Ziyi Xu

1 week ago | rmpbs.org | Alec Berg |Ziyi Xu |Joshua Vorse

DENVER — Each June, an estimated 500,000-plus people gather in Denver’s Civic Center Park for PrideFest, a two-day celebration featuring LGBTQ+ performers, community organization and a sea of rainbow-themed merchandise. Another notable presence at the celebration is massive corporations like Southwest Airlines, Wells Fargo and Verizon, who cover their displays in rainbow colors and hand out free swag during the parade and festival.

2 weeks ago | rmpbs.org | Ziyi Xu |Chase McCleary |Cormac McCrimmon |Alec Berg

CORTEZ, Colo. — “Salsa, what kind? Green, red, or fire?” asked Esmeralda Estrada. The customers chose the fire salsa, and Estrada suggested they have it on the side — just to be safe. Esmeralda’s Ranchito is the only Mexican grocery store in southwest Colorado. Inside, customers find imported Mexican candies, a wall of spices, colorful paper decorations, piñatas hanging from the ceiling, and freshly made tamales.

2 weeks ago | rmpbs.org | Peter D. Vo |Carly Rose |Melanie Asmar |Ziyi Xu

DENVER — Paul and Linda McCartney’s “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” played in the background of a brightly lit classroom, construction paper masterpieces lining the walls and preschoolers scattering their work over the carpeted floor: it was the end of class for the early childhood education cohort at Traylor Academy. About 20 three to five year olds lined up next to the door, giggling and whispering about the mess they just left. As they exited, the kindergarten class walked in, eyes wide.

4 weeks ago | rmpbs.org | Carly Rose |Melanie Asmar |Ziyi Xu

DENVER — Castro Elementary School, which has served generations of students in Denver’s Westwood neighborhood, will close at the end of the school year. The school is named after education and civil rights activist Richard T. Castro. The building will welcome a different cohort of students in August. Summit Academy is moving into the building this summer with plans to open in time for the 2025-26 school year. The academy is a Denver Public Schools-run “pathways school” for sixth through 12th graders.

1 month ago | rmpbs.org | Melanie Asmar |Ziyi Xu |Carly Rose |Chase McCleary

DENVER — Colorado will refuse a demand from the Trump administration to certify that its schools have eliminated what the federal government says are illegal diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, state Commissioner of Education Susana Córdova said Thursday. “I am not signing that,” Córdova said.