From Heartbreak to a Heart for Service
I have proudly called Las Vegas my home for over three decades—a city as complex and dynamic as the people within it. It's a place that has afforded me not only a vibrant career but also a chance to engage deeply with the community through service and philanthropy. My journey with the Community Counseling Center of Southern Nevada (CCC) is a deeply personal narrative, one that intertwines my professional aspirations with a commitment to personal growth and community betterment.
When I joined the team at MGM Grand back in 1996, it opened my eyes to the myriad ways one could contribute to the fabric of our city. Volunteering emerged as a passion, one that allowed me to touch lives while working shoulder to shoulder with colleagues who shared my zeal. This was more than community service; it was an avenue for personal expansion and an opportunity to weave a network of compassionate professionals across various departments.
My introduction to CCC came at a pivotal moment in my life. I was navigating the troubled waters of a personal relationship that was on the brink of dissolution. CCC became a beacon of hope during this tumultuous period, providing me with the tools and support needed to gain clarity and insight into my own life. Though the relationship concluded, my bond with CCC endured, becoming a vessel for self-exploration and healing.
I emerged from therapy with a newfound sense of purpose and a desire to give back to the institution that had given me so much. Volunteering for CCC was more than a gesture of gratitude; it was a conscious choice to invest in an organization that I believed in wholeheartedly—an organization that I might need again, and one I knew was indispensable to the community at large.
My contributions began with fundraising efforts and participation in various committees. In those roles, I sought not just to "repay" CCC but to ensure its services could continue to reach others in need. This was my way of nurturing a lifeline that held such vital importance to me and countless others.
As life went on, our paths diverged for a time, but the call to serve is not easily silenced. When the opportunity arose to rejoin the fold as a board member, I accepted without hesitation. It was a profound reminder of the continued need for mental health advocacy and support within our community.
Being a part of CCC as a board member has granted me a platform to champion mental health—a cause that transcends background, status, or circumstance. The need for exceptional therapists and accessible counseling services is greater now than ever before. Mental health is a vast and urgent field, one that I am dedicated to supporting through my ongoing work with CCC.
This commitment to CCC and to the cause of mental health is more than a duty; it's a testament to the strength that can be found in vulnerability and the power of community support. It is about ensuring that no individual in our vibrant city has to walk their path alone. I continue to serve because I believe in the transformative power of therapy, the resilience of the human spirit, and the unwavering potential of our Las Vegas community to uplift every one of its members.
By Dale Baca, Board Member of CCC
