Salvador, my father — who had been a computer programmer in our home country — found tree trimming and landscap-
ing work. At first, I followed in his footsteps, working with my hands in various jobs. Then, after working as a swim instructor, I realized I loved to teach. But to teach, I had to go to school. So I enrolled in community college but stopped when I got an office job. Until a friend spoke some memorable words: “Don’t settle, Ismar, get your college degree.” Eventually, I earned my bachelor’s degree, then my master’s. I taught multicultural and multilingual students like the young person I once was. Today, my passion is to help people — especially Latino and Englishlanguage-learner students — understand that education is the great equalizer. I ultimately joined Western Governors University, an online higher education institution whose unique approach to education makes it more accessible to students from all backgrounds. I see the same drive I had in the faces of young Latino men. I see a strong work ethic mixed with a commitment to familia and communidad. I see the passion to work hard, but the feeling of being somehow stuck in a rut with no opportunity to advance. We must feed their drive with education, backed by continued support from family and community.
I’ve observed five obstacles that make it difficult for many Latino students to earn a degree: 1. First-generation students/lack of college culture: Nearly half of Latino students are the first in their families to attend college. 2. Lack of English language or academic skills: In parts of the U.S., one in three families have limited English, making it harder to achieve in school and join college-bound programs. 3. Family pressures: During the pandemic, Latino college enrollment dropped by 7% as many students helped support the family economically or care for family members. 4. Financial constraints: Many Latino students enter college as low-income students. Most work more than 30 hours a week to finance their education. Yet Latinos receive the lowest amounts of financial aid among all ethnic groups. 5. Lack of mentorship: Some students, especially first-generation students, lack a social network to provide guidance and support for challenges along the way. Whether you are born in the U.S. or elsewhere, whether English or another language is your mother tongue, whether you support a family or live on your own, a degree can be accessible. At schools like WGU, a
competency-based approach means you can get credit for your life experience. You can complete the degree as fast as you want — or take the time you need. You are assigned a mentor who gets to know you and helps you find solutions to your challenges. And you can do all this while achieving an undergraduate degree for less than $20,000 total. That investment is well worth it because education is the surest path to a more prosperous future. Bachelor’s degree-holders earn 67% more than those with a high school diploma. Individuals with a bachelor’s degree have median earnings of $32.62 per hour, compared to $19.52 with a high school diploma. Over a lifetime, that’s a difference of nearly $2.5 million — enough to pay for a home, educate your kids and fund your retirement. And it’s enough to remind yourself that you didn’t settle but instead opened the door to doing so much more. All immigrants come to this country for a better life, “para triumfar” or to succeed. I believe higher education is the gateway to achieve that success. There are pathways to get there if we rally behind our young men.
KASHMANN
trips has become ever-more urgent as Denver fails far more often than is acceptable to meet federal clean air guidelines. On Sunday, June 26, from noon to 4 p.m., I will host a free climateaction event in the southern end of the main meadow in Washington Park. Called Earth Day Remastered: A Celebration of Our Commitment to A Healthy Planet, we will be joined by some 20 exhibitors presenting products and services to help you reduce your carbon footprint and live a more sustainable lifestyle. We’ll have live music from the Denver Municipal Band and blues maven Erika Brown with Dan Treanor. You’ll hear from great speakers including David Sirota, Oscar-nominated co-author of the movie, “Don’t Look Up;” former state representative and environmental activist Joe Salazar; and Linda Appel Lipcius, head of Denver Urban Gardens. And we’ll have food trucks to help keep your hunger and thirst at bay for the afternoon. The event is co-sponsored by the University of Denver, Denver Parks & Recre-
ation and Love My Air, Denver. Please come and join us and recommit to doing what you can do to combat climate change.
Paul Kashmann represents District 6 on Denver City Council. He can be reached at paul.kashmann@ denvergov.org or 720-337-6666.
