Recently, Colorado passed HB1100, a bill which sought to make it easier for “unaccompanied homeless youth” (those unaccompanied by a parent or adult) to get in-state college tuition. Previously, the difficulty of obtaining the necessary documentation, and the requirement that in-state tuition be determined by the number of years a parent had lived in Colorado, made it prohibitive to do so, just one more obstacle faced by homeless young people on the road to a post-secondary education. Here, we look at the challenges faced by the growing number of homeless youth in Colorado. As a demographic, they have some of the lowest high-school graduation rates, highest dropout rates, and the most significant mobility rates (moving from school to school).
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For many Coloradans, camping is a rite of summer. For VOICE vendors Ann and Armand, it became a way of life when they ran out of options.
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This summer you’ll find no shortage of guides to the best patios, burgers, and events in Denver. These kinds of lists are fun. They help us define a place—this is the best of Denver, here are the spots for locals, these are the things visitors must try before they leave. But there are as many layers to Denver as there are people living in it. These best-of lists and tours, while fun, often only show one side of a city.
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“Life’s a rollercoaster, man.” To most people, this is an ineffectual witticism. To Armand (pronounced Ar-min) Casazza, it belies a difficult life stalwartly lived. The son of an alcoholic and a drug addict, Armand started off a challenging life in Illinois. When he was four, his father, an army veteran, took the family to California where Armand spent his formative years.
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The “Ask a Vendor” column allows us to share the thoughts and wisdom of the diverse group of people who make up the Denver VOICE vendor pool. Do you have a question for VOICE vendors? See below for more information on how to submit it.
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Music In Bathrooms Keeps Homeless Out
By Sarah Ford
In Grand Junction, city officials are implementing a unique new tactic to keep the homeless from staying in public bathrooms: blasting children’s tunes inside the restrooms.
Rob Schoeber, Director of Grand Junction Parks and Recreation, told local NBC affiliate KKCO 11 that the city is seeking to keep the homeless and transitory from spending too long in public restrooms as a way to escape inclement weather or unfavorable conditions.
Raelene Johnson, top-selling female Denver VOICE vendor, loves her city and wants to share it with you. The following are Raelene’s personal landmarks and favorite spots.
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Vendor David Gordon spends a lot of time on South Broadway, and knows the area and surrounding businesses well.
He likes the neighborhood because he thinks he is treated better there than in other parts of Denver. “A lot of those businesses know that they’re not going to get rich off of the few dollars that I can spend, but my business is valued. That’s why I like Broadway so much.”
By Justin Lee, VOICE vendor
I feel like happiness doesn’t know where to find me
Gotta move forward, I’m leaving my past behind me
Photographer Robert James Campbell took the photo of Chuck Berry that appears on the cover of this issue. In the 1950s and 1960s, Campbell took hundreds of photos of jazz and folk musicians.
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