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Pozole Propels Denver Chef Jose Avila to Prestige

The opening of Denver’s first pozoleria in June of 2021, La Diabla Pozole y Mezcal, is proof that honoring your roots while charting your own course makes you stand out from the crowd. The restaurant located near downtown Denver was nominated as one of the top 50 best new restaurants in the country by the prestigious Bon Appetit magazine this year.

“The food here is hearty and soulful, a blessing for anyone looking to balance their meal with the long, expertly curated list of mezcals and other agave spirits,” praised Bon Appetit.

La Diabla Pozole y Mezcal features the traditional Mexican cuisine, pozole, several types of the Mezcal alcoholic beverages along with other Mexican dishes.

“I can think of many reasons but first, it is my favorite dish. Second, there was no pozole here in Denver and it was needed and third, it is the most emblematic dish of Mexico,” said the owner of the restaurant, Chef Jose Avila.

Pozole is a concoction of hominy and meat served in a bowl that is garnished with a variety of vegetables such as shredded cabbage or lettuce, chili peppers and more. La Diabla has its corn imported from Mexico and prepares it in the restaurant through the process of nixtamalization where the grain is soaked and cooked in an alkaline solution and then hulled.

The owner of La Diabla explained that pozole comes in the colors of the Mexican flag. Pozole Rojo is mostly found in Northern Mexico. Pozole Verde is common in the southern part of the country, and the Yucatan Peninsula is home to the Black Pozole. Mexico City is the common ground of all, and includes Pozole Blanco. According to Avila, Mexico City is the epicenter of Mexican gastronomy, where ingredients of the country travel through, to reach opposite sides. There is not a huge sign outside of La Diabla Pozole y Mezcal to bombard visitors and onlookers. Instead, Avila wants to focus on the food and let it speak for itself like it does in his hometown of Mexico City.

“I grew up with a super pure and super innocent love towards food. The ingredients, you go crazy from so many things you can make. There are many new ingredients. There are ingredients that are only seasonal.”

Chef Avila grew up with the tradition of “Jueves Pozoleros”, or pozole Thursdays where his mother and siblings gathered to talk and eat as a family after busy days. He described the pozolerias in Mexico as humble places where loved ones come together. For Chef Jose Avila, he knows the pozoleria has carried out its mission when he hears customers say, “This reminds me of my grandmother.”

Everything came together for Jose Avila in his early twenties after working a chaotic night at what was then a fine dinery in Cherry Creek, the Fourth Story. Some people throw in the towel after walking into a kitchen filled with dirty dishes, endless orders pouring in and a chef shouting to keep things in order, but in that moment Avila realized “this is where I belong. This is what I want to do.” It became Chef Avila’s mission to learn the art of the food scene.

The owner of La Diabla is no stranger to innovation after introducing the concept of tacos and tequila and the first Yucatecan food truck in Colorado, X’Tabai Yucateco, in 2021. Chef Avila is also the owner of the sheep barbacoa restaurant, El Borrego Negro.

“My job is to educate you in the humblest way. If you do not know green pozole, if you do not know what corn nixtamalization is, if you do not know black pozole, if you do not know this and that, for me that is my job. To explain to you and let you know that Mexican food is not just tacos and tequila, it is much more than that.”

With over two decades of experience in the food scene, Avila values the people in his restaurant who reflect the values that brought the vision of the pozoleria to life, hard work. Because of this, the restaurant continues to receive more recognition including from 5280 Magazine’s 25 Best Restaurants in Denver 2022.

“We have been busier. But more than anything, both for me and for the team, there is that personal and moral satisfaction because it is theirs. It’s my idea, I put the idea in. But at the end of the day, who makes it, who operates it, who takes care of it is them. I am here to be their support. But the one who comes and heats the tortilla and makes the preparation, the drinks, all that is for them. We earn it together, but they are the backbone of the place. Of any restaurant.”.

To get a taste of La Diabla Pozole y Mezcal, visit its location at 2233 Larimer Street in Denver.

October 9, 2022

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The opening of Denver’s first pozoleria in

Lifestyle

5 Questions for Lori Lizarraga

You left your job as a reporter for 9News over a year ago. What have you learned since then?

