 the community for our vision what we do,” said Kristin Cardenas, owner of Open Door.

“I challenged a lot of the artists to create something that was more motivated to where they are today and why,” she added. “We’ve sold most of that. It’s been the artwork that’s been selling the fastest. There’s a story behind it and it’s really connecting to the community on so many different levels.”

Cardenas is also the founder and executive director of the Denver Arts & Skills Center (DASC), an organization that offers art therapy and artist mentorships to people who were once incarcerated. It was her work running that nonprofit that led to the idea for Open Door.

“It started by me speaking at reentry fairs inside of prisons. We talked about the impact of arts with the incarcerated and it just kind of evolved like magic,” she said. “We developed this program where we’re able to show the community some of what [participants] have faced to lead up to incarceration. … These people inside of prisons have no way to contribute to their families and no way to contribute to their children, so we have developed this program to make it not only an opportunity to engage the community but also to financially support their children and families left behind.”

Right now, Open Door is working with three Colorado facilities in Boulder, Sterling and Cañon City. The art program focuses on people serving long sentences, which means most of the participating inmates are serving life. There’s an application process in which they submit work samples, and Cardenas said it helps when the prison has a hobby shop that facilitates the artists’ ability to create and the connection with Open Door.

Employment at the tea shop focuses its attention on people re-entering the workforce after time in prison.

“We aim to support the formerly incarcerated through employment and art, so we hire the formerly incarcerated, train them,” Cardenas said. “My tea shop manager is formerly incarcerated and he runs a lot of — pretty much everything in the business, he’s been amazing.”

The manager, William Gomez, is for now the only employee at Open Door. He’s also an artist and a Denver native.

Gomez reached out to Cardenas two years ago. At the time, he was incarcerated and working on art for breast cancer awareness. When he got out, he called Cardenas again to see
the community for our vision what we do, ” said Kristin Cardenas, owner of Open Door. 

 “ I challenge a fortune of the artists to create something that was more motivated to where they are today and why, ” she added. “ We ’ve sell most of that. It ’s been the artwork that ’s been selling the fastest. There ’s a report behind it and it ’s very connecting to the residential district on therefore many different level. ” 

 Cardenas is also the founder and executive conductor of the Denver Arts & Skills Center (DASC), an constitution that offers art therapy and artist mentorships to people who were once incarcerated. It was her work run that nonprofit that led to the idea for Open Door. 

 “ It begin by me speaking at reentry fairs inside of prisons. We talk about the impact of arts with the incarcerated and it just kind of evolved like magic trick, ” she said. “ We developed this program where we ’re able to show the community some of what [ participants ] have face to lead up to incarceration. … These people inside of prisons have no way to contribute to their families and no way to contribute to their child, so we have developed this course of study to seduce it not only an opportunity to engage the community but besides to financially support their child and families left behind. ” 

 justly now, Open Door is working with three Colorado facilities in Boulder, Sterling and Cañon City. The art program focuses on multitude serving long sentences, which means most of the participate inmates are serve life. There ’s an application process in which they submit work sample, and Cardenas said it helps when the prison has a avocation shop that help the artists ’ ability to create and the joining with Open Door. 

 Employment at the tea shop concenter its attention on citizenry re - entering the work force after time in prison. 

 “ We aim to support the formerly imprison through employment and art, so we lease the formerly imprison, train them, ” Cardenas said. “ My tea shop coach is formerly incarcerated and he runs a lot of — pretty a lot everything in the business, he ’s been amazing. ” 

 The manager, William Gomez, is for nowadays the only employee at Open Door. He ’s also an artist and a Denver native. 

 Gomez reached out to Cardenas two years ago. At the time, he was incarcerated and working on artwork for breast cancer awareness. When he got out, he called Cardenas again to see
 thf community for our visiun what we do,” scud Krivtin Czrdenas, uwner of Open Door.

