Washington Park Profile 090723

French for Sugar

French for Sugar, an artisan bakery located in the four-corners area of Denver’s Cheesman Park, City Park West, Uptown and Capitol Hill neighborhoods, has closed its shop at 1201 E. Colfax Ave.

According to the bakery’s Facebook, it will begin a search for a new location soon. To stay up-to-date, follow French for Sugar on social media — Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

mance art through monthly live variety shows, and its visual art exhibitions range from spiritual levity to pieces that are viscerally challenging for the viewer.

“I think what attracts people to e Lab on Santa Fe is the unpredictability of the creative choices and also its down-to-earth openness about joining our community,” Berkowitz said. “I am so thrilled, in particular, about the ways everyone has embraced the performance art variety shows. I also love when our artistic choices cause lots of debates. No one walks out of our gallery feeling indi erent.”

e Lab on Santa Fe is located at 840 Santa Fe Drive in Denver’s Art District on Santa Fe. To learn more, visit thelabonsantafe. com.

Diane Wziontka performs an original piece in front of Sean Yarbrough’s artwork during e Lab on Santa Fe’s June “Anything Goes Show.” Photo

GiftAMeal, a national cause-marketing program, announced in August that it recently reached a milestone of providing 1.5 million meals to families in need. How GiftAMeal works is a customer at a partnering restaurant takes a photo of their meal with the GiftAMeal app and the nonpro t then donates to a local food bank or pantry with the goal of getting 1.2 pounds of healthy groceries to a local family. ere are more than 700 established restaurant partnerships — which includes both locally-owned establishments, franchises and national chains — across 35 states. In Colorado, Native Foods, Crisp & Green, Ziggi’s Co ee and Snarf’s Sandwiches are a few of the restaurants that partner with GiftAMeal.

“Our recent partnership with GiftAMeal has already made a huge impact in our beginning stages of giving back,” said Taylor Boyce in a news release. Boyce is the marketing manager of Crisp & Green Colorado, which has four locations participating in GiftAMeal. “With GiftAMeal, we are seeing rst-hand how collective e ort in our Colorado community creates a positive di erence in the lives of those in need.”

To learn more about GiftAMeal, including free download of the app and a partner restaurant locator, visit giftameal.com. Courtesy logo.

NextFifty Initiative

In August, Uno Mas Taqueria, 1585 S. Pearl St., celebrated a decade of serving the community its elevated street tacos.

e location on Old South Pearl Street in Denver’s Platt Park neighborhood was the taqueria’s rst location, opening in 2013.

e restaurant expanded to Denver’s Speer neighborhood, at 730 E. 6th Ave., in 2016. In 2019, Uno Mas opened a Fort Collins location.

Uno Mas was founded by the late Patrick Mangold-White, who also opened two other concepts on South Pearl Street: Kaos Pizzeria, which o ers traditional wood- red Naples-style handmade pizza; and Bird, which serves American comfort food.

Twenty-four organizations that serve older adults and their caregivers in the metro area have been awarded grant money from the NextFifty Initiative.

e “NextFifty Initiative is a Colorado-based, national foundation that supports e orts to improve the lives of older adults and their caregivers. e foundation works with community leaders, experts in the eld of aging and frontline professionals to support programs and projects that positively impact aging and longevity,” states a news release.

The Laboratory on Santa Fe e Laboratory on Santa Fe celebrated its rst anniversary in August.

Founded by Josh Berkowitz, who also serves as the gallery’s creative director, e Lab on Santa Fe merges Denver’s theater and art scenes.

“Cross-pollination of communities has always been a huge part of what I do,” Berkowitz said. “I knew we needed to stand for something entirely experimental and that we would be called e Laboratory.” e art gallery specializes in perfor-

“Myself and our incredible team have continued his legacy with Uno Mas Taqueria and are incredibly proud of our 10 years of tacos, tequila and community,” said General Manager Brian Forrester.

Uno Mas o ers classical Mexican fare, and is known for its street tacos, but also serves traditional tortas, appetizers and Mexican desserts. It boasts a selection of more than 70 small-batch tequilas and mescals. Learn more at unomastaqueria.com.

An assortment of tacos from Uno Mas Taqueria’s a la carte taco menu. Photo courtesy of Uno Mas Taqueria

is round of Flexible Support Grants totaled $2.9 million that went to 65 organizations across Colorado. Of that, $1,461,400 was awarded to organizations based in Denver, Adams, Je erson, Broom eld and Arapahoe counties.

Aligning with the NextFifty Initiative’s e orts to “improve and sustain the quality of life for people in their second 50 years,” all of the organizations that received grant funding “serve older adults in a variety of categories including caregiver support, community life, elder justice, health, housing, multi-generational

by Rick Knight courtesy of e Lab on Santa Fe.

support, social services, technology, transportation and work-

Hans Vollrath/Meow Wolf

Hans Vollrath has been named the new general manager of Meow Wolf Denver’s Convergence Station, which is located at 1338 First St.

Meow Wolf is an arts and entertainment company that o ers immersive, interactive creative experiences. Convergence Station was the third permanent art exhibition for the New Mexicobased Meow Wolf.

Vollrath takes over the role of general manager from Alex Bennett, who steered the work of Convergence Station’s rst two years since its opening in 2021. Bennett is assuming the role of senior vice president and head of exhibitions for Meow Wolf, Inc.

In Denver, Vollrath will work to improve the landscape of the arts economy and cultivate spaces of connection and encourage collaboration.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to be joining Meow Wolf Denver

Amritpal Byrd/Rocky Mountain Communities

Amritpal Byrd has been named the vice president of property management for Rocky Mountain Communities.

Rocky Mountain Communities is a nonprofit organization that owns and manages a number of affordable housing communities across the state, totaling more than 1,000 affordable housing units. It has three communities in Denver — Arroyo Village and Townview in the West Colfax neighborhood and Garden Court in the East Colfax neighborhood.

In her new role, Byrd will be responsible for the overall strategic direction, operation and profitability of Rocky Mountain Communities’ property management operations.

She brings more than 20 years of experience to Rocky Moun-

force/employment,” states a news release.

To learn more about the NextFifty Initiative and its grant recipients, visit Next50Initiative. org. Courtesy logo.

and the amazingly talented and creative team that brings Convergence Station to life every day,” Vollrath said in a news release. “I look forward to the tremendous opportunities we have going forward as we continue our focus on other-wordly guest experiences, support and engagement of our employees and teams, and expand our connection with our community partners.”

To learn more about Meow Wolf, visit meowwolf.com.

Hans Vollrath. Photo by Shannon Shumaker courtesy of Meow Wolf.

tain Communities, which includes previous work with the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, as well as working with senior living, finding solutions for permanent supportive for underserved populations and is a trained life coach.

Since its founding in 1992, RMC has responded to the need for housing and program services for more than 16,000 families. To learn more, visit rockymountaincommunities.org.

Amritpal Byrd. Courtesy photo.

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Album artwork for The Black Legacy Project, Vol. 1. Local musicians collaborated on this national project that advances racial solidarity, equity and belonging. Story on Page 6.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MUSIC IN COMMON.

BY ELICIA HESSELGRAVE SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Parents have come to think of Christina Roberts and Bussy Gower as the dream team of children’s theater.

“ ey create an environment where kids are supportive of one another and feel safe to be imaginative,” said parent Lindsay Hicks. “Most of all, they are con dencebuilders who empower kids to take risks and try new things.”

