Rising Stars: Meet Kathleen Baumgardner

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathleen Baumgardner.

Hi Kathleen, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Just over a year ago, I received an email from a friend with the job description for the executive director position at ChildSafe. She said, “You need to move back here and do this!” At the time, I was living in Hawaii and had just finished a strategic plan for the University of Hawaii. Despite having lived in Fort Collins for many years previously, I had never heard of ChildSafe Colorado, but it was an opportunity to do work with purpose in a community that I love. So what does ChildSafe do that would bring a person back to winter weather?

ChildSafe is Northern Colorado’s only comprehensive outpatient treatment program for victims of child abuse, primarily child sexual abuse. Childsafe provides therapy and support for victims of abuse from ages 2-84. We work with families – 92% of our clients are treated along with family members who are suffering too. In 2022, we served more than 800 clients who were referred from dozens of sources – other nonprofits, law enforcement, schools, medical providers, and the list goes on. We work to help people not just survive but to thrive.

Back in 2014, while working at Colorado State University, my husband and I opened a nonprofit restaurant, after seeing an unmet need in the community. The concept allows ALL people to access healthy meals with dignity and it brings people together to participate in community, filling a need as basic as that of food. Together, we moved the idea from concept to reality, co-founding and operating the FoCo Cafe, which continues to serve Fort Collins today.

I believe in the power of community.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Sure, there are always struggles.

I know it’s difficult to imagine that child sexual abuse takes place in our community, but last year in addition to the 848 children and adults we helped, our waitlist topped 100 victims. In 2023, we’ve been raising money and building capacity and we have cut our waitlist from over 100 to 41. That’s progress, but it’s not okay for any children and families to have to wait for life-changing help!

Our team knows that untreated trauma can dramatically impact the trajectory of a child’s life and that is why we step up to do something about it. There are always more people waiting for help and that is our daily struggle.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My interests and experiences center on strategy, team building, and working with purpose.

I believe one of my greatest strengths, personally and professionally, is having a growth mindset – I embrace learning, I thrive on challenges, and I see feedback as an opportunity to learn and setbacks as opportunities to learn.

In 2022, I was facilitating two strategic doing committees at the University of Hawai’i at Hilo, One of those groups was developing an online recognition system – where faculty and staff can recognize the good work of others. When the group tested a prototype, I didn’t expect them to use me as their test. I received kudos emails that included comments that identified me as such:

* Cheerful/positive attitude

* Open to new ideas

* Organized and hard working

* Not afraid to take on big problems

* Team-centered

I am most proud of the work I have done to advance community-centered projects.

Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
One of my childhood friends, Jeff, stopped by my house the day before my birthday. Jeff had been the first person I met in the neighborhood on the day we moved in when he stopped to say hello while delivering newspapers. Months later, he had a birthday surprise for me which required us to hop on our bikes and ride across town. We arrived at the small regional airport on the outskirts of our small midwestern hometown. Jeff had been funding his flying lessons with money from his paper route.

But, on this beautiful June day, as a birthday gift, he asked me to join his flying lesson – my very first time in an airplane. It was a 4-seater and the lesson that day was stalling the plane. It was like a roller coaster ride and the only time in my life experienced something like weightlessness. When we exited the airplane, the instructor commented that he was very impressed that I hadn’t gotten sick. Air travel after that day has been anti-climactic!

Years later, Jeff and I reconnected and we have been married for 13 years!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.childsafecolorado.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/childsafecoloradoinc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChildSafeColorado
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-baumgardner-77b33142/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@childsafecolorado

Image Credits
Kathleen Baumgardner (https://www.stickmanhawaii.com/)