Life On Capitol Hill March 2024

Denver’s Whittier Cafe: A vital hub for community, justice awareness and action

BY KATIE SALE

SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

It’s 2 p.m. and you need a pickme-up.

Denver’s Whittier Cafe, 1710 E. 25th Ave., can o er way more than an average cup of jo. Its African espresso bar is the only African-owned of its kind in Denver and provides purely African bean blends of co ee. ese co ee beans come from many African nations such as Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda.

“We only use African beans and that’s sort of our claim to fame,” said Millete Birhanemaskel, owner and founder of the Whittier Cafe who prefers to go by M. “We select

beans as availability o ers, but we only use African beans.”

M added that co ee was rst discovered in East Africa. It went from East Africa to South America, then through the Middle East, and eventually spread around the world.

“Not everyone knows that co ee originated in East Africa, which is partly why I opened the co ee shop – to teach people about an amazing part of Africa,” M said.

ough the co ee beans the shop carries come from many different African countries, it hasn’t been able to carry Ethiopian coffee beans because of the on-going genocide in Tigray, Ethiopia, M said. at is one reason why M came to the U.S. – she is Ethiopian.

More than co ee

Within the Whittier Cafe, there’s the activists’ cafe – the shop’s microcosmic, dynamic tight knit social community – and the messages, education and repower impact that come from it.

e conversation is stimulating, enlightening and often a call to action. It’s a place to share how social justice makes an impact on the local community and society as a whole. It is a place to process trauma born from the brutal injustice of tragedies, and speci cally, how they impact the well-being and wholeness of the Denver community and beyond. e crux goal of the activists’ cafe is to provide a

place of community, healing and restoration for all.

The heart and soul of the business

M is the only African woman to own and curate an authentic African espresso bar in Denver, and is the heart and soul of the business. M, along with the community, celebrated 10 years of successful business last year.

M came to Denver in the 1980s, and also serves the community as a real estate agent.

She has a positive attitude and is cheerful and kind, and welcomes everyone to the co ee shop.

All the co ee served at Denver’s Whittier Cafe is made from purely African beans.

COURTESY PHOTO

WHITTIER

FROM PAGE 2

So much so that she has implemented a justice fund, where she and her sta prepare and serve co ee for free during marches and rallies – and for anyone, anytime, who may be unable to pay.

“We don’t want anyone to miss out on the festivities of celebrating community and African traditions, and how they bring people together to make a di erence,” M said.

Sharing authentic African traditions e magic of the Whittier Cafe is its authenticity by staying true to its African roots and sharing Afri-

can traditions. e African co ee ceremony is an example of just that – proof of an amazing business, and Whittier Cafe’s commitment to hospitality in hosting, inviting and engaging events like the co ee ceremony.

In Africa, children learn about the ceremony and the whole process as early as 5 years old, M said. ey learn from their mom, aunt or grandmother, depending who is their caregiver. e ceremony can last an entire day, including extensive, yet fun, and madefrom-scratch ceremony preparations.

At the Whittier Cafe, M and her crew take some shortcuts with the ceremony, such as machine grinding the beans versus hand grinding like they do in Africa. At

Whittier Cafe, the co ee is served in clay pots, similar to the way they do it in Africa. Whittier Cafe’s co ee ceremony takes place every Sunday afternoon and includes other goodies. e fellowship between customers and sta during the ceremony helps maintain the cafe’s community.

At her core, M is a social activist and the Whittier Cafe is her pride and joy. M is happy to share the amazing parts of Africa by serving African co ee and so much more, and is excited about the authenticity of providing not a business, but an experience.

To learn more about the Whittier Cafe, visit whittiercafe.com.

CORRECTION

In the February editions, the name of a local business, Ullr’s Garden, was misspelled. e mistake has been corrected online.

“Moon Man” is the Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival’s closing night film presentation. This year, the festival takes place March 14-17. Photo courtesy of Colorado Dragon Boat. Story on page 5.

COURTESY OF COLORADO DRAGON BOAT

e Spirituals Project revitalizes African American traditions

Through community choir, educational outreach, University of Denver group preserves the teachings of the musical practice

BY MERYL PHAIR SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

During concert performances of e Spirituals Project, director and choir conductor M. Roger Holland II invites the audience to sing in unison with the choral members – their voices melding together in a collective sonic experience.

e audience is also invited to learn about “spirituals,” melodies that were sung by enslaved Africans in America during the 18th and 19th centuries and are now being preserved through active performance by the multigenerational, multiracial University of Denver a liated group. With a mission to revitalize the music and teachings of these sacred hymns, the interactive aspect of e Spirituals Project’s concerts has made them a cherished organization in the Denver community and beyond.

