Washington Park Profile May 2023

Ototo Den

Ototo Den, 1501 S. Pearl St. in Denver’s Platt Park neighborhood, recently reopened.

Ototo Den is the third restaurant owned and operated by the Kizaki brothers.

e other two are Sushi Den, 1487 S. Pearl St., and Izakaya Den, 1487-A S. Pearl St.

In 2021, Ototo Den temporarily closed to be able to support the other two Kizaki restaurants with chefs and sta .

Known for its authentic Japanese Robata and international sake selection, Ototo Den o ers delicacies not commonly found on Denver menus. Master Chef Toshi Kizaki recently traveled to Japan and hand-selected Japanese chefs to execute Ototo’s kitchen.

e three restaurants together make up what is known as Den Corner, which honors Japanese cuisine — Sushi Den with its premier sushi, Izakaya Den and its tapas style menu serving traditional Japanese plates, and Ototo Den’s raw bar and robata grilled skewers.

To learn more about Ototo Den, visit ototoden.com. e website has links to learn more about the other two Kizaki brothers’ restaurants.

Tonkotsu ramen available at Ototo Den. Photo courtesy of Ototo Den.

Capitol Donuts

Capitol Donuts, 329 E. Colfax

Ave. in Denver’s Uptown, celebrated its one-year anniversary in April.

e donut shop o ers a variety of donuts including cake, lled and Danishes.

To learn more, visit capitol-donuts.business. site.

Courtesy logo.

Studholme Chiropractic

Studholme Chiropractic, 1600 S. Broadway, has celebrated its one-year anniversary serving south Denver.

Nick Studholme launched Studholme Chiropractic in Niwot in 2000. He moved to Denver after meeting his wife, who lived in Denver, and has lived in the Platt Park neighborhood for about 17 years.

“I think the best part of the neighborhood is the diverse nature of the South Broadway business district and how supportive the community and other businesses have been,” Studholme said. “Denver has been amazing because everyone here seems to be hiking, biking, running, skiing, etc. And because we specialize in helping active people with chronic pain get back to doing the things they love, it’s been a great t.”

Studholme Chiropractic serves all active people and boasts state-of-the-art equipment for diagnosis and treatment. It is a hybrid rehabilitation/gym-based facility with a heavy focus on sports, including running injuries and post-surgical rehab, for example. It also hosts respiratory training classes for the general public.

e business will soon be launching high performance training for high school athletes looking to get college sports scholarships.

“It’s based on identifying, and then xing, de cits we’ve seen in 25 years of working with high level athletes,” Studholme said.

To learn more about Studholme Chiropractic, visit denverrunningsolutions.com.

Becci McCormack/South Metro Denver Realtor Association

Becci McCormack has recently earned SMART designation from the South Metro Denver Realtor Association, which is an organization that provides real estate professionals with the resources they need to help them grow and prosper in the real estate business.

SMART is an acronym for South Metro Advanced Realtor Training and is designed to reward and provide recognition to South Metro Denver Realtor Association members who exceed continuing education requirements set forth by the Colorado Real Estate Commission.

McCormack is a senior real estate specialist with Realty ONE Group Five Star based out of its Washington Virginia Vale o ce at 480 S. Holly St. in Denver.

McCormack is one of 97 South Metro Denver Realtor Association members who earned the SMART designation. ere are nearly 34,000 actively licensed real estate agents in Colorado, McCormack said.

“My clients depend on me as a licensed Realtor to know and understand the ever-changing real estate market, nancial consequences of a transaction, and the binding responsibilities of their decisions. … It takes a lot of education to provide excellent service in this industry. Staying current and knowledgeable is imperative,” McCormack said. “Looking back at my SMART designation classes in 2022, I learned a lot about a lot: fair housing, ethics, statistics, negotiations, changes to the Commission approved forms and more. I’m grateful for South Metro Denver Realtor Association’s vast o ering of education. My membership in this association is one of the most valuable assets I have in the industry.”

To learn more about the South Metro Denver Realtor Association, visit smdra.com.

Becci McCormack. Courtesy photo.

Briarwood Health Care Center

community for 50 years, had its last day of service on April 30.

A message on its website states: “ e years of great memories made will remain forever, but our time in southeast Denver has come to an end. … ere doesn’t seem to be adequate words to sum up how we are feeling right now. If we tried, this statement would likely go on forever. So, for now, we will just say ank you, thank you, thank you for being our support, our friends, our family.”

e restaurant, located at 3563 S. Monaco Parkway, o ered a variety of Mexican and Italian food, as well as a robust wine and beer selection and spirited cocktails.

Photo courtesy of Piccolo’s Facebook page.

Caring for Denver Foundation

e Caring for Denver Foundation has reached a milestone of awarding $100 million in grants to Denver nonpro ts.

e Caring for Denver Foundation is a community fund that provides nancial support for programs and services that address Denver’s mental health and substance misuse. It is funded through a November 2018 voter-approved sales tax that puts $0.25 per $100 spent into the fund, and the Caring for Denver Foundation — which is governed by a 13-member board — is tasked with prioritizing those funds.

