Washington Park Profile 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.

Denver’s Best Thai Restaurant

Westword 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 & 2021

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.

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.

Story on page 6. PHOTO BY MICHAEL FURMAN

Denver resident makes a mark at the Grammys

Trumpet player working to release his third album, ‘Darkness Within’

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Joshua Trinidad, a Denver trumpet player who grew up in Brighton, had a dream come true, helping to select the winners at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards earlier this month.

“When I got there, I honestly felt like, do I belong here?” Trinidad said. “A lot of times in my life with music, I’ve always felt despair. But since I was supposed to be there, I was excited at that moment.”

Trinidad said he started playing trumpet at age 7, and his family always watched the Grammys. He remembers being amazed by all the musicians’ coordination, and he liked the symphony and the brass sections and people singing and dancing.

“I said this is beautiful, and my dad said you could do that someday and be there someday, and I said yeah, OK, Dad,” Trinidad said. “I got to go. When my parents found out, they were so proud of me.”

Trinidad said a friend of his from college, a piano player, recommended him as a voting member for the Grammys a year ago.

He received an email to ll out a 12-page application about his career, asking how he contributed in a way they saw t. He also needed a recommendation from another person.

“If the council sees that you’re t to vote, they permit you to vote,” he said. “So, after getting o cially nominated to be part of the Recording Academy, it took six months to hear back.”

Community work, to boot

Trinidad got word in June 2023 that he had been selected as a member of the Recording Academy and was cleared to vote for the Grammys.

“When selected, they also recommended ways to get involved. It’s more than just a grant; there is community work, and there are ways to mentor upcoming musicians,” Trinidad said.

Trinidad said there are two voting rounds to vote for a musician. e

“You had to plan it out and give everyone a fair listen of their album. It took me months to listen,” Trini-

Next is the nal round, and he’s given a say as to which of the selected musicians ends up on TV as the Best Album and Song.

“ at round took less time because it’s condensed down,” he said. “It was a lot of fun and a lot of work to listen to that much. But it was it was fun.”

Once Trinidad submitted his votes, he received an email to reserve his tickets to the show and headed to Los Angeles.

“It was a dream come true, Trini-

Growing up in Brighton

Trinidad grew up in Brighton. He attended South Elementary, Vikan Middle School and Brighton High School. He said his teachers helped guide his career.

“ e beautiful thread between those three schools is the top-notch music teachers,” Trinidad said. “I was lucky.”

As a little boy, Trinidad loved music. He knew from the second time he picked up an instrument at 7 years old, that he’d found his niche. e rst time, he’d picked up a sax-

“I wanted to play the saxophone, but I couldn’t make a sound out of it. It was so hard. I remember the folks with Flesher-Hinton music company rented instruments in Denver; the guy was trying to help me make a sound,” Trinidad said. “I couldn’t. I thought I’d never play an instrument. I saw the trumpet on the way out and asked what’s that? I picked it up and made it sound.”

Trinidad had an exciting journey with his trumpet and got serious about playing it early in his high school career.

“My trumpet playing was important and I made it into the high school honor bands,” Trinidad said.

Trinidad said he had planned to attend school in Greeley at the University of Northern Colorado, but was rejected.

rst round is called “for your consideration,” with literally thousands of people per category.

“ ey said they didn’t see a music career in my life. I felt like quitting everything, and at 18, my path was carved out,” Trinidad said.

Joshua Trinidad got to walk the red carpet at the Grammy Awards as a voting member of the Recording Academy. COURTESY PHOTO

He was glum when he went to school the following week, and his band teacher asked him what happened.

“He pulled some strings for me, got me to go to school at Western State College in Gunnison,” Trinidad said. “I even got some scholarship money to go. It was great. I didn’t stay at Western, but it was an excellent place to rethink things, recalibrate.”

Trinidad then went Metropolitan State University in Denver. It was an excellent move for Trinidad, and he said he had some of the best professors.