The Spirituals Project will be performing a few concerts this spring that take place across the Denver metro area. Details on the upcoming concerts and tickets can be found on The Spirituals Project website. To learn more about The Spirituals Project, visit https://liberalarts.du.edu/lamont/spirituals-project.

In 1993, Jones published the book, “Wade In e Water: e Wisdom of the Spirituals,” which explores the tradition of values associated with spirituals. Now in its third edition, published in 2023, the most recent installment includes discussion about why the music resonates with so many people today.

“Given all of the factions happening in our country right now, spirituals are a resource that facilitates people coming together and celebrating our shared humanity,” said Jones.

“People appreciate the opportunity to be a part of the music-making,” said Holland, an associate professor of music and religion at DU’s Lamont School of Music. “Historically, much of this music has been sustained and perpetuated through oral tradition. If these songs aren’t sung, they fade from memory and existence.”

In the same way the choir keeps the music of spirituals alive through song, the teachings of the musical practice pulse through the choir community through its commitment to social justice and education.

“ e messages and lessons of the music are acted out almost automatically in the way the choir members relate to each other,” said Dr. Arthur C. Jones, e Spirituals Project founder and a professor emeritus of music, culture and psychology at Lamont. “It’s almost a microcosm of the kind of coming together that could happen outside in the com-

munity because we have people that come from di erent backgrounds, educational levels, racial backgrounds and political perspectives.”

e Spirituals Project choir hosts about 10 performances a year, the majority happening o the DU campus in the community at churches, retirement homes and public community venues like public libraries and parks. e choir is open to anyone who can commit to the practice and performance schedule, and everyone is encouraged to audition. While there is no requirement for formal music or vocal training, participants need to understand the mission of e Spirituals Project as it is an essential part of the choir’s purpose, said Holland.

Preserving the cultural heritage of spirituals is to preserve the power these songs have in uplifting individuals and communities during times of crisis, inspiring and instilling hope. Spirituals became integral to

the survival of enslaved Africans in America by helping them form community and by serving as a tool for freedom ghting. Holland explains that spirituals served as a mechanism for strategizing and communicating through encoded messages.

“In a state where the oppressor dehumanized slaves, this music helped to a rm their humanity, encouraged them when they were discouraged, and contributed to their belief in freedom,” said Holland.

Jones said there is still misunderstanding about the music form, particularly con ating spirituals and gospel music.

“A lot of people in the Black community are almost ashamed of the music because they think these were slaves passively sitting around thinking about going to heaven,” he said. “ is music has a long tradition of bringing people together in healing wounds – psychological, spiritual and emotional.”

Since its start, e Spirituals Project has evolved organically with a focus on education and community building as a constant focal point. e project was pre-dated by a series of solo concerts, lectures and workshops by Jones. One of the earliest programs took place at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science in February 1991 for Black History Month, at the invitation of the museum’s community outreach coordinator.  Eventually, more local concerts were organized and Jones began to receive invitations to host solo lectures and concert programs all over the United States. As interest in the work grew, Jones formed e Spirituals Project in 1998 as a local organization that would initially serve as the fundraising arm for a proposed documentary lm, and the community choir was established in a more formal capacity to serve as ambassadors for the project’s mission. e project operated fully through volunteers between 1998 and 2003 until its rst executive director was hired. Due to Jones’ connection with DU, the group had an o ce on campus and would perform annually at the Newman Center for the Performing Arts, while still operating as an independent nonpro t.

Starting as a solo venture by Dr. Arthur C. Jones, The Spirituals Project is now incorporated into the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music.. PHOTO BY MICHAEL FURMAN

Asian representation in lm matters

Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival returns for 9th annual event

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

Growing up in the 1990s, Colorado Dragon Boat CEO Sara Moore remembers the depiction of Asian characters in American cinema as being untrue and riddled with harmful stereotypes. e brainy Asian nerd, the heavily exaggerated accents, and the strict Asian parents are just a few that Moore recalls. As an adult, she looked back at lms of the past, and realized how harmful and unfair those roles were for the community and the actors involved.

“Today, we have made huge strides in ensuring these harmful stereotypes are no longer being exploited,” said Moore. “ is is one of the reasons the Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival was created – to ensure that we are showcasing the good lms coming out of Asia and the USA that are depicting our stories and our experiences, not the experiences Hollywood thinks we have, or experiences they think will be funny or entertaining at our community’s expense. I hope there are many childhood memories being made with good lms that showcase the power and talent of Asian actors and lmmakers, and I hope our lm festival is a leading connection to those memories.”