Grants are awarded tri-annually, and through the years, 218 community-based organizations, nonpro ts, schools and agencies have received the $109 million in grant funding.

e most recent allocation of grants took place on March 20. irty-six grants totaling more than $11.7 million went to Denver-

Briarwood Health Care Center, 1440 Vine St. in Denver’s Cheesman Park neighborhood, has been recognized on Newsweek’s 2023 list of America’s Best Nursing Homes.

More than 11,722 nursing homes in 25 states were analyzed for the list, and Briarwood Health Care Center is one of 475 facilities that were awarded a rank on the 2023 list, according to a news release. It scored number three out of all the facilities in Colorado.

According to a news release, Newsweek based its Best Nursing Homes list on data from Statista Inc., a worldwide data research rm. e rankings were determined using four criteria: a performance data score, a reputation score, a COVID-19 score and a score for facilities accredited by e Joint Commission, a nonpro t that accredits U.S. health care organizations and programs.

“ is is an honor and has come with a lot of hard work from the associates who work at Briarwood Health Care Center,” said Hollie Hoyle, the facility’s executive director, in a news release. “We have a team who is committed to do what is right for the residents with compassion, integrity and love.”

Briarwood Health Care Center is a facility of the Life Care Centers of America family, which is headquartered in Tennessee.

To learn more about Briarwood Health Care Center, lcca.com/locations/co/briarwood. Courtesy logo.

based youth-serving organizations. Visit lifeoncaphill.com or washparkprole.com to nd a full list of the organizations.

Caring for Denver Foundation will fund two more rounds of grants during the 2023 scal year. Grantees that focus on alternatives to jail will be announced in July, and community-centered solutions grants will be awarded in November.

To learn more about the Caring for Denver Foundation or apply for a grant, visit caring4denver.org.

Students work on a project at 5280 High School, a project-based learning school located in Denver’s Ruby Hill neighborhood. e school will use its Caring for Denver Foundation grant funding for its AltitudeYR program, an afterschool and weekend recovery program for youth. Photo courtesy of 5280 High School.

Warren Village/Salazar Family Foundation

e Salazar Family Foundation presented a $50,000 check to Warren Village in late March.

Warren Village is a nonpro t residential community located at 13th Avenue and Gilpin Street near Cheesman Park that provides single parents in need with transitional housing. It has a two-generation approach to end the cycle of poverty and empower families to reach self-su ciency. Warren Village o ers a wide variety of resources that include transitional, private housing, parent services and advocacy, and early childhood education and childcare. Learn more at WarrenVillage.org.

e Salazar Family Foundation is a Denver-based organization that has a “core mission to provide support to deserving nonpro t organizations in the areas of education, low-income housing assistance, and other community unmet needs,” states a news release. Learn more at salazarfamilyfoundation. org.

“We are proud to support Warren Village and their mission to help lowincome single families overcome poverty and achieve self-su ciency,” said Lola Salazar, Salazar Family Foundation’s president and co-founder, in a news release. “Our foundation has a strong commitment to education and community development, and we believe that Warren Village’s holistic approach to supporting families aligns with our philanthropic goals.”

Photo courtesy of Warren Village.

Women Who Charge

e local nonpro t

Women Who Charge is testing a new pilot program to help small businesses in Denver adopt and use electric vehicle technology.

A ribbon cutting for the pilot program, being called e Electric Vehicle Workplace Charging Program, took place on April 13 at 2380 S. Broadway in Denver’s Rosedale neighborhood, where the ZoZo Group, a Denver-based marketing rm, is housed. A goal of the pilot program is to encourage property owners to install workplace charging stations that are accessible to employees for their use during working hours. Employees pay to park and access the EV charging stations. Outside of business hours, the charging stations are available to the general public. With this model, small business owners can o er EV charging as a bene t to their employees, and generate revenue from customers paying for access to the parking spaces/charging stations during non-business hours.

Women Who Charge will gather data and feedback from the pilot program at the ZoZo Group, and use this information to re ne the program and expand it throughout the Denver area. According to a news release, Women Who Charge can assist small businesses and property owners with identifying sources to help with funding the installation of EV charging stations.

Women Who Charge has a mission “to advocate and support global sustainability e orts by encouraging the growth of the electric vehicle industry,” states its website. To learn more, visit WomenWhoCharge.com.

A ribbon cutting for the pilot program, e Electric Vehicle Workplace Charging Program, took place on April 13. Pictured, from left, is Denver’s District 6 City Councilman Paul Kashmann; LaSheita Sayer, founder and president of Women Who Charge; Grace Rink, the executive director of Denver’s O ce of Climate Action, Sustainability, and Resiliency; and Huma Seth, the director of clean transportation for Xcel Energy. Photo courtesy of the ZoZo Group.

Rico Jones performing at the 2022 Five Points Jazz Festival. Story on Page 8. PHOTO COURTESY

STORIES FROM A HORRIFIC ERA IN HISTORY

amation League served as program convener, its 42nd year in that role.

Amer Randell, who teaches a Holocaust history class at RiseUp Community High School, helped arrange Galan’s talk in Denver.

