Places & Spaces in collaboration with the Los Alamos Daily Post has launched its first video series episode featuring the Co-op Park at 1010 Central Ave. Watch the video here. Courtesy/P&S

Staff Report

Places & Spaces in collaboration with the Los Alamos Daily Post, has launched a video series with a focus on Los Alamos and White Rock. The program features bite-sized episodes providing firsthand information from the owners and leaders of places and spaces important to local community life. Some episodes feature the work and projects of places and spaces. Others are used for panel discussions to examine relevant issues. Short user-submitted video content is invited and welcomed and will be moderated for the series.

Places & Spaces is a local 501c3 community development organization headed by longtime resident Kevin Holsapple. 

“Places & Spaces is undertaking the production of this video series to contribute to a better community understanding of places and spaces important to our local life,” Holsapple said. “The intent is to stream the series live when practical with recordings on-demand on the Places & Spaces YouTube channel.

Each episode is moderated and focused on an issue or opportunity related to a place or space being explored. Some episodes involve the moderator and interviewee talking remotely. Other episodes and panel discussions will be conducted in a studio setting.

The mission of Places & Spaces is to support the creation, improvement and activation of places and spaces for community to take place in Los Alamos County. The content is chosen to support this mission.

“I am pleased we are collaborating with Kevin on this important effort for our community,” Post Publisher Carol A. Clark said. “We encourage our readers to contact us with their interest in knowing more about specific businesses, organizations or projects in Los Alamos and White Rock.”

The first episode in this series focuses on the Co-op Park, a private park for public use at 1010 Central Ave. in downtown Los Alamos. In a 12-minute conversation, CEO Matt Schmidt of the Los Alamos Schools Credit Union, discusses the work to create the park, the nearly completed phase 2 work at the park, how community members will be able to use the park, and how the public can support the project.

Access the Co-op Park episode on the Places & Spaces YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/A9R5J3AXN7Q?si=g8zzUkK7ozS45FQK.

The series aims to:

• Deepen understanding and appreciation: Foster a deeper understanding and appreciation for the role that places and spaces serve in our community life and explore the status, possibilities, and ongoing evolution of places and spaces.
• Spark conversations: Spark meaningful conversations among residents and community leaders about the issues and opportunities related to these places and spaces, encouraging a collaborative and forward-thinking approach to the community’s future.
• Connect the community: Connect residents, stakeholders, and those interested in Los Alamos by creating a platform for sharing stories, experiences and ideas.
• Celebrate Los Alamos: Celebrate the spirit of creativity, innovation, resilience, and collaboration that defines the Los Alamos community.
  Episodes about Places & Spaces: Discuss the possibilities, status, history, design, functionality, significance, and/or impact of places & spaces that exist or could exist in the community.
• Episodes about people involved with places & spaces: Interview residents, business people, experts and stakeholders who shape and are shaped by our places and spaces.

About Kevin Holsapple:

Kevin Holsapple holds an MBA and is a certified business analyst. He retired as chief executive officer of the Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation (LACDC) after serving the organization for more than 15 years. His experience at LACDC included founding, creating the first building and operating the Los Alamos Research Park, director of the University of New Mexico-Los Alamos Small Business Development Center, director of the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce, president of Los Alamos MainStreet, initiator of the Los Alamos Creative District, director of the destination tourism activities of the Los Alamos Meeting and Visitor Bureau, initiator of the first co-working space in the Los Alamos area, president of Coronado Ventures Forum (a regional group supporting technology-based business start-ups), president of the New Mexico Chamber Executives Association, alumni of Leadership New Mexico, and many other local and regional economic development activities. Prior to his time at LACDC, Holsapple was an employee at Los Alamos National Laboratory, working with organizations throughout the Lab in the areas of Quality Assurance and Contracts. See his professional profile on LinkedIn here: https://lnkd.in/S53fSi.