District Discovery - Summer 2019

PIKES PEAK LIBRARY DISTRICT DISCOVERY

Summer 2019 Volume 1, Issue 2 (719) 531-6333 ppld.org 1

PIKES PEAK LIBRARY DISTRICT DISCOVERY

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We spent yesterday exploring a new

“I love my library! @ppld rocks. And I

“I could not say enough good things about

part of this amazing state and enjoying

don’t know what I’d do without them.

these libraries! I take my kids all the time

the beginning of #spring! Thank

From print books to audio- and e-books,

and they have wonderfully friendly staff,

you @pikespeaklibrarydistrict

to free events and community support,

lots of fun activities, and of course a great

for the state park pack! #Colorado

we’d be a sad place without them. They

selection of books. Thank you all for being

#roxboroughstatepark #hike

do lots of good with our money.”

so awesome!”

@average_joe_kersey

@KirstenAkens

Carmella D., Library patron

PIKES PEAK LIBRARY DISTRICT DISCOVERY

Table of Contents

We’re always looking to talk about the best people in our community! If you would like to nominate someone to be highlighted in our next magazine issue, tell us why!

@PikesPeakLibraryDistrict @ppld

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Table of Contents

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Children’s Services Young Adult Services

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Gerritsen’s Lifelong Learning Journey

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Fountain Library

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PPLD’s First Social Worker

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Collection Management

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Davidson’s Path to Success

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All Pikes Peak Reads

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PPLD Foundation Regional History & Genealogy

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Yes She Can

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Creative Services Adult Education

Exploration can mean something different to everyone. For some, exploration conjures images of visiting countries scattered across the globe, while for others, exploration can occur in one’s own backyard. Exploration may expose us to new sights, sounds, and tastes that we had never imagined, or it may also allow us to discover something we had never noticed before in the familiar.

Exploration may take us outside to the many trails of the Pikes Peak region, or it may lead us into our own imagination. We can explore hobbies, careers, and beliefs, and exploration can teach us, change us, or enlighten us. I have had the chance to explore countries around the world, but the most rewarding exploration has taken place without me leaving Colorado.

Regardless of what exploration means to you, Pikes Peak Library District can be your partner. Whether you want to explore the exotic or dig deeper into the familiar, our staff and resources are here to help you begin your own adventure of exploration.

@PikesPeakLibraryDistrict ppld.org

John Spears CHIEF LIBRARIAN / CEO

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PIKES PEAK LIBRARY DISTRICT DISCOVERY

Back-to-School Resources Children’s Services

STOP SUMMER SLIDE

BY READING AT YOUR LIBRARY What is Summer Slide?

Summer slide occurs when youth do not participate in learning opportunities over the summer. It results in students starting school less prepared than they were at the end of the previous school year. Combat summer slide with Pikes Peak Library District’s summer enrichment program, Summer Adventure presented by Children’s Hospital Colorado!

Summer Reading in Colorado: First-Time Participants by the Numbers

61%

Parents who reported their child’s enjoyment of reading increased.

Parents who reported their child’s reading skills increased.

61%

59%

Parents who had children choose to read instead of being prompted to read.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY PPLD’S YOUNG ADULT SERVICES 4 WITH INFORMATION FROM LIBRARY RESEARCH SERVICE OF THE COLORADO STATE LIBRARY

Thousands of Pikes Peak region students will head back to the classroom this August. Pikes Peak Library District has countless resources for students, families, and schools to help with the back-toschool transition!

Coming this August, PPLD and District 11 will roll out an exciting pilot program: every D11 student will receive a PPLD PowerPass.

These PowerPasses will allow students to check out five physical items, as well as provide them with access to PPLD’s digital resources and materials.

We know that heading back to school can be difficult after a few months off from learning. PPLD offers tutoring programs for students to help re-strengthen those mental muscles. Study Buddies, a drop-in homework help program for students in grades K - 5, will begin Tue., Sept. 10, at East Library. Each Tuesday, students can visit the Library from 6 - 7:30 p.m. to get help with homework from a trained, friendly volunteer.

If math is presenting some back-to-school problems, visiting AfterMath is your best bet. It’s another no-cost tutoring program offered for grades K - 12 that can help students work through any level of math problem. AfterMath is available at four PPLD locations starting the last week of August.

