Tonight on studio 12, a Lumen Technologies leader shares her journey to empower other young professionals in the workplace.

Teens take the mic to talk openly about mental health and what they want parents to know.

We get a special sneak peek into Denver's annual Greek festival going on this weekend, and we're taking you inside the sporty pickle to see why this hot spot is trending.

Plus, a powerful message about the true meaning of Memorial Day and a live performance from sounds on 29th with Big Richard at the Gothic Theater here in Denver.

Studio 12 starts right now.

From the Five Points Media Center in the heart of Denver, Colorado.

This is studio 12.

Tonight, as part of our Humanize Women in the workforce series.

We meet Jade Marquez, a senior lead digital experience manager at Lumen Technologies.

Jade shares how building community has shaped her career, and why she believes lifting up diverse voices isn't just the right thing to do.

It's what drives real change.

My name is Jade Marquez and right now my 9 to 5.

I work for Lumen Technologies.

My title is Senior Lead Digital Experience Manager.

I'm scared every day.

But recently I've learned you never know if you don't shoot your shot.

And most of the time if you just try like take that one step and that second step, it either works out very well for you and it's like a wonderful surprise and like an ego boost, or you learn a very valuable lesson or lessons that you carry with you forward.

I think especially at lumen, we we have a fabulous, female leader, Kate Johnson, who I think we're all obsessed with.

And so that's amazing.

I think that kind of like, really lights a fire under you when you see your leadership out there being amazing.

Transforming the company, it gets people intrigued.

Like, maybe I do want to be in a leadership role.

Like, maybe I do want to put myself out there.

And I think that's a decision that everybody needs to make.

I feel like women, especially have this expectation of themselves, oh, if you're tasked with this, then you must do the whole thing instead of I am tasked with this, I collaborated, we came up with this.

Maybe there's like a little bit of fear, like of proving yourself, proving your value.

And if you bring people in, maybe that might be seen as you can't do it yourself.

I would say that probably I started my career with that energy, feeling like if I didn't do it or if I asked for help, that I wasn't meeting or exceeding expectations.

What I've learned is to like, let go and to not be so tightly wound and to just kind of ask for help.

Don't be shy.

If you know somebody that's really good at something that you're it's kind of in your space.

Help them up.

See if they'll help get their advice.

Asking for help and letting go has been like really huge for me.

Now that I've, you know, been in the game and I've succeeded and I've failed and I've tackled challenges that I never thought I would achieve, I'll say like, yeah, ask for help immediately.

Like, as soon as you get that project, start hitting people up, asking questions.

I would say 90% of it is asking questions and being quiet and learning and then the 10% is like hitting the go and putting people in a room together like a team.

Everybody has their place and it's usually what they're good at.

And then all of a sudden you get synergy and so people can start picking up things that necessarily weren't in the description or, you know, the assumption of your responsibility in the beginning.

I love like that teamwork.

I love looking around the room and being like, okay, well, if anybody could do it, it's definitely us.

And not like if anybody could do it's definitely me.

It's like, no, it's us, because I couldn't do it with by myself.

My two favorite leaders have been male and they have been very, very into teaching me, but also uplifting my work.

Like whenever my work is being talked about in the rooms where decisions are made, being like, well, this is Jade, let me, let me have her speak to it.

And that's something else that I have just recently realized.

Like it's a huge green flag when it comes to your leadership is if you're working on really great work that they call you up to, talk about it, instead of kind of like, grab that great work and and talk about themselves, but making sure that you're in those rooms so people know what you've done.

I've been seen.

I am valued.

My advice would be, sometimes if you're not being seen, that's not the right place.

As somebody who's struggled with, like, loyalty to a fault, releasing things that don't serve you is very important.

And I would say, like, any good relationship, what you're putting in should be coming out.

Keep your head down and work hard, and then you'll get noticed and promoted that.

That's what I was kind of told by my dad.

No, don't do that.

I would say work hard.

Talk about it loudly.

If you are that type of person who can't talk about their work or themselves in a way that doesn't feel cringe or, you know, brown nosy, then you can be you can put yourself in a vulnerable position for people to take advantage of you.

Proudest moments when I worked for the Colorado Technology Association.

One thing that brought me a ton of support and taught me a lot of things I didn't realize that I needed to learn was, participating in their Young Professionals board.

And so I wanted that for other folks.

So started the Colorado Technology Association.

Yo, pro, where they can have speaking and leadership and thought leadership, in the organization, have better networking opportunities, but also kind of start getting that board service experience.

