On Saturday, June 20th, the historic Boulder Airport will host the 18th Annual 1940s Ball, a celebration of live music, costumes, characters, and vehicles from the World War II era. From meeting historical figures such as Bob Hope and Edward R. Murrow to dancing underneath the stars in full 1940s glam, the celebration has only continued to grow. We recently jumped on the phone with Khyentse George, the creator of the 1940s Ball, to talk about the ball and its journey so far.

Photos taken from official reel

Jamie Lammers: Can you share what the plans are for this year?
Khyentse George: The theme this year is “Victory Through The Airwaves,” so we’re taking a throwback to how radio was used in the 1940s. We have a radio station that we’ve created called KBDU, which are actually the call letters for Boulder Airport. We’ve built a radio set, and attendees can come and take their turn at trying World War II radio broadcasting. We also have an improv group that does a radio show, and they’re gonna be bringing attendees up on the stage to get involved. The big part of the night is the dancing. We put a huge wooden dance floor out under the stars. You can see the Flatirons in the background. You watch the sunset, and the sky turns red and orange. There’s all these beautiful bright lanterns all over the dance floor, and the band is playing. There’s just so much going on, you’ll never get bored.

Jamie: That sounds absolutely gorgeous.
Khyentse: Yeah, it’s a lot of fun. In our 18th year, we’ve honed in on what is most special for guests and really sticking to the key elements of the event.

Jamie: How did you come up with the idea? How has it kept going for the last 18 years?
Khyentse: My grandparents were radio performers in the 1940s, and during WWII, they were in a radio show together. They both were really into music and performing, and were involved in all sorts of community organizations and had parties at the house. I really fell in love with their generation. It all fell together because I was working in non-profit, and I needed to throw a fundraiser. I was also working at the Boulder Airport at the time, at a flight school, and they had a gorgeous hangar. I was meeting all sorts of people that were into these old WWII planes. Little bit by little bit, things fell together, and we had such a great turnout that I decided it would make sense to do it again. We did it a second year, and it just started growing and growing. I think there were 200 people the first year, and now there’s 3,000.

Jamie: What’s it been like seeing that growth over that time?
Khyentse: It’s really cool to see. This was a fundraiser we made out of nothing. We had to figure out how to make those pieces work without a budget for advertising. Here I am going out and putting fliers on people’s cars at swing dances and senior centers. More people came, and then you’d see there’s stars in Boulder coming. This gentleman, who was a Doolittle raider, Bill Bower, he’s been a longtime Boulder resident. We happened to have the B-25, which is what he flew, at the ball that year, so we had him out there. He was like a rock star at the event, and that was just so special to see. There’s been these little markers through the years.

Jamie: Is there anything you hope people enjoy the most?
Khyentse: I think the most important thing about the event is the community, the chance to step away from the chaos of everyday life and go into a different time where things seemed to be more simple. People were very present and all together in something bigger than ourselves. That’s what’s really special about the ball. When you walk around, you see the sights, the planes flying overhead. You hear the music, and you’re dancing on the dance floor. There’s this interconnectedness between people, and friends are made that last a lifetime. That community grows and grows each year, so I think that’s a really special part of it. It goes one step beyond watching a show. It’s being a part of something that is pure joy, being present with all the senses. I think it’s a really special time for people who love history, have a romance for the 40s and 50s, and who like to do something that’s out of the ordinary.

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Beginning at the end

In addition to crediting his wife Liz for much of their collective success, Kenny Vasko often talked about musicians as human beings. Adaptability and accommodation are key components to the success of their record studio, Dog House Music Studio. One could argue that’s why Dog House has solidified itself as a mainstay in Lafayette, with the performance space “The End” serving as a musical nest for about seventy patrons to enjoy live shows. The Vaskos love to give back. From open mics to “Women’s Jam,” The End allows Lafayette to celebrate the art of music and the people who make it. This love comes from a genuine place that carried them through a very tough time in their lives.

The ordinary world

The first stage of the hero’s journey is meant to set up a point of contrast. The “known” or “ordinary world” is a simple and traditional life grounded in real world expectations such as in J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” where Frodo loves hanging around, reading, and eating under hills and trees while playing pranks. These ideals are comparable to a small town or suburb where life is meant to be seen as quaint, easy, and expected. Then, within a way too short of time, he’s called to meet elves, dwarves, and men to fight orcs, trolls, and balrogs — things he’d only ever heard of in stories.

Kenny Vasko’s story started on this same spoke of the hero’s journey cycle:

“Let’s go down memory lane here. Like everyone else that went to college, I was in a band. I was the frontman. I was the high energy low talent guy that would get the crowd going. It was awesome. It was friendships I still have. Then I graduated and I got my first paycheck from a tax software company and was like, ‘Oh great! I can let these dreams die.’”

Becoming a Certified Public Accountant was a surprising fit as Vasko is an extroverted person in an introverted industry. But Vasko was a facilitator. “I’d start to make a name for myself in that way. I wasn’t the person working on a spreadsheet until three in the morning. But, I would be on the phone making sure the client was happy with what we were doing. It was good for me career wise, but I did feel like a square peg in a round hole from an emotional standpoint.”

The call

In the cycle of storytelling, there is something that pulls the protagonist away from the known world. Sadly, for Vasko, the call came with an unexpected tragedy:

“My wife and I got married in 2016, and about a week after we got back from our honeymoon, my mother found out that she had cancer. We didn’t know how long she had to live… like a month after I got married, my wife agreed to move to a small town as opposed to the Denver-Boulder-metropolitan area. And, that experience really changed us both professionally. My wife was an urban planner. She has a master’s degree. It’s something that she’s always wanted to do and after the experience of loss when my mother did pass away just a few months later, it really did drive home the point that tomorrow is not promised today.”

When they went back to work they both decided that it didn’t feel right, so they quit their jobs at the same time. Vasko took on the tax books of friends and family to keep afloat financially. He unexpectedly found himself with over one hundred clients and in desperate need of an office. “We were looking through different websites of real estate for lease or whatever then we saw this building for sale, it comes with a music studio.” Vasko likened this discovery to accepting the invitation to peruse the dessert menu. “Yeah, we’ll take a look at the menu.”

What the Vasko family discovered when digging into the details was this was a space rented by about 70 or so musicians. However, once they started to get a vision of what the place could be, they were informed that it was set to be demolished. Initially, they had accepted defeat. But, “Then we took a good long look in the mirror and thought, ‘let’s try and save it. What did we have to lose?’”