FROM PAGE 10
Each of these challenges could reasonably merit directing the entirety of our city’s annual budget in their direction, but the need to address our collective impact on climate change outpaces them all. As science continues to sound alarms with ever increasing frequency and urgency — alerting us to the accelerating pace of climate shifts around the globe — reducing our civic carbon footprint requires a primary focus. We must do what we can to reverse the trends our collective lack of attention has created. We have increased energy efficiency requirements on new and existing commercial buildings. We are considering options to increase Denver’s residential and commercial recycling and composting stream to reduce the greenhouse gas-emitting waste we send to the landfill. Creating a more robust mass transit system to reduce single-occupant auto
POLLINATORS FROM PAGE 10
bumblebees can. The type of flower morphology that requires buzz pollination assistance is also limited to certain species of flowering plants — the more well-known ones include tomato, eggplant, tomatillo, kiwi and blueberry. If your veggie garden is full of tomatoes and eggplant, that means a lot of it will necessitate bumblebees and solitary bees to ensure flowers are fertilized with resulting fruits being made. There
is, however, still room for the bustling honeybee in the veggie garden. Some crops do not have a need for those special mechanical vibrations to access pollen, including squashes and gourds. Next time you hear those humble, bumbling bumblebees happily a-buzzing away in the garden beds, hopefully you will give some praise and remember their important role to the crops we grow and eat every day. Brooke Palmer is a horticulturist and the greenhouse production coordinator for the Denver Botanic Gardens
Ismar Vallecillos is the northwest regional director for Western Governors University.
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12 Washington Park Profile
June 1, 2022
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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 MediterPHOTO 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
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 ex-
the pandemic, the 36,000-squarefoot 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
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Washington Park Profile 13
June 1, 2022
GREENHOUSE
FROM PAGE 12
panse 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 PHOTOS BY TIM COLLINS 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. 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.
Maintenance tech Mike Beroske, who helps out part time, gives a drink to a stand of deep red nicotiana.
Many people never stumble upon the quietly fecund world of the City Park Greenhouse, which supplies flowers and foliage to all 250 municipal parks.
14 Washington Park Profile
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.”
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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Washington Park Profile 15
June 1, 2022
Imagining and facilitating youth art exploration PlatteForum hosts ‘Imitation Simulation’ exhibit in its new annex BY BRUCE GOLDBERG SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
If it sounds like you’re about to get run over by an RTD bus or some other vehicle when you go see “Imitation Simulation,” fear not. Capturing bits of an artist’s life — whether sounds from nature, noisy traffic or other sources — is part of what’s behind “Imitation Simulation,” an exhibit that Annette Isham, a resident artist with Denver’s PlatteForum, worked on with about 20 student artists. PlatteForum describes the exhibit as: “What is home and how do we belong to our environment.” “As an artist, we kind of get caught up in our world,” Isham said. “Ask yourself: Who’s looking at this
IF YOU GO “Imitation Simulation” is on view until June 12 in the Flight at Taxi space in PlatteForum’s Annex Gallery, 3575 Ringsby Court #103, in Denver. Open hours are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, or by appointment. An appointment can be made by emailing sstrand@platteforum.org. To learn more about PlatteForum, visit platteforum.org. work and how does it affect them? People will get things about it, such as how do people relate to their home, and the soundscape, made up of everyday sounds from our area. A lot of my work has to do with identity and learning about geography … whether it’s being able to look at the mountains or the landscape.” “Imitation Simulation” is part of a larger story, as it is the first exhibition held in PlatteForum’s Annex Gallery, 3575 Ringsby Court #103, in Denver. “We are able to give our artists
more flexibility in creating and imagining and facilitating their art exploration,” Michael Gadlin, executive director of PlatteForum, said of the new space and the organization’s big picture. Gadlin has been involved with PlatteForum since 2009 when he joined its board of directors. “It gives us the ability to control, and have, without pause, artists that come in and practice,” said Gadlin, a painter whose work has been shown in galleries. “We now have dedicated studio space. We also have the ability to have a full working gallery to exhibit their work.” PlatteForum, known for its innovative arts, is a youth-development and artist-in-residence program that was founded in 2002 in Denver. The nonprofit organization teams disadvantaged youth with professional artists for long-term learning. The youths work with resident artists to plan, produce and exhibit work. PlatteForum also recently announced it garnered a two-year
grant totaling $274,000 from the Caring for Denver Foundation, making it PlatteForum’s largest donation ever. To help put that in perspective, Gadlin said PlatteForum’s annual operating budget used to be around $260,000. Today, it’s approaching $800,000 and he expects to hit $1 million soon. Income sources include corporate gifts, local and federal grants and more. ArtLab is the organization’s artseducation internship program for high schoolers and boasts a 12-year, 95% on-time graduation rate. Youth workshops, exhibitions, performances and events remain free to all. “A lot of kids are looking for a community they can be a part of,” Gadlin said. “It gives a chance for young adults to see creatives really thriving and succeeding and giving them a platform, see how art plays a role in how to grow as a human being — how art plays a role in how to grow as a human being.”
