Week of December 29, 2022
$1.00
JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
GoldenTranscript.net
VOLUME 157 | ISSUE 2
Golden One competition returns as Golden High School raises $3,300 for charity
Living together Goldenites share perspectives, ideas about addressing homelessness as a community BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Golden High School senior Jaden Chapman showcases his speed-drawing talent during the school’s The Golden One competition on Dec. 14. Chapman was later crowned The Golden One, with 65% of the event’s proceeds going toward his charity of choice, The PHOTOS BY CORINNE WESTEMAN Second Wind Fund. BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
When trying to explain The Golden One competition, the words “talent show” or “fundraiser” don’t quite capture it. It’s an opportunity for 14 Golden High School seniors to showcase their talents — sometimes for entirely comedic effect — and start very serious conversations about lo-
cal charities and why they matter to GHS students. On Dec. 14, the school hosted its fourth annual The Golden One competition, where it raised more than $3,300 with 65% going toward the winner’s charity of choice, and the remainder toward the runner-up’s charity. This year, The Golden One Jaden Chapman and Runner-Up Rowan Messina both competed for the Sec-
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 10 | LIFE: PAGE 12 | CALENDAR: PAGE 15
ond Wind Fund. The Denver-based nonprofit helps connect young people with life-saving mental health resources. Both Chapman and Messina said it was important to support mental health resources for teens, especially coming out of the pandemic. “It means so much to support a SEE GOLDEN ONE, P2
The long journey toward ensuring everyone in Golden is housed starts with a conversation — one that helps build connections and relationships; examines everyone’s perspectives and values; acknowledges needs and concerns; and gets the ball rolling on steps everyone can take together. Earlier this month, about 50 housed and unhoused Golden residents, city officials and employees, nonprofit representatives and other community members participated in a World Café at First United Methodist Church of Golden. The Dec. 14 event posed questions for everyone about homelessness in Golden — what are their personal experiences, what values have clashed or been in harmony, and how can everyone contribute to making Golden a better place? Participants discussed these in small groups before reviewing overarching links and themes with the whole room. Susan Kaplan, a facilitator who’s been helping the church as part of a grant program, said the goal is to break down any silos that may exist in Golden, and have participants share their wisdom, knowledge and lived experiences with one another. The World Café model is a worldwide conversation process that’s used in various settings. Kaplan said she’s has seen conversations with anywhere SEE TOGETHER, P3
CITY TO THE SLOPES Initiative aims to help city kids make tracks
P12