Aligning with Moore’s dream of eliminating Asian stereotypes in lm, Colorado Dragon Boat is collaborating with Denver Film to host the ninth annual Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival. e festival runs from March 14-17 at the Sie FilmCenter, 2510 E. Colfax Ave., in Denver.

“Our year-round partnership with Colorado Dragon Boat is highlighted by this four-day, family-friendly festival celebrating the culture, contributions and accomplishments of Asian and Asian-Paci c American communities,” said Denver Film’s CEO, Kevin Smith. “We’re honored to work with Sara and her team to present a lm program that features the talent and vision of lmmakers from across the globe. rough this combination of lm, community conversations, culinary storytelling and a marketplace featuring products from many of our local Asian-American business owners, we’re proud to recognize and honor the rich cultures and experiences of AANHPI communities.”

en Dragon Award on March 15 to actress Ji-young Yoo.

On March 16, Colorado Dragon Boat will host “Connecting rough Cultures with Asian American Adoptees,” a community conversation exploring the ways in which Asian American adoptees add texture to the dissonance they may encounter and honor the multifaceted layers of their cultural journeys.

All of our lms range from comedies, indie lms, documentaries and more. ere really is a lm for everyone.”

For Moore and countless members of the AANHPI community, representation matters. Representation helps to eliminate stereotypes and spread positivity that can radiate throughout a community.

is year’s theme is “Connecting through Cultures: Art, Food, Cinema, & Beyond.” roughout the festival, attendees can immerse themselves in lms from across Asia and the United States, partake in free community conversations, explore the Asian marketplace and taste Asian foods at the exclusive culinary event.

In addition to a diverse lm lineup, this year’s festival includes Q&As with lmmakers, two creative conversations featuring local community members, and a special presentation of the Gold-

Colorado Dragon Boat will host “Connecting through Cultures with Food & Food Ways” on March 17. is event showcases how food becomes a powerful vehicle for connection to one’s home culture. Attendees are encouraged to participate and bring their own experiences to share.

“ ere are endless reasons for Coloradans to come to the Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival,” Moore said. “First and foremost, it’s really fun. Not only are we showcasing nine feature lms, we have more than 15 short lms from local lmmakers from Colorado and surrounding states.

“I don’t think there is anyone who can deny the fact that representation matters. No matter who you are, it is important to see yourself on screen and in the stories that represent your experiences,” said Moore. “It has been wonderful to see more and more representation in cinema from the AANHPI community. By uplifting and showcasing our experiences and stories, we are uplifting and highlighting our community.”

To learn more about the Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival or to purchase tickets, visit cdfilm.org/.

A still from “You & Me & Me,” a feel-good coming-of-age film that is showing at this year’s Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival. PHOTO COURTESY OF COLORADO DRAGON BOAT

A publication of

Mailing Address:

750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225 Englewood, CO 80110

Phone: 303-566-4100

To subscribe call 303-566-4100 or visit lifeoncaphill.com/subscribe

MAZING DENVER WITH WARREN STOKES

LINDA SHAPLEY

Publisher lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

MICHAEL DE YOANNA

Editor-in-Chief michael@coloradocommunitymedia.com

CHRISTY STEADMAN

Editor csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

LINDSAY NICOLETTI

Operations/ Circulation Manager lnicoletti@coloradocommunitymedia.com

ERIN ADDENBROOKE

Marketing Consultant eaddenbrooke@coloradocommunitymedia.com

AUDREY BROOKS

Business Manager abrooks@coloradocommunitymedia.com

ERIN FRANKS

Production Manager efranks@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Food for thought?

Columnists & Guest Commentaries

Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of Life on Cap Hill.

We welcome letters to the editor. Please include your full name, address and the best number to reach you by telephone.

Email letters to csteadman@ coloradocommunitymedia.com

Deadline 5 p.m. on the 20th of each month for the following month’s paper.

This maze represents the homeless youth in Denver. To solve, start at either ‘S’ found in the top left and right corners, and maze-out to the sign the children are holding.

For the love of music, consider donating an instrument to Colorado students

When I was in elementary school (fourth and/or fth grade, I can’t exactly recall), I played the clarinet. I’m not sure why I didn’t stick with it. Perhaps my passion for the written word took over, but I loved my instrument so much that I even gave it a name: Clara the Clarinet.

Each year, there is an instrument drive that allows you to share your love of an instrument with a music student. It’s called Bringing Music to Life and, this year, it takes place March 4-16.

e drive takes gently-used musical instruments and gives them to under-

FROM THE EDITOR

funded school music programs across Colorado.

