Rhonda Van Pelt

Rhonda Van Pelt | Champion of Self-Expression

Rhonda Van Pelt has a one-of-a-kind role in Manitou Springs. As Managing Editor of the Pikes Peak Bulletin since April 2015, she’s immersed in all things news and conversation-worthy in this mountain town, population 5,000+. Having grown up…

Rhonda Van Pelt has a one-of-a-kind role in Manitou Springs. As Managing Editor of the Pikes Peak Bulletin since April 2015, she’s immersed in all things news and conversation-worthy in this mountain town, population 5,000+.

Having grown up in Pueblo, Rhonda moved to the Pikes Peak region in 1993. “I had family in Pueblo, I had family in Denver, and my family had property in Cripple Creek. So, it was just really logical to move here,” she says.

Rhonda, 59, often profiles personalities in Manitou, as she did me and Humanitou this past June. She edits the newspaper and leads a team of journalists — one other staffer, and five freelancers — to produce the weekly newspaper.

With the tables turned, Rhonda sat down with me again in her office inside the Manitou Art Center. She took what is a rare seat for her, one of interviewee.

We talk about the meaning of journalism, its opportunities and challenges in a small town, and the one thing she’d “fight to the death for.” We talk about her evolution as an artist, one whose photography is on exhibit at Create Cafe through March 9, and what/who inspires her.

Read the full story here.

 

 

 

 

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Humanitou highlights creativity and humanity in the Pikes Peak Region. Connect with insightful conversations and collected wisdom at humanitou.co.