BY BRUCE GOLDBERG SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Paul Galan has vivid memories.

He remembers the numerous beatings he took in school because Nazi Germany and Adolf Hitler were determined to wipe out Jews. He remembers Jewish stores being looted. He remembers Jewish families being kicked out of their homes, often put on trains bound to concentration camps.

Galan, 87, who came to the United States in 1951, was born in Czechoslovakia. He is a Holocaust survivor.

“I have vivid memories of the whole experience: e separation, the family, some really horrible experiences,” Galan said. “I just had to deal with it. I dealt with it as an adult, not as a child, and put it all into perspective.”

Today, Galan travels extensively to give pro bono presentations about antisemitism and what his family went through before somehow trickling back to their home, one by one, as World War II wound down.

Galan has been giving talks since 2006, when he retired from a career of making documentary lms. He’s traveled across the U.S. — even as far as Alaska — to deliver his message.

“I’ve traveled with students to Poland and Israel six times,” Galan

“As a history teacher for more than two decades, there is nothing that can parallel learning from a primary source, especially from a person who lived this horri c era in our history,” Randall said. “I hope it gave (the students) a greater sense of empathy for something that happened to a fellow human being — feeling ‘othered,’ the feeling of extreme fear and cruelty — juxtaposed with his belief that all people can be good or bad, not to hate.”

Galan told about going to a forced labor camp, and waking up one morning to the news that the camp had been liberated. He described the long journey he and his family took, on foot, into the mountains in unstable weather in attempts to escape the Nazis.

ere were times when Galan’s family, desperate for a good night’s sleep and a long way from home, wound up sleeping in the same room as German soldiers who didn’t suspect that they were Jews. Somehow, they got through those times undetected.

He recalled that when his family received permission to change their last name so that they wouldn’t be suspected to be Jewish, his antisemitic teacher announced the name change in class, then turned around and stayed that way while several students beat up Galan.

Paul Galan, a Holocaust survivor, addresses a crowd of about 170 community members and students during a presentation part of the 42nd annual Governor’s Holocaust Remembrance program.

PHOTOS BY CHRISTY STEADMAN

Holocaust survivor speaks to Denver students, community

Paul Galan, a Holocaust survivor, shows a family photo during an April 19 presentation at Denver’s RedLine Contemporary Art Center.

The ‘Crown Jewel’ of concerts

Oe Denver Philharmonic Orchestra is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, and it is planning a jubilant throwback concert.

“We’ve been operating continuously for 75 years and putting on wonderful concerts for the community for all those years,” said Lawrence Golan, DPO’s conductor since 2013. “ is particular concert is the culmination of our 75th anniversary, basically a re-creation of May 18, 1948, which was our rst concert.”

e 75th anniversary “Crown Jewel” program takes place on May 25 on the Antonia Brico Stage at Central Presbyterian Church, 1660 Sherman St., in Denver.

The renowned Antonia Brico

By the time she had settled in Denver, Antonia Brico had conducted professional orchestras in Europe and the U.S., including the Berlin Philharmonic and New York Philharmonic.

According to the DPO’s website, Brico saw a “need for a classical music venue to showcase the talents of local, classically trained musicians

continued to conduct the DPO until her retirement in the 1980s. Today, she is the namesake of the stage that the DPO performs on.

Same music, di erent eras

Golan plans to boost the nostalgia quotient of the “Crown Jewel” concert with performances from the organization’s inaugural program. It will include three selections from the 1948 show, including Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Coriolan Overture,” “En Saga” by Jean Sibelius and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Symphony No. 40.”

“ e original concert was much longer, two or three hours,” Golan said. “At that time, it was before television, and (it) was a time really used for live entertainment (and) live events, whether it was theater, opera, symphony.”

Today, there’s many forms of entertainment — including TV and the internet — and more things that families do together, Golan added.

“Everybody is so busy these days,” he said, “and concerts tend to be short.”

He expects the “Crown Jewel” program will last about an hour-

Attendees will also get to participate in the DPO’s More an Music. ese events are themed for each concert and o er an additional experience to the concert. More an Music ranges from pre-concert chats,

during which concert-goers learn insight into the program’s music, SEE ORCHESTRA, P14

In this historic photo, Antonia Brico, conductor, stands with the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra. Today, Brico is the namesake of the stage that the orchestra performs on at the Central Presbyterian Church in Denver. COURTESY PHOTO; COPYRIGHT ROBERT B. DALLENBACH

DENVER FARMERS MARKETS OPEN FOR THE SEASON

BY CHRISTY STEADMAN CSTEADMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Farmers market season is upon us. Denver has plenty to choose from this year, each possessing a unique vibe with other attractions, like live music, food trucks and chef demos. Most markets have announced their vendor lineups for the season, which begins in May. Visit the websites below to learn more about each market.

2023 Denver farmers markets

Central Park Farmers Market

Located at Founders Green at

Central Park, 7601 29th Ave.

