155 Steele Street #1117
CHERRY CREEK
Designs By Sundown was founded in 1985 to make great homes even better with beautiful, sustainable, enjoyable landscapes. We have stayed true to our roots, with a responsive, knowledgeable staff and the highest quality materials and craftsmanship
Rolling with the Summer Storms
The summer months here just beg for us to spend as much time outside as possible, and one of my top outdoor activities happens to be tending to my garden. Each year, as the plants from last year come out from winter hibernation, my garden begins to take shape and show off for these summer months while I add new baby plants to join the growing club.
This year, as I placed my last squash plant into my garden, I heard some rumbling begin and retreated back inside after feeling one giant raindrop, and then another, and another. I opened the windows to let in the fresh smell of rain, and before I knew it, golf ball-sized hail began hurling from the sky.
I watched from the window as each leaf from my veggies, herbs, and flowers just stripped right off of the plants within five minutes from planting that last zucchini. And before I knew it, the yard was so covered in white hail, it had looked as if it had snowed, and the sun was already back and beaming over the destruction.
In total shock, my sidekick Lil’ Ricky and I set out for a neighborhood walk for a little distraction. What we found felt like Whoville when all of the Whos came out and held hands, singing around the empty Christmas Tree after the Grinch Stole Christmas, as everyone was out chatting with a side of commiseration with their neighbors.
Knowing the neighborhood was in it together to rebuild our gardens, some hope returned, and I have now spent the weeks following watching plants heal and grow stronger than they even were before. So, now as an afternoon storm rolls in, I open up the windows again and enjoy the smell, sounds, and reminders that even if our leaves get a little bruised, an opportunity opens to grow stronger following the hail.
KELSEY HUFFER, EDITOR @CHERRYCREEKLIFESTYLE
July 2026
PUBLISHER
Andy Manz | amanz@citylifestyle.com
MANAGING EDITOR
Kate Manz | kmanz@citylifestyle.com
PUBLICATION DIRECTOR
Chantel Ellerington | chantel.ellerington@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Kelsey Huffer | kelsey.huffer@citylifestyle.com
SALES DIRECTOR
Jennifer Behr | jennifer.behr@citylifestyle.com
INTERN
Edson Graycar | edson.graycar@citylifestyle.com
COPY EDITOR
Tony Firestine | anthonyjfirestine@gmail.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Jeff Schwing, Meredith Rowe, Tony Firestine, Linden Butrym, Avery Young
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Jeff Fierberg, Sarah Banks, WayUp Media, era92 Creative, Adalina Aladro, Julie Sofer
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Rachel Chrisman
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kirstan Lanier
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Brandy Thomas
Proverbs 3:5-6
Courtesy of Petra Class Studio
exquisite character + modern amenities
Get in touch with Gina and Kara to benefit from 5 decades of combined experience with over $1 billion in sales in Denver Metro. This dynamic mother-daughter team offers a highly personalized approach to client service with unrivaled market knowledge and the ability to navigate the ever-changing real estate market.
city scene
WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN
1-6: The Behr Team, alongside Willow Home, hosted an elegant summer soirée in the Polo Club on May 14. Guests were welcomed with freshly shucked oysters from Crudo Cart and flowing bubbles poured by luxury travel entrepreneur and wine expert Molly Montgomery.
Michelin-Recognized Soda Club Opening in Denver
Soda Club, a four-time Michelin Bib Gourmand–awarded fresh pasta, natural wine, and cocktail bar, will open in Denver this summer. The restaurant is helmed by James Beard Award–nominated restaurateur Ravi Derossi, a founder and owner of Death & Co who was instrumental in bringing the acclaimed cocktail bar to Denver’s The Ramble Hotel. Soda Club will occupy the restaurant space at The Ramble Hotel at 1260 25th Street.
Photography by Amy Elisabeth Spasoff
Leven Supply Launches Picnic Packs
Near Washington Park, Leven Supply has launched curated picnic packs perfect for dining al fresco. Each $75 pack includes rotating cheeses and cured meats, a naturally leavened baguette, house-smoked olives, nuts, jam or spread, and a chilled bottle of rosé. The deli-pizzeria also offers sandwiches, salads, and picnic-ready pizzas to-go. Order ahead online or stop in for an easy park-day spread.
