Author: seanmburch

Hope for the homeless? Denver’s homeless population drops for 3rd consecutive year

seanmburchLeave a comment
A homeless man rests outside of a restaurant closed in the wake of the corona virus outbreak in Denver’s Santa Fe Arts District [Photo by Sean Burch]

There has to be no bigger struggle in life than that of being homeless, spending each day without a concrete idea of what lies ahead of you each night is a frightening way to live. This insecurity coupled with the Denver’s crippling winters push local shelters to capacity. What is it truly like to be homeless in Denver?

According to the Denver Point-In-Time Homelessness Survey, conducted annually, homelessness is on the decline. However in 2018 (the last year that has been published), the numbers of unsheltered homeless and chronically homeless are rising. According to this survey, the seven-county metro area’s homeless population fluctuated between 5,000 and 6,000 since 2015.

In a document published by the Colorado state government, in 2016 there were an estimated 10,550 homeless individuals in the State. This means that nearly half of all homeless in Colorado reside in Denver or surrounding counties.

“It’s a real issue,” said Daniel Brisson, Executive Director of the Center on Housing and Homelessness Research (CHHR) at the University of Denver in an email interview. The CHHR provides research, evaluation, training and technical assistance on the issues of homelessness and housing insecurity. Brisson further emphasized the struggles the homeless are facing with the camping ban, and currently, corona virus.

Pages: 1 2

The push for passion, and why entrepreneurs need it

FeaturedLeave a comment
Entrepreneur Phil McCarthy, an avid sports fan and believer of hard work.
[Photo by Sean Burch]

Entrepreneurship is much more than a difficult word to say, and it comes in a variety of different forms. In the media today notable entrepreneurs such as Andrew Yang and Elon Musk grace headlines, but what makes an entrepreneur? The truth is that there is no standard for path on how to become an entrepreneur. For Phil McCarthy, the entrepreneurial spirit is part of his lifestyle and the result of a culmination of learning experiences, he calls ingredients.

Recently declared an Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Denver, currently McCarthy works as the Director of Operations for 3D Lacrosse Colorado. Entrepreneurs are required to wear many hats, this is no clearer evidenced than through the various projects McCarthy has in motion at all times. McCarty is also head study Director of Failure Research on Athletes at Columbia University. While doing this he maintains being a professor of entrepreneurship at DU and running his blog on the athletic approach to life athelete2lifelite.com. 

“Some of [what I do] doesn’t seem very entrepreneurial, but to an entrepreneur, it all relates. You can see the patterns in how they relate,” explained McCarthy as he connected the dots of his current works.

Pages: 1 2

Women in Business has big plans for the University of Denver

Featured1 Comment
Vice President Milena Roger’s leading the discussion on next week’s Women in Finance event with her executive board members. [Photo by: Sean Burch]

While snow whips by outside and students hunker down for an evening of studying on February 19, 2020, Daniel’s College of Business room 110 is warmed by the heat that is good company. Inside six women gather sporadically around a cluster of tables in plushy rolling desk chairs. The Women in Business (WiB) executive board is ready to work in order to better their club and the lives of women.

President of WIB Amanda Martinez presides over the meeting, presenting each member with an agenda of the night’s topics.

“I figured [we] could start with Women In Finance…since that’s the most urgent,” began Martinez.

Pages: 1 2

Broomball and bruises, Fur Traders shutout Weak Team, 5-0

seanmburchLeave a comment
Weak Team goalie DongHoon Lee maintains high spirits despite a deficit. [photo by Sean Burch]

The University of Denver (DU) is silent on a late Tuesday evening, snow has blanketed the campus, but there is no relief from the cold in Joy Burns Arena, an intense showdown is about to occur pitting Fur Traders versus Weak Team. The fluorescent lights buzz as referees blow whistles and players struggle to stay on their feet, this is broomball.

Intramural Sports at DU have always been semi-popular but broomball proves to be unlike any other team sport on campus. Broomball combines elements of hockey and soccer to make for a very different experience.

Pages: 1 2

No more nicotine? U.S. government raises age to buy tobacco to 21

seanmburch2 Comments
Student smoking a cigarette at the University of Denver after new law is passed.
[Photo by Sean Burch]

Congress signed a law raising the age to purchase tobacco products last month. Now, like alcohol and cannabis, one must be 21 to purchase tobacco products. President Donald Trump signed H.R.2411 – Tobacco to 21 Act, into law on Dec. 20, 2019 and it became effective immediately.

Over the past year there have been an increase in deaths and illnesses caused by underage tobacco and nicotine use. A NY Times (NYT) report lists 2,506 lung injury cases that required hospitalization and 54 deaths caused by vaping, or the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigs).

Pages: 1 2