Sundays, June 25 – Oct. 8 (8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)

centralparkfarmersmarket.com

City Park Farmers Market

Located at East High School Esplanade, 1600 City Park Esplanade

Saturdays, May 13 – Oct. 28 (8 a.m. to 1 p.m.)

cityparkfarmersmarket.com

Colorado Fresh Markets - Cherry Creek

Located at the Cherry Creek Shopping Center, First Avenue and University Boulevard

Saturdays, May 6 – Nov. 4 (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and Wednesdays, June 14 –

Aug. 16 (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.)

coloradofreshmarkets.com

Highlands Square Farmers Market

Located at 32nd Avenue and Lowell Boulevard

Sundays, May 21 – Oct. 15 (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.)

highlandssquarefarmersmarket. com

South Pearl Street Farmers Market

Located on the 1400 and 1500 blocks of South Pearl Street, between Iowa and Arkansas avenues

Sundays, May 7 – Nov. 12 (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.)

southpearlstreet.com/farmersmarket

Union Station Farmers Market

Located at Union Station in Denver, near 1701 Wynkoop St.

Saturdays, June 3 – Sept. 16 (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.)

unionstationfarmersmarket.com

University Hills Farmers Market

Located at University Hills Plaza, 2500 S. Colorado Blvd.

Saturdays, May 13 to Oct. 28 (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.)

farmersmarketscolorado.com

A display of fresh vegetables from Croft Family Farm during a previous year’s City Park Farmers Market.

COURTESY OF CITY PARK FARMERS MARKET

COURTESY OF CHERRY CREEK FRESH MARKET

A group of children enjoy a cold treat at a previous year’s University Hills Farmers Market.

COURTESY PHOTO

Tostadas Food Truck serves a customer during a previous year’s City Park Farmers Market.

COURTESY OF CITY PARK FARMERS MARKET

A person picks out fresh flower bouquets from Idlewild Flower Farm during a previous year’s City Park Farmers Market.

COURTESY OF CITY PARK FARMERS MARKET

People fill South Pearl Street to shop during a previous year’s South Pearl Street Farmers Market.

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‘JAZZ IS ALIVE AND WELL IN FIVE POINTS’

When saxophone player Rico Jones was just 14 years old, he got to jam alongside drummer Tom Tilton and jazz pianist Joe Bonner at Brother Je ’s Cultural Center in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood.

“Joe had performed with artists like Woody Shaw and Pharaoh Sanders,” Jones said. “It was one of the rst times I was so close to the authentic lineage of the music. I was beyond inspired.”

at was 2012. Today, Jones — a Latin-Indigenous artist who was born and raised in Denver — has been recognized with more than 10 national awards. He is one of about 40 musical artists slated to perform at this year’s Five Points Jazz Festival.

e event runs from noon to 8 p.m. on June 10. It will feature 10 indoor and outdoor stages along Welton Street between 25th and 29th streets.

e day kicks o with a parade led by the Guerilla Fanfare Brass Band. Attendees will also nd food vendors, a kid’s zone and artisan booths.

“People love a great music festival,” said Sonia Rae, the cultural a airs program manager for Denver Arts & Venues, which puts on the festival. “ ere’s a powerful and rich jazz

or TNT for short — served on this year’s Five Points Jazz Festival selection committee.

Nelson is looking forward to seeing all of the di erent kinds of bands performing this year, she said, “and just being around beautiful people enjoying themselves.”

“People enjoy watching live music because they get to see the bands in

Washington Park Veterinary Clinic

bands on one stage in the parking lot of the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library on Welton Street.

However, Denver’s Five Points is no stranger to jazz. Known as the Harlem of the West, the neighborhood has drawn jazz greats for the better part of a century.

Historically, Black jazz musicians

To learn more about the Five Points Jazz Festival, visit ArtsandVenues.com/ FivePointsJazz. For a 2023 band lineup, visit ArtsandVenues.com/FivePointsL-

would come to Denver to perform in White venues. However, they were not allowed to stay in those parts of town because they were Black. So, they would stay in Five Points.

“ ey would stay, and play, and jam all night long,” Rae said.

She added it’s important to honor the history of jazz in Denver because it tells a story of who Denver is.

“ e history of Denver is alive and well in Five Points,” Rae said. “And jazz is alive and well in Five Points.” Music is something that can bring people of many backgrounds together, Rae said. ose who already love jazz music will certainly enjoy the festival, but it’s also a good way to introduce people to the local jazz scene.

“Jazz is a music that is for the people by the people … People appreciate what is real, genuine and heartfelt,” Jones said. e “Five Points Jazz Festival brings that to the people. And best of all, they do it in a historical place where many of the greats of jazz music performed in the early days of the art form.”

A child plays the drums during a previous year’s Five Points Jazz Festival. PHOTO BY STEVE HOSTETLER

Time to honor our grads

An yone with a loved one who is graduating knows it’s about the culmination of years of hard work. ere’s a way, as a community, that we can honor those students. You only have to know a student who is graduating this year to participate. In the past, grandparents, neighbors, family friends, neighborhood organizations, teachers and student peers send me information about graduates they’re proud of.

Here is what I need from you:

• e full name of the graduate.

• A headshot photo. ink senior pic-

ture or a sel e of the grad in their cap and gown.