CLEAR VISION
These
Book your chair
Sign-up
to Volunteer for
the 2027 Sundance Film Festival in Boulder, Colorado!
The 2027 Sundance Film Festival will take place from January 21-31, 2027, in Boulder, Colorado! Applications to volunteer for the 2027 Festival will open at the end of the summer, and they look forward to connecting with you soon! Keep an eye on their website for more information regarding next steps and the official application process at Sundance.org/Festivals/ Sundance-Film-Festival/Volunteer
Photo by Dan Campbell, courtesy of Sundance Institute
I absolutely love my patio shades by Innovative Openings.
“They are first class craftsmanship with quality materials. From measurement to installation the employees were excellent. These shades are so quiet as they raise and lower I have to check to make sure they are working. Best of all, I can now sit on my patio in the heat of the day and be comfortable with the 93% light blocking (not to mention more privacy). I highly recommend this company.”
Therese B., Innovative Openings Customer
THE LUXURY OF SPACE
Surrounded by Mature Trees and Manicured Grounds, This Extraordinary Polo Club Estate Offers Privacy Rarely Found Within City Limits
ARTICLE BY TONY FIRESTINE PHOTOGRAPHY BY WAYUP MEDIA
Few real estate teams know Denver’s luxury market as intimately as the Behr Team. Consistently ranked among the region’s top-producing teams, they have closed more than $3 billion in real estate transactions and sold over 2,500 properties, earning a reputation for exceptional client service, market expertise, and representation of some of Colorado’s most significant homes.
680 South University Boulevard exemplifies the type of property that has become a hallmark of the team’s portfolio: architecturally significant, exceptionally private, and nearly impossible to replicate.
Located within Denver’s prestigious Polo Club neighborhood, the estate occupies more than two secluded acres, an extraordinary amount of land in one of the city’s most coveted residential enclaves. Hidden behind mature trees and lush landscaping, the property feels worlds away from urban life despite being only minutes from Cherry Creek, Washington Park, Bonnie Brae, and Old South Gaylord.
“What stands out most is the way it blends timeless English Country architecture with an extraordinary sense of scale and privacy that feels almost impossible to replicate in central Denver,” says Josh Behr.
The home makes an impression long before visitors step inside. A sweeping circular drive introduces a façade defined by stone detailing, slate rooflines, arched windows, and meticulously curated landscaping. The architecture embraces classic craftsmanship rather than contemporary trends, giving the residence a sense of
permanence that feels increasingly rare. “It is grand in scale, but there is also an intimacy and warmth to the architecture that makes it feel deeply livable,” Josh says.
That balance continues throughout the interior. Vaulted ceilings, detailed millwork, stone fireplaces, and expansive windows create rooms that feel both impressive and inviting. Every space has been designed to celebrate the surrounding landscape, with views of gardens, lawns, and outdoor living areas appearing at nearly every turn.
“One of the most memorable moments for first-time visitors is often the transition from the front approach into the main living spaces and then out to the grounds beyond,” Josh says. “What truly leaves a lasting impression is how connected the home feels to the outdoors.”
Among the home’s standout spaces are the dining and living rooms, which showcase the property's ability to combine architecture with everyday comfort. The dining room features soaring vaulted wood ceilings and rich millwork, while the living room pairs coffered ceilings and a substantial stone fireplace with comfortable gathering areas and direct access to outdoor terraces. “The dining room feels architectural and dramatic,” Josh says, “yet still maintains an inviting warmth that makes it feel equally suited for intimate dinners or large-scale entertaining.”
Covered patios, an outdoor kitchen, a fireplace, a pool house, expansive lawns, and a stunning pool create multiple destinations throughout the grounds. Mature landscaping enhances the sense of privacy, making it easy to forget that one of Denver’s most vibrant urban districts sits just beyond the gates.
“The outdoor space creates a true resort-style lifestyle centered around both relaxation and entertaining,” Josh says. “It is the kind of setting where you can host large gatherings, enjoy quiet evenings outdoors, or simply feel completely removed from the pace of the city.”
That feeling of escape is perhaps the property’s most remarkable achievement. Even within Polo Club, finding more than two acres of usable land combined with this level of privacy is exceptionally uncommon. “The setting feels almost estate-like in the truest sense,” Josh says. “At the same time, you are still minutes from some of Denver’s best restaurants, boutiques, and everyday amenities.”