Christy Steadman

What is so cool about this drive is that although the instruments are given to the schools, they are assigned to a student for the entire time the student is in the school’s music program. at means the student gets to treat it as their own — and take responsibility for it –because they take the instrument home

with them for practice and, whenever they want to, elsewhere, like to jam with friends, learning from peers. ose who do not have an instrument to donate can give funds to the drive’s instrument repair fund.

I’ve interviewed the founder of Bringing Music to Life, Steve Blatt (you may recognize his name from his time with Colorado Public Radio many years back), a couple of times. Something he said stuck with me: the repair fund is as important as the instrument part of the drive.

Botox is not just for the face — it’s for the bladder, too

Botox is not just for cosmetics anymore. Women receive Botox treatment in the bladder to help with overactive bladders, urgency incontinence and other urinary dysfunctions.

In the U.S., 25 million people su er from some type of urinary incontinence. Of those people, 7580% are women because urinary incontinence is a common side effect of pregnancy, childbirth and menopause. is condition a ects women of all ages, from 20 to 90 years old.

What initiates the involuntary loss of urine is when the muscles in the bladder begin to spasm. Botulinum toxin (also known as Botox) injec-

The Denver Scholarship Foundation, a nonpro t helping to make college possible for thousands of Denver students, is actively addressing the issue of historically low completion rates for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and as a result, unclaimed funding among students. Nationally, the FAFSA serves as the long-placed gateway application to a substantial $112 billion provided annually by the federal government in grants, work-study programs and loans. ese student aid types are headlined by the Federal Pell grant, which is a needbased gift funding entitlement for students who qualify.

e stark reality is that the low FAFSA completion rates in Colorado, alone, leaves roughly $30 million in unclaimed nancial aid and ranks 45th in the nation for FAFSA ling, according to the latest gures from the Colorado Department of Higher Ed. is concerning trend disproportionately impacts lowincome and rst-generation students, not only during an often unfamiliar application process, but also in a resulting “veri cation process” to often hinder student aid award processing for this underserved group. is underscores

provement in quality of life.

tions prevent muscles from moving for a limited time by blocking chemical signals from nerves that cause muscles to contract.

ere are a variety of expected bene ts that bladder Botox provides.

ese include the reduction or elimination of urinary incontinence episodes, severe urgency and the number of pads used for urinary incontinence. Around 70-75% of patients report a signicant decrease in symptoms and im-

It has been my experience that this treatment can be life-changing. In one case, a patient who was a marathon runner, saw results in her racing times after her Botox treatments because she was able to focus on running instead of her bladder and searching for the next restroom.

ose are the kinds of changes that make a real di erence.

A standard injection procedure is performed under a local anesthetic, where a gel is applied to the urethra.

e medical professional examines the bladder and then the Botox is injected into the muscles.

Something to consider when deciding if bladder Botox is the right

Empowering futures: DSF’s vital role in enhancing FAFSA completion rates

treatment for you, is timing. Injections are a routine procedure because Botox is a temporary x. e e ects of bladder Botox can last as few as three months or as long as a year. To maintain the bene ts of bladder Botox, the injections need to occur regularly.

Botox in the bladder is just one treatment to help with urinary incontinence issues. Don’t hesitate to ask your physician on how best to treat your symptoms.

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

Spring into a healthy headspace

Ethe pressing need for support and timely intervention.

While there are many reasons many rst generation families fail to ll out the FAFSA each year, a report from the National Center for Education Statistics sheds light on this issue. e most common factors for not lling out the FAFSA include doubts about aid eligibility, reluctance to take on student debt and lack of knowledge about the complex jargon of higher education and application processes.

Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Education has made signi cant e orts to simplify the FAFSA application process and this year, launched an updated version of the FAFSA that was hoped to be easier to complete. Beginning with a late launch, the application has continued to be riddled with technical di culties for a signi cant population of eligible applicants, especially those with mixed-status parents. e Denver Scholarship Foundation recognizes the signi cance of these challenges and

stands at the forefront, leveraging its expertise to address these barriers head-on and provide hands-on support for Denver students, as reected in the compelling statistics within the state.

e rami cations of a lagging FAFSA application rate, relating to ultimately proportional college enrollment rates and unclaimed student funding, are profound, particularly for low-income and rst-generation students who become 63% more likely to attend college upon completing the FAFSA. In a state where demand for bachelor’s degree holders is high, Colorado paradoxically ranks near the bottom in FAFSA completion — a crucial step toward pursuing a credential after high school and getting a good paying job.

e Denver Scholarship Foundation, through its nancial aid training, workshops and DSF Future Centers strategically placed within Denver Public Schools high schools, takes a proactive stance and plays a pivotal role in bridging this gap. e DSF Future Centers provide vital resources and guidance beginning in ninth grade, explaining the FAFSA process for students and families.

