Juneteenth — All Roads shelter visit
by Gabriel Aarnes (a currently un-housed illuminator)
On Juneteenth (June 19, 2025), we organized a listen-and-learn meal and conversation with a group of individuals from our Boulder community.
Two of the people at our gathering were from All Roads: Spencer Downing, the Chief Shelter Program Officer, and Brian Hoium, the Assistant Director of Shelter Services. Also with us were two young students, Alex and Gracyn from the University of Colorado at Boulder. They are interning here at First United Methodist Church, and together we are working to change the narrative around the issue of homelessness. Antoinette, a second year PhD student at CU Boulder and former social worker, was also with us. She is interested in working with the Illuminators and friends to explore and develop dispute-resolution protocols based on experience from unhoused folks.
The group enjoying Jason’s tacos.
I especially don’t want to forget the 15 of us from the unhoused community who also sat around the table; and Jason, the unhoused youth, who with the help of his friends, cooked and presented us with a delicious serving of chicken tacos with all the fixings.
I’m writing this piece because I want us to see each other — truly see each other. No matter a person’s circumstances, whether they live in a grand house or live on the streets, they are a person with a story, a family, and a beating heart just like anyone else. My hope is that through these types of gatherings we can look past the labels of “homeless” or “housed” and recognize the shared humanity in everyone we meet. When we do this, we open the door to genuine connection and compassion.
After the gathering, I spoke with Antoinette, and part of what she shared with me was that she was honored to be invited to what she experienced as a “safe space.” A space that we had forged together with people who are being actively empowered by other people and a church. She found the lunch made by one of the illuminators lovely. The meal, the conversation, and the culture that was present was illuminating. She especially found it exciting and powerful that some of the illuminators were able to surface some concerns and thoughts with the directors from All Roads. Although many things might not have been addressed and resolved in that moment, these two communities have broached subjects for the directors who came to listen and to see the humanity of all those present. The level of honesty, vulnerability, and trust that was present was beautiful for her and others to witness. So much so, that she absolutely now wanted to be in community with us.
Yes, to see and be seen, to be able to share our humanity, to see peoples’ authenticity — her experience along with others’ at the table gives me hope. A hope bred in the faith and belief that the seeds we are planting will be given the room and support to blossom and grow.
