Sarah Tory

Q & A with Chris Hassig, RFL Academy 2024 Alum A few years ago, local artist and RFL Academy 2024 alum, Chris Hassig debuted a work he had been creating for more than 20 years: the fictional city of Ralesis, capital of Saiopor, rendered in a series of beautifully intricate maps. To create something as original and expansive as Ralesis, it would be easy to assume Chris’s life begins and ends with his art, but Chris’s interests and talents extend far beyond the bounds of his studio. On top of being a volunteer radio DJ at KDNK and a passionate telemark skier [...]

Embracing Summer: A Time to Recharge and Reconnect Summer is in full swing here in the Roaring Fork Valley! Days are long and the sun is bright, which means it’s a perfect time to step back from our routines and refresh ourselves — whether that means a weekend backpacking trip in the high country, paddle boarding on the river, enjoying one of our valley's numerous free outdoor concerts, or simply soaking up the sunshine with a good book. Taking the time to recharge and reconnect is also an important part of successful leaders' yearly routine. Read on for some ways [...]

Fostering Belonging Across Colorado: A Recap of the Belonging Colorado Launch Event On June 11, the Belonging Colorado launch event, hosted by the Denver Foundation, brought together a diverse group of leaders and community members at the iconic Red Rocks in Morrison, CO. This event served as a platform for insightful discussions, powerful speeches, and the unveiling of the Colorado Belonging Barometer. Through work from the Colorado Health Institute, the barometer revealed that only about half of Coloradans feel a sense of belonging in their local communities. This statistic underscores the need for initiatives like Belonging Colorado, which aims to [...]

Q & A with Adam Frisch, RFL Academy 2006 Photo by Evan Semón Photography In 2022, Adam Frisch drove over 24,000 miles on his campaign trail for Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, one of the largest and most diverse rural districts in the U.S. An RFL Academy alum who’s lived in Aspen for over 30 years, Adam has embraced politics as “elective community service.” Whether it’s addressing affordable housing through serving on the Aspen City Council or becoming a part-time substitute teacher in local public schools during COVID, the leadership skills and civic engagement Adam learned through RFL have been [...]

Leadership Advice for New Grads It’s graduation season! Amid all the ceremonies and celebrations, this time of year can also carry a lot of uncertainty about what comes next. Starting out in your first job, or a new career can feel intimidating, but the good news is we all have the potential to be a leader, regardless of our title or experience. Leadership is a mindset, and leadership skills can be learned. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, here are a few tips about where to start. Embrace learning Think back to a time when you participated in sports or clubs while [...]

Q & A with Callie Dickson, RFL Academy 2024 alum Callie Dickson never thought she’d end up learning American Sign Language (ASL) when she enrolled in RFL Academy 2024. The program manager for Challenge Aspen, with a background in therapeutic recreation, Dickson wanted to expand her leadership perspective to better serve the individuals with disabilities that she serves. When the opportunity to learn ASL came up through her civic project group’s sponsor, the Aspen Camp for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Dickson jumped at the opportunity.   We chatted with Dickson recently about what learning ASL taught her and [...]

RFL Encourages Civic Engagement at Aspen Business Forum Andrea Palm-Porter, executive director of Roaring Fork Leadership, presenting her keynote speech at the Aspen Chamber Resort Association business outlook forum. RFL Executive Director Andrea Palm-Porter was a keynote speaker at the Aspen Chamber Resort Association's forum on Wednesday, April 24 about the importance of civic engagement among the valley's business leaders and how she has s guided businesses to become more engaged in their communities. Palm-Porter pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic as an example of businesses engaging with elected leaders to convey their legislative needs as a business, noting that [...]

Q & A with Dana Wood, RFL Academy 2015 Dana Wood was drawn to the valley for the sense of community and opportunities to get involved. Now based in Silt, she works for the Northwest Colorado Council of Governments managing two groups that are focusing on transportation projects in seven rural counties in Colorado. She’s currently on the Silt Planning and Zoning Commission, helping her town navigate the big challenges around growth and housing that so many Colorado communities are facing. Dana also serves on the board of directors for Highwater Farm, a local educational nonprofit regenerative farm. On top of [...]