LIFE BALANCED

ach spring, I get the itch to give my home a serious deep cleaning, declutter the unnecessary items accumulated throughout the school year, and organize everything. Turns out, decluttering your brain is just as important as organizing your home.

Megan Trask and Cody Galloway

Here are some of our favorite tips for a healthier headspace this spring.

1. Start journaling

Keep a journal of your thoughts, worries, fears and upsets. Research shows this is highly effective in allowing them to release from your mind.

2. Drop a bad habit

Pick an area in your life that has an impact on your mental health. For many of us, this might be diet or exercise. Make an e ort to drop the habit and replace it with a healthier option. Instead of lazy Sundays (which are totally great in our book), maybe switch to lazy Sunday afternoons after a Sunday run. Or instead of hopping on your phone to scroll rst thing in the morning, open your journal or meditate.

GUEST COLUMN

Nathan Cadena

WOMEN’S

Dr. Terry Dunn

Stormwater pipes, water service lines seeing upgrades and improvements

But causing tra c detours, business losses during the process

BY NATALIE KERR

SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Infrastructure in the United States was recently rated a C- by the American Society of Civil Engineers, which conducts an infrastructure assessment every four years. e middling grade re ects that infrastructure like drinking water and stormwater pipes are in fair condition, but showing signs of deterioration and vulnerability to disaster.

Areas of Denver with particularly old water transportation systems or that are ood-prone can be even more susceptible to emergencies, which is why Denver Water and the City of Denver are making consistent investments into upgrading and replacing water management systems. But these projects come at the cost of disruptive construction projects that impact foot and car tra c on major roads like Colfax Avenue, Colorado Boulevard and 14th Avenue, temporarily disrupting surrounding businesses and residents.

Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure is currently in phase two of a three-part plan to upgrade existing stormwater pipes on 14th Avenue and Colorado Boulevard with larger, higher capacity pipes to reduce ooding in City Park.

DOTI expects the project to cost a total of $16 million and is funding it with Denver residents’ regular stormwater bills, said Nancy Kuhn, DOTI’s director of communications.

Independently, Denver Water is in the midst of an e ort to replace a ve-mile-long, 130-year-old cast iron pipe underneath Colfax Avenue from Broadway to Yosemite Street with a more reliable PVC pipe system. While that construction is going on, Denver Water will also use the opportunity to replace

lead service pipes in the area, with residents’ approval. is project is part of Denver Water’s goal to replace 80,000 feet of water distribution pipes per year.

To that end, Denver Water will invest $1.9 billion into the water supply over the next 10 years as part of its capital improvements program, which includes other water-related projects as well, like reservoirs and water quality research. ese projects are funded by customers’ regular water rate payments, bond sales, cash reserves, hydropower sales and fees paid when new homes and buildings are connected to the water system, said Jimmy Lythe, spokesperson for Denver Water.

Water rates increased in 2024, to about $18.40 per month from $17.90 per month in 2023.

Both projects are expected to last until January 2025, with complete and partial road closures and detours required for non-local tra c,

and some short term water-shuto s as Denver Water connects the new pipes to the existing system.

DOTI stormwater construction

DOTI plans to have 14th Avenue from Jackson Street to Harrison Street fully closed until April, directing drivers headed east to take a detour along 17th Street. As that phase wraps up in April, tunneling beneath the easternmost lanes of Colorado Boulevard, and moving south on Colorado between 13th Avenue and 14th, from May until September.

To protect workers and pedestrians traveling on Colorado after tunneling begins, DOTI will close the easternmost lane of Colorado and install a new eight-foot long sidewalk and amenity zone, Kuhn said.

“We’ve done a lot of work on the one that’s currently underway, making sure that that’s tweaked properly, and really trying to pre-

vent cut through tra c, which the neighbors don’t appreciate,” Kuhn said. “You’re trying to get people o 14th that don’t need to be on there. We’re constantly looking at it, I think it’s in the best place it’s going to be right now.”

All construction updates will be posted to DOTI’s website, and interested stakeholders can sign up for weekly updates by lling out DOTI’s sign up form or emailing info@jacksonstreetstorm.com.

Workers at National Jewish Health, which is located directly next to the construction area, now have to walk down to Colorado Boulevard and 14th Avenue to get between the hospital’s main campus and the parking lot, rather than cut across 14th.

But because the construction only a ects one block of 14th, it is ultimately not very disruptive, NJH sta said.

Construction to upgrade City stormwater pipes progresses on 14th Avenue between Jackson Street and Harrison on Feb. 20.

