Mile High Magazine Podcast

Guest: Amanda Gordon Owner

Amanda started the first black woman owned car dealership in Colorado, she started her business with just $10,000.  She got her dealer license in 2018.  Amanda is also the first black woman to sit on the Colorado State dealer board. She may be the first but knows she will not be the last and will set the standard and example for women of color that come after her to be comfortable, confident and be successful in being an owner.  Amanda also has a podcast called Mind Your Business, it is about being on your mind about your business.  Amanda has a blueprint that will help, and the first thing is to have a business model.  She also wants people to know consistency is key.  No one is going to bet on you how you will bet on you!

https://www.gojoauto.com/

Guest: Jennifer Orrigo Charles Executive Director

Colorado Preservation Inc.’s works to ensure historic places across Colorado are protected and will be preserved for future generations. The also provide advocacy, education and outreach to communities across Colorado.  They help to write grants, help get funding, even help write tax credit applications.  Coming up January 29th - February 1st is the Saving Places Conference at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs.  This year the theme is Intangible Heritage.  They will be exploring how customs, traditions, and knowledge passed down through generations are intertwined with the built environment.  During the conference, they will be announcing the places they will be working to preserve this year. 

savingplacesconference.org   

Guest: Paul Andrews President and CEO

The National Western Stock Show starts on January 11^th and will be here for two weeks.  It all kicks off with the big parade on January 9^th in downtown Denver with the Grand Marshal being Kathy Sabine.  The National Western Stock Show is a non-profit that started in 1906.   The show is sixteen days with rodeos, PBR, livestock shows, horse shows, shopping and so much more.  Over 50 states and a lot of countries from around the world will be represented this year. 

https://nationalwestern.com/

Guest: Jill Shenkel Henwood Executive Director

Linda and Jimmy Yip lost their only son, Nathan in a car accident.  The Yips turned that tragedy into a foundation to honor Nathan’s legacy.  Originally they supported projects in rural China, in the last nine years they started to focus on rural schools in Colorado.  Teachers in rural areas apply for grants, in 2024 they had over $400,000 worth of requests from about 208 teachers.  On February 1^st for the Chinese New Year celebration, the Nathan Yip Foundation will have a celebration to celebrate the year of the snake.  It is a family style dinner, there is a silent auction, lion dancers, and a traditional salad toss.  The Year of the snake is associated with wisdom, elegance, charm and transformation.

nathanyetfoundation.org

Dr. Lena Heilmann, Director, Office of Suicide Prevention

Summary: For decades the prevailing thought was suicide was highest during the Holiday period however recent studies show that is not the case. In Colorado, the 8^th leading cause of death is suicide, with the state in 2020 losing 101 children ages 10-19 to suicide. This program provides insights and prevention information to those at risk during the holiday’s to reconsider such thoughts.

https://cdphe.colorado.gov/suicide-prevention

Guest: Heather Burke Spokesperson and Inka Nisinbaum, a double lung and liver transplant recipient

This holiday season, Donor Alliance is encouraging Coloradans and Wyomingites to check one very important task off their to-do lists: giving the gift of life by registering to be an organ, eye, and tissue donor.  Right now, there are nearly 1,300 people in our community waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. On a national scale, that number jumps to more than 100,000 people.  Tens of thousands of people also need tissue donations. Tissue transplants can also save and heal lives, including those suffering from trauma, disease, or even blindness.  Registering to become a donor is really easy, you can either check the box when you renew your ID, or just visit their website and you can sign up there.  One person can save up to eight lives through organ donation and help heal up to 75 lives through tissue donation.

 https://www.donoralliance.org/

Guest: Eric Lionheart Founder

First There Foundation organization devoted to supporting all Combat Controllers during life’s most challenging moments.  First There Foundation does not just help the Combat Controllers but they also help their families.  Combat Controllers is a team in the military that many people do not know about their job.  It can be a struggle to trust people when looking for help when they are telling you, they have never heard of you.  First There Foundation helps Combat Controllers get resources the help they were they feel safe. 

