Iris Serrano
Editorial Intern/Bucket List Community News
Hello, Bucket Listers! This week, our journalists delved into the meaning of Juneteenth, where Colorado’s international community is meeting up to watch the World Cup, what voters want from their next governor, the struggles local artists face and a profile about one group’s efforts to restore popular Chicano murals in Denver. Let’s get into it now.
Juneteenth celebrations and significance
Opal Lee, the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” had spent decades advocating for Juneteenth’s importance. Our Khaleigh Reed breaks down the significance of the holiday and the celebration taking place in Denver with Lee’s granddaughter, Dione Sims, and other activists.
World Cup watch party craze
Everywhere you turn you can find World Cup watch parties going on all over the state. Reporter Marcelo Brant spoke with organizers and fans to learn more about how these gatherings are helping build community among Colorado’s international residents.
Denver Public Schools supports Bucket List
This week’s newsletter is sponsored by Denver Public Schools, where students build real-world skills that prepare them for success beyond graduation. At South High School, special education teacher Sean Davis has created a student-run coffee cart that gives students hands-on experience as baristas while building confidence, teamwork and problem-solving skills along the way. What started as a small coffee cart has grown into a meaningful program where students learn, connect and discover what they’re capable of. Read his story.
Voters share what they want from their next governor
What qualities do voters want in the next governor? For our new series, Bucket List on the Street, we asked five voters for their thoughts and it got people talking. Sydney McGarr breaks down some of the most heated responses we received from over 120 readers who commented on the story.
Struggling Colorado artists
Local music helps make our communities vibrant, but for many local artists, it’s difficult to continue playing as the cost of living increases in Colorado. Marcelo Brant sat down with Denver musicians to understand the struggles they face today.
Chicano mural restoration
Chicano murals have been a prominent part of Colorado culture for decades. Diego Simental digs into the significance of the restoration of a popular Chicano mural and the Emmanuel Project.
CU Boulder gets sued. The university is ending its “Email for Life” programming in late August, causing alumni to lose access to their colorado.edu emails. Alumnus Rex Boge filed a lawsuit against the CU Board of Regents for breaking their promise of an email that lasts a lifetime. Boge believes that “enforcement of the promises at issue is important.”
Bow Mar plans to gate off public roads. The small town of Bow Mar wants to install gates on public streets to block off drivers who speed or drive dangerously. Littleton Mayor Kyle Schlachter and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston repeatedly warned the town not to discourage outside traffic. The town intends to proceed; however, no timeline for the gates has been released.
Penelope Wong wins James Beard Award. Wong first became popular for her street food. Now she has won a Best Chef award, beating numerous chefs from Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah and Wyoming. Be sure to check out her restaurant, Yuan Wonton, in North Park Hill.
That wraps up this week’s Friday newsletter, folks! It’s going to be another warm weekend in Denver, so get out there and enjoy the Juneteenth celebrations, festivals, and, most importantly, Father’s Day activities.
Be sure to check out our new series, Bucket List on the Street. This week’s edition focused on what Colorado voters want from their next governor. Speaking of voting, the primary election is coming up quickly. As you prepare for June 30, remember to check out our Ballot Builder. Just type in your zip code and an email to learn more about the candidates before you cast your ballot.
Thank you so much for reading, and we hope to see you here at the same time next week!
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