Roberts and Gower are cofounders of a new nonpro t theater organization called Mile High Youth eatre, which o ers local youth the opportunity to learn performing

skills at an a ordable price. Located at 940 Fillmore St., it is the only nonpro t focused speci cally on youth theater within a 15-mile radius of Congress Park, Roberts said.  e inaugural semester began in August, serving youth ages 4 to 18.

Roberts, who serves as the executive director, and Gower, the artistic director, are established performers in the Denver area and have 20 years of combined theater experience. ey noticed a gap in programming for kids who don’t have access to studies of the performing arts or otherwise cannot a ord it.

“Our goal is to reduce barriers to arts access in the Denver metro area,” said Roberts.

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Eliminating financial barriers

Low funding in schools is one factor impacting youth access to studying the performing arts. Some smaller schools are contracting with local arts organizations to ll the need, and some schools are eliminating performing arts programs altogether because of budget cuts, Roberts said. Additionally, there are less full-time arts teachers in general, Roberts said, pointing to her experience as a former performing arts teacher at DSST Montview Middle School in Denver.

Prior to founding MHYT, Roberts and Gower discovered that while there are many youth programs attached to for-pro t organizations,

these programs can only serve those who can a ord it.

MHYT plans to focus speci cally on that need and is actively working with local schools to nd students who are interested in theater but need extra nancial support that could be provided by scholarships.

“So many kids have ideas and want to produce work but don’t have a platform or anyone to support them through it,” Roberts said.

“We want to bridge that gap.”

e cost for enrollment at MHYT has been meticulously calculated to provide a ordable opportunities — about $5/hour during the course

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of a semester.

MHYT o ers sponsorship opportunities to help keep its costs low and the nonpro t sustainable.

Helping solve a youth mental health crisis

Roberts has observed a shift in mental health and behavior among youth post-pandemic, and she and Gower believe involvement with theater and the arts can make a positive impact on youth, speci c to mental health.

“Since the pandemic, I’ve noticed a lot of increased anxiety and depression in my students — a

fear of failure and (they’re) seeking constant reassurance,” Roberts said.

MHYT has a mission to help combat this by teaching youth some life skills through performing arts. Programming is curated to help students develop various skills, including con ict management in peer-to-peer or adult scenarios, how to better communicate needs, how to work with others, and even leadership skills.

“We want to make sure (youth) have those (learning) opportunities that maybe schools or other companies can’t give,” said Roberts.

Hicks’ children have worked with Roberts and Gower in the past, and Hicks said she has been awed by their growth each time.

Students with Mile High Youth Theatre participate in a promotional photo shoot in March. The photos were used to launch the new nonprofit’s website and social media presence.

ALL PHOTOS BY KASSIE ELMORE/BEEN FRAMED

National Black Legacy Project highlights Denver musicians

BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

In September last year, Denverbased musician and songwriter Martin Gilmore attended a roundtable conversation with fellow musicians, representatives from local organizations and nonpro t leaders. ey met at the historic Shorter AME Community Church near MLK Jr. Boulevard in Denver — the same church that was burned by the Ku Klux Klan nearly 100 years earlier. Together, this group talked about signi cant civil rights events in the Denver area and Black-White relations in and around the city. ese conversations were the springboard for the Denver leg of the Black Legacy Project.

e Black Legacy Project is a multi-dimensional, national project produced by Music in Common, a nonpro t that strengthens, empowers and connects communities through the universal language of music. e Black Legacy Project is a musical celebration of Black history to advance racial solidarity, equity and belonging. e project will culminate in an interactive tour of a full-length album, which includes 24 songs recorded in seven di erent communities across the country.

“We conceptualized the Black Legacy Project in 2020 as we were seeing the killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor on the news and on social media,

From left, Lee Clark Allen, Dzirae Gold, Sarah Rose and Martin Gilmore are the Denver-based musicians for the Black Legacy Project. COURTESY OF MARTIN GILMORE

MUSICIANS

and after seeing the level of reckoning and polarization that was erupting in the country around the legacy of racism and anti-Black racism in the U.S.,” said Trey Carlisle, program coordinator for Music in Common. “At this time, Todd Mack (founder and director of Music in Common) and I were listening to songs from the ‘60s and the Civil Rights Movement. We were struck by how resonant their lyrics are today, as if they were written today.”

For the main component of the project, producers and leaders from Music in Common traveled to communities across the country to engage Black and White community members in roundtable discussions about topics, themes and songs that are centered around race relations in the United States. From those conversations, they engaged local Black and White musicians in creating present-day interpretations of those songs, reimaginations those songs, and co-writing original songs to provide tangible steps that advance greater solidarity in the community and the nation as a whole.

“I have always been inspired by history, and I love hearing people’s stories and ideas,” said Gilmore, who lives in Englewood. “I developed a deep love for history and the complexity of people. A lot of my songs explore historic themes. I’ve recently been trying to write more personal songs, or at least explore more personal or social themes.”

Denver was chosen as one of the seven locations for the Black Legacy Project because of its unique place in history. Known as the “Harlem of the West,” Denver’s Five Points neighborhood was the home and hub for iconic Black musicians, philanthropists and civil rights activists — in spite of the Klu Klux Klan’s dominant presence in the state during the early to mid-20th century. e rich local history of Black excellence and interracial solidarity is what drew the Black Legacy Project to Denver, states the Black Legacy Project’s website.

e Denver portion of the Black Legacy Project took place during the course of a week for the roundtable, writing and recording at di erent locations in Denver and Boulder. Much of the writing took place at Denver’s Swallow Hill Music, and recording took place at eTown in Boulder.

“We collaborated as a nity groups and reimagined songs that were recorded by Denver folk music legend Walt Conley,” said Gilmore.

Gilmore especially enjoyed working with the other Denver musicians, which included Dzirae Gold, Lee Clark Allen and Sarah Rose Reynolds.

“We all come from such di erent places, and it’s inspiring to see how everyone comes at music di erently,” Gilmore said. “I think it’s challenging sometimes for artists to allow other creative ideas into their work, but this situation required it, and I think the project was better because of it.”

Gilmore and the other Denverbased artists with the Black Legacy Project collaborated to reimagine songs and create new songs that are relevant to the history of the Black legacy in Denver.

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“We included Denver-speci c lyrics in our collaborative song, ‘Let Me Walk In Your Shoes,’ including a reference to the Shorter Church, because we were so moved by the story while we were there,” Gilmore said. “It’s a song about recognizing the struggles of the past and moving forward in constructive and understanding ways.”

To learn more about the Black Legacy Project, visit theblacklegacyproject.org. To learn more about Music in Common, visit musicincommon.org.

The Black Legacy Project will be available on all major streaming platforms on Sept. 22. To pre-save the album ahead of the release date, visit https://lnk.fuga.com/blacklegacyproject_vol1. Physical CDs will be available in stores nationwide on Oct. 6.

The Black Legacy Project performance at Swallow Hill Music in September last year. COURTESY OF SIMONE ALYSE

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Cyclists can end the year by checking a 100-mile ride o their bucket list

Calling all cyclists! e Denver Century Ride is coming up. Time to get pumped for it (and then to pump up your tires). If you’ve been wanting to experience the city and surrounding metro area by bike, this is your chance. Or, if you’ve been riding a lot on your own, this is a great chance to meet other cyclists. e ride takes you through Denver out west all the way to Golden and then up, and over, Lookout Mountain before circling back. Not up for that big of an adven-

FROM THE EDITOR

ture? ere are options for 25-, 50-, and 85-mile rides, too.

e best part is that you can bene t local nonpro ts while participating.

e event got its start in 2010 and its primary bene ciary is Bicycle Colorado, a Denver-based nonpro t that uses “advo-

cacy, education and passion to make Colorado one of the most bicyclefriendly states in the nation.” Learn more at BicycleColorado.org.

