About | Jo Burns Connects

About Jo Burns

MAKING LIFE BETTER ONE CONNECTION AT A TIME!

Why Connections?

Hi! I'm all about connections...making them, sharing them, cultivating them and transforming them into relationships that impact how we live, work, learn and play. I accomplish this by speaking, training, and consulting around the challenges you're struggling with the most. I also create connection by engaging with and being involved in my personal and professional communities. I am passionate about parks, recreation, public health, built environment, libraries and how it all comes together to create HEALTH in our communities. I look forward to connecting with you.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:
It Matters!

Embracing our differences can make us stronger. Creating inclusive workplaces takes time, effort, energy and a willingness to do the right thing even when it's hard. I believe in the power, capacity and resilience of all people to collaborate and create community regardless of age, gender, gender identity, race, ability, ethnicity, religion and/or sexual preference. I believe in the power of collaboration, whether its 2, 20 or 200, when purposes and goals align. Working with like minded professionals and organizations to create projects that bring us together. Let's roll up our sleeves and get busy!

The Serious Stuff

Jo has a BS in Business/Psychology and a MS in Recreation & Leisure Studies. She is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS). She completed the Advance Leadership Training Program with RIHEL in 2013 which helped give birth to the Colorado Public Health/Parks and Recreation Collaborative. Jo is a NSA-CO Speaker Academy graduate. Jo received the CPRA President's Award in 2019 for her work with the CO-PHPR Collaborative - bringing together nontraditional partners to achieve common goals for healthy communities.

The Fun Stuff

Jo is married to Brian (over 35 years) with 2 grown children. She enjoys the outdoors, fire-pits with S'mores, hiking, reading, skiing, mountain biking, SUPing, cooking, good chocolate and wine. She really enjoys traveling to where her kids live, time with friends and volunteering. Jo volunteers with the Arvada Jefferson Kiwanis Club. She also serves on the APEX Parks & Recreation Board of Directors, RIHEL Board of Directors, Sylvaneers Camp Board of Directors, and the ActivEnviro Advisory Board.