“It was meant to be. I graduated with a music degree,” Trinidad said. “I was told I could never do it, (but) I did it.”

Today, Trinidad is a trumpet player, composer and producer. Trinidad plays in multiple styles of music, including jazz, ambient, rock, electronic and lo- , that are almost like soundtrack music.

“I would never call myself a true jazz musician by any means. It’s music you’d hear in a movie that is relaxing, spacey, echoing type trumpet,” he said. “I focus on a more creative approach with trumpet than what we’re used to.” at means he’s found new ways to expand his instrument’s abilities.

“I connect my trumpet to guitar pedals, like what a guitarist would use,” he said. “I play through the

microphone into the guitar pedals. And I get di erent sounds, such as an echo delay.”

Norway to ‘In November’

Trinidad got the idea for his rst album, “In November,” while he was touring the U.S. with a band. He and the group’s drummer spent a lot of time dreaming about their next gigs.

“I told him I would like to record in Europe,” Trinidad said. “He said, ‘Do it!’ I said, ‘it’s not that easy,’ and he said, ‘Do it.’ So I did it and booked a studio in Norway in 2016.”

While recording in Norway, Trinidad said he reached out to some

of his favorite musicians, and they came, recording at a tiny rented house.

“We lived together for three, four days, recorded an album. e house was near the ocean ... it was so beautiful, it was a dream come true,” Trinidad said.

Trinidad said the recording did well.

“It moved me into a new level, taking a risk and going out there to Norway. I didn’t make money from it, but learned a lot,” he said.

Trinidad’s next gig was in 2019. He was contacted by Arun Natarajan, Subcontinental Records label in Bangalore, India, who told him

about an idea that he knew a famous electronic guy named Riatsu Umlaut. Natarajan said he would pay for them to work together.

“We put out an album right before COVID called ‘Lithium,’ and later during COVID, put together another album called ‘Sleeping With My Worries.’ We are working on our new album that will come out in the next couple of months,” Trinidad said.

Trinidad said when he was in L.A. for the Grammys, the album ‘Sleeping With My Worries’ was nominated for Best New Age Album of the Year at the World’s Entertainment Awards on Feb. 2.

Trinidad said they were invited to a party after the Grammys and he saw one of his favorite jazz singers, Kurt Elling, performing.

“While in Los Angeles, I got the opportunity to look up one of my favorite trumpet players, Arturo Sandoval, and he invited me to his house. He’s an 11-time Grammy Award-winning musician. e Grammys were fun (and) my highlight of the trip was meeting him,” Trinidad said.

Trinidad has also recorded with Arun Natarajan with Sage Francis, Chicano Batman, Nathaniel Rateli , Riatsu, Umlaut, and Bangalore, India.

Future

Trinidad said he is working on his next album, a mix of poetry and music. It’s called the “Darkness Within.”

To learn more about Trinidad and his music, visit https://joshuatrinidad.com.

Joshua Trinidad has been playing the trumpet since he was 7 years old.

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 afliated 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.

“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 community 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.

“

If these songs aren’t sung, they fade from memory and existence.”

M. Roger Holland II director and choir conductor of The Spirituals Project at the University of Denver

Director and choir conductor M. Roger Holland II invites attendees of The Spirituals Project concerts to learn about the music’s history and participate in song. MICHAEL FURMAN

TRADITIONS

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.”

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.

Since its start, e Spirituals Proj-

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 o cially 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

Discover

ect 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.

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 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.

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 washparkprofile.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 the Profile.

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

Email letters to csteadman@ coloradocommunitymedia.com

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

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

Dr. Terry Dunn

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.”

nity members, and a special presentation of the Golden Dragon Award on March 15 to actress Jiyoung Yoo.

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 commu-

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.

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. 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.

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

“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/.

seek customers looking for real PROTECTION and long term RELATIONSHIPS.

FATHER OF EIGHT lady. Must love kids, be fit and ready to jump in and join the fun. Military training would be helpful.