What I think is so cool about the century ride is that Bicycle Colorado is not the only organization that bene ts. e event allows other nonpro t organizations to use the ride as a fundraising platform. For example, Cycle for Strays is Denver Animal Protection’s team

Wonderbound season begins Oct. 19

‘Wicked

be performed with live music from The Widow’s Bane

BY SONYA ELLINGBOE SELLINGBOE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Wonderbound’s Artistic Director Garrett Ammon and Clay Rose created “Wicked Bayou,” which will open the contemporary ballet’s 10th season Oct. 19-29 in its new permanent home in Denver’s Northeast Park Hill neighborhood, at 3824 Dahlia St.

e company has appeared at various venues in the metro area since its founding and moved into the new facility in May.

October performances will be with

e Widow’s Bane, a band which is described as “a convergence of Creole and Cajun folklore.” (Ammons features live music.)

is will be a nal chance to see this band perform, as it will be saying farewell after this production.

Wonderbound now has a 260-seat auditorium and will welcome its audience to performances on a large stage, where the company will rehearse and perform. e new facility also has administrative o ces, and there is parking at the new location and on the nearby street.

e organization is proud to have weathered the pandemic without furloughs or layo s or salary cuts ...

e “Wicked Bayou” ballet was created by Ammons and Rose, frontman for the Boulder-based band Gasoline Lollipops. e new work is a dark adventure, which includes a depraved puppet master, an insatiable alligator and two young lovers who must ght for their lives ...

December will feature a new holiday production, “Icy Haught,” choreographed by Ammons and company dancer Sarah Tallman, on Dec. 7-17. e company assured that this is not standard holiday fare.

Ammon and Rose will also pair up for the season nale, a world premiere of “Samson and Delilah,” which will be set in Palestine, Texas, in 1977 at the height of the ERA movement. All-new music in the psychedelic country genre will tell of

Delilah, a beautician, and Sam, the local sheri , star-crossed lovers, who do not always see eye to eye.” Rose and his band will accompany on May 2-12, 2024.

Also included in the season will be “Awakening Beauty,” with Tom Hagerman and his band on Feb. 22 to March 3.

e dance company is described: “Lives at the convergence of tradition and innovation, vulnerability and courage and intimacy and openness. Under the leadership of husband-and-wife team Garett Amon and Dawn Fay, Wonderbound is committed to the development and sharing of the collaborative artistic experiences ... creations erase boundaries between mediums and engage artists and audiences in candid explorations of the human experience.”

See wonderbound.com for subscription information.

for the ride. Note that the ride’s registration fees do not bene t charity a liates. Instead, a liates bene t from the cyclists’ pledges and donations. If you’re wanting to participate in the ride to raise funds for any of the a liates, visit DenverCenturyRide.com (look under the Cycle for a Good Cause tab at the top of the webpage) for instructions on how to do so. Here are the basic details on the

e Coldwell Banker Denver Century Ride takes place on Sept. 23 and starts early in the morn-

ing. Headquarters for the event is at e Shops at North eld, 8340 North eld Blvd., located in Denver’s Central Park neighborhood. As I noted above, there are four route options to choose from. is is a mostly urban ride, and each route o ers a unique way for cyclists to explore well-loved bike routes. e 25- and 50-mile routes wind through scenic, even iconic cityscapes, like Cheesman Park and Coors Field. e 85-mile route takes cyclists through the metro area to picturesque spots, including Red Rocks and Deer Creek Canyon. e 100-mile route o ers those landmarks plus Golden’s Lookout Mountain climb

A

Wonderbound’s Jocelyn Green and Richard Romero in Clay Rose and Garrett Ammon’s “The Sandman” with Gasoline Lollipops.

PHOTO BY AMANDA TIPTON

Bayou’ will

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BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

ADenver-based nonpro t music education organization is helping local rising stars showcase and enhance their musical talents, record music and learn podcasting for free.

Youth on Record, founded by local musician community organizer Flobots in 2008 works with people aged 14 to 24.

“Flotbots’ mission was to bring music to young people to improve academic success and youth outreach, and it grew into what is now known as Youth on Record,” said Haley Witt, a guitar musician and singer-songwriter who manages Youth on Record.

Youth on Record recently rocked at its ninth annual block party in support of youth in music with over 20 live music performances, teen activities and vendors at its o ce location near downtown Denver.

“We have a state-of-the-art recording studio soundboard and all sorts of instruments,” Witt said. “So young people can drop into our programs and learn about mixing, mastering songs and learn about songwriting and instrumentation.”

After school programs

e Youth on Record runs after-school, out-of-school and in-school programming with Denver Public Schools and Aurora Public Schools middle and high schools.

“We partner with the schools to teach four-credit classes, and we hire local professional artists to teach those classes,” Witt said. “Our Youth on Record teaching artists come to the schools, and the young people are able to learn from them. It’s one

way that you nd our Youth on Record programs through the schools.”

Youth on Record also has afterschool programs at the Youth on Record media studio space called the open lab on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and is available to young people from 14 to 24 years old.

“It’s self-guided so that they can explore their interests. ey come into the space with a passion for music, making songwriting production, and we teach them the skill set they need to accomplish the projects they’re passionate about,” Witt said.

Witt said Youth on Record also o er an internship and fellowship program and a fellowship program, both of which are paid programs by donors.

“Youth on Record is a nonprofit organization so donors fund our program,” Witt said.

Witt said Youth on Record has had a lot of talented program graduates.

Baily Elora from Hudson/ Keenesburg Colorado, featured in the Fort Lupton Press, went through the program and signed on with Sony Music Subsidiary e Orchard.

“We are proud of all of our program graduates and all of the various directions that they’re headed, it’s really important to us to connect with young people with economic opportunities, “ Witt said.

Witt said Youth on Records is a pillar of academic success, economic opportunity and community activation.

“Our economic opportunity pillar, it’s really important to us to connect young people to community careers and job op-

portunities,” Witt said.

Witt said they have young people who play gigs in the community and support booking those gigs and paid opportunities for young people to perform.

Youth on Record also places young people into community internships and fellowships.

“Our fellows will have the opportunity to have community internships with local partners as well. It’s important to us to connect young people

ARTISTS

to jobs in the industry and to connect them to opportunities in creative elds and show them that it’s possible,” Witt said.

ere also is an open mic every rst Friday, and it is open to the public, where the youth perform and gain experience in combination with all the First Fridays and art walks across the city, speci cally in collaboration with the Santa Fe Art Walk.

“ at’s a program run by our fellows and learn how to put together a music festival, run it, secure porta potties and design posters for the festival and how it ties in economic opportunity. e block party is a youth-led program,” Witt said.

Learning about podcasting

David Ladon, Youth on Record audio arts innovation manager, teaches youth how to do podcast interviews. Ladon has been teaching podcasting for nine years and has worked with Youth on Record for three in a half years. “We have a podcast show that comes out

monthly called ‘Generation Collaboration’ that we produce in collaboration with Colorado young leaders,” Ladon said, adding that they just nished season one and that the podcast airs on KGNU.