New and mind-bending at Curtis Susan Cooper restrospective runs through June 25 at gallery in Greenwood Village
IF YOU GO Admission to the Susan Cooper retrospective at Curtis Center for the Arts is free and the atmosphere is relaxed in this beautiful gallery that grew in an early local schoolhouse, 2349 E. Orchard Road in Greenwood Village. Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 303-797-1779.
BY SONYA ELLINGBOE SELLINGBOE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Susan Cooper is a Denver-based, nationally recognized artist, known for her large works in the realm of public art, created with media including plexiglass, steel and copper, LED lighting, concrete, polycarbonate steel, wood and bronze. A colorful retrospective of her work opened May 14 at Curtis Center for the Arts, 2349 E. Orchard Road, Greenwood Village and will run through June 25. It is called “Susan Cooper: Rearranging.” It includes large works like “Corona Comfort,” created from scraps of brightly colored plexiglass saved from earlier projects. She writes in the show’s prospectus that they were non-biodegradable and vibrant in color. Some were too huge to move and some show images from past projects. “Forward and Back,” a particularly lively, brightly colored paper mural, is made of cut-up postcards that were printed to advertise earlier exhibits by Cooper. A companion piece, “Rearranging Retrospectionism,” is on a similar theme, but made from black-and-white postcards, which Cooper says were all she could afford at first. Walk on into the exhibit and she surely shows an intent to play with your mind, as she messes with perspective! Chairs and tables, lamps and beds skew in various ways and angles. Some are actual furniture pieces — sort of — and others are wall-hung artworks. “Just not functional furniture,” she writes. Bright color prevails in general,
Susan Cooper poses with her artwork “Corona Comfort,” created from scraps of brightly colored plexiglass, which is on display at Curtis Center for the Arts in COURTESY PHOTO Greenwood Village.
with the exception of a pair of bronze cast wall pieces, “Highwise” and “Full House,” in her Storyline Series. They call a visitor to stare at the detail. All of these artworks show a precise attention to fine craftsmanship and a fascinating intellect. These works relate in my mind to surrealism — they are indeed surreal, yet include objects that are so familiar. Cooper’s bio says she received MA and BA degrees from the University of California at Berkeley and has an early major work in Denver’s City/ County Building Rotunda: two high relief murals. She has work at area light rail stations plus additional projects in Colorado, California, Florida, Missouri and Nebraska. I think children with a creative bent would enjoy this exhibit, although I’d imagine a number of “why” questions may come forth. A “no-touch” rule would certainly be needed, but it is stimulating to contemplate this work ...
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16 Washington Park Profile
June 1, 2022
is officially a state holiday in Colorado BY KYLE COOKE ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS
‘This means that places all across the country will know the power of Juneteenth, right here in Denver.’
I
t is official: Juneteenth is a state holiday in Colorado. Governor Jared Polis signed a bill Monday, May 2, that makes Juneteenth Colorado’s eleventh state holiday. The bill signing took place at Cleo Parker Robinson dance studio in Denver. Members of the Black Democratic Legislative Caucus of Colorado joined Polis at the bill signing, as did Juneteenth Music Festival organizer Norman Harris and Colorado WINS president Skip Miller. “This day means so much to me,” Harris said. Miller also spoke at the bill signing event, as did the bill’s three primary sponsors: Democrats Sen. Janet Buckner (Aurora), Sen. James Coleman (Denver) and Rep. Leslie Herod (Denver). “Colorado, and Denver, has one of the largest Juneteenth [celebrations] in the nation, and it’s time that it’s recognized,” Herod told Rocky Mountain PBS in the moments leading up to the bill’s passage Monday. “I’m really excited to say that the workers of Colorado WINS fought for this in their first ever ... collective bargaining agreement with the governor, and here we are today. This means that places all across the country will know the power of Juneteenth, right here in Denver.” Colorado WINS is the union representing thousands of state workers. The Colorado House passed the bill Monday, April 11. The legislation
Leslie Herod, Colorado state representative
Colorado Rep. Leslie Herod, a Denver Democrat, speaks at the Juneteenth bill signing Monday, May 2 at the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance COURTESY OF. ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS studio.