It’s such a good question! Because I’ve learned so much. For example, I’ve learned just how much work there is still to do in our country and in our industry surrounding representation. I’ve learned that diverse stories told by diverse people are essential for everyone. I’ve learned how courageous and effective an empowered community can be. I’ve seen firsthand the power of the written word when there is intentionality and honesty and when it allows people to feel both seen and heard. I’ve also learned how much I love my job as a reporter and a journalist, which is even more than I already knew. My 2021 reporting of “ LatinXed” asked our industry to look inward at the ways it could improve. Since then, I have also asked myself to do the same in many ways. The time and energy to be self-reflective has been a luxury and a privilege that I’m really, really grateful for. And as a result I’ve learned how to be more patient and reflective, how to invest time in teaching others as I learn, and how to bring the value of myself and my lived experiences to my work passionately as well as productively. I have learned the importance of being slow to react and quick to listen. While I’ve never been one to avoid confrontation, I approach it today with different goals and a different confidence. I’m constantly learning how to better realize the most effective work for the most affected people. And I’m also learning how to slow down and trust myself and the process. No matter how unpredictable the journey may be, I’ve learned time and time again that it’s all on the way to something.

What were the ups and downs of being outspoken?

When people ask me for advice about being outspoken in their workplace, university, or newsroom, my answer is think. Reflection and reaction are very different things and so each will produce a very different outcome. Reward won’t always follow risk. So it’s my experience that what you stand for you should be prepared to stand for alone, against advice, and at your own expense solely because it is right. Many will not join you and your risk does not obligate others to do the same. That’s why it’s so crucial to reflect before you react.

Who does speaking out serve? What will speaking out change? How can speaking out be most impactful? Is this something you are willing to risk your career, your livelihood, your reputation, or your future opportunities for? Because unfortunately, that may very well be what speaking out costs you. It shouldn’t, but it can. Can you effect more change in the room? Can you afford the toll of staying? Will you resent the cost of speaking up? Will you regret it if you don’t? If those are hard questions to answer or the cost outweighs the cause, that’s crucial to know.

That’s what makes the courageous agents of change who have come before us so incredible and so profound. I stand on a lot of their shoulders and I know that. For me, standing up for coverage and for community in this powerful but disproportionate industry was always the hill I was willing to die on — full stop. Mine is a success story for being outspoken but there were many, many days before any exciting announcements or big job opportunities that were a reminder of the consequences of that decision, too. Even on those really hard days, mine was always a success story because I did what I believed was right. The change it created, the impact it had, the people it reached, and the pathway it carved out for my success today are all beautiful, humbling, and completely unexpected results that I could never have imagined. I’m so incredibly grateful for every single up and down that has led me where I am today.

Are communities starting to hear the message about representation and the different knowledge that comes with it?

We’re seeing our society and our industry being challenged in so many important, sometimes difficult but also overdue ways. For a long time, the accountability work from journalists and from within newsrooms on which our systems have for so long relied wasn’t being used by our industry on our industry. That’s changing all the time for the better of the work and the communities our work is supposed to represent and serve. I think that’s a testament to the reporting, but it’s also a sign of the times. The industry is changing because society is changing because the energy of marginalized communities in newsrooms and across this country are finding their voice and defending their place now more than ever. Like I said, diverse stories are essential for everyone.

What’s next for you?

I just started my second week at NPR as the newest host of NPR’s national show Code Switch! I’m so proud! It’s been such an exciting, beautiful, hard-earned, whirlwind of a season to get here and it truly is the perfect fit. A marriage of the reporting and storytelling I love so much and the fearless conversations about race that need and deserve more oxygen in our news landscape. I am so ready to get my feet under me in this new role and get started doing really great and important work with a really great team. Please join me for the ride by listening to Code Switch wherever you stream your podcasts!

You are moving out of state. What will you miss about Denver?

I will most likely be moving to DC in the new year to be nearer to NPR’s DC headquarters! But I actually moved out of Denver last spring and have been based in Philly ever since. My partner is a reporter in Philadelphia so it was the natural next stop for me to lay some roots after the whirlwind of 2021. But I can still answer that question! Because what I miss about Denver is the same thing I miss about anywhere I have ever gone to live and report — the people. Luckily, those relationships and connections that I’ve built over the years all over the country have very much stood the test of time and distance. I’m proud and grateful that so many of the most important, supportive relationships I made in Denver are no exception.