“We have another monthly show called ‘Youth on Rewind,’ which is a segment-based show and the tagline podcast amplifying young people’s voices, stories and ideas,” Ladon said.

Ladon said the podcast features segments produced by interns, peer navigators and fellows, covering whatever interests them.

“Our third show is called ‘Underground of the Showcase’ as the o cial podcast of the underground music showcase, which Youth and Record helps put on.”

e podcast is hosted and produced by youth interns from 16 to 24 years old.

Ladon said his love for the application of podcast work expanded beyond media production or journalism.

“It gets to the root of social-emotional learning and developing yourself because you’re learning to exercise your voice and get to practice hearing your voice, which is not something we’re all comfortable with,” Ladon said.

Mobile Studio

Oren Bregman, executive director of the Mobile Studio nonpro t music outreach program has partnered with Youth on Record.

Bregman’s program brings the mobile studio to Denver, Green Valley and Montebello pathway schools in Aurora.

“We focused on singing, rapping, and poetry so we bring our equipment and expertise so students can create music to express themselves and share it online with their family and friends,” Bregman said.

Bregman said Youth on Records helped Mobile Studio get their rst grant and gave them some instruments.

“We are happy to be part of the family,” Bregman said.

Witt said the young people the programs serve are incredibly talented. “It blows me away to see the ways that they’re able to cultivate their skills, and it’s inspiring to watch and build strong mentorship relationships with our sta and to feel connected to a sense of community through our programs,” she said.

For more information about Youth on Record, visit youthonrecord.org or call 303-9935226.

Youth on Record student Addie Uhl performs at the Youth on Record block party.

PHOTOS BY BELEN WARD

David Ladon, Youth on Record audio arts innovation manager, prepares the podcast studio for an interview.

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 Pro le and Life on Capitol Hill newspapers. Event submissions from community members and local organizations are welcome. Submissions should include brief details about the event and a

Aug. 12-Sept. 23

Summoned to the Surface

Time: Gallery hours: 12:30-6 p.m. Saturdays, noon to 5:30 p.m. Sundays. It is also open to the public during special events and by appointment.

Location: The Laboratory on Santa Fe, 840 Santa Fe Drive, Denver.

Cost: Free entry to gallery.

Curated by Josh Berkowitz, “Summoned to the Surface” is a solo exhibition featuring the work of Denver-based Kristina Davies. e show “draws upon both abstraction and the female gure to depict Davies’ exploration of identity and a deeper understanding of self,” states a news release.

A Live Performance Art Night with performances by Kristina Davies, JC Maheu and Josh Berkowitz,

Sept.

34th annual Friendship Powwow at the Denver Art Museum

Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Location: Denver Art Museum Martin Building Sie Welcome Center (between 13th and 14th Ave.), 100 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy.

Cost: Free.

e annual Friendship Powwow is one of the Denver Art Museum’s longest-running events, and is a family-friendly community event that o ers an opportunity to celebrate the culture and creativity of diverse Indigenous communities across Denver and the Front Range. It will feature Native American dance competitions, hands-on

takes place from 8-9:30 p.m. Sept. 16. Tickets cost $12 for standing room and $18 for seats. Purchase tickets at bit.ly/thelab0916.

More information/reservations: thelabonsantafe.com; kristinadaviesart.com

Kristina Davies wearing `caged goddess.’ Photo courtesy of an online media kit via e Laboratory on Santa Fe.

activities such as beadwork artmaking, and vendor booths showcasing a variety of artisan crafts and food including fry bread and Indian tacos. Additionally, general admission to the museum will be free for all visitors.

More information/reservations: denverartmuseum.org

Photo credit: 2022 Denver Art Museum Friendship Powwow and American Indian Cultural Celebration, ©Denver Art Museum.

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 washparkprole.com.

50th Birthday Bash at the Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus

Time: 6-10:30 p.m.

Location: Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus, 2121 Children’s Museum Drive.

Cost: $175. is 21+ event celebrates the Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus’ 50th anniversary. e evening’s activities include hors d’oeuvres and desserts from some of Denver’s top caterers, open bars with specialty cocktails, a silent and live auction and dancing under the stars. Playful cocktail attire is recommended. Getting its start in 1973, the Children’s Museum of Denver is a nonpro t dedicated to the educa-

Sept.

The Awakened Way - a lecture and workshop with Suzanne Giesemann

Time: Lecture on Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.; Workshop on Sept. 13 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Location: Staenberg-Loup Jewish Community Center’s (JCC Denver) Mizel Arts and Culture Center, 350 S. Dahlia St., Denver.

Cost: Sept. 12 lecture: $54 per ticket. Sept. 13 workshop: $162 for workshop only or $182 for workshop and lunch.

Suzanne Giesemann is a spiritual teacher, author, medium and former U.S. Navy commander who served as a commanding o cer and aide to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Sta during 9/11. Giesemann will be in Denver to host a lecture called “ e

tion and growth of children and their caregivers. It provides rich play experiences and a dynamic learning environment with innovative and interactive hands-on exhibits, engaging daily programming and yearround special events. Proceeds from the 50th Birthday Bash will support educational programming, creating new exhibits and enhancing existing ones, access initiatives and more. More information/reservations: mychildsmuseum.org

Photo courtesy of Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus.

Awakened Way” on Sept. 12 and an in-person workshop called “Tools for Living the Awakened Way” on Sept. 13. e lecture will entail “exploring 21st Century Spirituality, merging the latest scienti c understanding about consciousness with ancient spiritual wisdom. e workshop will teach attendees e 3 E’s of Awakened Living.

More information/reservations: jccdenver.org (there is a link to purchase tickets); to learn more about Suzanne Giesemann, visit suzannegiesemann.com.

JCC Denver.

Photo courtesy of Suzanne Giesemann via

Sept. 16

2023 Walk to End Alzheimer’s - Denver

Time: Registration at 7 a.m., ceremony at 9 a.m., walk immediately follows.

Location: Denver’s City Park, 2001 Colorado Blvd.

Cost: Varies (fundraiser).

Denver’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s is one of 13 happening across the state to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Association of Colorado, which provides education, programs and services to families

Sept. 21

Latin Beats: Sonidos de las Américas

Time: 7 p.m.

Location: Boettcher Concert Hall at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, 1385 Curtis St.

Cost: Free.

Latin Beats: Sonidos de las Américas celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 in 2023) and Latin culture’s in uence on sound in the Americas. e Colorado Symphony will showcase a fusion of traditional, classical and contemporary music. is free concert is a partnership between the Mexican Cultural Center, the Colorado Symphony and Denver Arts & Venues. Tickets will be available

at no charge. e walk allows participants the opportunity to share their experiences with the disease while raising funds to go toward nding a cure. is year’s statewide collective fundraising goal is $2.3 million. According to a news release, more than 76,000 Coloradans are among the 6.7 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s.

More information/reservations: To register, volunteer or make a donation to any of the 13 Colorado Walks to End Alzheimer’s, visit alz.org/co. For more information about programs and services available at no charge, call the Alzheimer’s Association Helpline at 800-272-3900.

Courtesy photo.

Sept. 17

SoJo: Social Justice Community Conversation and Concert

Time: 4-8 p.m. (Doors open at 3 p.m.)

Location: Levitt Pavilion, 1380 W. Florida Ave., Denver.

Cost: $10.80

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the birth of hip-hop, 104.7 THE DROP is hosting a multigenerational, community-focused gathering and concert that will highlight hip-hop history makers and their impact on the culture. Known as SoJo, the event will feature hip-hop pioneer Chuck D of Public Enemy,

Sept. 25

Open House for Small Businesses Interested in Working with Denver Arts & Venues

Time: 9:30 a.m. to noon.

