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Colorado fans always have the Avs and Nuggets to fall back on

Brandon Rivera
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Colorado fans always have the Avs and Nuggets to fall back on

The luxury of having two recent championship teams in the City of Denver is one that makes cheering for a team like the Broncos an easier pill to swallow.

Over the weekend the Colorado Avalanche hosted the Phoenix Coyotes at Ball Arena on Saturday night. The Avs had previously defeated the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night 6-4 in Denver where Nathan Mackinnon and Mikko Rantanen accounted for all of Colorado’s 6 points with Mackinnon chalking up 5 points in that game.

On Saturday night the Avs added another check to the win column when they defeated the Arizona Coyotes. The Avs dominated in the first two periods scoring all four of their goals before Arizona finally got on the board with a single goal in the third.

The Avs will be in Arizona to face the Coyotes again this week before heading to St. Louis to face the Blues on Friday (December 29th at 6 p.m.). Colorado returns to Denver this weekend to host the Sharks on New Years Eve (Sunday, December 31) at 6 p.m.

The Denver Nuggets have won five of their last six games; their most recent win came against the Golden State Warriors on Christmas day. Stephen ‘Steph’ Curry and Warriors came to Denver after also winning five of their last six hoping to extend their lead after three straight wins at home to the Portland Trailblazers, the Washington Wizards and the Boston Celtics.

Despite not having one of their top defensive players Draymond Green who was suspended indefinitely after slapping Jusuf Nurkic two weeks ago, the Warriors kept it close and actually led heading into the half.

The Nuggets out-scored the Warriors in both the third and fourth quarters beating the Warriors 120-114 on Christmas Day, giving the fans in Denver a cheerful present.

The only teams to not offer cheer to the fans for the holidays were the Denver Broncos. On Sunday the Broncos hosted the 3-11 New England Patriots a team they were expected to beat on their path to the postseason.

Photo courtesy: Empower Field at Mile Hi Twitter

Unfortunately for Denver fans the Patriots spoiled Denver’s hopes while fans got to see first hand, in real time their chances of making it to the playoffs slowly diminish with each passing quarter. Both teams had trouble getting any progress from their offenses with Denver leading 7-3 at the half. By the third the Patriots broke the game wide open scoring 20 unanswered points leading Denver 23-7.

Denver quarterback Russell Wilson lead Denver to two touchdowns with two successful two-point-conversions; however, poor clock management and play calling at the end of regulation put the Patriots in field position for the game winning field goal. Denver lost 26-23, dampening any shot at the playoffs.

The Broncos are now behind the Oakland Raiders who defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in Arrowhead on Monday night. The Broncos are at home to host the Chargers this weekend before heading to Las Vegas to play the Raiders in their final game of the season.

New CSU-Pueblo President has deep roots and big dreams of new job

Ernest Gurulé
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New CSU-Pueblo President has deep roots and big dreams of new job

Southern Colorado’s largest institution of higher education has announced the appointment of its 16th president and he is a man who knows the land as well as anyone who has ever held the job. He is Armando Valdez, a native of the San Luis Valley and whose family’s roots in the region date back generations.

Photo courtesy: CSU-Pueblo – News

Valdez, who was the sole finalist for the position, succeeds Dr. Timothy Mottet, who announced his resignation earlier this year after serving in the position for the previous six years. Valdez is currently the Colorado Director for USDA-Rural Development. He is also the president of his family’s ranching and cattle operation in Capulin, Colorado, Valdez Land & Livestock.

While Valdez will be the 16th president of CSU-Pueblo, his background makes him, perhaps, the most unique individual to ever hold the title. He is a native of the San Luis Valley and can trace his family’s presence to northern New Mexico to the early 1600s. Valdez says his family and a handful of other families moved north arriving in the Valley and Conejos County in the 1860s.

The December 15th announcement naming Valdez the school’s new president was greeted with the unanimous support of many of the state’s political and educational leader, including Governor Jared Polis. Polis praised the selection and said Valdez would lead the university as “an engine of opportunity and growth for Southern Colorado.”