October 5, 2022

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You left your job as a reporter

Community

School Farm Harvests Connect Students to Community

With food insecurity on the rise in Denver, the harvest provides hope in the community. According to Hunger Free Colorado one in three Coloradans lack reliable access to nutritious food and 16% of children and 20% of adults don’t get adequate nutrition because of financial constraints. Some schools are taking matters into their own hands with farms that connect students to the land and their communities.

Whether it’s the tranquil water flow of the hydroponic gardens at Bruce Randolph School or the clucking of chickens right outside the classroom on Denver Jewish Day School’s farmette, educational facilities are changing the traditional learning experience for their students by teaching the value of growing and harvesting and providing accessibility to fresh and affordable produce for their community. Sarah Peterson, the Assistant Principal at Bruce Randolph School, says students are taking the lead.

“Now students are the ones taking food to the cafeteria. They’ve wrapped their heads around how that process works. But we’re working on partnering with the community, students, and families to think about what they want to see happen with the food. This year, one of our goals is to make that a student driven process.”

Sarah and Abigail Belson, farm educator at Bruce Randolph, are side by side with their students on this learning journey.

“Having students getting in the habit again of wondering and asking questions and figuring out how they can be an impact to their community, how this farm can be impacting, the curiosity is blossoming from and because of the garden,” says Peterson.

Belson adds, “here they’re getting that immediate impact of what they’re doing. I think that’s just so important for kids to be able to have and just really feel that even though they’re in high school or middle school, they can do something meaningful.”

Thanks to funding from Denver Public Schools and grants, a hydroponic garden with towers of lettuce, basil, bokchoy and cilantro is growing at Bruce Randolph. Peterson says students are able to apply a curriculum that they would typically learn in a lecture class to a real life situation.

“I think the farm offers a really nice hands-on experience where we know that in the real world science does not happen from a textbook sitting down independently. It happens collectively with lots of people, it’s very hands-on.”

At Denver Jewish Day School, manager and farm educator, Alix Kivlin, believes that combining expression and curriculum is essential as the foundation of learning.

“Having the middle schoolers come out and put seeds into the beds and make garden signs in Hebrew and English and utilize that as a Hebrew lesson. You know, bringing traditional curriculum out to the garden.”

Tasks for the students range from tending to the chickens and gathering eggs, to seeding the beds in the garden for some fresh arugula and jalapenos. Kivlin sees this process as a cycle, students expand the knowledge they get in the classroom into a skill where curriculum is applicable.

“I think it is essential to know where your food comes from. How it grows, how it can die, how you have to care for it, and then how you prepare it. A full cycle and how that is nourishment for both yourself, your classmates, the school, the community, It’s like an onion with all these layers that expand.”.

Kivlin continues to expand these layers, even as the season of harvest for Denver Jewish Day School comes to an end.

“Some of our food gets donated to Jewish Family Services. They have a food bank and no cost grocery program a mile away from here. So we do some donations to them.. We’ve actually given more food into our own cafeteria. So it’s going back into our school cafeteria and in school lunches.”

These solutions are sprouted by students, where the garden is the classroom, where you will often find the children of Denver Jewish Day School preparing jars of salsa they made for the evening to sell to families. Or perhaps the packing of soil to begin a fresh harvest of cucumbers by students of Bruce Randolph to prepare a hearty salad.

“I think that is entirely up to our students,” says Peterson. I think that the better that we get at this as adults, the more we give students ownership to determine what they want to do for their community and how to do it. And so I think that they have the answers to those questions, because it is their community too. And we want them to have that ownership over how they’re impacting it.”

A connection between the educational leaders of these facilities, their students, and the community has bloomed. Students come in and out asking if there are tasks to be done. Over at Bruce Randolph, students walk over to Peterson and Belson asking if the seed had been planted correctly and what is next on the agenda. Kivlin, at Denver Jewish Day School, expresses the necessity and impact of the curriculum.

”Learn where your food comes from,” says Kivlin. “And it will literally start the path from there. Like that’s how it begins, I would say and see how you can use that as an education tool, very casually, for your own children, friends, family, parents, grandparents, you know, it’s something that spreads.”

