Welcome to Cafe Cultura's December 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
12/8/17 Open Mic event 
w/ spoken word, music, art, vendors, food, & 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... December 8th, January 12th, February 9th, March 9th.

--->Doors open w/ vendors, art, and food for sale @ 7pm
--->Show starts @ 7:45pm

WHERE: 910 Galapago St 

$5 donation (nobody turned away)... 

Everyone is welcome!

Features:

----> Ayla Sullivan (Denver Youth Poet Laureate & Musician):  is a proud Black and Vietnamese non binary activist and advocate from Denver, Colorado. Currently, they are surviving in Boulder pursuing degrees in Theatre Performance and Secondary English Education. They also serve as Denver's Youth Poet Laureate and teach various poetry workshops throughout the Denver Metro Area.

To White Parents - 2015 Brave New Voices Finals
To White Parents - 2015 Brave New Voices Finals


----> EKYM1536 (eMCee/Lyricist, Golden Era Hip-Hop):   this Jicarilla Apache independent recording artist is a member of New Mexico's Hip-Hop icons 'Po.10.Cee' (based out of Taos, NM). Inspired by the 90's golden era, his sound is versatile; a mixture of soul, hip hop, & rock laced with profound lyricism. EKYM has opened for hip-hop legends such as Digable Planets, Gangstarr, Zion-I, Living Legends, Sean Price (RiP!) & Oddisee. You can follow EKYM1536 on all social medias. 
Knowledge Tracks - EKYM1536
Knowledge Tracks - EKYM1536



Art and Photography by:
---->Enrique (Artist, tattooer and poet)

Community Feature:
----> Young African American and Latino Leaders:  is a student led organization that addresses the inequities present throughout Denver Public Schools District through actions that motivate and empower our peers 
 

This project is funded by Arts In Society.

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

#CafeCultura #XpressYourself #TellingOurStories

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

Youth in our current partner schools have truly impressed us. We are currently working at  Alameda Jr/Sr HS, Kepner Beacon Middle School, and Edgewater Elementary (through Jeffco Indian Ed). We finished our elective at  DSST College View . Below are some excerpts of their book (click here to read it)


"The walls collapse.
They fall
like the tears on my face.
They fall
like my doubts and insecurities.
Like dominoes,
the walls 
of my mind
fall.
I rise,
the faith kindling a fire within me.
My hopes and dreams become light,
a burning flame.
I turn around.
I see others like me,
struggling in the dark maze.
I shine my light,
guiding them out.
I have become hope.
I have become me.
"
-Ana, DSST College View HS
"I come from a place
where the roots grow,
the water flows,
and we unite together
to honor my grandparents.
Like them,
I stand nice
and high
with values in my hands,
the future in my eyes,
a soul full of light,
supporters in my sight,
and positivity
running through my veins.
Nothing can stop me now.
"
-Alexis, DSST College View HS

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.
Join Our Movement!

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 (December 15th); a change coming for 2018
 
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  


WHEN: 
1st & 3rd Wednesday... December 20th, January 3rd, January 17th.
 
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
Exciting Updates
-Thank you  to everyone who joined us at our anniversary showcase and fundraiser. It was an amazing night! We appreciate everyone who made it possible: volunteers, venders, and attendees. Special thank you to 1) Frank Waln for blessing us with amazing rap and beats 2) Tall Paul for sharing music that made us groove and think 3) Mic Jordan for giving us great music and words 4Tanaya Winder for sharing your thoughts with us. 5) Jolene N. Yazzie for showing us insightful and moving art and 6) Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition for showing us how to be active in our community. Thank You!

Videos from Cafe Cultura's 13th Anniversary Showcase and Fundraiser
Videos from Cafe Cultura's 13th Anniversary Showcase and Fundraiser

    
    

-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... 

ArtScene: Cafe Cultura
ArtScene: Cafe Cultura
    
-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.
 
- 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.
Ara Cruz as a 2018 Livingston Fellow
2018 Livingston Fellows

-
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 .