With a little finagling, they convinced the initial buyer, who had the rights site unseen, to come and look at the space so he would have a clear understanding of what he would be taking away from the community. “He flew in from Hawaii and within a couple weeks was like, ‘Oh man. I made a mistake. Do you want it?’” From there it was off to the banks in a mad dash search of a loan. That chapter of the story ended on 525 Courtney Way, Lafayette, and they’ve been adding pages to this day.

Crossing the threshold, assembling a crew 

Along with the studio came an inheritance of a mad scientist’s lab. “When we bought it, it looked like a guitar center threw up in it. It was the old owner’s old projects. A lot of stuff that might have worked in the seventies or eighties that no longer worked.” Since then they have renovated a whole wing, got a liquor license, put a music venue in the back, and now serve about six hundred musicians a year.

It wasn’t done by the Vaskos alone. Much like the Fellowship from “Lord of the Rings” or the Straw Hat Pirates from “One Piece,” they knew they’d need a crew. “My wife and I were the first employees. And, after about a month of working seven days a week, we were like ‘this is not sustainable.’” Which set them out on a quest to find a crew. Vasko made sure to shout out his lead engineer and part owner, John Remington, first. “He has an amazing bedside manner with musicians. He understands their motivations and their challenges. He runs the recording studio.” Krista, the studio manager, showed the Vaskos that music fans can make the best employees despite any blank spaces on a resume. “We found that music supporters can be better catered to be employees at spaces like this as opposed to musicians. Krista has a customer service background. All the soft skills she possesses cannot be taught. She manages the studio on a day-to-day basis. Then also does sound checks and audio engineering.”

Kenny Vasko lamented that for a time he had leaned on unpaid internships to help with the workload, but has since found a way to make the internship a paid position. “They were all unpaid for college credit. And, we started feeling really guilty about it, to be honest. Now we just got a seed donation to do paid internships which is somewhat unheard of in the music industry. We established a non-profit called “Rock for the People.” The non-profit’s mission is to create those paid opportunities or marketing tools that people need to succeed in the music industry from historically underrepresented communities. For instance, less than five percent of audio engineers are women — and even less than that are women of color — so my wife and I feel like we have a mission to make sure that the future of music isn’t all old white straight dudes.”

The ordeal

The Lafayette Music Festival has grown in notoriety over the years; however, getting support for the event was earned through perseverance and hard work. And, one can’t have a hero’s story without a trial. For the Vaskos, it started with the COVID outbreak in 2020. “We never really hosted a show. We’ve never hosted a ticketed show before. We were only a year and some change into owning the building. It sold out! It was an amazing evening…We were like we can do this.” Then COVID hit.

Not to be deterred, the Vaskos pivoted to live-streaming, something Kenny likened to the portals created by Doctor Strange from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They knew they had to do whatever was in their power to keep the doors open. “You’re doing the long game when doing anything based on partnerships. Most partnerships are a long game, it takes a long time to build trust. We called a lot of people when we wanted to do the festival and they were like ‘That all sounds great. Call us when you’re in year two?”

Then Vaskos followed suit. They called in year two and got more people on board. Then they had people call them for year three. “Now this is the first year that we have gained enough sponsors and partner venues that even if not another ticket is sold, we’ll be able to pay all the artists. But, that took three years of doing a lot of volunteer work.”

Sharing of boons

Dog House Music Studios is one of the largest in the area with a twenty-three studio complex. The space is accommodating enough that when the artist Babyface came through for the former mayor’s inauguration, Doghouse accommodated his multi-faceted needs.

Further, as a studio, the Vaskos make sure that the mission of aiding and helping musicians is at the center of everything they do:

“We’re very hands-on about everything. Musicians are human beings. On one hand, we have younger musicians who are very talented but are trying to find their way to booking shows or getting music recorded we consult with them. We help them do marketing. Get their stuff on Spotify. We also host open mics and songwriters circles… One of our major tenets is that every musician has a different definition of success. Some musicians want to play Red Rocks and that’s a different path [than] some musicians who want to play Tom Petty covers to [their] friends four times a year at [their] favorite bar.”

So much of Kenny Vasko’s message was about stewardship, service, and giving back to the community. “I am nothing without other people. I just want to get that across that like any small business or any independent organization, it truly is the bond that you have with those folks.  That really makes everything shine.”

When I asked Kenny about his final thoughts, he brought up his wife, Liz. He mentioned again how she was with him through the toughest time in his life. She co-captained the ship that would become Doghouse Music and is the star of fostering care for the musical arts. The way he spoke of her was reminiscent of a Buddhist sutra on solitude and companionship, “If you gain a companion, one who is worthy of intertwining their soul with your own then you shall overcome all dangers. Let your heart rejoice and go with them.”

The post The Artists: A Whole Crew in the Dog House appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Wizards of modern housing 

On the corner of 9th and North Street in Downtown Boulder sits a strange-looking house. While some of its residents describe its twisting halls as reminiscent of Hogwarts, the house is home not to wizards, but a wide range of Boulder residents.

The house is called Ostara and currently hosts about 20 residents ranging from 15 to 55 years old. If you arrive around dinner time, you may find a few of them cooking in a communal kitchen. Arrive a few minutes later, and one of the chefs will be walking the twisted halls, ringing the dinner bell, inviting everyone to sit around the large kitchen table and share a meal.

While the house is made up of everyone from a monk, to a music teacher, to several university students and at least one child, the dinner table conversation is reminiscent of one you may have had with your friends. They debate the merits of sitcoms like Community, The Office, and Parks and Recreation over bowls of homemade curry and spring rolls.

Ostara is one of four houses owned by Boulder Housing Coalition, a Boulder non-profit that works to decrease housing insecurity in Boulder County.

Started in 1995 by Lincoln Miller, who is now the executive director of the organization, BHC was created to “protect the spark of what makes Boulder special.” Each year, the organization houses about 65 people in addition to a few cats and dogs.

With eclectic names like Chrysalis, Mango Manor, Masala, and Ostara, the houses center around economic, social, and environmental sustainability. Rent lies anywhere between $600 to $1,000 a month, depending on the room, with Ostara offering a couple two two-bedroom apartments for $1,355 a month. Residents also contribute about $150 a month to a shared food fund, allowing them to stock a fridge in the communal kitchen.

As a non-profit, the organization works hard to keep rent low, manage conflict, and center equity and sustainability in its practices. Part of the way they do this is by having members of each house sit on the board of directors.

“So they are making all of the big picture decisions about the organization, a big one being budget,” said Lily Kapiloff, director of development for BHC. “They are literally approving the budget each year for how low can we keep rent, how much should we allot for emergency maintenance, how much should we spend on trainings, and mediators and things – all of that is coming from the residents.”