had broad bipartisan support; the vote in the House was 61-2. The only “no” votes were Republicans Rod Pelton (District 65) and Rod Bockenfeld (District 56). The Colorado Senate approved the bill Monday, March 21 with a 32-1 vote. Republican Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg (District 1) was the sole vote against the bill. Herod told Rocky Mountain PBS that the bipartisan support of the bill “just acknowledges how far we’ve come.” Members of the Black Democratic Legislative Caucus of Colorado first touted the bill Wednesday, March 2, on the steps of the Colorado State Capitol with Polis. “This is a critical part of our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and movement to increase equality in state agencies,” said Colorado WINS president Skip Miller, who spoke at the March 2 event event. “Making Juneteenth
a state holiday means Colorado not only recognizes that Black people are free, but that all people are free,” Sen. Coleman said at the Capitol. Juneteenth — a portmanteau of the words June and nineteenth, the date on which the holiday takes place — is a celebration that started with the freed slaves of Galveston, Texas more than 150 years ago. Though the Emancipation Proclamation freed enslaved people in the South in 1863, the proclamation was not enforced in many places in the South, including Texas, until after the Civil War ended in 1865. Until then, many enslaved people were unaware of what happened in the Civil War or the fact that they should have been freed. On June 19, 1865, Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger and his troops arrived at Galveston. Granger brought with him General Order No. 3 which read, in part, “The people of Texas are informed that, in accor-
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dance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.” The following year, the now-free people of Texas began celebrating Juneteenth. For a long time, the holiday was predominantly recognized in Texas, but eventually spread across the nation as Black Texans moved outside the state. In June of 2021, following a nationwide racial justice movement sparked by the murder of George Floyd a year prior, President Joe Biden signed bipartisan legislation making Juneteenth a national holiday, the first new holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was created in 1983. Earlier in 2021, Denver started officially recognizing Juneteenth after City Council unanimously approved a proposal to make the Saturday closest to June 19 a commemorative holiday. “Denver has a proud, longstanding tradition of celebrating Juneteenth in
the community,” District 8 Councilman Christopher Herndon said after the resolution passed last year. “This is an opportunity to shine a light on Black history and officially recognize and celebrate our freedom, heritage, and achievement.” Juneteenth is now the eleventh Colorado state holiday, joining: • New Year’s Day • Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day • President’s Day • Memorial Day • Independence Day • Labor Day • Frances Xavier Cabrini Day • Veterans Day • Thanksgiving • Christmas This story is from Rocky Mountain PBS, a nonprofit public broadcaster providing community stories across Colorado over the air and online. Used by permission. For more, and to support Rocky Mountain PBS, visit rmpbs.org.
Washington Park Profile 17
June 1, 2022
Juneteenth Music Festival in Five Points takes place June 18-19 BY CHRISTY STEADMAN CSTEADMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
G
rowing 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. PHOTOS COURTESY OF JENSEN SUTTA
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 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.
The Juneteenth Music Festival is a familyfriendly event, boasting live music and entertainment, food, a parade and Youth Zone with a variety of children’s activities.
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 yearround community and social justice programming. To learn more about the Juneteenth Music Festival, visit juneteenthmusicfestival.com or follow it on social media: @JuneteenthMusicFestival.
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18 Washington Park Profile
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SOWILO ARTISAN JEWELRY New Location New Hours Hand Crafted Silver Jewelry, Custom Design, Silver Jewelry Restoration and Repair 999 Vallejo, Unit 3, Studio 4K Denver 80204 (303) 548-5467 sowiloartisanjewelry. com Hours: Saturday 11:00 – 4:00 with Special Hours for the Holidays Consultations for Custom Design and Repairs by Appointment
Miscellaneous GARAGE FOR LEASE DU – Washington Park Single car garage close to Denver University and Washington Park, secure, great for compact car, snowmobiles, 4-wheelers, dirt bikes, motorcycles, scooters, trailer and other storage. $ 125/month. Call 832-228-0296
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Helpful Ace Hardware Pro Painters is a residential painting company which specializes in exterior and interior painting. Our core values are honesty, integrity, service, quality and beauty and our focus is on delivering an outstanding customer experience. We currently include a full color consult, test pints and a detailed walkthrough with all of our paint jobs.
