Welcome to Cafe Cultura's August 2017 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 presents
7th Annual Art in the Park
an open mic w/ spoken word, art, vendors, food for sale, & community!

Spread the word...Bring your family & friends!!!!!   
    
VOLUNTEERS PLEASE ARRIVE AT 5:30pm

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

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

WHEN: August 11th....2nd Fri. of every month...back to 910 Galapago St: September 8th, October 13th

--->Marketplace w/ Vendors, Live Art, & Food for Sale @ 6:30pm
--->Show starts @ 7pm

WHERE: La Alma/Lincoln Park Amphitheater (12th Ave & Osage St...next to the swimming pool)  

$3-$5 donation (nobody turned away)

Everyone is welcome!

Features:
----> The Reminders  are a rare and remarkable musical duo seamlessly blending soulful sounds and roots music with insightful messages and thoughtful lyrics. Releasing their debut album 'Recollect' in 2008 and their latest "Born Champions" in 2012, the Reminders have been recognized and applauded for their work internationally through concerts, tours, music awards, TV and radio appearances, and their incredible and dedicated fan base. Having shared the stage with artists such as Les Nubians, Snoop Dogg, Fishbone, Barrington Levy, Nas, Mos Def, Big Boi, KRS-One, Rakim, K'Naan, and others, the Reminders have established a firm place in today's ever-evolving music scene, garnering international acclaim while paving a path all their own.
The Reminders - If You Didn't Know
The Reminders - If You Didn't Know

----> Stephen Garcia  is a poet, artist, social activist and former member of the Denver Minor Disturbance Youth Slam Team. For three years in a row he has ranked among the top four slam teams in the Brave New Voices International Slam competition. Two of those years as a grand slam champion. Born and raised in Denver, CO Stephen incorporates all aspects of life into his work focusing on his Samoan and Mexican culture, his identity as a queer brown male and much more. His work has been taught to youth all over the country and has been featured in places such as New Zealand.   

Art by:
----> JalessaSkye Greybull  is Lakota women, using her art to show other people's emotions. She started doing art at a very young age, becoming very talented. As a local to Denver, she is committed to show her art to others and be successful with it. Every piece she's done has its own story, a story that is never really explained. It's up to you to use your imagination. 

Community Feature:
----> Second Chance Center  aspires to reduce recidivism rates of formerly incarcerated men and women by helping them transition to lives of success and fulfillment. We take the approach that the level of an individual's personal investment of focus, effort, and commitment will determine how successful their re-entry process will be, and how well maintained the freedom will be. SCC is staffed by experienced Criminal Justice Insiders offering case management, mentoring, and uniquely positive "role modeled examples of the possibilities" in order to help participants reestablish their lives and deal with the challenges of returning to their families and communities.

For more info: info@cafecultura.org; 720-460-9203

#CafeCultura #ArtInThePark #XpressYourself #TellingOurStories

Words to Actions Youth Leadership Program 

(#WordsToActions)

 

Photos from our Words to Actions Youth Leadership Program, which takes place every summer. For more information: www.cafecultura.org/wordstoactions

 

Xpress Yourself

Spoken Word/Poetry 

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 Cafe Cultura presenting at your school or organization, feel free to contact us. 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 (4th through 12th grades) 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. 


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

We completed our Spoken Word class for the  CU Upward Bound Program In over 40 groups  of students with whom we have worked, this year's class was collectively one  of the strongest.  Below is a glimpse. 

"I come from a five day traditional ceremony
that takes place in a hogan,
a Kinaaldá.
There,
I am taught
to take care of responsibilities
and to work hard.
I carry these lessons
along with my sacred medicine,
Tadiidine,
that comes from a field of corn stalks
from the Rez,
my reservation.
It always protects me
from negativity and harm.
Our way of life
is our religion.
Dine' teachings
remind me
of who I am
and how I walk in this world.
Beauty is before me,
above me,
below me.
Beauty is all around me.
May you walk in beauty."
-Charmiqua

"I will run with my traditions in hand
and my courage
will make imprints in the sand.
The only thing I will do
is succeed.
I may fail sometimes
but I will never concede.
They might look at me with disgust.
The doubt of my people
is something I must crush.
Running with my ancestors,
we will be the protesters
that say Natives can be great,
that failing
is not our fate.
I will run with my ancestors
and be Native Strong
to tell the world
we have been here for so long."
-Hercshel
Click here to read

Performance @ Art in the Park 
 


If you are interest ed in having Cafe Cultura bring our "Telling Our Stories" workshop series to your school as an electi ve, after-school enrichment, or a part of an existing class , contact us.  

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.
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
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.


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:  3rd Friday of the month (August 18th, September 15th, October 20th)
 
TIME: 6 to 7:30pm

WHERE:  910 Galapago St

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
 
Questions: 720-460-9203; info@cafecultura.org
Cafe Cultura's Youth Council  

We invite Indigenous (Native, Chicana/o, Latina/o) youth ages 13 to 21 to join us for a monthly Cafe Cultura Youth Council meeting.... especially past participants of our Words to Actions Youth Leadership Program.

WHEN: 
1st & 3rd Wednesday... August 16th, September 6th, September 20th, October 4th
 
TIME: 6 to 7:30pm

WHERE:  910 Galapago St

Food will be provided. 

Focus of the group:
-a support system...checking in about school and life
-leadership opportunities...youth will advise Cafe Cultura on programs and plan actions in the community

Questions: 720-460-9203; info@cafecultura.org
Join Our Movement!

Exciting Updates
-Thank you  to everyone who joined us at our last open mic. It was an amazing night! We appreciate everyone who made it possible: volunteers, open mic participants, and attendees. Special thank you to 1) CU Upward Bound Students for blessing us with powerful poetry 2) Def-i for sharing music that made us groove and think 3) David Ocelotl Garcia & Gregg Deal for showing us insightful and moving art 4) Young Aspiring Americans for Social and Political Activism explaining how we can improve our communities through organizing. Thank you!

Videos from 7-14-17 Art in the Park

 
   
    
- Cafe Cultura  was honored to receive a Civil Rights Award from NEWSED.
 
- Thank you to the  Denver American Indian Commission   for nominating our  Executive Director Ara Cruz for a 2016 Mayor's Diversity & Inclusion Award ...he accepted it on behalf of Cafe Cultura and everyone who makes what we do possible. Below is both a group picture and his acceptance video produced as part of the ceremony.
2016 Mayor's Diversity Award - Ara Cruz/Cafe Cultura
2016 Mayor's Diversity Award

-
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 past and current funders: Arts In Society, Imagine 2020 Fund, Hispanics In Philanthropy, Latino Community Foundation Colorado, Young Latino Philanthropists, Bowen Family Performing Arts Fund (The Denver Foundation), Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), National Association for Latino Arts and Culture Fund for the Arts, Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples , WESTAF , and The Chinook Fund .