The Spoken Star

Pueblo Heritage Museum: the Gem of Pueblo

In this episode of The Spoken Star, storyteller Bree Anne Pappan takes us inside the Pueblo Heritage Museum — a true gem of Southern Colorado. From its home in the historic Denver & Rio Grande Western Freight Station, the museum serves as a dynamic hub for local history, culture, and identity. Bree shares the museum’s origin story, its pivotal role in preserving Pueblo’s past, and the current challenges it faces amid potential city restructuring. This heartfelt narrative features insights from Executive Director John Wendt and PCHS President Pamela Jacobson, illuminating why the museum is more than a building — it’s the keeper of our community’s collective memory.
Story link in the PSJ: https://pueblostarjournal.org/curiosity/2025/05/15/pueblo-heritage-museum-the-gem-of-pueblo/

Pueblo Film Fest Wraps Second Annual Event, Launches Pueblo into a New Cinematic Era

Pueblo Film Fest Wraps Second Annual Event, Launches Pueblo into a New Cinematic Era 
Read by Gregory Howell | Time 9:39 minutes
Full Article: https://pueblostarjournal.org/culture/2025/05/16/pueblo-film-fest-wraps-second-annual-event-launches-pueblo-into-a-new-cinematic-era/
Summary:
PUEBLO, Colo. — The Second Annual Pueblo Film Fest wrapped up April 27 with a closing brunch that marked the end of a vibrant three-day celebration of storytelling, creativity, and community. From April 24–27, venues across Pueblo’s historic downtown hosted filmmakers, students, and audiences for a festival that embraced both local talent and global voices. As Colorado prepares to welcome the Sundance Film Festival in 2027, Pueblo positioned itself as a rising cultural hub in the state’s expanding film scene.
The event featured an impressive range of screenings and programming, including the debut of student work, BIPOC stories, experimental films, and international cinema. Highlights included the Persian Filmmakers Track, the Environmental Impact Track, and the high-energy Steely Awards, which honored films such as Ya Hanouni, Know Her Name, and Song of Pueblo: An Oratorio. Notable guests included Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera and Colorado Film Commissioner Donald Zuckerman, who helped recognize the depth of talent showcased throughout the festival.
Organizers now turn their attention to 2026, promising expanded educational initiatives, international partnerships, and deeper community engagement. “We’re building something sustainable,” said Executive Producer Andrea Ames-Naglich. “This is about more than a weekend of films—it’s about cultivating a film culture in Pueblo that will thrive for years.” With strong youth involvement, institutional collaboration, and a bold vision for the future, Pueblo is ready for its cinematic close-up.

What happens when we show up | Democracy isn’t built by institutions – it’s built by us

What happens when we show up | Democracy isn’t built by institutions – it’s built by us
Read by Molly Cotner | Time 5:13 minutes
Full Article: https://pueblostarjournal.org/connection/2025/05/16/democracy-isnt-built-by-institutions-its-built-by-us/
 
Summary:
PUEBLO, Colo. — On a snowy April evening, community members gathered at the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center for a screening of Join or Die, a documentary that explores the decline of civic engagement in America and the urgent need to reconnect. The film, co-created by Emmy-winning journalist Rebecca Davis and her brother Pete Davis, builds on political scientist Robert Putnam’s work Bowling Alone, which examined the erosion of face-to-face social interaction. The event, organized by the Pueblo Star Journal, also marked the informal launch of ClubCon.org, a new digital platform aimed at connecting local clubs and civic organizations in Pueblo.
Following the screening, Davis joined attendees virtually for a discussion about community building in an increasingly fragmented society. The conversation, like the film itself, avoided simple solutions, instead emphasizing the quiet power of participation—whether by joining a club, attending a meeting, or simply showing up. Join or Die, now nominated for two Emmy Awards, serves as both a diagnosis and a call to action, encouraging a revival of the everyday civic habits that foster trust, cooperation, and shared purpose. In Pueblo, on that snowy night, the message was clear: showing up still matters.