Tony Frank, former president of CSU-Fort Collins and now Chancellor of the CSU system, called Valdez a “solid leader who know this campus and community…and is 100 percent invested in the future of Southern Colorado.”

Valdez’s first day on the job will not take place until February 1st but with his experience serving on the CSU System Board of Governors he has gained ample knowledge of the school. He has chaired the Board since June 2023.

“During my time on the Board of Governors,” Valdez told The Pueblo Chieftain, “I have always admired the hard work, dedication and commitment of the faculty, staff and administrators of CSU Pueblo.”

Hard work is something Valdez knows well. A descendant of a long line of ranchers, Valdez raises cattle, sheep, hay and some grain on his Capulin operation. He also holds the title of assistant professor of management in the Adams State University School of Business. He also serves on a number of boards, including the governing board of Saint Joseph parish, in Capulin, and the church he grew up in.

CSU-Pueblo has been southern Colorado’s higher education launching pad for thousands of young people for nine decades beginning in 1933 when it was a very mod- est three-room junior college. From its humble beginnings, the school has been known by a number of names before assuming its current appellation.

In 1963 it transitioned from Pueblo Junior College, a two-year program, into a four-year institution then known as Southern Colorado State College. As the school grew and new degree granting programs were added, in 1975, it became the University of Southern Colorado. The school adopted its current name in 2003 with the signature of Governor Bill Owens.

CSU-Pueblo is one of Colorado’s Hispanic Serving Institutions, a designation granted when a school has a full-time enrollment of at least 25 percent Hispanic stu- dents. In 2008, it was named the top HIS by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU). Today, the school has a full-time enrollment of nearly 4,000.

CSU-Pueblo has a Hispanic enrollment of nearly 50 percent and also identifies nearly 40 percent of its enroll- ment as first-generation college students. It is something Valdez can identify with, as he told STATE, the magazine of the CSU System.

“My parents were first-generation college students. So, for my entire life, I’ve been the beneficiary of their opportunity to pursue higher education,” he said. Educating a cohort of students who may be the first to attend college, Valdez believes, is a launch pad to higher earning and greater opportunity but also a key element in shaping the future of communities as business and political leaders.

While winning the endorsement of Governor Polis and CSU Chancellor Frank, Valdez also drew praise from Amy Parsons, President of CSU Fort Collins. Valdez, she said, “is a wonderful and service-minded colleague whose work and leadership on the CSU Board of Governors has been outstanding…CSU Pueblo will benefit from Amando’s longtime experience.”

Outgoing CSU-Pueblo President Mottet’s last day on the job was December 15th. Valdez will serve out the remaining two and a half years of Mottet’s term. At that point the CSU Board of Governors will do an evaluation to determine if Valdez continues in his role as President.

President Mottet announced his intention earlier this year to resign after a six-year tenure. At the end of that 2.5-year term, the Board and Valdez will assess how and whether to move forward.

Birth of Christ lights up the world

David Conde
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Birth of Christ lights up the world
David Conde, Senior Consultant for International Programs

Marshall McLuhan in his generational book, Understanding Media: the Extensions of Man (1964), presents us with the notion that in the electronic age, the medium is the message because it has the ability to manipulate information to reach certain understanding of the world around us. Light as a medium, for example, is most creative when it reveals new images out of the shadows of darkness.

I have heard ministers and preachers talk about Christ as “the light of the world.” They tend to associate this phenomenon with truth in the Christian belief system.

Actually, Jesus’ association with the light is both real and symbolic. He did come as the “light of the world” and much more than that.

Mary’s journey to have the Christ Child in Bethlehem was filled with historic symbols of the past and extremely dark dangers and threats in the present. Giving birth to Jesus in a manger in a small dark town gloriously lit up the place and brought certainty to the notion that the Son of God was at hand.

