Ppld's People Of The Peak

Claire Swinford is the Urban Engagement Manager at Downtown Partnership of Colorado Springs. Downtown Partnership is the leading catalytic champion for Downtown Colorado Springs, accomplished through a wide variety of programs and services. Its mission is to ensure that Downtown serves as the economic, civic and cultural heart of Colorado Springs.

Steve is a founding member of Concrete Couch and a board member of Community Built Association (CBA), a national nonprofit that supports architects, artists, builders, planners, teachers, and others who incorporate the community into their practice.

Kathleen Fitzpatrick is a National Alliance of Partnership in Equity (NAPE) Program Manager. In this role, she assists a national team of equity professionals that build educators' capacity to implement effective solutions for increasing student access, educational equity, and workforce diversity. Her passion has always been in promoting the STEM message for the next generation. In addition to her role at NAPE, Kathleen leads the Southern Colorado Girls' STEM Initiative (SCGSI), a regional organization that supports more than 500 middle school girls in exploring careers in STEM.  

Yearning for a change from her Midwest living Jo moved to Colorado a few years ago. She earned her Master of Fine Arts degree in Ceramics and a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communications. She has worked in the art and design fields throughout her career in the corporate, private, ad agency and not-for-profit sectors. Jo primarily works in clay making sculptural objects with a focus on feminine concerns. Recently she has been making utilitarian pieces and mixing multiple surface decoration techniques to create a balance between discord and harmony. Jo likes to make everyday and if she can't she is sad.

Your PPLD hosts go on location to Venetucci Farm for a conversation with the farm's manager, Susan Gordon.

To celebrate Arts Month, PPLD spoke with Andy Vick, Executive Director of the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region. To see more PPLD events, visit ppld.org/arts-month.  

In this episode, hosts Antonia and Jeremiah speak with Trisha Winslow, a Christian homemaker and homeschooling parent. Tricia talks about her experience being a "human book" in PPLD's Human Library Project.

Rod Summitt is a Colorado Springs author who has set many of his novels in a fictional Eastern Colorado town.

Linda Smith is an artist and art educator who started a non-profit while living in Kigali, Rwanda, called the "TEOH Project", which provides cameras and art classes to children in Rwanda, Ghana and Bronx NY. 

Part 2 of our interview. Ron Cousar has played R&B, blues, and jazz for many years. In addition to studio work with Savoy Records, he has played with bands in New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Baltimore, and now Colorado Springs. Dr. Wanda Tisby-Cousar uses storytelling and dance to coach innovation and artistic ability. She has studied interpretive dance and tap since the age of four with Sydney King School of Dance and performed with Afi West African Dance Ensemble.  

Ron Cousar has played R&B, blues, and jazz for many years. In addition to studio work with Savoy Records, he has played with bands in New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Baltimore, and now Colorado Springs. Dr. Wanda Tisby-Cousar uses storytelling and dance to coach innovation and artistic ability. She has studied interpretive dance and tap since the age of four with Sydney King School of Dance and performed with Afi West African Dance Ensemble. In this episode, we talk to the Cousars about the way music and dance have shaped their lives.

When we talked with Dave, we got to discuss mountain climbing, maker culture, STEM education, and adventures in teaching both in Colorado and abroad.

In this installment of People of the Peak, we speak to Rukhsana Sher. Originally from Pakistan, she teaches English as a Second Language (ESL) at PPLD and also teaches at UCCS. We hope you enjoy learning as much about ESL as we did!

Today we have an interview with Kevin Cady, a teacher, climber, and author. One of the things we noticed right away about Kevin was his passion for the things that he does. We hope you'll enjoy this discussion as much as we did.

Today we have an interview with Donna Vessey, Host and Executive Producer at "Hittin' the Road", an educational adventure television show broadcasting on PBS. We talk about acting, international party planning and of course, how Donna got started making her fabulous show and founded Rocky Mountain Adventure Quest. 

On this episode, we talk with local author, Margaret Brettschneider, also known as MJ Brett. Margaret shares with us stories of working with the USO, teaching overseas in Dept of Defense schools in Germany, her writing process and of course, MUCH MUCH more. Enjoy!

On this episode, we talk with Doug Price, President & CEO of the Colorado Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau. Doug has over 30 years' experience in hospitality and marketing, and he uses that knowledge along with his appreciation for the Pikes Peak region to promote Colorado Springs and the surrounding area. Enjoy!

Today's interview is with Matt Mayberry, Director and Cultural Service Manager of Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum. We talk about his journey to Colorado Springs, the history of Colorado Springs, and of course the beautiful Pioneers Museum. We also talk about ghost stories, horse's falling through windows, opinions about eBay, and much more!  

Today's interview is with John Poss, Director at Colorado Springs Science Center. John had worked at Hewlett-Packard and saw how our community has changed in terms of technology/engineering and shares that with us along with what he is up to now. We talk about flying circuses, how color of buttons influence sales, quitting your job to play lotto, bag pipes and much much more!    

Today's interview is with Sean Anglum, Community Engagement and Outreach Officer for Pikes Peak Library District. Sean is a really interesting guy who has had a variety of jobs in organizations around Colorado Springs. We talk about surprise major changes, Steve Martin, and much, much more!