For the Behr Team, homes like 680 South University Boulevard represent more than luxury real estate. They are legacy properties, residences defined not simply by size or location, but by craftsmanship, character, and a lifestyle that cannot easily be recreated.
In a market filled with impressive homes, this one stands apart. Equal parts grand estate and private retreat, it offers something increasingly difficult to find in Denver: the feeling of having escaped the city without ever leaving it.
For more information on 680 South University, visit BehrTeam. com/Properties/Sale
ARTICLE BY MEREDITH ROWE
FARMER’S MARKET FULL SWING IN IS SEA SON
PICK UP FRESH PRODUCE AND MORE AT THESE DENVER MARKETS
Every weekend, Farmers’ Markets pop up all over town, inviting Denverites to support local farms and businesses. At each market, you can stock up on seasonal produce, refill pantry staples, try new foods, and, of course, support a local coffee shop or two.
FRIDAY
Huerta Urbana Farmers’ Market
On Friday afternoons, Huerta Urbana Farmers' Market is on a mission to increase food access in the Globeville Elyria-Swansea (GES) neighborhoods. The area is a USDA-designated food desert, and the program also manages a one-acre farm, complete with chicken coop and beekeep, to bring more fresh produce to the community. There are many ways to pay, including market bucks, WIC, SNAP, and Double Up Bucks. Customers can also pay it forward by paying more than full price as a donation. To learn more or get involved, visit FocusPoints.org/HUFM
Fridays from June 19 through October 30, excluding the first weekend of each month
2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Focus Points Family Resource Center 2501 E. 48th Ave. Denver, CO 80216
SATURDAY
Harvey Park Farmers’ Market
This is the first year of the Harvey Park Farmers’ Market, created by longtime residents Allie Bronston and Corey Sampson. Tired of schlepping to other neighborhoods to access fresh, local produce, they decided to stop waiting for someone else to create a market for their community and to do it themselves.
Some of the farmers are hyper-local, like Athmar Farms and Harvey Park Flowers, and they also have specialty, pre-packaged, and ready-to-eat food. The market also accepts SNAP and Double Up Food Bucks. For the full vendor team and additional information, head to HarveyParkFarmersMarket.com. Saturdays from May 2 through October 31
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy (North Parking Lot) 2250 South Quitman Way, Denver, CO 80219
Cherry Creek Fresh Market
In 1997, Chris and Michele Burke co-founded Colorado Fresh Markets, building on their experience of attending markets as Burke Organic Farm.
They support new and small-scale growers through Fresh Funds and also contribute to local nonprofits, like Stink-Bug-Project, Dandelion Project, Garden Inc. Autism Services, and Hunger Free Colorado. The market also includes free parking via a weekly barcode available at ColoradoFreshMarkets.com.
Saturdays from May 2 through October 10
9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Cherry Creek Shopping Center, East Side On Steele St. next to Macy’s
City Park Farmers’ Market
Now in its fifth year, City Park Farmers’ Market brings over 100 vendors to line the Esplanade outside of East High School, including over 30 farmers, ranchers, and dairy. It’s also helped launch new brick-and-mortar businesses around Denver, including Cafe Tres, now open in Curtis Park.
Every week, there’s live music and a run club that rewards participants with a coffee token for Jubilee Roasting Co and a hat after five runs. Plus, there are seven chef demos throughout the season featuring some of the biggest names in town. To explore the full lineups, head to CityParkFarmersMarket.com
Saturdays from May 2 through October 31
8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
City Park Esplanade 2551 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206
University Hills Farmers’ Market
Now in its ninth year, Jump Ahead, Inc, runs farmers’ markets in University Hills and Evergreen, and they also run holiday markets and pop-ups around the metro. This is their first year on Colorado Blvd and Amherst Ave, about three blocks from their previous location.
Their markets have a 65% food focus, starting with fresh produce from Palizzi Farm and Forte Fruits. You can learn about all their events at FarmersMarketsColorado.com.
Saturdays from May 9th through October 31st
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Wellshire Presbyterian Church
2999 S Colorado Blvd, Denver, CO 80222
Riverfront Market
Also new this year is Riverfront Market in Riverfront Park. It opened on June 13 and is managed by the same company as South Pearl Farmers’ Market.
For more info, check out @riverfrontmarketdenver on Instagram.
