Our Story
Sacred Voices is a Denver-based, BIPOC+, youth-focused organization that was founded in 2004.
Originally known as Cafe Cultura, Sacred Voices has worked tirelessly to accomplish our mission
Our Mission:
Sacred Voices promotes unity and healing among Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC+) communities through creative expression while empowering youth to find their voice, power, and become leaders in their communities.
What We Do
Sacred Voices hosts an open mic every month at Denver Open Media. It is the only open mic in town that is focused on youth.
We also conduct culturally engaging spoken word/poetry workshops for students in the Denver Metro area. These workshops teach students the power of their voice as well as the power of their racial identity and sexuality.
Meet The Team
Astin Lopez
Co-Executive Director
Astin Lopez is a musician, writer, worker, and sound engineer currently living in Denver, Colorado. He has a BS in Music from the University of Colorado Denver. His music is focused on isolation, depression, and the struggles of modern society. He is the Director of Media for Sacred Voices. He produces and organizes all of Sacred Voices' Open Mics, as well as manages Sacred Voices' online presence. Astin is also a freelance songwriter and audio technician writing music for local shows such as Circus Foundry and providing audio expertise to Abiding Hope Church.
_edited.jpg)
Briannah Hill
Co-Executive Director
Briannah Hill, a.k.a ArtsyQ, identifies as a Blaqueer [Black & Queer] Nonbinary individual. They are a poet, storyteller, and workshop facilitator, from Denver, CO. They are the Director of Programs for Sacred Voices. They manage, curate, and facilitate all the workshops and events for Sacred Voices.
When they aren't performing, ArtsyQ is a community organizer, educator, and social activist for Black Trans and Blaqueer peoples.
Meet The Board
Tabitha Sarai Baht Israel
Tabitha Baht Israel is a black and native poet and woman of God. She is involved with IUIC (Israel United In Christ). She believes in providing under-represented youth with a platform to express themselves. Tabitha is a Sacred Voices poetry workshop facilitator and leader in the community.
Joshua Emerson
Josh is loud. Joshua is a Dine’ (Navajo) comic based in the Denver scene with a loud and dynamic style that he uses to tackle subjects like race, culture, and mental health with emotional intelligence and volume. Not a subtle man, Joshua works to use his expressive and energic manner to bring positivity and build community amongst audiences across the country. Joshua has worked on shows with several famous comedians and some of them were very funny. Joshua is a founding member of the award-winning comedy troupe and production company, Deadroom Comedy. In his spare time, Joshua likes to remind people that he majored in Economics as well as walking his lovely dog, Lola.
Mateo Manuel Vela
Mateo Manuel Vela is a Chicano spoken word poet, scholar, and community organizer hailing from Denver, Colorado. He is currently studying International Affairs and Ethnic Studies at the University of Colorado, Boulder. In addition to being a board member for Sacred Voices, Mateo is also a leading member of the Latinx activist organization UMAS y MECHA de CU Boulder. Drawing from his experiences growing up in the Denver Westside, Mateo is a hopeless romantic who writes about his own lived realities and observations at the intersection of radical love, ancestral grief, politics, and healing.