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October 2018

The resilient American spirit

After living in China for nearly four years, authors Deborah and James Fallows were feeling out of touch with their home country. To reintroduce themselves to the United States, they decided to do what they had done in China – go out to towns and cities off the beaten path to get a better understanding of everyday people and places. Their journey took them to towns and cities that had experienced shocks – from factory closures to demographic shifts – and gave them a first-hand look at how people address issues in their communities.

What does it take?

Are you thinking about selling your famous homemade salsa? Maybe you’ve developed an app and now you need to launch it. If you’re dreaming of starting your own business or side-hustle, take it from the experts. We asked local entrepreneurs to share their tips for starting your next venture.

Leading a local foods revolution

Take a former environmental lawyer, a former accountant, a passion for supporting local farmers, and what do you get? The Bromley Local Foods Campus, a 10-acre operational farm and local food accelerator. Think of it as a coworking space for farmers and foodies. Owners Nathan and Kimberly Mudd are leading a local foods revolution, bringing more local, healthy foods to Brighton, Colo., and beyond. We caught up with Nathan to learn more about this project.

The library as a launching pad

For many, the library provides opportunities for learning and connection; but others have found that libraries can go beyond these traditional services and serve as a launching pad for life transformations – setting them up for new careers, entrepreneurial endeavors or even acceptance to a dream school. We took a look at some Anythink customers who have found ways to enhance their lives, education and vocational opportunities through the library.

Feeding kids in Adams County

More than 14,000 students in Adams County, Colo., depend on free meals at school for adequate nutrition throughout the week, with approximately 1,200 of those students identifying as homeless. But what happens on the weekends? That’s where local nonprofit Food for Hope steps in. Founded in 2014 by Thornton, Colo., Mayor Heidi K. Williams, Food for Hope is trying to close what they refer to as the hunger gap by providing children in need with healthy meals every weekend of the school year.

Working artists

After graduating from college, I was accepted into a Master of Fine Arts program in creative writing. One week before classes began, I panicked and withdrew from the program. What future job prospects could I expect with this type of degree? It never occurred to me that there were potential careers in which I could utilize my creativity and art background as an asset.

What are you thinking?

Over the past year, we have been actively working and listening to our community regarding the role the library can play in supporting people and their careers.