Our Own Lives

09/25/2026

❤️❤️❤️❤️

When Alliance Colorado held its annual professional Summit in Breckenridge, Sept. 1 to 3, the Durango area was well represented. Four members of the Southwest

09/16/2026

This week is Direct Support Professional week! Our Client Leadership Council had this to say about the impact of Direct Support Professionals on their lives:

Our DSP staff are kind, understanding and dependable. They have helped us accomplish difficult tasks, and prepare for the future. They help us with the little things like cleaning, cooking, getting out for hikes and volunteering to support our community, and big things like helping us find our voice, take leadership roles in our community, and increasing our opportunities to live, work, and play independently.

Thanks for all you do, helping out when needed, going the extra mile, giving and showing how much you care. You are appreciated more than you know!

Sincerely, The Our Own Lives Client Leadership Council

08/28/2026

Amanda is our chief booth engineer.

08/18/2026

Client Leadership Council elections are quickly approaching, and campaign signs are starting to fill our community centers!

The CLC guides our organization's priorities, activities, and hiring. The council meets monthly to give organizational guidance.

Do you want to serve on council? You are eligible if you are enrolled in services with Our Own Lives. Please let Jeff Newman know you wish to run for election: [email protected] or 970-485-3488.

If you are enrolled in services with OOL, you also get to vote on who you wish to represent you on council. Keep an eye out for the Ballot at the end of August!

08/18/2026

The struggle is real!

08/13/2026

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

A Cortez nonprofit is reshaping disability services by centering lived experience, employment and community inclusion for people with disabilities in Southwest Colorado.

08/07/2026

Closing One Chapter, Beginning Another... We will miss you, Scott!

“It has been an absolute honor to spend the last 2 years at Our Own Lives. Together, we have accomplished amazing things, more than can be listed in this post. I have no doubt about the future success of OOL, especially with the amazing staff and people in services at the helm. I will miss everyone dearly, and please don’t stop building something amazing! Remember, keep taking chances to create something beautiful. Nothing transformational ever comes from playing it safe." - Scott

08/03/2026

🌟 We Are Hiring! Join Our Team Today! 🌟

Make a meaningful difference every day. Our Own Lives is looking for a dedicated Direct Support Professional to empower individuals in our community.

💼 Position: Direct Support Professional
💰Pay: $17.93 per hour
📅 Deadline: Applications close August 17th

Apply today to start a rewarding career where your work truly matters!

https://www.ourownlives.org/careers

07/24/2026

We will miss Scott terribly, but eventually our aim will get better.

Thank you for everything, Scoot!

07/20/2026

🎉 Let's start the week with a HUGE shout-out! 🎉

We would like to give a HUGE shout-out to Cathy Sykes for all her efforts and the incredible impact she's had coordinating activities for Our Own Lives.

Cathy was instrumental in building more activities to serve both our Cortez and Durango clients. She is dedicated to making sure there are multiple opportunities to build connections within the community and provide experiences that are not always available to the disability community.

Cathy has helped provide our clients with an awesome summer so far, and we're excited to continue creating even more opportunities.

Thank you, Cathy, for everything you do!