• e high school the student is graduating from. e school must be located in Denver (or the graduate must live in Denver if attending a school outside of the city). Students who are homeschooled or attending an online/virtual school are welcome to participate.

full sentence):

1) In your opinion, what makes the class of 2023 special and why?

2) What did you learn during your high school experience that you will take with you in your future endeavors?

Responses and photos can be emailed to me at: csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com. Feel free to call me at 303-

It takes just the power of one to make a difference. at sounds cliché. Yet, in reality it is more than true. is is what the work of a CASA volunteer (Court Appointed Special Advocate) does every day. CASAs advocate for children who have suffered abuse and neglect and who are now in our court system by no fault of their own. ese children must try to understand fear, trauma, anger, anticipation, disappointment and the unknown — alone. And, sometimes at the tender age of 4 or 8 or 14.

Dvorak

People say children are resilient. at’s true. Yet, they still harbor these experiences over a lifetime. It’s imperative we, as a community and society, change that. We must ensure these children have the coping skills and resources to address these challenges and to rise above. We owe that to them and ourselves. It really does take a village, to coin another cliché.

ese are the children who will grow up to work in and run businesses, become community leaders and sometimes fall to the wayside. It’s that last part that has inspired me to be a CASA to 16 children over the past 14 years.

As the 2022-2023 Colorado CASA Advocate of the Year, I’ve had the honor to advocate for children from newborn to young adult. Children who have seen and experienced violence that should never have been a part of anyone’s life, much less a child’s. Sexual abuse. Physical abuse. Emotional abuse. Domestic violence. Addiction. Crime. Poverty.

CASAs help ensure a child’s safety, best interests and well-being. ey are a voice for the child and the eyes and ears for the court. ey interact with attorneys, caseworkers,

Soil health at Chatfield Farms

Farmers do everything. ey are mechanics, botanists, naturalists, athletes and some even believe themselves to be meteorologists. In the age of the regenerative agriculture movement, farmers need to become biologists, or more speci cally, soil ecologists.

Soil ecology is the study of the seemingly limitless universe beneath our feet. In just a teaspoon of healthy soil, there are over one billion bacterial individuals and more than six miles of fungal mycelium. It would take seven years to recite the names of all the bacterial species in a compost pile. How do the trillions of soil microbes interact? It’s likely we’ll never truly know. A broad understanding of the soil ecosystem, however, can change a farmer’s mindset.

e most productive soil in the world from an old growth forest contains far less plant-available nutrients than are recommended for agricultural soil. How could ‘nutrient-de cient’ soil — teeming with soil microbes — produce the largest plants on the planet?

Nutrients are released when microscopic preda-

LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

MICHAEL DE YOANNA Editor-in-Chief michael@coloradocommunitymedia.com

tors consume bacteria. Nematodes, protozoa and microscopic insects ‘poop’ out nutrients that plants are able to consume. Plant roots absorb those nutrients through a web of fungi. Fungal networks expand the reach of roots and create highways inside root hairs. As satis ed plants then release ‘exudates,’ which attract more bacteria and fungi, the cycle continues. Without these characters to play their parts, soil turns into lifeless dirt. Conventional soil management has disrupted the soil ecosystem. Without microscopic predators, bacteria or fungi to assist plant roots, farmers are forced to overfeed plants with fertilizers. e excess nutrients that aren’t washed away are consumed by a monoculture of bacteria, reproducing rapidly and unchecked by predators. Without predators to consume bacteria, the soil ecosystem becomes unbalanced. e resulting population of disease-causing bacteria release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Realistically, not all farmers have the time to

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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.

Christy Steadman

The power of one is anything but cliché

Jane

study of ness but require critters polies,

University of Colorado-Denver student intern, Joey Tripple, assesses soil under a microscope.

PHOTO BY RUTGER MYERS

‘Mental health is just as important as physical health’

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and this annual observance hits close to home for me, as a former single parent resident of Warren Village.

Warren Village is a Denver-based nonpro t organization that helps low-income, single-parent families achieve sustainable personal and economic self-suciency. I moved in with my 4-year-old daughter in August of 2019, hoping to build a new life after leaving

SOIL HEALTH

study microscopy. rough the eyes of a microscope, a farmer can witness the soil ecosystem in action, but studying soil ecology doesn’t require a microscope. Diversity in critters — worms, ladybugs, rolypolies, etc. — is an indication of a

a domestic violence situation. Little did I know that this decision would not only provide me with a ordable housing and education opportunities, but also vital mental health services.

Before coming to Warren Village, I had already earned a certi cate in medical assisting, but was struggling to make ends meet. I saw the nonpro t as an opportunity to not only continue my education and pay low rent, but also access a range of services such as career development, housing and personal nance, child development and, of course, mental health counseling.

It was just before COVID-19 struck that I began meeting with Pam, a counselor at Warren Village. In response to the pandemic, we shifted

balanced biology.

