Leading By Example, Part II
Meet The Committee Chairs For Greater Park Hill Community, Inc.
Editor’s Note: Last month we featured profiles on new and returning board members and officers for Greater Park Hill Community, Inc., the registered neighborhood organization that serves the neighborhood. (Those profiles can be read online at greaterparhill.org.)
This month, we feature biographies of volunteers who have been appointed to serve in leadership positions in numerous areas, including safety, public information, education, health and human services, human relations, planning, fundraising, and youth initiatives.
Unless otherwise indicated, GPHC board members and committee chairs can be contacted via the Greater Park Hill Community office at 2823 Fairfax St. or at 303-388-0918. If you are interested in volunteering your time and expertise, contact GPHC Board Chair Tracey MacDermott at chair@greaterparkhill.org.
Melissa Davis – Public Information Chair
Occupation: Newspaper Manager, Greater Park Hill News
What you do in your position with GPHC: As chair for the Public Information Committee, I send emails to our membership to alert them of upcoming meetings and items on the agenda. I also work on special projects. This year I coordinated a task force to overhaul the GPHC website. Check it out, at greaterparkhill.org.
What drew you to GPHC, Inc.? I love Greater Park Hill and I wanted to participate in the RNO in some capacity.
What would you like to accomplish? Complete the website redesign and find other ways to provide information to our members.
What you love about Park Hill? I love the mature trees, the diversity of people and homes, the proximity to City Park and the sense of community.
What addition would you like to see in Park Hill? I would like to see a consignment shop in Park Hill.
Best contact: newspaper@greaterparkhill.org.
Lynn Kalinauskas – Education Chair
Occupation: I work for the National Consortium for Teaching about Asia and teach Chinese civilization at UC Denver.
What you do in your position: As the Education Chair for GPHC, I keep abreast of Denver Public Schools’ policies and how they impact schools in our neighborhood. I also write about education issues in the newspaper.
What drew you to GPHC, Inc.? Significant changes affected the education landscape in education in the last decade. I came to GPHC for information and found it to be a place to learn about all the different for forces influencing the area as well as a great place to give back to those in the neighborhood.
What would you like to accomplish as a board member? Often, details about educational changes become known only once they are in the process of being implemented. I would like to see important information made available to the community in a timely manner.
What you love about Park Hill? It’s never boring.
What addition would you like to see in Park Hill? An outdoor swimming pool!
Best contact: 303-394-4627 or lkalinauskas@hotmail.com
Geneva Goldsby – Safety Chair
Occupation: Retired from the University of Colorado
What drew you to the GPHC? Involvement in the community.
Highlight of your board experience? Support from members
What you love about Park Hill? Diversity
Keith Brown – Health & Human Services
Occupation: Chef at Renaissance Hotel Denver
Best contact: 303-333-5839 or Kbtree2000@gmail.com
Description of what you do with GPHC: I help to facilitate the effective distribution of food in the under-served areas of Park Hill, providing healthy meals to seniors and others that for whatever reason are unable to access other food pantries. This is done by reclaiming food from area restaurants and stores.
What drew you to GPHC?
I felt that GPHC is the best way to keep a feel of the pulse within the neighborhood. GPHC also provides a venue to address issues within our community.
What would you like to accomplish as a board member? I would like to see more cohesiveness within all entities involved in food distribution as to ensure no one goes hungry and all people in the neighborhood get whatever resources they need.
What do you love about Park Hill? I love that most people are kind, caring and concerned about others.
What addition would you love in Park Hill? I would like to see better senior care and services. Get the word out to those who need these services.
Fundraising Chair: Lana Cordes
Occupation: Realtor
Description of what you do in your position with GPHC: I will help to plan and support the committees for all of the fundraising efforts including membership sales, Home Tour & Street Fair, Garden Walk, and other ongoing and one-off efforts.
What drew you to GPHC, Inc.? Prior to real estate, my professional background was in event management and I wanted to stay connected to that skill and passion. I began working on the yearly neighborhood Yard Sale and the annual Home Tour a couple years ago and once I learned what the GPHC was all about, I gradually became more involved, culminating now with my first stint as a committee chair.
What would you like to accomplish as a board member? One of my goals is to streamline all of the PR/marketing efforts, particularly those surrounding the fundraising events. In doing so, we can hopefully create greater synergy and drum up even more support and excitement among all of the efforts.
What you love about Park Hill? I love that it is a community. It’s the only place I’ve lived in my adult life where I feel like I am a valued part of my neighborhood and that my neighbors know and care about one another.
What addition would you like to see in Park Hill? Oh, the foodie in me would love a few more restaurants – it seems that is on the horizon! I live near the 28th and Fairfax commercial strip so I am also very much looking forward to getting some new shopping, dining, and community spaces in this neck of the woods.
Best contact: Phone 303-489-2991; email Lana@DenverSweetHome.com
Youth Chair: Justin Petaccio
Occupation: Mortgage Loan Officer at AmeriFirst Financial
What you do in your position: I’m brand new to the GPHC organization, but I will be in charge of the Youth Services Committee. This maintains the summer employment and urban garden program, but I hope to expand it in to other areas to help our neighborhood kids.
What drew you to GPHC, Inc.? I believe that we can be most impactful by helping those who are closest to us, not just emotionally but physically. If everyone is willing to help their neighbors, and their neighborhood, this world will continue to become a better place for all.
What would you like to accomplish? To help Park Hill continue to be the best neighborhood it can be. This includes maintaining diversity and inclusiveness, and promoting responsible and sustainable development.
What you love about Park Hill? The people! And a distant second is the wonderful tree lined streets, along with the great architecture. I also love how it is a great blend of a quiet oasis while having access to what the city has to offer.
What addition would you like to see in Park Hill? More casual dining, as well as more neighborhood festivities like block parties and farmers markets.
Best contact: jpetaccio@amerifirst.us
Human Relations Chair: Beth Bean
Occupation: I work for the Colorado Department of Higher Education, where we strive to get students to and through college, with a focus on under-served and adult students and affordability.
What you do in your position: I am new to GPHC and am very excited to be a member. I will be the chair of the Human Relations Committee, which works to improve human relations in Park Hill between our diverse racial, ethnic and religious groups in the community.
What drew you to GPHC, Inc.? I have lived in Park Hill for almost nine years and in that time have come to appreciate and value the neighborhood and the neighbors. I want to become a more active member of the community and do my best to serve the neighborhood. The GPHC provides this wonderful opportunity.
What would you like to accomplish? The timing could not be more appropriate for Park Hill to come together as a diverse and accepting community. My goals for the year will be to better understand human relations in Park Hill, share the information we learn and promote what is working well.
What do you love about Park Hill? My girls and I never tire of walking around the neighborhood looking at the unique homes full of multifarious neighbors.
I love the trees, local businesses, decorated alleys, the 4th of July parade, block parties, bike lanes, and watching the raccoon that visits my neighbor’s porch for a midnight snack.
What addition would you like to see in Park Hill? I would love to see an outdoor neighborhood pool for the summer and a dog park!
Best contact: beth.w.bean@gmail.com