Earlier this fall, the Park City Leadership program gave out its 17th Annual Community Leadership Award.
The name of the recipient is familiar to KPCW listeners. It’s Barbara Bretz, a long-time film and book reviewer for the station.
Bretz said she was thrilled to receive the honor. It was presented to her this month, during the farewell banquet for Leadership Class 25.
According to a statement from the program, the award recognizes a community member, “who through sustained involvement, tireless commitment and insightful leadership has made significant contributions to the greater Park City community.”
Bretz said that, among other activities, she has worked with the Friends of the Park City Library and has written blogs for the Park City/Summit County Arts Council.
And most recently, she has been working with the Summit County Clubhouse. It’s a support facility for adults with mental-health issues.
“And it’s really support across the whole spectrum, for somebody who may be so severely impacted that it’s hard for them to get out of the house every day and have a place to go. So the Clubhouse serves that purpose. And then as needed, up the spectrum, they help people who might want to complete an education, or develop a resume, learn how to go on a job interview, as they re-integrate into the community. It’s I think gonna provide a lot of important services for the county.”
Before her retirement she was a special-education teacher, and she worked a dozen years in Germany, for the Department of Defense, focusing on youngsters with behavioral and emotional issues.
Bretz said she’s engaged in so many local activities because—she has to.
“I think in my work career, I didn’t really realize I was a workaholic until I retired. And I retired relatively early. And I really had a lot of time and energy. And it was really wonderful to be able to pick things that I really loved. And I’ve always loved the movies and I always loved books. So that was a really good way to get involved in doing things that I really enjoy doing.”
Barbara Bretz, recipient of this year’s Community Leadership Award.
