Welcome to Cafe Cultura's January 2016 newsletter! 

We are excited to update you as we work to fulfill our mission.

 

#CafeCultura #XpressYourself #TellingOurStories #ArtInThePark #WordsToActions #RiseUp

CafĂ© Cultura is an award-winning arts, culture, and youth development organization that promotes unity and healing among Indigenous peoples through creative expression while empowering youth to find their voice, reclaim oral and written traditions, and become leaders in their communities. 

We hope this message finds you and your family in good health and spirits.  This newsletter helps us keep you informed of our growth as an organization. You can find more updates on our Facebook (facebook.com/cafecultura), Issuu (issuu.com/cafecultura/docs), Instagram (instagram.com/cafeculturadenver), Flickr (flickr.com/photos/cafecultura/sets), and Youtube (youtube.com/user/cafeculturavideos) accounts.

Cafe Cultura's
open mic
w/ spoken word, dance, food, art, door prizes, & community!



 
Spread the word...Bring your family & friends!!!!!   
    
VOLUNTEERS PLEASE ARRIVE AT 6:00pm  

Note: Make sure to come early to sign up and get a good seat.


WHAT: All ages showcase (alcohol/drug free event)


WHEN: 2nd Fri. of every month....January 8th, February 12th, March 11th

---> Doors open w/ Vendors, Art, & Food for Sale @ 7pm

---> Show starts @ 7:45pm


WHERE: Cafe Cultura @ Denver Inner City Parish (910 Galapago St)


$3-$5 donation (nobody turned away)

Everyone is welcome!


Featured Performers:
 
---->Jozer  is a professional Poet, Actor, and Hip-Hop artist based in Denver, CO. His work tackles tough political issues such as immigration discrimination, racial inequalities, and police brutality. His work has landed him features on HBO, PBS, Button Poetry, TED Talks, and has been reviewed by the L.A Times and American Theatre Magazine. He also placed 3rd in the Individual World Poetry Slam in 2013, and has placed in the top 15 last two years. When he is not performing, he educates and inspires youth teaching poetry and teatro courses to students of all ages. If you are interested in working or contacting Jozer, you can email jozerg7@gmail.com for further information.

Jozer Guerrero -
Jozer Guerrero - "Frats" (NPS 2014)


----> The Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Youth Ensemble  is a comprehensive dance/arts program designed for young artists at the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance School. The Youth Ensemble consists of students ages 13-19 that have demonstrated artistic excellence and a certain level of technical prowess. The Cleo Parker Robinson Youth Ensembles have performed at a Denver Nuggets game during halftime, The Children's Museum of Denver, West Pines Hospital, First Unitarian Church, The Denver Art Museum and lots of outreach projects. As part of our dedication to arts for the community, we regularly perform at our home, the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Theatre in the historic Shorter AME Church (intersection of 20th, Washington, and Park Avenue).


Cleo Parker Robinson Dance
Cleo Parker Robinson Dance


----> Art by Thompson Williams : CADDO/Comanche artist from Fort Cobb, Oklahoma. Living in Lakewood , Colorado. Former coordinator for the Denver Indian family resource center's strong fathers program, and coordinator of Indian Ed for Jeffco public schools. A certified special education teacher.


Community Feature:
---->GRASP Enterprises: To provide youth with employment opportunities, GRASP (Gang Rescue And Support Project) developed a social enterprise, GRASP Enterprises. Our first venture, a silkscreen & embroidery shop will provide the Job Readiness Training component, a curriculum developed in partnership with The Office of Economic Development, Servicios de La Raza and others, as well as provide real world skills and training. Our initial goal is to employ 35 youth a year, but with additional investments and contacts we can not only build our capacity and become sustainable, but also expand to serve even more youth.



For more info: info@cafecultura.org; 720-394-6589


#CafeCultura #XpressYourself #TellingOurStories


Cafe Cultura continues our "Telling Our Stories" spoken word/poetry workshop series at  Mi Casa @ Lake  (after-school) and   DSST: College View High School  (elective). The participants continue to impress us with their insight and creativity. We look forward to returning to  Grant Beacon Middle School
soon.

If you are interested in having Cafe Cultura bring our "Telling Our Stories" workshop series to your school as an elective, after-school enrichment, or a part of an existing class , contact as soon as possible.  

Our youth-written books are available online . To access each collection of powerful spoken word poetry from participants in our workshop series,  simply click on the book cover .


