Mountain Perspectives

Sixteen years ago, our beloved founder Barbara Reese, discovered poetry and it changed her life. She dreamed of a place where people could explore their voices through many forms of art — poetry, dance, theatre, music, painting, and more.

As a result, VOICES was founded in 2016 to build a community of open hearts. Today we honor Barbara’s legacy by advocating fiercely for youth, sage (older adults), women, immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, and countless others across our communities to be heard. We believe art can transcend cultural, racial, and socioeconomic boundaries, helping us heal, grow, and connect. Through our programs In School, In Community, and On Stage, we weave together the diverse stories that shape our shared cultural tapestry.

I want you to picture the last time you drove down Highway 82 during the week. Maybe you were stuck at the roundabout, or perhaps you were crawling along Main Street in Glenwood Springs. We’ve all experienced the frustration of traffic in the region.

The reality is, traffic isn't just annoying, it’s breaking records. In August 2025, daily traffic in Glenwood Springs hit an all-time high of nearly 30,000 vehicles. Over the last decade, traffic in the valley has jumped by 20%.

This isn’t just about losing time in our cars. Traffic is one of our region's single biggest contributions to climate change. The transportation sector is nearly 20% of Colorado’s greenhouse gas emissions. The majority of these emissions are from gas and diesel vehicles. Learn more about Two Rivers Connect.

Currently what is your preferred method of transportation? And what methods are you interested in or excited to try out?

For sure, there are pros and cons to term limits. Pro, new blood enters the government run system more frequently; Con, can take a 2-3 yrs to feel knowledgeable and effective in the job. Pro, harder to create unfair personal relationships; Con, harder to create effective personal relationships. What do you think? And if you support, should GarCo have two four year terms for these elected positions, or three? Why?

Tell us your favorite genres, your favorite titles, even your favorite songs, and we'll do the human version of the algorithm and find other movies you might like!

At VOICES, we believe that everyone in our community has a story to tell--including you! If you had a microphone to address our region, what would you most want your neighbors to hear? Maybe something powerful from your life, a big idea you've got, or feedback on how to make our community stronger? Let's hear it!