Archive for category: News

On August 27th, AfA had a WONDERful time at our first annual Mad Hatter Tea Party! More than 20 guests fell down the rabbit hole with us to enjoy live music, youth poetry, whimsical decor, and a fanciest hat contest. Participants also got to savor delectable treats and delicious tea from our friends over at Drip Denver. Hats off to all who came out to our event!

Members of Steampunk not only loaned us most of the tea service, but donated some tea, as well!

AfA’s youth intern Hibaq Osman performed two poems: one of which is called “Paper Moon.”

And makes a break for it

It’s a simple equation

Dreams and creation

I’m in love with the person I haven’t me

And that one place I’ve never lived

Please tell me how you can lead a life of 17 years and never live

Chained to a chain link fence

Woven by the hearts which you’ve torn from their place

It’s not a ‘whatever you think it is,’ darling It’s an arms race

And I swear, I scream at the top of my lungs

I swear

I will make a change to this world

I will change the voice of freedom

Bestow power amongst the girls

And I’ll make it to where color doesn’t matter

And race is just a four letter word

Where being queer is not weird

Where homophobia is absurd

Where society links arms with the misfit toys

And welcomes them to their island

Where the raped girl doesn’t cry when she sees her young boy

Because she wished his father’s actions didn’t define him

I swear

These faulty pieces do not define us

I swear the skies are so clear on the other side

I swear the sun will wake you up from this nightmare

And say “It’s okay honey, you don’t have to hide.

You’re absolutely fine right by my side”

Delicious Hearts and Spades sandwich cookies, courtesy of volunteer Lisa Schott Cheney-Philp

Art from Ashes is happy to welcome Megan Fowler as our new Volunteer Coordinator! Megan has been involved with Art from Ashes for a long time as a volunteer, and we are very excited to have them in this new role.

Here is some more info about Megan:

Megan Fowler graduated from Metropolitan State University of Denver in Spring, 2015 with a double major in Psychology and Queer Studies.

Megan is currently working as the Volunteer and Events Coordinator for Art from Ashes and serves as the lead student for The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Student Services at Auraria.

Megan is currently working towards co-publishing an article focusing on non-monogamous communities as folklore. Ultimately, they want to earn their Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology in order to conduct research focused on GLBTQIA communities and serve as a therapist specializing in these communities.

This has certainly been a time of much change and growth for the organization, and we are taking big steps in our effort to reach and impact as many young lives as possible behind our dedicated volunteers and staff.

Thank you so much to El Pomar Foundation for sending us this amazing young woman to help us run (and expand) our Phoenix Rising creative youth empowerment program and for supporting her salary!! You’ve made it possible for a small agency to hire a big talent! Ashley Cornelius rocks. And so does El Pomar.