Location: Ellie Caulkins Opera House Studio Loft at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, 980 14th St.

Cost: Free. is open house for small businesses is being put on through a partnership between Denver Arts & Venues and the Denver Economic Development & Opportunity’s Division of Small Business Opportunity. It is geared for small businesses, particularly those that are minority-

Denver

Philharmonic

Orchestra: ¡Fiesta!

Time: 7:30 p.m., doors open at 6:15 p.m.

on Sept. 7 and can be reserved online or in-person at the Colorado Symphony’s box o ce. All seating is general admission and a ticket does not guarantee a seat. More information/reservations: coloradosymphony.org; mccdenver.org/latin-beats

Location: Antonia Brico Stage at Central Presbyterian Church, 1660 Sherman St., Denver.

Cost: $27 adult, $19 senior (65+), $12 student, free for children 12 and younger.

is concert will feature the sounds of Latin America, including works by Arturo Márquez, Manuel Ponce and

who will doing a talk back with the audience; Talib Kweli; and Colorado’s own e Reminders.

More information/reservations: thedrop303.org

Photo courtesy of Chuck D and THE DROP 104.7.

owned and women-owned. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about business opportunities with Denver Arts & Venues. e agenda includes a continental breakfast; a presentation by Denver Arts & Venues, which will provide an overview of the agency and its venues; and networking with the City and County of Denver’s General Services Purchasing Division, Denver Economic Development & Opportunity’s Division of Small Business Opportunity, and the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure. e open house is free and open to the public, but RSVPs are encouraged.

More information/reservations: tinyurl.com/DAV-small-businessopen-house

Logo courtesy of Denver Arts & Venues.

Arturo Rodríguez.

More information/reservations: denverphilharmonic.org

Photo by Amanda Tipton Photography

Photo by Amanda Tipton/ courtesy of the Mexican Cultural Center.

Performances that can’t be found elsewhere in Denver

New season of Newman Center Presents series has something for everyone

BY BRUCE GOLDBERG SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Okaidja Afroso hails from a family of storytellers and musicians from a shing village on Ghana’s west coast.

“ ey have been the sole practitioners of our culture,” said the 48-year-old musician, who plays an acoustic guitar with nylon strings and percussion instru-

Call

ments. “I have come to really appreciate and also maintain the culture.”

Afroso’s sound is unique — he combines ancestral traditions and contemporary African music. And he sings in his native Ga, the national language of Ghana.

“When I perform, it’s time to connect with my audience, even though they don’t understand the words I’m singing,” Afroso said.

“My project is to use the language, words, names and things to reenergize my people.”

His goal is for Americans to get his message: It’s di cult for Ghanaians to retain culture and history.

“ e most important thing is to make sure my people are able to hear these songs,” Afroso said, “and also, hopefully, something can be done about some of the issues.”

Afroso is just one of the performers included in the 20232024 season of the Newman Center Presents series. Afroso and his ve-piece group will perform his heritage project called “Jaka Murro” on Sept. 28.

e robust lineup has something for everyone, including numerous musical performances such as jazz artists and a chamber orchestra, the spoken word, live cinema and more. e season includes 16 show dates.

Opening the season is “Dog Man: e Musical” on Sept. 8. Dog Man has the head of a dog and the body of a policeman, and “loves to ght crime and chew on the furniture.” You can imagine the rest.

On Jan. 23, a troupe of Algerian, Moroccan, Bulgarian, Italian and French dancers will perform French-Algerian choreographer Hervé Koubi’s work.

Another highlight is “Acrobuffos: Air Play” on Feb. 8. is

SEE PERFORMANCES, P15

NEWMAN CENTER PRESENTS 2023-2024 SEASON

Sept. 8 & 9: Dog Man: The Musical

Sept. 22 & 23: Martha Graham Dance Company

Sept. 27: Okaidja Afroso: Jaku Mumor

Sept. 30: Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer & Shahzad Ismaily – Love in Exile

Oct 15.: Samara Joy

Jan. 23: Compagnie Hervé Koubi: What the Day Owes to the Night

Feb. 3: Emmet Cohen Trio

Feb. 16: Small Island Big Song

Feb. 18: Acrobu os: Air Play

March 1: Joshua Redman Quintet

March 10: Okareka: Mana Wahine

March 20: Sphinx Virtuoso

March 30: Aoife O’Donovan & Hawktail

April 12: Urban Bush Women: Legacy + Lineage + Liberation

April 19: TAKT Trio

May 3: Maria Schneider Orchestra

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit newmancenterpresents.com.

Call by September 30th to learn about our move-in specials!

Call by September 30th to learn about our move-in specials!

More choice. More comfort. More you.

720•912•5845

www.fivestarseniorliving.com

of renovating our interior spaces where residents can come together to experience all our community has to offer and to celebrate life. We have a variety of living options, from one to two-bedroom independent living apartments, to assisted living, and memory care. Our goal is to provide an easy living environment that respects and dignifies our residents.

More choice. More comfort. More you.

Star Residences of Dayton Place, our focus is on people and compassion. in the process of renovating our interior spaces where residents can come together to experience all our community has to o er and to celebrate life. We variety of living options, from one to two-bedroom independent living apartments, to assisted living, and memory care. Our goal is to provide an easy living environment that respects and dignifies our residents.

At Five Star Residences of Dayton Place, our focus is on people and compassion. We are in the process of renovating our interior spaces where residents can come together to experience all our community has to o er and to celebrate life. We have a variety of living options, from one to two-bedroom independent living apartments, to assisted living, and memory care. Our goal is to provide an easy living environment that respects and dignifies our residents.

Contact us to schedule a visit

Contact us to schedule a visit

Five Star Residences of Dayton Place

1950 South Dayton Street Denver, Co 80247

www.fivestarseniorliving.com @2023 Five Star Senior Living

@2023 Five Star Senior Living

PERFORMANCES

FROM PAGE 14

circus-style show of two siblings is summarized as so: “Air Play transforms ordinary objects into uncommon beauty. Umbrellas y, fabrics soar over the audience, balloons swallow people. And snow swirls,

lling the stage.”

e season nale is a concert by the seven-time Grammy award-winning Maria Schneider Orchestra on May 3.

e various jazz, dance and international programs will enhance the local orchestra theme, said Aisha Ahmad-Post, executive director of the Robert and Judi Newman Center for the Performing Arts.

“People are excited to learn about new artists and are excited to see stu that they can’t nd anywhere else in Denver,” Ahmed-Post said.

Okaidja Afroso will perform his heritage project called “Jaka Murro” on Sept. 28 as part of the 2023-2024 season of the Newman Center Presents series.

COURTESY OF PAAPA KWAKU ODURO

Compagnie Hervé Koubi will perform on Jan. 23 as part of the 2023-2024 season of the Newman Center Presents series. COURTESY OF NATHALIE STERNALSKI

BY JO DAVIS JDAVIS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The story of the Our Mindful Kingdom Teen Summit begins with a Black teacher in the Denver Public Schools system.

“I taught for ve years in over 50 schools in the Denver Metro area,” said Warren Stokes, cocoordinator of the summit.

During his time as a substitute teacher, Stokes said that he became vocal about something that he heard regularly in every school.

“ e kids were saying the n-word,” he said.

According to Stokes, those students were corrected on the use of a word that is a slur if used outside of the Black community.