Saturdays starting on June 13
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Riverfront Park
SUNDAY
The Highlands Farmers’ Market
Moving on to Sundays, The Highlands Farmers’ Market shuts down 32nd Ave to cars and invites locals and visitors alike to try tasty food, browse locally made goods, listen to tunes, and shop at local boutiques and bookstores also on the route.
Part 2 Resale Clothing Co. just opened between Meade and Lowell and has seen significant foot traffic on market days. Each week, they have a booth in front of their curated secondhand boutique, and they pay sellers right on the spot—no appointments necessary.
Learn more about the market at TheHighlandsFarmersMarket.com.
Sundays from May 10 through October 25
9 a.m. - 1 p.m. 32nd Avenue
Between Julian & Newton
South Pearl Farmers’ Market
Like The Highlands, South Pearl is already known as a historic shopping district, and every Sunday they bring in over 170 vendors and merchants, many of whom are new this year. Unlike many of the markets on this list, they do not allow pets due to heavy crowds, hot pavement, and food sanitation considerations. They also have weekly live music. Browse the full schedule and extensive vendor list at SouthPearlStreet.com/Farmers-Market.
Sundays from May 3 through November 8
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
1400 + 1500 blocks of South Pearl Street
Between Iowa and Arkansas
Central Park Farmers’ Market
Every Sunday, over 40 vendors set up in Founders' Green in Central Park. Like South Pearl Farmers’ Market, they’re also managed by Jarman and Co. Events.
Like many of the markets, they also have weekly live music. Check out the schedule and the list of vendors at CentralParkFarmersMarket.com.
Sundays from June 21 through October 11
8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Founders' Green 7601 29th Ave, Denver, CO 80238
People & Produce at Belleview Station
As the only farmer’s market in DTC, People & Produce brings more than 50 vendors to Belleview Station.
After shopping, they encourage people to stay for live music, the beer garden, and the dog park. Free street parking is available, and the paid lot is free for the first 3 hours. Learn more at PeopleandProduceBVS.com.
Sundays from May 31 through mid-October
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Belleview Station
Denver Tech Center
OUR NIGHT AT
HERETIK
A Master Class in Creative Restraint
ARTICLE BY JEFF SCHWING | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF FIERBERG
Lately, my most memorable dining experiences have come from a new generation of young chefs who have freed themselves from the constraints of the old guard. Rather than chasing excess or reinvention for its own sake, they’ve returned to the fundamentals, cooking with clarity, confidence, and a deep respect for tradition.
Denver and Boulder’s culinary renaissance has arrived in the form of timeless cuisine grandmothers would recognize and admire. Cozobi Fonda Fina, Rugaru, Bear Leek, and Margot each share a common thread: a resistance to the melancholy of old Denver dining and a quiet rebellion against orthodoxy through a return to their roots. Heretiks.
Chef Theo Adley opened Heretik earlier this year with a simple intention: to cook food he loves. “Simple on paper,” as Adley describes it. Tucked just off the beaten path of RiNo’s bustle, the restaurant immediately settles you with the comforting feeling of somewhere familiar. The dining room is filled with understated yet intentional touches. Servers weave gracefully through the space, pouring wine and adding to the natural rhythm of the room, while chefs in crisp white uniforms pull golden rotisserie chickens from a glowing oven in the open-air kitchen.
The space invites interpretation, and repeat visits. A casual chef’s counter stretches the length of the dining room, where couples sit shoulder to shoulder watching the quiet choreography of the kitchen. Banquettes accommodate larger gatherings, encouraging friends and families to linger over shared plates. Along the west side, an open-air bar table offers the perfect setting for a romantic evening. As the sun sets, candles flicker to life and waves of dishes glide effortlessly from the kitchen.
We began the evening with glasses of txakoli, the lightly effervescent Basque wine whose crisp acidity perfectly set the tone for the meal ahead. At Heretik, the beverage program feels inseparable from the food itself. Like the menu, the wine and cocktails are carefully curated without feeling precious, allowing guests to spend less time flipping through a wine list and more time enjoying the company across the table.
The menu consists of nineteen small plates and one, yes, one entrée. Adley describes it as an exercise in “creative restraint.” Reading through the offerings, you sense an intentional withholding of detail, a bit of mystery. Dishes like “shrimp cocktail” and “simple green salad” arrive with a wink, quietly suggesting there’s more happening beneath the surface.