PHOTO BY NATALIE KERR

e need to increase stormwater capacity in the area stems from remnants of an old creek that used to ow through the area, known as the Upper Montclair Basin, which stretches from City Park to Fairmount Cemetery. is area has been prone to ooding since the early 2000s, and is currently a highpriority area for DOTI, Kuhn said.

Other projects to reduce ood risk have included creating more permeable surfaces that absorb water and constructing a detention area in City Park that can safely ll with stormwater runo .

“When we look at old geological type maps, there was a history of a past creek there that still wants to ow,” Kuhn said. “Now we’ve developed over it, so we’re basically retro tting, going back and building a better stormwater system for the area.”

Colfax Avenue construction

Denver Water plans to move west along Colfax Avenue in three block increments, and is currently operating on the section from Columbine Street to Detroit Street, and from Syracuse to Spruce streets. As Denver Water replaces this main pipe, it will also replace lead pipes that connect residences and businesses to the central water system with copper pipes.

As Denver Water progresses down Colfax Avenue, it is publishing online information on its website and the online site Nextdoor, sending out mail notices and going door-to-door to alert people to potential tra c disruptions from lane closures and water shuto s as they connect the new pipes, Lythe said.  “Our crews are also really great at working to accommodate any access issues, or parking concerns or anything,” Lythe said. “We try to be as accommodating and exible as possible because we know construction is so impactful and there are so many things that can come up that you don’t expect.”

Olga Lozada, a worker at Ranch House Cafe on Colfax and Syracuse, said that business has been heavily impacted by the construction, and that a water shuto on Sunday, Feb. 25 made them shut down for an entire business day on what is usually their highest-earn-

ing day of the week.

ing to nd alternative routes to work, as the bus can’t access stops on the south side of Colfax, and drops them o way down the street instead. To try to generate more business, they put signs in their windows to remind customers that they are open, Lozada said.

“It’s bad, (but) that’s all we can do for now,” Lozada added.

Denver Water expects water shuto s to only last about six to eight hours, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Lythe said. To try and help minimize disruptions, Denver Water has dedicated sta to engage with the a ected communities, providing information and helping businesses communicate with their employees and customers about detours or alternate routes.  e construction workers who are present every day of construction have been very helpful in answering questions about how long construction will last, said Adrian Madrid, who works at State-Wide Lock and Safe on Colfax and Roslyn Street. But even so, walk-in business is down by at least onethird, and regular customers can’t park in their parking lot anymore, Madrid said.

Madrid has also seen pedestri-

in children, for whom the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say are not safe at any level of lead exposure. Lead in drinking water has been found to cause behavioral problems, developmental delays, hearing problems and anemia in children, and cardiovascular issues, kidney problems and reproductive issues in adults, according to the EPA.

Denver Water has been operating its Lead Service Line Replacement Program since 2020, and estimates that between 64,000 and 84,000 properties may use lead service lines, which were commonly installed in the 1950s.

e other construction on Colfax is more preventative to avoid any main breaks by upgrading the infrastructure before it becomes a problem, Lythe said. Denver Water chose to pursue this construction now before construction begins on the East Colfax Avenue Bus Rapid Transit Project.

ans, many of whom are elderly, crossing Colfax in dangerous areas because of the impact of construc-

Madrid hopes construction will wrap up soon, but isn’t very concerned about declining business because they were able to prepare before construction began.

“We took precautions, so we should be OK,” Madrid said.

For any lead pipe replacements in the area, residents and businesses have to respond to Denver Water’s outreach, consenting for workers to come into the building, shut o the water temporarily, and put in new pipes. Denver Water suspects that there are about 60 lead service lines in the ve-mile area, but tests the water to con rm it is lead before starting the replacement process, Lythe said.

e process typically takes about eight hours to complete, and then water users are encouraged to run their water to ush any debris buildup that could have occurred during replacement or connection to the main pipes, Lythe added. Customers are also encouraged to continue using water lters for up to six months after water line replacement as a precaution.

Exposure to lead causes signicant health problems, particularly

“Since that’s coming up, we wanted to work with them to get in and get our pipe replaced so that, after that project is done, we don’t have to get back in and dig up the street that they just spent that time replacing,” Lythe said. “We wanted to get in and get out before that comes and that was kind of kind of the onus to get to get this whole stretch done right now.”

e Bus Rapid Transit Project is a major bus project from the Colorado Department of Transportation and the Denver Regional Transportation District that will create three sections of bus rapid transit taking riders along East Colfax Avenue from Denver Union Station to Colfax Station in Aurora. It is expected to start construction in 2024 and wrap up in 2027.

ough the construction is disruptive, these investments are positive for the community as it provides more reliable infrastructure and better water quality. Hopefully, communication between Denver Water and the community will help keep major disruption to a minimum, Lythe said.

