OUR MISSION
Community Compassion Outreach's mission is to assist local individuals and families in preventing, surviving, and exiting homelessness and poverty. This program provides recovery coaches, peer support professionals, and culturally sensitive assistance which includes meals, housing assistance, motel nights, transportation, wraparound services, and referrals to partner agencies who provide coordination of care. Funding will also be used to facilitate a new child/family program with free transportation in our new 12-passenger van.
Community Compassion Outreach's mission is to assist local individuals and families in preventing, surviving, and exiting homelessness and poverty. This program provides recovery coaches, peer support professionals, and culturally sensitive assistance which includes meals, housing assistance, motel nights, transportation, wraparound services, and referrals to partner agencies who provide coordination of care. Funding will also be used to facilitate a new child/family program with free transportation in our new 12-passenger van.
CCO Board of Directors
Stephen M. Baukat, Board President - 12/1/2021 - Current
Steve is a retired quality assurance reliability engineer in aerospace electronics (50 years). He is married (40 yrs) to our executive director/cofounder, Donna Mae Baukat. Steve holds a Bachelors in Economics, though his career has been mechanical and electronics engineering in military and aerospace manufacturing in Southern California.
He has attended all board meetings as CCO’s technical advisor since our organization’s inception. He has served CCO as a volunteer assisting in our mission statement, including delivery of goods to clients, attending all activities and events, and building relationships with people experiencing homelessness who just need someone to talk with.
He is an Elder of Adventure Christian Church.
Steve is a U.S. Navy Veteran of the Viet Nam War. The Baukat couple retired from Orange County, Southern California to Durango, CO, since 11/26/2013. From Donna Mae's former marriage, they have 3 adult children, 7 grandchildren and 2 great-granddaughters.
Steve is a retired quality assurance reliability engineer in aerospace electronics (50 years). He is married (40 yrs) to our executive director/cofounder, Donna Mae Baukat. Steve holds a Bachelors in Economics, though his career has been mechanical and electronics engineering in military and aerospace manufacturing in Southern California.
He has attended all board meetings as CCO’s technical advisor since our organization’s inception. He has served CCO as a volunteer assisting in our mission statement, including delivery of goods to clients, attending all activities and events, and building relationships with people experiencing homelessness who just need someone to talk with.
He is an Elder of Adventure Christian Church.
Steve is a U.S. Navy Veteran of the Viet Nam War. The Baukat couple retired from Orange County, Southern California to Durango, CO, since 11/26/2013. From Donna Mae's former marriage, they have 3 adult children, 7 grandchildren and 2 great-granddaughters.
Johnie Ragsdale, Board Treasurer - 3/29/2018 - Current
Johnie Ragsdale, operates the Ragsdale & Associates PC offices with husband John W. Ragsdale, Clinical Psychologist Specialist, located on North Main Avenue. Johnie is compassionate for people less fortunate than us, and she has been serving the Durango and La Plata County communities for decades.
She has served her community in various roles: Classroom volunteer - PTA President, Girl Scout Leader - Youth Mission Trip Leader to Apache Reservation - Youth Mission Trip Leader to Navajo Reservation - Youth Mission Trip Leader to Juarez - Mexico Youth and Adult Mission Trip Leader to New Orleans - Two mission trips to Mozambique - Africa assisting women in micro loan development, women's issues/relationships - Kitchen Volunteer at Manna Soup Kitchen.
Johnie holds a Bachelor of Science in Sociology at the San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California.
Linda Morris, Board Director - 6/19/2023 - Current
Linda is a retired teacher. She volunteers on Saturdays when we share meals for the unhoused and food-insecure. A long-time resident of Durango, Linda is compassionate toward the marginalized populations in our community. She knits and crochets hats, gloves, blankets and other items for other nonprofit groups, including quilts, for fundraisers. Linda donates time in our kitchen with CCO’s Recovery Support Services Team’s Safe Talks in Recovery. We appreciate her commitment to our work for people experiencing homelessness.
Laura Barnes, MPH - Board Secretary - 8/15/2023 - Current
Laura began holds a Masters in Public Health. She joined CCO as a volunteer in May of 2023. Laura is a Scientific Data Analyst with six and a half years of federal public health experience in data and biological specimen management, mixed methods data analysis, infection prevention and control and collaborating with national and state partners to provide support during the Zika and COVID-19 Pandemic. She received the 2017 CDC NCEZ'ID Award for External Partnering from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Laura's credentials and public health experience will be an asset to CCO's efforts to advocate health and safety for our unhoused clients. She is passionate about those who are unsheltered and unhoused.
Johnie Ragsdale, operates the Ragsdale & Associates PC offices with husband John W. Ragsdale, Clinical Psychologist Specialist, located on North Main Avenue. Johnie is compassionate for people less fortunate than us, and she has been serving the Durango and La Plata County communities for decades.
