Sharon Friedman honored as ‘fierce advocate

BY LINDA NAVARRO
Sharon Friedman, creative producer/director of the live stage production the Story Project as well as an environmentalist, opera enthusiast and an advocate for inclusion, was the ninth recipient of the Divine Award, named for Citizens Project founder Amy Divine. Friedman was honored Feb. 5 at Stargazers Theatre and Events Center.

The Divine Award goes to a person “who has worked tirelessly to create a vibrant democracy in which equal rights are protected, individual freedoms are secure, differences are respected, and people fully participate in civic and community life.”

Friends and those toasting her called Friedman “a caretaker of Colorado Springs,” “a fierce advocate of everything she believes in” and a person who always “stands up for what is right.” Friedman has been in publishing, helped open the local chapter of the ACLU, was a member of the first gay and lesbian funding panel for the Gill Foundation and was on the first advisory council for the Catamount Environmental Institute.

She was associate publisher for Springs Magazine, Downtown Today, Parents Plus and Bon Vivant for 30 years.

 

coloradosprings.com

Citizens Project to honor Sharon Friedman with Divine Award

Citizens Project is pleased to announce our ninth annual Divine Award Celebration, an event that honors an individual in the Pikes Peak region who has worked tirelessly to create a vibrant democracy in which equal rights are protected and differences are respected.  This year’s honoree is Sharon Friedman-producer, long-time community director, arts advocate, teacher, therapist, activist, associate publisher and environmentalist.

Previous recipients include Mary Lou Makepeace, Dr. Jim White, Pam Jones and Juliet Draper (shared award), Lorne Kramer, Richard Skorman, John Weiss, Mary Ellen McNally, and  Rosemary Harris Lytle.

Tuesday, February 5, 2012 from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Stargazers Theater, 10 Parkside Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80910
The event is open to the public, and a $20 donation is suggested.

 

About Sharon Friedman:
Sharon Friedman is known to many of us as the producer and director of the very popular Story Project, on stage live once a month at Marmalade at Smokebrush and airing on KRCC radio and PPLD Channel 17.

She was born, raised, and attended university in Chicago, receiving a degree in humanities, sociology and psychology. As a Jew and a Zionist, she spent a year in Israel, living with new immigrants from all over the world, working on a kibbutz and studying Hebrew.  She has since traveled the world.

Sharon has taught in Chicago, at Pikes Peak Community College, and CSU Extension in addition to working with the Head Start program and as a private therapist. She was the volunteer managing editor for Wellspring, the first women’s newspaper in the 70’s, and was the associate publisher for Springs Magazine, Downtown Today, Parents Plus, and Bon Vivant for the last 30 years.

She was on the first board of Citizens Project, a member of the first Gay and Lesbian funding panel for the Gill Foundation, assisted in opening local chapter of ACLU, served on the first advisory council for the Catamount Environmental Institute, and currently serves as treasurer of Opera Theater of the Rockies.

She lives with and loves her dogs, Milton and Jacob, the earth, the animals and it inhabitants and is very concerned about the future of our planet.

The Story Project on the Pikes Peak Library District’s Channel

Click the logo or HERE to enter the PPLD YouTube channel.

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Best Of The Springs 2012