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| Welcome to Cafe Cultura's April 2018 newsletter! We are excited to update you as we work to fulfill our mission. #CafeCultura #XpressYourself #TellingOurStories #WordsToActions |
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| Café 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. |
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Cafe Cultura presents
our 4/13/18 Open Mic event w/ spoken word, music, art, vendors, & community!
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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 open mic (alcohol/drug free event)
WHEN:
April 13th... Cafe Cultura open mics (2nd Friday of every month): April 13th, May 11th, June 8th, etc.
--->
Doors open w/ Vendors, Food for Sale, and art @ 7pm
WHERE:
910 Galapago St.
Features:
---->Suzi Q Smith (Artist, Activist, Educator)
---->reMARKable (Hip Hop artist and enthusiast)
---->Art by Natie (Mother, Artist, Poet, Courageous)
Community Feature:
Black Lives Matter 5280
More information about our features:
---->Suzi Q Smith
is an artist, activist, and educator who lives with her brilliant daughter in Denver, Colorado. She has shared her poetry on stages throughout the U.S., sharing stages with Nikki Giovanni, Talib Kweli, the late Gil Scott Heron, and many more over the years. Her work has appeared in Union Station Magazine, Suspect Press, Muzzle Magazine, Malpais Review, Peralta Press, and more, and her collection of poems, Thirteen Descansos, is available from Penmanship Books. She currently serves as the Executive Director of Poetry Slam, Inc.
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| Suzi Q. Smith - "Mustangs" |
---->reMARKable is 19 years of age and lyrically inclined. His mission is set on creating music that directly influences his listeners to gain a heightened sense of motivation and awareness.
Instagram: @marktheman777
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| reMARKable - We On It [Official Music Video] Prod. Jex |
Art by:
---->Natie: I am a mother of three wonderful boys ages 4, 11, and 14 they are my pride, joy and most of all my world. I am a recent graduate from Metropolitan State University of Denver and have received my Bachelors of Science in Criminal Justice and minor in Human Services. I have been through many hardships through my journey of life and in January of 2017 doctors discovered two Brain Aneurysms, through stents and coiling, I am now doing good. My therapy was through art, family (friends) and God; we each have a battle in life so be courage's and fight with faith and knowledge.
Instagram: @natielp
---->Working with residents and organizations in Denver, Black Lives Matter 5280 assists in building more loving and united Black communities while eliminating anti-Black violence and racism. To expose, address and eradicate structures and systems of oppression in Denver, BLM5280 uses a holistic racial justice approach that includes strengthening individual and community health and wellness, relationship-building, educational programming, and direct actions. This chapter is part of a national movement, aligned in Black love, power, and liberation in order to embody the declaration that Black Lives Matter- regardless of gender identity, gender expression, sexual identity, immigration location or status, gang affiliation, profession, ability, economic status, and religious beliefs or disbelief. Also in keeping with the national movement, BLM5280 centers and celebrates the lives and leadership of Black women and girls, aligning all Black people in love, power, and liberation. Our work is to cultivate communities of abundant joy where all Black people are emboldened and empowered to lead, love, heal, and thrive.
www.blacklivesmatter5280.com
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#CafeCultura #XpressYourself #TellingOurStories
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Xpress Yourself
Spoken Word/Poetry
Workshops
for Youth (
#XpressYourself)
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We have worked with schools and organizations throughout Colorado to give
underserved youth
an opportunity to
express themselves
. Recent partners:
World Denver, Colorado Circles for Change, Latinitas in STEM, Samuels Elementary, and St Rose of Lima School.
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.
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Promo video for Cafe Cultura's Xpress Yourself: Hip Hop, Poetry, & Spoken Word workshops
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Youth in our classes continue to write and share powerful poetry. We recently published 2 books of their work representing Kepner Beacon Middle School and New America School @ Lowry. See below for details. We are currently teaching at
Alameda Jr/Sr HS, Grant Beacon MS, New America School @ Lowry,
Jefferson HS (through Jeffco Indian Ed), Rocky Mountain Prep, and La Academia.