SINGLE, ARTSY LADY SEEKS SINGLE ARTSY GUY. If you love painting, decorating, baking and knitting, we are a match. Please be over 30 and willing to take art classes.

Look no further.

Having one special person for your car, home and

Barb Frank Insur Agcy Inc

Barb Frank, Agent 261 S Downing St

Bus: 303-777-4989

www.barbfrank.com

Lori Rickert Insur Agcy Inc

Lori Rickert, Agent 714 South Pearl Street

Bus: 303-757-7440

www.loririckert.net

ADVENTUROUS

CAT LOVER adventurous cat owner. Please be employed and willing to relocate. Especially fond of black and white tuxedo cats. All responses will be answered. Looking for that Purrr-fect match.



GRANOLA EATING, CAMP LOVING, WORLD TRAVELER dreams.Must be fit and love spending days and nights outdoors in the middle of nowhere. If you know how to set up camp, pitch a tent and catch food, we need to meet immediately.

Having

Badette,” which is showing at this

Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival.

PHOTO COURTESY OF COLORADO DRAGON BOAT

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

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 for ages 12

older.

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

Photo: Image courtesy of Curious Theatre Company.

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-yearold 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 prevent 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.

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 high-priority 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 .

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

PHOTO BY NATALIE KERR

UPGRADES

“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-earning day of the week.

e restaurant sta is also having 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 one-third, and regular customers can’t park in their parking lot anymore, Madrid said.  Madrid has also seen pedestrians, many of

whom are elderly, crossing Colfax in dangerous areas because of the impact of construction on sidewalks.

but isn’t very concerned about declining business because they were able to prepare before construction began.

Madrid said.

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 signi cant health problems, particularly 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

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

Golden’s Mother Cabrini Shrine o ers Lent, new movie

creased visitation during Lent. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday — the Friday before Easter — are particularly busy, she said, with some pilgrims trekking up to the shrine on foot.

People of all beliefs are welcome throughout the year. Seaman said the Mother Cabrini Shrine is the perfect spot for people to “get away and take a break from the world,” with lots of indoor and outdoor spaces for quiet re ection.

“ ere’s something special about this place,” she continued. “ … It’s a little oasis.”

The saint on the silver screen

Frances Cabrini, the religious sister and missionary who did so much for Coloradans in the early 1900s, will soon be depicted on the silver screen.

CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Christians worldwide are already preparing for Easter.

e season of Lent — 40 days of prayer, fasting and almsgiving — began with Ash Wednesday on Feb. 14 and will last until Easter on March 31.

For the rst time in ve years, the Mother Cabrini Shrine near Golden is o ering a Lenten series at 6 p.m. every Friday. e series will take attendees through di erent types of prayers and re ections, with a potluck dinner afterward.

Executive Director JoAnn Seaman was thrilled to revive the Lenten series after COVID-19 and the shrine’s renovation project disrupted it in recent years.

e $4 million project, which the shrine started in fall 2022 and completed in November, renovated the main chapel by updating some artwork and adding seating, bathrooms and an elevator.

Seaman invited those who haven’t been to the shrine recently to “come and see” its upgraded facilities. She was also excited to continue building a community of regular visitors and volunteers, and believed the Lenten series will help.

While the summer tourist season is the shrine’s busiest, it also sees in-

“Cabrini,” starring Cristiana Dell’Anna, David Morse, John Lithgow and Giancarlo Giannini, premieres in theaters on March 8. It’s set in New York City in the 1890s as Cabrini works to establish “housing and health care for society’s most vulnerable,” according to the lm synopsis.

As of Feb. 1, it had a 100% Rotten Tomatoes critics score based on nine reviews.

Seaman said institutions associated with Cabrini, including the Goldenbased shrine, saw early screenings this fall. While it was still a rough cut of the lm, Seaman said it’s a powerful depiction of Cabrini’s faith and humanitarian work.