Lily has worked for BHC for three years but lived at Ostara for even longer. After four and a half years as a resident, she recently moved out in August 2023. She may have moved to a co-op, in part, for the low cost, but that is not why she stayed.

“The price is a smaller factor to me and for a lot of people that move in, we are looking for community,” she said.

Bhavana Jonnalagadda, who moved into Ostara in August 2023, has a similar sentiment. She moved to Boulder from New York City for a master’s program and was drawn to the idea of communal living because she didn’t know anyone in Boulder. Shared food, low rent, and automatic friends sounded like the perfect combination for her transition.

“It was overwhelming, and yet also pretty exhilarating, I really enjoyed it,” Bhavana said of her first few days in the house.

She applied, had an interview with the current residents, and was accepted into Ostara. This interview, where all current residents are invited, is representative of the nature of the BHC co-ops. They are all consensus-based and community-oriented.

Boulder Housing Coalition. Photo by Katie Mackinnon

Shared community

Part of the lease is an agreement to participate in house chores like cooking and cleaning, as well as attending a weekly house meeting. While this makes the house run smoothly, it is an added commitment.

“One thing that isn’t mentioned enough is that it takes more effort to live here than in a two-bedroom apartment because there’s built-in chores into the lease,” Bhavana said.

Plus, the social aspect of living with 20 other people means there is always someone around to chat with. “I’ll walk out of my room and walk back in like an hour and half later like ‘wait a second, I was only supposed to spend 10 minutes out there!’” she said.

While she has gotten along with most of the residents, even in the six months she has been living at Ostara, Bhavana said that she has experienced someone who is causing tension in the house being asked to leave. Other residents shared a similar sentiment – that while living in the community has many benefits, there is often a learning curve to managing the inevitable conflict.

In her role as director of development, Lily doesn’t only manage external development, like fundraising and networking, she also manages internal development. This looks like planning training, enacting conflict resolution, and helping residents engage in facing the bigger questions that are unavoidable when living with such a diverse group of people.

“I got a master’s in eco-psychology at Naropa and reflected a lot on how much the co-ops are a microcosm for our world,” she said. “Learning those skills of how do we share limited resources; how do we navigate conflict; how do we upkeep a shared home; how do we embrace our differences and navigate them instead of trying to have a homogenous everyone needs to think about this the same way?”

By facing these questions, she said that several residents comment that they learn more living in a co-op than working to get their college degrees.

While the BHC housing has many benefits for residents, the goal is for them to benefit the entire community as well. One way they do this is through sustainability.

Sharing resources like buying food in bulk and investing in communal appliances like a blender, vacuum cleaner, and printer, allows the houses to only use the things they need. Several of the houses have solar panels and several houses offer free bus passes to residents – all residents get a free membership to Colorado Car Share. Mango Manor, which due to its location has limited parking, offers an incentive to residents without cars, as well as a rental car charge station.

Over the years, residents have planted gardens at each house and taken initiative on other improvements that they feel passionate about. While residents range in age, backgrounds, and interests, Lily said that this way of living attracts people who want to be active members of their community.

“We create a home for people who have an interest in making a difference in Boulder and people who might not have been able to consider Boulder a home if they didn’t have this option and who are really fueled by the sense of community there and can team up with you,” she said.

Lodro Parker, another resident who moved into Ostara in August, is no stranger to communal living. They are a monk, who lived at a Buddhist monastery retreat center for 11 years before leaving to get a degree in therapy at Naropa University. When moving to Boulder, they searched for about eight months before finding housing with BHC.

They said that through meeting people who have been in the area for a long time, they have learned how the folks defining the culture of the area in the 70s have slowly been overtaken by those who are willing to pay more to have access to nature.

Boulder Housing Coalition. Photo by Katie Mackinnon

Pocket of old Boulder

“There are these pockets of that old Boulder that are still there, you just have to know what you’re looking for or be lucky enough to stumble into places like [BHC] and find them,” Lodro said. Many feel like that “old Boulder” with diversity and culture is no longer in sight.

“I would hope that there would be more and more affordable housing and more diversity and more addressing our environmental impact,” Lily said. “But I don’t feel very optimistic about the ways that Boulder is going to navigate.”

While these concerns certainly have two feet to stand on, Lodro doesn’t think the future has to look so bleak.

“Even though I might look at the other side of town and realize it’s people with a very different economic bracket, we are still technically a community,” Lodro said. “And also, that person that I bump into on Pearl Street with a cardboard sign is also a part of the community.”

Despite the uncertainty, BHC continues to work to improve the state of affordable housing in the county. They are putting in a bid on a fifth house this month and continue to support other groups working to make communal living possible in Boulder.

And, while a lack of affordability is a symptom of a changing Boulder, a sense of community may have more to do with the solution. Coming home to people who challenge your preconceived beliefs, encourage conflict resolution, and make you feel part of something may have more value than we often give it credit for.

“Just by nature of existing as low-income, affordable housing, we have a beautiful diversity in pretty much every subgenre you can imagine,” Bhavana said. “How often do you get such a mixture of socioeconomic strata mixing together like that? I think that is pretty awesome.”

The post Boulder Housing Coalition Brings Back Parts of the ‘old Boulder’ with Communal Living appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Press Releases are provided to Yellow Scene. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

“We knew the so-called hunger cliff was coming”, says Liam McClure, Client Programs Manager at Harvest of Hope Pantry. “Sure enough, since the start of 2023, we’ve welcomed 246 new clients”, McClure says.

Hope Pantry is a Boulder, Colorado non-profit organization providing free food. Clients can browse the pantry for their desired items, in a grocery store style market. There are canned non-perishables, dairy cases, bakery items, frozen foods, and fresh produce. Everything is available at no cost. “The focus is on reducing stigma around food insecurity. We let people choose what they want based on their needs. Some unhoused people may need food daily. Other folks who have kitchens can shop weekly. We treat everyone with dignity and respect, no matter their circumstances”, says McClure.

With the reduction in SNAP benefits (government supplemental food assistance) and continued inflation, Hope Pantry anticipated an increase in need in the Boulder community. In addition to hundreds of new clients, the Pantry has distributed over 15,000 lbs more food than the same time last year.

In response to the increased need in the community, Hope Pantry is providing more opportunities to access free food. Beginning Monday, June 5, 2023, Pantry will be open to all shoppers, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday with additional evening shopping times Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

“We had two shopping times a day and closed for a midday break. Now we are welcoming folks with and without kitchens to visit us during any open Pantry hours”, says McClure.