Stokes said that the majority of the speakers were not Black students. In fact, in Denver Public Schools alone, only 13.5% of students are Black.

Stokes actually took to the news about the problem in 2021, to no avail.

“I ended up blackballed from teaching in DPS because I went to the news,” Stokes said.

en, toward the end of the 2023 school year, Stokes’ son, Brandon, came home hurt because a White student had called him the n-word.

“I was ready to ght,” Warren Stokes said. “But I had to do something else.”

at’s where the summit comes in.

Warren Stokes partnered with Tosha Anders, founder of Our Mindful Kingdom, a nonpro t group dedicated to programming that helps Black teens and families with mental health topics.

Anders and Stokes came together with the help of a grant from the Colorado Health Foundation to create a space for Black teens in the Denver Metro area to have their voices heard.

e 2023 African American Teen Summit took place Aug. 11 at Denver’s Central Park.

Warren Stokes said that he hopes to make it an annual event, as Black students need somewhere to let out the thoughts and feelings that have been pent up.

He said that this realization came from seeing the emotions Brandon went through after being called the n-word by a White student, who had a history of bullying Brandon. Warren Stokes said that his son was angry, sad and then frustrated about the incident.

At the Our Mindful Kingdom Teen Summit, Brandon spoke about the incident and how he felt. He was not alone. e one-day event included Anders’ children and others who came to speak about their experiences at various Denver Metro area schools. And they had a lot to say.

During a breakout session, the teens discussed their frustrations with school. In many cases, the students were one of a handful or the only Black student in their classes.

Warren Stokes’ other son, Markus, also shared that his appearance made his non-Black peers in school

VOICE

react negatively before they got to know him.

“You always have to prove yourself,” Markus said.

Other teens explained how they felt invisible in school, only seen when they are feared, belittled or reprimanded.

According to summit participant

Jayden Anders, the situation is compounded for him, because he is also a disabled student.

Anders added that the teachers were unprepared to meet his needs as a Black student.

“If the school doesn’t teach us, we have to nd someone else to do it or learn on our own,” Anders said.

e summit was more than just a space to talk about those experiences.

Warren Stokes not only guided the students through exercises to help them get in touch with their feelings and experiences, but he also helped them channel that into actionable community-building steps.

is was the second half of the summit, which came after a break for dancing, pizza and communing amongst the teens present. Stokes said that he intended for the summit to be fun.

e community building portion began with the students discussing their fears, recognizing threats (mental health and peer-related, not just the violence) and turning those into positive moves. ey also spoke about their strengths and weaknesses.

Stokes explained that these exercises were designed to help the students get to know themselves.

“You are doing things today that grown people, adults, cannot do,” he said, and congratulated the teens on facing some deep parts of themselves.

Malya Anders was another student who shared that her con dence was something that she needed to work on. However, she revealed that speaking at the summit was actually helping her with con dence already.

Her brother added they need to talk more about “purpose and how to be a positive change.”

“We can’t just talk about it,” Lashayla Sloan said. She urged the group to consider action to go with their words.

Warren Stokes added that words are not a reason to react negatively.

“All of you have been called names and disrespected. But unless they put hands on you, it doesn’t matter,” he said. Instead, he urged the students to use some of the tools they learned that day.

e summit concluded with a re ection on not just the space they occupied, but the state they all live in.

“Denver is a special place, a unique place,” Warren Stokes said.

He described the natural activities, open spaces and winter sports. He added that Denver was a progressive place.

“But there’s still racism,” he said.

He told the students that they could no longer sit and su er in silence. ey needed to form a community and use that collective voice to speak their truth to adults at school, at home and to the government.

Brandon Stokes was one of the catalysts for the summit concept. He was called a racial slur by a White student at his school. COURTESY OF MARKUS STOKES

The teen participants worked in groups to diagram their thoughts into a series of questions and issues presented by summit host and co-founder Warren Stokes.

PHOTO BY JO DAVIS

MSU Denver’s Women in Aviation chapter opens doors for female pilots

BY SARA MARTIN CHALKBEAT COLORADO

Dagmar Kress dreamed of becoming a pilot. But her father told her that ying wasn’t something women did.

She recalled him saying at the time, about 55 years ago: “Oh, that’s not for women, that’s too technical and you could never have a family,”

But Kress didn’t heed her father’s warnings and went on to become a decorated pilot and ight instructor. She is also a lecturer at Metropolitan State University of Denver, where she is helping guide other women

into the aviation eld.

MSU Denver is considered one of the most comprehensive aviation schools in Colorado, o ering extensive courses in its aviation and aerospace department where students can earn degrees and certi cations including professional ight o cer, air tra c controller, aviation management, and drone operator.

e program is also notable for its enrollment of students who identify as female, which at 20% sits above the industry standard. e number of women enrolling in MSU Denver’s program has increased almost each year since 2017, when the

university started tracking data.

Nationally, women made up fewer than 16% of students enrolled in aviation programs in 2022, according to data from the Federal Aviation Administration.

MSU Denver’s success in attracting women to the aviation program is coming at a key time for the industry, which is being hit by an unprecedented rate of mandatory retirement. at will leave openings for women to break through a eld that has been historically maledominated. About 91% of aircraft pilots and 75% of air tra c controllers are male, according to the federal

Bureau of Labor Statistics.

University President Janine Davidson, herself a former pilot, frequently promotes the aviation program. In addition, several of the aviation faculty are women, and the university actively works to connect students with job opportunities — most recently through a new partnership with United Airlines.

e university’s Women in Aviation chapter also works to help younger women pilots see that they have a place in aviation, as well as providing scholarships, network-

Natalie Gramer, a student at Metropolitan State University of Denver, scans the horizon for tra c while collecting hours to earn her commercial pilot rating.

PHOTO BY SARA MARTIN, CHALKBEAT

AVIATION

ing, and opportunities for travel that might otherwise be out of reach.

Kress, 64, understands rsthand the challenges that women can face in pursuing a career in aviation, noting that when she was starting out “women were expected to be a housewife, take care of kids, and were discouraged from careers.”

Kress immigrated to the U.S. from Germany when she was 24 and earned her master’s degree in business administration, but fell in love with aviation while studying in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Many of Kress’ rst in uences in the industry were women and she credits “everything she knows and has learned” to Charlee Galbreath, a former Navy pilot and the woman who taught her how to y in 1985.

Kress has now been teaching others how to y for over 33 years as a ight instructor and has been at MSU Denver for the past eight years. She also serves as the head coach for the university’s aerobatic team, which she has led to 13 collegiate championships.

“If the men can do it, so can the women, maybe even better,” said Kress, an international world aerobatic competitor who has competed in world championships for Germany.

is fall, when she looked at her class rosters, Kress said she saw more women enrolled compared to previous years. More years than not, Kress has often seen more men enrolled in her course. is year, she has a class that is half women.

e aviation major at MSU Denver dates back to 1967 and was one of the original major programs o ered at the school, which rst opened in 1965 as Metropolitan State College. at was tting for a place like Colorado, which has become a hub for the aviation and aerospace industry with companies and government agencies such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing Corporation, the United States Space Command, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, known as NORAD, and the Air Force Academy, all based in Colorado Springs.

Denver International Airport — the largest airport in North America — and Lockheed Martin are part of Colorado’s top employers with over a combined 40,000 workers. Both have

recruited possible applicants from the university’s programs.

e military is also a critical pipeline for aviation careers – as well as the root of an early barrier for women.