October 3, 2022

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With food insecurity on the rise in

Neighborhoods

Little Girl’s Dream Leads to Thriving Native American Business

Nine year old Haleakala Brown wanted to save up money to take gymnastics lessons. Instead of walking dogs or having a lemonade stand she started Colorado’s first Native American soap business. Traditions come from Haleakala’s roots as Taos Pueblan and Native Hawaiian.

Haleakala’s father, Nick Ohitika Najin, said, “we started making soaps, my wife (Akalei Brown) and my daughter made soaps. The first hundred batch sold immediately. Wow! The next hundred batch sold immediately also. So, my wife and I were kind of like, hey, maybe we have something here. We turned all that money and just kind of flipped it and we kind of grew from there.”

On July 1^st, 2021, Lakota Body Care was founded, focusing on products made with traditional native ingredients sourced from relatives all over the country. Not many can say they work for their 10-year-old daughter, but six months later Halekala’s father quit his job, and start working full time for Lakota Body Care.

“We’re trying to introduce to our community that you can take care of your skin, your body, just with organic materials, instead of buying products that are made with tons of chemicals.”

Lakota Body Care has grown from just soaps to other products including teas, oils, and bath salts. They are also made with prayers of the Indigenous people.

“When we make these soaps and these oils, and these bath salts and all our other products, we say the same prayers that we’re using to make moccasins, we’re doing the same to make soap. So, every single step where we’re thinking about something we’re praying about something so that’s where it comes in,” Nick said.

One their most popular items is their Pow Wow Dreams Tea that uses Ingredients such as peppermint and chamomile and aids in relaxation. The Skoden Lakota Tea is made with elderberries and is one of their most traditional and sacred products. Elderberries boosts the immune system. Their Lavender Sage soap uses white sage from California. That mixed with lavender gives it a wonderful smell.

Today Haleakala’s Lakota Body Care is growing, and she is able to take three gymnastic classes a week. She helps her dad make soaps for half an hour a day and comes up with ideas and names for new products. You’ll find Lakota Body Care at local farmers markets and pow wows where the family performs in traditional regalia. You can also order from Lakota Body Care’s website.

October 2, 2022

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Nine year old Haleakala Brown wanted to

Voices

GRACe in Globeville is a Haven for Artists

It’s hard to miss the giant hammer and bright green signage seemingly sprouting out of the ground at the intersection of Washington and 50^th, beckoning you towards Globeville Riverfront Arts Center. You might not expect to find this kind of place in Globeville – a neighborhood where nearly a quarter of families were living in poverty as of 2017, and the ongoing gentrification of neighboring RiNo and Five Points is starting to spill over and raise home prices – but, in spite of economic hardship, GRACe is a thriving community of resident artists dedicated to their craft.

Established in 2016, GRACe’s campus consists of two studio complexes that play host to over 80 visual artists of all kinds. Its main building is a cheery maze – plants and art line the walls and windowsills and hardware remnants from the building’s days as a meat processing plant hanging from its lofty ceilings.

Francine Campone has been creating her fiber textile and mixed media pieces at GRACe for “five or six years – I’ve kind of lost track.” Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Campone lived with her grandmother and grandfather who worked as a seamstress and a tailor, respectively.

“I say that I’ve got thread in my DNA,” she said.

Although Campone isn’t a full-time artist, the time she spends at GRACe is productive, as evidenced by the finished and in-progress works in every corner of her studio space. The community is the icing on the cake.

“Even though we work in different media, we can talk about each other’s work. We talk about color and texture and how it shows up in different ways, so I think that’s been very stimulating,” Campone said.

Down the hall, Liz Covert, who has rented at GRACe for two and a half years, creates metal pieces ranging from bowls to bracelets. Covert discovered her love of metalwork when she was pursuing her bachelor’s degree in studio arts. She was working three jobs to pay her way through school. Metalworking was the only class that fit her work schedule and turned out to be “the first art class that I had ever taken where the thing that was in my head actually came out of my hands,” Covert said.

While this is the first studio space Covert has ever rented, she too feels like GRACe is fostering true connection between its artists, as evidenced by her fast friendship with fellow resident Piper Short, who just moved in this past June.