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"I am not perfect
and I have made bad choices,
It is a weight on my shoulders,
But I am not quitting.
I will fight through the game.
As a girl in this generation,
society wants me to look a certain way,
but I know I am not it.
It does not matter
because I know
that I will be a better player
than I was in the last game.
I grow from these mistakes of mine
and the lessons my parents taught me."
-Citlaly
and make an impact on society.
I hope all your past experiences
bring motivation
and have this cruel world come together.
Hector,
you will be the impact America
and every country needs.
Make this world
racism-free.
Bring this puzzled world together
for the best.
The challenge is on.
I have to get educated.
Work
to make my change
come true!"
-Hector
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I am Latina
and come from a world of wonders.
I look in the mirror,
and see a sassy,
funny girl
who likes making people smile
and laugh.
In my dreams,
I imagine my friends
and family
with faces full of smiles."
-Erika
"Sometimes,
words seem powerless
and you can block them
from having an effect on you.
But sometimes,
you can't.
Sometimes,
heart breaks hurt worse
than broken bones.
Some people cannot understand.
She was only 11 years old
Still,
she was worn out from life
and went into internal darkness.
But that darkness
is comforting
and she is happy now.
We will never forget her.
She will forever live in our hearts."
-Keri
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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 recent collections of powerful spoken word poetry from participants in our classes/workshop series,
simply click on the book cover
.
Make sure to read future newsletters for more updates.
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Words to Actions
Summer Youth Leadership Program
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Free showing of... Brother Bear
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Our Executive Director is running in the full marathon... Join us!
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Contact Information
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Cafe Cultura
910 Galapago St
Denver, CO 80204
Hours: Mon-Fri from 8am to 6pm
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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. 
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Spoken Word Workshop
@
Cafe Cultura (monthly)
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 (April 28th, May 26th, June 30th)
TIME:
1 to 2:30pm
WHERE:
910 Galapago St
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
April featured poet/facilitator:
Josie Valadez Fraire
Josie Valadez Fraire is a Mexika writer/thinker, lover, and community worker that is passionate about serving marginalized communities, particularly working with youth and womxn in the Black, Brown, and/or Indigenous community. Josie is currently a Community Educator in Denver, Colorado teaching 9th - 12th grade College Prep working to create decolonial, culturally-affirming, and liberating knowledge share spaces for youth in Denver and beyond.
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Cafe Cultura's Youth Council
WHEN:
1st & 3rd Wednesday... April 18th, May 2nd
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
Photos of our trip to San Diego and the Navajo Nation
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Exciting Updates
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-Thank you
to those who joined us for a powerful and informative night of poetry, music, art and awareness for HIV/AIDS and STIs at our 9th Annual Rise Up! event. We appreciate everyone who made it possible: volunteers, partner organizations, vendors, and attendees. Special thank you to 1) Jessa Calderon for sharing some profound and uplifting music 2) Native Max Magazine for showing us the beauty of fashion and awareness 3) Viki Eagle for taking some amazing pictures Thank You!
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Videos from 9th annual Rise Up!
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-We had the honor of writing an article in
Nonprofit Colorado, a magazine published by the
Colorado Nonprofit Association. Below are a few photos.
-Cafe Cultura was
featured by Denver 8 TV! Hosted by our Board member
Bobby LeFebre, the episode
documented our July Art in the Park. We appreciate those who had good things to say about us! Make sure to
watch the whole episode as there is some footage at the end too...
-Thank you to whoever nominated
Cafe Cultura's Executive Director
as a My Brother's Keeper 2017 Honoree. Ara accepted the recognition on behalf of the organization and everyone who makes what we do possible.
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Thank you to the
Bonfils-Stanton Foundation
for selecting our
Executive Director to be a 2018 Livingston Fellow
. Below is both a group picture and the video they produced to share how the 5 fellows lead their organizations. It is a great honor for Cafe Cultura to be showcased in this way. Thank you to our supporters who made this possible.
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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
,
The Denver Foundation
, and
Chinook Fund
.
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