https://www.1stthere.org/ 

Guest: Pos Ryant, Executive Director

Apprentice of Peace Youth Organization (AOPYO) works with youth of all backgrounds, but particularly those from marginalized communities in Denver, Aurora, Brighton, and Jefferson counties.  They work with elementary through high school as well as young adult by mentoring the youth in wellness and career pathways programs.  The Laws of Life is their stem-based approach to our programming.  Laws stands for leadership, Arts, and Wellness and skill trades.  When kids have a mentor, they're less likely to skip school and they're more likely to volunteer in the community.  AOPYO teaches the kids Tai Chi, which helps with focus, relaxation and calmness.  AOPYO also provide counseling, therapeutic services and home crisis management.     

https://www.aopyo.org/

Guest: Dr. Lena Heilmann, Director, Office of Suicide Prevention

For decades the prevailing thought was suicide was highest during the Holiday period however recent studies show that is not the case. In Colorado, the 8^th leading cause of death is suicide, with the state in 2020 losing 101 children ages 10-19 to suicide. This program provides insights and prevention information to those at risk during the holiday’s to reconsider such thoughts.

https://cdphe.colorado.gov/suicide-prevention

Guest: Dr. Terry Dunn

This is can be a very stressful time for everyone but women tend to juggling a lot of responsibilities over the holidays.  Studies have shown nearly half the women have increased levels of stress and cortisol over the holidays compared to men.  The most important thing women can do is make a plan and delegate task.  If being organized and delegating task is hard for you then it is ok and let the stress go.  One small thing you can do before going to a party is eat something health before you go and drink water, this will help you from overeating.  Stay active if you have a workout routine.  The most important part of all this is sharing time with your friends and family.  Be realistic, don't beat yourself up, and except yourself is where you are.

https://urogyns.com/ 

Guest: Cleo Parker Robinson Founder and Artistic Visionary

Now over 50 years later, having performed in over 40 countries, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance has excelled to become one of the leading dance arts companies in America and the world. 

https://cleoparkerdance.org/

Guest: Kylee Glaser Board President

Denver Santa Claus Shop has been around for 94 years and over the years have been able to help over 1 million children receive Christmas gifts.  Every December they create a temporary toy store for families with children ages 0-11.  They are anticipating helping over 15,000 children this year.  December 13^th- 14^th and 16^th-17^th families who are referred to them by local partners can go and shop for toys for their children. Denver Santa Claus Shop accepts gently loved toys and has a team on board that help to restore them to bring them back to life.  One of their biggest challenges is to find a location to build the toy store.        

https://www.denversantaclausshop.org/    

Guest: Laura Crowley Executive Director

Angel Eyes provides free grief counseling to families who have lost an infant or a toddler, even pregnancy loss to an unexpected death.  Families are offered 12 sessions with a professional grief counselor.  Angel Eyes also provides group sessions.  Angel Eyes offers sibling counseling for children from 3-18 and they also offer counseling for the family unit together.  Angel Eyes holds four major events throughout the year to help raise money and a way of families to come together to heal.  Grief has no limits.             

https://angeleyes.org/

Guest: Kevin Petersen LMFT

Coming into the holiday season, it is hard for addicts and families with addicts.  Families need to know it is ok to set boundaries and then offer a solution, and you must hold them accountable for following through.  One of the hardest reasons for an addict to stay sober during the holidays is all the parties.  If they slip up, the spiral starts of remorse, and it becomes hard for them to stop.  The number one way a person who is an addict can help themselves if they refuse to ask for help, is to go to a 12-step meeting.  Statistically 12-steps is most successful process.  The most important thing to understand is there's hope, there is a way out, all you have to do is ask for help.      

 chronichope.us

Guest: Yusef Lateef Founder and Director

Second Chance Center in Aurora works with newly released offenders to get them a better return into society to prevent them from returning again to jail. Begun as a former inmate assisting others, the center has now prevented over 80% of those they assist from becoming repeat offenders. 

https://www.scccolorado.org/

Guest: Kelly Dunkin President & CEO

Colorado Gives Day is Colorado’s largest day of giving.  Colorado Gives Day is December 10^th this year but early giving started on November 1^st.  Colorado Gives Day started in 2010 and since that time they have raised $469 million dollars for Colorado non-profits.  Colorado Gives Day is the single biggest fundraising event of the year for some non-profits.  The website can be used year-round and not just for Colorado Gives Day.  There are over 4,000 non-profits on their website to donate too, you can search by a cause and even by your zip code.  All donations made on Colorado Gives day, gets amplified by over a million-dollar incentive fund and can help nonprofits win $100,000 in prizes.

