Common Air

Access to affordable, quality childcare is essential to fostering a healthy community. Heather Hawk, Executive Director of the Early Childhood Council of La Plata County joins us on this episode of Common Air to discuss the impacts of early childhood education on families, children, and the community as a whole. In the discussion, Heather shares the current gap of care in La Plata County and discu...

Water is top of mind for many in the Western United States. On this episode of Common Air, Louise Snodgrass sits down with Teal Lehto, environmental activist, and content creator to unpack what’s happening with water in our region and why it deserves our attention. The conversation explores the Colorado River Basin, climate change, declining water availability, and the growing momentum of Indigeno...

Teri and Tony Gasaway, founders of Stillwater Music, along with Vanessa Jergensen, Program & Marketing Manager join us on this episode of Common Air . Together, they reflect on Stillwater’s 20-year journey from a small idea to a regional music education program serving 1,500 students across Southwest Colorado. The conversation explores how Stillwater built its foundation on joy, belonging, and...

On this episode of Common Air, Louise Snodgrass is joined by Lisa Weber, Board Chair of the ELHI Community Center in Ignacio, to reflect on ELHI’s 10-year journey from a former school building to a lively hub for nonprofits, youth services, small businesses, and community gatherings. She also highlights the upcoming Taste of Christmas celebration on Friday, December 5 — complete with the Light Par...

On this episode of Common Air, Louise Snodgrass is joined by Joshua Kling, Director of Outdoor Pursuits (OP) at Fort Lewis College. Josh shares how a cross-country bike trip set him on a path to attend Fort Lewis College and how OP became the center of his college experience. He learned new outdoor skills, built a strong sense of community, developed his leadership, and even launched his own guidi...

In this episode, Louise Snodgrass talks with Jenny Hill, Executive Director, and Erika Brown, Regional Energy Coach with the Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency (4CORE). The conversation explores how 4CORE is helping communities across Southwest Colorado shape more resilient energy futures. Erika and Jenny share how their team supports residents and businesses through energy efficiency pro...

This week on Common Air, Louise Snodgrass sits down with Stella Zhu and Emily Bennet from the Fort Lewis College Grub Hub to talk about how they’re supporting students’ basic needs and building a stronger culture of care on campus. They share how the Grub Hub helps students access healthy food, housing resources, and personal essentials all while working to remove stigma and create a welcoming, in...

This week on Common Air, Louise Snodgrass talks with Alex Vick and Kelsie Borland from The Hive about the community, creativity, and collaboration behind their brand-new space in Durango. Join them for their Grand Opening celebration on Saturday, November 1 from 4–7 p.m., featuring free food, community shoutouts, and an all-ages skate competition, followed by a punk show from 7–11 p.m. with Gabe C...

This week on Common Air, Louise Snodgrass sits down with Artemis Eiyster and Jules Gavin from the Fort Lewis College Environmental Center to talk about student-led sustainability, campus initiatives, and this year’s upcoming Sustainability Summit on October 29. They share how the Environmental Center empowers students to turn ideas into action through hands-on projects like managing the Free Store...

This week, Darcy Poletti and Nancy Stoffer from the Durango Public Library join us on Common Air. What begins as a conversation about the library’s annual Literary Festival unfolds into a reflection on the role of libraries in building community. Together, they explore the creativity and connection fostered within the library and the wide range of programs that make it a cornerstone of community l...

Matt Salka, La Plata County Commissioner, joins Common Air for a conversation about the proposed one-cent sales tax and what it means for county services, residents, and the local economy. The discussion takes a look at how La Plata County is funded, why revenues have remained flat despite rising costs, and how a modest sales-tax adjustment could affect everything from road maintenance to public s...

Matthew Schaeffer and Emily Bell join Common Air to discuss the importance of reconciliation and understanding our past in order to move forward together. The conversation explores the history of Fort Lewis College, the reconciliation work supported by Schaeffer in his role as Reconciliation Coordinator, and how the former Federal Indian Boarding School at the Old Fort in Hesperus is using agricul...

Chris Andrews and Joseph Kuzma join Common Air this week to highlight the stories, history, and services of Manna—a Durango-based nonprofit with a mission to provide, in the spirit of faith and love, nourishing meals and supportive services in an atmosphere of acceptance and caring for those in need. Tune in to learn about all of their amazing work and how their services have evolved over 40 years...

Sia Gomez-Boyiddle, Assistant Director of El Centro De Muchos Colores, and Alma Alejandre, President of Ballet Folklorico and VP of Club del Centro join us on Common Air this week to chat about FLC's El Centro and give us the details on all their events, programs, and the upcoming Fiesta on the Mesa. "Common Air" is a local public affairs program on KDUR Durango that highlights the local voices an...

Bailey Carlson and Stephen O'Brien join us for the VERY FIRST episode of Common Air. Tune in to learn more about the Four Corners Diversity Alliance, the LGBTQIA+ community of La Plata County, and their Fall Pride festival. "Common Air" a local public affairs program on KDUR Durango that highlights the local voices and local happenings shaping our community. You can catch Common Air LIVE on KDUR D...