Welcome to the quarterly newsletter of Building Hope Summit County, a community-wide initiative designed to create a more coordinated, effective and responsive mental health system that promotes emotional health, reduces stigma and improves access to care and support for everyone in Summit County.

After months of snow-covered landscapes and colder temperatures, the signs of spring start to awaken from a deep slumber. As the birds return to their summer homes and hibernating animals begin to stir, it’s a good idea to think about ways to “lose our winter coat” and wake up from our own winter dormancy.

Comparable to the first blooms of yellow daffodils peeking through the dwindling snow pack, transitioning from a state of languishing to flourishing after the Covid pandemic can be challenging.

Decreased motivation, feeling stagnant, empty, or blah after a long winter can be difficult, especially after the additional stressors of the pandemic. As seasons begin to change, how can we match the vigorous growth of the first spring blooming daffodils and activate ourselves?

· Find purpose and celebration in the small victories, not just the large accomplishments. Be proud of where you are and what you have produced, even if the pandemic years set you back on your schedule.

· Do something good for someone else. Small gestures and helpful hands for your friends can be mutually beneficial.

· Try something new or connect with a new “community.” Join a community garden, sign up for a new workout class, hang out at your local coffee shop or dog park and engage in fresh conversations.

Languishing is a completely normal feeling that we all experience. Nonetheless, here at Building Hope we seek to inspire and assist in the transition into the brighter side of flourishing and “Living the Good Life.”

-Alyse Piburn

Kathye Conti was born in New Jersey where she received a degree in Special Education. After working briefly on a Zuni Indian Reservation in New Mexico teaching Special Ed, she moved to Summit County in 1979. In 1980 she switched careers designing kitchens. After semi-retiring in 2015 she turned her focus to Intuitive Painting and Expressive Art Facilitation.

In 2016 Kathye facilitated an Expressive Art Class for Breck Create. Betsy Casey and Building Hope attended the class and felt a profound experience. This prompted Kathye to partner with Building Hope offering her Expressive Art Classes for the community and free connective events.

When participating in one of Kathye’s classes, attendees have the opportunity to be creative in a sacred, judgment-free space, trusting in your own intuition while discovering where it may lead you. You also have the opportunity to gain something new about yourself that you may have not realized.

When dealing with her own mental health Kathye says, “I have found in my own life that it is important for me to collect tools’ to assist me in my life.” She acknowledges it’s OK to not feel good all of the time and find what works best for you. For Kathye she believes that she needs community and purpose to thrive, not just survive. 

One thing that puts a smile on her face is intentionally doing the things she loves, such as enjoying time with family and friends.

Kathye is excited to be offering her classes at Alpine Gardens in Silverthorne this summer. The Garden Center is especially calming and the perfect atmosphere for expressive art. Link to register below in Events Calendar. 

Are you looking for a fun way to get involved with Building Hope and connect with members of the community? Check out our calendar of free Connectedness Events. We are now offering events in English, Spanish and Bilingual with various topics and themes. For teens aged 12-18 check out our Hype Events calendar. 

Community Shares is a protected space for personal stories to be bravely shared with our friends, neighbors, coworkers, and acquaintances.  By openly being vulnerable and honest, we are hopeful the people of Summit County find these stories relatable and inspiring in their own mental-health journey. We are so excited to start sharing these stories with the community soon… Stay Tuned!

“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.”  – Helen Keller

It’s hard for me to remember a time in my life when books did not play a major role in my daily routine. Books provide countless habitats, themes and characters for my eyes to explore, and a chance to briefly escape reality. The words on a page can also provide the option to explore and learn a new topic and also open your mind to a contrasting opinion or view. Audiobooks and Podcasts have allowed us to enjoy a story or topic while hiking, driving, or cleaning the house.

Evidence shows that books help reduce stress and depression, bring pleasure, expand empathy, and help with brain function and memory loss. Regardless of your chosen category or theme, our Building Hope Summer Reading List has something for you. Perfect for your mud season beach vacation, time for yourself in a special place, or to quiet a restless mind before bed, these Building Hope staff picks are perfect for summer.

For the reader willing and open to a diverse idea, opinion, or cultural story:

* We are Not Like Them by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza

* I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez

* This is How it Always Is by Laurie Frankel

For the reader looking for additional resources and tools to use in their personal life and mental-health journey:

* Show Me all Your Scars by Patrick J. Kennedy

* The Happiness Lab Podcast on Spotify and Apple

* Perfect Love, Imperfect Relationships by John Welwood

For the reader looking to connect or relate to true stories:

* The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeannette Walls

* West With the Night by Beryl Markham

* The Tender Bar: A Memoir by J.R. Moehringer

For the reader looking for pure distraction/escaping reality:

* We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz (Trigger Warning for SA and Violence)

* The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

* The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson

If you have a suggested book to add to our list, or are interested in participating in a Building Hope Book Club please reach out to alyse@buildinghopesummit.org

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