She has served her community in various roles: Classroom volunteer - PTA President, Girl Scout Leader - Youth Mission Trip Leader to Apache Reservation - Youth Mission Trip Leader to Navajo Reservation - Youth Mission Trip Leader to Juarez - Mexico Youth and Adult Mission Trip Leader to New Orleans - Two mission trips to Mozambique - Africa assisting women in micro loan development, women's issues/relationships - Kitchen Volunteer at Manna Soup Kitchen.
Johnie holds a Bachelor of Science in Sociology at the San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California.
Linda Morris, Board Director - 6/19/2023 - Current
Linda is a retired teacher. She volunteers on Saturdays when we share meals for the unhoused and food-insecure. A long-time resident of Durango, Linda is compassionate toward the marginalized populations in our community. She knits and crochets hats, gloves, blankets and other items for other nonprofit groups, including quilts, for fundraisers. Linda donates time in our kitchen with CCO’s Recovery Support Services Team’s Safe Talks in Recovery. We appreciate her commitment to our work for people experiencing homelessness.
Laura Barnes, MPH - Board Secretary - 8/15/2023 - Current
Laura began holds a Masters in Public Health. She joined CCO as a volunteer in May of 2023. Laura is a Scientific Data Analyst with six and a half years of federal public health experience in data and biological specimen management, mixed methods data analysis, infection prevention and control and collaborating with national and state partners to provide support during the Zika and COVID-19 Pandemic. She received the 2017 CDC NCEZ'ID Award for External Partnering from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Laura's credentials and public health experience will be an asset to CCO's efforts to advocate health and safety for our unhoused clients. She is passionate about those who are unsheltered and unhoused.
JOIN OUR BOARD!
Cultural Sensitivity Advisory Group (CSAG)
Cultural Sensitivity Advisory Group (CSAG) is comprised of people from our local community who understand the impact on their families and friends who experience homelessness, drug and alcohol abuse and mental health issues. Their voices informs and guides the positive direction where CCO's Board of Directors and its leadership will take toward achieving inclusion, diversity and equity within our programs and activities. We appreciate the Group's valuable insights that help us create culturally appropriate services for the people who come to us for a variety of client services that meets our Mission.
- Joann Thomas is Navajo; mother of a homeless son age 40 suffering from SUD/AUD. She offers insight into the struggle parents experience when their significant other battles mental health issues that occurs with addiction.
- Timothy Sargent was homeless for decades, has transitioned to Espero Permanent Supportive Housing with his dog; he managed a small section of Purple Cliffs and was homeless by choice until his recent birthday.
- Kimberly J. Bernard celebrated four (4) years in recovery on June 26, 2022. She has attends RESST Program Safe Talks in Recovery regularly and is a great story of the trauma experienced in her childhood and into her adolescent years. Her lived experiences in homelessness has only strengthened her resolve to improve herself and to help her peers. Kimberly has a sweet soul willing to help anyone she meets with basic needs and by sharing her story of substance abuse and the victory she enjoys today in recovery.
- Virginia Perkins is a participant in our Safe Talks in Recovery group meetings held in our facility on Tuesdays and Fridays. Virginia is unhoused and has been working on her struggles with a counselor. A former pre-school teacher, she has strong desire to help her peers.
- Gregory Begaye recently joined CCO in training as a peer support professional. His lived experience in homelessness and substance use disorders with criminal justice history brings to our organization great cultural insight as a member of the Navajo (Dine') Tribe. Young and enthusiastic, Greg brings experiences in working with family members with co-occurring mental health disorders.
Downloads and Reports:
Articles of Incorporation
Bylaws Amended 12/1 2021
IRS Determination Letter
Conflict of Interest Policy
Form 990-N 2022
CCO became a nonprofit on March 29, 2018. The IRS determination letter dated August 21, 2018, recognizes Community Compassion Outreach (CCO) as a 501(c)(3) public charity. Our tax year ends December 31st. Form 990-N was filed by Frederick Zink & Associates.
(NOTE: CCO started as a church program in January 2017 and has evolved into a more effective organization since our nonprofit status was determined).
To obtain additional information, please contact Us here.
Articles of Incorporation
Bylaws Amended 12/1 2021
IRS Determination Letter
Conflict of Interest Policy
Form 990-N 2022
CCO became a nonprofit on March 29, 2018. The IRS determination letter dated August 21, 2018, recognizes Community Compassion Outreach (CCO) as a 501(c)(3) public charity. Our tax year ends December 31st. Form 990-N was filed by Frederick Zink & Associates.
(NOTE: CCO started as a church program in January 2017 and has evolved into a more effective organization since our nonprofit status was determined).
To obtain additional information, please contact Us here.
