Co-presented by Longmont Multi-cultural Action Committee

Featuring Vanessa Arritola of Casa de la Esperanza, Boulder County; Mark Guttridge, Ollin Farms; Esther Blazon, Boulder County Latino History Project; and Ricardo LaFore, Chicano community activist.
Moderated by Justin Veach, Longmont Museum.

Join us for a conversation exploring the role farm labor played in making Longmont and Boulder County what they are today, shedding light on the experience of farm workers past and present, and celebrating the efforts of those who toiled to improve their working conditions. 

Free reservations recommended.

Make a Reservation Online, or call 303-651-8374.

Vanessa Arritola is a dedicated community advocate with over 12 years of experience in making a positive impact on the lives of those she serves. With a heart dedicated to fostering inclusivity and education, Vanessa is a beacon of hope and change in her community at Casa de la Esperanza. As the driving force behind an after-school program tailored for families working in agriculture, Vanessa has tirelessly worked to bridge the gap between education and the unique needs of her community. Her unwavering commitment to creating a nurturing and enriching environment for children has not only supported working families but has also fostered a sense of belonging and growth for countless young minds.

Ricardo La Fore has been a Chicano community activist for 54 years. Over the years he has held several high-profile jobs, most notably as Denver District Director for former US Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Executive Director of the Colorado Migrant Council, Head Start Director for the City of San Francisco, and Family Resource Coordinator in Denver Public Schools. In 2006 he retired from the US Senate and went to work for The Department of Homeland Security as a Congressional Affairs Specialist and Bilingual Public Information Officer. He is a member of the Chicano Movement Advisory Committee to the History Colorado Museum. He lectures regularly on the History of the Chicano Movement in Colorado in the greater Metropolitan Denver Area. He is a poet and playwright and is presently writing his memoirs of his 54 years in the Chicano Movement. He is a co-founder of Colorado Alliance on Latino Mentors and Authors (CALMA) who have as their mission the promotion and advancement of the Latino written word. Throughout his career he has always been able to integrate his deeply held beliefs on justice and equality into whichever job or title he was serving at the time. He was featured in La Voz’s Series: The Best among Us, and he was on the Urban Spectrum’s list of Hispanics who make a Difference, and in 2003 he was the recipient of the Cesar Chavez Leadership Award. While he has won numerous awards and accolades, by this own admission, his greatest accomplishment has been his 54 years of service to the Chicano Community.

Mark Guttridge and his wife Kena, operate Ollin Farms, located on the south side of Longmont. Ollin Farms believes in the principles of regenerative agriculture. The goal of their family farm is to produce top quality farm products while continuing to increase the diversity and health of ecosystems.

The focus at Ollin Farms has always been to produce the most nutritious and flavorful produce possible. All of their produce is grown without the use of pesticides or herbicides- not even the organic approved ones. Ultimately, it is the soil that will determine the health of everything that grows out of it, including the farm and the community.

Esther Blazon graduated from Longmont High School in 1968 after marriage and the birth of her children and then attended CU Boulder through a program for migrant workers’ children.  After receiving her undergraduate degree, she worked as the first director of bilingual education for the St. Vrain School District; later she obtained a master’s degree in counseling from the University of Northern Colorado. For the next 23 years she worked for Boulder County as a mental health specialist and coordinator of the program Circulo de la Vida Familiar. Active in many community and volunteer organizations, Blazon was one of the founders of the Boulder County Latino History Project and served as the Chair of its Advisory Committee.

Thursday Nights at the Museum

The Longmont Museum exhibits and galleries are open until 9 pm on Thursday nights. Unwind after work with a beer or glass of wine and create art in one of our adult Art & Sip classes or join us for a Thursday Nights at the Museum program to see a movie, catch a great band, or hear extraordinary people talk about issues of importance to Boulder County and beyond. Many of the programs take inspiration from our current exhibition “agriCULTURE” Art Inspired by the Land.

We hope to see you on Thursday nights this fall.

Other Museum Events and Performances

Check out Longmont Museum Presents for additional performances, or see other concerts or films this fall.