Short – along with their dog, Piglet – runs a gender neutral used and vintage clothing boutique out of their basement studio. The curated collection of clothes, shoes, and accessories is organized by colors and themes – like a Trans Pride rack and a “funny t-shirt pile” – rather than gender.

“Jumpsuits go for everybody,” Short said.

It’s no secret that Denver is an expensive place to live, and studios at GRACe can range from $175 to $1,325 per month – a fee that may be untenable for many artists still trying to recover from the pandemic. According to Eric Davidson – GRACe’s second-ever resident artist – this hardship has strengthened the feeling of camaraderie.

Davidson is renting a sunny, brick-walled studio featuring vintage furniture and the kind of model skeleton you might have had in your high school science classroom. He uses it as reference for some of his paintings – most recently a series of Renaissance-inspired, candy-filled paintings of a child’s vision of the afterlife.

“I think you have to be a little more serious about art right now to be willing to spend the money that it requires in Denver,” he said. “You have to really show up and do the work to feel that you’re not just wasting money.”

You can find more information on the many resident creatives at GRACe, by visiting their website. While GRACe isn’t open to the public most days, visitors are welcome to attend events like Autumn Artsfest, which will be held on November 5th as part of Denver Arts Week.

September 28, 2022

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It’s hard to miss the giant hammer

An Explosion of Development on Tennyson Street

The news that the Book Bar will close after this holiday season is just the latest quake on Tennyson Street in Denver’s Berkeley neighborhood. Owner Nicole Hann Sullivan announced that the 10-year old book and wine shop would shutter at the end of January due to rising costs, and her desire to prioritize family. It’s a one two punch for the popular street with the Book Bar news coming just as neighborhood bar Local 46 prepares to close for good on September 30 to make way for 90 apartment units.

Drew Strever, a bartender at Local 46 ever since it first opened on 46^th and Tennyson Street, stated that the community is devastated by the closing of the bar. The owner did not renew the bar’s lease, and sold the property and two adjoining ones for 7 million dollars. Local 46 wants to make sure the community knows it did not “sell out.”

“It’s like my church,” said Don Carleno, a patron of Local 46. “Watching them tear down those buildings one at a time, building ugly apartment buildings hasn’t been great.”

During the last month, Local 46 has been packed with members of the community, counting down the days before it closes. Posted on the front window is a sign that reads: “Community is something that has to come organically, it can’t be forced or manipulated but it is unmistakable when you sense it. Local 46 ended up being more than we ever could have imagined, a home to many, on both sides of the bar.”

Tennyson Street in Northwest Denver has undergone many changes in its long history, but a recent explosion of property development in the area is changing the character of one of Denver’s top destinations. The street, that once was full of bungalows and small businesses and saw streetcars travel between old Elitch Gardens and the Oriental Theater is experiencing growing pains.

Almost all of the new projects will include ground floor commercial and two floors dedicated to housing, increasing Tennyson’s population density and continuing the trend of removing smaller homes, stores, and restaurants to make room for larger buildings. Within the last year, several older homes have been razed to make way for multi-unit developments.

“I’ve seen the neighborhood really transition,” said one local in César Chávez Park who didn’t want to give his name. “It is what it is: gentrification. There’s only one Hispanic family left on the street. Denver keeps building these places, and we’re trying to preserve something that’s unstoppable.”

Five of these developments are on properties in the heart of Tennyson’s most trafficked area, between 38th and 44th Avenue, and for some months have remained fenced off with piles of rubble from building demolitions. Construction began on several projects just at the start of September.

Jimmy Funkhauser, owner of the outdoor store Feral, located on Tennyson Street, and a leader of the Tennyson Berkeley Business Association, says the demolition and construction has affected foot traffic to his store and made parking for destination shoppers difficult. According to Funkhauser, even employees struggle to find a parking spot due to the volume of contractors and workers now in the area.

“When a street has eight to ten developments happening all at once, and each one has sidewalk closures, and construction everywhere, and contractors parking everywhere, you feel it,” said Funkhauser.

