The Family Advocacy Coalition will host the first family listening sessions, one in English and one in Spanish, Wednesday evening at the Estes Park Elementary School beginning at 6 p.m. The purpose is to listen to the voices of families about the various challenges families face in living and working in the Estes Valley.
Nicole White, a real estate agent with eXp Realty – Inspired Living Group and the mom of two daughters, is one of the coalition’s steering committee members said there are a two main focus questions the listening sessions will use to kick off the conversations: what makes the Estes Valley a good place for families to live, and how can we make this a community where families thrive?
White had been a member of the Town’s Family Advisory Board before the group was sunsetted by the Town Board in 2023.
“After the 6E funding was passed, the Town thought housing and childcare were taken care so what else is the Family Advisory Board going to do? But most of the people on that board felt like our work wasn’t finished. We felt like there was a lot more still to advocate for for families in Estes, so we decided to create a community-based board,” said White.
In addition to White, members of the coalition include Nancy Almond a community activists and grant writer; Deanna Ferrel, a community activist and public health advocate; Sue Yowell executive director of The Estes Park Learning Place; Rut Miller, director of the Estes Valley Initiative in Child Services; Jessica Moffett with the Estes Park Housing Authority; Carlie Bangs, housing and childcare manager for the Town of Estes Park; Tim Smith, lead pastor of Summit Church; Doug Frisbie president of the Salud Foundation, Brian Schaffer, executive director of Crossroad Ministries; and Aleta Kazadi, a community volunteer and tutor.
Jana Sanchez, a corporate trainer and business consultant with Alchemy with Words, designed a strategic planning meeting for the group to define its values, vision, and mission.
Beginning with a foundation of three key values for the coalition, the organizers chose the terms community, knowledge, and accessibility.
They then identified two key terms that they incorporated into their vision for families and their organizational mission statement: “flourish” and “thrive.”
Their vision for the Estes Valley is that it is “a community where all families are able to flourish,” and their mission statement for the coalition is to “listen to the voice of families, collaborate, and advocate for sustainable solutions that create a favorable environment where families can thrive.
White says the family listening session will be similar to sessions held two years ago by the Family Advisory Board. Following the meetings, the coalition will prepare a report which they will share with the town and various stakeholder groups in the Estes Valley and to advocate for family focused policy initiatives.
White expects that themes from the listening sessions will center around transportation, housing, childcare, and the cost of living. To track the progress and changes in the issues, the coalition hopes to do listening sessions several times a year.
This Wednesday pizza will be available between 5:30 and 6:00 p.m. just before the listening sessions begin. The pizza is being provided by Poppy’s Pizza and Grill and is sponsored by Estes Park’s mayor, Gary Hall.
Participants interested in having pizza before the listening sessions begin are asked to RSVP via the QR code. There is no need to RSVP to participate in the listening session and all members of the community are welcome to attend.
- Date: Wednesday, Aug. 28
- Pizza dinner and social connection: 5:30 p.m.
- Listening Sessions: 6 to 7 p.m.
- Location: Estes Park Elementary School
Three additional Family Listening Sessions are planned: Wednesday, November 13 at Summit Church; Wednesday, February 5, Estes Valley Library; and Thursday, April 24, at Talons Point and Falcon Ridge.
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