Need tutoring, but can’t get to the Library? May we suggest Brainfuse HelpNow. All you need is a PPLD card and a pin to access this digital tutoring program at home, seven days a week, from 2 - 11 p.m. Brainfuse HelpNow can help with test preparation, writing, and flashcards, and it gives you access to live homework help from tutors.

If you need help from home, you can get access to live tutors and more with your library card!

Visit research.ppld.org/homework to get started.

Avoid the Drain of Your Brain Young Adult Services

Young Adult Services at Pikes Peak Library District wants to provide high-quality enrichment and learning opportunities for youth in our community. This is especially important in the summer – our busiest time of year!

Summer Adventure presented by Children’s Hospital Colorado hosts thousands of attendees each year. The program keeps young adults reading throughout the summer, helping them stay better prepared to head back to school in the fall. Young Adult Services works hard to make sure there are age-appropriate activities planned for the teens in our community.

All of this works to help prevent the “summer slide,” or the loss of knowledge that occurs for students when they neglect to crack open any books or stay mentally engaged over the summer. Learn more about this phenomenon and how to prevent it in the graphic to the left!

Starting in August, we’ll be here to help with the back-to-school transition as well. If you need help with math homework, visit Library 21c, East, Monument, or Sand Creek Libraries for AfterMath, a free math tutoring program where you can get help with any level of math class.

PIKES PEAK LIBRARY DISTRICT DISCOVERY

Hard Work Pays Off

Gerritsen’s Lifelong Learning Journey When Shauna Gerritsen was handed a breast cancer diagnosis, she took a look at her life and decided there were still some things she wanted to do. Breast cancer was going to have to get out of her way.

“When I came in to meet with PPLD [Pikes Peak Library District] about a Career Online High School scholarship, I still had drain tubes and bandages from my surgery,” Gerritsen said. “When they asked me why I wanted the scholarship, I showed them my drain tubes and told them I was going to show my kids that, no matter what you’re going through in life, it’s about finishing the goals you set.”

Gerritsen is a driven individual with a laser focus on realizing her aspirations. After her diagnosis, she created a list of ambitions, and one of them was to receive her high school diploma. The reason she couldn’t graduate the first time around? Her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. “I was very much against having hospice come in for my mom, because I always felt like once hospice comes in, that’s the end,” Gerritsen said. “I switched from a traditional school to homeschooling and got so wrapped up in taking care of my mom. Before I knew it, my senior year was there, and I didn’t have enough credits to graduate.”

This time around was going to be different. Gerritsen was determined to make it so. “I realized now I’m in my mom’s shoes in my journey, and I had to do this to show my daughter that it can be done.”

In February of 2018, Gerritsen underwent her first surgery. What should have taken just one procedure turned into five because of an infection. Regardless, she began her first prerequisites for COHS in April, just two months later, and was admitted to PPLD’s COHS program on May 8, 2018.

COHS is a program that allows participants to earn an accredited high school diploma, an alternative to taking the GED. PPLD provides the program, which costs about $2,000 per student, at no charge to participants like Gerritsen who qualify for scholarships from the PPLD Foundation. To receive a scholarship, students must complete the program in 18 months.

As Gerritsen underwent multiple surgeries at the beginning of her COHS journey, the coursework timeline became even more difficult: she found out her family was moving nearly 600 miles away. “Through all of this, through all of my surgeries, school, everything, my husband came down on orders.”

Gerritsen’s husband was stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Colo., and got reassigned to Fort Sill in Lawton, Okla.

The family had to sell their home and move just a month after Gerritsen’s final surgery.

“His date got pushed back, because I ended up having surgery in

June, and the doctor wouldn’t release me to travel with drain tubes.”

So, among all of the family’s challenges, they relocated in July of 2018. Nevertheless, Gerritsen pushed on.

“My husband watched me cry through nights of not feeling good, but knowing I had classes to do,” Gerritsen said. “But I had to finish it, because I set goals. I gave myself exactly one year to graduate.” And, of course, Gerritsen beat her goal. She finished her 18 months of coursework in less than a year on May 1, 2019. And, she’s in remission. Her body is clear of cancer.