Hope Pantry has also extended food access with a “mobile pantry” in two Boulder housing communities. High Mar is home to many lower income older adults and Lee Hill supports those experiencing chronic homelessness. At both locations, the Pantry provides canned goods, fresh produce, dairy and meat, to residents in need of additional food. “We are providing some much-needed supplemental food to some of Boulder’s most vulnerable people. Many of these individuals have mobility challenges. We bring the food to them.” says Chad Molter, Operations Manager.

About half of the food the Pantry provides is donated. “We are always community focused. Our organization is successful thanks to our volunteers, donated food, and monetary donations. That’s what it takes to step up to the challenge of feeding those in need”, says Molter.

Harvest of Hope Pantry is a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization that provides food assistance to anyone in need. The Pantry is located at 4830 Pearl St. in Boulder and is open Monday through Friday. They welcome volunteers, donations and donated food (with some guidelines). www.hopepantry.org

The post Boulder Food Pantry Offers More Opportunities for Those In Need appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Editor’s Note: Press Releases are provided to Yellow Scene. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

The cult favorite restaurant and wine destination will host “Postino Pops the Top for The Dairy Arts Center” from April 17 – May 1

Postino WineCafé is celebrating the opening of its vibrant new location on the Pearl Street Mall with Postino Pops the Top for The Dairy Arts Center, a fundraiser for the Boulder arts non-profit. For every sale of Postino’s popular bruschetta boards from April 17 – May 1, the restaurant will donate $1 to The Dairy Arts Center. In addition, guests who dine at Postino during Pops the Top will receive a complimentary pour of bubbles (after being ID’ed, of course).

“We’re so excited and grateful for the opportunity to give back to a true pillar of the community, The Dairy Arts Center,” said Postino WineCafé General Manager Kris Keeler. “Community is one of Postino’s core values and Pops the Top is a fun way to welcome guests to our new location and give back at the same time.”

All week long, guests can participate in Postino Pops the Top by ordering from a variety of signature and customizable bruschetta boards. The 12 delectable bruschetta offerings include brie & apple with fig spread; smoked salmon with pesto; sweet n’ spicy pepper jam with goat cheese and other seasonal offerings. Guests are encouraged to tag #PostinoPopstheTop on social media.

The Dairy Arts Center is a nonprofit organization that connects a dynamic and diverse community to create inspiring and engaging experiences in the performing, cinematic and visual arts. Dairy Arts Center was founded in 1992 to provide cooperative workspaces for local artists and venues for live performance in Boulder County. Originally owned by the Watts-Hardy Dairy, the building’s transformation from a former milk-processing facility to a thriving multi-disciplinary arts hub for Boulder and beyond is a nationally recognized example of constructive urban development and renewal.

Postino WineCafé Boulder is the popular concept’s fifth location in Colorado and is located on the bustling Pearl Street Mall. The all-day restaurant and wine bar offers shareable food; an expertly curated beverage program; a commitment to delivering its signature warm and friendly hospitality; and a retro take on décor with a vintage roller skate art wall, a nod to a scene in the “Mork & Mindy” sitcom when Robin Williams’ character roller skates down the pedestrian Pearl Street Mall.?The Boulder location also features a spacious, umbrella-lined patio for soaking up the sun.

Postino WineCafé is open at 1468 Pearl Street, Suite 110. Hours are Mon.–Thurs. 11 a.m.–11 p.m.; Fri. 11 a.m.–midnight; Sat. 9 a.m.–midnight; and Sun. 9 a.m.–10 p.m. For more information on Postino WineCafé, please visit postinowinecafe.com and follow @postinowinecafe on Instagram. For more information on The Dairy Arts Center, visit thedairy.org.

About Postino WineCafé

Postino WineCafé was born in a historic 1940s-era Arizona post office in 2001 and has since been dedicated to giving customers a hyper-localized dining experience within the community. Postino co-founders Lauren Bailey and Craig DeMarco built the Postino brand on a foundation of revitalizing buildings and creating spaces that are integral to the neighborhoods that surround each location. The menu offers wine from a bevy of varietals; a wide selection of beer on tap and in bottles & cans; an eclectic selection of snacks, soups, salads, and paninis; a dozen different types of bruschetta; a selection of desserts; and a host of non-alcoholic beverage options. For more information, visit postinowinecafe.com.

The post POSTINO WINECAFÉ HOSTING FUNDRAISER FOR BOULDER’S DAIRY ARTS CENTER appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

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March has been an exciting month for the Motus Team as our directors and monologists are recognized at home and abroad.

Motus Theater’s Producing Director, Rita Valente-Quinn, joined the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation’s Livingston Fellowship 2023 Class. The fellowship recognizes the contributions of Colorado’s nonprofit senior-level leaders to the sector and provides advanced learning opportunities to enhance their leadership through professional development activities. Click here to read more and watch Rita’s fellowship video.

Motus Theater’s UndocuAmerica Monologists and Motus’ Artistic Director were honored to be recognized by a descendent of Moctezuma, Ituriel Moctezuma, as part of a ceremony at the University of Chapingo where they performed in Mexico. Monologists include: Alejandro Fuentes-Mena, Irving Reza, Laura Peniche, Victor Galvan, Reydesel Salvidrez-Rodriguez, Cristian Solano-Cordova, Tania Chairez, and Partnerships & Project Manager Armando Peniche.

Motus Theater’s Artistic Director and Founder, Kirsten Wilson, joined a powerful group of women to be recognized by the City of Boulder as “Women Who Tell Our Stories” as part of Women’s History Month. Click here to read more.

Join us in celebrating some of the leaders that make Motus’ work strategic, powerful, and transformative! And thank you to all of you for your support that makes Motus’ work possible.

With Gratitude,

Team Motus

The post Motus’ Monologists & Leaders Recognized appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Editor’s Note: Press Releases are provided to Yellow Scene. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

Erie, CO: The Fowler Group at Coldwell Banker Realty is proud to share the news that they will be the Presenting Sponsor of Erie’s first Mom HoCo, on October 13th, 2022.

About MomProm & Mom HoCo:
Erie’s “Mom Prom” is an annual fundraising event that brings women together to give back to the local community. The idea formed in 2018 when co-planners Jenna Bullard and Megan Humbrecht gathered friends to bowl in their wedding dresses.

As active members in the Erie Elementary PTCO, they wanted to advance the “C” portion, which stands for community. Mom Prom launched as a community-wide event with the support of Brie Fowler and Kim Clancy as sponsors and a great team of volunteers.

88 women attended the first Mom Prom, which exceeded all expectations and raised over $3,300! 100% of the proceeds went to three local non-profit organizations that benefit our schools and community: Optimist Club of Erie, Erie Uplink, and the Erie Community Food Bank.