In one of my literary essays, I analyzed the personal story of a feminine hero named Alejandra in an Argentine novel. One of the major points I made showed how she dealt with obstacles in contrast to her male counterparts.

In the traditional adventure of the hero stories, the male heroes tend to confront, attack and overcome their enemies by force. In the case of Alejandra, she defeated the threatening shadows in a dark room by turning on the light.

Mary did something similar by giving birth to Jesus and thereby “lighting up” the world. The joy of a bright and multicolored Christmas has been the tradition that follows that concept.

In a pre-Colombian site called Xochicalco located close to the City of Cuernavaca, Mexico, there is a cave that when one enters it leads to an ancient observatory where the whole room lights up during the Spring Solstice in March. That light was a signal for farmers to begin planting their crops.

The agricultural society of Christ’s time would not have been any different. “One text from the year 243 CE designates March 25 as the birthday of Jesus. In the Roman calendar the vernal Equinox was set for March 25, the day the Spring begins to triumph over Winter and new life bursts fourth in the realm of nature.”

There were several reason given for the change of Jesus’ birth from the Spring to the Winter Solstice. Among them is that it is a replacement of other pagan holidays that occurred at the same time or the symbolic fact that having the Baby born on the shortest day of the year allowed for the concept of a new beginning.

Another important and powerful reason is that in the longest and darkest night of Winter, Jesus made the dark- ness retreat. The darkness symbolically held the evil things Christ came to defeat.

Be it as it may, we celebrate the birth of the Savior on December 25th with Christmas gifts, gathering of families and the joy that goes with it. The Christmas tree with white or multicolored lights adorning the branches is the center-piece and symbol of the world Jesus was born to construct.

One no doubt notices the halo around the images of the Lord, the Virgin Mary and the saints depicted on walls and canvases. Those halos or sometimes short stripes around the holy figures reflect the light the Baby Jesus brought to the world. Merry Christmas.

The views expressed by David Conde are not necessarily the views of laVozColorado. Comments and responses may be directed to news@lavozcolorado.com.

Greater Pueblo Chamber announces citizen of the year

admin
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Greater Pueblo Chamber announces citizen of the year

The Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce, with presenting sponsor Black Hills Energy, will hold the 113th Annual Gala on Friday, January 26, 2023 at the Pueblo Convention Center. “We are extremely grateful to Black Hills Energy for agreeing to be the title sponsor for the year’s gala, once again”, Duane Nava, Chamber President & CEO, said in a statement. At the Annual Gala, the “Rod Slyhoff Citizen of the Year” Award will be presented to an individual in Pueblo County who makes a substantial contribution to the Pueblo and surrounding areas and demonstrates extensive community involvement outside of their daily employment. This award recognizes a recipient that has made a significant and positive impacts on Pueblo.

After accepting nominations throughout the last months of 2023, the selection committee chose Andrea Aragon. Aragon has had a lasting impact on Pueblo in countless ways. Aragon was the first executive director of the Latino Chamber of Commerce, worked in alumni and development at Colorado State University-Pueblo, served 17 years as the President & CEO of United Way of Pueblo County and is the current Executive Director of the Robert Hoag Rawlings Foundation.

Aragon has given back to the Pueblo community in a number of ways including serving on the Caring for Colorado Board of Directors, College Invest Board, Colorado Nonprofit Association Board of Directors and is currently a member of the US Bank Pueblo Community Advisory Board, the Colorado State University-Pueblo President’s Advisory Board, the City/County Library Foundation, the Palmer Land Conservancy and is a Commissioner for the Housing Authority for the City of Pueblo. Aragon has received many honors for her work in the Pueblo community, one of which was the 2015 Charles W. Crews Business Leader of the Year Award from the Greater Pueblo Chamber. Aragon was also featured in LaVozColorado’s ‘Where Are They Now’ section, highlighting Colorado’s most successful Latino leaders.