I think learning how to work with a whole bunch of people with different motivations, different perspectives on one thing is very hard, but 100% necessary.

I would also say that creating a network is very important, because what I always tell people, your network is your net worth.

Don't forget it.

I need other like minded, professionally motivated women to talk to when stuff goes down.

I can't tell you how many times I call them with like in my mind, an impossible situation.

And we'd get together for a happy hour and I would have women like, who is in H.R., who was, you know, completely different areas.

Give me advice.

And I would take a little nugget from each and come up with my own, like, okay, this is how I'm going to handle it.

And I know for a fact that if I didn't have them there to give me the advice that they did, I would not have made such strategic, smart decisions that didn't screw myself over.

I think we should have more young professional boards.

Because, you know, you look at board service, you know, that aren't young professional boards and they're just like, no young people.

And there's definitely not a lot of women.

And so I think like getting people thinking about it potentially is also something I'm very proud of.

In 2022, I was the chair of the Women's March Denver.

I feel great about it.

It's something that I've achieved, but marching right after Roe v Wade was overturned was one of the most stressful, dark, painful learning moments of my life.

And like all areas, it changed my feminism.

It definitely taught me how heavy responsibility can be.

But also, again, it taught me how to lean on the people that I'm doing it with.

To ask for support was one of the the largest things that I've done.

I felt like my whole life was kind of leading up to that.

My personal passion is, you know, women's rights and gender parity and government and industry and and leadership.

And so I felt like my whole life had led up to this.

I don't think we need to change.

I think allies need to change.

I think people need to take a real look on what showing up as an ally looks like.

I think we're out here doing the work, and sometimes it takes other folks also being like, hey, that's a microaggression.

Or like, hey, we don't have enough diversity in this room.

Hey, how can we have this leadership, this thought leadership, when it's all white men who kind of look similar, wearing a same outfit?

It's kind of like taking the allies.

Not necessarily women, men, other folks.

To.

Call these things out, because I think we've done enough.

I think we just need to show up now and be our fabulous selves, because we do bring a different type of leadership like we do bring a different perspective of like we are mothers were sisters.

We do bring that.

But I'm like, we even bring that every day.

And so I think other people need to step it up now.

And open their eyes and realize diversity makes you successful and makes you a good team.

It makes people feel like they belong outside the box.

Thinking happens, innovation happens, problems are solved.

And so like if you're into that, then you're into diversity and you should be in allyship.

And you should change.

From corporate boardrooms to the frontlines of advocacy.

Jade Marquez says leadership isn't about going it alone.

It's about lifting others as you climb.

To watch more of our Humanize Women in the workforce series.

You can go to our YouTube channel or PBS 12.org.

Recently, the Colorado Department of Behavioral Health hosted a statewide summit at Q and Shoots Medical Campus in Aurora.

They brought together experts, advocates, and young people to tackle one of the most pressing issues facing our state teen mental health.

As part of our Decode Colorado series.

We sat down with some of the teens who spoke on the panel.

They share their personal stories, helping to break down mental health stigmas, and they offer advice to both schools and parents.

My personal experience kind of started when I was around ten years old.

My youngest sister was diagnosed with something called complex regional pain syndrome, actually at the Children's Hospital of Aurora campus.

And it's a nerve condition and there's no current cure for it.

It's very painful.

And she was very young when she was diagnosed.

And I remember I was probably around ten when we started managing with pain clinics and outpatient therapies and all of that, and seeing a family member go through something like that, and you can't fix it, you can't add to it at ten years old, and you have to go to school and put on a brave face, and you have to take care of the other sister.

It's heavy.

The next question is regarding current.

What do you think are the most common behavioral and mental health challenges youth are facing today?

And how can we break the stigma around talking about mental health?

Who would like to begin?

Okay, so tackle the first part of that question, asking about some of the struggles that our youth are are facing.

I think similar to our online environment, but, the ways that our communities have adapted post-Covid, a lot of these youth are growing up heavily around the internet.

They're growing up using online tools in in ways that in a lot of things can help benefit their growth in mindset learning.

But on the opposing side of that pendulum can also be really harmful and can create issues like loneliness and depression.

And for the second part of that question on how to tackle that, how to destigmatize it, I think just continuing the communication, behind it, of opening that door to conversation and really just reassuring that even though these times are very different than how old most of our parents and family members grew up, change doesn't always have to be a bad thing, and we have to be able to move through that change with these kiddos.