Even without a microscope, understanding what healthy soil looks, feels and smells like can inform better practices. Undisturbed soil will evolve with its plant inhabitants. Rich brown, textured soil that smells like a forest will feed a vegetable plant on its own, without nutrient additives. A calculated ‘less is more’ soil management approach gives our soil a

to virtual sessions. Despite the challenges, this counseling proved to be life-changing for me. I was diagnosed with PTSD and ADHD, and being able to work with a professional to organize my thoughts and feelings was a game-changer.

Since leaving Warren Village, I now own a home and possess the necessary resilience and coping skills to prioritize other aspects of my life, such as decorating my new house and providing my daughter with quality possessions without relying on government aid. I consider myself lucky to continue receiving help from Pam through regular counseling sessions, and I will always be appreciative to Warren Village for facilitating this connection.

Now, more than ever, it is crucial

chance to breathe.

Regenerative agriculture rede nes the farmers’ relationship with nature. Humans’ senses have evolved with plants — the smell of healthy soil triggers serotonin production in the human brain. Alternatively, our negative reaction to the putrid smell of greenhouse gases produced by harmful bacteria warns us of toxicity. ese ne-tuned deep intuitions can become regenerative farmer’s

to prioritize your mental well-being. e recent pandemic has taken a toll on all of us, but particularly those who were already struggling with psychological issues.

So I urge all of us to take the time this month to focus on our mental health and well-being. It is not always easy to prioritize ourselves, but it is crucial to living a healthy and ful lling life. Seek help now instead of potentially having problems compound over time.

Let us remember that mental health is just as important as physical health, and work towards ending the stigma and ensuring that everyone has access to the care they need.

almanac.

By working in tandem with natural soil ecosystems, farmers can reduce the labor and expenses of disruptive soil tillage and chemical fertilizer application. Soil naturally wants to grow plants. By accepting help from nature, farmers can grow healthier plants more e ciently.

Rutger Meyers is a soil health technician for the Denver Botanic Gardens.

educators and therapists to ensure resources are available so the child can thrive through their situation. We know that youth with a CASA:

• Have signi cantly fewer placements and are less likely to re-enter the child welfare system.

• Have higher academic performance.

• Have improved behavior and self-control.

• Have improved overall wellbeing.

• Are less likely to turn to delinquency and crime.

In Colorado, nearly 5,000 children were served through the 18 CASA programs by nearly 2,000 CASA advocates. Even with these numbers, there are many children navigating these situations without a CASA volunteer. ere are ve metro area

CASA organizations that provide services in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broom eld, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Gilpin, Je erson and Lincoln counties. ese organizations provide a number of additional donated resources like school supplies, holiday gifts, tickets for outings, and gift cards for groceries, retail and restaurants.

It’s time to invest in our communities’ future with a collective power of one. You can be the one. You can:

• Give your time and be a voice for these children.

• Be a champion and cheerleader — we all need one at some point, especially a child.

• Build their con dence and selfworth.

• Be a role model.

You can make a di erence in the future of our community by lifting these children up, guiding them on their journey and being the one stable in uence in their lives at a critical time of need.

We cannot underestimate the power one person can have, especially for our most vulnerable children. at’s essential and anything

but cliché.

is the 2022-2023 Colorado CASA of the Year.

Jada Galassini

Jane Dvorak

Jada Galassini is a resident of southeast Denver.

Mile High Happenings is a monthly column featuring community events in Denver, highlighting events in the central and central-south neighborhoods covered by the Washington Park Profile and Life on Capitol Hill newspapers.

Event submissions from community members and local organizations are welcome. Submissions should include brief details about the

April 3-June 30

April 28-May 27

event and a photo or event logo. Deadline is the 20th of each month for the event to be listed the following month. Submissions can be emailed to Christy Steadman at csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com.

For more Mile High Happenings, visit lifeoncaphill.com or washparkprofile.com.

PlatteForum: To Dusk, Art by Kenzie Sitterud

Time: Gallery hours: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays; or by appointment (contact sstrand@platteforum.org to make an appointment).

Location: PlatteForum Annex Gallery, 3575 Ringsby Court #103, Denver.

Cost: Free.

PlatteForum resident artist Kenzie Sitterud replicates the landscape of the Utah desert through material metaphor. “ e exhibition merges colliding environments and cultural

Meow Wolf: Beneath the Biophony

Time: Varies.

Location: Galleri Gallery at Meow Wolf Denver, 1338 First St.

Cost: Included with Meow Wolf admission price.

“Beneath the Biophony” is a collection of artwork by Denver-based Abby Gregg, an interdisciplinary artist who teaches painting at the University of Colorado-Denver. e collection includes “paintings, sculptures and soundscapes that are imaginings of microscopic, amphibious and submerged unseen realms,” states a news release.

More information/reservations: meowwolf. com/visit/denver

“Listen Closely” by Abby Gregg. Courtesy image.

May 12-13

Denver Botanic Gardens’ Spring Plant Sale

Time: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days.

May 6-June 10

Curious Theatre Company: On the Exhale

Time: 7:30 Thursday-Saturday; 2 p.m. Sundays.

Location: Curious Theatre Company, 1080 Acoma St. in Denver.

Cost: Varies.

“On the Exhale” tells the story of a liberal college professor who, after a senseless act of violence changes her life forever, begins to suspect that when it comes to gun violence, we’re all part of the problem.