The Greater Pueblo Chamber will also be recognizing its Ambassador of the Year for 2023, Evie Harris. Harris is employed at Southern Colorado Clinic and has served as an ambassador for nearly 13 years. “As a member of the Chamber’s ambassador team, Evie shows great dedication and hard work, which are vital for the successful outcomes of the events that we plan for the Chamber and our Visit Pueblo department”, Nava said.

The Greater Pueblo Chamber has also added two additional awards to this year’s Gala. The Chamber serves as the Convention and Visitors Bureau for the City of Pueblo and will recognize the 2023 Trailblazer Award and Outstanding Volunteer Award in the area of tourism in Pueblo.

The 2023 Trailblazer Award will be presented to Bill Zwick. Zwick’s urban design experience and visionary ability has enhanced city projects in historic preservation, new construction, streetscapes, public buildings and the implementation of art in public places projects. His projects have involved the Pueblo Convention Center, El Pueblo History Museum, the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo and Renovation of Memorial Hall and City Hall. “Bill has been on the forefront of Destination Development in the city of Pueblo for over 30 years and is so deserving of the inaugural Trailblazer award for 2023”, Donielle Kitzman, Chamber Vice President, said in a statement.

The 2023 Outstanding Volunteer Award will be presented to Carol Rivera. Rivera served as a teacher for 26 years, and currently volunteers at the El Pueblo History Museum. During her volunteer years, she has been involved with the historical interpreter’s program, participated in the Educator’s 3-day 1840 style Encampment at Bent’s Old Fort, read volumes of books about Pueblo history and created her own educational program which is often used in the El Pueblo History Museum trading post tours. “Dedicated volunteers like Carol make a huge difference by improving our Pueblo attractions for the people who live in and visit our city”, said Kitzman.

Our Government

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Our Government

White House

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Utah and ordered Federal assistance to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by flood- ing from May 1 to May 27, 2023. Federal funding is available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the flooding in the counties of Iron, Morgan, Sanpete, Utah, and Wasatch.

Colorado Governor

Governor Jared Polis announced that he has granted 7 commutations and 21 pardons. The Governor granted commutations to David Carrillo, Bradley Erickson, Paul Freeman, David Heckman, Gordon Johnston, Samuel Martinez, and Edgar Reed. The Governor granted pardons to James Bell, Adam Bennett, Amber Breay, Donna Chavez, Eric Christensen, Todd Cummings, Gregory Fanger, Kimberly Finley, Robbie Finley, Robert Glenister, Valencia Green, Michael Hartnett, Gunnison Hunt, Jonathan Hunt, Edward Nestor, Michael Robinson, Andrea Smith, Traci Smith, Rebbecca Soper, Alma Vidauri, and Craig Worth.

Denver Mayor

Inconsistent practices for City Council operations expose the city’s systems to cyberattacks, decrease the transparency and accountability of some council office spending, and pose a risk that important security-related practices may not be consistently occurring during all future council member transitions, according to the new audit this month from Denver Auditor Timothy M. O’Brien, CPA. “I’m glad we were finally able to conduct this audit,” Auditor O’Brien said.

A Week In Review

Joseph Rios
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A Week In Review

Africa

Rwanda doctor found guilty of genocide

Sosthene Munyemana, a former doctor in Rwanda, was jailed by a French court for 24 years. He was found guilty of crimes like genocide and crimes against humanity in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Munyemana is accused of organizing torture and killings in the genocide. It took 28 years to bring his case to trial.

Longtime woman politician dies in Somalia

Khadijo Mohamed Diriye, the longest-serving woman in Somali politics, passed after a brief illness. Her most recent title was Minister for Women and Human Rights Development. Diriye had been in politics for nearly 30 years. Somalia’s politicians are typically male, and several government officials posted messages of condolence on their social media platforms.

Asia

China earthquake leaves dozens dead

At least 131 people were killed in northwest China when an earthquake struck the area. The 6.2 magnitude quake also injured 1,000 others. Buildings in the area were hit by mudslides triggered by the earthquake, and roads were damaged. It is the deadliest earthquake to occur in China since 2014 when more than 600 people were killed by a quake in the Yunnan Province.