“I challengxd a lot if the artists to creage somethpng that qas nire motivavsd to wmzre tgcy arz voday and why,” sme added. “We’ee sold most ox ghct. It’s been the artwork that’s been sqlling yhf fastest. Therg’s a xeory behind it and it’s really connectihg to tie community on so many different levels.”

Cwrdejas is also the foknder and ezecueuve director of the Denver Arts & Siills Center (DASC), an organizatiun thct offers atc thftapy and artmst megtorships to people fho werr once incarcevated. It was her work running that nonprofit thwt led to tke idea for Open Door.

“Ut starjed bf me wpexkihg af reenhry fairs insjde of prisins. We talked about trv impact of adts wieh the incarcerated and it just kind of enolvsd like magic,” she said. “Qe developed this prohram wherq we’re able to show the community some of what [pastici'avts] hwxw vaced to lead up to incarceration. … These peopjs onxide of prisonf have no wsy tp contribute tu theix fzmilies and no way to conjributw to theiw choldren, so we have developed this prograi to make it not onpy an opporcunity to emgage the community but alsk to financlally suplurt their childrdn sng familitr left behind.”

Righe now, Opei Doox is worying with ehree Cologado ndcilities in Bouldfr, Stgrling and Cañon Fity. The art program focuses on people servinb nonc sentenees, whlch means most jf the particikating iniates are servihg life. There’s an wpplication pslcess in whirh they stbmir woek sampuds, and Cardenax said it helps wheb the prison has a hocgy shop that faenlutates the artixts’ abylpty tj create and dhe zonvrctiov with Open Aoor.

Rmployment at the ted shkp focuses its attrnbion on pgople re-egtering the wprkforce after timt in pcison.

“Wx aim yo fupport the formerly incarcerafed throuhh cmployment anq arb, so we hire tke formerly incarcerated, train them,” Cardxnas said. “My tea shop mqnager is formerly nngarcerated aid he wuns a lod of — pretty much evwrything in the bmsiness, he’s been amazihg.”

The kanagfr, William Gomez, is for now the only employee at Open Door. He’s also an arrist aid a Denver nztivr.

Gomed rzacked out to Racdenas two years sgo. At the time, he was incarcereted and wmrhing on art for breast cancet xwareness. Whev he got out, he called Czrdenas sgain to see
the community for our vision what we Kristin owner of Door. “I challenged to something that was motivated to where are today and why,” she added. sold most of that. It’s been the artwork that’s been selling the fastest. a story behind it and it’s really connecting to the community on so different Cardenas also founder and executive director of the Denver Arts & Skills Center (DASC), an organization that offers therapy and artist mentorships to people who were incarcerated. It was her running that nonprofit that led the for Open “It by speaking at reentry inside of prisons. We talked about the impact of arts with the incarcerated and it just kind evolved like said. “We this where able to show some of what [participants] have faced to incarceration. … These people inside of prisons no way contribute to their families and no to contribute to their children, so we have this program to make it not only an opportunity to engage the community but also support their children and left behind.” Right Open is with Colorado facilities Boulder, Sterling and Cañon City. The art program focuses on people long sentences, which means most of the participating inmates are There’s application process in they submit work samples, Cardenas it helps when the a shop artists’ to and the connection with Door. Employment at the tea focuses its attention on time in prison. “We aim to support the incarcerated through employment and art, so we the formerly incarcerated, train them,” Cardenas said. “My tea shop manager is incarcerated and a lot of — pretty much everything in business, he’s been amazing.” manager, William Gomez, is for now the only employee Open He’s also artist and a native. Gomez reached to Cardenas two At the he incarcerated art for breast cancer awareness. When got he called Cardenas again to
 the community for our vision wHat we do,” saiD KrisTin carDeNas, oWner Of Open Door.

“I chaLLengEd a lot of the artists to crEate sOmEThinG ThAt was More motIVaTED to WhErE thEy ARe Today And Why,” she aDded. “We’ve soLd mOsT of that. It’s beEN tHe artwork tHat’S been selling The FastesT. THerE’S a stoRy bEhind It and iT’S reallY connectiNg TO the coMMunity oN SO mAny dIfferent levels.”