Her husband was so proud of her accomplishment that he insisted the family attend Shauna’s graduation at Library 21c. Though both of them had to work the next day, the Gerritsens—Shauna, her husband, and their two children ages 7 and 4—drove through the night for PPLD’s Celebrate Literacy graduation ceremony on May 30, 2019. “He told me that I couldn’t miss this, that I worked so hard for it, and that if we had to drive all day and night, we would be here for it,” Gerritsen said.

Gerritsen’s family sat proudly in the audience, snapping photos and loudly cheering, as she walked across the stage to receive her high school diploma. Just a few hours later, they’d head back out on the road to their new life in Oklahoma.

Now that she’s received her diploma, Gerritsen is determined to pursue her master’s degree and become a physician’s assistant. Pity the fool that dares to get in her way.

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PIKES PEAK LIBRARY DISTRICT DISCOVERY

The Fantastic Fountain Library

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Fountain Library has become a thriving community hub, evidenced by its more than 100,000 visitors in 2018. However, it took 120 years for the town 10 miles south of Colorado Springs to have its own public library.

Founded in 1859 and incorporated in 1903, Fountain began as a railroad town serving surrounding farms and ranches. With the creation of nearby Fort Carson in 1942, both Fountain’s population and renown greatly increased.

Bookmobile service to Fountain began in March 1964. This service was so popular that the bookmobile’s engine trouble and eventual return to operation was front-page news in The Security Adviser and Fountain Valley News on Dec. 20, 1968.

After years of effort to create a permanent library in Fountain, the Fountain Branch Library opened in 1979 in the basement of the Walter Forman Community Service Center. The building was built by Fort Carson soldiers as a gift to the community.

The Library was expanded and remodeled in 1989 with assistance from a community development block grant, the town of Fountain, and El Paso County. However, a dramatic increase in the town’s population soon made a bigger facility necessary.

In July 2006, the new Fountain Branch Library was opened in partnership with the city of Fountain and Fountain-Fort Carson School District. The building was designed by Elizabeth Wright Ingraham, granddaughter of architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

One of the most impressive features of the building is its “Newswall,” inspired by a community bulletin board that Ingraham saw in a town square in China. A collage of Fountain’s history, the wall spotlights events such as “The Blast,” an 1888 collision between a passenger train and a freight

train carrying 18 tons of explosives that killed three people and created a 400-foot-wide crater.

The Library’s meeting room is also notable. “Our meeting room is the only one in the District that can be used when the Library is closed,” said Fountain Library Manager Alicia Gomori.

“Patrons can access the room after filling out paperwork and receiving a keycard.”

Some of the Library’s many windows offer a great view of Adams Open Space and visitors such as wild turkeys, deer, bears, and beavers. A two-mile trail loop through the open space starts in the Library’s north parking lot.

The Library reflects the uniqueness of the community it serves.

“The town has its own identity and does not see itself as just a bedroom community of Fort Carson,” said Fountain Library Assistant and local historian Pam Owens. “You can still see horses trotting down the street on occasion, and watch cowboys at the Roping and Riding Club at Metcalf Park.”

Although it took well over a century, the Library has found itself a home in this former railroad town on the banks of Fountain Creek.

PIKES PEAK LIBRARY DISTRICT DISCOVERY

Kwande is Keeping It Social PPLD’s First Social Worker

Alicia Kwande has a passion for helping people.

She grew up in Denver, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Metro State College (now University). Alicia initially wanted to become a teacher, but became disinterested when she thought about the routine teaching might bring. She realized social work offered daily variety while catering to her personality and incorporating her interest in psychology and mental health. She went on to get a Masters in Social Work from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Alicia considered joining the Peace Corps before finding another opportunity to help abroad. Her uncle moved to South Africa in 2008 to co-found the Teach Love Care Network in Cape Town, South Africa. Alicia followed several years later. She spent two years supporting Educares, day care centers run out of local homes that provide preschool education.

While in Africa, she met her future husband, Devon, now a Certified Public Accountant. They live near Calhan, Colo., with their adorable 3-year-old daughter, Nakai, and two puppies, Tanaka and Tendai. They are creating a farm on their 160 acres to support their nonprofit Tariro Hope. Tariro is the Shona word for “hope,” bringing Devon’s Zimbabwe roots to the eastern plains of Colorado. Their farm will serve as a work-based

Drop-in Hours with Social Worker Alicia Kwande Mondays, 9 - 11 a.m.

