When the coroanvirus pandemic and the subsequent shutdown hit in March, the entire world was living moments that will make the history books. Tim Waters, a Longmont City Council member and Longmont Public Media, or LPM, volunteer, began a project to record that history and now after 10 months is exploring the topic again with a new season of Longmont Voices and Vison.
The new season is scheduled to premiere on Channel 8 on Jan. 13, will mark the launch of season two of Longmont Voices and Vision.
The second season comes after an initial round of 66 interviews Waters facilitated in the first couple of months of the pandemic with more than 70 Longmont residents to discuss experiences during the lockdown, connections in a time of isolation and the hope for a post-pandemic era, according to the website.
“In a time where there was a lot of fear of the unknown. When we come out of this, what will be a new normal? Whatever (is) normal ain't going to be the same, a lot of that would have changed,” Waters said. “We have an opportunity to create a future that is aspirational, something more aligned with our values.”
While the first season sought to provide space for community members to share their experiences, the second will hone in on the question of aspirations for the future, Waters said.
“The longer I listened to people, the more inspired I became about the possibilities for the future,” he said, adding that interviewees from season one who sparked a repeated theme or question will be back this time around for season two: The Future We Deserve.
Each of the episodes for season two will entail a panel of community members that will engage in coffee shop-style conversations for about 45 minutes to be live streamed on LPM’s website followed by an invitation to the general public to call in with questions or comments, Waters said.
“We’re building panels and group members to achieve a balance of background and experience, to reflect the demography and complexity of Longmont,” he said.
“The hope is that over time, it would be engaging enough that locals will want to listen to and want to contribute. We’re not going to draw conclusions in an hour, and we’re not going to arrive at an answer, but there are possibilities to begin to identify what is possible for us in the future we deserve.”
Episodes will air from 6 to 7 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month through April and beyond, as long as there is interest, Waters said.
The first episode will feature Boulder County Commissioner Marta Lochamin, state Sen. Sonya Jaquez-Lewis, Mayor Brian Bagley, state Rep. Karen McCormick, former Longmont City Councilmember Bonnie Finley and longtime Longmont resident and activist Dick Lyons, an interviewee from last season who prompted the idea for the panel discussion.
“When (Waters) interviewed me (previously), I shared my hope after the pandemic would be for all levels of government, federal, state, county, municipal and other local districts, to come together and have a discussion so we won’t repeat the same mistakes that caused some delays this time,” Lyons said, adding this may be a conversation to ask questions to elected and appointed officials.
“There's a whole slew of issues that need to be addressed. I think we've seen the local businesses suffer, and need to figure out how that's going to be rectified and directed in the future,” he said. “Talking about who is in charge is a good place to start, that can lead us to (discuss) the economic, social, business and all other impacts of the pandemic.”
Waters said the panel discussions are open to the public and everyone is invited to watch and join in on the conversations. “The purpose is not to attack, it’s not to win, it's an attempt to build and connect.”