“ is project in particular, it’s a very good example of exactly what we do with the water rates,” Lyhte said. “It’s our water rates at work every day. We’re being as good of partners as we can possibly be in the community and being good stewards of this resource — which is the most important one in the world.”

PVC pipes that will soon be connected to Denver Water’s below-ground water system lay on Columbine Street near Colfax Avenue on Feb. 20. PHOTO BY NATALIE KERR

Tim e travel across the Denver area and chow down this month

March in Denver has it going on. From traveling back in time to walking among dinosaurs to exploring various venues for the Month of Printmaking – and let’s not forget the great eats o ered during Denver Restaurant Week and the long-running St. Patrick’s Day parade – there truly is something for everyone this month.

DENVER ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE

Did you know that the Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade has been an annual tradition since 1962? is year, the parade takes place on March 16, at about 9:30 a.m. – but the event draws a huge crowd so it is recommended to arrive early, allowing plenty of time to park and seek out a spot to watch. e parade route starts on Wynkoop Street at 19th Street, then proceeds down 17th Street and makes its way on Blake Street for a number of blocks until it reaches 27th Street. is event is free and family friendly. For more details about parade day, visit denverstpatricksdayparade.com.

e Robert and Judi Newman Center for the Performing Arts on the University of Denver campus, 2344 E. Ili Ave., is welcomingSphinx Virtuosi for a performance at 7:30 p.m. on March 20. is performance group is a self-conducted chamber orchestra composed of Black and Latinx artists. It is based in Detroit, but one of the members is Boulder’s Alex Gonzalez, the assistant professor of violin at the University of Colorado’s College of Music. To learn more about Sphinx Virtuosi, visit sphinxmusic.org, and to purchase tickets to the performance at the Newman Center, visitnewmancenter-

perform at the Newman Center on the University of Denver campus on March 20.

TIME TRAVEL IN WASH PARK

e Denver Public Library’s Eugene Field Branch is offering a unique opportunity to travel through time and explore the Washington Park and Bonnie Brae neighborhoods. Participants will learn to use the library’s Time Traveler’s Map of Denver, and examine some rarely seen physical maps of the area. e event takes place from 2-3 p.m. March 28 at the Eugene Field library, 810 S. University Blvd. It is free and family friendly, but

Participants

for ages 12 and

’THE COST OF LIVING’

is production of the 2018 Pulitzer Prize winner, “Cost of Living” by Martyna Majok, is a collaboration between Curious eatre Company and Phamaly eatre Company. “ is surprisingly funny and very human play … is about the forces that bring people together, the realities of facing the world with physical disabilities and how deeply we all need each other,” states the description on Curious eatre Company’s website. It will be presented at Curious eatre, 1080 Acoma St., in Denver from March 14 to April 20 with various showtimes available. Purchase tickets at curioustheatre.org.

Photo: Sphinx Virtuosi will

Photo by Scott Jackson.

Photo: The annual Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade takes place on March 16. Photo courtesy of the Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee.

the program is recommended

older.

Photo: Courtesy of Denver Public Library’s Special Collections and Archives Department.

Photo: Image courtesy of Curious Theatre Company.

TRADITIONS

With an incredible response from the community, including the 2008 documentary, “I Can Tell the World” by lmmakers Larry Bograd and Coleen Hubbard, and receiving a 2010 Denver Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts, e Spirituals Project was ocially incorporated into DU’s Lamont School of Music in 2016. A national search for the rst Lamont faculty director of e Spirituals Project was launched, and that brought Holland to head the program. Today, DU students can participate in the choir for credit, and sta and faculty members have also been closely involved through the years.

In addition to the choir, the educational focus of the project has led to the creation of tri-annual programming, rotating through a symposium, a choral festival and a national conference, where guest speakers are invited to speak on a particular facet of spirituals.

“It’s nothing I would have predicted (that) would have happened to me professionally, and it’s such a privilege to still be able to do this,” said Jones, who still sings in the choir. “ is legacy has an in nite future because now it’s institutionalized.”

The Spirituals Project choir hosts performances year round in community spaces like churches, public libraries and parks, as well as the Newman Center for the Performing Arts on the University of Denver campus.

COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF DENVER

“My

STEADMAN

Every used instrument is going to need some sort of repair, he said, and beginning music students don’t know the di erence between an instrument in “excellent playable condition” and one that’s not

CADENA

Furthermore, the foundation collaborates with Denver Public Schools and numerous community partners – and more recently, Capital One and the National College Attainment Network – to broaden its support for nancial aid applications through free community work-

functioning properly. For example, if an instrument is not sounding right because it is in less-than-good condition, the student may get frustrated with it, thinking they lack talent and that might cause them to give up. So, it’s important that every student not only gets an instrument, but that it is in “excellent playable condition.”

