Michael shares his story of moving from Kansas to Denver about six months ago, right around the time of the 2020 protests. Born in Boulder but adopted and raised across Kansas and Missouri, his life has been marked by constant movement, addiction, and time in prison. He speaks about staying in multiple Denver shelters until trauma memories and conflict got him banned, leaving him searching for a tent and living largely outdoors.
He describes Denver as hardening him, sharpening both his protective instincts and his anger at systemic failure. Still, he imagines solutions: food trucks feeding people three times daily, nonprofits partnering with businesses, and coexisting rather than bulldozing tent camps. His story captures both the chaos of addiction and incarceration and the persistence of hope, humor, and music.
