Meet the Board - Claire Clurman

“Seeing the staff and Peer Support team at RCL is so impactful and impressive. To take their own experiences and struggles, and have the courage and strength to want to pass healing forward is incredible. Whether it’s Harold, Kristina, or Sabrina, seeing their joy, strength, and conviction in their work is so impactful.”

Claire Clurman is an East Coast transplant whose heart keeps leading her back to Colorado. With a career spanning communications and nonprofit leadership across the country, she now calls Boulder County home, where she champions inclusive communities and leads with heart as Board Chair of Recovery Café Longmont.

LH: When did you join the board?

CC: I joined the board in 2022 and became the Board Chair this past January.

LH: Where are you from?

CC: Originally, Connecticut. I moved out here in 1986 – my husband had an opportunity here, and we took advantage of the chance to explore a new part of the country.

We did bounce back to the East Coast and then to California for job-related reasons, but our hearts are here, and we have always been drawn back.

LH: What is your professional background?

CC: The first half of my career was in communications – I worked for an advertising agency in New York City and then shifted to communications in the world of sports. After having kids, I felt compelled to work in nonprofits – in California, I was the Executive Director of an Education Foundation, and when we came back to Colorado, I worked with TGTHR (formerly Attention Homes) for ten years.

LH: So, how did you get connected with the Café?

CC: I had recently stepped down as Executive Director at TGHTR, and Lawson Drinkard asked me to get involved with RCL’s philanthropy committee. The mission resonated with me, and the rest is history – when I joined the board, I wanted to see the Café expand its reach. Then, seeing the real-time growth, the inspirational work of the staff, and its impact on the community, I knew I wanted to be a part of this work.

LH: Was being elected Board Chair something you were working towards, or did it come as a surprise?

CC: I had served on other boards, and as the Chair of a previous board, but I think there was a calling at a critical time of change here at the Café. As we grow into this space at 801 Main Street, my level of experience, having developed supportive housing in Boulder, along with the timing, made it the right fit.

LH: What are your hopes for the Café in the next few years?

CC: I want us to continue to thrive and grow. In the new Café At the new Café, I hope we are able to provide more of our services to more people and expand further into Boulder County.

LH: Has there been a moment in your time on the board that’s reminded you why this work is so important?

CC: Seeing the staff and Peer Support team at RCL is so impactful and impressive. To take their own experiences and struggles, and have the courage and strength to want to pass healing forward is incredible. Whether it’s Harold, Kristina, or Sabrina, seeing their joy, strength, and conviction in their work is so impactful.

LH: What makes the Café unique?

CC: Knowing that the Peer Support Specialists have walked the path of recovery and offer that beacon of light for the members who come in.

LH: How has being a part of this organization impacted you?

CC: I think understanding the fact that everyone is in recovery from something creates a deep community where you never feel alone. For me, stepping into this later stage of my life, being connected with people from all over the community keeps me energized, curious, and wanting to learn and give back.

LH: What part of our mission speaks to you the most and why?

CC: Providing a community of refuge and healing for people in recovery. I’ve seen the power of that through the work I did at TGHTR, serving youth experiencing homelessness and recovering from trauma, abuse, and neglect, and I saw how impactful community can be in people finding their path forward.

LH: What does community mean to you?

CC: Being in a space where you can be who you are, and know that you belong and are invited to participate. It’s a place where you feel safety, and you feel trust. 

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LH: What is your favorite Café event you’ve attended?

CC: I’m torn between Open Mic Nights and the Five-Year Anniversary Party last year.

LH: What’s the best book you’ve read recently?

CC: Ooo. I’d say “The Education of an Idealist” by Samantha Power.

LH: Do you prefer movies or TV shows?

CC: Movies! I find it much easier to commit to three hours.

LH: What is your favorite food?

CC: A toss-up between sushi and Italian.

LH: What are your hobbies and interests?

CC: I consider myself pretty athletic – I love to play tennis and ski, and am learning golf. I also love running and hiking, anything in the great outdoors. Serving the nonprofit community and volunteering are also very important to me.

LH: Who is your role model?

CC: Samantha Power, the author I mentioned. She has done so many wonderful things throughout the world.

LH: What does the perfect day look like for you?

CC: Waking up with the sun shining, having time to walk the dog and exercise, making sure the house is clean, and then diving into whatever project I’m working on.