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CLEAN-UPS/ YARD MAINTENANCE/ SNOW REMOVAL Hauling and yard clean-up. Longtime Baker neighborhood resident; 30 yrs. exp. Insured, references. Free estimates. Call Lou R. Varlaro, 303868-1539.
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Washington Park Profile 19
June 1, 2022
D
NICIPAL BA U M R E ENV
ND RET UR N S WIT H
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.
FR E E
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 performance schedule continues
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?” said Leavitt. The DMB is comprised of professional musicians, which
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
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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20 Washington Park Profile
June 1, 2022
New season promises to be better than ever
IF YOU GO What: Music and Movies at Infinity Park Where: Infinity Park, 950 S. Birch St., Glendale When: Gates open at 6 p.m. and the band begins at 6:30 p.m. The movie begins at 7:30 p.m. Schedule: June 24 - “Happy Gilmore” with Dumm Friends League July 8 - “Cruella” with SuperMagick July 22 - “Sing 2” with Cass Clayton Band Aug. 12 - “Yesterday” with Classic Vinyl (all Beatles) Additional details: Free parking is available in a parking lot at 4601 E. Kentucky Ave., which is near the intersection of Cherry Street and Kentucky Avenue. Attendees may bring chairs, blankets, picnic baskets, food and beverages. Glass bottles and grills are not allowed. More information: infinityparkatglendale.com
BY CLARKE READER SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
It is a truth universally acknowledged that everything is better under a warm summer’s night sky. And that’s just one of the reasons the Music and Movies at Infinity Park series has been such a resounding success for the last 13 years. Hosted at the 16-acre, indooroutdoor stadium, the series is trying something new this year, with the blending of free concerts and movies together for a special series of events that will also feature food trucks. “It made sense to combine the music and movies and move these free events to Friday nights, when most families are celebrating the end of the week with pizza and a movie anyway,” said Pam Dunbar, director of marketing with Infinity Park and the City of Glendale. “We thought that adding the band before the movie and switching the genre of the movies to a mix of classics and popular new movies would help to grow the current audience and potentially add younger adults and couples looking for a fun date night.” Dunbar shared with us the plans for the new season, what audiences will gain from the experience and more:
Tell me a little about the history of the event. Since 2009, Infinity Park has been hosting Monday Movie Madness. It started as a community event to give back to local residents and those in the area. Over the years, Monday
Music and Movies at Infinity Park in Glendale returns this summer with live music and a COURTESY PHOTO movie showing on June 24, July 8, July 22 and Aug. 12.
Movie Madness’ reputation grew and we have hosted more than a thousand people at some of our movie events. Along with local sponsors, and food trucks on hand, the event has become a metro-wide family favorite. What is exciting about this year’s roster? We knew that we wanted to pull away from a full roster of animated movies. And, since we were incorporating bands, we decided it would be fun to choose movies that could have a matching or themed music component. With our lineup, we were able to find bands that would approach the music with the movie in mind. For example, our first movie is “Happy Gilmore” and The Dumm Friends
League band will play plenty of fun 70’s music before the movie. “Cruella” will showcase Super Magick playing current pop music; for “Sing 2,” we booked Cass Clayton Band and they will play U2 songs. Finally, our last event for the summer will be the movie “Yesterday,” with Beatles music provided by Classic Vinyl. In your opinion, what makes this event special? Infinity Park looks forward to sharing our stadium with patrons every summer. It’s not every day that you can stretch out on a professional sports team’s field and enjoy the view from a jumbo movie screen.
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It’s a little bit like a drive-in theater without the car. I like to think that it is similar to Red Rocks but with free parking and no hike. We allow patrons to bring their own food to this event, and we also allow adult beverages as long as they aren’t in glass containers. If you don’t feel like packing a picnic, we provide food trucks that provide a variety of food options, and we always have a giveaway of some sort with fun sponsors that hand out giveaway items as well. It’s a great way to enjoy a summer evening with that special someone or with your family. What kind of experience do you hope attendees come away with? We are very excited to help people kick off their weekends with these fun outdoor events. If you bring your children, there is plenty of room for them to run around and play. We hope that everyone enjoys being outside, especially after a couple of years of limited activity. (Gaining) familiarity with our stadium and location, we hope will encourage fans to come back and watch a rugby match or two later in the summer.
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