Mile High Magazine Podcast

Guest: Lacey Wicksall Executive Director

Wish Upon A Wedding is a national nonprofit that grants weddings and vow renewals to couples facing terminal illnesses or severe health challenges. Since 2010, it has fulfilled over 320 wishes with the help of a dedicated planner and volunteer vendors. Events are held on weekdays, limited to 50 guests, with $2,000 provided by the organization and the rest donated.  One recent wish was a vow renewal for a couple with stage 4 cancer and three teenage children. Their daughter walked down the aisle in her mother’s original wedding dress, danced with her father, and the mother was able to share a beautiful dance with her sons.

wishuponawedding.org

Guest: Darren Smith, VP Finance and Admin

Denver Pridefest is produced and managed as a fundraiser for The Center on Colfax which offers support, services and information year round to Colorado’s LGBTQ community. Although cuts in funding support for Pridefest will be a challenge for The Center operations this year, the Pridefest celebration goes on as it did prior to corporate support.

Guest: Cheryl Talley Director of PR/Communications Donor Alliance and Scott Pinkney, a liver recipient who is participating in the Donor Dash

Donor Alliance, Colorado’s organ and tissue procurement organization, also manages the Donate Life Colorado Registry. Currently, over 1,300 Coloradans are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. Remarkably, one donor can save up to 8 lives and help more than 75 others through tissue donation.

Scott, a liver transplant recipient, has shared his powerful journey—an experience that not only transformed his health but gave him a renewed perspective on life. In celebration of that gift, he’ll be joining others at this year’s Donor Dash on July 20 at Washington Park—an uplifting event that brings together donor families, recipients, and supporters from across the community.

donoralliance.org/donordash

Guest: Julie Klein, Director Program Strategy LifeTime Arts

Visual arts, theater, writing and music are among the expressive ways older adults are now engaging themselves. Studies are showing involvement in arts can reduce fall risk, taking less medication, fewer Dr. visits, along with improved mood and less stress. Engaging in arts as a therapeutic health benefit for older adults is the subject of this edition.

Guest: Lindsay Zaback Development Director

WeeCycle supports Colorado families by providing essential baby items—such as cribs, car seats, formula, and diapers—for children aged 0–4. The organization collects gently used gear, inspects and cleans it, and works with community partners to distribute supplies to families in need. Through mobile events in underserved neighborhoods, WeeCycle also provides diapers, wipes, and baby food directly to families. Last year, they served over 146,000 children across the state.

weecycle.org

Guest: Amber Crist Atkins & Atty Tracey Groniger, Justice in Aging.

56% of America’s 38.1 million persons living in poverty are women. This edition in a series, reviews what can be done to better support those in this “poverty zone” and updates on strategies to minimize the risk of other women joining them. Interview at the American Society on Aging national conference.

Guest: Aisha Ahmad-Post Executive Director

Located on the University of Denver campus, the Newman Center for the Performing Arts presents an eclectic mix of world-class performances, primarily in the acoustically superb Gates Concert Hall. Their programming spans contemporary and classical music, modern and cultural dance, spoken word, theater, and multimedia experiences. This season features jazz concerts, a Grateful Dead tribute, and much more. For those new to the arts, Aisha suggests catching MOMIX—a dance company known for its spellbinding blend of movement, illusion, and artistry. With something for every artistic palate, the Newman Center continues to be a cornerstone of cultural life in Denver.

https://newmancenterpresents.com/

Guest: Renee Rosenberg

Older adults whose previous years of reliable work habits are very much wanted and needed in todays companies. If you are in a job search now or seriously considering such again, to help support your positive mindset to be successful is the work of the organization Age-Rebrander. 

Guest: Emily Leclerq, Howard County Office of Aging

Determining guardianship, advanced directives, medical orders, long term care needs are among the many considerations older single adults must manage alone. Being a solo ager, as they are termed now, can be a daunting task beyond just considerations for Medicare and Medicaid as strategies are regularly changing. Discovering your path as a solo ager without immediate family is the focus of this edition.

Guest: Scott Dishong President & CEO

Make-A-Wish Colorado grants life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses across the state, fulfilling about one wish per day. The first wish ever granted, over 45 years ago, was a trip to Disney. As they prepare to grant their 7,000th wish—to a northern Colorado child who dreams of learning to be a cowboy from professional bull rider JB Mooney—they continue to expand their mission beyond terminal diagnoses to serve all children with critical illnesses.

https://wish.org/colorado

Guests: Catherine Marienau and Gail Zelitzky

Grown up adult women age 60+ are reshaping their lives growing into new directions, keeping active, developing and acting upon new interests in essence redesigning their lives. Helping them to get there are two ladies who conducted the workshop, “Women Over 70, Changing the Narrative” at the American Society on Aging national conference.

https://asaging.org/

Guest: Steve Best Board Member

The Honor Bell Foundation pays tribute to the selfless service of U.S. veterans. Their mission is to provide a dignified final salute during burial services, upholding tradition, respect, and solemnity. In addition to veteran outreach and community education, the Honor Bell contains 12 artifacts donated by families of deceased Colorado veterans, representing every U.S. conflict since World War II and all military branches. The bell is rung seven times at the end of the service, symbolizing service, patriotism, dignity, camaraderie, respect, honor, and the value of life.