I'm West African, so my parents put a lot of stress on me to excel academically.

But with that, they also they didn't really address my mental health concerns because what I was doing really well in school, my behavior.

I was really like stress.

I had a lot of anxiety and I wasn't speaking to people at all.

I was completely nonverbal, and it wasn't as much of a concern to them because I was doing well in school.

I think growing up I had different behavioral health needs because I think that mental health, especially for youth, it's so different compared to back then because I think that youth like we're aware of it, but we don't always open those conversations, like Monica was saying.

So I think that first, like, we really need to like have more targeted behavior, health interventions, especially for youth that come from underserved identities.

I think our current interventions, it's very centered around like white straight like straight male youth.

And I think we need to expand that to the Bipoc youth, the queer youth, the youth from Grow Up has been real identities.

My real communities.

Because like when we do not address them, that we lack an important part of the mental health conversation.

And in order to make our interventions truly effective, we have to engage everybody, especially those those populations that have not traditionally been engaged in mental health interventions.

Wonderful.

Thank you.

I just think that mental health now more than ever, is more important that as a member of East High School, unfortunately saw the effects of mental health with gun violence and multiple school shootings, the realization that it was almost a shell shock experience that actually one of the kids who committed these acts of violence was in my class.

I talked with him, and I just didn't realize, you don't know what someone's going through at all times.

And seeing that firsthand had me almost more aware and hyper aware that as I was walking around, you just see people with their heads down, quiet, not talking, and recognizing that you really do not know what someone's going through until you're able to ask and get up to know them on that deeper level, and just experiencing that and realizing that isolation, some people feel has me wanted to go out and help others not feel that way.

There is.

I'm going to have you kick this question off because it's, regarding teens and youth, what do you wish adults understood better about youth mental health?

I think something I wish more adults understood is sometimes you don't exactly have the words to describe what you're going through, but that doesn't mean your issues aren't there.

And underlying that, sometimes you're often asked, how are you feeling and how you're doing?

And you just say, good because you don't have the words to describe truly what you're going through.

But being there and listening more to us youth and understanding that we are all going through something and sometimes just get through it, is not the right answer, is something I wish more adults understood.

And I remember at that point I was probably 11.

I remember reaching out to my mom and I said, mom, I'm not okay.

I never said that to anyone in my life.

And I said, mom, I'm not okay.

And my mom's a wonderful person.

She's a great mom.

And she reached out to Children's Hospital and connected me with a therapist.

And since 11 years old, I have seen several talk therapists, and it has gotten me to where I am today.

It's got me into the school that I attend.

It's got me into the career that I want to pursue.

It's saved my life, but it's also saved other people's lives because I'm still here.

So it was my older sister, actually.

We are super close and she's about seven years older than me, and I really appreciate for her because she was kind of the gap between generations for me and my parents.

So she definitely filled in a lot of blurred lines.

And by having that resource, I was able to involve teachers because my teachers, like they reacted very well to my parents, so they were able to like, have like more of like a behavioral health plan.

For me, that didn't really impact my schooling.

So it was small steps at a time, but it was like that continuous like form of engagement that really helped.

I think after seeing the events at my school, I didn't struggle a bit, that I felt isolated, alone.

But knowing my peers and my friends and my mentors I could talk to about what I was going through and realizing I'm not alone in this life.

And I have support from everyone around me, and how having used that to help push myself forward has definitely been something.

It doesn't always pan out in that beautiful, happy ending way for a lot of people, but for me, I'm lucky to be sitting here and advocating, for a lot of kids.

And I'm really glad that I had the support system in my life that allowed me to now support other people through their struggles.

There is so much stigma around mental health, because I think that when you talk about mental health, then you're on that you're crazy.

You automatically have issues.

I think that's like probably one of the biggest issues, because I think that teen where teens were aware of mental health, like, we know that it's there, but we all fully know how to address it, especially in a way that feels safe for us.

So I think that trying to navigate that is really difficult.

But I think at the for at the front line, we need to at least open that conversation.

Yes, I think there's a stigma around mental health because those who are seen getting treatment or getting help are sometimes often perceived as soft or not being able to take care of themselves and helping break down that seem, and realizing that sometimes it's okay to not be okay.

And how can you grow and learn and use your resources in community to help yourself get better?

Because once you're better, you're also able to then help other people, like we're doing with the Youth Council on Mental Health.

I don't think suicide is talked about nearly as much as it needs to be, especially as we make that transition from high school to college.