May 12-14

Cleo Parker Robinson Dance: Legacy

Time: Varies.

in uences — the powerful impact the desert had on their formative memories, and the transformative impact capitalism has on us all,” states a news release.

More information/reservations: platteforum.org

Kenzie Sitterud. Courtesy photo.

More information/reservations: curioustheatre.org

Image courtesy of Curious eatre Company’s website.

Location: Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Theatre, 119 Park Ave. W.. Denver.

Cost: Varies per date. Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble’s spring concert, “Legacy,” will include a performance of “treasures long unseen from the richly diverse Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble’s 52 years of artistic brilliance, as well as a world premiere,” states its

website.

More information/reservations: cleoparkerdance.org Courtesy image.

Location: Denver Botanic Gardens’ York Street location, 1007 York St., Denver.

Cost: Free admission but advance registration is required.

e Spring Plant Sale o ers an incredible selection of plants that aren’t found at big box stores, including vegetables, fruits, herbs, annuals, houseplants, aquatic plants and more. Many are native and low-water plants. Denver Botanic Gardens members receive 10% o purchases.

More information/reservations: botanicgardens.org/events/specialevents/spring-plant-sale

Shoppers pick out plants at previous year’s Denver Botanic Gardens’ Spring Plant Sale. Photo by Scott Dressel-Martin/Denver Botanic Gardens.

May 13

Keep Platt Park Clean

Time: 9-11 a.m.

Location: James H. Platt Park,located o South Logan Street between East Florida and East Iowa avenues.

Cost: Free.

e Platt Park People’s Association (3PA), a registered neighborhood organization, is hosting its annual trash pickup and neighborhood cleanup e ort. Attendees should meet at James H. Platt Park and will then disperse throughout the neighborhood.

More information/reservations: 3pa.org/contact-us

May

Full Bloom Mother’s Day Tea

Time: 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Location: Center for Colorado Women’s History, 1310 Bannock St., Denver.

Cost: $30 members, $35 general public is tea event will o er a tea seating with food prepared by an o site caterer and a tour of the Center for Colorado Women’s History, an historic home. Seatings and tours are o ered at 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. and are selected at the time of booking.

More information/reservations: historycolorado.org

May 14 & June 4

¡Viva! Streets Denver

Time: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Location: Broadway from Alameda to 20th Street, and Welton Street from 20th Street to Five Points.

Cost: Free.

Being put on by the Downtown Denver Partnership and the City and County of Denver, this new, family-friendly event entails closing about 3.5 miles of Broadway and Welton Street so people can enjoy local neighborhoods, businesses and entertainment while walking, biking, rolling, jogging, scooting and dancing in car-free streets. ¡Viva! Streets Denver dates are May 14, June 4, July 9 and Aug. 6.

More information/reservations: vivastreetsdenver. com.

Courtesy logo.

May 22

Colorado Preservation, Inc.: 33rd annual Dana Crawford and State Honor Awards Celebration

Time: 5-9 p.m.

Location: Freyer-Newman Center at the Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St., Denver.

Cost: Starts at $100.

Colorado Preservation, Inc. will recognize the accomplishments of individuals and projects that exhibit excellence in the areas of preservation, rehabilitation, advocacy, philanthropy and leadership. Visit Colorado Preservation, Inc.’s website to learn about the 2023 award recipients. More information/reservations: coloradopreservation.org Courtesy logo.

May 13

Sober Sessions concert: El Javi, Alysia Kraft, Kayla Marque

Time: 3-6 p.m.

Location: The Phoenix, 2239 Champa St., Denver.

Cost: Free. (Attendees should have 48 hours of continuous sobriety from alcohol and nonprescription drugs.)

Sober Sessions is a musical experience that builds a judgment-free, sober community for people who nd di culties participating in an industry that’s dominated by, and heavily rooted in, alcohol and substance misuse. It is expected that two Sober Sessions will take place in Denver this summer. e rst Sober Sessions concert on May 13 features live performances by El Javi, Alysia Kraft and Kayla Marque, and a panel discussion about the important role music plays in one’s recovery, mental health and

May 14 & June 4

Taste of Colorado

Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Location: Civic Center Park, 101 W. 14th Ave., Denver.

Cost: Free admission.

is year, the Taste of Colorado event will take place during the four ¡Viva! Streets Denver events. It will still o er the longtime event favorites — including food and drink options, entertainment and live music, children’s activities, local artisans and vendor booths, and public art displays — as in past years. Taste of Colorado dates

physical health. It is made possible through a partnership between Music Minds Matter, e Phoenix and the Denver Music Advancement fund provided by Denver Arts & Venues.   More information/reservations: musicminds.org/sober-sessions

Courtesy logo.

Time: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Location: University of Denver’s Fritz Knoebel Events, 2044 E. Evans Ave., Denver.

Cost: Free, advance registration is highly recommended.

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is hosting a free Alzheimer’s & Caregiving Educational Conference for Colorado residents. The free conference is open to everyone and will allow participants to learn

are May 14, June 4, July 9 and Aug. 6. More information/reservations: atasteofcolorado.com Courtesy logo.