Former military pilots have historically represented the largest percentage of airline pilots’ backgrounds. In the 1980s, roughly two-thirds of all airline pilots in the United States had some form of military experience. It’s now estimated that one-third of airline pilots have military aircraft experience, partially due to many retirements.

But it wasn’t until 1993 that the United States Armed Forces lifted the Combat Exclusion Policy, a 45-year-old practice prohibiting women from serving in combat roles. e change only pertained to aviation positions and allowed women to serve in almost any aviation role. ( e limits on women in other military roles were lifted in 2013.)

Once that legal hurdle was lifted, doors previously closed for women were opened, increasing aviation opportunities in the military.

Many second-generation aviators, such as Laura Braunshmidt, a lecturer at MSU Denver, have roots in the military. Her father, like many others in the industry, served in the U.S. Air Force.

Braunshmidt was surrounded by aviation her whole life. Her father served as a radar engineer, her husband is a pilot, and her father-in-law built airplanes. Even her son became an air tra c controller.

“I always was fascinated by aviation but never really thought it was something I could do,” Braunshmidt said.

Braunshmidt began thinking about a career in aviation for herself about 15 to 20 years ago and became a professional pilot for a few charter airlines while working in Michigan and Wisconsin. She eventually grew tired of the constant travel and took a position teaching at MSU Denver, eventually advising the Women in Aviation chapter.

Being able to teach and see women grow in the eld has been one of the highlights of her career, she said.

“All of the things that men have been enjoying for a long time now, women are able to enjoy them now in aviation, too,” Braunshmidt said.

But barriers still exist in aviation for women and people of color.

Women are more likely than men to consider leaving the aviation industry, because of negative experi-

ences in a culture often not welcoming for women. Current e orts to promote diversity and inclusion in aviation are often ine ective, with men deciding what initiatives will enhance gender and diversity balance, according to a 2021 report by the International Aviation Womens Association.

Another hurdle is cost. It can cost as much as $75,000 to $100,000 for the training and education needed to become a pilot.

To earn certain pilot ratings, pilots must y a minimum of hours, all of which accumulate costs for renting a plane, hiring a ight instructor, and paying for gas. Many of those who pursue the industry come out of their education with signi cant debt.

MSU Denver students Holly Hunsaker and Shelly Hughes know that all too well. Both are rst-generation pilots who compete on the university’s aerobatic team and are on their way to becoming professional ight o cers.

ey are also both scholarship recipients. All of the funds have either gone to required ying hours, classes, or costs related to practicing aerobatics at the team’s practices.

“I would say that money is the number one challenge, especially as a rst-generation pilot because my family doesn’t really understand how expensive it is,” Hughes said. “Having to nd my own funds to pay for it has been the hardest part and it’s the reason why I don’t have my license fully done yet.”

Hunsaker received a $2,500 aerobatic scholarship through the university’s Women in Aviation chapter, which was donated by Kress, the aerobatics coach.

MSU Denver is also carving out opportunities for students with partnerships such as United Airlines’ “Aviate” program. e program will start this fall and aims to fast-track students who nish the program while in school into a co-pilot position with United. With the Aviate program, United is “partnering with diversity-led organizations and continuing to remove gender and racial barriers.”

“We are the future,” Hunsaker said about women in the industry.

Natalie Gramer, a senior this fall at MSU Denver, has played an integral role in bringing together women from the program. In 2019, Gramer co-founded the university’s Women in Aviation chapter, the rst of its kind on campus.

When Gramer rst started her

classes, she was told that she would see few women in the aviation eld. at’s exactly what she encountered when she started in the industry.

“It was very apparent to me that I was in a world where I felt like I belonged, but I didn’t really know how I t in,” Gramer said, explaining why she helped co-found the chapter.

Gramer felt like it was her calling to help create a non-exclusionary space where others could feel like they belonged, were supported, and could give back. e chapter started with a handful of people and has now grown to over 70 members.

But Gramer was no stranger to aviation. Her father is an alum of the university’s aviation program, served as a pilot in the Air Force, and was a Delta Air Lines pilot for 40 years before recently retiring. Her godfather was also a pilot.

Seeing women in the same place as herself had a big impact on Gramer.

“It changed my perspective on my education,” Gramer said.

Gramer, who has served as the Women in Aviation president for the past two years, said it has been the pride and joy of her college experience.

Over the past three years, the university has paid for the chapter to travel to the Women in Aviation International conference, where chapter members have been able to connect with women involved in aviation from around the world. e conference encourages the advancement of women in all aviation career elds and interests.

“ e power that we can give to other people by sharing our passions and just being kind embodies what Women in Aviation is,” Gramer said.

Gramer has now passed on the mantle of president of the chapter as she prepares for graduation in December. Her goal is to start teaching others how to y and is in talks with the university to return as an instructor.

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

Curbside composting comes to Denver

Residents adjust to expanded waste services that divert food and yard scraps from the landfill

BY NATALIE KERR SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Coloradans sent 326,000 tons of food waste and yard scraps to landlls in 2021 — approximately 54,000 dumpsters worth.

Denver is behind on its goal of diverting 70% of its waste away from land lls — currently diversion is only at 31% — but that may soon change. Weekly curbside composting is coming to Denverites’ front doors. And with it, the opportunity to reduce land ll volume, greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption, while contributing to Colorado jobs.

Compost services began in July for Denver’s Solid Waste District 2, which includes City Park, City Park West, Clayton, Cole, Elyria-Swansea, Five Points, Uptown, Skyland, Whittier and parts of Globeville. Montbello, Gateway and Green Valley Ranch will likely receive services next, though there is not an exact start date yet, said Vanessa Lacayo, a spokesperson for Denver’s Department of Transportation & Infrastructure.

“ e goal is to make sure residents are using the service correctly before moving on to the next area,” Lacayo said. “ e department is prioritizing neighborhoods with lower diversion rates in its rollout, and will be reaching out directly to residents before their compost service begins so they can prepare.”

e expansion is funded by a “pay as you throw” program that began in January and requires residents to pay a higher monthly fee for using larger trash bins until their compost cart arrives and they can divert more of their trash. Residents can exchange their current trash cart size for a small, medium or large one.

District 2 residents received a small kitchen pail to separate their food and yard waste from their trash and recycling. at waste is then put into their green cart for weekly collection on the same day as their trash collection. e city transports that waste to A1 Organics, where it is processed into compost for gardens,

agriculture, parks and more.

Denver hopes the program will reduce waste and greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change, and turn food waste into a valuable resource, said Nina Waysdorf, DOTI’s waste diversion and recycling manager.

Composting keeps methane – a greenhouse gas released when organic materials rot in land lls –out of the atmosphere and feeds plants that trap carbon dioxide, said Judy Elliot, community education cultivator at Denver Urban Gardens. Compost also promotes healthier soil, increases water retention, uses fewer chemical fertilizers and can be used to remediate polluted land.

What residents say

DOTI has delivered 10,600 compost carts to residents, and most seem to be getting used, Lacayo said. ough it is still too early to assess how much waste is being diverted, she added. Prior to the July rollout, about 2,000 residents in District 2 were composting through the city’s subscription-based compost service, which is still available for residents who want to compost before the rollout comes to their district.

Marcie Rome, who lives in the City Park neighborhood, was excited to receive her compost bin. She and many of her neighbors have been putting out compost for collection each week, and Rome felt the instructions that came with the compost bins were clear and easy to follow.