Still, it only depicts a portion of everything the saint accomplished.

Despite lifelong health struggles, Cabrini established 67 institutions and made 24 trips between Europe, Latin America and the United States. She died in 1917 at age 67. e Catholic Church declared her a saint in 1946, and Colorado recently established a state holiday in her honor on the rst Monday of October.

Seaman hoped the upcoming lm would generate more interest in Cabrini, her humanitarian work and her legacy.

“People will be amazed at all she accomplished,” Seaman said of the movie. “ … It shows her grit and spirit, and how she was fueled by her faith.”

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini working in Colorado is depicted in a stained glass window at Golden’s Mother Cabrini Shrine. The religious sister, who ministered to Denver’s Italian immigrants in the early 1900s, is the subject of the upcoming film “Cabrini.”

PHOTOS BY CORINNE WESTEMAN

A Sacred Heart of Jesus statue stands outside the Mother Cabrini Shrine’s main chapel as the sun sets on Jan. 31. The shrine is preparing for the season of Lent, which starts on Feb. 14 this year.

Denver cuts services amid migrant crisis

BY JENNIFER BROWN THE COLORADO SUN

Denver will cut hours at recreation centers, end in-person vehicle registration renewals and eliminate spring ower beds to save $5 million this year, a response to the migrant crisis that is expected to cost the city $180 million.

Mayor Mike Johnston blasted Congress for failing this week to pass a $118.3 billion bill aimed at stopping the ow of illegal entry at the southern border and making it easier for migrants who enter legally to get work permits.

About 40,000 migrants, mostly from Venezuela, have arrived in Denver over the past year, and more than 3,500 are living in city-funded hotel rooms. ousands took bus rides to other American cities after arriving in Denver, and an unknown number are trying to stay in the city, nd jobs and send their kids to school.

Denver has received more migrants per capita than any other city in the nation, the mayor has said.

Denver set up emergency operations to welcome the new arrivals, opened city buildings as shelters and is organizing clinics to help those who are eligible apply for work authorization. Volunteers, meanwhile, mobilized to bring food, and in some cases, tents and propane heaters for those who are living outside.

“I want to thank every resident in the city who has showed up to cook a meal for someone who has arrived, who has welcomed somebody to their home, who has offered them a job, who said, ‘We will help you nd your way,’” the mayor said during an emotional news conference in which he got choked up more than once. “You’ve done your part. e city will do our part. e federal government did not do their part.”

e budget cuts amount to just one-fortieth of what the in ux of newcomers will cost the city, Johnston said. ey are also just the beginning, he said, as he plans to talk to the City Council about more cuts in the weeks to come.

Recreation centers will close one day each week. Division of Motor Vehicle satellite o ces in the city will alternate closing one week at a time beginning March 4, and residents can no longer renew vehicle registrations in person. Denver Parks & Recreation will not plant ower beds this spring and will cut spring programs by 25%.

No full-time employees will lose their jobs, the mayor said, but some hourly and seasonal workers may have hours cut or positions will be left open.

“I want it to be clear to Denverites who is not responsible for this crisis that we’re in: e folks who have walked 3,000 miles to get to this city,” Johnston said, describing

families he met who were eeing violence and poverty in Venezuela.

e mayor said he met one Venezuelan father who lost half of his family along the treacherous journey through the jungle. e family left their 13-year-old daughter behind in Colombia because they worried she would get raped on the journey. e rest trudged over a mountain pass, where the 8-yearold reached for his dog near the edge of a cli .

“And the dog goes over the edge. And the child goes over the edge. And the mom goes over the edge chasing that child and that dog, and the dad is standing there watching his entire family be lost in a matter of seconds,” Johnston said. “ ose folks get up the next day, and keep walking and keep walking and keep walking until they get to this country.”

“And they have asked for nothing but the ability to work and support themselves.”

Johnston said the city is “paying careful attention” to the minority of migrants who are living in encampments, a number he estimated at 50-60 people.

