Editor's Note — July 2014

By Sarah Harvey, Editor

It is a great honor and pleasure for me to write my first letter to you. While I’m new to the role of editor, I’m not new to the Denver VOICE. The VOICE has been a part of my life since I moved to Denver in 2008. Walking across Capitol Hill I came upon a man vending the paper; we began talking, and I was moved by the concept of the vendor program. I bought a paper, took it home, devoured it, and promptly called the editorial office to inquire about becoming involved. 

I started in the fall of 2008 as an editorial intern for the VOICE. After my internship ended, I stayed on as a writer and researcher for a time. Over the past six years I’ve remained involved with the VOICE while I pursued a career in editing—I volunteered at events, wrote stories, helped the former editor edit copy, and worked with new writers. Although the mission of the paper has always resonated with me, I think it’s the people I’ve met through the VOICE—both staff and vendors—that have kept me committed to the paper. 

As is often the case in life, this period of excitement and joy has not been perfect. In June the staff of the VOICE learned that Manuela Shaw, who has been a VOICE vendor since the paper’s reincarnation in 2007, had developed cancer. While we were all devastated by the news, it has been truly amazing to see the amount of VOICE readers and donors coming forward with thoughts, prayers, and hope for Manuela. Just this morning we received three cards for Manuela at the vendor office. 

At the VOICE office we are always thinking about what I consider our direct impact: how we can change our vendors’ lives and how we can best support and serve them. We forget sometimes that each of our vendors is in turn impacting the lives of all the people they interact with when they are out selling papers. The outpouring of love and support for Manuela has reminded me that the influence of the VOICE reaches far beyond the walls of our editorial and vendor offices.

This issue is our fourth annual Bike Denver tourism issue. It’s always a favorite for staff and volunteers, as well as vendors and readers. This year’s tourism issue highlights the best and quirkiest that Denver has to offer in independent bookstores, beer murals, dog parks, literary history, and New York–style pizza, among other things. Hopefully you enjoy reading it (and using it!) as much as we enjoyed putting it together.  Please help support your vendor by spreading the word about it and urging your friends and coworkers to pick up a copy.

I have nothing but the deepest respect for the vendors and the readers of the VOICE, and my ultimate goal is to create a paper each month that vendors feel proud to sell and readers are excited to buy. When I work on projects for the VOICE, I’m reminded of why I first wanted to pursue a career in editing and publishing: helping authors and striving to make the world a better place through words. ■

If you have something to add to the conversation, say it! Post on our Facebook page at /denvervoice or email editor@denvervoice.org.