South Korea students sue over exam

Some South Korean students are suing the country’s government because their college admission test ended 90 seconds earlier than planned. The group of students is seeking $15,400 each, which is the cost of a year’s studying to retake the exam. Lawyers for the group allege that the timing error impacted the rest of the students’ exams.

Europe

France passes new immigration policy

France’s parliament passed a new policy that will toughen the country’s immigration laws. The bill was backed by President Emmanuel Macron and will make it more difficult for migrants to bring family members to France. The new immigration laws also bans detaining minors in detention centers. Human rights groups denounced the new laws.

Ukraine hoping for more soldiers

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine’s military wants to add an extra 500,000 people to its military. The country is running out of ammunition and hoping for financial aid from countries, including the United States. It has nearly been two years since Russia invaded Ukraine. Russia President Vladimir Putin recently said Russia will continue its invasion.

Latin America

Thousands of turtles saved from trafficking

Officials in Peru seized more than 4,000 live turtles at an airport. The animals were going to be trafficked to Indonesia. Eggs and meat of freshwater turtles are considered valuable in some parts of the world. The turtles will now be taken to an authorized breeding center in Lima and will be cared for until their next home is determined. None of the animals died.

Ally of Venezuelan president released

Alex Saab, a close aide of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, was freed by the United States as part of a prisoner swap. Saab was accused of laundering money on behalf of Venezuela’s government and was extradited to the United States in 2021. Venezuela has called for Saab’s release for a long time and has described him as an “envoy.”

North America

Judge orders for Epstein’s associates’ names to be released

A U.S. judge ruled to release the names of more than 170 associates of convicted sex offender Jeffery Epstein. The names must be released by Jan. 1, the judge ruled. Epstein was a millionaire financier and died by suicide in jail in 2019. Among those whose names are expected to be released include Prince Andrew.

Minnesota introduces new state flag

Officials in Minnesota unveiled a new flag to replace a design many Native Americans said was offensive. The proposed new flag features a white eight-pointed star and a dark blue background shaped like the state. The current flag dates back to 1957 and features a horse-mounted Native American riding away from a farmer who has a rifle.

In peacetime Fort Carson celebrating a quiet Christmas

Ernest Gurulé
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In peacetime Fort Carson celebrating a quiet Christmas

While there are two very serious, headline dominating wars now on going—Ukraine and Israel— this holiday season the United States is not militarily engaged in any conflicts. This should not indicate that there are only two wars being fought today, only that the two aforementioned are the ones grabbing the headlines.

There are wars today being fought on continents around the world with an aggregate of casualties numbering in the thousands every single day. Some are wars that began decades ago, others are new, while a handful are like campfires that have not been fully extinguished, periodically flaring up because neither victory nor resolution has ever been achieved. Other times it’s because new leadership simply decides to resume the battle. But the throughline with each is that every day people die.

They die, men, women and children, in Armenia and Azerbaijan, Syria and Yemen, Tigray and Ethiopia. They die in Haiti and in Mexico where drug cartels have waged war with the government for decades. In other places, there is no war, but its shadow remains long and dark. Tensions percolate between China and Taiwan; North Korea seems in a never-ending mindset of war.

But this holiday, despite real-time wars in so many places and hotspots with the potential of almost immediate ignition, American troops, despite being deployed across the globe, are engaged only as monitors and not combatants. Ready but only if called upon.

At Fort Carson, the storied Army post just south of Colorado Springs, and the permanent duty station for more than 25,000 soldiers, it will be a quiet holiday, said Brandy Gill, a post public affairs specialist. “A lot of soldiers get to go home,” she said. But for others, “we have a wide range of things that we do to help celebrate the holiday season.”

Fort Carson recently held its annual Christmas tree lighting, an opportunity for not only soldiers but their families to enjoy one of the post’s long held traditions. Post commander, Major General David Doyle along with one attending child hit the switch lighting the tree. In a post news release chronicling the event, Doyle said, “As we approach the holiday season,” he told families, “we approach this time of festivity where we can spend time with one another, let’s spend time with Families.”