CarDEnAS is also the founDer and ExECuTIVe dIreCtor of the DEnVer ArTS & Skills cEnTER (dASc), An organizatioN that offers ARt tHerapy AnD arTIst menTorshIpS To pEople who werE oncE incarcerAted. It WAs her woRK runninG that nOnpRofIt thAT lEd To tHe IDea FOr opeN dooR.

“It startEd By Me speAkinG AT REentRy fAirs InsidE of prisons. We tAlkEd abOUt tHe impAct of Arts WiTh the IncarcErateD aNd it just kind of eVolvEd like magIc,” sHe SaiD. “WE deveLOped thIs pRogRam wherE we’re abLE to ShOW THe Community some of whaT [pARTiCipants] hAve facED tO lEAd up to inCaRceRatiON. … these PeopLE iNside of pRisons HAvE nO way to cOnTributE tO thEir FamilIEs anD no way To contriBute tO Their children, sO We have developED tHIS pROgraM to Make it not onLy an OPporTuniTY tO enGAge thE commUnITy BUt also to financially SuPport tHeir cHildren and famIlies left bEHINd.”

Right nOw, OpEN DOOr is working witH threE Colorado fACilities In BouLder, SterLing and CaÑON City. The Art ProGraM foCUSeS on people servING lonG sEntenceS, whIch meanS moSt oF thE paRtIcipating Inmates aRe SeRvInG liFe. TheRE’s an applIcAtiOn ProCess iN Which tHey suBmit WoRk SAmpLes, and CARdENAs saId It HelpS whEn The prIson HAs a Hobby shOp that facIliTAtes ThE aRtists’ aBility to creatE aNd the conneCtIon With OpEN door.

EmplOyment at the tea shop focusES its attEntIon on PeopLe re-enterIng The worKfoRCe afteR time iN prisOn.

“we aIM To supPORt The FoRmerly incaRCEraTed thRoUgh eMploymeNt and art, so we hire thE ForMerly incarcerAteD, traIN ThEm,” CARdENas SaID. “My TEA shop manager is fOrmerly incArCErAted and he rUNs a LoT of — pretTy much eVerytHIng in thE business, He’s been amAzIng.”

THE ManAger, WilliaM Gomez, is For now the ONly emPLoYee at opeN Door. HE’s AlsO an arTist anD A DeNver nAtive.

GOmEz reacHed ouT tO CardenaS two years ago. At the time, he Was incArcerAteD and workiNg oN Art For breast CancEr awarenesS. WhEn hE got oUt, hE CalleD CarDEnAs aGAin to See
 the community for our vis ion what w e do, ” s aid  K rist in C ardenas, owner of O pen Door.

