History ...
The Listening Post, Inc., an interpersonal communication project, was founded on the Auraria Higher Education Center Campus in Denver, Colorado in 1979 by Dr. Mabel F. Barth to meet a need on this university level, all-commuter, urban complex.
There were, or course, the traditional campus counselors, but they were more likely to hear questions regarding curriculum or career options or even sometimes severe emotional problems, but where did students go to 'sound off' without the conversation becoming a matter of school record? -- a non-threatening place where good communications could occur with no strings attached? It didn't appear that there was such a place.
With a keen desire to ameliorate what she felt was an 'inferior caliber living' created by lack of interpersonal communication, Barth designed The Listening Post, using as conceptual building blocks the work of such noted psychologists and sociologists as Erich Fromm, Virginia Satir, Piaget, Erik Erickson and Lawrence Kohlberg.
A rash of high school student suicides in the 1980's prompted a move to younger grades. The Listening Post now serves K-12 youth as well as students, administrators and faculty through the graduate school level.
The Listening Post incorporated in 1989 is a 501(c)(3) non-profit.
An 80-page instructional manual written by the founder has been distributed internationally.
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.