Karen Gerrity, Nederland. The Culture of Kindness is as strong as ever in our mountain community and shows no sign of slowing down during the Coronavirus pandemic. Neighbors are helping neighbors, businesses are supporting each other, and nonprofits and government agencies continue to provide much needed goods and services while elected officials are adopting policies supporting a more just and equitable community. 

In a previous article, I focused on the health and human services nonprofit organizations in the Peak to Peak region providing basic necessities such as food, rent assistance, and emotional support. This article will focus on government entities and the difference they are making during these challenging times. 

Marshal Johns and the Nederland Police Officers continue to foster the Culture of Kindness with their Community Policing approach to building positive relationships and trust.

The peace officers provide support to residents, businesses, and visitors and often assist with non-police related matters.  Examples of this include pulling vehicles out of ditches and snowbanks, reuniting missing pets with their families, responding to medical calls and assisting the Nederland Fire Protection District, manning running ropes to pull injured people and animals out of embankments, old mines, and the rushing creek, assisting people locked out of their cars and making small repairs on disabled vehicles or providing gas when someone runs out. This is how the officers spend the majority of their time while on duty. 

The Nederland Police Officers are hosting an informal meet-and-greet in front of the police station on July 4 from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Stop by to say hi, grab a free hot dog, and meet Nederland’s newest peace officer Peter Gillen. 

At the June 2, 2020, Board of Trustees (BOT) meeting, Mayor Larsen read a proclamation in recognition and support for the LGBTQ+ communities during this year’s annual June Pride month. 

Every year the month of June celebrates LGBTQ+ Pride and commemorates the 1969 Stonewall riots. However, Covid-19 has disrupted the planned celebrations and has had devastating impacts to their community at large. Early surveys from the Human Rights Campaign and the Williams Institute indicate that the pandemic will disproportionately impact LGBTQ+ people when it comes to financial security, job security, and housing. Although little is known about the long-term impacts of Covid-19, it is expected that the pandemic will exacerbate existing inequalities in economic security and healthcare for the LGBTQ+ community and vulnerable populations.

A rainbow flag has been hung at Town Hall to help raise the spirits of so many who suffer during this time. 

At their June 16 meeting, the BOT adopted Resolution 2020-20  Declaring Without Qualification or Reservation that Black Lives Matter and urging all residents to come together in solidarity with Black people, to be creative and willing to change, to actively address prejudice within ourselves and our communities, to listen and learn from Black experiences, and to actively work to make Black voices heard and privileged in the struggle for Black liberation.

The Downtown Development Authority, as approved by the BOT, established a Covid-19 Stop Gap Funding Grant and when the grant cycle ends, they will have distributed up to $100,000 to dozens of eligible businesses located in the district to provide financial relief due to Covid-19 related expenses. 

Town Hall staff secured a Boulder County Economic Vitality Grant which has allowed them to support businesses who need to establish an online store. Some of the funding from the grant has been used to purchase much needed personal protection equipment and hand-sanitizers which are also being distributed to the businesses.

Town staff, the Parks, Recreation, Open Space Advisory Board, the Sustainability Advisory Board, Boulder County, and other community partners have been planning the Town Clean Up Day and the event will take place on August 1, 2020, from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. or until the trash dumpsters fill up. This date will better accommodate the Boulder County Transfer Station needs and allow for more time to elapse on Covid-19 restrictions. Staff is eager to hold the event and is planning to improve waste diversion and provide more public outreach for a variety of town efforts. Town is looking for volunteers to assist at the event so if you are interested in advancing a Culture of Kindness this would be a great way to give back to your community while sprucing up our town and sending less waste to the landfill. 

Visit https://nederlandco.org/2020-town-clean-up/ for more information.  

(Originally published in the July 2, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)