Penrose Library, Study Commons

Connect

Join us to discuss challenges in life, questions, or just to sit and listen. The safe space will bring a sense of belonging and encouragement.

Wednesdays, 9:15 - 10:15 a.m.

Penrose Library, Aspen Room

transitional program where people will temporarily live while working towards attaining permanent housing.

In October 2018, Alicia became Pikes Peak Library District’s first social worker. It’s a job based at Penrose Library enabling her to assist people experiencing homelessness and other hardships throughout the Library District. District Discovery staff sat down with Alicia to discuss her work: What does a typical day look like for you, or is there a typical day?

I’ll offer drop-in hours on Monday, but the rest of the time I am going to our patrons rather than them coming to me, either to follow up on something we have worked on or just check in with them and see how they’re doing. On Wednesdays I run a support group with John, a volunteer. That’s going really well. It’s fun to get people motivated to make changes in their life and talk in that direction. We also get people who just need to vent and talk about how horrible everything is. I just try to make myself

available for people to ask questions. Depending on what’s going on in someone’s life, or in the Library, my day can look very different.

Being new to working for a library district, was there something that surprised you?

I had no idea about the depth of resources and services; the work that goes into this place. It was always just where I got my books. It’s amazing what the Library does in the community.

That’s been eye-opening for me.

In terms of this work, I didn’t have a lot of expectations about how it would look. It’s been fun to see how it shapes itself.

What do you love most about your job?

It really comes down to being a connection with people who have lost a lot of those [connections] along the way. If I can be that for a little bit, that’s really cool. People need connection.

They need community to function, to feel better, to move anywhere in life.

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PIKES PEAK LIBRARY DISTRICT DISCOVERY

We’ve Got What You Need Collection Management

At the Library, we (of course) associate this time of year with summer reading programs.

But did you know? PPLD has got you covered for another favorite summer activity – movies! In addition to DVDs available for check-out, you can stream movies from home using Hoopla and Kanopy. Explore the available titles for your next movie night by visiting our Cybershelf: ppld.org/cybershelf.

You can check out 10 titles per month from both Hoopla and Kanopy. Watch the movies on your computer, use another device, or watch them directly on your TV using Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, or other steaming providers. The selection of titles on Hoopla and Kanopy is enormous, and both services have sections especially for kids.

Summertime Library Trivia How many times were DVDs checked out from PPLD in 2018? a. 421,378 b. 82,023 c. 1,652,563 d. 12,403,110 What movie was checked out the most from PPLD in 2018? a. Wonder Woman b. Spider-Man: Homecoming c. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle d. Black Panther 8

WIN A GIFT CERTIFICATE! Do you think you know the answer? Contact us at discovery@ppld.org with your answers for a chance to win a gift certificate to any Friends of the Pikes Peak Library District bookstore!

PIKES PEAK LIBRARY DISTRICT DISCOVERY

New Skills, New Goals Davidson’s path to success

It’s one thing to manage a move from one side of the globe to the other while getting married and starting a family. It is entirely another to try and find a job in a country and a culture that are completely new to you.

Thankfully, Sufia Davidson found help easing through the transition at Pikes Peak Library District.

“Everyone has put their hands out to hold me and give me support,” Davidson said. “When I came here, I cried on my husband’s shoulder because I couldn’t believe it. This is my country. I am so happy to be here.”

Davidson immigrated to the United States after meeting her husband, Joshua Davidson. He is a soldier at Fort Carson and met her in her home country of Afghanistan.

The two were married in 2009 and in the first six years of their marriage had two beautiful children.

Davidson loved her new home and life but was still missing one thing she really wanted: a job. After taking multiple years of English as a Second Language classes at Fort Carson, she found out about PPLD’s GED test preparation classes and enrolled. In just two years of working with PPLD instructor Michael Bittner, she’s improved on her test by 95 percent and is now only three points away from earning her GED. One day in class, Lacey Miller, PPLD’s Library Instruction Designer, paid them a visit and shared a new training opportunity: Culinary Quick Start. The certification program prepares participants in an intensive four-week format to become qualified line and prep cooks.