Despite the community reservations, developers say they are trying to stay true to the spirit of Tennyson. Jeremy Zidell, Founder and Managing Partner of Rue Realty, says that his company is trying to fit in with Tennyson’s legacy. Rue Realty is redeveloping the old Green Door Furniture Store, located across the street from César Chávez Park, into The Lantern, apartments with first floor business space, a ground floor patio and a rooftop deck.

“When your intent is to do the best long term thing for the neighborhood, even when you don’t live there, it’s a very careful, delicate, and detailed process,” Zidell said. “Our company wants to leave the best quality fingerprints and legacies in the neighborhoods that we’re doing business in. The building is in good hands.”

Currently, scaffolding has gone up around the The Lantern and Rue Realty developers are shooting for a Spring 2023 opening. Other properties requiring 18 months of full construction will be finished by early 2024, according to Nick Wright, a project manager with Schneider Building Company that is working on 4353 Tennyson. The coming years will be full of familiar parking and construction issues, and business owners like Funkhauser are skeptical as to the true intentions of the developers.

“I’m skeptical because historically every time the city has taken one step forward, the developers are ready to pounce and exploit the issue,” Funkhauser said.

The developers of the Local 46 property say they will keep the distinctive facade on their new building. However, it was never the sign that made the place unique, and even when they do manage to find a new location, Local 46 bartender Drew Strever says it could never replace the special community that makes up the Tennyson neighborhood.

“We couldn’t have done this without them. We’ve always been very local and community driven. We’re going to miss this area, because it’s special, and we made it that way. This neighborhood is partially what it is because of who we’ve been,” Strever said. “On behalf of all the management here: we’ll miss this neighborhood, we love it, and the people are what made it.”

September 27, 2022

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The news that the Book Bar will

Neighborhoods

Clean Socks Help People Experiencing Homelessness

The saying goes “walk a mile in someone else’s shoes,” and then you will be able to understand their story. But would you walk a mile barefoot? How about for the rest of your life?

In recent years, Denver witnessed an increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness with the Metro Denver Homeless Initiative reporting first time homelessness doubled from 2020 to 2021.

The founder of The Clean Sock Project, James Pierce, and his wife Barbara Pierce, are taking the steps to give people living on the streets of Colorado the chance to walk with a pair of brand new socks.

After walking the streets of Denver and interviewing people experiencing homelessness, James listened to a problem that people living on the streets face, but many may not recognize.

“They told me, ‘Man, we can get anything. We can’t get socks,” reminisced James.

The Clean Sock Project is a nonprofit organization created in 2015 that delivers clean socks to people experiencing homelessness here in Colorado. The idea came to James in what he called a “vision,” or “epiphany” from God.

James wanted people experiencing homelessness to know that The Clean Sock Project would be there to provide them with a pair of new socks. He chose to seek crowds of people who needed a new pair of socks after discovering random locations through word of mouth.

“A lot of them just thank you. They’re so appreciative. I saw so many times socks that had just been molded into their feet. They wore them for so long,” said Pierce.

The family paused their efforts with the Clean Sock Project for almost four years to devote their love to Andrew Murray who he called his ‘brother,’ or ‘The Dukester. He lived with Pierce and his wife when the couple decided to become full-time caregivers for ‘The Dukester’ who was 72 years-old but mentally stopped growing after the age of six.

“We were able to find a reciprocator for the love that we still had… So, we were able to give it to him and take care of him,” said Pierce.

After attending many Colorado sports games, building a collection of over 3,000 matchbox cars with him, and final visits to the hospital, the Pierce family said their last goodbyes to ‘The Dukester’ in June 2021. James Pierce decided to re-establish the organization to devote his love to others, once again.

“I think that’s where I’m supposed to be and what I’m supposed to be doing until I get a different word,” said Pierce.

Pierce buys the socks himself. Stored in his home are the summer and winter socks that differ in the thickness of the material for the different seasons. He only delivers white socks with a gray heel and toes, or gray socks with a white heel and toes to prevent the risks of harmful dyes for those who wear socks until they become almost embedded into their feet.

“If your feet aren’t right, your whole body isn’t right… I think [people experiencing homelessness] deserve at least one good thing in their life that’s on the same level. I want them to know that they are good enough, they get brand new socks. I want them to proudly put on a pair of new socks and feel good about themselves,” said Pierce.