Chef Theo Adley opened Heretik earlier this year with a simple intention: to cook food he loves.
The food speaks for itself: a blend of French technique, Spanish influence, and whatever else the chef feels compelled to explore. What struck us most was the simplicity of it all. Ingredients are allowed to taste the way they are meant to taste. The deviled eggs topped with tuna tartare are unexpected and deeply savory in a single bite. The not-so-simple “simple salad” serves as both palate cleanser and testament to how refined French cooking can emerge from restraint rather than complexity.
One personal favorite was the Dungeness crab tortilla, a playful mash-up of a classic Spanish tortilla and tartaleta de txangurro, the traditional Basque crab tart. Familiar yet entirely its own, it perfectly captures the restaurant’s philosophy: rooted in tradition without being beholden to it.
After a few glasses of refreshing wine and more than a handful of small plates, dinner finally arrives. There are few things better in this world than chicken cooked by a professional, and Heretik seems to understand that completely. Adley once described the restaurant as being “defined by what they are not,” and the Rotisserie Poulet Rouge is perhaps the clearest expression of that idea. The perfectly roasted chicken arrives over pommes allumettes, crispy French fries for those of us who prefer to eat with our hands, alongside dijonnaise, a vibrant green sauce, and Heretik’s signature sauce served on the side.
Leave room for a final glass of sherry or gin and the restaurant’s only dessert: a thick slice of Basque cheesecake. Anything else simply wouldn’t make sense.
“Haley Custom Homes recently completed my dream home. The Haley Team was amazing to work with. The efficiency with which the team works is unparalleled. Their Accelerated Precision Build System was remarkable. Their attention to detail and the quality of workmanship, employees and subcontractors ensured that the project was completed in a timely manner. This is one of the most honest and ethical companies I have had the pleasure of working with.”
- Christine Hamilton
DESIGNER JACKIE JOHNSON MARRIES
CLEAN LINES WITH HISTORIC TOUCHES TO CREATE HER DREAM HOME
APE ACE FUL OASIS
ARTICLE BY LINDEN BUTRYM PHOTOGRAPHY BY JULIE SOFER
Tucked away on three verdant acres in Cherry Hills, an English Tudor-style estate caught the eye of interior designer Jackie Johnson and her husband Erik in 2022. The couple lived in it for a year before Jackie, who designs luxurious modern interiors for her clients, opted to do the same with a full renovation of her own home.
“The interior of the main house was dated and needed a little facelift,” she says. “The kitchen was traditional French country, which is not particularly my style, and it was pretty dark.”
To bring in natural light, she added a sunroom with bifold doors off the kitchen. A wool rug atop antique stone tile provides a layered base for custom furniture crafted with John Brooks performance fabric—the perfect indoor-outdoor lounging area for morning coffee with the couple’s dogs. Inside, floor-to-ceiling windows were incorporated in living areas; in the kitchen, taller windows above the kitchen sink maximize sunlight while giving the illusion of height. Jackie relied on tonal shades in a neutral color palette to infuse the home with a sense of serenity. In the kitchen, Thomas Hayes Studio
leather and shearling stools surround a massive slab of Dolomite Odyssey stone. In the adjacent living room, a fireplace by Denverbased Cast Limestone Creations is bordered by tree landscape Papier mural wallpaper sourced from Denver boutique WallTawk.
“My design style is clean and sophisticated,” Jackie says. “I don't do much color, and I didn't want too much going on for the eye to be distracted.”
One room with a distinctly different vibe than the rest of the house is the dining room and martini lounge. Dark Roman clay on the walls and ceiling warmly embraces guests whether seated at the Calacatta Viola marble dining table or cozied up on the nearby alpaca wool and mohair sofa. Sconces from 1stDibs and a sculptural brass and alabaster
chandelier by Randy Zieber provide ambient lighting throughout the space, while a cigarette photograph by local artist Jack Ludlam adds a pop of contemporary character.
Perhaps the room’s coolest features are the wood paneling and built-ins from a 15th-century English church, carved with the crest of King Henry VI and Queen Consort Margaret of Anjou. The home’s previous owner scored them at auction.
