City and County of Denver (Denver Public Library)

To enrich the lives of Denver adults experiencing homelessness and poverty, Denver Public Library will develop ten months of programming that targets creativity, encourages empathy, and facilitates connections with the broader community. Inspired by research-based creative therapies, Sunrise Programs will include storytelling through writing, and sharing; art creation and discussion; knitting workshops; interactive theatre and movement classes; and share sessions. Denver Public Library staff will also host a monthly Coffee & Conversation session to talk with homeless customers one-on-one and learn their stories. The Sunrise Programs project design plans for an average of ten programs per month for ten months with a goal of averaging ten participants per weekly or monthly program and 50-100 participants at each share session for a total of 1,700 participants. Community resource specialists will also strive to make three to five new contacts at each event and encourage the use of appointments and walk-in assistance.