Meet Debbie Kunz, Director of Bal Swan Children’s Center

Editor’s Note: Each month Raven Astrom profiles a different community member from her website, TheFacesofBroomfield.com. Thank you, Raven, for this great endeavor to help us get to know each other better!

From a young age, I have had two primary loves: human connectedness and music. As a teen, I spent most of my free time babysitting and developing a love specifically for young children. While I was dreaming about a fulfilling career post college graduation, I decided I wanted to start a school grounded primarily in the principle of love. My academic achievements were important to me, but I also knew that humans need love first if they are to achieve their potential, and there was a part of me that wished I had been more grounded in my own sense of self worth.

If I was going to commit my life to anything, it was to doing something to help people know they are valued, loved, cherished, and unique. For more than 20 years, that commitment was embodied through my work as a parent educator in Saint Joseph, Missouri. Sitting on living room floors with families of young children, I connected with parents as they embraced their role as parents and learned about this new little person in their lives. As our children grew and I had more time to commit to work, I became the Director of our school district’s parent education program and eventually obtained my Master’s Degree in Social Work.

Seemingly out of nowhere, I learned about Bal Swan Children’s Center, and knew that my young adult dream of working in a school grounded in love could be realized! In 2018, I became the Executive Director of Bal Swan Children’s Center, where it is my greatest privilege to lead a place centered on supporting families and young children from a social, emotional, and academic perspective.

Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.

My husband and I met while working for the international non-profit, Up with People. While working for Up with People, we traveled to cities throughout the world promoting human understanding through service, music, and relationships. With our two children, we carried on many of our passions through involvement in local theatre, long road trips to all corners of our country, and service to our neighbors in need.

Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?

A: Frolic Brewery and North Side Tavern.

Q: What advice would you give to people?

A: Trust your worthiness, stay grounded in faith, and love those around you.

Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique that you appreciate about our community?

A: I love Broomfield’s commitment to Open Space.

Q: Who inspires you to be better?

A: My children. I want to demonstrate for them that I can continue to change and grow as I age, and I want to be a model for them.