“Miss Lacey told us that with this class, you could learn lots of skills, and you could find a job, but you had to be 100 percent sure that you wanted to find a job in the restaurant industry,” Davidson said. “I wasn’t sure I could do this, because of my language skills, but then I talked to my husband. He told me to go do it because in my home country, I wouldn’t have an opportunity like this because I am a woman.”

Feeling newly empowered by her husband’s support, Davidson enrolled in the program and began her intensive training during May of 2019.

“Our instructor told us at the beginning that cooking is an adventure,” Davidson said. “I was skeptical because I didn’t see how you could think about it like that. But then I went to the kitchen and learned all these new cuisines, French cuisine, other culture’s foods. I learned that cooking is not about what you know, but about what you are willing to learn.”

Now, she’s a Culinary Quick Start graduate, and prospective employers are lining up. She received two job offers at PPLD’s Culinary Quick Start hiring fair before she even finished the program.

As she considers her options with the newfound certification, Davidson’s five-year plan is to become a professional chef, working in a trendy and modern hotel or restaurant.

Looking back at the progress she’s made since meeting her husband and immigrating 10 years ago, Davidson can’t believe how far she’s come. Most of all, she’s grateful for the opportunities in her new home. “Here, they open their arms and tell you to stand on your own feet,” Davidson said. “My whole life I believed my parents would take care of me, then my husband would take care of me. I get married, I'm done. But now I am learning to take care of myself.”

Learn more about participating in PPLD’s Adult Education classes and programs by visiting ppld.org/adult-education.

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PIKES PEAK LIBRARY DISTRICT DISCOVERY

Exploring Different Perspectives All Pikes Peak Reads

Calling all readers: All Pikes Peak Reads is quickly approaching, and we want to give you a heads up so you can get involved! The annual program aims to improve literacy and foster dialogue across social, cultural, and generational lines. The 2019 program will run Sept. 9 - Nov. 15.

Throughout the program, we’ll host author visits with the below authors, film screenings, community discussions and panel presentations, workshops, music programs, and more. We are planning these programs in collaboration with many community partners. Start reading now to get the full benefit of our All Pikes Peak Reads 2019 programs!

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Adults

Adults

Young Adults and Children

Citizen Illegal by JosĂŠ Olivarez New in 2019, we selected a book of poetry, which explores similar themes to Transatlantic.

Transatlantic by Colum McCann The book explores themes of crossings, peace, multiculturalism, identity, friendship, and memory.

Nowhere Boy by Katherine Marsh Our 2019 young adult title explores themes that are similar to our 2019 adult title in a palatable and appropriate way for younger readers. This will allow children and teens in the Pikes Peak region to participate in our fall programs, too.

PIKES PEAK LIBRARY DISTRICT DISCOVERY

New Look, Same Great Summer Program PPLD Foundation

Pikes Peak Library District’s summer reading program has a fresh new look for 2019.

Summer Adventure, PPLD’s flagship summer reading program, is now presented by Children’s Hospital Colorado, thanks to a corporate partnership between the Pikes Peak Library District Foundation and Children’s Hospital Colorado, Colorado Springs. In addition, CHC has maintained its sponsorship of Library 21c’s Family Place Library and will provide free health-related resources, educational opportunities, and family programming throughout PPLD’s service area as part of the partnership.

“Giving back to the community in which we serve is at the core of what we do every day,” said Christy Dobson, executive director of corporate and community relations for CHC. “Our partnership with PPLD allows us to broaden our reach and connect with families in a different way by providing useful resources and programming in a safe, fun, and thoughtful environment.”

Founded in Denver in 1908, CHC has set out to be a leader in providing the best healthcare outcomes for children. This commitment has led CHC to become one of the top children’s hospitals in the country. Their dedication to caring for kids at all ages and stages of growth, and their status as a private, nonprofit pediatric healthcare network, makes them a perfect partner for PPLD. This partnership allows PPLD to reach more children and families with health-related resources that may otherwise have been out of reach for our patrons.

For more information on how your company can partner with PPLD, please call (719) 531-6333, x6890 or email foundation@ppld.org. To make a charitable gift and create life-changing stories, visit ppld.org/foundation and click Donate Now.

Local History Available for All Regional History & Genealogy

The Regional History and Genealogy team hosted the 16th annual Regional History Symposium on Sat., June 8. The theme for this year’s gathering of local historians and community members was “Poets, Professors, and Provocateurs of the Pikes Peak Region.”