The lighting is one of many events the Army and Fort Carson do to create a seasonal touch offsetting the ‘cammy’ hues of everyday life, said Gill. “We really try to help soldiers feel at home, part of the community and feel embraced.” The post also hosted a “Trees for Troops” event, where soldiers stationed at the post bring their families for a Christmas tree giveaway.

Gill also said that the holiday means a number of units on the post will hold their own holiday parties. Additionally, troops remaining on post will be treated to a special holiday meal at one of the many dining halls scattered across the sprawling military post.

While the Army eschews an official connection with any religion, it nonetheless has chaplains “to provide religious services to all the soldiers,” Gill said. “Our chaplains are taught to respect all religions and provide services to all soldiers.”

Fort Carson became part of the state and region in 1942 as the U.S. was entering World War II. It was then known as Camp Carson. It wasn’t until 1954 when it was officially designated as Fort Carson. Today the post, once home to storied military names including former Secretary of State Colin Powell and former Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Wesley Clark, now occupies parts of three counties, El Paso, Fremont and Pueblo.

Today, with more than 25,000 soldiers and their families and nearly 50,000 civilians supporting the post’s mission, Fort Carson is a city within a city and a huge economic boon to Colorado Springs.

It is estimated that Fort Carson along with four other military installations in El Paso County, generates nearly half of all the Pentagon’s money—$18 billion—in the entire state of Colorado.

When the holiday season ends and a new year begins, the post returns to the business at hand. Troops return to training, with deployments to different parts of the country and the world. It’s the job they have for meeting the chal- lenges of a dangerous world and challenges it has met in wars and conflicts over the decades of its existence.

A year ago, U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed said tersely, peace “is now under grave threat” around the world. In fact, the Uppsala Conflict Data Program, an organization that tracks wars globally, said 2022 and 2023 were the hottest years for war since the end of the cold war. As history attests, it is a reality at Fort Carson, both for the troops and their families.

From World War II to today, thousands of Fort Carson soldiers have served the nation with many making the supreme sacrifice. The post regularly and solemnly hon- ors fallen soldiers who’ve fought and died in service of country. In 2010, eight Fort Carson-trained troops died in a single weekend in what the Army called the deadliest day of fighting since Viet Nam. Nearly 300 Fort Carson troops combined were killed in battles fought in both Afghanistan and Iraq.

Donate to Colorado Hispanic nonprofits this holiday season

Joseph Rios
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Donate to Colorado Hispanic nonprofits this holiday season

Unique Gifts for the Holidays Part V of V

Throughout this past month, LaVozColorado Unique Gifts series has provided useful information on helping older adults navigate through the winter with snow shoveling services, ways to help older adults who face isolation and loneliness, and places to donate that help children have a special holiday.

As we end our series on thoughtful gestures for the holiday season, LaVozColorado has compiled a list of organizations that are working to improve the lives of Latinos in Colorado and showcase our culture. Here are a few more quick and meaningful ways to make a positive impact in the Latino community.

Support education through the Latin American Educational Foundation

One of the key ways the Latin American Education Foundation (LAEF) helps Hispanic and Latino students access higher education is through scholarships.

Since 1949 the organization’s long history, LAEF has awarded millions of dollars in scholarships to Hispanics and Latinos. LAEF supports positive outcomes in career advancements, equitable representation in leadership, income, financial equity, homeownership equity, and much more.

You can donate to LAEF and support higher education among Hispanic and Latino students at www.laefcolorado.org/donate.

Help advance the economic well-being of Latinos at Mi Casa Resource Center

For nearly 50 years, Mi Casa Resource Center has served the Denver community. Today, the organization offers Career and Business Pathways programs, financial wellness services, digital literacy assistance, English as a Second Language, and other resources to advance the economic well-being for Latinos, women, and low-income Coloradans.