Tickets for the second event in 2022 sold out in 12 hours. 125 women attended wearing sequins and fringe to fit the Roaring Twenties theme. The event raised over $5,500 for beloved Erie Elementary School teacher Ami Larson.

Jenna and Megan have since established a non-profit called Erie Gives Back, which hosts and promotes fundraising events in Erie. The goal remains the same: To bring the community together and give back at the same time.

The duo decided to expand the annual event to include other fundraising opportunities. Erie Gives Back will host the first annual Mom Homecoming event on October 13, 2022. The theme is Grease Ligntning! Women (not just moms!) will enjoy great music, drinks, and small bites while dressed for the 1950s. All proceeds from this event will benefit the local non-profit, Erie Uplink.

Order your tickets at https://www.mompromerie.com/tickets. Tickets are limited, so order today. We hope to see you at Mom HoCo and eagerly look forward to Mom Prom 2023!

The post 1st Annual Mom HoCo (Homecoming) in Erie: Erie Gives Back appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Editor’s Note: Press Releases are provided to Yellow Scene. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

BOULDER, CO – Boulder Ballet celebrates the beginning of their 40th performance season with the production Fall Passages on September 24 at the historic Chautauqua auditorium. This contemporary ballet performance will feature four unique works. Boulder Ballet will also present the work of legendary dance maker Twyla Tharp for the first time in the company’s history. The company is proud to debut Junk Duet, a cartoonish competition structured as a classical pas de deux. The percussive score by Donald “The Junkman” Knaack is played on 100% recycled materials. The scrap heap sounds enhance the comedic blend of exaggerated pantomime and classical ballet vocabulary.

Artistic Director Ben Needham-Wood will restage the pas de deux Apollo and Daphne, inspired by Bernini’s iconic sculpture. Set to “Spiegel Im Spiegel” by Arvo Part, Apollo and Daphne is an intricately musical work, the movement of the dancers fluctuating between fluid, gestural movement that compliments the music, and quick, powerful steps that contrast it.

Continuing the partnership between the Colorado Chautauqua and Boulder Ballet will be a world premiere by Colorado’s Jacob Mora. Mora’s hip-hop background integrated into a classical ballet setting will establish the celebration of transformation that Boulder Ballet will carry through the 40th performance season. The evening will conclude with a second work by Needham-Wood, a world premiere that will begin a quirky murder mystery. This family-friendly work will serve as a game for Boulder Ballet patrons, with clues to the mystery being released as the season progresses. The murderer will be revealed at Boulder Ballet’s Gala in April.

About Boulder Ballet:

Boulder Ballet is a classical, contemporary, and uniquely theatrical ballet company entertaining Boulder audiences for 40 years. Devoted to cutting-edge performance, high-caliber training, inclusivity and community outreach, Boulder Ballet is Boulder County’s foremost professional dance company and ballet school. Boulder Ballet is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

WEBSITE: www.BoulderBallet.org

SEASON PERFORMANCES: https://boulderballet.org/202223-season/
September 24, 2022: FALL PASSAGES, Chautauqua Auditorium
October 21, 2022: Littleton Town Hall
November 25-27, 2022: THE NUTCRACKER, Macky Auditorium
December 3-4, 2022: THE NUTCRACKER, Vance Brand Auditorium
December 10-11, 2022: THE NUTCRACKER, The Stanley Hotel
February 23-26, 2023: NEW MOVES, Dairy ARTS Center
March 3, 2023: NEW MOVES, Lakewood Cultural Center
May 18-21, 2023: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, Dairy ARTS Center
June 2-3, 2023: BALLET IN THE PARK, Huntington Bandshell, Boulder
June 4, 2023: BALLET IN THE PARK, Civic Center Park, Highlands Ranch

The post Boulder Ballet’s 40th season opens September 24 with works by Twyla Tharp, Jacob Mora, and Artistic Director Ben Needham-Wood. appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Editor’s Note: Press Releases are provided to Yellow Scene. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

Eco-Cycle pioneered one of the nation’s first Zero Waste Events nearly 30 years ago. The program began  when away-from-home recycling and composting were very rare amenities, and the program helped  lead the way to the three-bin collection systems that are now universally available in Boulder and  throughout much of Boulder County today. Over this time we have also helped many of our original  event partners take on the work of facilitating Zero Waste themselves. The successes of our partners are  testament that it is time for Eco-Cycle to again push forward to new frontiers and forging new solutions. 

They will spend calendar year 2022 researching and evaluating sustainable options to provide reuse  solutions for public gatherings and events. They hope to begin piloting reusable service ware, dish-wash  systems, and a deposit/return program with events in Boulder County as early as 2023. Until then they will provide the following as we discover and implement a new model for achieving Zero Waste at  events. 

Eco-Cycle Zero Waste Event Services in 2022 

• Equipment Rental or Loan: Eco-Cycle will offer ZW Event equipment rentals through a program hosted at the Eco-Cycle Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM). To rent equipment, please visit: https://ecocycle.checkfront.com/reserve/ or email events@ecocycle.org. Equipment available for rental use will include: Individual x-frames, 3-bin x-frame systems, recycling, trash, and compost bags, 96-gallon totes for managing large volumes of material, signage and mounting hardware.
• Material Drop-Off: We will accept diverted single-stream, compost, and hard-to-recycle items at CHaRM from events customers. This drop-off service will be offered at a discount from regular CHaRM fees for event customers. 
• Service Ware Referrals: We will provide organizers with referrals to verified sellers of BPI certified compostable food service ware materials.
• Logistics and Hauling: When appropriate, Eco-Cycle will provide delivery and pick-up services of equipment and diverted materials at cost to our events clients. This may include both dumpster and roll-off container services. 
• Technical Assistance Resources: We will offer a free resource guide on our website, and with all equipment rentals, that covers much of the information an event planner will need to achieve their Zero Waste goals. 
• Events Consulting Services: We will launch a Consulting Services grant program that will allow us to match our limited capacity with the events most in need of direct support. Grants will be awarded on a rolling basis and will include services such as Zero Waste system design, vendor  relations, service ware procurement, and volunteer management strategies. 

Please feel welcome to reach out to events@ecocycle.org with any questions.

The post Eco-Cycle Continues to Facilitate Zero Waste Events appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Editor’s Note: Press Releases are provided to Yellow Scene. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

Longmont, CO: Good Life Refuge farm animal sanctuary today announced the beginning of a monthly open house series starting January 29th, 2022. Open houses are a great opportunity for the public to connect with the farm animal residents, and to learn about their stories, how to care for them and to experience their unique personalities, and to establish a relationship with volunteers and staff while also supporting your local non-profit.

