Meet Jolon and Sarah Clark
How long have you lived in the neighborhood and how long have you been parents?
Jolon grew up in Wash Park and spent lots of time growing up playing with friends in Platt Park and hanging out at Stella's. Sarah grew up in Wisconsin, and we met at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. After getting married, we lived a couple places around Denver, but Sarah always wanted to live in Platt Park by Old South Pearl Street. We found our current home in Platt Park in 2011, and we love it! We love being able to walk everywhere, being close to light rail, hanging out at Platt Park, and being able to ride our bikes up to Wash Park. We have two kids, Logan who is eight years old and in second grade, and Chloe who is six and in first grade.
Can you share a little about what you do for work and what you enjoy doing on the weekend in Platt Park?
Sarah is a second grade teacher at Cory Elementary School, and Jolon works for a nonprofit called The Greenway Foundation. Sarah has been a teacher for 11 years and has taught 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 6th grade. Jolon started working for The Greenway Foundation when he was 17 years old and has taken thousands of kids on SPREE field trips to the South Platte River, and helped plan for and build new parks and trails along Denver's urban waterways.
Our perfect Platt Park weekend starts out with Duffeyrolls (and maybe a Snappy Sausage) for breakfast followed by a walk down Pearl Street to wander through the Farmer's Market. Then time to soak up some sun with the dog in our backyard before packing up a picnic and heading over to Platt Park to play on the playground and check out some books at the Decker Library. On the way home we grab popsicles from Aikopops and eat them on the front porch while hanging out with the neighbors and practicing riding bikes. In the evening we love to grill out in the yard and eat dinner at our picnic table. If we can convince Grandma and Grandpa (who live on the other side of Wash Park) to come watch the kids in the evening, then Sarah and Jolon like to sneak away to see what new is on tap at Platt Park Brewing!
Can you tell us about your involvement at McKinley-Thatcher and what you love most about the school?
We love McKinley-Thatcher! Our favorite thing about the school is the size. It really is a small neighborhood school. The principal and all of the teachers know all of the kids and the parents. It really feels like a community, and we love it! Jolon is the PTA president this year. He originally got involved with the PTA when his daughter was in ECE and really wanted a dance at the school. Sarah is also involved with the PTA and helped organize the school silent auction the last two years raising over $30,000 for the school!
Why did you decide to run for City Council, Jolon? How is the rest of the family handling being on the campaign trail?
I decided to run for City Council because I love Denver! I loved growing up here, and I want it to be a great city for my kids to grow up in and for my parents to be retired in. It takes a village to raise a child, and this community is the village that raised me. I am running because I am passionate about giving back to this community that has given me so much. Sarah and the kids love helping out. They have been out in the district knocking on people's doors, and Chloe loves to tell people, "Vote for my Daddy!"
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