The day-long event concentrated on national literary figures and long-forgotten community influencers. Sessions throughout the day introduced participants to a wealth of knowledge on the fascinating components of our community’s history.

For example, J Richards highlighted Ellen Brinley. The B.F.D. Adams photograph collection at Pikes Peak Library District includes a treasure trove of images from 1885 documenting daily life in Colorado Springs. Through comprehensive research, J determined the photographer of this collection was most likely Brinley. This finding recovered Brinley’s talent as a photographer and her role as an early Colorado Springs resident. J stressed Brinley’s forgotten impact as a local philanthropist, a leader in the YWCA and other social organizations, and a beloved member of Grace and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church.

This historical program aims to expose our community to the rich history of the region. The popular event is available in person at East Library. Each year’s symposium culminates in the publication of material submitted by event speakers as part of the Regional History Book Series. The books are available in print or as an e-book for sale and checkout through PPLD. The symposium, and the resulting book, helps strengthen our impact and spark interest in our region’s past.

Watch the symposium on ppld.tv.

COLORADO SPRINGS

Children’s Hospital Colorado complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. • ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-720-777-1234. • CHÚ Ý: Nếu bạn nói Tiếng Việt, có các dịch vụ hỗ trợ ngôn ngữ miễn phí dành cho bạn. Gọi số 1-720-777-1234.

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PIKES PEAK LIBRARY DISTRICT DISCOVERY

#ToTheGirls

Q&A With Contributors to Yes She Can In June, four of the contributors to Yes She Can: 10 Stories of Hope & Change from Young Female Staffers of the Obama White House paid a visit to Penrose Library. These 10 young women joined the White House staff while in their 20s, hoping to make a difference.

Each of them worked in different areas of the administration, from urban renewal to science and technology. The goal of the book is to help tell stories about young women with diverse backgrounds working in public service, in the hopes that other young women will see themselves represented in the field and follow suit. District Discovery staff sat down with four of the contributors to ask about the project: Q: You all worked in really different areas of the administration. How did you all come to collaborate on a storytelling project like this?

Nita: Molly Dillon was really the biggest reason that we all got together. Individually, we didn’t necessarily feel compelled to share our stories. When Molly helped us see it as a bigger mission to help inspire women, to help women see themselves in us, that’s where the interest really got started.

Q: Your national tour has taken you into schools, libraries, book stores, you name it. What has the tour been like, and what’s the response been?

Kalisha: The mission of the book was to demystify what it means to work at the White House or in public service and to help define what public service even means, specifically for young women. We have had the privilege of reaching girls and women of all ages on this tour. It’s been great to hear the questions that they have while being able to share stories about what working in the White House means from the perspective of women from different communities.

Eleanor Celeste

Kalisha Dessources Figures

Andrea: It has been pretty clear that our audience members didn’t realize that people like us held these roles in the Obama administration. It’s been really rewarding to share our work in a way that illuminates new pathways for them. Older audience members have also said the book resonated with them, because a lot of people are looking for ways to be involved and enter public service right now. Any time you have a group of underrepresented women get together to discuss how they found their way to help others, it is a form of service. It’s a service to go out there and say this is how we did it; this is how you can get involved. You can follow our path, too.

Nita: One of the most rewarding aspects has been our school visits. It really drives us, because we’re finding a lot of people didn’t know these jobs existed; they didn’t know people like them could be the ones serving in these roles. A lot of times we’re helping them see there are resources they can use to take a similar path.

Q: Part of your stated goal has been to talk about public service while trying to go beyond politics, which has to be difficult. Do you feel this group has managed to do that?

Kalisha: I’m not going to say it’s an easy thing to do. It’s a balance we’re trying to strike. But it’s a conversation we’ve had so many times, because the goal is to discuss public service. Serve your community; be civically engaged, regardless of the level of government. We want that for all women and girls, from diverse economic and racial backgrounds, with diverse viewpoints.

We know government is better off when women have the opportunity to lead, because it’s more representative of the country.

Elle: All of us came to public service from different experiences and different support systems. The value of service and how it was instilled in us from our family members was underlying the path that led to these positions for us. Service is the value that runs through this. We weren’t sure where it was going to lead, but that’s what we want people to take home. You can have any background and appearance, and not only are you valuable, but we really need you.