After participating in the nonprofit’s career programs, participants typically earn an additional $10,000 a year after completing the training. A high rate of students who participate in Mi Casa Resource Center’s youth programs also increased the personal and social skills.

Donations to Mi Casa Resource Center benefit its education, career, and small business pro- grams. You can make a donation by visiting https://micasaresourcecenter.org/donate/.

Support Latin American art at Museo de las Américas

Located at 861 Santa Fe Drive in Denver, Museo de las Américas works to educate Coloradans through collecting, preserving, interpreting, and exhibiting Latin American arts and cultures.

Each year, the museum offers three to five exhibitions in its main gallery that highlight cultures and experiences of Latin Americans across the world. Its other galleries also feature items from private collections and are curated by the museum’s curatorial department.

Outside of galleries, Museo de las Américas offers two arts-integrated summer camps for kids and teenagers, workshops for schools, and much more. To donate to the museum and support Latin American art, visit museo.org and click on the donate tab.

Support reproductive justice for the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights

Each year, the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR) works to help Latino individuals and their families live safe, healthy, and self-determined lives.

The organization offers youth-focused programs like its Latinas Increasing Political Strength service, and the Youth of COLOR Fellowship. The Latinas Increasing Political Strength Leadership Institute and Mentorship Program mentors the next generation of Latina leaders to promote the advancement of the Latino community and to advocate for reproductive justice issues. Meanwhile, the Youth of COLOR Fellowship works to build the capacity of young people of color around policy, organizing, and communications.

You can support COLOR’s work this holiday season by donating at colorlatina.org.

Broncos lose big in the Motor City

Brandon Rivera
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Broncos lose big in the Motor City

The Denver Broncos were in the Motor City on Saturday night to face one of the NFC’s top teams, the Detroit Lions. Detroit was coming off a loss to the Chicago Bears the week before while Denver enjoyed a win over division foes the L.A. Chargers.

Saturday’s game was one of three games flexed from Sunday to Saturday and the Denver-Detroit game flexed to Saturday evening Primetime. The Lions went into Saturday night’s game undefeated in the last six-primetime appearances. After just the first half of play, Denver fans understood why.

The Detroit Lions, although scoreless in the first quarter, rattled off three touchdowns before heading into the half looking unstoppable against Denver’s recent prolific defense. The Broncos didn’t seem to have any answers and the Lions just appeared to be the hungrier of the two.

Denver’s defense much like their performance against the Miami Dolphins looked confused and were missing tackles for most of the game. Detroit’s running game looked great against the Broncos run-D giving up 185 yards on the ground to Denver’s measly 85-yards between five different runners.

While Denver fans have been elated at the way Denver’s defense has been lights-out against previous opponents, it was apparent that Detroit had their number. When all was said and done the final score was testament to the kind of day the Broncos had in the Motor City, Detroit 42 and Denver 17.

This week the Broncos are home for the next two games against the New England Patriots this Sunday on Christmas Eve, and against the L.A. Chargers on the last day of the year. Denver will need to win out the remainder of their games in order to stay in the hunt for a wild card spot. Currently the Broncos are on the outside looking in but have a chance to squeeze in.

In other sports the Denver Nuggets hosted the Dallas Mavericks who were coming off a win over the Portland Trailblazers on Saturday in Portland. Despite a stellar first half performance from Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic who made 6 threes, the Nuggets led by 9 at the half.

In the second half the Nuggets didn’t look back outscor- ing the Mavericks 30-21 in the third and 32-24 in the fourth, beating Dallas 130-104.

The Colorado Avalanche bounced back from a dismal performance against the Winnipeg Jets over the weekend with a win over the San Jose Sharks. The Avalanche dominated the Sharks with three unanswered goals in the first period. The Sharks finally got on the board with a single goal in the second period, but Colorado was already taking a victory lap by the third with two additional goals, beating San Jose 6-2.

