The Park People is branching out to build a greener, more equitable Denver.

The needle dropped with a familiar crackle, releasing songs that were already ancient by the time they reached Hazel Miller’s ears. Jazz. Blues. The kind of music that demanded a physical response—dancing, singing, or a quiet reflection on the history that carried it. As a young girl in her family’s living room, Miller absorbed those sounds the way children absorb a sense of safety: effortlessly, as a fundamental part of the fabric of home.

Fourteen years ago, Hannah Ulbrich went out with her children to deliver newspapers and came home with a coffee roasting business. Copper Door Coffee started as a humble roastery in a neighbor’s garage, but under Ulbrich’s leadership, the company has grown into a veritable empire, encompassing seven cafes in Denver, soon to be eight, a thriving wholesale business, and an entire ecosystem of educational programming, workshops, and inspirational classes. 

Denver has long ranked among the top cities for sports fans, thanks to a fiercely devoted fan base led by the Broncos, the city’s unofficial religion. Amidst all the joy and anxiety and heartbreak, it can be tough to find time in the spectator schedule for that emergency session with your therapist when the Avalanche and Nuggets manage co-occurring playoff runs. You might, in that moment, do well to take in a feel-good dose of the consistent success of some of Denver’s under-the-radar sports superstars. Look no further than your Denver roller derby league.