MONTBELLO IN THE NEWS - MONTBELLO EN LAS NOTICIAS
Janet Damon Receives Dr. James Peterson Humanitarian Award By William Howard For 37 years, the Colorado MLK Holiday Commission has presented the Dr. James Peterson Humanitarian Award to honor community leaders across the region who exemplify efforts in bridging the gap between inequity and prosperity. The commission has unified and educated the community as they’ve celebrated the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., especially through their activities at the annual MLK Marade. While driving home with her daughter after a day serving the community, Janet Damon, Library Services Specialist for Denver Public Schools, received a phone call that she was immensely honored to take. Janet was notified that she would be one of three recipients presented with the award at the MLK Holiday Commission Tribute Concert. An educator, activist, and community advocate who has dedicated over 20 years of service, her mission has been to promote literacy and selfliberation in learning to establish a solid foundation for a brighter tomorrow for the next generation. “I want future generations to be engaged in their own education and learning of their own history so that they can create the world that they know is possible,” Janet says. Throughout her career, Janet has taught U.S. History, Ethnic Studies, Literacy Intervention, and Information Literacy for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. As she
Janet Damon Recibe el Premio Humanitario de Dr. James Peterson Por William Howard Traducido por Marta Welch
to join the Montbello Organizing Committee Board, currently serving as its secretary. Janet is a humanitarian, a literacy hero, and an equity champion for future leaders for this diverse and robust community we call home. Moving forward, she will continue to host events that champion library access to promote her mission and vision for the next generation. “I fight to advocate for libraries in the community because the youth need to know how to self-teach, conduct high-quality research, and differentiate between fact and fiction,” Janet explains. “Without access to the library system, we learn how to repeat information instead of obtaining the skill to think critically.”Y
transitioned into her leadership roles, she promoted diversity by developing the nonprofit Afro and Books (afrosandbooks.com). Along with three other BIPOC and LGBTQ librarians, they strive to promote awareness of authors and literature from diverse backgrounds in the community. They’ve also created subgroups to expand their reach and champion this diversity goal. For example, Black Dad’s Storytime hosts various literacy events for youth and families in the community. Janet holds this work near and dear to her heart because her father grew up in the Jim Crow era in Texas and didn’t have access to public libraries. The only access they had was through a mobile book unit that drove out to the rural parts of the community to engage with families. Janet has also inspired a community of young readers as she touched the lives of those impacted by the pandemic. In response to the rising number of individuals struggling with social isolation, she created the Block Nature Book Club. The group’s goal is to connect families and youth to nature, all the while offering free books to enjoy together. As a result of Janet’s impact, she was invited
Editor’s Note: Ms. Damon bebecame library services specialspecialist in the Denver school district in 2016 and discovered that Montbello Career and TechniTechnical High School in Denver had no library, so she brought one. That “pop-up” library was imimmediately popular among stustudents and led to a permanent library space in 2018. Just a few years ago there was not one high school library in Montbello. Janet was instruinstrumental in bringing about the remodeling and reopening of a staffed library space at the Montbello High School CamCampus.
MUSE - Montbello Urban Spectrum Edition – March/April 2022
9
Durante 37 años, la Comisión de Vacaciones de MLK de Colorado ha presentado el Premio Humanitario de Dr. James Peterson para honrar a los líderes comunitarios de toda la región que ejemplifican los esfuerzos para cerrar la brecha entre la inequidad y la prosperidad. La comisión ha unificado y educado a la comunidad al celebrar el legado de Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.(MLK), especialmente a través de sus actividades en la Marade Anual de MLK (una combinación de “marcha” y “desfile”). Mientras conducía a casa con su hija después de un día de servicio a la comunidad, Janet Damon, especialista en servicios bibliotecarios de las Escuelas Públicas de Denver, recibió una llamada telefónica que tuvo el inmenso honor de atender. A Janet se le notificó que sería una de las tres ganadoras del premio en el Concierto Tributo de la Comisión Festival de MLK. Como una educadora, activista y defensora de la comunidad que ha dedicado más de 20 años de servicio, su misión ha sido promover la alfabetización y la autoliberación en el aprendizaje para establecer una base sólida para un mañana más brillante para la próxima gener Continued on page 10
