Welcome to Cafe Cultura's July 2015 newsletter! 

We are excited to keep in touch with you as we work to fulfill our mission.

 

#CafeCultura #XpressYourself #TellingOurStories

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 
5th Annual Art in the Park 
an open mic w/ spoken word, food, art, vendors, & community! (#ArtInThePark)



 

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 open mic (alcohol/drug free event)


WHEN: July 12th....2nd Fri. of every month...Summer 2015 (August 14th)

--->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 (nobody turned away)

Everyone is welcome!

with support from 
-Biennial of the Americas (July 14-18, 2015) 
-Ready Foods Inc 
-Tocabe, An American Indian Eatery
-Santiago's
-El Noa Noa

July Features:
 
---->CU Upward Bound Program students (Advanced Creative Writing class) : the program serves approximately 103 students from 8 different states across the country. Targeting 20 high schools located on or near Native American reservations, our program works to provide students with insight into a college life hoping to set them on a path towards higher education.

----> MC Rhetorik  is a rapper/activist from Kewa Pueblo, NM. As a fluent speaker in his Native language and graduate of Santa Fe Indian School, he currently performs solo and with True Pride Music. He sees himself as a hip hop artist, MC, poet, spoken word artist, and freedom writer/fighter. MC Rhetorik describes his style as "free and wild," poetically balancing feelings and thought.

----> Graffiti Battle! Watch 7 graffiti artists battle it out. Vote for the best!

----> Stronghold Society : Our mission is to inspire confidence, creativity, hope, and ambition for the youth of Native communities and non-Native communities through leadership development, arts programs, skateboarding and athletic activities while encouraging youth to take action to live a healthy life in mind, body, and spirit; this is our LIVE LIFE CALL TO ACTION CAMPAIGN.


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


#CafeCultura #ArtInThePark #XpressYourself #TellingOurStories
Words to Actions Youth Leadership Program

Deadline: July 8th



 

Words to Actions is an Indigenous (Native, Chicana/o, Latina/o) youth leadership program that starts with a five week paid camp. In addition to receiving Cafe Cultura gifts and a stipend of $150*, participants will gain confidence, cultural awareness, and leadership skills to strengthen their family, community, and/or tribe. Activities will include workshops, guest speakers, field trips, creative expression, community outreach, and the creation of a mural.

 

When: Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays...July 13th through August 14th (total of 15 days)

Who: Native & Chicana/o Youth ages 13-18, in the Denver Metro Area.

Time: 10:00 am- 3:00 pm

Where: 910 Galapago St. Denver, CO 80204


Snacks & Lunch will be provided.

*Participants who do not miss more than two sessions will receive the stipend.

 

We are currently teaching our "Telling Our Stories" spoken word workshop series as part of the CU Upward Bound program's Advanced Creative Writing Class. Here are a few excerpts from their writing thus far:

 

"Through it all,

we survived.

We are strong

and sacred

like the Black hills of South Dakota.

We,

Oglala Lakota,

have lived on this beautiful piece of earth.

We are glad to have the land

to call ours.

We have been here since before we can remember.

This is where I belong

in the gorgeous Black Hills,

breathing in the smell of sage.

It automatically brings me happiness.

It is a special plant from Mother Earth,

naturally growing on its own,

which is amazing.

It is a beautiful way of cleansing yourself.

It reminds me of the amazing creations we have in our lives."

 

 

"I come from the hands of my ancestors

creating a beautiful home

from mud and rocks

for my people.

This structure will always hold our traditions,

ceremonies,

and prayers.

I will never forget

how our hogan has brought my family warmth,

strength,

and a home.

I am the heart beat

bouncing off the buckskin drum.

I will always remember

the way my Dine' people express

the beautiful ways of singing

and praying in every beat.

I come from a woman

as beautiful as the sunset

and as strong as the blowing wind.

She often tells me,

"shiyazhi,

you make me so proud."

That single sentence inspires me 

to be an independent woman."


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.
Cirque du Soleil 
Benefit Performance for Cafe Cultura


We are honored to work with Cirque du Soleil in hosting a benefit performance to support our Telling Our Stories workshop series. Tickets are now for sale for their show on Thursday, July 23rd @ 7:30pm.

 

For information about the show and to purchase tickets, simply visit

Eat for Good!
Fundraiser for Cafe Cultura's Words to Actions Youth Leadership Program


 

In this newsletter....
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Join Our Mailing List!

Contact Information

Cafe Cultura
P.O. Box 11791
Denver, CO 80211

Office: 910 Galapgo St
Hours: Mon-Thurs from 9am to 2:00pm
Fri from 9am to 5pm

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 numerous schools and organizations throughout Colorado to give underserved youth an opportunity to express themselves. Recent partners: Summer Diversity Gathering @ CU Boulder.

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 eight years 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 supplement and support Language Arts/English 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 a detailed information sheet.

Cafe Cultura's Xpress Yourself: Hip Hop, Poetry, & Spoken Word workshops
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 (July 25th, August 29th, September 26th)
 
TIME:  11:00 to 12:30pm

WHERE:  Cafe Cultura Office (910 Galapago St)

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 
 
Questions: 720-394-6589; info@cafecultura.org

Exciting Updates

Thank you to those of you who attended and volunteered at our June Art in the ParkIt was a great way to kick off our 5th year organizing our summer open mic series at La Alma/Lincoln Park Amphitheater. Shout out to the youth in our spoken word workshop  for sharing your stories. Much love to Xencs L. Wing for creating a beautiful work of art during the event.  


Videos from 6/12/15 Art in the Park






- Cafe Cultura collaborated on an HIV/AIDS prevention research project with Assistant Professor, Ramona Beltran and the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work . Funded by the Public Good Fund through University of Denver's Center for Community Engaged Scholarship and Service Learning . The program was amazing! Look to future newsletters for a report.

- We are moving!  We have an amazing opportunity to move our office into La Academia @ Denver Inner City Parish on 910 Galapago (site of our monthly open mic event). After almost 10 years of working with the school, we look forward to building on this relationship to strengthen both organizations' work in the community. More updates to come!

-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, 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 for us: 

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
 
- Performances/shows from Cafe Cultura poets:   If you want us to host an open mic featuring our spoken word artists, contact us ASAP. Funds will go to sustaining our organization and the work we do in the community (especially our workshops for youth).
 
-Feel free to visit  our website
often for updates (click on the image).