Andrea: This project did come out at a unique political time.

But we’re not just talking about the main issues you see in the news. We’re discussing what it’s like to have the Pope visit the White House, how the federal government deals with an issue like foster care, things like that. I hope what people take away is that the diversity of the work this group did is inspiring.

Andrea Flores Nita Contreras

Eleanor Celeste Ohioan, lawyer, communicator, science nerd Nita Contreras Organizer, environmentalist, Californian Kalisha Dessources Figures Scholar, strategist, seeker of justice & equity Andrea Flores New Mexico native, working at the intersection of law & policy

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PIKES PEAK LIBRARY DISTRICT DISCOVERY

PRESENTED BY

Q: You’ve said you’re promoting a message of diversity and inclusion in public service. Why does this group feel that this message is important to discuss?

Kalisha: Visibility is extraordinarily important. I know for me, growing up, when I thought about who works at the White House and who makes the rules, there were not a lot of examples of women that I could see, especially women of color and women with immigrant heritage. We’re trying to point that out while telling stories of women, women of color, who were leading at the White House, because it means a lot for young women to see that. It helps them stand up and pursue opportunities in this space.

Andrea: One of my favorite parts of the book is that many of us talk about our personal journey to the White House. Growing up in New Mexico, I really had an interest in politics. But, as I got close to political spaces, I found they weren’t designed for people like me. I was finding resistance. Now, the political representation is changing. In some ways it’s changing really rapidly but, in some ways, it’s still changing really slowly. We’re still talking about the electability of a female president. In this book, we’re being vulnerable and sharing that we didn’t know we were going to work at the White House, either. It gives people some solidarity to look to.

Q: When you look back on this experience in five years, what results would make you feel like this project was successful?

Elle: During our launch in March of 2019, we went to an allgirls leadership school in New York. We asked the question: How many of you knew people like us worked in government?

Not a single person in the room raised their hand. To put a finer point on it, I would hope that the next time we go to that school and ask that question, everyone raises their hand. They each know they could work in government and be effective in that role.

Q: What would you say to young women who are interested in public service, but don’t feel like they have what it takes to make it possible?

Kalisha: Policy will be better with you at the table. We’ve all experienced that in our own work in so many ways. Folks better understand policy when they’ve experienced things on the ground, when they come from a different community, or have a different perspective. We need young women to be in government and public service because that’s how we will achieve stronger and better policy in America.

Nita: Your voice matters. We need women voices, not just for diversity’s sake, but because we need them to talk about their needs for themselves and for their community. We need women to feel they have a voice in the conversation. Public service is a place where they can do that.

Y T I N U M COM !

S Y A D T E TICK

PLUS! A CHANCE TO WIN One luxury suite for 14 people for the Wed., Sept. 4 game. Private full-furnished suite, open air balcony seating, waiter and bartender service, personal kitchenette, fully catered meal, cable TV access, private restrooms, and access to VIP sky bar (valued at $850).

Drawing to be held on Wed., Aug. 28

Learn more at tiny.cc/ppldvibes

GRAB A VOUCHER FOR A GAME BELOW AT NO COST! Mon., July 1 6:40 p.m.

Mon., July 15 6:40 p.m.

Wed., July 31 6:40 p.m.

Wed., Aug. 21 6:40 p.m.

Wed., July 10 6:40 p.m.

Mon., July 29 6:40 p.m.

Mon., Aug. 19 6:40 p.m.

Wed., Sept. 4 6:40 p.m.

VOUCHERS CAN BE REDEEMED AT THE VIBES BOX OFFICE FOR GAME TICKETS. LIMIT 10 VOUCHERS PER PERSON.

13

PIKES PEAK LIBRARY DISTRICT DISCOVERY

The Taste of Sweet Victory Creative Services/Adult Education

In May of 2019, Pikes Peak Library District launched an exciting new workforce development program: Culinary Quick Start.

Thanks to this program, seven PPLD patrons have received the training they need to get a job in the restaurant industry.

Culinary Quick Start is a four-week intensive training program that helps individuals prepare for a successful career as qualified line and prep cooks. It is recognized by the Pikes Peak Workforce Center and several other workforce centers in Colorado as an approved training option. Students graduate the program with a ServSafe certification, all at no cost.

