Last month, I promised interviews with “cultural beacons” across the region in this column. I start with one such beacon, one who shines so brightly that she has had an impact on every one of our lives, whether we know it or not.
Kathy Loo has cared for the cultural pillars in our community since she arrived in Colorado Springs from Kansas and Montana over six decades ago. She served on the Colorado Springs City Council for six years and has invested her time and money in various organizations, including The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College and The Nature Conservancy.
And she has had tremendous influence in my life, primarily as a mentor of inspired courage.
I asked her daughter, Susan Loo Patee, to share in this conversation. The intersection of legacy, cultural care vastness of vision and family are some of the points I took away from this conversation. Here are just a few of the shared nuggets (some edited for space) of insight from these incredible women.
Linda: What does the word culture mean to you?
Susan: I have a bachelor’s degree in anthropology, so when I think about culture, and I think about Colorado Springs, I think so much of our culture comes from Western culture: individualism, independence but also interdependence. I think a lot about what unites us and what we have in common.
Kathy: I agree with you, Susan. I find the culture in Colorado Springs to be very enlightening. We have the opportunity to live at the base of these mountains and are defined by all things outdoors.
Linda: Are there people in your lives who have had impact along the way on how you think of and perceive culture?
Kathy: Oh, yes! Many people. Starting with my family. My family has all come from small towns in Kansas and Montana with a love of the outdoors. My grandparents were a big part of my growing up to love the outdoors. There was always animals and sports and adventure. There were teachers and mentors along the way as well who sparked curiosity.
Susan: My parents had tremendous impact, but my grandparents as well. Everyone had a tremendous respect for the outdoors and a can-do attitude that is a big part of our culture. Ranchers, native peoples and the ruggedness of this environment were part of my upbringing.
Linda: Susan, what is the message you would have for other families in our region that have chosen to live here on how to get engaged and really care about our culture? You are part of an incredible lineage of cultural care.
Susan: For me, when you think about generations and mentors that carry you along, there are many ways to get engaged. Everyone comes and stays for the same reasons. Don’t hesitate to get engaged — everyone should be involved in what you care most about. Part of our history and culture is the “Everybody welcome” ethos and I do hope that is what we do. We really embrace that even as we grow as a city.
Linda: What intersection of culture inspires you both around the Union Printers Home project? (A redevelopment project looks to transform the historic property east of downtown into a collection of spaces, including residential, commercial, retail, parks and other public use areas.) What is the message to the readers to help community best understand that project?
Susan: My mom inspired us all to take on that project!
Kathy: It is a unique place, like none other in our nation. A few of us were able to save it for our cultural landscape and making sure that everybody was included for the long term.
Susan: That is another example of our can-do culture! We don’t know how we will save it, but we are going to do it!
Linda: That project is a beautiful intersection of “everybody welcome,” history and wellness. Kathy, you have been part of so many spaces of our cultural landscapes — arts, conservation, the zoo, entrepreneurship to name a few. You do this work so selflessly. When you think of the Printers Home, what does the word “legacy” mean to you?
Kathy: Everything positive. We are so much better as a community at bringing everyone to the table for all these spaces.
Susan: Legacy is not so much about the nature of what you do, but the intent, the way that you do it. Bring all kinds of people to the table to work together. Legacy is not about the person, but how something exists long after we are gone.
Linda: Is there one person in Colorado Springs history that has inspired you?
Kathy: Miriam Loo, the founder of Current. She exemplified all the things we are talking about.
Susan: My grandmother Miriam.
