Olivia Hughes Relfects on Denver: The Good, The Bad, The Homeless

            I was performing a needs and risks assessment with a participant the other day at my internship.  When I asked how many months she had been homeless she stated four years, so I calculated and kept going. At first it was alarming to hear a number like that, but after further reflection I realized that I had heard even worse numbers than that so I did not think twice about it. Reflecting back on it makes me realize how the scope of homelessness to me has changed.

Moving to Denver was so exciting! Visiting a few times before assured me of the beauty and wonder in the surrounding landscape. However, even years ago when I first came through Denver, I could not help but notice the level of homelessness visible within the city. It was difficult to see and to understand how such a seemingly well off city with rapid growth could have this. I guess that is the problem.

            While working at The Empowerment Program I have been able to meet women from all backgrounds more often than not struggling with housing. Instability is a major contributor to addiction and illegal activities for the women at Empowerment, and stable housing is often a struggle they have. Every time I do the application I feel blessed that I get to help them in any way I can, however it could take months to hear back if at all. Seeing their faces when I mention it could take two months to even hear back is heartbreaking considering that’s another two months that she will be on the street and there’s only so much I can do to help. The sobering truth is that there is just not enough affordable housing so service providers have to do their best for their clients who just want a place to sleep without being worried about others invading their sleeping space. I have learned a lot so far but I feel as though it is just the tip of the housing iceberg in such a complicated system.

Shannon Stewart Has Enjoyed the Diversity in Denver

It is crazy to think that I have been living in the Mile High City for a little over a month now! Time certainly flies when you’re having fun and staying busy. This semester has been filled with new adventures and exciting opportunities. To name a few, I’ve been able to experience cross-country skiing in the mountains, the Denver Zoo, a pro rodeo at the National Western Stock Show, a play at the Denver Performing Arts Center, and a Saturday hike in the mountains.

One thing I have really enjoyed about Denver is the diversity it has to offer. Not only are there countless unique opportunities to experience in the city like the ones I listed above, but Denver is filled with diverse people as well. Through my internship at the Denver Rescue Mission, I have had the incredible opportunity of working with refugees from all over the world. These refugee families have been exposed to a wide variety of life situations, including persecution, war, and natural disasters. So far, I have been able to visit with families from countries including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Afghanistan, Nepal, Iran, and Burma. This opportunity in itself is something I could never experience back in Waverly.

Working with refugees has allowed me to become so much more knowledgeable about the world and issues refugees face every day while adjusting to life in the United States. It has caused me to take a step back and have an empathetic heart for every family I come across. I have also become more open to diverse cultures and find myself wanting to learn more about people who are different from me. Although it is nearly impossible to understand where these refugee families are coming from, I feel honored to get the opportunity to be someone who is able to welcome them into the United States with open and loving arms.

Coming from a small town in Iowa, I knew that living in the city for a semester was going to be quite an adjustment for me. However, the adjustment has been nothing but positive, and I have come to value everything that Denver has to offer, including the diverse opportunities and people. Being exposed to such diversity has allowed me to learn more about myself and about the world outside of my little bubble in Waverly. A semester in Denver is truly a unique experience that cannot be found anywhere else.

Gabrielle Miller Says Course in Denver Has Opened Her Mind

As an International Relations major, a great deal of my courses have been in the Political Science department. In all the classes I took surrounding political affairs, both international and domestic, I rarely thought much about the values or motives behind certain political affiliations/agendas.

However, the “Religion and Politics” course most of us are taking with Bonita has changed that entirely. Bonita’s class has opened my mind up completely to searching for deep societal patterns and examining a person or culture’s narrative rather than simply taking for granted that two or more parties don’t get along.

This new mindset was put to the test on Monday when we went to the Legislature, and I sat in on a committee meeting of particular interest to me. The State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee was hearing a bill called “Religious Exemptions for Certain Persons”, which was being disguised as a way to protect clergy in “exercising their religious freedom” predominately by not performing gay marriages. However, the language in the bill was so loose and vague that it could have applied to much more than clergy and could have been used as an instrument in discrimination. Thankfully, the bill was killed in committee, and will be postponed indefinitely. However, as we were waiting for the proceedings to begin, Bonita said to me, “It makes you wonder what his [the senator who introduced the bill] narrative is”. And it did. Up to that point I had just been upset with the guy, he was just the other side, my oppressor. But, after Bonita said that, I had to really think about why someone would write a bill condoning discrimination. What was his narrative? I definitely don’t have all the answers, but I like to think that Bonita’s class has certainly opened my mind.