“The last two years have been tremendously difficult to establish and hold a connection with our community because of the Covid-19 pandemic.” said executive director Nicole Brecht. “We are very excited to have the public come back out to the sanctuary and meet all of our new and old residents and connect with them on a personal level.”

Open houses are scheduled for: January 29th, 2022 from 1:30 – 3:30pm and February 26th, 2022 from 2 – 4 pm. Click here to find more ways to get involved.

About Good Life Refuge: The Good Life Refuge provides a safe haven for neglected and at-risk farm animals. We believe in the ethical treatment of all animals and practice careful and responsible stewardship of our organization and for the animals in our care. Moreover, we believe in the benefits of a plant-centric lifestyle and in strengthening and nurturing the bonds between humans and animals.

The Good Life Refuge is a 501(c)(3) founded in 2018 and located in Longmont, Colorado.

The post Good Life Refuge Sanctuary Opening Doors to The Public Again appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

The Art of Giving Back

by Nikhil Mehta

After more than a year of tumult and upheaval, mass vaccination and other safety measures have helped many Americans return to some sense of normalcy. For millions across the country, however, and hundreds of thousands in Colorado, the COVID-19 pandemic deepened existing inequities and gaps for vulnerable communities. Though the economy has rebounded from the darkest days of the pandemic, economic opportunity, education, nutrition, and mental illness are still serious issues facing many across Boulder County. And climate change continued unabated by the Coronavirus, bringing the world that much closer to the brink of a catastrophe.

Boulder County has dozens of organizations working to address all of these problems, but they need your help. Whether you donate your time, money, or urgently-needed items, you can save lives in your community today. With Colorado Gives Day approaching on Tuesday, December 7, be sure to take time and give to a local charity or nonprofit in need to ensure that those in need are provided for during the holiday season.

Community Food Share

Phone: (303) 652-3663
Email: info@communityfoodshare.org
Website: communityfoodshare.org

“Hunger is a reality for 1 in 8 people in Boulder and Broomfield Counties.”

Even though Boulder County’s median household income outpaces that of the United States as a whole, food insecurity is still a serious issue in the area. Community Food Share is a food bank leading the fight against hunger by acting as a hub for the delivery of millions of pounds of food to over 40 local food pantries and meal programs. They also provide fresh, nutritious food directly to families, seniors, and students through onsite and mobile pantries. Every $5 donated to Community Food Share provides $25 of groceries to someone in need, making them a great destination for a holiday donation. You can volunteer by yourself, with your family (kids ages 5+), or with a group at their Louisville warehouse or their gardens and mobile pantries around Boulder.

“Remember us on Colorado Gives Day!”

First Nations Development Institute

Phone: (303) 774-7836
Email: info@firstnations.org
Website: firstnations.org

“First Nations Development Institute believes that when armed with the appropriate resources, Native Peoples hold the capacity and ingenuity to ensure the sustainable, economic, spiritual, and cultural well-being of their communities.”

First Nations Development Institute has been helping fund Native American communities across the United States since 1980. They invest in Native communities in six key areas:

• Stewarding Native Lands
• Nourishing Native Foods & Health
• Advancing Household & Community Asset-Building Strategies
• Strengthening Tribal & Community Institutions
• Investing in Native Youth
• Achieving Native Financial Empowerment

They have managed more than 2,000 grants and $45 million for projects in 42 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territory American Samoa. They have been imperative in helping Native communities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic by directly distributing almost $5 million to Native populations in need. With inequities and vulnerabilities continuing to devastate Native Americans, their work is vital to supporting education, nutrition, and more in Native communities.

“First Nations is the most highly rated American Indian nonprofit in the nation, meeting strict criteria of top charity watchdogs.”

Western Resource Advocates

Phone: (303) 444-1188
Email: info@westernresources.org
Website: westernresourceadvocates.org

“The impacts of human development on wildlife and wild land are being felt around the world and right here in the West.”

For over 30 years, Western Resource Advocates have fought to preserve and protect local wildlife and the environment. With climate change threatening beloved natural beauties and endangered species across Colorado, the time is now to take care of our precious natural resources and the economies they support. Their work protects local wildlife while boosting local economies, especially through access to outdoor recreation including hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing. Western Resource Advocates have set a goal of protecting 50 percent of land and water by 2050 in order to prevent mass extinction of plant and animal species. Their team of policy experts, scientists, economists and attorneys has the requisite expertise and experience to combat the climate crisis, but they need your help. Donate on Giving Day to do your part in the fight against climate change.

“Join the fight to ensure a future for wildlife and wild lands in the West before it’s too late.”

Leave No Trace

Phone: (303) 442-8222
Email: info@lnt.org
Website: lnt.org

“Through a combination of proven education, collaborative science, and sustainable outreach initiatives, Leave No Trace has been a foundational voice guiding people in how to recreate respectfully and best care for shared outdoor areas.”

Leave No Trace promotes the care and stewardship of all outdoor areas, working to ensure that future generations can enjoy them as well. Founded originally for the sustainable stewardship of wilderness and backcountry travel, Leave No Trace has since expanded to include all forms of outdoor recreation. Your donation will fund their 2022 Hot Spots initiative, which aims to help areas recover from human-related impacts. They create a unique healthy recovery plan for each chosen location to ensure that nature and everything it has to offer will survive long into the future. Your gift will also support Leave No Trace’s education efforts that spread their sustainable approach to enjoying the outdoors.

“I believe that Leave No Trace is the absolute least I can do in exchange for hiking, camping and backpacking in outdoor and wild spaces. Stewardship of the environment is critical to ensuring that generations after me can continue to enjoy the same trails I hike and woods I wander in. Leaving No Trace is a small investment that reaps big returns.”   —Victoria, Leave No Trace Donor and Master Educator

Grief Support Network

Phone: (720) 295-4760
Email: info@griefsupportnet.org
Website: griefsupportnet.org

“GSN was created to empower people to transform through their experience of grief and loss and to break the stigma around grief in our culture, offering support for all kinds of loss, at any phase of the grief process.”

Grief Support Network works to change our how culture grieves with a positive and life-affirming approach that emphasizes mindfulness and personal growth. After founder Wendy Black Stern lost her son Noah when he was just nine months old, she embraced her grief as an opportunity to help her community. She has since worked to develop several initiatives to support others through their grief, including virtual community circles, mindful grieving programs, and mindful connection youth programs. Grief Support Network also utilizes a network of partners, providers and resources to promote collaboration and transform our approach to loss. Your contribution will support their work and keep this vital programming available to the public.