  
   
Make sure to read future newsletters for more updates.

Purchase your
Cafe Cultura 2016 Season Pass
for $30 ($120 value)



-free admission (for you and a guest)
-free gifts (stickers, books, etc)
-front row seating
-recognition during the event (of you &/or another person)

Don't miss this opportunity! 

Available at January 8th open mic event
February 12th Open Mic

WHAT: All ages open mic (alcohol/drug free event)

WHEN: 2nd Fri. of every month....February 12th, March 11th, April 8th

--->Doors open w/ Vendors, Food for Sale, & Art @ 7pm
--->Show starts @ 7:45pm

WHERE: 910 Galapago St

$3-$5 (nobody turned away)

Everyone is welcome!

Featured Performers:

---->Hasan Salaam (emcee from New Jersey)

---->Art by Gregg Deal

Community Feature:
---->VORP (Victim Offender Reconciliation Program) of Denver
In this newsletter....
Cafe Cultura Logo

Join Our Mailing List!

Contact Information

Cafe Cultura
910 Galapago St
Denver, CO 80204

Hours: Mon-Fri from 8am to 6pm

info@cafecultura.org
720-394-6589
 cafecultura.org 

facebook.com/cafecultura    

Make a one-time or monthly donation to Cafe Cultura!

You have the opportunity to invest in Cafe Cultura's work in the community. Click on the following image to make a tax-deductible donation.

Xpress Yourself

Basic Spoken Word Workshops for Youth (#XpressYourself)



We have worked with schools and organizations throughout Colorado to give underserved youth an opportunity to express themselves.

If you are interested in having Cafe Cultura present at your school or organization, feel free to contact us. Our basic version is a one time, 1 to 2 hour  session . We have used this  highly engaging and  culturally relevant  workshop structure for over a decade to encourage Chicana/o and Native youth to use spoken word to give voice to our stories of love, struggle, injustice, and celebration. They serve to support Language Arts curriculum Workshop structure was designed by a spoken word artist with 4 years experience teaching at the middle and high school level with contributions from other poets and youth advocates. Click here for more information.
Cafe Cultura's Xpress Yourself: Hip Hop, Poetry, & Spoken Word workshops
Promo video for Cafe Cultura's Xpress Yourself: Hip Hop, Poetry, & Spoken Word workshops


Whether you are a beginner or an experienced poet, join us as we workshop poems you are currently drafting or will write during our time together.

WHEN:  Last Saturday of the month (January 30th, February 27th, March 26th)
 
TIME:  11:00 to 12:30pm

WHERE:  Cafe Cultura @ Denver Inner City Parish (910 Galapago St)

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

January Guest Facilitator: TBA
 
Questions: 720-394-6589; info@cafecultura.org
Exciting Updates
-Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Office Warming Open Mic! We enjoyed sharing hot drinks and time with you. In addition to welcoming the community into our office, it was a special night to remember John Trudell and his legacy. Cafe Cultura poets presented some of his poems while youth read a few quotes. Everyone enjoyed the powerful performance from Native Voices (youth within Indian Education Program in Denver Public Schools). Cafe Cultura poets  also performed their own spoken word. Shout out to Izzy Lozano for sharing the news through your paintings, while challenging us to envision something greater.

Videos from Cafe Cultura's 12/11/15 Open Mic
Videos from Cafe Cultura's 12/11/15 Open Mic

















-Performances/shows from Cafe Cultura poets:  If you want us to perform at an assembly or host an open mic featuring our spoken word artists, contact us. Funds will go to sustaining our organization and the work we do in the community (especially our workshops for youth). 

-We continue to receive support from important members of the foundation community. Thank you to our recent funders: Bowen Family Performing Arts Fund (The Denver Foundation), Biennial of the Americas, National Association for Latino Arts and Culture Fund for the Arts, Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples , Peyback Foundation , Hispanics In Philanthropy , Latino Community Foundation of Colorado , WESTAF , and The Chinook Fund .

-We were honored to have been selected for the  2013 Mayor's Award for Excellence in Arts & Culture (Youth Arts) . Here is the video they produced:
2013 Denver Mayor's Awards for Excellence in Arts and Culture - Youth Arts Award: Caf?? Cultura
2013 Denver Mayor's Awards for Excellence in Arts and Culture - Youth Arts Award: Cafe Cultura