And it's a huge leap.

And you often feel alone that I've seen many kids, once they're in college, take their lives, actually.

And that rate is alarming almost to see how many are doing that and that bringing up the stigma, signs of what to look out for.

Something that I think needs to be spread more throughout schools and to that more messaging.

I think a lot of it has to do with our remote world, post-Covid, a lot of learning, a lot of development has been shifted to online, and it's become very adaptable in a lot of ways in the workforce.

That's been a really good thing.

It makes a lot of, of resources more accessible to us.

And in some ways that that counts for mental health resources of online accessibility.

For that.

But in other ways, it it can result in anxiety and loneliness and depression or bullying on social media.

And I think it's a harder thing to confront when it's not face to face, when that interaction or when those emotions or, we're struggles are developing from something that you can't actually confront in person.

It's online.

Yeah.

I think there's increased more now than ever and pressure to succeed socially, especially with the rise of social media where you're seeing where everyone's at, how often they're going and where they're going out to and who they're hanging out with and to seeing that makes you kind of feel left out and like you need to be a part of it.

And that social pressure, just like, is automatically applied just because of the access and how accessible social media is for us.

How do you think schools can do better supporting student mental health.

Continue to continuing to promote the resources schools have and continue to show, and the mental health professionals who are working with inside the school to continue to walk around showing they're there to support.

It's made a huge difference that I, especially after seeing the events in my high school, seeing how those mental health professionals started showing up more and being seen and making sure that no one has a resource around their communities is something I think schools could do better.

I think a big misconception is that if we're sad, it's only temporary and sometimes that is the case.

In other times it it's a longer storm with a longer, you know, evacuation period that we need to wait out.

And that's okay.

But it also means we can't just sit there and wait for it to stop.

We got to start doing stuff to help us get through it.

And I think a lot of youth it from a parent's perspective, sometimes it can seem over dramatized.

But for your youth member, a lot of times when they're struggling, they can't see that light at the end of the tunnel.

Their brain doesn't know.

In five years, I'll look back and think of that as growth.

I will learn from this.

I will mature from this.

But in the moment, if your kid is being bullied at school, they think that their world is falling on top of them.

And I think a big misconception that a lot of adults have is that it'll pass, it'll get better tomorrow or, things like that.

And I think sometimes that is the case, other times it's not.

And we have to continue asking those questions to figure out which side we're working with.

My advice to parents would be to continue to be there and continue to ask those questions and not take greater fine for an answer, but also continue to be there and support and show up for them, that you don't realize how important it is when he show up for your kid.

It makes him feel seen and supported.

Even if they tell you not to them.

Yes.

Oh, so continue to check in and also just notice what they're doing that when habits change, sometimes something's not right.

So you need to listen to what their kids are saying, hear what they're doing, and just be there and be supportive so that you're always there.

You're always there to help and support them.

There's something that's so crucial that I think a lot of.

People don't realize.

And I think first and foremost, you have to open the conversation up, even if it's uncomfortable, because it will be uncomfortable.

But I think what teens really need is someone to open the conversation, because when the teen says, oh, I'm fine, I'm okay, it doesn't always mean that they're fine and they're okay.

So have that continuous check in with them.

It's so important for them to really open up because they're not going to open up on the first conversation.

It may not be the 10th or the 20th, but maybe like the 21st conversation.

So I think it's really important because even on the panel, we were talking about being brave and being vulnerable with your teens.

I think for for parents, I think mutual vulnerability helps a lot.

When a whether that's mom and dad or guardian or whatever that relationship looks like, if the adult figure in their life shares vulnerability with them, a lot of times it is reciprocated down the road.

It might not be immediate.

And it's kind of a learning process that adults in day to day life aren't always 100% okay.

And that's something that kids might not know.

They might not see that side to us.

Adults today go through real struggles, and change is a big thing in life, and that's okay.

Then I think they'll be more comfortable with it when it hits them or when they have to go through something difficult.

But I would just say reach out to the people that you love and care about, and even if it's been a while, just check in.

And those little check ins, those little hey, how are you?

How are you really?

It can make a huge difference in the lives of many youth.

All the youth.

I would like you all to respond to this.

What do you need from adults?

I think that one thing I wish that adults understood on mental health is that, like mental health, it's not just like about being sad or being depressed.

Like we need to expand our understanding of it.

It can also be like in feelings of like anger and lashing out.

Like, I think that we need to like open our eyes and mental health because I think that when I was growing up, I had good grades in school, so clearly I didn't have any mental health concerns.

