Categories
In November, Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) joins with people and organizations across the nation to draw attention to hunger and homelessness through education, programs, and events.
Pikes Peak Library District Collects to Share is once again putting out the call to collect hand-crafted items for our community shelters. Starting in November, as part of Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week, we will be accepting donations every month for a year. If you have knitted items such as hats, scarves, socks, and blankets that you would like to donate, please bring them to the public desk at any Library location and let staff know that they are for PPLD Collects to Share. Through your hard work and creative generosity, we donated over 120 hand-crafted items to those in need in our community since November 2022. Thank you!
Programs
- Community Conversation: Hunger and Homelessness Awareness
Thu/. Nov. 16, 6 - 8 p.m. at the East Library Community Meeting Room, click here for more information on panelists
Resources
- Helping Hands Community Resource
The Helping Hands El Paso County Community Resources guide is a list of services available in El Paso County. - PPLD Community Resource Officers
Pikes Peak Library District offers community resources across the District. Our Community Resources Specialists are here to help you navigate and connect with services by providing referrals and information to get the help you need for your specific situation.
Website Links
- Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week
Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is sponsored by the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness.
Few institutions are charged with serving people of all ages and walks of life with relevant and entertaining programs, community spaces, and materials as is your public library. We are a lifeline to technology, entertainment, online resources for employment, enrichment for all ages, and continuing education for everyone in the Pikes Peak region. Throughout November, make a difference in our community by donating to the PPLD Foundation during the 2023 Give! Campaign. Your contributions will help us continue to serve the unique needs of our growing community in 2024.
The PPLD Foundation has supported Pikes Peak Library District since 2003, helping to fund programs, projects, equipment, and materials for our community through charitable donations. As they participate in this campaign for the 4th consecutive year, the foundation is honored to be among the 63 worthy organizations in this year’s campaign. The PPLD Foundation invites you to show your continued support of the Library and thank you for your kind donation.
Donate
To make a charitable contribution through the 2023 Give! Campaign, please visit the Foundation’s Give! Campaign page.
In recognition of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Month, join Pikes Peak Library District for Community Conversation: Hunger and Homelessness Awareness as we welcome local experts and community leaders to discuss homelessness and housing insecurity in the Pikes Peak region. Community Conversations invite the public to discuss current events and issues impacting the Pikes Peak region with the goal of promoting civil dialogue and a greater understanding of different perspectives. After a facilitated discussion session with the panelists, there will be time for questions from the audience.
Thu., Nov. 16 at 6 p.m. — East Library
Click here for the Conversation Guide and panelist questions.
Panelists Include:
Angela Roberts (Pikes Peak Community Health Partnership (CHP)
Roberts holds an undergraduate degree in sociology from the University of North Texas and a master’s in public administration with a certificate in grant writing, grant management, and program evaluation from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. She served as a Housing Navigator Specialist with CHP prior to accepting her current role of Transformation Manager. In this role, she leads efforts to expand and improve cross-sector partnerships to reduce the number of youth and veterans at-risk of or currently experiencing homelessness in our community. Roberts has volunteered and held internship roles at various nonprofits in the Colorado Springs area since 2010 and has a passion for serving members of the community in need of housing support and assistance.
Beth Hall Roalstad (Homeward Pikes Peak), MSW
Roalstad is the Executive Director of Homeward Pikes Peak. Prior to taking this role in January 2017, Roalstad worked as the Senior Vice President of Engagement at Pikes Peak United Way. She has also been the Executive Director for the Innovations in Aging Collaborative and the Women’s Resource Agency. Roalstad received her master’s in social work from the University of Denver in 2000 and a Bachelor of Science in political science from State University of New York College at Oneonta in 1991. She is a graduate of the Colorado Springs Leadership Institute in 2014 and the Denver Community Leadership Forum in 2005.
Since joining Homeward Pikes Peak, Roalstad has expanded programs to serve women and families experiencing homelessness by building community-based services that provide substance abuse treatment and transitional housing. She has also spearheaded the creation of several new programs such as Street Outreach, The Commons, a new permanent supportive housing apartment building complex, and The Bloom House Residential Treatment Center, a new program for pregnant and parenting women with addictions. Under her leadership, Homeward Pikes Peak has grown from serving 150 clients in 2016 to over 1,000 in 2022 and has more than tripled its budget through contracts, earned income, and philanthropy.
In addition, Roalstad serves on numerous community boards and has an extensive list of volunteer work with local non-profit organizations. She combines her passion for legislative advocacy, social work, and community building in all the work she undertakes. For fun, Roalstad hikes, runs, and travels as much as possible.
Crystal Karr (City of Colorado Springs)
Crystal Karr is the Homeless Prevention and Response Coordinator for the City of Colorado Springs. She brings the experience of frontline work with homelessness, domestic violence, and families experiencing housing instability and homelessness to the City of Colorado Springs. Karr is committed to collaboration and community-based solutions to make Colorado Springs a safe and beautiful home for all of its citizens.
Joel Siebersma (Springs Rescue Mission), MA. LPC
Siebersma has worked in the fields of addiction and homelessness for 15 years. After graduating from Colorado Christian University with a master’s degree in counseling, he began working at the Springs Rescue Mission. Siebersma has led teams of substance use disorder counselors, case managers, and behavioral health staff toward the goal of person-centered treatment resulting in housing, health, and work. Most recently, as Sr. Director of Transformation and Research, he focuses on identifying innovative trends in homelessness alleviation from around the country and adapting those cutting-edge programs for local application.
Sgt. Olav Chaney (Colorado Springs Police Department)
Sgt. Olav Chaney has been with the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) since 1991, working in many different divisions and roles. Sgt. Chaney now leads the Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) for CSPD and has been in that role since March 2020. As the Sergeant for HOT, he focuses on providing outreach and resources to the homeless community, addresses and enforces all camping ordinances as appropriate, works closely with Homeless Outreach Team partners, and coordinates clean-ups with the Neighborhood Services Quality of Life Team and Keep Colorado Springs Beautiful.