With hope in his eyes, he spoke about the future of The Clean Sock Project that will change the way people living in the streets of Denver get their new pair of socks. James says that in the years to come, the organization wants to deliver a pair of socks with the drop of a personalized coin into kiosks. He expects these kiosks will be set up all over Colorado and expand into other states.

For James Pierce, the path he walks is to find purpose by listening to the people experiencing homelessness in the state he adores. Now, he wants to walk alongside those experiencing homelessness to understand their journeys by “bettering the world one pair of socks at a time.”

The Clean Sock Project accepts monetary donations to ensure acceptable socks are given to people in need. To learn more about how to donate or volunteer, please visit clean-sock.com or call 303-995-8148.

September 26, 2022

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The saying goes “walk a mile in

Community

Autism Rescue Kits Help During Emergencies

Law enforcement and first responders often have challenges handling people who are going through a mental health crisis. Those who have disabilities or are on the autism spectrum have specific needs when they are going through trauma or agitation. Many first responders do not have the tools necessary to provide for this.

Bill Cassel is looking to fill that void with Noah’s Autism Rescue Kits. He had an idea to create a quick solution to help calm down people on the autism spectrum who are experiencing a breakdown that has been triggered by a traumatic event such as a car accident or a fire. What started as a small startup funded by the Optimist Club of Wheat Ridge quickly expanded.

Cassel borrowed the idea from a Facebook video he watched of volunteer firefighters in New England who were using kits to help people on the autism spectrum in that part of the country. Cassel comes from a family of volunteer firefighters who work in the Wheat Ridge and Arvada area and decided since nobody else was doing it around Colorado, he would give it a try.

“We started working small, and to help us out, we enlisted a local boy scout troop to help us put the kits together, and we found out that one of the boy scouts named Noah, that was building the kits, was on the spectrum, so it all just came together,” Cassel said.

Each Autism Rescue Kit comes equipped with noise blocking headphones, a snuggle blanket, various toys to use for distractions, dark sunglasses, a dry erase board for communication, and Smart 911 registration information. The kits have been designed specifically to help account for different situations that may trigger agitation.

“We sat down with first responders and tried to make it work because firefighters and EMTs have limited space on their vehicles, as well as police with all the tactical gear they carry,” Cassel said. “From there, the word got out to special needs teachers in elementary and middle schools, and they started requesting the kits.”

The kits are not just given to first responders and to teachers in schools who have students on the spectrum. Parents can also get their hands on the rescue kits. The kits can be particularly helpful for families that are dealing with a first-time diagnosis of autism in their child and need a tool the child can use when things get overwhelming.

Cassel spoke about how the kit can have beneficial results for just about anyone who is in a traumatic situation or emergency such as a car accident. The kits also have been used to help those who have been victims of violent crime.

“We had a great testimonial from a victim advocate in Douglas County, who had a young lady who was the victim of a violent attack, and she started shutting down,” Cassel said. “They gave her the kit, and she started playing just with the squeeze ball, and she was able to answer the questions.”

The Autism Rescue Kits also can be a great help during times of natural disaster. The Marshall Fire displaced so many families in Boulder County, including those that have children on the autism spectrum. While losing your home is incredibly distressing for anyone, such a sudden disruptive change is challenging for those on the spectrum.

“With the Marshall Fire in Boulder County, there were approximately 75 autistic kids that lost their homes, and they were stuck in hotels and places totally different to them, with new sounds and new smells,” Cassel said. “They didn’t have their own place, so we are working with ARC Services to develop this kit as a to go bag for natural disasters.”

Another essential part of the Autism Rescue Kits is the Smart 911 system. Home phones are registered so if somebody dials 911, it will pop up on the screen that someone at the home is on the spectrum or has some type of neurological problem. Cassel has worked in conjunction with West Metro Fire and Rescue to give out flyers to let families know about this system. A registration card for the Smart 911 comes with every rescue kit.

“You can also register your cell phone so if you’re away from the house, and 911 is called you get a phone call or a text message saying that 911 has been called from your house phone,” Cassel said.

All of this would not be possible without the Optimist Club of Wheat Ridge. The club’s relationship with the community and youth has made it possible for the kits to be free because they are covered through donations. A couple of club members are in the Wheat Ridge Police Department, and some have contacts in the Arvada Fire Department, making the distribution of the kits to first responders easier. If you are interested in more information about the kit email autismrescuekit@gmail.com.

