Ursula Cristol is interviewed by Gloria Chavira on 3/29/2018, about her life in Telluride, Colorado. Here is a summary of the interview:
Ursula is from Lima, Peru and moved to Hastings Mesa (outside of Telluride, Colorado) in 2001 with her husband. She described Telluride as a very tiny town, that felt like a picture of a beautiful Christmas town. There was not much diversity then.
Ursula learned how to walk on snow, ski, and drive in Telluride. She describes Telluride as a big city in a small town, with different small cultures in the same town, including the "do-ers", the no "do-ers", bar people, athletes, hippy old timers, and immigrants. Ursula would like to see people integrate into one culture someday.
Ursula has worked at the San Miguel Resource Center as an Educator. She also worked at the Wilkinson Public Library, where she helped the library to make the immigrants "seen" by creating bilingual signs, buying Spanish books, and teaching Spanish classes. Ursula also worked for BOCES for the school.
Ursula believes the Latinos feel comfortable in Telluride and the population is now more single people, even though it used to be more families.
Some challenges of the immigrant communities? Healthcare is number one. Also: having money for college.
Ursula does not believe there is as much discrimination as there is in other parts of the country in Telluride--more of a lack of understanding due to differences in cultures.
Finally, Ursula notes how much of the working population the Latinos contribute to Telluride's economy and believes Latinos bring not only diversity to Telluride, but also kindness, flexibility and compassion.