Bringing Music to Life is a non-

shops accessible to all members of the Denver community. ese workshops o er drop-in and hour-long, one-on-one appointments where individuals and families can receive assistance with their nancial aid applications, for both the FAFSA and the Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA), which allows Colorado ASSET (Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomorrow) students to apply for state aid.

PRECISE REPAIR, GENUINE CARE

Worrying about your uneven or cracked concrete can make owning a home very stressful. By investing in concrete repair, you

pro t, and it partners with a number of local businesses — Denver Percussion, Luther Strings, Monkton Guitars and Rocky Mountain Music Repair – that provide repair services on the instruments for a discounted rate.

Bringing Music to Life accepts nearly any type of musical instrument – particularly those used in band and orchestra. ere are drop-

is inclusive support aligns with the Denver Scholarship Foundation’s commitment to breaking down nancial barriers and facilitating access to higher education by providing equitable resources to students and families. Last year, the foundation organized 16 similar workshops across Denver, assisting 454 students and their families in submitting 290 FAFSA and CASFA forms.

As the Denver Scholarship Foundation continues its mission to

o locations across the metro area, with the two in Denver being Twist & Shout, 2508 E. Colfax Ave. in the Congress Park neighborhood; and Luther Strings, 2018 S. Pontiac Way near the Virginia Village/Indian Creek area. Donations for the repair fund can be made online.

To learn more about the Bringing Music to Life program, visit bringingmusictolife.org.

break down nancial barriers and facilitate access to higher education, it is not merely changing individual lives – its e orts have the potential to boost the uptake of nancial aid applications in Colorado as a whole, elevating the state’s national FAFSA completion rankings and ultimately elevating its economic vitality.

Nathan Cadena is the chief impact o cer for the Denver Scholarship Foundation.

3. Tackle projects you’ve been putting o

We all have a mental (and physical) list of projects we need to tackle. Kick o your “mental health spring cleaning” by writing down all of the things that you’ve been putting o –like scheduling the gutter cleaning and window washer you have had on your list for two seasons, or nally going to the dermatologist. A shameless plug: send that list to TULA and let us take care of those projects for you. We promise it feels just as satisfying to cross them o your list when someone else does them for you.

4. Focus on positive relationships

We all have people in our lives that we love, but with whom we don’t have the healthiest or most enjoyable relationships. Instead of spending

time prioritizing those people, consider dedicating your time to positive friendships and relationships.

5. Digital detox

I have heard this a few times and in a few di erent ways, but the way it really stuck for me was when I heard someone say, “hey, think of it this way – what do you do or what does 99% of tech troubleshooters tell you to do when a computer or electronic device isn’t working correctly?” e answer is power cycle of course (which is just a fancy way of saying turn it o and turn it back on). Once in a while, we need to do the same. Get o your phone, your computer, social media, etc. and truly recharge. It can be a few hours, a day, a weekend, or even longer if you can do it. It is magical and you may even forget why you were so attached to your devices in the rst place.

6. Get outside

Open the shades rst thing in the

morning. Take your work meetings on a walk. I don’t know about you, but I feel very strongly that all meetings don’t have to be video anymore just because we got accustomed to that after the last few years of back-to-back virtual meetings. Walk and talk and spend your lunch break outside. Enjoy those extra hours of sunlight in the evening to do something outside – or simply eat your dinner outside. We started going on TULA walk meetings, and I believe we cover more than we do when in front of our computers. Regardless, one thing is for sure, a little dose of Vitamin D and fresh air, no matter when you can t it in, will do wonders.

7. Shift perspective

Accept that you’re not perfect, and neither is the world around you. Look closer at the moments of progress and joy instead of the ones that bring you anger and frustration.

8. Get back to gratitude

One great way to ignite a bit of a release and promote a healthy mind is to take some time to focus on everything you have to be grateful for. You can do this in a number of ways. I personally use a gratitude journal because I like being prompted to think about things that don’t always immediately come to mind. But you can simply dedicate time to make a daily list or incorporate it into your family rituals. is is a common dinner question for us (though admittedly, we de nitely could be more consistent). However you practice gratitude, there is no doubt that if you spend more time thinking about all you have to be thankful for, there is less space to stress over things you don’t have or don’t have control over.

Megan Trask and Cody Galloway are Denver residents and co-founders of TULA Life Balanced. Learn more about their business at tulabalanced. com.