But that was not the case at all.

So I think that when adults, they learn more and want to educate themselves than they will.

And I think that what youth really need is like a supportive adult that like, wants to open that space for them.

Yeah, in agreement and kind of in addition to with what Stacy just said, you know, it obviously depends on the age of youth that we're looking at.

I nanny in college, and I can tell you right now that the development of a 20 year old, when their parents check in and say, hey, how is college going versus asking a four year old, hey, how was kindergarten today?

They're going to have a different response, right?

And so, you know, depending on what age those youth members are, can kind of deter the questions that we're asking to those environments, whether it's hey, I saw this in the news, is everything okay at school or how was your day?

And say four year old says it was good.

Then parent asks, what was the best part?

What was your rose and thorn of that day?

Not just ending it on?

Oh I'm fine.

Oh, my day was good.

Kind of taking those next steps into asking the harder questions, or even just sharing your own experience of yeah, my day was good too, but I had a conflict.

I had a hard conversation with somebody at work, or opening that door for them.

Helps them reach out to you.

I said, have resilience.

I think that especially with what's going on right now, it feels very weak.

I feel like we don't really have as much community because there's so much, there's so much trying to break that down.

But I think that resilience is so important because at the end of the day, I think we're all fighting for the same mission.

We're all trying to accomplish the same goal, and I think that we're all stronger together, and that's what we really need to push forward.

You can't make decisions about youth without them, and this goes for anyone working with youth.

This goes for the policymakers, the influencers, the parents.

Like if you are, if you are interacting with youth, you need to involve them.

I think a big issue is that youth are involved and our voices are constantly being taken from us.

But I think that when you open that conversation and allow for youth to have their own, their own agency and their voice, it really does change the conversation about mental health.

If you or a loved one are facing a mental health challenge, there are resources available to help.

We'd like to remind teens, parents, and everyone in our community here in Colorado what some of them are.

The 988 Colorado Mental Health line is available for free.

Immediate human support 24 seven.

You can call, text or live chat with 988 today.

They're there and ready to listen.

You can also visit I matter colorado.org.

Colorado youth can receive up to six free therapy sessions through I matter with English and Spanish language services available.

Visit I matter colorado.org to learn more.

It's almost time to eat, drink and dance like a Greek.

For more than six decades, the Denver Greek Festival has been a celebration of community, culture and tradition.

This year, the festival returns for more Greek food, dancing and fun.

June 6th through eighth and we got a sneak peek before the big weekend.

We toured the beautifully ornate Greek Orthodox Cathedral and caught a behind the scenes look at trays of traditional Greek cookies being made.

Take a look.

It's been quite a lifelong love of heritage.

For the Denver Greek Festival.

First word, this community that comes to mind.

I can think back to when my friends in high school were like, what is that Greek festival?

And then they're all of a sudden here.

We love Greek Festival.

It's such an amazing opportunity for us to share our culture and our heritage with, all of Colorado.

I think my favorite memories are just the time spending with, the entire generational family, right?

From grandmother, great grandmother.

Now, because now my mom has two great grandchildren all the way through, us first generation Greeks here, right?

It's not just something that you go and see.

It's something you go and be a part of.

Different traditions, the different, baking methods, the recipes, the, Dancing, spending, you know, a half a day, you know, making calamari or Greek salad or just being there for 3 or 4 days with a prep.

We've made friends, and I love to see the friendships and the community.

That that's a big plus.

The language, all of it is carried out in, in like the microcosm of this thing called the Greek festival.

The Greek Orthodox faith is, you know, it's not a secret.

You know, we want to share.

So it's a beautiful time to share our beautiful culture with all that.

Of course, you know, delicious.

Food, the local madness.

Because it's only once a year, frankly, that we get the local mothers.

I know I can make them at home, but it's such an effort and they just don't taste the same as they do at Christmas.

Incredible dancing and music and people come to the church.

I think this festival has always been a gift to our community, but it's even more of a gift when you get to share that with your family.

Your dad has been in the kitchen.

She manages all of our baking for the Greek festival and now they have John in there.

He manages the kitchen operations during the festival and he also was a dance teacher.

And now his son Alex is a teacher.

So that just goes to show that this is a generational community.

You know, when we were little, we look to those adults ahead of us and now we're in their space.