“I’ve wanted to get into it (composting) for a long time but didn’t really know how, so the fact that it just showed up and came with all the instructions was exciting,” Rome said.

e Be Cart Smart website and the Denver Trash and Recycling app contain waste directories that residents can refer to for questions about what can and cannot go into the bins.

Rome said she would have appreciated receiving compostable bags along with the kitchen pails so that she could keep it clean when dispos-

ing of her food waste.

e only bags that can enter the green compost bins are three gallon or less compostable bags approved by the Composting Manufacturers Alliance, as these decompose in eld conditions, said Kristi Hatakka, compost coordinator at Denver Urban Gardens. Many other bags labeled compostable actually do not decompose and when compost is contaminated by non-compostable materials, the entire compost load goes to the land ll.

“Composting is a process – it’s not a matter of going through steps one through ve and you’re going to have beautiful material for your yard,” Elliot said. “Whatever you can do to follow the guidelines, you made a helpful step towards keeping material out of the land ll.”

City Park residents Leslie and Bill Ho composted regularly when they

lived in California, and are happy to see curbside composting come to Denver, knowing less waste will now enter land lls.

But Leslie Ho added that more information before the compost service arrived would have helped residents prepare for the rollout.

“Maybe send it with the utility bill or the water bill just to say why they are doing it and why should I do it?”

Leslie Ho said.

e city is o ering educational resources in both English and Spanish to help residents understand composting, what they can put in the green carts and where the compost is used once it is created.

Denver Urban Gardens also o ers Master Composter certi cations where participants complete 10 sessions of training on the biology and

A green compost bin is wheeled to the curb.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DENVER DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE

COMPOST

chemistry of composting.

For Dustin Ceballos, who lives in the Whittier neighborhood, information on where to put the bin for pickup, which day it is picked up and whether he had to pay for the services are unclear.

He added that people walking by his home also tend to dump non-compostable materials into his green bin, and he worries about rodents being attracted to the waste. He wishes the city had provided locks for the bins.

“We already get squirrels biting their way through the trash bins,” Ceballos said. “I do worry a little bit about smells or pests.”

Residents may have their compost cart tagged with instructions if it doesn’t get picked up due to contamination, Waysdorf said.

How Waste No More fits in Resources will be tailored to different composting circumstances, like grocery stores, restaurants and apartments, said Blake Adams, who oversees the zero waste and circular economy initiatives for Denver’s Ofce of Climate Action, Sustainability & Resiliency.

e Waste No More ordinance, which was passed with a 70% voter approval in November last year, is led by CASR and requires apartment complexes, restaurants, o ce buildings and other businesses to o er recycling and composting services. Pickup services for these entities are not provided by DOTI, rather, they must be contracted from private haulers.

Ean omas Tafoya, a Waste No More campaign director, said Denver residents have been asking for compost services throughout his career working on environmental ballot initiatives.

“People were like, ‘Yeah, I would

love to see solar panels on top of the roof of my building, but I don’t even have recycling and composting,’” Tafoya said. “We started to know, all the way back in 2016, that this is something that the Denver residents wanted.”

Tafoya is a member of the task force reviewing the recommendations to improve the Waste No More measure. But some task force members are wary of making changes that cave to business interests and weaken the city’s composting abilities, Tafoya said.

“Our participation is to defend the ordinances (as) written as much as possible, but also acknowledge that some changes need to be made,” Tafoya said. “ e last thing we want is for it to be delayed, to a point where it’s ine ective in achieving its goals.”

CASR collected public comments during previous public town hall meetings and in the month of August that will be considered when adopting changes to the ordinance, Adams said.

Compost is a key component to help Denver achieve its waste diversion goals, but is likely the beginning of a decade-long e ort to achieve the city’s zero waste goals, Adams said. Ultimately, the city hopes to create a circular economy, or closed loop system, where items are reused or recycled for as long as possible.

“ is is a really big deal, because access to recycling (and) composting are consistently identi ed as the number one barrier for waste diversion,” Adams said.

Tafoya hopes these changes will create a ripple e ect, inspiring other cities across the United States to create universal compositing services. It’s what happened in Denver, he said, which was inspired by cities like Boulder and Austin, Texas, that already have curbside composting.  “We are ready to be global leaders on the environment,” Tafoya said. “And now we are dedicated to doing that work collectively.”

and a speedy all-downhill descent on the other side. Cyclists come from all over the metro area – and the world – to do this climb. So, if it is on your bucket list, the ride might be the perfect opportunity for you to cross it o , as well as a century if you’ve never done one before.

Aid stations will be stocked with water, food and cheerful volunteers along all of the routes, providing a chance to rest, recharge and meet folks along the way.

For those who are not interested in riding but still want to be involved, there are volunteer opportunities — everything from working aid stations to serving as a Motor-

cycle Marshal. e marshals act as escorts to support riders, creating a bu er between cyclists and tra c, especially at intersections. It’s important because the roads, which traverse several jurisdictions across the metro area, will not be closed for the event. ey’re open to the usual tra c, though drivers are certainly going to notice more than the usual number of colorful cyclists on the roads.

Lastly, don’t forget the post-ride party. It takes place from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at e Shops at North eld. It will include an expo with the event’s sponsors and exhibitors, family activities, beer stations and a variety of dining options from the restaurants at e Shops at Northeld.

Visit DenverCenturyRide.com to learn more.

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“I have one kid who is blindly con dent, one who struggles with anxiety and one with a speech disorder,“ Hicks said. But that “doesn’t matter — all kids are ‘theater kids’ to Christina and Bussy.”

Professional performing experience opportunities

MHYT started its inaugural season by o ering two enrollment options: classes and full productions. Both are divided by age groups to maximize student growth. Private coaching and voice lessons are not available yet, but hopefully in early 2024, Roberts said.

MHYT classes provide a variety of subject matter, including the foundations of acting, how to prepare

for an audition, musical theater classes and musical composition, as well as classes that focus on the general creative process, like how to break down a script.

Collective Creation, which is a class available for preteens, has a loose rehearsal process where a group works together to review written material and put the piece together.

is type of exibility and inclusivity is unlike traditional performing classes where students are given material and told what to do. By asking for student input, Roberts said students share ideas and work collectively as part of the entire process, which gives them more ownership of their work.

is unique style has been successful with Roberts’ students in the past, she said.

e second enrollment option at MHYT is for staged productions,

which requires an audition. Students selected for these productions will have the opportunity to experience the real-deal of performing on stage.

Production rehearsals are three days a week for 10 weeks. e last week before a performance is called Tech Week, which is when technical elements like lighting and costuming are added. Small scale productions will be presented at the MHYT space in a black box, which is a room that has been painted black and converted into a performing space with a small stage and audience seating. Larger productions will be performed at contracted venues such as the Peoples Building and Village Exchange Center — both in Aurora — which will give students a professional experience at a high-audience capacity.

“At the end of the day, it is our job to help them grow and develop

character and be ready for the nal performance,” Roberts said.

Upcoming productions

Auditions for the spring semester’s productions of “Mean Girls” and “Finding Nemo Jr.” will occur in December.

Youth interested in auditioning should keep an eye out for a mini audition workshop which will take place this fall, following the anksgiving holiday. Roberts said this three-week course was put together to bring comfort to students who are auditioning — some perhaps for the rst time — because those experiences can be really intimidating.

“We want (them) to be successful and help (them) grow,” she said.

To learn more about Mile High Youth Theatre, visit mhyt.org.