August 2023 Edition
A month-in-review newsletter sharing news, events and happenings to support a stronger, more engaged democracy in Denver and beyond.
Featured Articles
Launch of New Denver Democrats Website
Drum roll, please … the Denver Democrats are proud to introduce our new and improved website experience. Built entirely with volunteer support, the website was designed to be easier to use and provide valuable and timely resources at your fingertips.
Register for DPOD’s Annual Dinner on Oct. 7
Every year, the Democratic Party of Denver hosts an annual dinner to recognize the incredible efforts of volunteers and legislators, as well as raise valuable funds needed to support our Get Out The Vote initiatives. We are finalizing the agenda, which includes a slate of incredible speakers, and will have our legendary silent auction that features a number of unique items and experiences. Now through tickets Aug. 31, you can get an Early Bird discount on individual tickets and tables – plus, young professionals will get an additional discount. We’re excited to celebrate with everyone!
DPOD Summer Picnic Photo Essay
Thanks to everyone who attended our annual summer picnic on Aug. 6 at Ruby Hill Park. It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the great work we’ve done this year and spend time with DPOD members, electeds, candidates and supporters.
All photos taken by Julius Garrido
A Letter from Leadership
Hello Denver Democrats!
It’s been a scorching summer, and I hope everyone has found time to cool off outside and with friends and colleagues. As we gear up for fall travel and events, the DPOD team is elated to touch base on a few upcoming opportunities.
In true Democratic fashion, I’d be remiss for not keeping everyone updated on these odd-year elections. Several items are slated to appear on this November’s ballot, including nonpartisan candidates for Denver School Board, as well as two tax measures.
But just as important, our neighbors in Aurora are hosting their own nonpartisan municipal elections, and the Arapahoe County Democrats and various Democratic candidates are requesting volunteers to help support efforts to unseat Mayor Mike Coffman. Our community showed up to keep Denver blue this spring, and now it’s time we spread the love and flip Aurora from red to blue this fall! Check out the Arapahoe County Dems’ website or Facebook page to stay current on ways to engage.
Back on our home turf, the 2023 DPOD Annual Dinner is coming up on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, and will feature a VIP Reception and Silent Auction at 5 p.m., followed by the dinner at 6:30 p.m. Early bird tickets are available until Aug 30th, and you won't want to miss out! This dinner also gives us an opportunity to recognize some of the amazing people who make a difference for Democrats in Denver.
You can nominate your champions using this Google Form. This year's award categories are Democrat of the Year, Rising Star, Volunteer of the Year, Party Builder and Lifetime Achievement. Nominations close on Aug. 30, 2023! So much work goes into planning these events, and we love spending time with our community leaders and Party volunteers. It also represents some of our largest year-over-year fundraising efforts, and all ticket sales help us continue the work we do!
Looking forward to seeing you all at this year’s dinner, and hopefully knocking on doors in Aurora as well!
Until then,
Jared C. Bynum (He/Him/His)
Second Vice Chair Democratic Party of Denver
Volunteer Spotlight
For the past several years, the Denver Democrats have been intent on revamping our website to be more of a resource for the Denver community and have an updated look and feel. The challenge? Finding someone to make our vision a reality. Enter Scott Mangino. Politically involved since becoming student government president at Iona College, Scott has been an invaluable member of the DPOD. He took the reins as Technology Captain At-Large in February, and since then, has been hard at work building our new website.
He found a new platform with more flexibility and ease of use to democratize the website updating process. He spent countless hours working with DPOD leadership and house districts to not only ensure the site captured the elements we had envisioned, but also make those elements better. And he has made himself available at all hours to ensure a successful launch.
“I had the privilege of working alongside Scott to build out the content of the website, and I can’t say enough how much I appreciated his dedication, patience and problem-solving approach to getting the project across the finish line,” said Francie Dudrey, Communications Captain At-Large for the Denver Democrats. “I’ve launched several websites in my career, and for someone to tackle a project like this as a volunteer - while being such a pleasure to work with - is extraordinary. We are so lucky to have someone like Scott on our team.”
Upcoming Events
Connecting with those in our communities is core to our purpose, which means we always have events happening. You can find state, county and house district-level events on our events page.
Annual Dinner
DPOD’s 2023 Annual Dinner is Saturday, October 7, and we’re busy at work planning a wonderful evening for all of our guest at the DoubleTree Hotel. The VIP Reception and Silent Auction begin at 5 p.m., with dinner at 6:30 p.m. Early bird tickets are on sale through August 30, with special pricing for table sponsors and young professionals. Get more details here. Look forward to seeing you there!
DPOD House Districts
House District 1 House District 2 House District 3 House District 4 House District 5 House District 6 House District 7 House District 8 House District 9
Get Involved with Your House District
Find your house district and visit their page to learn more about events, initiatives and volunteering opportunities.
Contact Us!
574 S. Broadway
Denver, Colorado 80209
303-830-8242
Officers:
Chair: James Reyes
First Vice-Chair: Leah Dean
Second Vice-Chair: Jared Bynum
Secretary: Adrian Felix
Treasurer: Rita Simas Assistant Secretary: Emma Bliesener
Assistant Treasurer: Beth Turner