And when you have a chance to have your 81 year old mother or grandmother and your son and daughter and daughters and sons of other parents, live through what puts forward, really the ability to bring this establishment out of the ground and serve as the community, not only for Greeks and the and the first, immigrants that came here, but first, second, third generations and hopefully many more generations to come.

I'm hopeful.

I'm always hopeful that, you know, more people, especially the children, the grandchildren, will take that baton, because it's something we want to hold on to.

So if you think about the, you know, the immigrants, our parents who came here from Greece, they came here with the expectation of a better life and to fulfill the American dream.

And, but part of that is also to maintain their sense of culture, and, religion is their faith from Greece.

And it's important to them to pass down those traditions to their children and for us to continue to pass those traditions down to our own children.

And I think it's the best time next to the celebration of Easter Pascha, where we get to be together for many, many services.

You know, because people will say, oh, do I need to be Greek to be Orthodox?

No, I mean the Orthodox faith.

The doors are open.

It's been an amazing time for the community as a whole.

Not just the Greek community, but all people of all walks of faith come and celebrate this three day, four day festival with us and have a great world.

And I love hearing from people for the first time like, oh my gosh.

It's a great train to be on and sometimes you just don't want to get off.

I think it's so important that we continue to pass this on, because if it doesn't get passed on, then the tradition dies and the culture dies.

And so, people don't need to go to Greece to experience, you know, a taste of Greece.

They can come to the Greek festival and have a taste of Greece just down the street.

Whether you're there for the food, the dancing or just the warm Greek hospitality, it's weekends you won't want to miss.

For more information on this year's festival, including ours parking and event details, visit the Greek festival.com.

If you haven't heard, pickleball is America's fastest growing sport.

It's estimated more than 36 million people have tried it.

Just last year alone.

People of all ages are picking up a paddle and hitting the court.

A place called the Sporty Pickle has become a local hot spot, blending pickleball with food, drinks and a whole lot of fun.

PBS Twelve's Erika McLarty went to check it out, and she learned how to play pickleball for the very first time.

Woo!

Welcome to the sporty pickle, where the game is fast.

The food is hot and the drinks are well.

Pickle.

It's a hot spot in Parker, Colorado, and it was time to go test it out.

I'm here at the Sporty Pickle in Centennial because apparently all the cool kids are playing pickle ball, and I don't know how to play, but I hear it's like ping pong.

A little bit of tennis, a lot of chaos.

I'm good at all those things.

And also, to help me today, I have a pickle, captain.

But what exactly is a pickle, captain?

I, as a pickleball captain, teach people pickle ball 101.

So a lot of people come in, they don't even realize we have pickleball courts.

And a lot of people don't know how to play, but they're also very intimidated.

So we break it down and make it really easy for people to learn.

Getting warmed up and getting ready.

Where do we start?

We start with the serve.

Okay.

The serve.

It's underhand.

500.

And it's below the waist.

You could either drop it and hit it or hold it.

It has to bounce once on each side.

So serve bounce serve bounce and then anything goes.

Okay.

So the kitchen.

It's this area right here.

It's also known as the non volley zone.

Nothing in the kitchen.

No.

Got it.

Unless it bounces.

First I don't even need you.

Look at me.

So there are three numbers.

When you're scoring in pickleball.

You should say them every single time you serve.

So you're going to say your score.

The other team score.

And the position of the server.

Zero for two coming at you.

For owner Jared Gordon, the concept was born the old fashioned way over a friendly game of pickleball at his house.

Some buddies were over.

It was about 20 of us drinking beer and playing pickleball, and it just kind of organically came about that there needed to be a much cooler place to play pickleball, because what was available was just parks and racks or warehouses converted to pickleball, which are all a little depressing.

They smell like feet.

They're just you don't want to really hang out after you've played.

And I've been in construction for a long time, so some of my buddies were in construction.

I started running a quick budget.

Next thing you know, I pulled a permit.

We started building my personal views on pickleball.

It should be kept to be fun and enjoyable.

I think a lot of people take it maybe a little too seriously.

Oh.

Yes.

You only need four people, so I feel like it's very family oriented.

You could learn it in ten minutes and be playing in ten minutes.

If you're just trying to get in and learn how to play.

Sometimes it's intimidating.

So we try and create an environment where anybody can come and enjoy it.

Have fun.

We do cosmic pickleball at night, which is kind of like cosmic bowling.

The black lights come on, everything glows in the dark, and it's a little bit more.

It's not quite so serious.

So no.

Yes, it's more than just three indoor pickleball courts.

Players can refuel in the 6000 square foot bar and restaurant.

