After
the Columbine tragedy in Colorado, "Nobody listens to us"
was a recurring theme expressed by young people in the media. The
Nation's high divorce rate, blended families and single-parent households
have resulted in a lack of communication.
For 27 years,
The Listening Post has provided a safe space for students of all
ages to express feelings of joy, anger, rejection, failure and confusion.
Each person is respected and accepted just as they are at the moment,
with the opportunity to discuss options without judgement and without
advice.
Listening Posts
are established in lunchrooms, busy walkways, hallways or entrances
of schools and universities. The environment is simple: A table,
a cheery checkered tablecloth, and a bowl of fruit or snacks and
a sign reading: THE LISTENING POST - A PLACE TO TALK welcome individuals
of any age or race to stop by.
Two carefully
trained adult volunteers from the community are present one day
weekly to listen and respond with clarifying questions. They are
trained to listen and to ask non judgemental clarifying questions,
but do not give advice. If a 'serious' issue arises, they refer
students to counselors and/or administrators.
In addition
to the free snacks, bookmarks and dozens of informational 'issue-related'
booklets are scattered on the table, right at hand and free for
the taking. Students, administrators and faculty or citizen passers-by,
gravitate to the homey setting, returning week after week.
No Appointment
is necessary; no application form; no membership fee; no age restriction;
no time limit; no discrimination and no advice... Just respectful
listening, and non-judgemental, clarifying questions.
Mabel
F. Barth
Founder of The Listening Post
Phi Beta
Kappa graduate of West Virginia University, English major, Human
Development minor.
Awards
2004
Recipient
of the 9Who Care Award from Channel 9 News, Denver, CO
2004
Recipient of the
Everyday Hero Award from Channel 7 News, Denver, CO.
2003
Recipient of the
Families & Work Institute's Salute to Educators Award.
2000
Recipient of the
Satyagraha Award from the Selection Committee of Season for
Nonviolence.
2000
Chosen Honorary
Member of the Year by Colorado Mothers, Inc. (Dr. Barth
is not biologically a mother)
1998
Chosen Champion
by Colorado Mothers, Inc. for service to children and families.
1998
Recipient of the
Lutheran Medical Center Foundation Award for "helping to
build a healthy community"
1997
Recipient, Trailblazer
Award, from American Association of University Women.
1997
Recipient of the
Annual Dale Tooley Award for Community Service.
1997
Chosen Hometown
Hero by Children's Miracle Network for U.S. telethon at Disneyworld.
1996
Recipient of Achievement
Award from E-Town, national radio program, for making a difference
in the community.
1994
Recipient of Choice
Champion Award from New Choices for Retirement Living magazine.
1994
Recipient of the
SAVVY Award from Foley's for outstanding grass roots volunteerism.
1994
Recipient of Award
for Excellence in Community Service from the DAR, Peace Pipe
Chapter, Denver CO.
1992
Recipient of the
Annual Caring Award from First Plymouth Foundation.
1992
Recipient of Outstanding
Citizen Award for commitment to effective philanthropy from
NPDSC
1991
Chosen a Giraffe
by the Giraffe Project, a national organization seeking people
who stick their neck out for the common good.
1990
Recipient of an
honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, West Virginia University.
1990
Recipient of the
Distinguished Service Award from the University of Colorado.
1989
First recipient
of the AIM Award for a decade of service to the three-institution
college/university Auraria Campus
1989
Recipient of the
Newton C. Getter Award for innovative work in higher education.
1983
Author of The Listening
Post handbook, distributed internationally.
1981
Recipient of the
Distinguished Service Award from St Francis Center for design
and implementation of The Listening Post.
1979
The Listening Post
designed and staffed
Leadership
Team
Mabel Barth, Chief
Executive Officer
Alice Freeman, Financial
Officer
Frank Queen, School
Liaison
Calista and Dan Schwartz,
Training Facilitators
Vickie Galimov, Planning
Associate
Ann Weaver, Special
Assignments
Jeff Johnson, Webmaster
and Systems Manager
Addendum: Quarterly
reporting and annual audit done by The Taylor Company
Board
of Directors
Mabel Barth
Founter/CEO
Charles Gojmerac
Certified Public Accountant
Janet Johnson
Editor, Excelsior Youth Center
Dr. Mitchell Handelsman
Honorary Member
Professor of Psychology
After
the Columbine tragedy in Colorado, "Nobody listens to us"
was a recurring theme expressed by young people in the media. The
Nation's high divorce rate, blended families and single-parent households
have resulted in a lack of communication.