I have been a resident of Aurora for many years, and have enjoyed evenings watching movies at the Century 16 Theater near the Aurora mall. Many of our employees live in the area, as our offices are only a few miles away. So, it was with disbelief that I first heard of the tragic events of early Friday morning.
We gathered our employees together the first thing Friday morning. A few of them had children or other loved ones who had attended the Batman premier at the Century 16. None were hurt physically. The emotional traumas will be harder to assess. Two of our employees had teenagers who had planned on going to the Century 16, but for some reason chose to go to other theaters. Our employees talked about how this event brought back the emotions of Columbine, or other traumas they’ve experienced in the past. We encouraged them to seek counseling from our EAP program, or just to reach out to support one another. We ended the meeting by reminding ourselves that we have each other and that sometimes a hug can help more than anything else.
We are now left to deal with the aftermath of this tragedy. As a long-time employer and corporate citizen of the community, Delta Dental and its employees will be looking for ways to help those most affected. Our hearts are broken. If you have suggestions for us, please leave a comment. And don’t forget – a hug can help.
Kate Paul
Delta Dental of Colorado CEO