photos by Bob DeHart
Makayla Rowan and Brooke Barker with Heather Greenwood, co-owner and manager of Gracefull Cafe whose mission is to provide a home in the Littleton community where people of all backgrounds can gather, eat well and be inspired to give back. (right) Upon arriving at Dry Bones headquarters, YC students did an activity that symbolized submerging themselves into the homeless culture. (middle)
Dry Bones Denver Vision Trip
Thirteen YC students traveled to Colorado with Bob and Dr. Erin DeHart over spring break to work with Dry Bones Denver and to lend a hand to three businesses that help the homeless: GraceFull Community Café, Café 180, and Purple Door Coffee which is co-directed by Mark Smesrud '10. They made connections with the homeless that forever changed their world. The vision trip allowed them to learn what it’s like to live in poverty, without homes, and to not know where your next meal is coming from. Their eyes were opened to common connecting points with their new friends and they discovered the ease at which conversations just happen. Fort Smith, Ark., freshman Brooke Barker journaled about the lifechanging experience: “I have seen what a real day in the life of our street friends looks like and will never be the same. I am trying to meet them right where they are. I am not here to be the savior but to be a friend… to let them know that they are not invisible. They’re not invisible to me, and they are not invisible to God. Make it a point to let them feel like they are worthy of being seen. They are worthy of communication. They are worthy of people’s time. And especially let them feel that I genuinely want to get to know them and not just ‘the them’ that the world says they are.” Dry Bones Denver: (1st row) Alexandre Motta, Kelsey Beck, Victoria Miller, Mattia Beske, Makayla Rowan, Brooke Barker, Hannah DeHart, Sadie Carr; (2nd row) Brennan Cole, Sebastian Rolon, Justus Coppinger, Jarod Belden, Logan Kaliff – not pictured Bob DeHart, Dr. Erin DeHart
8 | Heritage | SUMMER 2020