“It’s all of this beautiful hand-carved scrolling, but it was a light orange color before,” Jackie says. “Everyone was telling me to rip them out, but I said no, I love it. I think it’s so cool.” There were also doors, which a carpenter then cut and adhered together to form the base of the dining table. Every piece was expertly
stained a darker hue by Denver restoration firm Kin Furniture Co. “They did an incredible job,” Jackie says. “This is one of our favorite rooms, a fun gathering space.”
Separate master bathrooms reflect feminine and masculine aesthetics, with Phillip Jeffries bouclé wallpaper and fluted terrazzo tile for her, and Ann Sacks shower tile, marble, and dark gray terrazzo tile for him. In the master sitting room, a Slim Aarons photograph depicting a fun winter scene is suspended above a blue custom sectional where the Johnsons’ pups often relax.
During the home’s transformation, Jackie never lost sight of her goal: to create luxurious yet durable
spaces that made indoor-outdoor living effortless and felt like a sanctuary, especially for Erik, a former Colorado Avalanche player who still travels as an ESPN analyst.
Design Details
Interior Design: Jackie Johnson Design
Architect: Alvarez Morris
Builder: Jones Custom Builders
Art Procurement: Kate Finds Art JackieJohnsonDesign.com
“HE
RE ALLY W ANTED THE HOUSE TO BE THIS PL ACE OF REFUGE AWAY FROM HOTELS. A SPACE WHERE HE FELT LIKE HE NEVER HAD TO LE AVE. WE JUST LOVE BEING AT OUR HOUSE.”
— JACKIE JOHNSON
HEART OF SERVICE
20 YEARS OF ACTION IN AFRICA
From a young age, Sarah Nininger had a passion for philanthropy. Growing up with an older brother with cerebral palsy, Sarah understood the importance of giving back and spreading awareness on a variety of topics, issues, and cultures. “My whole life I’ve been exposed to other people that have challenging circumstances that make how they show up in the world a little bit more difficult than most people,” says Sarah.
In 2006, as a sophomore in high school, Sarah, along with a group of classmates, started Action in Africa after watching a film about Uganda.
A couple of years later, she traveled to Uganda, which further ignited her passion to help and connect with the local community.
In college at Chapman University, Sarah’s “heart of service” manifested itself in volunteer work and outreach as a sexual assault crisis counselor volunteer and intern at the Special Olympics. During all of this, she continued her work with Action in Africa.
Today, Action in Africa is an independent nonprofit with over 30 employees and a community center in Nakuwadde, Uganda. Their overall mission is not only to support the local community but to help it thrive. “Our door is open six days a week, from nine to five,” says Sarah.
ARTICLE BY AVERY YOUNG
Photo by era92 Creative
Photo by Adalina Aladro
This open-door policy translates into Action in Africa’s eagerness to listen to community members' needs and hopes for their town’s future. The organization works with local schools, provides scholarships to students, helps optimize infrastructure such as clean water systems, and offers free medical aid, including HIV and malaria testing and dental work.
In all of this, Action in Africa maintains a dialogue with community members to ensure the organization is addressing areas of need identified by locals and not just sectors selected solely by foreign benefactors. “They [Ugandan staff] are leading the decisions; they are determining the direction the organization’s going, but also in a very healthy spirit of collaboration. We all work really closely together, and we all value what we each bring to the table,” says Sarah.
Many of the students who were once on scholarship through Action in Africa now work for the organization, like Paddy Kimbowa and Shadia Nakayaga. Paddy is now Action in Africa’s construction projects coordinator, and Shadia is a community engagement program assistant. Paddy equates Action in Africa with family: “I have been supported, loved, and blessed all through since I joined Action in Africa in 2010.”
Shadia describes how the nonprofit secured her chances at a future education when she was younger; her mother was sick, there were financial burdens, and Shadia had two new siblings. Her plans for school became unclear until she heard about Action in Africa. “I was very desperate to continue with my education because I knew I was a bright girl that just needed financial support to finish school,” says Shadia. After receiving scholarship funding following a year of involvement in programs at the center, Shadia’s worries subsided. “I had no worry; I would miss out on an exam because I have tuition balances, because everything was catered for by AIA. I would receive a monthly stipend, which also helped me have all my attention to only one thing: academics. And to always think of how to come out successful with good grades because I never worried about what to eat,” says Shadia. “I was also given a laptop that I never worried about research, and writing my courseworks. Literally, I was given everything I needed to succeed.”