The Colorado Avalanche are in Chicago this week (game results not available by the time of the writing) to face the Blackhawks before returning home to hose the Ottawa Senators this Thursday. Colorado is tied for first place in the Central Division with the Dallas Stars.

We care about you, call us anytime . . .

Ernest Gurulé
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We care about you, call us anytime . . .

The holiday cheer or perceived holiday cheer that is thick in the December air is neither holiday’ish or cheerful for a lot of families. They, along with loved ones, have already received word that a loved one has died and worse, died by their own hand.

The juxtaposition of end of year television commercials telling us ‘It’s the most wonderful time of the year’ and news that a father or mother, brother or sister, husband or wife has taken their own life seems to cut what is often called the ‘deepest wound.’

While 2022 suicide numbers have shown a decrease from the previous year in Pueblo County, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s adjusted suicide rate—28.8 per 100,000—is more than double the national rate, said the Centers for Disease Control.

Despite the fact that death by suicide occurs more often in spring and summer months, Heather, a suicide hotline counsellor in Pueblo who asked her last name not be used because of her job, a holiday suicide seems to hold deeper, more searing emotion. It just seems, she said, that at the end of the year, “people are more reflective,” and as a result grief seems more palpable.

No age group is immune from suicide, said Heather, but “middle aged White men are most at risk,” she said. But women “have more attempts.” Still, she and others answering phones at the Pueblo center take calls every day from younger people, “especially those under 18.” Younger people, she said, may simply think “they have nowhere to go or think they’re just weird” because of the thoughts they’re having.

To address the teen suicide issue, the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Pueblo County has scheduled a pair of suicide prevention workshops early in the new year at two of the city’s high schools. The first is on Feb. 7th at Centennial High School from 6 to 7 p.m. The other is on March 6th at East High School from 5 to 6 p.m.

In Colorado, 1,287 suicides deaths were reported in Colorado. Of that number 73 were between ten and nineteen. El Paso County recorded the largest number of suicide deaths with 189. In the metro area, Broomfield had 155, Denver 123 and Adams County had 111. The age group with the most suicide deaths was in the 25-34 group, followed by 237 deaths in age group 35-44. Suicide by gender showed up at 997 males and 290 female. Of the state’s 1,287 suicide deaths in 2022, 220 were Hispanic.

Calls to suicide help lines also include individuals with disabilities and the elderly, said Heather. These deaths are often the result of drug overdoses, she said, because “they have access to medications or (other) lethal means…that’s what makes them more at risk.”

The job of engaging people who call suicide help lines can be challenging, said Heather. It takes a different type of personality. “I don’t think anyone comes into this work by accident,” she said. “It’s very emotional…we want to help them and listen and provide space for them.” While it’s not ever easy, she said, “It is very fulfilling work. But doing it makes you a light to other people.” But being a light can take a toll. The average for a person remaining in this line of work, Heather volunteered, “is one to five years.”

In fielding each call, workers collect demographic data before moving into conversations that most people will never have. “We ask them what’s going on (that made them make the call).” Workers also stress to callers that there are options, support for them and advice and “a plan on how to cope with these thoughts.”

For anyone weighing suicide as an option, there is a 24-hour Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. By dialing 988, you will automatically be connected with a mental health professional who will talk to you and provide information that may save a life. Veterans can press “1” after dialing 988 to connect with the Veterans Crisis Lifeline. The line can also be accessed via text with the code: 838255.

The 988 number is also open to Spanish speaking callers. After dialing the 988 number, callers are urged to press “2” to reach a Spanish speaking counselor. There is also a line dedicated to taking LGBQT callers. For those callers, press “3” to be connected to a counsellor. Those concerned about a LGBQT loved one are also encouraged to call.

Not every call, Heather said, will end in ultimate success and save a life. But every call, she said, will find someone who cares and is willing to talk. “They say that it’s easy to call into the darkness from the light. But sometimes it requires you to go into the dark with them. That’s just part of it.”

Photo courtesy: Suicide Prevention Coalition of Pueblo County
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