We've got pickle poppers, full court, nacho bites, pizza, pickleball on sliders, and yes, of course, pickle infused drinks.

So right now I'm making the dirty pickle.

It's just a pickle martini.

But we can do vodka of choice, too.

This is what we use for our specialty.

I'm also going to throw a little bit of cucumber vodka in there.

Just kind of cuts down how strong the drink is.

And we're going to add some pickle brine.

That's what makes it the dirty pickle.

We don't actually use any vermouth in this martini.

So we just tap that one of these cute little pickles, stuffed olives.

And that's the dirty pickle.

All right.

Now I'm going to be making our smoked old fashioned.

So you can really use any whiskey.

And we're going to be using two types of bitters.

We have our normal, Angostura bitters.

And then we have orange bitters as well.

Just gives it a nice little round flavor.

And then we have a brown demerara sirup that we're using instead of a normal sirup kind of match as well with the Applewood that we're going to be smoking it with.

Add a little bit of ice in there and just chill it.

We're going to get our ice cube.

Up there you know.

And like I said we're smoking this with Applewood.

Make sure you get all that smoke in there.

And you want to let it sit for just a little bit.

Don't be afraid of all the flying ash.

It's fine.

Now the trick.

If you have a smoker at home, you don't want to pull this up because it's going to pull all the smoke out.

You just slide it to the side and let all that smoke sit inside.

There.

That's our smoked Old-Fashioned.

You'll find nonalcoholic options, too, including mocktails.

That's going to be our new pickle baller.

And now beers on draft.

This is our one year anniversary, and I can tell you, you know, we're up 40%.

And, you know, then we were at this year, last year.

Just come word of mouth and and people are just figuring out there, you know, it's just a fun place to hang out.

What do you like to call or not?

Now I know what reality stars still like.

Whether you're here to get competitive, hang with the family, or you just came for the food, the sporty pickle really does serve up something for everyone.

I'm Erica McLarty with PBS 12 and consider me officially a pickle ball believer.

Bring it.

Yeah, I'm gonna set you up I.

Go Erika.

For more information go to Sporty pickle.com.

End.

Of course.

Week end Ins.

Hi there and welcome to the home of Colorado Inside Out.

On this week's show, we spoke about, among other things, the plans for the Colorado 150 pedestrian walkway, which is designed to take people on a winding route from the state Capitol, over to Lincoln, over Lincoln and into the Veterans Park, all to celebrate Colorado's 150th birthday next year.

Now, Historic Denver has started a petition to stop these plans.

We're talking about it.

Let's listen in.

Here in Denver, the governor loves the idea, thinks it will be the perfect addition for Colorado when it celebrates his 150th year next year.

The idea of the winding is, is to represent Colorado's twisty rivers, regional materials like sands, a marble will be included, and also Colorado artists will have some of their pieces featured.

Private and public partnership.

We are hearing in terms of the money being raised.

But Christy, the reaction to these drawings over the last week has not been very welcome.

I think for the organizers behind all this.

I don't think so.

And I think part of the problem is because we are talking about Denver, it's not necessarily that the art isn't beautiful.

It's not that it might not be a nice bridge if it were somewhere else.

When you think about going to Denver, people think about they want more parking.

They don't want more places to walk.

It's in the past, I believe, $20 million.

It's already been 1.5 million, I think, to design this bridge just to make the plans.

But I could think of a whole lot more things that $20 million could do in Denver that would actually benefit the people who live.

There been a small benefit to small business owners and benefit businesses.

Who are trying to attract more people to come into Denver.

Part of the issue is when I take my kids to Denver, this is just, you know, an anecdote myself.

They want to get in the Capitol, in the building as soon as possible.

They're not wanting to meander around the streets of Denver.

It doesn't seem safe if Denver can't get their safety issues and the crime crack down on and make it a welcoming place for businesses to operate and people to come, this bridge isn't going to matter.

So I think that's the real issue, not the bridge itself.

So I talked with one woman who is part of that outreach program to get people to buy into this idea, and she says that the state capitol is not really classroom conducive, and that the goal is to have a greater user experience that allows classrooms and family groups and all people to enjoy the area.

And you don't have to cross over Lincoln at the traffic light.

You don't buy it.

As a mom, I don't.

If I read it right, it dumps you out right by Colfax.

A lot of problems with taking your kids to the corner of Colfax, right by the Capitol.

There's so many problems with this.

And on top of that, it just is ridiculous looking.