“ at means 99.9% of the folks who have shown up to this city in sandals and a T-shirt with no services and no support and no infrastructure, we have successfully integrated into the fabric of this country,” he said.

But the help that Denver has provided over the past year is not sus-

tainable, he said.

“What is true now is we’re entering into a di erent stage, which is without any federal support, without any work authorization, without changes to policy, we’re going to have to make changes to what we can do in terms of our city budget,” he said.

Members of Colorado’s congressional delegation were also seething about the sinking of the immigration reform bill.

“Unless Congress tackles comprehensive immigration reform, we’re just kicking the can down the road,” U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat who served as Denver’s mayor from 2003 to 2011, said in an emailed statement.

“If we only seek to restrict legal pathways into this country, then the few that remain available will always be overwhelmed. We need an immigration system that isn’t so dysfunctional that families have to risk their lives with cartels and desert crossings to seek a better life.”

A bipartisan group of lawmakers had spent months working on the immigration reform bill before releasing it. A group of Republican lawmakers in the U.S. Senate blocked the bill. It needed 60 votes to pass, but failed on a 49-50 vote. is story was printed through a news sharing agreement with e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned nonpro t based in Denver that covers the state.

20 mph speed limit signs showing up on residential streets

BY ALLEN COWGILL THE DENVER NORTH STAR

New speed limit signs have shown up in earnest in Denver neighborhoods over the last few months.

On Jan. 9, at the monthly Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) Advisory Board meeting, Mike King, principal city planner for the department, shared that over 3,000 new signs have been installed, with approximately 1,000 to go. Installation of the signs could be complete by the end of 2024.

e signs, intended to make the new residential speed limit clear to residents and anyone entering the city, are being installed on major roads where drivers enter the city and county of Denver and along streets that serve as entrances to neighborhoods.

e 20 mph speed limit applies to residential roads, the neighborhood streets without lane markings, and it is the default city speed limit. e new 20 mph speed limit does not apply to large collector and arterial roads, such as Federal Boulevard and West 38th Avenue, which will continue to have their own designated speed limits.

DOTI has 20 mph yard signs available through community groups and city council o ces. Residents can install them in their front yard to remind neighbors of the new speed limit.

e “20 is Plenty” movement – a push to reduce speed limits to 20 mph – has picked up steam in recent years, with the United Nations endorsing the limit recommendation in areas where people and motor vehicles mix. Internationally, countries, including Scotland and Wales, adopted 20 mph as a default speed limit on certain residential streets in 2023.

In the U.S., cities like Portland, Minneapolis, Seattle and Washington, D.C., have passed similar laws in the last few years. More locally, Boulder and Golden have also adopted 20 mph speed limits on residential streets.

“A pedestrian has a 13% likelihood of a severe injury or fatality if struck by a vehicle traveling 20 mph. at chance jumps to 40% if the vehicle is going 30 mph,” said Jill Locantore, executive director of local nonpro t Denver Streets Partnership, during the 20 is Plenty campaign that led to Denver’s new baseline speed limit.

An international advocacy organization based in the United Kingdom, 20 is Plenty for Us, asserts that the lower speed also widens drivers’ elds of vision and cuts the stopping distance for drivers in half, compared to when a driver is going 30 mph.

Recent studies out of Boulder and Portland have shown mixed results on whether 20 mph signage reduces driver speeds. A study by Portland State University showed that the median speed of drivers on residential streets didn’t change by much. But in the months after new signs went up, there was a reduction in speeding by some of the worst offenders, those who were excessively speeding more than 10 mph over the limit. In Boulder, researchers found that street design often had a bigger impact on vehicle speeds than the speed limit. ey found that drivers went more slowly on narrow residential streets, and traveled at higher speeds on wider streets.

Allen Cowgill is the City Council District 1 appointee to the DOTI Advisory Board and serves as its board secretary. is story was published through a share agreement with e Denver North Star, a monthly publication covering north Denver.