https://honorbell.org/

Guest: Deidre Johnson Exec Director and Dr. Oswaldo     

In addition to their long term mission of supporting African Americans in Colorado with their health through screenings, nutrition education, mental health/wellness, and annual health fairs, the Center for African American Health is opening new clinic. The clinic will have health professionals on site, will do exams and make referrals. 

https://caahealth.org/

Guest: Deidre Johnson Exec Director and Dr. Oswaldo

In addition to their long term mission of supporting African Americans in Colorado with their health through screenings, nutrition education, mental health/wellness, and annual health fairs, the Center for African American Health is opening new clinic. The clinic will have health professionals on site, will do exams and make referrals. 

https://caahealth.org/

Guest: Dr. Joseph Ramos Level 1 Trauma Doctor and Personal Injury Attorney owner of FitMD

Have you heard about the miracle medicine helping people lose weight? The medicine over the counter is called, "Mounjaro" or "Wegovy." But the public can access safe compound versions of the medicine. It is called, "Semaglutide" and "Tirzepatide." These compounds help people lose stubborn pounds and fight off disease caused by obesity. What does it do to your body? What are the side effects and how long should you expect to be on it?

https://fitmdusa.com/

Guest: Kelly Ostoff, Colorado Alzheimer’s Association

April 17 is End Alzheimer’s Day. This program updates new developments and care regarding Alzheimers and dementia along providing 10 health habits to support the brain.

https://www.alz.org/co

Guest:  Kelly Ostoff, Colorado Alzheimer’s Association

April 17 is End Alzheimer’s Day. This program updates new developments and care regarding Alzheimers and dementia along providing 10 health habits to support the brain.

https://www.alz.org/co

Guest: Julissa Soto, CEO & Founder of Julissa Soto Latino Health Equity Consulting, Office of Health Equity Commissioner

Julissa helps people in the Latino community the health care system.  Starting January 1st of 2025, undocumented children and undocumented pregnant people qualified for Medicaid.  The health fairs Julissa host have vendors that are bilingual, they try to make it as easy as possible and be as transparent so these families know that they can get access to care.  There will be a health fair on May 17^th from 10a-2p at the Mountain Christian Church.  There will be a wide range of vendors that will help with thing such as mental health as well as vaccines.  The event is free to the community.

https://julissasoto.com/

Guest: Dr. Rachel Herlihy Chief Medical Officer

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment advises the state has at least three verified cases of measles. This edition will provide you with much of what you need to know to protect yourself against contracting measles.

Guest: Wendy Loloff Cooper CEO

Generation Schools Network helps students prepare for college and careers, offering unique experiences and organizing events like Entrepreneurship Fairs. An upcoming fair on April 30th at Wiggins High School, along with mini fairs in Aurora and Colorado Springs, engages students by providing feedback on their business plans. The organization also addresses bullying by teaching that it’s unacceptable and exploring underlying causes, often providing support with social or communication skills.

https://www.generationschools.org/

Guest: Cheryl Talley

April is National Organ Donor Awareness Month. With over 1,400 persons in the state awaiting one of eight organs, it is a good time to separate fact from fiction regarding organ donation and encourage listeners to consider becoming donors.

https://www.donoralliance.org/

Guest: Shelby Mattingly CEO

Denver’s Early Childhood Council is dedicated to strengthening the childcare system, recognizing that childcare is not only essential for children’s healthy development but also a cornerstone of a thriving workforce. They ensure families have access to quality childcare, collaborate with partners to provide health and mental health support, and focus on early development. Their efforts include supporting existing childcare programs, training early childhood professionals, building referral networks, and connecting children to developmental resources. By nurturing a robust childcare system, they help lay the foundation for both the well-being of children and the sustainability of the workforce.

https://denverearlychildhood.org/ 

Guest: Cheryl Talley

April is National Organ Donor Awareness Month. With over 1,400 persons in the state awaiting one of eight organs, it is a good time to separate fact from fiction regarding organ donation and encourage listeners to consider becoming donors.

https://www.donoralliance.org/

The Colorado Lottery is committed to giving back, with funds supporting the state’s beautiful outdoor spaces. March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month, a time to highlight the importance of players’ well-being. While lottery games can be a source of enjoyment, it’s vital to play responsibly and recognize signs like stress, strained relationships, or dishonesty about time or money spent. Colorado offers various resources to support those struggling, including tools on the lottery’s website. As a leader in player safety, the Colorado Lottery was one of the first to implement age verification on vending machines, ensuring responsible gaming. Together, we can enjoy these games while prioritizing health and happiness—because a little play can go a long way when it’s done right!

https://www.coloradolottery.com/

Guest: Deborah Richardson Executive Director

In the mission statement of the ACLU, the American Civil Liberties Union, you will find these words. We are there for you, rich or poor, straight or gay, black or white, or brown, urban or rural, pious or atheist, American born or foreign born, able bodied, or living with a disability, every person in the country should have the same basic rights.  The ACLU identifies itself as the nation's preeminent public interest law firm, an organization that is not anti-anything.  Their fight is taking on attempts to take away or to limit your civil liberties.

https://www.aclu.org/