Unless it became a water slide in which case, I'm sure your kids would love it.

This is a National Historic Landmark Civic Center park.

So not only does Historic Denver have issues with this, how it's designed around a historic area.

So we have to have a landmark approval in the city of Denver.

We could have a national problem because the historic area goes all the way to grant.

And unless they really take a circuitous route on this bridge, like up, up, around three blocks, they're going to run into a problem with the historic designation.

The other thing is, if we want people to enjoy downtown, let's let them walk downtown.

Let's fix up the problems.

Instead, we're going to have this slippery slope all the way to Civic Center Park, which, oops, is going to be closed in 2026 for a renovation.

So why don't we postpone that renovation?

Why don't we blow up the bridge and get on with cleaning up that corner?

Okay, David, your thoughts on this?

I'm curious.

A nice pedestrian bridge, a bridge over Lincoln and a bridge over Broadway for pedestrians would be fine.

That could be simple and done.

Much less cost than this extravagant, ridiculous thing.

And Patti was talking about historic landmark designations.

That means future construction has to be consistent with the existing landmark, which is in the Civic Center complex is called Beaux Arts, and this river bridge is not even close to that.

So my backup hope is that in the worst case, that our two other iconic art landmarks that the big blue bear and blue suit for the Demon Horse from Dia will come and rescue us and tear up the bridge.

Okay.

All right.

Eric, your thoughts on this?

I'll give the governor credit for at least surfacing an idea and surfacing the issue.

Or more importantly, for identifying the problem.

I don't give him credit for the solution or the proposal he's come up with.

If you visit a whole lot of other state capitals around the country, and I don't even pretend to make that a hobby or anything, but I've been to a few, and they tend to be these gems of an area.

They are tourist draws.

They're the finest that that city has to offer.

That is certainly not the case at Colfax and Lincoln or Colfax and Broadway.

The problem is that you got to do something about that area.

It needs a beautification.

It needs a clean up.

It needs to be more than parking lots and drug deals, which seems to be what it is at the moment.

I don't think a bridge or a winding river bridge or whatever you want to call it necessarily solves that problem.

Now, that was just one topic on this week's show.

You can watch the full episode of Colorado Inside Out at PBS 12.

Org on the PBS passport app or on our YouTube channel.

You can also listen to our podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and then make sure you're on top of all things Colorado.

We have a new episode ready to go for you every Friday night, 8:00 right here on PBS 12.

For years, to Rhonda Thomas was a fixture on Denver television as an anchor and reporter for Nine News.

She's now working in Philadelphia, and she recently shared a message with our viewers about the true meaning of Memorial Day.

It includes her personal experience of what it means to Gold Star families, while PBS 12 shared a shortened version of her story over the Memorial Day weekend.

The message is truly timeless.

And so tonight we share the full version with you.

Hello, Colorado.

It's me to Rhonda Thomas.

For many years, I did the news in Denver.

Now I work in Philadelphia at six ABC.

But even though I'm at the City of Brotherly Love, Denver was the first place where I shared the story of my brother.

Chief Warrant officer two Terry Thomas.

He was an Apache helicopter pilot, a member of the cavalry, and quite easily the most amazing man I've ever known.

He gave his life and service to this country.

On September 19th, 2006, losing him was one of the most difficult things.

Now it was the most difficult thing that I've ever been through.

And for many years, I didn't share his story because I was afraid that no one would care.

When I did share that story in Denver, the outpouring of love and support made all the difference in the world for me and my family, including my brother's wife and his two children.

To know that people honor and remember the true meaning of Memorial Day means more than words can say.

For us, Gold Star families were left behind.

So as you enjoy the freedoms that we so enjoy in our country, remember someone like my brother gave that life so that we can enjoy those freedoms.

So please honor and remember our servicemen and women, our heroes.

Thanks again to to Rhonda for sharing that touching story.

The images in the video are from the Colorado Freedom Memorial in Aurora, which honors fallen Colorado service members.

You can learn more about the memorial at Colorado Freedom memorial.com.

We leave you tonight with sounds on 29th.

We're taking you to the iconic Gothic theater for a powerful live performance from a front range favorite.

Big Richard is known for their high octane strings and bold presence.

This all female supergroup brings down the house.

Enjoy.

MUSIC PLAYING Thanks for watching studio 12.

Be sure to follow us on social media and on YouTube.

We'll see you next Tuesday night at eight for another studio 12.

Until then, have a great week.

I'm bazi kanani.

But.

You.