A new sign declaring the citywide default speed limit of 20 mph was recently installed on West Byron Place near Denver’s border with Edgewater.

PHOTO BY ALLEN COWGILL

Forward inking

How local shops are shifting the culture in the Denver-area tattoo scene

BY ELISABETH SLAY ESLAY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Armed with steady hands and lamps strapped to their craniums, many female, non-binary and queer tattoo artists utilize their passion, personalities and perseverance to bring art to life, all the while shifting the culture of the Denver-area tattoo scene.

‘If you build it, they will come’

Owner of the Wolf Den Custom Tattoo Studio Ryane Rose said they built their shop, located at 6640 E Colfax Ave. in Denver, about seven years ago.

“It kind of came about by working at shop after shop that just kind of created an environment that didn’t feel as welcoming by default,” Rose said.

Rose said the culture was “masculine-driven” which isn’t a bad thing, but can leave “little room for other people to be expressive or exist.”

“So I think that’s where the toxic part of the culture came in. It was more su ocating than inviting,” Rose said.

ey said they kept trying to nd a studio that would support a wel-

coming and accepting mentality but couldn’t.

us the Wolf Den was born. e 37-year-old thought it would be dicult to nd a complete sta of queer, non-binary or female tattoo artists. However, “if you build it they will come right,” Rose said.

“ is entire seven years my inbox has been ooded with women and non-binary humans that have constantly reached out to work here with the same exact story,” Rose said.

The wolf pack

One woman was artist Meghan Donohue, who works with Rose as their apprentice.

Originally from Massachusetts, Donohue moved to Denver about a year and a half ago to become a tattoo artist. She said she found the Wolf Den online.

Donohue’s favorite aspect of the Den is the experience it provides both artists and clients.

“It’s a place where we all really can emphasize our own strengths,” Donohue said. “ e artists that work here all share a common strength of people skills which is something a lot of tattoo artists lack in the industry.”

e 25-year-old said she is still determining her style as a tattoo artist but she is versatile in that she does illustrative, realistic and ne line pieces.

Rose describes their style as a wide range because they love creating watercolor, ne line, geometric and abstract pieces. ey also love the oneto-one connection with their clients.

“You get to take this concept that represents something that they value and then you get to give it a heartbeat collectively,” Rose said.

For Rose, the best aspect of the Wolf Den is the energy they’ve curated with their sta .

“We all genuinely care about each other and that’s a hard one in shops too because the culture really does drive in ‘You need to care for yourself,”’ Rose said. “If another artist takes art from you they’re taking food from you essentially.”

e name for their tattoo shop was inspired by an animal where females are the alphas and the group acts as a family.

“I wanted a wolf pack,” Rose said. “I wanted people who took care of each other. We’re all stronger together and

we can all eat together.”

Macy Zerbe, 26, became a member of the pack in June 2023 and they said they love the “chill vibe” at the Den.

“I feel everybody is pretty about community and making a welcoming space that tattoo shops don’t always have,” Zerbe said.

Rose runs their business with their wife Jess Rose, who handles the dayto-day operation of the shop and elevates the business.

“When you’re in love and that person is your partner and your soul mate they’re going to enrich your life in every single aspect,” Rose said. “So the Den is no exception. She brings a perspective from a stylistic point of view.”

Jess is a leather artist and along with her own business, she said her role in the pack is the “lady behind the scenes making things happen.”

“When I met Ryane, I saw their vision and I knew where they wanted to take it,” Jess said. “I de nitely feel like I am always here to see those visions through.”

Jess said there are various ways the Wolf Den is shifting the industry from its representation to its atmosphere and products.

“Already (Ryane was) changing the industry by creating a space where there was an owner that was far different than a heterosexual white male owning a shop,” Jess said.

Mele Lucero is another member and tattoo artist in the pack and she said she loves making “weird trippy”

pieces.

