Community Conversations Highlight Aspirations

Library Turns Out To Meet Your Neighbors

By Becky Corning
and Tara Bannon Williamson

Pauline Robinson and Park Hill branch librarians

 Giant jenga, hula hooping, a live band, giant connect four, and hamburgers, hot dogs and watermelon were enjoyed by a large crowd at the Pauline Robinson branch library on Aug. 4. Denver Days was a great time to embody the community aspirations we learned about through our community conversations with our Meet Your Neighbors party.

Libraries all over the country, including all Denver Public Libraries, are hosting Community Conversations. Library representatives are asking community members to share issues that are affecting them so libraries can support and connect community leaders and change agents to bring about positive change.

Several themes emerged from the first conversations at Pauline Robinson Branch held last year, noted Senior Librarian Leslie Williams. People were concerned about safety, lack of youth engagement and neighbors not knowing each other and knowing what is going on in the neighborhood. The third theme rose to the top as one that we at the library could work on.

Together, Pauline Robinson and Park Hill Branches have this year hosted two Community Conversations representing Greater Park Hill and held at the Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. office. From the conversation emerged an aspiration to have a shared identity that was inclusive, diverse, and promoted open and courteous discourse.

Obstacles to these goals were seen to be racism, lack of affordable housing, and inequities in schools. There were deep discussions about people being table o age in place, having a safe place for children to play and increasing community involvement.

The Aug. 4 party was the third of three “Meet Your Neighbors” events we hosted throughout the summer that incorporates the aspirations expressed by the community. We will also be hosting events in September and November: a Park Hill Walking Tour at 11 a.m. on Sept. 9 and a potluck event in November.

Next steps in the Community Conversation process involve taking deeper dives into the heart of what the neighbors of Park Hill, and Denver, want for their communities. We have a Teen Conversation, led by Park Hill teens, scheduled for early September and look forward to hearing from their perspective. To participate in any of these deeper dive conversations, email Tara at tbannon@denverlibrary.org.

Note: All Denver Public Libraries will be closed Monday, Sept. 4 in observance of Labor Day.

Pauline Robinson Branch Library – September 2017 Programs

Tech Help One-on-One | Mondays and Wednesdays, noon-1 p.m.

Get technology assistance from one of our in-house experts on your own device or a public computer. Learn the basics, such as email, social networking, word processing and eMedia. Call the library at 720-865-0290 to schedule an appointment.

Preschool Storytime | Wednesdays, Sept. 6, 13, 20, 27, 10:30 a.m.

Stories, songs, rhymes and fun for 3-5 year olds and their parents or caregivers.

Park Hill Walking Tour | Saturday, Sept. 9, 11 a.m.

We’ll travel from Pauline Robinson to Park Hill branch highlighting our lovely neighborhood. The full loop will be 3.42 miles, with an option to do half ending at the Park Hill branch if you arrange for transportation. Highlights will include: Little Free Libraries, the Dahlia Center for Health and Well-Being, the Park Hill Community Bookstore, exciting alley art and fun historical facts.

Tech Showcase | Thursday, Sept. 14, 1-2:30 p.m.

Check out the latest and greatest in technology tools and gadgets. Learn about how they work and what they can be used for. Explore our 3D printer, Vive 3D goggles, programmable robots and more.

STEM: Bits Box | Saturday, Sept. 23, 2 p.m.

Build your computer skills by learning to write your own code and create apps.

Pauline Robinson Book Club | Saturday, Sept. 30, 12 p.m.

This month’s selection: Queen Sugar by Natalie Baszile. Drop-ins are welcome.

Park Hill Branch Library – September Programs

All Ages Storytime | Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.

Stories, songs, rhymes and fun for children of all ages and their parents or caregivers. Craft activity immediately follows the program.

Baby Storytime | Thursdays and Fridays at 11:15 a.m.

Stories, songs, rhymes and fun for babies ages 0-18 months and their caregivers. Play and social time immediately follow the program.

Toddler Storytime | Fridays at 10:30 a.m.

Stories, songs, rhymes and fun for toddlers ages 18-36 months and their caregivers.

Help Me Understand: Discussing Volatile Topics | Wednesday, Sept. 6, 6:30 p.m.

