Mikhail Vafeades started working for the city of Denver at age 14 as an aide at the La Alma Recreation Center.

Through high school, college, graduate school and the birth of her two children, she stayed with city government. She moved up through the ranks to eventually become the budget and operations manager for the Office of Children’s Affairs, which connects families to services like child care and youth violence prevention.

But after 24 years of continuous work, city officials laid her off two weeks ago.

“It felt horrible,” she said through tears in an interview. “I honestly thought I was a person who was going to retire from the city.”

Vafeades was one of 169 employees laid off by the city as part of efforts to deal with its budget crisis. Mayor Mike Johnston announced the workfor

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