“A culture that does not run from grief but embraces it as an opportunity for growth and connection.”

Sister Carmen

Phone: (303) 665-4342
Email: info@sistercarmen.org
Website: sistercarmen.org

“Economic struggles affect us all from time to time—the loss of a job, an unexpected illness, divorce, and other life events. The many people we serve include the underemployed, newly unemployed, seniors, people with disabilities, young adults, families, and the largest group experiencing poverty—children.”

Sister Carmen Community Center has a comprehensive approach to providing for the most vulnerable in Boulder County, promoting nutrition, access to healthcare, housing assistance, and more. With more than 42,000 Boulder County residents under the poverty line, homelessness and lack of childcare are pressing needs for thousands of families. With individualized service and care, Sister Carmen offers wraparound support to those in need, focusing on providing for basic needs and empowering disadvantaged individuals. During the holiday season, donate new or gently used coats and new hats and gloves. Gift cards to local grocery stores (especially King Soopers and Walmart) are also very appreciated in denominations of $10, $15, and $20. They also accept donations of dozens of different food and household items, so be sure to help Sister Carmen stock their pantry!

“We distribute over 1.2 million lbs of food per year, and the majority of those food donations come from community members like you!”

Mindful Works

Phone: (720) 466-0532
Email: custserv@mindful-works.org
Website: mindful-works.org

“Through a combination of individual empowerment and community involvement, we intend to erase the stigma associated with mental illness.”

With the slogan, ‘Every Stitch a Purpose,’ Mindful Works hires and supports individuals in recovery from mental illness through job training and employment opportunities in the design, production, and sale of a variety of clothing and home products. Their programming emphasizes key job-related skills, including time management, attention to detail, and collaboration, to help participants prepare for a future in the workplace. With a wide range of work opportunities, individuals can hone multiple transferable skills while gaining experience and earning a real salary. Through partnerships with the Division of Rehabilitation and community mental health providers, Mindful Works helps those struggling with mental illness overcome barriers to employment. You can get involved by volunteering, and Mindful Works is also a great place to shop for holiday gifts. With everything from furniture to face masks, give two gifts with one purchase from Mindful Works.

“This transitional work experience translates to a positive line on a resume, a positive work reference, and a boost in self-esteem.”

Zonta Foothills Club

Phone: 720-352-5697
Email: president@zontafoothills.org
Website: zontafoothills.org

“We believe that the future of Boulder County, our nation and our planet, depends on the education and support of women and girls.”

Zonta Foothills Club of Boulder County promotes education, equity, health, and economic stability for women locally and around the world. The all-volunteer organization’s Zonta EducateZ program promotes women in higher education through seven scholarships and education funds, which has distributed almost $30,000 this year. They also have programming that helps students in high school and college develop leadership skills and a career path while promoting community service. As a member of the Women’s Collaborative of Boulder County, Zonta Foothills Club works to address violence against women by partnering with community organizations for education and advocacy.

“From high school through graduate school we are committed to making dreams of education become a reality.

The Reentry Initiative

Phone: (720) 640-9513
Email: info@reentryinitiative.org
Website: reentryinitiative.org

“The Reentry Initiative’s (TRI) mission is to provide comprehensive services inside and outside prison walls that empower adults to achieve fulfilling and crime-free lives in their communities.”

The Reentry Initiative utilizes a unique, evidence-based process to support formerly-incarcerated individuals reentering their communities. With a six-month pre-release course in collaboration with the Denver Women’s Correctional Facility, as well as mental health services for trauma and addiction, The Reentry Initiative has been vital to helping individuals thrive after serving time in prison since 2016. Their Longmont Welcome Back Center supports both men and women immediately after their release to promote employment and transition planning.

“TRI is 1 of 19 reentry programs in Colorado funded by WAGEES to work with men and women parolees. It is one of two programs in the state working with female inmates and the only one in Boulder County offering comprehensive wraparound services, committed to the evolution from ‘Surviving to Thriving.'”

Dairy Arts Center

Phone: (303) 440-7826
Email: info@thedairy.org
Website: thedairy.org

“The Dairy’s 42,000 square foot facility houses disciplines ranging from visual arts, theater, and film to dance and music. A professional environment complete with art galleries, performance venues, teaching studios, offices, rehearsal spaces, dance studios, and a 60-seat art-house cinema, it is Boulder’s largest multi-disciplinary arts center.”

The Dairy Arts Center is home to some of Boulder’s most popular and acclaimed arts experiences. The Art House Cinema at the Boedecker Theatre is a leading arts cinema with a diverse array of movies and performances, featuring New York Film Critics national screenings, live opera, art house special features and live-streamed ballet performances. Or, check out the Dairy’s visual arts exhibits, which are free and open to the public daily. The Dairy also offers a wide array of programming over the holidays, including Hazel Miller & the Collective’s Gospel Holiday Show with soulful renditions of holiday favorites; enjoy this annual holiday concert on Sunday, December 12. There’s also the Rocky Mountain Revels with Celtic immigrants, featuring music, Irish step dancing, a traditional Mummers’ Play, and stories of Irish legends.

“Even as we have streamlined the 2021 show to acknowledge COVID constraints, its joy reminds us all that human traditions endure through music and laughter.”

The post 2021 Giving Guide appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Graphic by De La Vaca; original photo by Paul Wedlake

Jason McBride is soft-spoken and unassuming; but, his voice resonates throughout the community.

After years of working in gang outreach, he launched The McBride Impact in 2019, providing community-based education for underprivileged and at-risk youth.

The McBride Impact consists of F.R.E.S.H. (Free School Supplies and free Haircuts for kids); High Volume Media, a multi-media company that teaches podcasting and graphic design; a Mobile Library & Reading Labs; After-School Tutoring; 10 for 10 Leadership Academy, a unique trade program that teaches Low-water Irrigation Systems & Horticultural, which leads to job skills.

He also teaches business skills through Kids Kreations, where they make their own dessert or ice-cream business which started with vanilla mason jar ice cream. Run Café Impact is a restaurant hosted inside their Culinary Art School. Bessie Coleman Fly Boys & Fly Girls Program introduces kids to the Aviation industry – in 2019 they had 60 kids fly. The Comic Book Program teaches kids how to make their own superheroes with the goal of teaching cultural identity.

In 2020 McBride launched a Learning Pod at the former Park Hill Golf Course for kids who often don’t have access to the internet, let alone private teachers. And, just as importantly, he has his work in gang prevention, intervention, and suppression with P.R.E.P.: the Peer Run Escape Program.

