Evelyn:
“The first time I was in the field the person I gave food to had a bag similar to the one we give out at QSA (University of Denver’s Queer Student Alliance)…and it really put things into perspective for me. This person was not unlike you or me, and that’s something that people who were lucky enough to exist within some privilege or the other don’t understand: how easily this could be them, how easily that could be me and we aren’t prepared for it. Nothing prepares us for that reality.”
Ian:
“I met Julian at the very first demonstration I organized…Within hours, we had talked through numerous organizing problems and successes that have taken place over the span of the past months. Julian and Colectivo de Paz have shown me and my group the strength of community and power of collective action. Working with Colectivo de Paz has made me both a better person and a better organizer.”
Testimonial from Mr. Anonymous:
“I first met Mr. Sudev in a small coffee shop outside Denver when I was in an extremely difficult situation. I was facing troubles at the shelter I was at, being the brunt of several targeted acts of violence and discrimination and I had nowhere to turn. But when I sat down with Mr. Sudev, I knew that he would find a way to help me. I was an engineer in my home country with a Bachelors degree about to go back to school for a masters. But political issues in my country and my sexuality as a gay man led to a terrible incident that put my loved ones at risk which was a wakeup call. I found a temporary USAID related contract role that allowed me to come to the US. But when I got here, the contractor who had offered me the job no longer existed. I applied for an asylum but my case was stuck in processing for years. I found a job and kept it and was awarded employee of the year before our program lost federal funding. I was now unemployed and homeless. I was told Denver is a sanctuary city, there are opportunities here but when I got to Denver the situation was different. The city was stretched thin and the shelters and nonprofits that the city had outsourced support services too were barely providing anything. I moved from shelter to shelter experiencing hate crimes for my sexuality. I would find and lose the ability to healthcare. I had to sleep on roach infested beds and eat expired foods. I never wanted a handout. I never asked for one. I offered many people to work for them, but the opportunities never came. Then, I learned about Colectivo de Paz. They were doing their weekly food distribution and I got one of their cards. I called the number and they set up a meeting with Mr. Sudev. Their resource navigatory team was best. They were a small operation but offered me great care. Looked at all options for me. Connected me with a transitional housing program and then helped me get housed in an apartment. This June, I will have been housed for a full year. They connected me with a expert from Universidad of Denver who would talk to me several times about my legal status. She helped me find a lawyer who first helped me pro-bono but then I hired after I found a job. Ms. Ariana helped me with resumes, they would always email fast and Mr. Sudev connected me to a non-profit construction program hiring and training immigrants. I did some computer and web work for them until my foreman got me a different job where I work now. Colectivo de Paz changed my life. They gave me hope and they showed up with peace, just like their name.”