Divisive times can bring anxiety and anger around volatile conversation topics. Using a variety methods that encourage collaboration and understanding around difficult conversations, we will explore values and belief systems developed over a lifetime. We will build skills to strengthen our abilities to hold civil conversations and move toward solutions.

Park Hill Walking Tour | Saturday, Sept. 9, 11 a.m.

Join us as we travel from Pauline Robinson to Park Hill branch highlighting our lovely neighborhood. The full loop will be 3.42 miles, with an option to do half ending at the Park Hill branch if you arrange for transportation. Highlights will include: Little Free Libraries, the Dahlia Center for Health and Well-Being, the Park Hill Community Bookstore, exciting alley art and fun historical facts.

Teen Advisory Board (TAB) | Tuesday, Sept. 12 and Tuesday, Sept. 26, 6 p.m.

Join the Park Hill TAB. Help plan events and projects, talk about your favorite books, music, movies and make your opinion count. Plus snacks. Ideal for ages 13 and up.

Roald Dahl Birthday Party | Wednesday, Sept. 13, 4:30 p.m.

Celebrate author Roald Dahl’s birthday with a variety of fun activities based on his books. Ideal for families and ages 4-10.

Black. by Lamaria Aminah presented by Curious Theatre Company | Wednesday, Sept. 13, 6:30 p.m.

Written by a young, local writer from the Curious New Voices program, Black. is an original play that gets to the heart of the matter on communication between races. A discussion about our own roles and voices regarding race will follow after the play. Teens, families and community members are encouraged to attend. For more information about Curious Theatre Company or this show contact jeannene@curioustheatre.org.

Park Hill Underground Comedy Club: Christie Buchele | Thursday, Sept. 14, 7 p.m.

Denver comedian Christie Buchele reps the Mile Hi City hard while crushing audiences with a wry, biting style that’s a bit sweet, and a little bit surly; proving time and again you can say anything with a smile on your face and a gimp in your step in our underground, after-hours comedy club. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Eighteen and over only due to adult content.

Beginning Genealogy | Saturday, Sept. 16, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Learn to think genealogically through exploration of census using Ancestry.com, pedigree charts and family group sheets and other major record groups.

Among
the
Ruins, with Author Ausma Kahn | Saturday, Sept. 16, 2:30 p.m.

Ms. Khan holds a Ph.D. in International Human Rights Law with a research specialization in military intervention and war crimes in the Balkans. Among the Ruins, the third in the Rachel Getty and Esa Khattak mystery series, takes the reader from Canada to Iran while demonstrating a compelling and lyrical writing style. Books available for sale and signing.

Magic Club | Monday, Sept. 18, 4:30 p.m.

Do you already play Magic: the Gathering, or are you interested in learning? Stop by two afternoons a month to play and meet other teens. Ideal for grades 6-12. (No meeting Monday, Sept. 4; library closed for Labor Day.)

Kids’ Book Club | Tuesday, Sept. 19, 3:30 p.m.

Judy Moody and Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt by Megan McDonald. Activity: Treasure hunt in the library.

Tween Book Club | Thursday, Sept. 21, 4:30 p.m.

The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd. Activity: London game

No Strings Attached Book Chat | Saturday, Sept. 23, 11 a.m.

Read whatever you want and attend whenever you can. Share a recent read, an old favorite, or anything in between.

ACLU 101 | Tuesday, Sept. 26, 6:30 p.m.

In this interactive talk, Kathleen Hynes, Ph.D., Volunteer speaker for the ACLU of Colorado will review the work of the ACLU through some of its major local and national cases. The cases will cover topics such as juvenile justice, free speech, LGBT rights, immigrant rights, privacy rights and voting rights.

Vellamo | Saturday, Sept. 30, 2:30 p.m.

Vellamo is the performing and songwriting team of Pia Leinonen and Joni Tiala. Their music is reminiscent of 1960’s folk revival groups such as Judy Collins, Richard and Mimi Farina; Peter, Paul, and Mary and Pentangle – but with a Scandinavian twist.

Enjoy an entertaining musical performance and get an introduction to the Finnish language and the folk music tradition combining Scandinavian and Slavic influences with folklore.