Guest: Dr. Bill Wright Chief Medical Officer

Colorado Access is one of several organizations around the state that serves Medicaid members.  There's about 1.2 million Medicaid members in the state of Colorado.  Colorado Access manages two of those regions, Denver, Adams, Elbert, Arapahoe, and Douglas Counties.  They are responsible for helping navigate the healthcare system for their members. That could be coordinating care, helping them find providers, helping them with health-related social needs like housing and transportation and food insecure. Between April of 2021 and January of 2023, the vaccination gaps between Latino Spanish speaking members and white Caucasian member, it went away completely.  By just listening to what the members they serve need, they have even seen an increase in well child visits. 

 coaccess.com

Guest: Becky Diorio Program Manager

Diabetes continues to increase in America, the highest number of type 1 diabetics reside in the state of Vermont. They are followed by Hawaii, Maine, Alaska, Montana and South Dakota. In Colorado, 6.9% of the adult population has been diagnosed with diabetes. That's over 320,000 of our friends and neighbors.  The principal factor driving the development of type 2 diabetes affecting 90 to 95% of Americans is obesity.  

https://cdphe.colorado.gov/diabetes

Guest: Jonna Busack Director Marketing and Corporate Partnerships

Ronald McDonald House provides temporary housing for families who've traveled to Denver to get medical treatment for their kids and no family is ever charged to stay there.  The families can stay at the Ronald McDonald House for as long as their child is receiving treatment.  The Ronald McDonald House is similar to a hotel room but they also provide free meals and even laundry.  There are even time they might be able to give the families tickets to the zoo or sporting events.  Coming up on December 5^th is the annual Light the House Radiothon.  All the money raised that day goes directly to the Ronald McDonald House.  It starts at 6a and goes until the final total is revealed at 6p.

Rmhc-denver.org

Guest: James Seneca Aurora Police Department

Cops Fighting Cancer was started 22 years ago and part of that is a program called Long Blue Line.  Long Blue Line started as an idea to take stuffed animals, crayons, and coloring books to Children’s Hospital.  Since then, the program has grown and this year they will have 40 different agencies involved.  The Joe Bumberger Long Blue Line event kicks off with a breakfast, they also have a donut eating contest, followed by a ceremonial roll call.  The Long Blue Line leaves from 32^nd and Airport and the line of law enforcement agencies heads to Children’s Hospital.  Cops Fighting Cancer is always looking for donations and volunteers. 

https://copsfightingcancer.org/

Guest: Tara Moyer Area Executive Director

Country cares for St. Jude Radiothon is the largest fundraising event for St. Jude.  The money raised goes to life saving research and they share the research freely with doctors and hospitals.  The children who are seen at St. Jude, their diagnosis is often so rare that they're not able to get care where they live.  Families who are at St. Jude never receive a bill.  December 4^th and 5^th is the annual Country cares for St. Jude Radiothon.  KYGO has been a partner for the event for over 25 years.  By donating just $19.00 a month you become a Partner in Hope and you help to fund the research and help the kids that are in their hospital, plus you also get a This Shirt Saves Lives shirts.       

stjude.org/colorado

Guest: Becky Diorio Program Manager

Diabetes continues to increase in America, the highest number of type 1 diabetics reside in the state of Vermont. They are followed by Hawaii, Maine, Alaska, Montana and South Dakota. In Colorado, 6.9% of the adult population has been diagnosed with diabetes. That's over 320,000 of our friends and neighbors.  The principal factor driving the development of type 2 diabetes affecting 90 to 95% of Americans is obesity.  

https://cdphe.colorado.gov/diabetes