This evolution of Action in Africa’s impact is what brings a smile to Sarah’s face. “I think the best part of my job is just seeing everything come full circle. Those four kids who work for us full time now are the beneficiaries of the work that we’ve built and have invested in for the last twenty years, and now that they’re leading those programs and those services, it does not get any more full circle than that.”
To learn more, visit ActionInAfrica.com
Photo by era92 Creative
Photo by era92 Creative
ARTICLE BY KALI KASPRZYK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES
MAKEUP BY MIKAYLA CRANE
The 10% Target Mindset
Jen Cohen ON THE PRACTICE OF ASKING FOR WHAT YOU WANT
Winnipeg in the winter, and a 17-year-old waits 45 minutes in the cold for Keanu Reeves. Her fingers are numb. She is not there for an autograph. She is there to ask him to appear in her audition tape for MuchMusic, Canada’s MTV. When he finally agrees, she writes her number on a gum wrapper with a borrowed lip liner.
He calls days later.
That 17-year-old was Jen Cohen — fitness expert, host of the Habits & Hustle podcast, and best-selling author. She has built a career on the premise her frostbitten afternoon proved. She calls the practice the 10% Target: 10 attempts at whatever you want most in life.
The premise is simple. Most people never make one attempt. Almost nobody makes two. The math works in favor of the person who keeps going.
The top-rated Habits & Hustle podcast has logged hundreds of conversations with high performers and the people who study what the body does to the mind. Her TEDx talk, The Secret to Getting Anything You Want in Life, has traveled widely inside Fortune 500 sales-training rooms. On the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Cohen sits down to share the working rules that are the foundation of her latest book, Bigger, Better, Bolder.
“You have to be the CEO of your own life.”
FEATURING JEN COHEN
Discover the full 10% Target Mindset framework.
1 2
MAKE TEN ATTEMPTS
The door opens, or another door does. The unmade attempt and the refused one leave you in the same place — except one of them teaches you something.
STACK THE DECK
Cohen frames her habits as a wager: How do I stack the deck so I win more than I lose? The workout happens first, and the food decisions follow. The email follow-up gets sent, and the answer arrives. The choices compound in a single direction.
3
DISCIPLINE IS A PRACTICED SKILL, NOT AN INHERITANCE
No one is born with it. The people who look disciplined are running a routine they have rehearsed long enough that it no longer feels like effort. The reps are the skill. Miss them, and the skill fades, the same as any other.
4
SELF-TALK ONLY WORKS WHEN THE BODY BACKS IT UP
Confidence does not arrive by repeating the word. It arrives after the body has done the thing — the workout finished, the cold walk endured, the email sent. The mind takes its cues from what the body proves it can do. Talk follows action, not the other way around.
5
NEVER MISS A MONDAY
The first decision sets the slope of the rest. Skip the Monday workout, and the rest of the week tends to follow. Hold the line on Monday, and the slope tilts the other way.
July Around Town
4th
IN(TER)DEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION 2026
3rd - 5th
CHERRY CREEK ARTS FESTIVAL
Cherry Creek Arts Festival returns for a weekend of visual art, live music, food, and summer energy in Cherry Creek North, bringing together hundreds of artists and community members for one of Denver’s signature cultural events. Learn more at CherryArts.org.
Celebrate the Fourth with Warm Cookies of the Revolution’s In(ter) dependence Day Celebration, a community gathering centered on connection, creativity, and what it means to depend on one another. Learn more at WarmCookiesOfTheRevolution.org
11th - 19th
FÚTBOL LIVES HERE AT AY PAPI
Ay Papi is bringing World Cup energy to Cherry Creek with bigscreen match viewings, sound on, cocktail pitchers, beer specials, and limited-time tournament drinks throughout the month. Learn more at AyPapiDenver.com
12th
COLORADO CRAFT WALK
Colorado Craft Walk brings a new spin on the Colorado Wine Walk experience, featuring tastings from Colorado wineries, distilleries, breweries, and craft beverage makers in Denver. Learn more at ColoradoWineWalk.com.
17th - 20th
CHERRY CREEK NORTH SIDEWALK SALE
Shop summer deals throughout Cherry Creek North during the annual Sidewalk Sale, featuring participating boutiques, restaurants, galleries, fitness studios, and more. Learn more at CherryCreekNorth.com
Photo Credit: Warm Cookies of the Revolution
Credit: Courtesy of Ay Papi