Advance Care Planning for the Person with Dementia; and Navigating Alzheimer’s, a Mile at a Time. Attendees will also be able to participate in free, confidential memory screenings will be conducted throughout the day.

More information/reservations: alzfdn. org/tour

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is hosting a free educational conference on May 17. Photo courtesy of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.

to post-concert receptions where concert-goers can enjoy refreshments and meet the musicians.

To get an idea of how the More an Music themes work, when DPO performed its Celtic Celebration around St. Patrick’s Day, the program included both Scottish and Irish music — Mendelssohn’s Scottish symphony, as well as an Irish piece of the Brendan Voyage, written by Shawn Davey, a living Irish composer.

“Before the concert, and during intermission, there were more happenings, such as serving Irish whiskey and Scotch, plus tastings and Irish step dancing,” Golan said. “For the kids, we

had miniature golf.”

He added that the sport was born in Scotland.

Roger Haak joins the DPO

As DPO reaches back this year, the organization recently welcomed Roger Haak as its new executive director.

Haak replaces Valerie Clausen, who is transitioning from the position after 11 years. Clausen has been a violinist in the orchestra for 17 years, and it is expected she will continue to serve the DPO.

Haak’s background includes work with the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, and the Artosphere Festival Orchestra in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He also is a classically trained vocalist and a new talent coordinator at Comedy Works in Denver, which occasionally

requires a little standup on his part.

Haak comes to DPO from the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, where he was VIP ticketing manager. “I’m like a one-stop shop,” Haak said, adding his role with the DPO touches upon just about every detail involved in running such a unique organization. e DPO “enables me to incorporate everything I learned at DCPA and elsewhere.”

A local connection

Antonia Brico was a trailblazer, Haak said. She was told that she could not be a conductor of an orchestra based solely on her gender, he added. But “she came to Denver, and now we get to perform this again in Denver,” Haak said of the “Crown Jewel” concert. “ ere’s a real local connection happening here.”

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BY BRUCE GOLDBERG SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Social studies teacher Kelly Cvancier was determined to create a comprehensive curriculum that paid tribute to the dozens of women enshrined in the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame.

Cvancier teaches AP government, politics and civics for ninth graders at Bear Creek High School in Lakewood. She is also a cultural partner of National History Day Colorado, something she’s been involved with since 1995. National History Day is a nonpro t education organization that exists to improve the teaching and learning of history.

“I think holistically, our students need to be challenged by something more than a sit-and-learn experience,” Cvancier said. “We need to make education personal as well as make it relevant.”

e result of her determination is a well-researched, highly informative curriculum that the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame, in partnership with the University of Colorado-Denver and the Colorado Student Leaders Institute, unveiled in March.

Called “Who Are We?,” the curriculum serves to educate people about what makes Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame inductees worthy of entering the hall, and to explain who they are. It is meant to grab the attention of, and serve as a resource for, students, teachers and anyone with an interest in Colorado history.

“It is our hope that ‘Who Are We?’ will inspire future generations to recognize the important role of

women in shaping history and encourage them to become leaders in their own right,” said Barb Beckner, chair of the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame, in a news release.

e curriculum is available online as a free, downloadable PDF for everyone, including schools and educators in Colorado. It is aligned to the latest set of Colorado social studies standards and includes lessons, suggested readings and project-based learning assignments for grades K-12.

“I wrote it for K-12 teachers because the lessons in the curriculum are to teach about a Colorado woman at every grade level,” Cvancier said.

Celeste Archer, who serves as the executive director of National His-

tory Day Colorado, told Cvancier that many high school students in Colorado needed to create a capstone social studies project, specific to Colorado, in order to graduate from high school.

e curriculum can assist with such graduation capstone experiences, and can o er students of any grade level the opportunity to study an exemplar from our own state, Cvancier said.

“History makes a personal connection to each of our kids,” Cvancier said. “ ey can say, ‘oh, that person lives down the road from me. I can be like her.’ Project-based learning that is close to home is the key to engage our students.”

Additionally, through the many partnerships that National History

Day has, not-for-pro t groups can have students use the relevant history of an organization to complete projects.

Wings Over the Rockies is just one of those not-for-pro t groups.

“So, kids who do projects on aviators or aircraft have somewhere to go to access primary source materials,” Cvancier said.

“Who Are We” not only enables students to examine the history of women through topics of personal interest, but also provides an opportunity for any Colorado resident who does not know as much about Colorado’s roster of high-achieving women than they would like to.

“ is inspired resource shines a light on a phenomenal group of female changemakers in the state of Colorado,” Archer said in a news release, “and it provides a wonderful opportunity for Colorado students to get to know these trailblazers in the classroom, in a more meaningful way than they have ever before.”

Barb Beckner, chair of Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame, left, and Celeste Archer, executive director of National History Day in Colorado, stand with a life-size version of the ‘Who Are We?’ curriculum cover.

PHOTO BY JAY WEISE

New curriculum educates people on Colorado’s female trailblazers

To learn more about the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame or the “Who Are We?” curriculum, visit cogreatwomen.org.