Kathleen McGoey
Laura Merritt
Age: 40 Occupation: CEO of Kathleen McGoey & Associates, Inc. Years in the St. Vrain Valley: 8 What brought you here? What has kept you? I moved to Boulder County in 2012 from Austria, where I completed work for a master’s degree in International Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Innsbruck. I chose this area to be near my brothers, niece and nephew while I wrote my thesis. I also discovered qigong, a Daoist movement meditation, and met a local teacher who took me under her wing as I wrote my thesis, which focused on the importance of cultivating internal peace in order to work in conflict. I’ve chosen to stay because of my work in Restorative Justice. I began working at Longmont Community Justice Partnership in 2013, and I served as its executive director for six years. Why are you passionate about restorative justice? Restorative justice invites people to come together with a shared purpose that is unlike most human interaction. That purpose is to listen without analyzing, evaluating, giving advice, or correcting. How often do we gather in community to truly listen to people who may be struggling with one of the most challenging moments of their lives? Restorative Justice asks that each person tell their own story, their own truth. As we listen to each other, we discover that many truths, however similar or different, can respectfully coexist. This is a simple concept that is deeply impactful when experienced in real life, with real people, sitting in a circle. What made you decide it was time to leave the Longmont Community Justice Partnership? Leading LCJP was one of the greatest gifts of my life. The friendships and relationships that I formed inspired and educated me. We facilitated over 800 cases involving 2,000 harmed and responsible parties and I co-produced a documentary, “How to Love Your Enemy: A Restorative Justice Story,” to share the approach’s success in Longmont. I have now launched my own business, Kathleen McGoey & Associates, to broaden my impact by providing training and consulting in Restorative Justice and Conflict Transformation to organizations and people nationwide.
Age: 61 Occupation: Nurse of 39 years, COVID-19 response nurse, rehabilitation nurse, BSN and RN Years in the St. Vrain Valley: 28 What brought you here? What has kept you? My husband got a job here. We thought we’d see if we liked it. Apparently we did! We love the beauty of nature and the people here. And the weather! You’ve been described as a highly passionate person and dedicated to being a frontline COVID-19 response nurse? I initially chose nursing because I could get a bachelor’s degree without taking very much math (truth). I did fall in love with nursing though and have enjoyed the many roles a nurse can play — teacher, counselor, listener and healer. I have worked in hospitals, doctors offices, a clinic, a school for the deaf, Longs Peak Middle School, home health and hospice. I am now a rehab nurse at a long-term care facility where I hope to stay until I retire. What is the best part about your job and passion? Any fun stories to share? I feel the best part is all the awesome people I get to meet with and work for. I have taken care of farmers, CEOs, kids, stay at home moms, etc. Once I got an opportunity to take an Ethiopian hospice patient home to die. We went through five airports, and she made it home safely. Her family showed me around Ethiopia. It was very special! Anything else you want to add/say about your passion for helping local families? I love helping people. God gave me the desire and the opportunities. All the glory goes to Him! I also want to give a shout out to all my fellow nurses. It’s been a tough year, but we are tougher! Hang in there!
Joseph Mehsling
Elliot Moore
Age: 53 Occupation: Director of Twin Peaks Charter Academy Years in the St. Vrain Valley: 29 What brought you here? What has kept you? I love Longmont. Before we lived in Berthoud, I lived in Gunbarrel and Niwot. I got my first teaching job at Sunset (Middle School). I have been very fortunate to work at four schools in this town. It’s just been a great community that really gives back. It’s a community that keeps reinvesting in its citizens, students and city. I have been watching Longmont grow over the past 30 years. What led you to become an educator? I was a horrible student. I really disliked school. I joined the (U.S.) Marine Corps, and in the Marine Corps, I took a step back and thought “What’s my favorite thing I am doing that I can translate to real life?” And it was teaching. I grew up in Golden, so I went to Arvada West and the University of Colorado and (received a) master’s (degree) at the University of Northern Colorado. What is the most rewarding part of your career? The most rewarding part of being an educator (for me, is) when you have stayed planted in a place for a long time and seeing your students’ children and watching a community grow. Even a few of my teachers were my former students. Planting roots pays off. If you stay rooted in a community, you really get to see everything you have sewn. I just love the town. It’s a great place to raise a family and plant roots. I feel very honored to work in a community like Longmont.
Age: 42 Occupation: Musician; Music Director and Conductor of the Longmont Symphony Orchestra Years in the St. Vrain Valley: 3K What brought you here? What has kept you? Following an 18 month national search beginning in 2016, I was selected as the winning candidate for the position of Music Director and Conductor of the Longmont Symphony Orchestra (LSO). It is such a pleasure making music with the exceptional musicians of the LSO. We have a wonderful time in rehearsals delving into some of the greatest musical works in the history of Western classical music! I speak for all LSO musicians when I say that our biggest thrill is bringing these works alive for our audience. It is the transformative power of music to touch, move, and inspire the people of Longmont, as well as the exceptionally bright future for the arts in Longmont, that keeps me here. What is the best part about your job and passion? Any fun stories to share? The best part of my job is the ability to touch and impact people’s lives. A story that I have been thinking about a lot recently, took place five years ago. The Make-a-Wish Foundation of Michigan contacted me; there was a little girl with stomach cancer whose wish was to conduct a Beethoven symphony. Once we connected, I began coaching this young music enthusiast on conducting the “Ode to Joy” from Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. We had three one-on-one conducting lessons and as many rehearsals with the orchestra. Her performance was exceptionally moving! There were so many powerful lessons for everyone involved, including experiencing the healing power of music, the joy of making music, and how music can be a transforming agent. By the way, this young girl beat cancer. It is a true joy for me to see her growing up!
32 • JUNE 20, 2021 • COMMUNITY REVIEW