He works in partnership with SOL (Struggle of Love), serves on the Aurora Community Police Task Force, works with Moms Demand Action, and the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, and has worked with leaders like AG Phil Weiser, the Chiefs of Police of Denver & Aurora, and, has met President Obama.

In 2018 McBride won the My Brother’s Keeper award. Samuel Elfay is one of McBride’s success stories. After eight months in prison, McBride was the intervention that helped Sam leave gang life behind. There were some bumps in the road at first, but after an almost fatal shooting, Elfay decided to try McBride’s way. Today Elfay has graduated high school, is perusing continued education, has gone on to be a community organizer, works part-time for GRASP, is the VP for 10for10 Denver, a public speaker, and served as a paid intern for Sen. Michael Bennett. A children’s book is being released from Erskine Press about McBride & Elfay’s relationship titled, Sam & the Bear.

Jason McBride (left) and Samuel Elfay (right)

In short, McBride is a powerhouse in his community, but enough of his resumé.

As we spoke about what he wants to see in the future, he told me that while he loves these programs, they are just the start. His ultimate goal is to create Safe Zones, a McBride Impact initiative that will provide support to neighborhoods where kids are often left unsupervised or are homeless. This will involve providing a safe space to wash their clothes, get tutoring, mentoring, counseling, develop an interest in learning & experience being cared about. He believes permanent Safe Zones can help impact gang prevention, something he knows a lot about.

McBride says that; “They don’t have what they need in school, in the way of counseling or other resources. Some schools don’t have computers. We can keep going over what we know causes all these things but all I think is, we know what the f*ck is wrong. Let’s get to some solutions. Let’s put the solutions out there to help these kids save themselves. We see the problems, but for some reason, we aren’t solving them. That’s why I don’t give up because I’m one of those kids. I was gang banging when I was 15.”

We initially spoke in October 2019, before he had left GRASP (Gang Rescue and Support Project) when Safe Zone was still an idea, and I asked him if he thought it was even possible.

Now six months later, with the Park Hill Golf Course three-year lease signed, the Learning Pod will become the first Safe Zone.

As we discussed his work with the Aurora Police Department, I asked what hope there was for change. While he would like to see Chief Vanessa Wilson move closer to community policing and social justice issues, including homelessness & gang activity, he praised her willingness to sit down and talk, even when he doesn’t sugarcoat the conversation.

He also wants to see officers living in the communities they serve. What if they know the names of these kids they see on the streets? What if they know their home life? What would outcomes be if they were truly practicing Community Policing? He hopes that Chief Wilson will make desperately needed changes in how APD operates after viewing videos of children being tear-gassed at the violin vigil for Elijah McClain.

Recognizing that kids are looking for the love they might not be getting elsewhere, though that’s not necessarily always the cause, he explains that this is how they often end up in gangs. He wants to redefine what it means to be a “gangster.”

He tells me CRIPS originally stood for Community Revolution and Progress. Founded on the ideals the Black Panthers held of taking care of the community.

“Love means brotherly love overcoming and overtaking disruption,” McBride explains. “So, I mean, let’s get back to that. This is why I try and show them the nice things I got from working, the love I got from giving, that there can be a better way.”

Part of his work is talking to young kids, some only thirteen facing 20 years in prison for a bad split-second choice and having to face a racist criminal justice system. It’s his job to tell these kids what is ahead and, “Part of that conversation is telling them that you are going to have to turn yourself into somebody you don’t recognize to survive where you’re going to end up.”

McBride is emotional and states, “every time I go, I leave one of those facilities, I come out and I get in the car and I cry my eyes out. So the reason I do what I do is that I don’t want anyone else to experience that. I wouldn’t wish that conversation on anybody. I do it all the time and it’s the worst part of my job. I’m tired of it. We’ve done a terrible job protecting these kids.”

The work is often emotionally draining, he does not get enough sleep, and most of us wouldn’t – and couldn’t – do it. But Jason doesn’t hear “no,” he sees what needs to be done, and says “yes.”

The post Jason McBride Doesn’t Accept “No” | The ACTIONISTS Series appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

There was a time, perhaps in eighth grade, that we all thought we would wind up on “Oprah” for our humanitarian efforts. Four of us, childhood friends, were sure we were going to save the world. Maybe we’d end poverty, feed the hungry, wipe out AIDS. The Queen of the Talk Show Circuit would certainly take notice.

We never really had a plan on how to pull this off. It turns out Justin Baker did—it was just a few years from taking flight.

While we waded through high school, Justin began jogging a path of non-profit work. He’d drag us to Bushnell Park in Hartford on Saturdays so we could help his Food Not Bombs chapter. We’d hand out donated food wrangled from local businesses to the homeless. Lines wrapped around the park’s storied carousel as we passed out snacks to those in need.

In the years since, my non-profit giving has waned, but Justin didn’t stop with Food Not Bombs. His jog has since turned into a marathon. When we came to the University of Colorado, we drifted. I started journalism studies; he continued with Food Not Bombs.

Justin concocted a unique idea for a non-profit of his own. When he formed Boulder-based Conscious Alliance in 2002, he began touring nationally with jam bands, setting up food collection spots at the entrance. The idea was to turn passion for music into passion for giving.

It’s worked.

Over the years, Conscious has been in front of major concerts, national festivals, and CU football games.

Following Hurricane Katrina, Conscious worked Red Rocks for the Dave Matthews Band benefit concert—in four days, it collected 30,000 pounds of food (plus $100,000 in cash from other efforts) for those in need on the Gulf Coast.

That’s actually where we reconnected for the first time since graduation in 2002. While I was helping the cause at Red Rocks by swilling beer (proceeds went to victims), Justin was working the donation stands. We said a brief hello. I followed it with a Google search of Conscious Alliance. That’s when I began to realize how far he’d come. The food he and his cadre of do-gooders have collected helps thousands. They’ve piggybacked on people’s love for music by giving out rare concert posters in exchange for donations (215,000 pounds of food and $92,000 this year).
Most of the food stays local, and cash gets filtered to a food bank Conscious built on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. It’s been running since 2005, providing relief to hundreds in crises.

That’s just the first step. Justin, tired from years of touring like a rock star, literally, wants to evolve. You’ll still find Conscious at bigger shows and festivals, but Justin and his fulltime staff of three will begin focusing on raising money and grants so they can open more food banks on reservations.

His younger brother, Evan, who also attended CU and serves as Conscious’ administrative director, thinks enough of what Justin is doing that he’s even e-mailed Oprah with the hopes of gaining an invitation to the show. Maybe those middle-school dreams weren’t that far fetched after all.

The post Conscious Harmony appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.