“All the feedback to the kits has been positive; I see posts on the Facebook page of Denver Autism Parents talking about getting the kit through the schools and how great they have been,” Cassel said.

As the kits continue to grow in popularity, Cassel hopes that it will also spread more awareness about kids with autism and how they are just like everyone else; they just see the world differently.

“Most of these kids or young adults have superpowers; there is something they are really, really good at,” Cassel said. “It’s just amazing to try to focus on that and the positive side of things.”

September 26, 2022

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Law enforcement and first responders often have

Lifestyle, Uncategorized

5 Questions: Polly Baca on Voting

Polly Baca has been active in Democratic politics since her college days at Colorado State University. Since then she has worked on presidential campaigns, has served in presidential administrations and was Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee . She is a labor and civil rights leader in our state and was elected to the Colorado House and the Colorado Senate. As an advocate she believes when you improve the lives of Latinos in Colorado you improve the lives of all Coloradans.

You’ve been a pioneer many times in your life. What have you learned from being the first Latina in so many positions?

I’ve learned that the challenge of being the first is to encourage others to surpass what you have done. Sharing your experience and opening the door is a responsibility that we have to assure continued progress.

We have an election coming up. What message do you have about voting and its importance at this time?

As citizens of the oldest democracy in the world, we have an obligation to assure the continuance of this democracy during this time of great challenges. At this critical time in history and to protect our democracy, each of us has the responsibility to become informed and vote for the candidates we believe would be the best for our community and nation.

What did you learn from your parents about voting? What have you taught your children?

Although neither of my parents had a high school degree, they both stressed the importance of getting a college education and exercising our right to vote. My father read constantly and enjoyed commenting on current political issues. He stressed that it was our responsibility to vote for those candidates who would help working people. I have tried to instill in my children that same sense of responsibility to vote and participate in our democracy.

Can you talk about the first time you voted?

When I was 18 years old, I was frustrated because the law would not allow me to vote until I was 21 years old. That caused me to get involved in lobbying Congress to lower the voting age to 18. It was one of the first political issues I got involved with as a college student. When I graduated from college in 1962, I was 21 years old which was the first time I was eligible to vote. I attended my precinct caucus and got elected as a delegate to the Democratic County Assembly and met the candidates who were running for office on both the Primary and General election ballots. It was exciting to finally have the right to vote and I have voted in every election since that first election 60 years ago.

Once people vote, how can they continue to use their voice?

Voting is the most important step. In addition, each person should become informed about the issues by reading newspapers and magazines, watching TV news, searching the internet or social media, and attending issue debates or speeches. Also, find out who the officials are that you can vote for by googling “My Elected Officials,” then contact your elected officials and let them know what you think. Finally, volunteer to help elected officials you like or run for office against someone you don’t like.

If you have not yet registered to vote there is still time before the mid-term elections. Ballots go out on October 17 and you have until November 8 to make your vote count. Everything you need to know about how and where to vote is here.

September 20, 2022

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Polly Baca has been active in Democratic

Banned Books Week: A Conversation with Dan Danbom of Printed Page Bookshop

September 18th through the 24th is Banned Books Week. It’s an annual celebration of the freedom to read and Bucket List Community Cafe sits down with Dan Danbom of the Printed Page Bookshop on South Broadway for our third podcast.

His store is a treasure trove of banned books, first editions and rare titles. For readers, just walking in it evokes memories. From the website:

“We’re part of a vanishing breed – the independent, used book store that’s committed to contributing to our community. What keeps us going is our love of books and the lasting relationships we form with our customers. We see ourselves as a relationship-based haven for readers and collectors to “talk book.”

The shop is a co-op of ten book sellers and one can browse for hours. We talked to Dan about his love for reading, how he finds his books and what makes them valuable. Also how he meets a dead man every now and then when he opens up the pages of a book. He is a great storyteller too, as you can imagine considering his love for stories.

As far as banned books go, the American Library Association puts out a list of the books that have been challenged the most. You might be surprised to know that the bible and some of the great classics in literature are among the titles. Here are just a few.