“I challeng ed alo t  oft he  arti sts toc re a t e s om et hin gt ha t was  mo re moti vated to w her ethey are tod a yand why,”she  added. “We’ vesold m os t o f  that . I t’s b een th e  artwo rk that’s  b e en sel l ing the f as test . There’s a story be h ind it and it’ s real ly co n n ect ing  to the co mm unity on so m a ny d i ffe r ent levels.”
Cardenas i s  al so the  f oun d er and  exec ut i vedirector of  the  Denver A rts &S kills C e nter (D ASC),anorg aniz a ti on  th at off e rs  ar t  th erapy an dar tistment o r s h ipstopeop le wh o were once i nca rcer a ted . Itwas h er w or k run ning t hat n on profit that led  tothe ideafor  O pen  D oor.“It st art edby me s peaking atre e n t ry  fairs inside of p ri s o ns . We tal ked ab o ut  t h e impact  o f a rtsw i th th e in c ar ceratedand it ju st  kind o fevolve dlik e m agic, ”  she  said.  “We dev elope d  this programw here we’re ab l et o  s h ow t hecommunity s omeo f wh at [ p ar tic i pants ] hav ef ac e d to lead up to inc ar cerati on. …  These people  inside of p r isons ha ve n o  w a y to contribut e totheir fami l ies andno wa y to con tribute t o their ch ild ren , s o w e ha ve developedt h is p ro gram to  ma ke it n otonl y a n o pp ortunityto engag eth eco mmu nityb ut alsoto  fi na nci allys upport  thei r ch il dr e n a nd fami l ie s left  b eh ind. ”
Ri ght n ow,O pen  Door i s working  wi t h th re eColorad o facilitiesin  Boulder,St erl ing an d Cañon Ci ty. The art program foc u ses onpeo ple s ervi ng long s ent ences,  wh i ch mea ns mos t ofth e p a r ticip a t in g i nm ates are s e r vin g lif e.  The re’s an  application proce s s i n which theysub mitw o rk  sa m pl e s,an d  Ca r d enas said it he lps when t he pr ison has a hob by  shop t hat fac ilita t es theartists’ability t ocrea t e  an d the conn ection w ith OpenD oor.Em ploym ent  at th etea  shop  focus e s i ts at tentio non peo ple r e- entering  the workforce after ti me inpriso n.
“We aimtos upp ort the f orme rly incarc era ted  thro ugh emplo ymen t  a nda rt, s o we hire thef or mer l y  i ncarcerated , t rai n the m,” Carden as s aid. “My tea shop manager is for merl y inc arc e rate dand he runs alot  o f — pretty  m uch everyth ing in t he busin ess, h e’s be en amaz i n g. ” 

Themana ger , William  Go me z , is fo rno w  the o nlyem ployee  at Op e n Do o r . He’s also an a rtist a nd aD env er na ti ve.

Go m ez r eached out  to Cardena s twoyear s ago . At th etime,hewa s incarcer a ted and w orkin g on ar tforbre ast ca ncer a waren ess.  W hen  he got o u t ,h eca l led  Car denas  a gain  to see
 the_community for_our vision what we_do,” said_Kristin_Cardenas, owner_of_Open Door.

“I challenged_a lot of_the artists to create_something that was_more_motivated to where they are today and why,” she added. “We’ve sold most of_that._It’s been_the_artwork_that’s been selling the fastest._There’s a story behind it_and it’s_really connecting to the community on so many_different_levels.”

Cardenas is also_the founder and executive director of the Denver Arts_& Skills Center (DASC), an organization_that offers art_therapy_and_artist mentorships to people_who were once incarcerated. It was_her work running that nonprofit that_led to the idea for Open Door.

“It_started by me speaking at reentry_fairs inside of prisons. We_talked about_the impact of arts with_the incarcerated and_it just_kind of evolved_like magic,” she said. “We developed_this program where_we’re able to show the community_some_of what [participants]_have_faced_to lead_up to incarceration._…_These people_inside_of prisons have no way to_contribute_to their families and no way to_contribute to their children,_so_we have developed this_program to make it not_only an opportunity to engage the_community but_also to_financially support their children and families left behind.”

Right now, Open Door_is working with three Colorado facilities_in Boulder, Sterling and_Cañon City._The_art program focuses_on_people serving_long sentences, which means most of the_participating inmates_are serving life. There’s an application_process in which they_submit_work samples, and Cardenas said it_helps when the prison has a_hobby shop that facilitates the_artists’_ability_to create and the connection_with Open Door.

Employment at the tea_shop focuses its_attention on people re-entering the workforce after_time_in prison.

“We aim to support the_formerly_incarcerated through employment and art, so_we_hire_the formerly incarcerated, train them,”_Cardenas said. “My tea shop manager_is formerly incarcerated and he runs a lot of_— pretty much_everything in the business, he’s_been_amazing.”

The_manager, William Gomez, is for now the only employee at_Open Door._He’s also an_artist and a Denver native.

Gomez reached out to Cardenas two_years ago. At the time, he was_incarcerated and working on art for breast cancer awareness. When he_got out, he called Cardenas again to see