Lucero said the Den is unique in that she is supported as a female tattoo artist by her peers and mentors.  “ ey just want you to grow,” Lucero said. “I felt like with my old (shop) it was like a debt to be owed to them and then coming to the Wolf Den they just continue to push me and grow my style and (to) just be me.”

Jess said the Den provides ecofriendly products which isn’t common in other shops. Ryane said the shop is 90% plastic-free, but there’s a goal to up that another 5%.

Going forward, Rose said they hope to both maintain the stability of the Den and continue to grow its presence.

Bird’s Nest

Striving to also provide a di erent atmosphere for their clients and fellow creators is tattoo artist Lora Bird.  Bird created the Nest Art Collective, located at 7460 W 38th Ave. in Wheat Ridge, which is a space for queer, femme, non-binary or neurodivergent artists and clients alike.

“I would describe it as a haven for people who need a little bit more accommodation during their appointment,” Bird said. “We do our best to make sure everybody has the right lighting, the right sound level, the right privacy to feel as comfortable as possible during a pretty uncomfortable procedure.”

Meghan Donohue, a 25-year-old apprentice at the Wolf Den Custom Tattoo Shop, works on her latest creation.

PHOTO BY ELISABETH SLAY

Bird was searching for a space that would support them as an artist and accommodate their needs as a neurodivergent person.

“ e shop that I learned in was a very open space, which there is nothing wrong with that and some people thrive in that environment, but with me having ADHD and newly diagnosed autism, it ended up being a little bit harder for me to focus on the art and my client,” Bird said.  e tattoo artist of six years said the chaos of the shop was overwhelming.

“I wanted to work in a space where I was able to control the environment a little more and after searching around through some studios and keeping my eyes peeled for someplace I wanted to work I real-

ized that doesn’t really exist,” Bird said.

erefore, Bird built the Nest from the ground up.

Bird was inspired to model their shop after a “salon suite” which they worked in for about a year. Bird explained a salon suite is a rented amount of space with pods of individual businesses such as a hair salon, a nail salon and makeup artist.

e Nest opened its doors in 2021 and Bird said at the moment, the shop is full of artists who all have their own space.

Additionally, Bird said while artists technically work for them, the artists are in charge of their own booking, scheduling, pricing and setting up their rooms.

“ ey are all individual business owners and they really do nd and work with people that want to work with them which is just such a wonderful thing in tattooing,” Bird said.

“ ey curate the space to be com-

fortable for them and by proxy it’s comfortable for their clients.”

Izzy Bump, creator of large colorful botanical tattoos, said she enjoys being in control of her own business and ethical choices.

e artist said the best aspect of the Nest is that it’s a supportive space where the artists care about their work, each other and clients.

“We all have more than enough clients to go around and because we’re not competing with each other and because we all do care about each other and our community there’s a lot of helping each other and lifting each other up,” Bump said.

Bird describes their art style as illustrative woodcut which is similar to “old medieval etchings.”

Bird said they feel like they’re ipping the “traditional idea of tattooing” with the Nest and shifting the industry from sole artist control to client-friendly.

Tattoo artist and 29-year-old Mi-

kayla Riley said there are so many aspects that she loves about the Nest, the biggest being the sense of community.

“I think it’s very unique in that tattooing, like so many industries, is traditionally so male-dominated and lots of people have not been welcomed in this industry in the past, and here we’re so far in the opposite direction,” Riley said. “Anyone is welcome here to get a tattoo.”

Bird said all 13 people in the Nest “gel well” together regardless of their di erent personalities and styles.

“ e overarching take here is in my mind this newer generation of tattoo artists is just more kind,” Bird said.

Going forward, Bird hopes to “ride out this thing” they built and just see what happens next.

“It really is currently my life’s work and I would rather just maybe not push for more and just enjoy what I have,” Bird said.

Lawn/Garden

CLEAN-UPS/

Lawn/Garden

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

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.