PPLD’s Adult Education and Creative Services departments collaborated with Emily Griffith Technical College, Pikes Peak Workforce Center, and the Manitou Art Center to make the program possible. The inaugural Culinary Quick Start classes at PPLD were also made possible by the generosity of Hillside Community Center, which provided the kitchen where students learned their new skills.

Andrew Hawk, one of the first students, had never heard of a program like this at a library and at first thought it was too good to be true. After enrolling, Hawk was excited to learn the skills he needed to enter the culinary industry. Hawk said programs like this help the community, area restaurants, and businesses, and will bring more people into the Library.

Another student, Sylvester Holland, loved the hands-on approach to learning. He also appreciated that students could eat what they prepared to help further their education. Dishes prepared by the students could range from gumbo one night to risotto the next because of the intensive nature of the program.

The program originally launched in 2017 at Emily Griffith Technical College (EGTC) in Denver. It was designed to meet increased demand for trained line and prep cooks to supply Denver’s growing restaurant scene. Barbara Lindsey, Director of Workforce Development at EGTC, 14

worked with local chefs to create a curriculum focused on basic skills that are needed for entry-level positions in the culinary industry. Knife skills and sanitation education were at the top of the list. The program’s designers added well-rounded lessons and brought in guest chefs to spice things up. The program sees students through to employment. Since 2017, Culinary Quick Start has trained 620 students.

PPLD’s program is provided at no cost to eligible participants through Library, federal grant, and Manitou Art Center funds.

Individuals who want to participate must be 17 years of age or older, legally able to work in the U.S., able to attend classes Monday through Friday for four hours per day, and looking to work in the culinary industry.

Are you interested in participating in a future cohort? Visit culinaryquickstart.com/co-springs to learn more!

PIKES PEAK LIBRARY DISTRICT DISCOVERY

Cheyenne Mountain Library 1785 S. 8th St. #100, Colorado Springs, CO 80905 (719) 531-6333, x7001

Looking to Advertise Your Business?

East Library 5550 N. Union Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80918 (719) 531-6333, x7014

Reach out today to learn more!

DistrictDiscovery@ppld.org

Fountain Library 230 S. Main St., Fountain, CO 80817 (719) 531-6333, x7002 High Prairie Library 7035 Old Meridian Rd., Peyton, CO 80831 (719) 531-6333, x7003 Library 21c 1175 Chapel Hills Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80920 (719) 531-6333, x7012 Manitou Springs Library 701 Manitou Ave., Manitou Springs, CO 80829 (719) 531-6333, x7004 Mobile Library Services (719) 531-6333, x2313 Monument Library 1706 Lake Woodmoor Dr., Monument, CO 80132 (719) 531-6333, x7005 Old Colorado City Library 2418 W. Pikes Peak Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80904 (719) 531-6333, x7006 Palmer Lake Library 66 Lower Glenway St., Palmer Lake, CO 80133 (719) 531-6333, x7007 Penrose Library 20 N. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80903 (719) 531-6333, x7015 Rockrimmon Library 832 Village Center Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80919 (719) 531-6333, x7008 Ruth Holley Library 685 N. Murray Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80915 (719) 531-6333, x7009 Sand Creek Library 1821 S. Academy Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80916 (719) 531-6333, x7018 Ute Pass Library 8010 Severy Rd., Cascade, CO 80809 (719) 531-6333, x7011

Pikes Peak Library District Discovery Summer 2019 / Volume 1, Issue 2

Executive Editor Michelle Ray Managing Editor David Kelly Staff Writer Kayah Swanson Graphic Designer Nicole Enger

Contributors Britt Bloom Becca Cruz Lance James Brett Lobello Betty McDonald Jeremiah Walter Lacey Miller Jenny Pierce Amy Rodda John Spears Terry Zarsky

Pikes Peak Library District Board of Trustees Wayne A. Vanderschuere, President Debbie English, Vice President Scott Taylor, Secretary/Treasurer Keith Clayton, II Cathy Grossman Mina Liebert Dr. Ned C. Stoll 15

PIKES PEAK LIBRARY DISTRICT DISCOVERY

Summer 2019 Volume 1, Issue 2 16

(719) 531-6333

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